When times are hard, it’s good to know how to make extra money at short notice. Follow these clever tips to generate some easy extra money to help pay the bills and boost your bank account.
As the effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue to make themselves felt in 2021, many of us are having to tighten our belts in the face of economic uncertainty. It’s times like these that some extra stimulus money could really come in handy, so why not take matters into your own hands? Nowadays, there are plenty of ways to earn some extra cash and become a successful entrepreneur, especially when you make the most of the internet to make extra money online from home. Many of us might be surprised that there are sources of extra money sitting right under our noses if we look for them. Here are some of the best ways to earn extra money so that, with a little effort, we can generate fresh income streams to help pay the bills or just have some extra spending money in our pockets.
1. Make YouTube Videos
The highest-paid influencers on YouTube make millions every year from the videos they post. Okay, YouTube millionaires are few and far between, but there’s no telling how much extra money you might get for the videos you put up. With the YouTube Partner Program, you get a cut of the advertising income generated per 1,000 views on any of your videos. You could make videos on film reviews, product unboxing, make-up tips, fixing things, and, of course, cute cat videos. Videos can go viral out of nowhere, so there’s no completely fool-proof formula for how to make successful videos. Still, every day, more and more people are using YouTube as their primary source of income.
2. Become a Mystery Shopper
A mystery shopper is employed by a big retail or hospitality company to gauge the performance of their employees. Mystery shoppers anonymously visit one of their branches in the guise of a regular customer while secretly providing a critical assessment of the service they’ve been provided. It’s the best way for big companies to get an accurate picture of branch performance. The demand for would-be mystery shoppers is always high, and practically anyone can become one, so it’s a really underappreciated means of making some extra money on the side. All you have to do is sign on with an agency, and you can start getting mystery shopper work right away.
3. Bet on Short Price Sporting Results
Betting is definitely an easy way to lose money quickly, but if you’re smart about it, there’s money to be made. When a very uneven match-up comes along, bookmakers will offer very short prices for the favorite to win, such as 1/5 (so bet 5 to win 1). The price will be so short because the result is almost guaranteed to go to the favorite. So if you have a team like Real Madrid playing a much weaker team like Leipzig in a Champions League qualifier, you can be almost certain that, short of a miracle, Real Madrid will win. The trick is not to get greedy and chase big wins at long prices. As long as you stay disciplined, it’s a statistical probability that you can make some extra money in the long run.
4. Deliver Food and Packages
Online business is bigger than ever, and companies are always struggling to meet demand. So why not register with online delivery services as a driver for side jobs to make extra money around your regular schedule? You could be delivering takeaway food for a company like Uber or Deliveroo or help transport packages for Amazon. The work might not always be reliable for a primary source of income, but it’s still one of the best weekend jobs for extra money where you’re not at your 9 to 5.
5. Switch Bank Accounts
If you’re prepared to deal with extra paperwork regularly, switching bank accounts is one of the best ways to make extra money. Many banks offer introductory bonuses to new users, like reduced borrowing rates or a one-off cash bonus when opening your new account or getting a new credit card. The banks assume that most people will be too lazy to leave once they’ve opened their new account, but that’s where your persistence can pay off. Simply keep taking advantage of new introductory offers, and you can get free extra money regularly.
6. Rent Your Spare Storage Space
If you have an unpurposed garage or loft available, consider offering the space for storage. Whether someone is between moving, going abroad for an extended period, or simply running out of space at home, extra storage space is always at a premium. There are plenty of websites where you can register to lease your space, but be aware that these online agencies will likely take a cut of your payment. If that’s too much to deal with, you could just put your space on more general listing websites and arrange a rate with customers directly to cut out the middleman.
7. Test and Review Products for Money
Retail businesses are often looking to pay people to test their products. They are usually looking for paid testers in two cases: either want you to trial the product to gain feedback during the development stage or want to pay you to review it and help give prospective customers an honest and trustworthy account of what they will be purchasing. They will either pay you in cash or store credit. A bonus is that they often let you keep the product, which you could then sell online for even more extra money.
8. Start a Podcast
If you have a voice for radio and a passion for the right niche subject, you can join the growing ranks of podcasters who get paid to talk about their interests. Podcasting continues to grow in popularity as more people get their information and news from this medium. The key is finding the right subject: you need to strike a balance between choosing a topic that’s popular enough to appeal to a wide audience while specific enough to make your podcast stand out. From there, you have to grow your audience, and then you can look at getting sponsors to pay you extra money. It takes time and effort to produce a quality podcast that audiences will enjoy. But once you’ve put the work in on the front-end, the profits can be considerable.
9. Become a Virtual Assistant
Remote work is becoming the new normal, so why not offer your skills online to help others with their businesses? The digital services industry continues to enjoy year-on-year growth, and entrepreneurs and businesses are always looking for hard-working and reliable help. Some factors will have a big impact on your employability in this field. You should have solid written communication skills and a bare minimum of competency in business software suites. You could start by offering your services to clients at reduced rates and increasing your fees once you get an impressive portfolio together.
10. Invest in Cryptocurrency
Forecasters have been predicting the crash in the cryptocurrency market for years, but the market has absolutely refused to slow down. It’s still not too late to invest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum to make extra money, as their potential applications in a digital world continue to grow. Plenty of smartphone apps let you buy and sell crypto securely, and the sooner you invest, the better your returns will be.
Conclusion: Extra Money is Waiting if You Know Where to Look
All of us could do with a little extra money coming in from time to time, especially when economic uncertainty is high and growth is stalling. Everyone can find out how to make extra money without too much effort, even if you just need some extra money on unemployment. Generating extra money lets you explore your creative side, unleash your inner entrepreneur, and encourage you to improve your overall financial habits. Do you have any sure-fire tips for making extra money online from home?
Author’s Bio:
Emily Moore is an English & programming teacher with a passion for space and blogging. She believes that current exploration should be focused on preserving our planet’s resources. With satellites circling the orbit, it is easier to get relevant data on any environmental changes. This, in turn, should help people quickly address any challenges.
Featured Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
