11 Real Ways to Make Money Right Now (Online and Off)
Since so many things in life require money, making money is always a concern. Fortunately, whether you are looking for full-time employment or a little extra cash on the side, there are plenty of ways to go about it. Listed below are some real options (no BS stuff!) you can consider if you need to make some money fast. Some of them are online opportunities, and some are offline (real world). These ideas don’t require a degree or a website or experience, you can do them right now to make money.
Online Money Making Ideas
Sell Stuff Online
If you need money right now, selling unwanted household items is a great way to get it. And to sell things online eBay and Craigslist and Facebook marketplace are three places you can turn. These are the three most popular websites that allow you to sell used or unwanted goods. You can utilize these sites for free, and they work by allowing you to post ads about your item. However, you need to keep a few things in mind to make money:
- Take Lots of good quality pictures
- Write good product descriptions by finding similar items for sale online
- Include useful details like size, weight, color, age, etc
Perhaps the most important factor to making money on these sites is quality. Since anyone can sell anything on eBay, there are lots of competing sellers. I order to separate your product from all the others, be sure to take good pictures and include lots of useful details about the item for sale. Make sure your listings are appealing in every way, researching when necessary or getting professional help, especially if you plan on selling multiple items.
Selling stuff online can become a real money-maker, with some people making tens of thousands a year. However, even if this is just a place to make a quick buck for you, do it right to get the most out of it.
Do Gigs on Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the best sites for anyone looking to do freelance work. Called “gigs,” the opportunities provided on this site are endless. While the initial impression might be that every gig on the site is billed at five dollars, that is not actually the case. The humble beginnings of the site have grown into something far larger.
Fiverr offers jobs of all sizes, with some reaching into the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Additionally, it provides opportunities for many different professions, from writers and artists to musicians and singers. There are even opportunities for lawyers and other professionals looking for a place to display and provide their services.
Therefore, regardless of how much you wish to make, Fiverr can accommodate you. After an easy sign-up process, you can craft a profile and look for gigs that fit your skillset.
Do Work on Upwork
Upwork exists in a similar vein to Fiverr, hosting a wide variety of professions and jobs. Just like Fiverr, it is a marketplace, and no matter what your skill set is, you are likely to find a way to make money on Upwork. In fact, its wide range of offerings includes work for:
- Writers, Editors, and Proofreaders
- Engineering and Architecture
- Sales and Marketing
- Web, Mobile, and Software Development
As mentioned, there are many jobs that you can access quite easily. Just make a profile that includes your level of experience and start searching through the plethora of listings to find a job suited for you. After that, all you have to do is apply, interview, and then get to work.
If you are curious how much you can make, it varies. Experience plays a large part, as more experienced individuals have access to higher-paying jobs. However, there is plenty of opportunity for those without much professional experience as well.
Take Online Surveys
You can earn money taking online surveys. While the amount made might be meager, it is a surefire way to make a few bucks if you know where to look. However, that can be tricky, considering most of these sites ask for trust upfront. They require your personal information. After all, demographics often decide whether you qualify for a survey.
Also, on the subject of meager pay, you will see substantially less than minimum wage, with an average of a few dollars an hour, and a lot of frustration when it comes to not qualifying for surveys and, usually, needing to redeem points for prizes instead of getting cash.
Of course, PayPal and Amazon stand as easy ways to get a cash reward, but you still need to consider whether it is worth it. On the upside, anyone with an internet connection can take surveys. On the downside, you might find the process arduous and hard to trust. On that note, never provide too much information, such as an SSN. The bottom line is that you will not make a lot of money doing online surveys, but you will make some. Check out this post for more details.
Sell Handmade Crafts on Etsy
If you are talented at arts and crafts, or even something more detailed and intricate, Etsy is a massive marketplace for the creatives out there. In fact, there is not much that is handmade that you cannot find on Etsy. Some examples are:
- Personalized Jewelry
- Custom Clothing
- Pieces of Handmade Art
- Woodworking
Etsy, unlike other online marketplaces, focuses on handmade items. Not only can you find some interesting pieces on there, but if you have handmade items of your own, you can find a welcoming client base to show and sell them to. This website allows you to turn what might have been a hobby into a way to make money.
All you have to do is create an Etsy account, post what you have, and let people come to you. Of course, just like any other online site, you should include plenty of pictures and appealing descriptions, and you should market your products to ensure success.
Offline Money Making Ideas
Walk Dogs or House-sit
With so many online resources, finding different ways to make money has never been easier. The same is true when talking about walking dogs and house-sitting. These jobs even have dedicated websites and apps.
Walking dogs is the simpler of the two. In fact, there are apps that you can utilize to find opportunities, such as Wag! The same is true for house-sitting, which has many different websites dedicated to connecting those in need of the services with those willing to provide them, including TrustedHousesitters.
Like with any profession, you need certain skills to do the work and, perhaps, something to stand out to make it big. While it might seem easy at first, truly making money from either job will require hard work and dedication. To make a living at it and not just earn some quick cash, you might even need to consider starting your own company.
Babysit
Babysitting is a serious job, and it is one you can make money doing right now. It will help if you have additional qualifications, perhaps taking a course offered by somewhere like the American Red Cross, but you can start looking for work right now if you want.
With more resources around than ever, you can advertise online on websites like Craigslist, Facebook, and Nextdoor. There are also agencies you can look into and the option of taking a more local approach.
Regardless of what you choose, babysitting can be a lucrative line of work if you have the clients, ranging anywhere from 10 to 20 an hour depending on things like:
- Your Age
- Number of Children
- Qualifications
While anyone can babysit, there will be a higher demand for those with qualifications like CPR training and experience.
Rent Your House or Apartment
Passive income is a huge deal. If you have an unused space in your house or apartment you can rent it out and make surprisingly good money simply by letting people sleep there for a few nights at a time. The best way to advertise your space (spare room, basement, RV, etc) is to list it on Airbnb. The keys to success are to make your space ridiculously clean, take amazing pictures, and be super friendly when corresponding with potential renters. Get an idea of how much you can make on Airbnb here.
If you don’t want to rent your space all the time, you can also do it only when you are going on vacation or away for any other reason.
Drive for Uber
Driving for Uber is another great opportunity to start making money immediately. Before anything else, consider the requirements to become an Uber driver:
- Have the Appropriate Driving Experience (one year, or three years if you are under 23)
- Have a Valid US Driver’s License
- Have an Eligible Vehicle (4-door)
Uber also looks into your driving record and criminal history, among other things. However, for most drivers, Uber provides a quick way to start making money. After a few quick steps, you can get started.
Start a Mowing Business
Starting a mowing business is something you might have done when you were younger. However, it is just as good a way to make some extra cash now as it was back then. Don’t underestimate the money you can make by doing something so simple. Because so many people do not want to mow their own lawn, there’s lots of customers and this drives rates up. Additionally, with the right tools, you can branch out of simple mowing into providing a huge range of a lawn care services (this is where the REAL money is, by the way).
Get started by advertising on craigslist, Facebook marketplace, Nextdoor, and by posting flyers at local stores. While a few yards might be easy to drum up, especially locally, consider building a firm client base and using websites and social media to advertise if you want to take this money-making opportunity to the next level. Learn more about starting a mowing business from people who have actually done it.
Deliver Food
Food delivery has never been bigger. More than ever, people are ordering in, and with so many restaurants relying on drivers, you can quickly find a job acting as the go-between for people and their favorite dining option.
While there is always the option of finding a specific restaurant or franchise to drive for, an especially good option if you do not have your own car, there are plenty of other options as well, which include:
- DoorDash
- Uber Eats
- GrubHub
- Postmates
Just like with Uber, these services run off of apps and websites, and they use you as a middleman of sorts, making it easy to find jobs and quick to get to work. If you are looking for a way to make money, consider this alongside the other methods above.
And don’t forget good old pizza delivery also. Pizza restaurants like Pizza Hut and Dominos are always hiring drivers and the pay is actually pretty good. The last time I delivered pizza I averaged about $20 per hour including tips.
Making Money Quickly Can Be a Reality
These money making ideas all allow you to get started right away. You don’t need to apply, or take a class, or pay anything. You can do just one of these, or do several to maximize your income. You can also mix some online and offline income ideas mentioned here to diversify your income streams.
Loading ...