10 Legit Ways to Make Extra Money from Home

There are two ways you can make extra money. You can sell something or offer a service. This article will cover a few options for both.

When you sell something, you can either sell an item you already own or one you made. When needing extra money, many people start by selling things they currently own.

That is a simple way to make a decent amount of extra money, depending on what you are selling and how many items you have for sale.

Here, we’ll cover the following ways to make extra money.

3 Simple Online Ways to Make Money

- Answer questions.
- Participate in surveys.
- Have gigs.

3 Ways to Sell Things You Own

- Sell products online.
- Hold a garage sale.
- Consign clothing and accessories.

4 Money-Making Service Opportunities

- Become a writer.
- Become a rideshare driver.
- Become a delivery driver.
- Become a freelancer.

3 Simple Online Ways to Make Money

These options won’t get you rich, but once you are set up, they are straightforward ways to put some extra cash in your pockets.

They are set up to be simple to use.

If you invest the time and effort, you may be able to see a few more rewards, but these are mostly just fun and easy ways to make a little extra money.

#1. Answer Questions

What is it?

Answering questions online is a fast and easy way to make a little extra cash. Typically, what is meant by “answering questions online” is responding to questions users ask expertly. So, if you have an area of expertise, this may be the right fit for you!

Who offers this?

JustAnswer is an online forum where you can answer questions and get paid for your industry-specific, expert knowledge. Expert categories include lawyers, veterinarians, health professionals, mechanics, electricians, computer specialists, plumbers, accountants, financial analysts, and many more.

What do I need?

Expertise in a topic
Laptop or PC
High-speed Internet Connection
Social Security Number
Valid Identification
Relevant Licenses and/or Certifications (if any)

How does it work?

Register. Go to the JustAnswer website and register as an expert in your field. (You may also enter subcategories or enter “General” as your field of expertise).
Apply. Enter your identification, education, experience, and qualifications; then, sign a verification waiver.
Get approved. It usually only takes a few days, but it can take up to 2-3 weeks to get verified.
Answer questions. Find questions you want to answer and get busy!
Get cash. If your answer is accepted, you will get paid.

How much money can I make?

If your answers are accepted, you can get from $2.00 to $5.00 per answer. They pay you via PayPal.

What are the best features of JustAnswer?

You can answer questions 24/7 at your own pace.
It’s free to join and answer questions.
You can choose which questions you want to answer.

Where can I find other similar websites?

Many websites allow you to answer questions but watch out for scams. Here are a couple of recommendations that you may want to look into:

#2. Participate in Surveys

What is it?

Answering questions in a survey fashion can be a really fun way to make the extra dough you are looking for. However, it isn’t a fast way to make money. Many survey websites also offer many other ways for you to earn membership points or more money like web surfing or watching videos.

Who offers this?

Swagbucks is a rewards program that lets you earn points for doing everyday things like shopping online and taking surveys. You can then redeem the points for cash. Swagbucks has now helped over 20 million users earn over $419 million and counting.

What do I need?

Laptop, Computer, or Smartphone
High-speed Internet Connection

How does it work?

Sign up. Go to the Swagbucks website and sign up with your email address. (They also have a smartphone application available).
Participate. Earn points by doing everyday things like surfing the internet, answering surveys, playing games, watching videos, discovering deals, shopping online, and more.
Exchange points for rewards. Redeem your points for free gift cards to places like Target, Walmart, Amazon, and many more options or get cashback from PayPal for your time and effort.

How much money can I make?

It really depends on how much time and effort you invest in it. There have been mixed responses to this question.

Swagbucks claims you can earn up to $100 a day if you are really committed, but one article did an experiment and claimed to have made less than $1.00 an hour doing Swagbucks. She said that for most rewards, one point on Swagbucks is worth approximately one penny.

Another Reddit user said he earns on average $2.00 an hour; for the time he’s investing, he’s bringing in an additional $200 a month approximately. It’s something to look into to see if it’s the right opportunity for you!

They pay via rewards or as cashback in PayPal.

What are the best features of Swagbucks?

You can work from home or on the go 24/7.
They have a smartphone app.
You can make money by doing everyday things.
Hundreds of ways to redeem the points you earn.

Where can I find other similar websites?

InboxDollars is a similar website where you can earn money by taking surveys, watching television, and shopping. They even offer a $5.00 bonus just for signing up. Another popular recommendation is Global Test Market, so check out those for more options to make money by participating in surveys.

#3. Have Gigs

What is it?

A “gig” is a temporary job, something you do on the side. There are, of course, many ways you can have a gig; you can do things for a company like write a blog post, design a graphic, or promote their posts via social media.

Who offers this?

Fiverr is a platform for freelancers to offer services to customers who are interested in what they are selling. The company has been around since 2010. It’s a “gig” community, where sellers can offer their services in $5.00 increments.

Fiverr has over 50 million transactions thus far, selling a new gig every 4 seconds! Some of the categories you can choose from include: digital marketing, graphics, writing, translation, music, programming, videos, animation, and hundreds more!

What do I need?

Laptop, Computer, or Smartphone
High-speed Internet Connection

How does it work?

Sign up. Go to the Fiverr website to enroll for free.

Create your profile. Include a picture of yourself; the more details you can provide in your profile, the better.

Publish a gig. Set up your gig, and offer it to the public.

Deliver your work. You will get a notification when you get an order. The forum is set up so that you can easily communicate with a seller to get all the details you need to complete your project.

Get paid. Once you have completed and delivered your order, you get paid to your account immediately.

How much money can I make?

Gigs are done in $5.00 increments, but you can make as much as $995.00 at once, according to their website. You can offer gigs as low as $5.00 on Fiverr, but you can earn as much as you are willing and able to.

It’s up to you to determine the pricing, to complete the work, and deliver what is agreed upon. Entrepreneur wrote this great article about earning money on Fiverr.

What are the best features of Fiverr?

An easy way to set up a side job – Work your own hours.
Flexibility – Decide for yourself how much time and effort you want to put forth.
Variety – You can offer just about any service you can think of, provided it’s legal. The forum has over 200 categories to choose from.

Where can I find other similar websites?

There are hundreds of websites for freelancers. Entrepreneur wrote a useful article recommending 11 sites. Here are a few of the writer’s recommendations:

3 Easy Ways to Sell Things You Own

If you are looking for ways to make some serious dough fast and have things to sell, these options are your best bet.

Think along the lines of Marie Kondo and minimalism when deciding what to get rid of. What do you actually use, need, and love?

Find those things, make sure you have room for them, and store or decorate them appropriately.

For all the other things that you don’t use, need, and love, check out these ways to get rid of the things that are just cluttering your life.

#4. Sell Products Online

What is it?

What do you have that you could get rid of? Decide what you no longer love or use, and consider purging. Instead, sell your gently used items online.

You can sell homemade goodies online fast and easily through various marketplace websites set up for exactly that purpose.

Who offers this?

Etsy is probably the top marketplace website where you can sell your homemade crafts, goodies, or products. If you are into woodworking, embroidery, pottery, knitting, or jewelry-making, Etsy is the right place for you to sell your goods.

You can sell just about anything there, and it’s an easy option. Etsy is the go-to site for sellers and artists.

What do I need?

Laptop, Computer, or Smartphone
High-speed Internet Connection
Products to Sell

How does it work?

1. Create an account and sign up.
2. Set up your Etsy store.

Sell your products online.

How much money can I make?

It depends on what you are selling and the prices you are using. Once you get the hang of it, though, you can be quite successful. This is a great way to make the extra money selling your creations or things you no longer need or use.

In 2018, almost 30 million customers spent more than 2.8 billion dollars on Etsy, according to the website.

What are the best features of Etsy?

Flexibility – Work at your own pace.
It’s simple to get started.
Gain access to a collaborative community.
Lots of helpful resources are available.

Where can I find other similar websites?

There are hundreds of places where you can sell things online, but here are a few of the top marketplace websites online.

#5. Hold a Garage Sale

What is it?

A garage sale or yard sale is when you put together lots of your unwanted or unused items to sell outside in your garage or yard. You can mark them up with whatever price you deem to be fair, but it’s important to put prices that will sell, too.

Who offers this?

This is something you can do in your own garage or yard. If you want to sell things in your home, you can have a “Moving Sale” or an “Estate Sale.” Typically, an estate sale is reserved for when someone has moved on and left their belongings behind.

What do I need?

Garage Sale Permit (depending on your location)
Things to Sell
Garage Sale Signs
Ad in Your Local Newspaper, Craigslist, etc. (optional)

How does it work?

Clean out the area where you want to have the sale.
Sort and organize your items.
Price the items you plan to sell.
Set a date for your garage sale.
Advertise your garage sale.
Have change ready with a cash box.
Hold the garage sale.

How much money can I make?

It depends on how much you price your items, how much you have to sell, and how big of items you are selling. For help pricing your items, check out this awesome resource.

What are the best features of holding a garage sale?

You get to clean out your clutter.
Price items as you see fit.
Keep your own hours.
You have control over everything.

Where can I find other similar websites?

You can sell things in places other than your yard or garage. There are many online forums where you can swap, resell, or sell items. Here is a list of a few of these options.

#6. Consign Clothing and Accessories

What is it?

Another way to purge your unused or unwanted items is to sell them at a consignment store. If you have clean, gently used clothing items and accessories (purses, scarves, lingerie, robes, pajamas, socks, shoes, hats, gloves, etc.), this is a quick way to make some extra money.

Who offers this?

Hit your local consignment stores to sell your gently used items. Check your local phone book or search for “consignment stores near me” on Google.

What do I need?

Gently used clothing and accessories

How does it work?

Get your gently used clothing and accessories together.
Hit your local consignment stores.

How much money can I make?

It depends on the quality, manufacturer, and condition of your clothing and accessories. You could make several hundred dollars if you have plenty of clothing items you are ready to part with.

What are the best features of consigning?

Some control over the pricing of your items
Helps you get rid of clutter
Fast way to make extra cash

Where can I find other similar websites?

4 Money-Making Service Opportunities

Are you ready to do a little work to make some money? You don’t have to be super talented to do these things, so don’t let that hold you back.

Instead, consider these options as opportunities, ways that you can make some side money doing something worthwhile.

#7. Become a Writer

What is it?

A writer, as defined by Dictionary.com, is a person involved in writing books, articles, poems, stories, etc., especially as an occupation or profession; a writer is also known as an author or journalist.

Who offers this?

There are so many ways you can become a writer. You can start by writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, short stories, and more; then, submit them to this massive list of free writing contests.

You can also get started by joining a community of writers and making additional passive income on the side with a website like HubPages.

What do I need?

Laptop, Computer, or Smartphone
High-speed Internet Connection

How does it work?

Sign up. Go to the HubPages website to sign up.

Create a profile.

Begin writing quality hubs (articles). The articles in the Help Center are very useful when learning how to create hubs.

Sign up to earn money. You can use Amazon products in your hubs and make money off each purchase made through your hub. You can also earn a profit from HubPages and Adsense. To learn more about how to make money on HubPages, check out this link.

Write more hubs. Continue to write quality hubs to see your income grow and to learn how to be a better writer.

How much money can I make?

Many hubbers (writers on HubPages) make the monthly payout of $50.00 or more! There are many successful hubbers out there who knew what niche to write about, learned how to use the tools to create the best hubs possible, and were just great writers.

These hubbers were able to quit their full-time jobs and, instead, work part-time writing for HubPages. Some successful hubbers make over $1,000 per month! You just have to learn from other hubbers, who are very supportive and write stellar articles.

What are the best features of HubPages?

Complete control over the content you write
Supportive community
Work from home
Many different ways to make extra money
Helpful, easy-to-understand tutorials

Where can I find other similar websites?

#8. Become a Rideshare Driver

What is it?

Being a rideshare driver means you drive passengers around – to and from their desired locations. It’s similar to being a taxi driver.

Who offers this?

Uber is probably the most well-known company that offers rideshare opportunities.

What do I need?

Smartphone or similar electronic device
Uber app
Valid driver’s license
No criminal activity
Current vehicle registration
Clean driving record
Vehicle (must meet specific requirements)
Car insurance
Gasoline/maintenance for your car

How does it work?

1. Sign up! Use this link to sign up for Uber.

Start driving.

How much money can I make?

According to Business Insider, you can make an average of about $19/hour. That’s not too bad for a side job!

What are the best features of XYZ?

Flexible schedule
Convenient
Payment is automatic (no cash involved)
Safe way to make additional money

Where can I find other similar websites?

Lyft is the most well-known competitor of Uber. To learn more about Lyft and Uber, check out this link from CNET.

#9. Become a Delivery Driver

What is it?

Get paid for delivering food. It’s similar to rideshare driving but you deliver food rather than people.

Who offers this?

Postmates is probably the most popular food delivery company. You can deliver food via a car, bike, scooter, or your feet.

What do I need?

Smartphone
Transportation method
Must be at least 18 years old
Pass a background check

How does it work?

Sign up.
Set up your account.
Get approved.
Start making deliveries!

How much money can I make?

According to Ridester.com, you can make up to $25/hour working for Postmates.

What are the best features of Postmates?

Flexible schedule
Simple payment method
Easy way to make extra cash

Where can I find other similar websites?

#10. Become a Freelancer

What is it?

A freelancer is a self-employed individual who offers services, typically working on several projects for different clients at the same time.

Lot of people are freelancers working remotely. Many entrepreneurs start a blog or create an online business. As a remote worker, many freelancers find the freedom and flexibility to be major perks!

Who offers this?

People Per Hour (PPH) is an online community of freelancers, a place where businesses can outsource their service needs by hiring qualified individuals.

Some of the proposals shown on PPH include virtual assistants, freelance writing, and data entry.

What do I need?

Laptop, Computer, or Smartphone
High-speed Internet Connection

How does it work?

Sign up on their website at https://www.peopleperhour.com/.
Set up your profile.
Begin by sending out proposals to jobs you are interested in.
Start working as soon as you are invited or accepted for a project.

How much money can I make?

It all depends on how much you charge, how many clients you have, and how many projects you can manage in a month. Some freelancers start out making $10/project and grow to make thousands of dollars per month.

What are the best features of PPH?

Security – They put the buyer’s funds in escrow, so you can work in peace knowing you will get paid for the work you do.
Simple messaging workstream
Easy billing
Live help desk
Instant messaging/Video conferencing options

Where can I find other similar websites?

Conclusion

Did you find a way to make money doing one of these money-making ideas? If you are still looking for the right side hustle opportunity, check out this article for more great ideas on how to make additional money with your side hustle.