Want to make money but don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
You are not alone. According to the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2021 report, released in May 2022 by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 16% of adults performed a side gig in the previous month to help them make extra money, and 64% spent less than 20 hours doing those jobs during that period.
NerdWallet compiled a list of 25 legitimate ways to make money at home, online, or on the go. We list details like what it takes to get started, age requirements, and how quickly you can get paid for each potential side job.
While most people want to make money quickly, don’t dismiss “slow” jobs because they may pay more in the long run.
How to make money online
Making money online is the sweet spot that people seek in the gig economy. Whether you want to be a six-figure social media influencer or just supplement your regular income with some online side jobs, we’ve found some viable options.
1. Pick up freelance work online
Make money online by using sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com. These websites provide opportunities to work as a freelancer in a variety of fields, including writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry, and virtual assistant. Do you speak a second language? Check out sites like Gengo or Blend Express for ideas, or start your own. Keep track of the going rate for the type of work you provide, no matter what kind of freelancing you do, so you know if you’re charging too much or too little. Discover how to get started on Upwork.
Total time: It can take a while to get your first gig.
Setup: 24 hours.
How easy to start: Easy, if you have the expertise.
How fast you’ll get paid: Varies by site.
2. Test websites and apps
UserTesting.com is another site where you can make money from home. You are compensated for your opinions on how well — or how poorly — certain websites and apps worked. To be accepted, you must complete a short test, after which you will be paid based on the type of test. UserTesting.com does not provide an exact figure.
Total time: Approval time can vary.
Setup: Less than an hour.
How easy to start: Easy, if you have the tech gear and complete a sample test.
Age threshold: 18+.
How fast you’ll get paid: Seven days.
3. Pick up tasks on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
Even in this day and age, some jobs still require a human touch. Companies frequently outsource these tasks to services such as Amazon’s Mechanical Turk.
The tasks you’ll be assigned as a “worker” can be time-consuming — tagging images, transcribing videos, classifying receipts — and can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Temporary employers, also known as “requesters,” set the price for each task and receive final approval before paying you. That leaves room for scams, so do your homework.
Join a community like the MTurk Crowd forum or the MTurk and Turker Nation subreddits to avoid shady dealers. These communities and fellow “workers” can answer questions and provide an accurate estimate of how much money you can expect to earn. Learn more about Mechanical Turk as a way to make money online quickly.
Total time: Several days to find out if you’re approved.
Setup: Depends on the task you choose.
How easy to start: Easy if you have certain skills.
Age threshold: 18+.
How fast you’ll get paid: You get paid following work approval, which can take up to 30 days.
4. Take surveys for money
You can earn money from home by taking online surveys, but don’t expect to be rich. Survey sites typically do not pay well, and many are more useful for earning gift cards than cash. Swagbucks and Survey Junkie are two of the more popular survey sites.
Total time: It will take a while.
Setup: Just minutes.
How easy to start: Very. Just register and begin.
Age threshold: 13 to 18+.
How fast you’ll get paid: Varies by site.
5. Make money from your blog as an affiliate
If you have a blog with a decent amount of traffic, you could make money by joining an affiliate network. Affiliates (you) are compensated when someone clicks through from the website to the partner site and purchases something. This is how some bloggers make a lot of money. Learn more about affiliate marketing and other ways to make money as a blogger.
Total time: It can take quite a while to build an audience.
Setup: With blog templates, building a site is easy.
How easy to start: Starting is not that difficult. Creating regular content may be another matter.
Age threshold: Any.
How fast you’ll get paid: A month or two, on average.
You can learn more ways to earn money online by reading the full article published on NERD WALLET.
The site provided 25 ways to make money online and offline.
Source: NERD WALLET
