If you want to make extra money online from home to increase your income, there are many ways to get started. Over the years, I’ve seen countless students successfully earn extra money online in practical, flexible ways – whether that’s a skill they’ve acquired, selling digital products, managing social media for a small business, or picking up odd jobs from time to time.
Maybe the groceries cost more than you expected this month. Maybe you’re trying to rebuild your savings, pay off debt, or create a little breathing room in your budget. Or maybe you just want a real life income.
Making money online is more accessible than ever and, no, it doesn’t have to involve scams, fraudulent offers, or promises that sound too good to be true. Below, I’m sharing legitimate, up-to-date ways to make money online that real people are using right now.
Easy Ways to Make Money Online
1. Swagbucks
If you’ve read my blog, you know I’m a huge fan of Swagbucks. And you may have signed up a long time ago and have been earning gift cards ever since.
For the few of you who haven’t signed up for Swagbucks or the many others who have signed up but don’t feel like you’re earning much with it, you can go here to learn more.
2. Rakuten
Rakuten works with online stores to give you a percentage, usually somewhere between 3-10% of your total purchase, back as a rebate. While this may not seem like much, it can really add up over time. And if you’re already going to make an online purchase, you might as well get a little kickback, too, right?
They currently offer cash back at over 1800 stores including Walmart, Target, JCPenney, Staples, Lands’ End, Sephora, and many, many more.
One of the oldest cashback sites, Rakuten has a website that is easy to navigate and, in my personal opinion, is the best cashback program out there. (You can read my full Rakuten review here.) I especially like that you only have to get $5.01 in rebates to get a check or Paypal payment.
3. Amazon Trade-In Program
Amazon’s Trade-In program is great for two reasons: 1. You can get more cash with very little effort, and 2. You can declutter your house at the same time!
Find out more about how to earn cash by trading items that you can use here.
4. Sell your used books
Selling your gently used books is a great way to stretch your budget! Books can be expensive, so selling your used books through sites like World of Books, ThriftBooks, Amazon Trade-In Store, eBay, or Pangobooks will not only help you get the extra cash you need, but it can also help others find great deals on books. Win-win!
You can take this a step further by visiting thrift stores or book sales to buy books that you’re sure will be resold for a profit. Books usually cost as little as $0.25–$2 at these places, so if you find a rare title or a popular recent release, you can make a small investment a good return by reselling it at one of these places.
5. Fiverr
Fiverr is a great place to earn cash by doing simple tasks for people looking for some services. It can be as simple as writing a 300-word article (Note: This post has 566 words at this point, so 300 isn’t everything!), recording a short video, processing an exam, etc. People usually pay $5 for these small jobs (or more, depending on the job), and that can really add up!
Check out this guest post by Lisa of The Frugal Batavian that explains all the facts you need to know about how Fiverr works and how you can make money doing things you’re already good at!
6. Online teaching
Working as an online tutor is a great way to make extra money in your spare time, and it doesn’t take much to get started. Check out what Alaina is up to Telecommuting Mommies he has to say about the different options available and how you can start profiting in his guest post here.
7. Freelancing
The idea of freelancing can scare some people, but the truth is, many people have skills that they don’t even realize can make money.
If you have writing, graphic design, editing, bookkeeping, customer service, photography, editing, or other marketable skills, freelancing is one of the most versatile ways to make money online. You can find clients on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, and more.
Here are some ideas for freelance services you can offer:
- Independent writing or editing
- Graphic design services
- Website design / management
- Virtual assistant functions
Sara Haley, a successful freelancer, shares his story of how oDesk (now Upwork) helped him and his family recover from financial challenges – and how he got his first client within 24 hours! You can read his full guest post here. Very inspiring!
8. Become a call center agent
A seasonal job as a call center agent is a great way to earn good money on the side, whether you need money for upcoming birthdays, holidays, or other expenses. Hear where Alaina Forbes is from Telecommuting Mommies sharing another guest post she did for MoneySavingMom.com about the ins and outs of getting started and which companies are hiring seasonal agents!
9. Take surveys online
If you are looking for a very low commitment way to make money online, taking surveys can be an easy option. This won’t make you rich, but I can say that in our lean years, I was able to earn extra money to help us pay for the things we needed through online surveys.
Check out this post that lists the survey companies I highly recommend!
10. Listia
Another great way to get free gift cards is to use Listia. Listia is an online auction website similar to eBay, except that no money is exchanged. With the credits you earn, you can redeem gift cards among other things.
You can go here to learn more about what Listia is and how to use it.
11. Write basic topics
Textbroker works with people from all over the United States to write basic articles on a variety of topics. If you have good basic English grammar skills, this is a great way to earn extra money on the side
Learn more about Textbroker from Miranda of HAdventures.com in his guest post here.
12. Pay to listen to music
SliceThePie is another money making website we learned about from Miranda. If you love listening to new music, this is a great opportunity to earn cash doing what you love.
Learn more about the host, Miranda.
13. Record voicemail and other people’s calls
QuickTate hires entry-level transcriptionists to transcribe audio files into text and is another site we heard about in Miranda’s guest post. This may include transcribing 2-3 minute voicemails or longer legal files, medical files, phone call recordings, and more. This job won’t make you rich, but it will help increase your income so you can budget for extra things in your home.
14. Transcripts and Captions
If you are a fast typist with a good ear and strong language skills, copywriting and captioning can be a reliable way to make money online. This type of work involves listening to audio or video files and converting them into text, captions, or subtitles.
Writing assignments can include podcasts, interviews, meetings, YouTube videos, courses, or TV content. Subtitles are the same, but the focus is on accurately matching the text with the video, which is very important for accessibility.
Here are a few legitimate companies and platforms where you can apply for transcription or captioning work:
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Rev – One of the most popular transcription and captioning platforms. The activity includes interviews, podcasts, and video captions, and you can choose activities based on your availability.
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TranscribeMe – Perfect for beginners, with short audio files and straightforward transcription tasks.
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Scribie – Provides a scribbler with flexible scheduling and standard functionality.
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GoTranscript – Provides transcription and translation opportunities and is open to international applicants.
15. Website usability testing
Have you ever heard about usability testing of websites? Yes, Anna of Real Ways to Make Money Online he says that companies are willing to pay good money to have their websites tested by people like you and me to better understand what improvements can be made. If you love surfing the web and visiting new websites, this is a great way to earn extra money doing what you already enjoy!
Check out Anna’s list of companies hiring website usability testers here!
When it comes to making money online, the most important thing is not to get caught complete opportunity. It starts with something that fits your current season of life.
Some of the ideas above are great for quick, flexible income. Others take a lot of time and effort up front but can grow into meaningful long-term sources of income. There is no right or wrong place to start. The most important thing is to choose one option, take the first step, and give yourself permission to learn as you go.
Do you know of any other easy ways to earn extra money from home? Comment below and share your tips!
Looking for ways to earn extra money?
These 10 Flexible Side Hustles for Women flexible, completely doable, out-of-the-box ideas! 🙌
