Nearly 4 million Americans are working from home these days. Whether you’re a college a student, a busy mother or father, or you’re just looking to make extra money – there’s lots of legitimate ways to make an income from home.
In the past, many people got a second job to bring home more money each month. Today, we’re lucky to have a variety of different ways to work and make money from home. There has never been a better time to make money online!
Today I’m rounding up the best ways to make an extra $500 a month. The best part is, you can earn this income in your spare time from home. These opportunities are perfect for stay-at-home moms or dads who are looking to boost their savings or pay off debt.
How could and extra $500 per month help you? Perhaps it could help you…
- Get out of debt faster
- Save money for travel
- Save money for a home
- Pay off student loans
- Eliminate credit card debt
- Help build your emergency fund, and so more!
What you would do with an extra $500+ per month?
With the lack of job security in today’s economy, it’s vital to have multiple sources of income. It’s not just meant to help you survive — it’s the smart way to build wealth.
How many streams of income should people have in order to build wealth? According to Tom Corley’s book, Rich Habits, 65% of self-made millionaires had three or more streams of income they’ve created over time. When you have money coming in from multiple sources, it helps diversify your income. For example, if one stream suffers, the others can make up for it.
Ask yourself this — if you lost your job today, would you still have a source of income coming in tomorrow? Do you have enough savings to cover at least six months’ worth of living expenses?
These are tough questions to answer, but they’re important to your financial success. We’ve heard in the news how companies are laying off employees and making cuts when they need to. People never think it will happen to them, but losing your job can happen to anyone. It’s happened in my family and it’s not easy.
The best way to be prepared is to take back control of your own finances. This includes building an emergency fund and finding ways to increase your income. That’s why I’m sharing 12 of my favorite ways to make extra money from home. Use these ideas to inspire you today, so you can be richer tomorrow!
Related Posts:
- 20 free ways to make money fast
- 34 legit ways to make extra money in 2019
- How to start a blog and make money from home
1. Get paid to take online surveys
Potential Monthly Income: $100 – $600+ per month
Companies are willing to pay you to get your opinion. If you’re looking for an easy way to make money fast, this can be a great option. I started doing online surveys when I was in college to help me make extra money. While this won’t make your rich, it’s been a good way to help my bank account grow each month.
PRO TIP: Earn the most money when you sign up for several survey websites. Then you’ll get to choose the surveys which pay the most money. Save time and earn more cash!
Survey Junkie – This is my favorite legit survey company and it’s a great way to make money. It’s one of the largest survey companies in the world. It’s similar to Swagbucks, where you’ll earn points for each survey you complete. Then you can exchange your points for cash paid directly to a PayPal account, or you can redeem your points for a gift card. It’s super easy.
Sign up to start making money with Survey Junkie today
American Consumer Opinion – This website has over 6 million members worldwide. They’ll pay you for each survey you complete. It’s an easy way to make extra money.
Sign up for a free account with American Consumer Opinion
Swagbucks – This is one of the most popular survey websites. I’ve been using Swagbucks for years to earn free gift cards. For each survey you complete, you’ll earn “swagbucks” which can be redeemed for free gift cards, or you can get cash paid to a PayPal account. Plus, you’ll get a free $5 welcome bonus just for signing up today.
Sign up for Swagbucks and claim your free $5 here
2. Become a Virtual Assistant
Potential Income: $35 – $50 per hour
How to get started: Check out this post sharing everything you need to know about becoming a Virtual Assistant.
A virtual assistant provides services to organizations, companies or individuals. It can be a great way to make extra money online. Whether it’s responding to emails, graphic design, or proofreading, there’s a wide range of tasks a VA can offer.
Not sure which services you should offer? Check out this list of 150+ services you can offer as a virtual assistant.
Read Next: How to become a virtual assistant and work from home
3. Make money as a proofreader
Potential Monthly Income: $1,000 – $3,500+ per month
How to get started: Check out this free workshop to learn how to become a professional proofreader.
If you love correcting grammar, proofreading can be a great work at home option for you. How much can you make proofreading? Well, it turns out you can earn quite a lot! Some people are earning over $40,000 a year working for themselves and loving it.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to make money as a proofreader, I recommend checking out this free training course. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to find clients and promote your proofreading business.
Read Next: How to work from home as a freelance proofreader
4. Start a money-making blog
Potential Monthly Income: $500-$10,000+ per month
How to get started: Head to my easy step-by-step guide here to get your blog up and running in minutes.
Blogging is my favorite way to make money from home. It’s easy to get started and the start-up costs are low. Blogging can be a simple side hustle, or it can turn into a full-time job (like it did for me). It’s up to you!
If you’re interested in starting your own blog, check out my free step-by-step guide. It’ll show you how to easily get started. It takes just a few minutes to get your blog up and running. Anyone can do it!
I didn’t know anything about blogs when I first started this website. I learned everything from scratch. Now I love connecting with people all over the world. It’s pretty amazing how special blogging can be.
Need some inspiration? Check out the best ways to make money as a new blogger here.
Blue Host is offering a great deal right now for getting your blog up and running. They make it quick and easy to get started. It’s the web hosting company I used to start this blog, which is why I like recommending them. No tech knowledge required!
Save over 60% off the price of your blog with this special offer (expiring soon)!
5. Rent out your space for extra cash
Potential Monthly Income: $500 – $2,000+ per month
How to get started: You can click here to create your free listing with Airbnb.
Do you have a spare room in your home that you’re not using? Make extra money by listing your extra space on Airbnb. In Toronto for example, you have the potential to earn up to $980 per month by renting out your spare room to a couple.
To get started, head to Airbnb’s calculator to see how much money you could be making.
Don’t have any extra space but you still want to make money? You can choose to become a host for your neighborhood or make money by hosting a unique experience (hiking, cooking classes, and more).
Read Next: How to become an Airbnb: Beginner’s Guide
6. Get paid to lose weight with HealthyWage
Potential Income: Up to $10,000 when you achieve your goal
How to get started: Head to the HealthyWage Prize Calculator to determine your winnings amount.
Now’s the perfect time to start getting fit and healthy. Companies, such as Healthy Wage, will actually pay you to lose weight. Make a bet, lose the weight you say you’re going to lose, and get paid. Sounds simple enough, right?
How to get started with HealtyWage
- Use the HealthyWage Prize Calculator to enter how much weight you want to lose, how long you’ll take, and how much you’d like to bet. Then the calculator will determine your winnings amount, up to $10,000. Who wouldn’t want to win up to $10,000?
- Sign up and make your bet. You can increase your prize amount by adjusting your goal weight, how much you contribute, or how long you’ll take.
- Lose the weight. Achieve your weight loss goal and get paid! You can stay on track throughout the contest with weekly weigh-ins. You can also get support from other contestants.
- Win money! If you reach your weight loss goal, you’ll win your prize. It’s that simple! If you don’t hit your goal, your money goes to support HealthyWage, including prizes for other contestants who achieve their goals.
Ready to get started? Start at the HealthyWage Prize Calculator and find how how much you can win!
Read Next: How to stay motivated to lose weight with HealthyWage
7. Freelance writing
Potential Monthly Income: $500 – $5,000+ per month
How to get started: Check out this step-by-step guide on how to become a paid freelance writer.
Content is king and websites are always looking for new content to share with their readers. This is a good option if you’re not ready yet to launch your own blog, but want to dip your toes into writing. As of May 2011, freelance writers earned a mean of $97,300 per year (or $46.78 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To help you stand out from the crowd and jump-start your success, I recommend checking out 30 days or less to freelance writing success.
Read Next: How to become a freelance writer and work from home
8. Make money as a Stella & Dot Stylist
Potential Monthly Income: $300 – $1,000+ per month
How to get started: You can click here to sign up and claim your free Stella & Dot jewelry ($350 value).
Do you love fashion and accessories? Stella & Dot is looking for aspiring fashionistas just like you to join their team as an independent stylist — no experience required!
As an independent stylist, you can make money by selling Stella & Dot jewelry and accessories through in-home Trunk Shows or online. You have the flexibility to set your own schedule so you can create a thriving business you love. Trunk Shows can bring in a few hundred dollars in sales and some bring in thousands of dollars!
To sign up, you’ll need to invest in a starter kit, which costs $199. This will give you all the tools and training you need to become profitable. Plus, you’ll also get $350 worth of free Stella & Dot jewelry and accessories — you get to choose!
Read Next: How to make money from home as a Stella & Dot Ambassador
9. Make money driving people around town
Potential Income: $15 – $25+ per hour
How to get started: You can click here to sign up to drive today.
Ok, I know this suggestion involves leaving the house, but it can be done in your neighborhood. If you want to make extra money in your spare time, consider signing up for Lyft. As Lyft driver, you have the freedom and flexibility to drive whenever you want.
When I was taking driving lessons, my instructor drove for Lyft in the evenings. He loved driving for Lyft and said the money was a great way to support his family. To be eligible, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old and pass a background check.
Right now, you can make $1,000 in 30 days guaranteed when you get started with Lyft.
Here’s what you need to qualify:
- Once you’re approved, just give 125 rides within your first 30 days of being a Lyft driver. Pretty easy, right?
10. Affiliate marketing
Potential Monthly Income: $100 – $50,000+ per month
How to get started: Check out this post to learn how Michelle earns $50,000 /month from affiliate marketing.
This is how I earn thousands of dollars a month from blogging without selling anything. It’s easy to get started making extra money with affiliate marketing. But, it’s not a get rich-quick thing. It will take time to generate enough traffic before you start making a decent income.
If you’re interested in learning more about making money from affiliate marketing, I recommend checking out this course. This course has helped me grow my blog from $0 to $10K per month.
If you haven’t started your blog yet, you can use my easy step-by-step guide here to set up your blog within minutes.
Benefits of affiliate marketing
There are many reasons why affiliate marketing can be a great way to make money from home. Some of these reasons include:
- Low cost to get started
The best ways to promote affiliate products are on social media or through blogging. You can start a money-making blog for as low as $2.95 /month through my easy step-by-step guide here. This also includes a FREE domain name for Mint Notion readers. - You don’t need to create a product or service
Promote products from brands / companies you already know and love. - You can work anytime and from any location
Make money your way on your own schedule! - You can earn passive income
Work smarter not harder.
Check out this great interview I did with Michelle from Making Sense of Cents, who earns $50,000 per month from affiliate marketing: How to Make $50,000 per from Affiliate Marketing
11. Flip stuff for profit
Potential Monthly Income: $500 – $10,000+ per month
How to get started: Check out this FREE workshop to learn how to flip items for profit.
Flipping is the art of finding things for free (or at a discount) and selling them for a profit. With today’s technology, there has never been an easier time to resell and flip items to make extra money.
Imagine earning a six-figure income by reselling things.
That’s exactly what Rob and Melissa do. They make over $100,000 a year by flipping items for profit.
After their third baby was born in 2016, they began to look for ways to become stay-at-home parents so they could spend more time with their kids. This encouraged them to jump into their reselling business full-time, which originally was just a hobby.
In their first year full-time, they made $133,000 in sales!
How to get started with fleamarket flipping
Start by taking an online training course that will teach you how to buy and resell on eBay and other online platforms. Rob and Melissa, the masterminds behind Flipper University, have compiled all their knowledge into this comprehensive course.
If you’re not ready yet to invest in this course, I recommend checking out Rob’s FREE 75-minute workshop. You’ll learn how to find hidden treasures at flea markets, thrift stores, yard sales, and auctions, and how to turn them into maximum profit. His workshop is completely free to join. You can sign up here.
12. Teach English as a foreign language
Potential Income: $14 – $22 per hour
How to get started: You can click here to apply to teach English with VIPKID.
You can make up to $22/hour teaching English online. VIPKID is currently looking for part-time online ESL teachers for young children who are based in China. All classes are one-on-one and taught online through the VIPKID portal.
You need a degree and at least 1 year of teaching or tutoring experience. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, I highly recommend applying for an opportunity with VIPKID.
Read Next: How to make money teaching English online with VIPKID
Bonus suggestion! Get a free $10 bonus by joining Rakuten
Rakuten is free to join and it’s my favorite way to earn cash back when shopping online. Rakuten will even apply coupons automatically at checkout, so you’ll always know you’re getting the best deal.
Plus, you’ll get a free $10 welcome bonus just for signing up.
I use Rakuten all the time when shopping online and have been able to earn over a thousand dollars through them. Pretty awesome right?
How to claim your free $10:
- Start here to sign up for Rakuten. (It’s free to join)
- Find your store on Rakuten next time you need to buy something. It’s connected to over 2,000 stores, including Amazon, Target, and Walmart. You’ll need to spend at least $25 on your first purchase within 90 days.
- Your Rakuten account will be credited with reward points. Get this cash sent to a PayPal account or choose to receive a Big Fat Check from Rakuten. It’s up to you!
For Canadian shoppers, you can click here to sign up for Rakuten (free $5 welcome bonus).
