Ask almost anyone, and they’re likely to say “yes, I’d love to have more money.” But with the balance of work, family, friends, and other commitments, taking on a set-schedule second job may be out of the question.
So we’ve rounded up 9 of the best part-time jobs, side hustles, and work from home money making ideas that even the busiest of people can integrate into their lives to put more money in their pockets.
1) Play, Watch, Earn
If a company’s paid out over half a billion dollars to users, you know they have to be the real deal. And Swagbucks is just that.
By partnering brands and marketers who need honest opinions and feedback about their new offering, Swagbucks is able to pay users for simple things like watching videos and taking surveys. They even pay users when they eat at restaurants or shop online.
Click here to create your free Swagbucks profile. In just a few minutes, you’ll be earning money from your couch.
2) Play Games to Earn Real Money
Imagine making up to $50 a month, just for playing a fun game. Sounds like a win-win to us!
Mistplay is a free app offering players real money. To begin playing and earning, simply download the app from the Android app store (Mistplay is not currently available in Apple’s App Store). The app will then present a list of games you can play to earn. Some of the games are brand new and still in their test phase, while others are established favorites. The list of available games changes regularly, so you’ll never get bored.
The app will also reward you when you hit a certain amount of playtime, score points or level-ups within games, and refer friends. Play more games to earn more points, which can be redeemed for gift cards at places like Starbucks, and Amazon, and even Visa prepaid cards!
3) Find Bugs
No, we’re not talking about becoming an exterminator, but rather helping internet companies and app developers identify weak spots- technical glitches, confusing navigation, etc- in the user experience of their new offering.
One of the most popular- and reputable- companies offering regular people real money for their feedback is UserTesting.com. After successfully joining their program, UserTesting participants will test a new site or app then provide honest feedback- usually via live or recorded video- to the UserTesting team.
Testers earn $10 for each 20-minute test they complete, and can earn even more for interviews. Click here to learn more and get started.
4) Sell Your Old Electronics
It seems like everyone in the country has a drawer or box full of old tech gadgets somewhere in their house. Collecting dust and taking up space, these old cellphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming consoles seemingly have little value, and yet we still keep them.
But that minor packrat tendency may pay off if you sell your old gadgets on Decluttr. They will pay you for that old tech that’s currently just taking up space. Understandably, the newer the tech, the more Decluttr will pay, but even just a few bucks is better than a pile of junk!
5) Earn When You Spend
Many stores offer so-called loyalty programs, but they are often complicated (what’s with the point system?!) or require you to fill out a ton of forms, but not Rakuten.
Rakuten gives their users up to 40% purchase they’re already making at retailers like Amazon and Walmart. And unlike companies that offer points or gift cards to strange places, Rakuten pays via check or PayPal so you can get your money instantly.
They’re offering a promotion for $10 cash for signing up and making your first purchase through Rakuten.
6) Earn Money When You Buy Groceries
Lots of stores offer discounts when you purchase certain products in store, but it’s rare to find a company that pays actual cash. But that’s just what Ibotta does for their users.
Ibotta’s partnered with thousands of stores nationwide to offer both in-store and online discounts. To earn online, simply install their browser plugin and shop as normal. You can also download their app for mobile shopping.
For in-store shopping, they offer 3 ways to save- pay with the app, link your loyalty account, or submit a receipt, for rewards within 24 hours.
7) Get Paid for Your Opinion
What if you could be an influencer, even if you don’t live an exotic life or have a huge social following? And what if you could earn real money, just for sharing your opinion?
In the last 15 years, Survey Junkie has paid over 3 MILLION people for their opinions on everything from movies to sneakers, and in turn, helping marketers and brands make their products and services cooler and better.
is free and takes just a few minutes. While most pay less, you can earn up to $45 per survey, which makes this one of the easiest ways to make money at home.
8) Invest in Real Estate
Earning money while not actually “working” is called passive income, and it’s one of the main ways rich people accumulate wealth. It also feels great to know you’re making money as you sleep, watch TV, or eat dinner.
One of the easiest ways to earn passive income is by investing in crowdfunded real estate with a company like DiversyFund.
For as little as $500, you can buy a fractional share of an apartment building. They combine the money you invest with the money from other fractional investors to purchase and manage large-scale rental properties.
You’ll receive quarterly payments- also known as a dividend- that come from your share of rent and property appreciation. All it takes to get started is a few minutes and $500.
9) Become a Part-time (or Full-time) Bookkeeper
If you’re looking to make more than pocket change and truly earn a living while working remotely, consider becoming a bookkeeper.
Even if you don’t have accounting experience, meticulous, dedicated, self-starting people can learn everything they need to know and launch a bookkeeping business in just a few months.
Working as a bookkeeper by tracking income and expenses, categorizing receipts, and ensuring bills get paid, etc is a great way to make money at home, as the work can be done independently and on your own schedule. And bookkeepers can earn almost $70/hour, so the career choice is definitely lucrative.
Click here to learn more about how you can start your new career as a bookkeeper.
Whether you’re looking for a new career or just the opportunity to earn some quick, legitimate cash from the couch, these are some of the easiest ways to make money fast from home.
Related: 25 Careers That Allow You to Work Anywhere in the World in 2021
