A whopping $13.67 trillion — that’s the total household debt in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2019. Housing debt alone accounts for $9.65 trillion of that number.
With 127.59 million households in the country, that puts the average debt of each U.S. household at $107,140.
These are no doubt grim statistics, but that doesn’t mean you’re sure to spend most of your life in debt. Nor does it mean you have to give up your paid holidays at work just so you can earn some extra $$$.
What I’m saying is, there are many other ways on how to make more money on the side. And I’m here to share some of them with you.
Ready to strengthen your finances without even having to step out of your home? Then dive into this list of the best side jobs you can do right at home!
Create Your Own Blog
If you’re like the majority of the population, Uncle Google is your go-to for all those questions you have. That’s how you got to this page, after all.
And for every second that passes, Google processes 63,000 search queries. That’s a staggering 2 trillion searches every year!
Now, wouldn’t it be great if you wrote something that provides answers to some of these search queries? I’m certain you know things that many others don’t, and you can use that knowledge to start your own blog.
There are several ways to get paid through a blog site, such as having advertisers place ads on it. These are ads like product placements and pay-per-click ads.
If you don’t want your site littered with ads, consider becoming an affiliate marketer. This is another way to make money by blogging, wherein you promote the products of another party. You team up with a person or company selling products and then write about their offers.
This applies to various services too.
Either way, what’s great about this is that you only choose products or services you like and want to promote. For every sale your partner makes, part of their profits goes to your pockets.
Get a Freelance Writing Gig
If you can’t dedicate a lot of time to your own blog, you can still make extra money by becoming a freelance writer. This is one of the top ways to make money on the side with a full-time job since you can write whenever you want to.
You can choose to pick up writing jobs only after your office hours or at the weekends. You only need your computer, a reliable Internet service, and your writing skills.
No, you don’t need to have a professional writing background to secure paid writing gigs. You do need to come up with attention-locking headlines and be a patient researcher. With some practice, you can hone your skills and of course, charge higher for writing projects.
… Or Any Other Freelance Gig Needing the Skills You Have
Aside from writing, other freelancing gigs include website development and online tutoring. You can even use photos you’ve taken, get them licensed, and sell them as stock images.
My point is, you can use the skills you already have to pick up side jobs to make extra money. If you really love being an accountant, then, by all means, get a freelance accounting gig. If you’ve got awesome videography skills, you can make passive income-generating YouTube videos.
Offer Your Technical or Customer Service Representative Skills Online
Outsourcing is now a norm for many organizations, thanks to its cost-cutting benefits. In fact, in 2016, 59% of surveyed companies said this is the main reason they outsource. Many of the jobs they outsource are in line with IT, finance, and human resources.
If you love assisting people, like giving them how-to guides, then tech support is one of the best side jobs for you. If you like answering non-tech questions, there are customer service rep jobs you can take on.
Best of all, many of these jobs are remote, so you can do it right at the comfort of your own home. Most of them are only voice or chat support, so you can even do it in your PJs.
Rent Out That Extra Room in Your House
Of the 120 million households in the U.S., over a third are renters. After all, home ownership has become more and more expensive over the years.
Rent out that room you never use at home, and you can be a life-saver for the folks out there who can’t afford to buy a home yet. At the same time, you can earn passive income that can help pay the bills or buy groceries. You can also use the cash to pay off your loans and get out of debt.
If you’re not ready to share your home long-term, consider short-term rentals. You can do daily or weekly rentals and offer them to vacationers. Sites like Airbnb, HomeAway, and Tripping make it easier to advertise vacation rentals.
Sell Stuff You No Longer Use
This may come as a surprise, but every year, U.S. households spend a whopping $1,800 on apparel alone.
That’s a lot of dough, so it’s no wonder more Americans are going thrift!
Indeed, there’s a huge market for “used” or “pre-loved” items. In fact, one-third of women in the U.S. were thrift shoppers in 2017. Almost half of the ladies between 18 and 24 years old also shopped second-hand that year.
That should tell you that all those clothing pieces in your wardrobe have a “resale” potential. Selling your pre-loved clothes is easily one of the best ways on how to make money on the side from home.
Start by gathering those tees, blouses, jeans, coats, and accessories you no longer use. Take high-quality photos of them in a well-lit environment for cleaner images. Then, create detailed descriptions, such as size, dimensions, and the actual color.
There are many places where you can sell used stuff online, with social media being one of the top platforms. Aside from clothes, you can sell other used items, provided they’re still in top condition. That can be kitchen equipment, hand tools, and house decorations among many others.
Get Paid Answering Surveys
Big brands conduct online surveys in the hopes of being a step ahead of their competitors. They want to know what makes consumers – like you – tick. They’ll make it worth your time though, as they pay for these surveys and questionnaires.
Aside from companies, there are also paid health and fitness surveys you can complete. Some are research studies though, which may require in-person participation. Many others are 100% online, so you can do it wherever in the world you may be.
Become a Beta Tester for Games
In the United States alone, there are about 150 million folks who play video games. If you’re one of these people, use some of your game time doing beta testing and getting paid for doing so.
Many of these games are from indie game developers, so most are small businesses. That said, they won’t pay big bucks, but they’re always looking for beta testers.
Besides, if you’re into video games, this is as close as you can get to contribute to a game’s development. Your name may even show up on the credits if you contribute enough to make the game as awesome as possible!
Share Your Ride, Make Money on the Side
Driving with Uber is a great side job, but that means earning money outside of your home. If you don’t have the time (or the patience) for this, consider letting another person use your ride.
For instance, you can sign up with Getaround, which is a car-sharing service. They allow vehicle owners to rent their rides out to others who need to drive a car.
Don’t worry, as this company protects all their members’ prized wheels with insurance. They do have a one-time fee of $99 for installation and a $20 monthly membership fee. Compared to what you can earn though, those are small setbacks.
Plus, Getaround offers a 30-day free trial so you can see for yourself if it’s worth it or not. If you like it, that’s the only time you’ll pay for the fees. Once your car starts earning, you get to keep 60% of that every month.
Buff Up Your Wallet with these Ways on How to Make More Money on the Side
As you can see, there are so many legit and creative ways on how to make more money on the side. Without you having to get all dressed up or getting stuck in horrible traffic.
Plus, you can work more than one of these side jobs into your schedule. You can become a blogger or a freelance writer, rent out that extra room, and still be a full-time employee. With this set-up, you could earn extra $$$ even while you sleep.
Ready to further explore the world of at-home or remote work? If so, then be sure to check out this ultimate guide on how to get a job from home!