Posted on date 2022-04-25
12 Ways to Make Extra Money
Need some extra cash? Maybe you have an upcoming expense? Maybe you have a present to buy? Maybe, like me, you’re at a time in your life where having some extra money in your pocket reduces stress and adds peace of mind to your life. I’ve been there.
Times have changed. It used to be that the only option to make money was having a part-time or full-time job, selling baked goods on the corner, or having garage sales. Not today. Today we can make money doing jobs that never used to exist - delivering food, driving people to locations, working from home, and more.
The following 12 ideas will enable you to make extra money and get some peace of mind. I’ve had a garage sale, participated in online surveys, had a side hustle, and sold big-ticket items online. Each strategy took care of some immediate need I had at the time (even provided more than I anticipated) and allowed me to get through the moment of anxiety.
Take a look at these and consider which ones would allow you to reduce your anxiety. A little extra cash can make a big difference in our ability to breathe easier and feel joy.
I wish you easier breathing and more joy this summer.
1. Have a Garage Sale - in person or online
The change of season is a great time to switch out your wardrobe and sell what you no longer need. I usually have a garage sale at the end of August. Garage sales enable me to sell my clothes from the previous winter that I don’t want and my summer clothes that I won’t be using the following summer.
*NOTE - If you have some nicer clothes that you don’t want to sell at a garage sale, consider using local consignment shops or online ones like Poshmark.com (kids & babies), thredUP.com (best overall), Grailed (menswear), The RealReal (luxury). I’m also starting to use vinted.com and depop.com to sell the clothes I no longer wear and some of the household items I no longer use.
You can have an old-fashioned garage sale on your front lawn, or you can sell online. Use sites like Craigslist, eBay, or Nextdoor. You’ll be surprised how many people will be interested in what you have, and it’s fun!
2. Participate in Online Surveys
Online surveys are an excellent way to make extra money this summer.
Focusgroups.org isn’t the only excellent way to make money by participating in focus groups, clinical trials, product testing or downloading apps for research purposes. Other panel survey companies offer rewards - gift cards, coupons, cash, and more. Here are more:
- Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel
- Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel (Spanish)
- Ipsos Panel
- Survey Savvy Connect
- Permission Research
- Survey Junkie
3. Pick Up a Side Hustle
What is a side hustle? It’s a part-time job, on your own time, in addition to your regular employment. Granted, some of these new ways to make extra money are more than side hustles. However, people can make a living working full-time.
- Deliver food with DoorDash.com
- Deliver groceries with Instacart.com
- Drive for Uber.com
4. Test Products
Testing products online is a great way to contribute your opinion to help companies shape their go-to-market strategies while also making extra money.
Here are some companies you can work with, earn cash, and are legitimate:
5. Get cashback from your shopping
Why not get cashback from doing one of your everyday household activities? For example, using a cashback app while shopping can earn you gift cards, or you can cash out your earnings via PayPal or Venmo.
Here are some favorite cashback apps that you count on to make extra money:
Rakuten.com - Shop and earn cash back at some of your favorite shopping establishments.
Ibotta.com - They make your cashback earnings a priority. iPhone and Android friendly, just unlock rebates and see the list of stores participating in the app. You can get your cashback via the app within three days after verifying your receipts.
MyPoints.com - iPhone and Android friendly, use this app to take surveys and have more fun with videos, shopping, games, and emails. MyPoints is affiliated with more than 2000 retailers that you regularly visit for your everyday household products. You can hurry and earn a sign-up bonus of $10 as a first-time user.
Swagbucks.com - similar to MyPoints, you are rewarded for purchases you make at specific retailers. They also provide rewards through surveys, online games, watching videos, and friend referrals. You can cash your rewards through PayPal, give your earnings to charity, or get a gift card. It’s up to you!
TopCashback.com - TopCashback affiliates itself with retailers who pay them when you shop through their platform, and then TopCashback shares some of their commission with you. You can get your money directly via PayPal or with gift cards or cash to your bank account.
6. Microtasks/Data Entry
Microtasks are those online tasks that companies need to be done and will pay you to complete the tasks from home. One of these online tasks is data entry.
Data Entry won’t get you rich, but if you have some extra time, you can type accurately, are organized, communicate clearly, and tolerate repetition. You’re looking for an easy way to make extra money without stress; this could be an excellent idea for you.
The following are some of the best data entry jobs you can do from home:
Flexjobs.com - An online job board that provides different ways to work flexibly from home with data entry as one of their most frequent posts. A monthly subscription is required, but given what you can make, it may be worth it. Check it out!
Clickworker.com - You sign up and become part of a group of people who complete microtasks for Clickworker’s clients. Some of the tasks include, but are not limited to, proofreading, surveys, and web search. The better you perform, the more jobs become available to you. You set your schedule along with the jobs you want to take.
Microworkers - Similar to Clickworker, Microworkers provides microtasks. There is a variety of tasks, data entry being one of them. You are paid for approved work, and payment goes directly into your PayPal account. Your threshold for getting paid is $10.00.
*NOTE - For all of the above, read the site’s recommendations and cautions against scams. Scams are part of online work, but all legitimate sites will offer guidance in how to avoid them.
7. Join a Focus Group
The amount of extra money you can make by participating in focus groups can vary depending on the company, but you can make $100 for an hour or two of your time. Check out
Respondent.io - Respondent works primarily with professionals and pays them for research interviews. If you’re in sales & support, are a software developer, an executive, or in other business roles, you can participate. They’ll need to verify your profile and then match you via the algorithm with research that fits your profile. You can then participate at a time that fits your schedule and get paid via PayPal.
Focusgroups.org - Join us! Earn $50-$200 (and sometimes up to $1200) for a study, depending on the type for each study from the comfort of your home, shaping the products of the future. Lots of new surveys every month, and it’s free to join!
8. Sell your more significant ticket items online.
We all have more important items we’ve carried around with us for years. For example, I had a kiln I wasn’t using, an old jukebox that I no longer needed, and a camper that we’re no longer taking on the road. I went online and sold them all to others, ready to enjoy them and made some good cash. These are some of the websites I used:
9. Dog Walking or Sitting
There are all kinds of social media sites whose purpose is to connect dog owners with dog sitters and walkers. So if you love dogs and you have a few spare hours a day or week, you can make some extra money offering to walk your neighbors’ pooches.
Try one or more of these sites.
10. Become a Tutor
If you are knowledgeable about math, English, science, or college admissions paperwork, then tutoring students could be an excellent option. Many parents are always looking for help with their children’s education.
You can do this in a couple of ways:
- Use social media. Both indeed.com, care.com, and wyzant.com provide parents the opportunity to find local tutors.
- Use your local networks like friends, neighbors, and Nextdoor.
11. Give Blood and Plasma
There’s between $20-$50 per donation spent on your blood type. Redcrossblood.org.
Donating plasma is another way to make extra money. Learn about the state you live in, their minimum requirements for donating plasma, and the going rate. Try cslplasma.com biolifeplasma.com.
12. Wash or Detail Cars
Washing and detailing cars is a great summer job! I’m looking for someone to detail my car as I write this. Car washing doesn’t require a permanent location. Talk to people you know, post flyers, go on Nextdoor. You can easily make a website or simple business cards.
A Final Thought
Making extra money can always be a good thing. For example, you can take advantage of the beautiful and warmer weather of summer because more people are out and about or, if you have an internet connection, you can make money from the comfort of your home.
Seriously consider researching ways to improve your online skills so you can make new offers online by freelancing.
If you’re committed to making more money, use some of your time to try one or all of the ideas above. Then, if you focus on making more money and are in action to do so, you will accomplish it! Join FocusGroups.org today!
