If you’re looking for creative ways to make money then this massive list is for you! Whether you’re waiting for a salaried job, want to make some extra cash on the side, or you prefer to have more free time, these are the best creative ways to make extra money fast.
I noticed a lot of other blogs tend to include ways to make money that require an advanced degree or some special skill. This list only includes jobs and gigs that you can do right away – if not today then in just a few months time. We broke it down into three sections: ways to make money online, from home, and on the side. Let’s go!
Make Money Online
Let’s start with the best ways to make money online this year. Remote work was already on the rise before the pandemic hit, and now everyone has begun to realize that making money online is possible.
Basics
Here are the most basic ways to make money online today!
Take Surveys
The first and one of the most popular ways to make money online is by taking surveys. From product and development to market research, there are numerous ways that various companies need to understand consumers better. Gathering feedback through questionnaires is one way they do that and you can participate, while being compensated for your time! This is a great way to make money by simply sharing your opinion. Popular paid survey companies include: Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and MyPoints.
Do Interviews
You can get paid for doing interviews through companies like Respondent.io, which provides a platform for research companies to gather insights from a variety of professionals. If you have experience working in sales, marketing, customer support, and other domains, this could be a great way to earn extra money!
Watch Videos
Get paid for watching videos? Yup, it’s possible! With Swagbucks, you can be compensated for watching various videos.
Write Reviews
From music to various products, companies and creative groups are looking for real people to try and review their products! You can get paid for writing reviews through companies like SoftwareJudge, ReviewStream, and Slice the Pie.
User Testing
You can get paid to test products, websites, apps, and online services and share your opinion through an interview afterwards. Apply here: https://www.usertesting.com/get-paid-to-test
Bing Rewards
Microsoft is paying people to use Bing, its world-class search engine. Redeem the points you earn for qualifying gift cards from major retailers!
Influencer
Wait! Before you roll your eyes, there are many ways to be an influencer these days. Andybody who is passionate and knowledgeable about a specific topic can be an influencer. You just have to position yourself as an expert, choose a platform, and grow your audience.
Sell Photos
Have an eye for photography? Sell your photo rights online to media companies.
Browse the Internet
Companies like joinupvoice.com will pay to have access to your internet browser so they can see what ads you are shown in your social media feed.
Use Your Phone
You can get paid to use your cell phone using apps like Nielsen App and Adme App which pay for your tracking data!
Jobs
Here are the best online job ideas to make money from home!
Social Media Marketer
Social media marketing is a great way to earn money online. Companies of all types need someone to manage their social presence and attract new customers. You can specialize in one network – such as Instagram management or Facebook ad specialist – or you can specialize in one industry like coffee shops, real estate agents, or clothing boutiques.
Graphic Designer
You can freelance as a graphic designer and create everything from menus to brochures or online graphics like social media posts.
Remote Customer Service Rep
Companies have begun outsourcing their customer service departments, as the information is quite static and they just need someone to field requests from customers. You can do this remotely online and earn a decent income!
Virtual Assistant
Many business entrepreneurs need assistance but they don’t want to take someone on full-time or in-person. You can work as a virtual assistant remotely either part time or full-time depending on the clients you find. Tasks might include scheduling, travel booking, file organizing, data entry or emailing. Visit sites like Belay, Boldly, and VaVa Assistants to learn about opportunities.
Proofreading
From new proposals to meeting notes, many businesses need someone to proofread their written documents and correct grammatical errors. You can earn extra money by proofreading online.
Bookkeeper
If you’re good at math and understand account principles, you can launch a career as a bookkeeper and help individuals and small businesses keep track of their finances.
Voiceovers
Sites like voices.com will pay you to do voiceovers for clients. If people tell you that you have a lovely voice and you’re good at diction, then this could be a great option for you!
Writing
These are the best online writing jobs to do from anywhere.
Transcription Jobs
Diverse companies need people to transcribe recorded conversations or video files into text. You would be responsible for creating a word document based off of the audio! Sites like Rev, Go Transcript, and Scribie are a great place to start looking for these online jobs!
Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is a great way to make money on the side. Sites like Upwork can connect you with businesses who need copy in all sorts of formats.
Self-Publish an eBook
If you’re knowledgeable about a topic or great at creative waiting, consider self publishing an ebook on Amazon. You could write an informative ebook or a novel!
Teaching
If you love teaching, these online teaching gigs could be great for you.
Teach English Virtually
People from countries all around the world are looking to learn and improve their English skills. You can make decent money teaching others how to speak English if you are a native speaker! VIPKid is a popular program for teaching Chinese people English.
Online Tutoring
If you have a special skill like math or science, get paid to tutor students virtually using online programs like Outschool.
Online Business
Have a mind for business? There are several ways to earn money online by starting a small business.
Start a Blog
You can start a blog and earn money over time through advertisements and affiliate marketing. Eventually you can charge money for sponsored posts. If you are passionate and knowledgeable about a topic, this is a great way to make money online!
Online Store
Selling products online is another great way to make money. E-commerce is growing year over year and online shopping shows no signs of slowing down. Pick a niche and launch an online store to sell goods for cash.
Dropshipping
Dropshipping is another type of e-commerce venture which can be very profitable if you’re good at researching hot products. With dropshipping, you work as the middleman between a buyer and a seller, which means you don’t hold any inventory yourself. You simply have a storefront that people buy from, and when they do, you inform your supplier of their order and address. The item gets shipped directly to the buyer and you take a profit. Dropshipping isn’t easy but once you get the hang of it, it can be extremely profitable.
Make Money from Home
If you don’t want to stare at a screen all day but still want to make money from home, don’t worry, there’s hope! Check out the best ways to make money from home through other means.
Sell
Here are ideas for things you can sell from home to earn extra cash.
Sell Clothing
Most of us have tons of old clothing around the house. You can sell your outgrown or no longer needed clothing online to earn some supplementary cash.
Sell Electronics
With the advancement of technology, many of us have old electronics and gadgets lying around the house. As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! Sell your old electronics online for cash. Some people like to tinker with them or use the parts for their personal projects!
Sell Gold or Silver Jewelry
Gold and silver are excellent stores of value and tend to hold their worth over time. You can sell real gold and silver for cash when needed.
Sell Things Around the House
Lots of other random things in your house can be sold online. Take a peek around for valuable objects and old textbooks. Check their value on eBay.
Make and Sell Handmade Goods
Etsy is a great place to earn extra money selling handmade goods online.
Garden
Did you know you can make money with your home garden? From seed testing to reviews, a garden blog is a great way to earn money. You could also sell cut flowers, herbs and seeds from your garden.
Sell Your Poop
Nope, this isn’t a joke! Sites like poopwithpurpose.com will pay for human stool samples which help them develop life saving solutions for common illnesses. According to the site, you can earn as much as $1,500 per month if you live in the Boston area!
Sell Your Hair
Many women are searching for hair extensions to thicken their locks. If you have long healthy hair, why not sell your hair? Sites like HairSellon, BuyAndSellHair, Online Hair Affair, World of Wigs are great places to do this!
Rent
The sharing economy has opened up plenty of opportunity rent out things you already own!
Rent Out Your Car
Renting out your car on the days you don’t use it is a simple way to make extra money. The sharing economy has really touched on every aspect of our lives!
Rent Out Your Basement
Got unused space in your basement? You can rent it out to folks online who will pay for the storage space!
Rent Out Your Spare Room
A spare room can also be rented out – either through Airbnb for nightly guests or just as a simple storage solution if you don’t want to have strangers in your home.
Rent Out Your Designer Clothes & Bags
Have a passion for designer bags and clothing? Tulerie will help you earn money on those expensive purchases turning them into assets in their own right!
Rent Anything You Own
Actually, you can rent just about anything you own! Sites like Loanables and Fatllama.com show you just how far-reaching the borrowing economy is. Browse through for some of the most creative ideas on how to make money!
Test Stuff
Like testing out new things? Why not make money while you’re at it? Here are the best ways to make money by testing stuff.
Test New Products
Vindale Research is one of the foremost product testing companies that pay the general public to test new products during the development phase.
Test Out New Video Games
Video game creators need people to test out pre-release video games and get feedback on the game itself!
Make Money on the Side
If you’re looking for a side gig or extra cash, then these money making ideas will inspire you. I wouldn’t count on all of them for a full-time income, but some can provide an extra cushion to get you through the month.
Basics
Here are some basic ideas for how to make money on the side.
Paid Research Studies
Many different types of companies need to do research on the general population before creating products. They often rely on information gathered during paid research studies to inform their opinions. You might answer questions relating to a particular medical issue you have, or share your thoughts on the daily aspects of your life. Get started looking for these opportunities on sites like FocusGroup.com, Plaza Research, Mindswarms, Fieldwork, and engagestudies.com. Some might only pay in gift cards, but it’s still a great way to make money on the side!
Mystery Shopper
You can get paid to shop – a dream right! Mystery shoppers are tasked with going shopping and then sharing their experience as a customer with various companies. Sites like BestMark and MarketForce.com can hook you up with these side gigs. Avoid getting scammed by refusing to work with a company that has application fees or requests that you wire money to them.
Movie Extra
I was a movie extra several years back when a production studio came to my small town in Connecticut to shoot a film starring Mark Ruffalo! I got paid around $100 for the day and got to hang out with my friends. Keep an eye out for these kinds of jobs on sites like Backstage.com.
Put Ads on Your Car
It might not be pretty, but putting ads on your car is a low-effort way to earn money on the side. Check out sites like StickerRide, Wrapify and Carvertise who pay based on the number of miles you drive on average.
Sell Your Plasma
Earn up to $700 helping people who need plasma-derived therapies and suffer from medical conditions. Check out CSL Plasma for more information!
Participate in a Drug Trial
This one is a bit risky, but you can get paid for participating in a drug trial if you qualify for treatment based on your condition. Proceed with caution and look on CISCRP for information about these opportunities.
Charge Electric Scooters
If you’re nimble and strong, becoming a Lime Juicer or Bird Charger is a great way to earn money on the side by picking up electric scooters that are low on battery around the city where you live. Take them home, charge them, and put them back on the street to get paid!
Become a Driver
Uber and Lyft offer steady income to those who want to make money driving customers around on the side.
Food Delivery
More and more people want to have food delivered to their homes and you can cash in on this trend. From Postmates to Doordash to Instacart, Uber Eats, Caviar, and Grubhub, there’s many ways to get paid to deliver restaurant food or groceries to hungry customers.
Package Delivery
Amazon Flex is a program that pays locals to deliver Amazon packages around the country. This is another way to make money from the growing e-commerce demand!
Handyman
If you’re great with building furniture, fixing things around the house or lending a helping hand to your neighbors, you can get paid for it through apps like Task Rabbit which connect handymen with their community!
Pick up an Extra Shift
Instawork is an amazing app for restaurant workers to connect with other restaurants who need extra help. It’s completely up to you to pick up an extra shift and there’s no long-term contract involved. Great for flexible side money!
Walk
Can you really get paid to walk? You bet! Apps like Sweatco.in, Million Steps – Cash Challenge, and Lifecoin.ai will do just that. Don’t expect to earn a full-time income from this one, but it’s an interesting way to make side money!
Work Out
Getting paid to work out can be a reality! Work those muscles and cash in through apps like Achievement and StepBet.
Babysitting
Babysitting is an easy way to earn extra money and you can probably find a family looking for sitters not too far from home!
Dog Walking
Dog walking is a great way to earn extra money on the side – just make sure you can handle several pooches at once!
Cat Sitting
Cats need company too and many owners are willing to pay to have people spend time with their cats while they are away from home. You’ll need to feed them, change their litter and pet them every day.
House Cleaning
Everybody needs a clean house and you can offer house cleaning services to earn extra money on the side.
House Sitting
Robberies are a real threat, and when people take vacation, their house is sitting empty, making them prime targets for thieves. If you don’t mind spending time elsewhere, try to get one of the easiest ways to make money on the side by house sitting!
Lawn Mowing
This one requires a love of physical work, but lawn mowing is a great and straightforward way to make money on the side. Put up flyers around your neighborhood or ask around to see who needs these services. You’ll certainly get some exercise at the same time, so that’s a win-win to me!
Invest
Investing is a great way to make money that not everyone takes advantage of. Instead of working for money, you have to make your money work for you! Here are a few ideas to invest with minimal money.
Bank Account Signup Bonus
I used to do this often when I was a student. Many banks want to attract new customers and offer them signup bonuses to open a new account with them. Since bank accounts don’t hurt your credit score, this is a great and easy way to make money with few downsides! The more money you put in, the more your bonus is. Keep in mind you probably have to leave it there for several months to get the bonus.
High-Interest Saving Account
You can make up to 3% interest with a high-yield savings account from a bank. Money markets are another type of account to look into.
Stock Market
The stock market is one of the most famous ways to make money investing. Be sure to take several classes on how to invest in the market so you know what you’re doing!
Real Estate
Real estate is another popular way to make money investing. While your residential home isn’t an asset, if you’re able to rent out another home, or invest in a REIT, this could be a great way to make money investing.
Cryptocurrency
One of the most risky yet exciting ways to make money is through cryptocurrency. From Bitcoin to Ethereum, digital currencies are fascinating speculative investments that could pay off big time. Be sure to inform yourself on these new digital assets before investing!
I hope at least a few of these ways to make money resonated with you! What are your favorite ways for making extra cash?