This last one may have thrown you for a loop. While the series of events that carried out, carried out, the world become more and more digital. Our normal outings turned into days and nights spent inside with you, sometimes loved ones, and your electronics.
Many may have binge-watched new TV shows or movies, read a large number of books, or starting up a side hustle.
With that being said, if you were one to start a side hustle during this time at home, good for you! You may be looking for additional ways to broaden your entrepreneurial spirit. And, if you haven’t started a side hustle from you and are wanting to, you came to the right place.
From selling you unused items online to starting a YouTube channel, you could make hundreds if not thousands online. All you have to do is weigh on your skills, put in the work, and schedule out the time to cross off work from home projects off your list. And, you’re not the only one doing it. More than 70 million Americans had side hustles in 20202 that helped them make extra cash. You could simply create a money-making blog off your hobbies.
To save money or pay off debt start making money from home. Check out the list of 44 ways you can make money from home.
Did you know that 3.9 million U.S. employees work remotely? It’s true. And it may sound like your dream job — making money from home (even in your PJs).
You may be ready to start a full-time gig or take on a side hustle to meet your financial goals in 2021. Why not accomplish your money goals by staying home and working when you want to? Here are 44 ways to make money at home and on your own schedule.
If you’re not acclimated to working from home, this could be a whole new journey. You could fall in love with your work-from-home routine, taking it full-time, or only opt to take one-off online side hustles
Best Ways to Make Money from Home (At Any Age)
There are various side hustles that can be done by most age groups and skill levels. For instance, entering data or selling used clothes online. To see which side gigs catch your eye, keep reading or jump through each age group.
1. Complete Online Surveys
Feedback can help companies fine-tune their products, services, and consumer interests — making them more money. To gather information, businesses will pay people to answer survey questions. You can take these surveys in your free time to earn extra money. Websites like Swagbucks, Branded Surveys, MyPoints, and LifePoints offer paid surveys from various companies. In most cases, money earned is paid through Paypal or gift cards.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $5–35 per survey
2. Sell Your Favorite Stock Images
Have an eye for photography? Side hustle your passion and earn passive income for your favorite pictures. Post each photo on websites like iStockPhotos, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, and Getty Images to earn royalties. Each purchased photo could earn you anywhere from $0.25–0.45. If you post photos frequently, you could earn more as your online portfolio grows.
- Time: Low
- Earnings: $0.25–0.45 per image
- Extra tools needed: Camera
3. Become a Virtual Assistant
As online businesses grow, so do their needs for extra help. You could lend your skills to busy-bees online. Tasks could include uploading images to e-commerce sites, scheduling appointments, or making phone calls. In most cases, these jobs pay $7–$40 an hour, depending on your skill level.
- Time: Medium
- Earnings: $7–$40 an hour
4. Earn Money Off Your Reviews
In an increasingly digital world, reviews play an important role in a brand’s success. For businesses to improve, they often ask for consumer feedback in exchange for cash. You can find companies that will pay you to try their product or service, or review purchases you’ve already made in exchange for discounts. For instance, Fabletics will give you extra bonus points, allowing you to build up to a paid credit, for every review you make online.
- Time: Low
- Earnings: $5–$30 an hour
5. Sell Household Items on eBay or Amazon
If you aren’t using something in your house, consider selling it. For example, you could have a couch or organizational bins that you don’t use anymore — sell them! Start by creating an account, take pictures of your sellables, and post them on eBay or Amazon. List each item at a price that works best for you.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: Pay varies by item
- Extra tools: Camera or phone
6. Rent Your Gadgets by the Hour
Electronic waste increased by 21 percent between 2014 and 2019. To avoid the waste, you could make money off gadgets you don’t use while helping the planet. Websites like Aarons, Rent-A-Center, and Flexshopper find users willing to rent out various items. All you have to do is fill out your profile, post your products for rent, and earn extra monthly revenue.
- Time: Low
- Earnings: Up to $3,000 a month
- Extra tools: Electronics, camera, or phone
7. Enter Data Online
Many companies need help adding files into databases. For example, a medical office may not have time to add their client documents into the database every day. To help out, you could get paid by the hour to add data to online platforms during your free time. The hourly wage varies, but in most cases, it’s between $10 and $30 an hour.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $10–$30 an hour
8. Create and Sell Your Own Printables
Do you have an eye for design and organization? You could start up an Etsy account or build your own digital ecommerce website to sell printables. Selling digital products is a great way to earn passive income. All it takes is the initial time to create and post your favorite pieces to earn money while you sleep. Keep in mind, you may have to pay for your website, an Etsy business account, and an illustrator subscription to create the product.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: Pay varies by item
- Extra tools: Illustrator platform (Canva, PicMonkey, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.)
9. Sell Your Unused Clothes Online
If you have unused clothes taking up space in your closet, sell them! Post them on websites like Poshmark, thredUP or The RealReal to make some cash. Each season, you can clean out your closet and earn enough to buy a few new pieces or add to your savings. Start by taking photos of the items you don’t want and post them online to see how much you could earn.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: Pay varies by item
- Extra tools: Camera or phone
10. Become a Product Tester
New inventions normally go through countless rounds of testing. These testing stages ensure every bug is figured out before it reaches paying customers. In most cases, brands will pay you to try out these new products. Toluna, Nielsen, Vindale Research, and Pinecone Research are a few platforms that help you find products to test for some extra green.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $10–$20 an hour
11. Bake (or Meal Prep) for Others
If you know how to make special treats and love to be in the kitchen, you could start a business based on your skills. You could earn $200–$400 a month by taking in special baking requests for up to 20 hours per week. Or, you could meal prep for neighbors that don’t have time or don’t like to cook. Companies like Snap Kitchen have capitalized on these services, yet yours could be fresher and have a small business touch.
- Time: Medium to high
- Earnings: Pay varies by item
- Extra tools: Camera or phone
12. Transcribe by the Hour
With an abundance of podcasts, YouTube videos, and movies, many creators need transcribed copies of their work. In most cases, they hire out for it. Whether you’re good at typing or looking for a way to practice these skills, freelance as a transcriber. Get paid $15–30 an hour to transcribe audio.
- Time: Medium to high
- Earnings: $15–30 an hour
13. Start a Garden and Sell Your Produce
If you have a green thumb, get paid for it. Start your own garden and sell your produce. Start by marketing your side hustle on social media or create a web page for locals to check out. Sell your produce by food item or put together grocery boxes for those ready to stock up each week.
- Time: High
- Earnings: Pay varies by item
- Extra tools: Garden space, gardening materials
14. Rent Out Your Clothes
You may have clothes you don’t use but don’t want to get rid of — maybe your old prom dress or suit? You can still keep your items, but free up some space by renting them out. StyleLend, Loanables, and RentNotBuy are a few platforms that allow you to rent out your favorite items. From costumes to dresses, you could earn a monthly profit off your unused items.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: Pay varies by item
- Extra tools: Camera or phone
15. Play Online Games
Gaming can be a great way to relax, especially if you can get paid for it. If you have a gaming setup or a smartphone, create a side hustle off of your gaming interests. Cash Crate, Appcent, Applike, and AppNana are a few platforms that pay between $10 and $15 an hour playing video games. Just sit down, relax, and see how much you could earn by having some fun!
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $10–15 an hour
- Extra tools: Gaming electronics, gaming supplies, and/or a smartphone
16. Make Money Off SkillShare
To showcase your skills and help others, you could share how-to videos on SkillShare similarly to YouTube. To do this, create an account and post helpful lessons on anything you’d like. For instance, how to make a digital downloadable printable could be a lesson. Each minute watched on your channel can earn you between $0.05 and $0.10.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $0.05-0.10 per minute watched
- Extra tools: Phone or camera, editing software
17. Earn Cashback From Everything You Buy
If you’re a frequent shopper, consider earning cash back each purchase you make. When shopping online, extensions like Honey or Gumdrop can earn you that cash back. When you’re making a trip to your local store, cash back credit cards may be more beneficial. As long as you pay off the balance on time, you could earn a profit from everyday purchases.
- Time: Low
- Earnings: Varies in earnings
- Extra tools: Apps or website extensions, cash back credit cards
18. Start Investing (If You Haven’t Already)
Investing could help grow your money year after year and there are many different options depending on your risk tolerance. If you have room in your budget, why not make a profit off of it? Check out our top low-risk investments with high returns for a few investing ideas.
- Time: Low
- Earnings: Stocks can earn you roughly 7–10 percent, other investments vary
Easy Ways for Kids to Make Money at Home:
To learn how to budget your money, you must first learn how to make it. Before you’re legally able to start a full-time job, you may be looking for side gigs to help you save. Eating out with your friends or paying for a new toy could be your prize for all the hard work. Check out our favorite side hustles for kids below.
19. Start a Kids YouTube Toy Channel
Oddly enough, you could make hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on YouTube. Simply opening toys could bring in thousands of dollars per year. For example, JoJo Siwa made roughly $9,600 a day from her rapidly growing kids YouTube channel. Keep in mind, starting a YouTube channel does require consent from a guardian over 18.
- Time: Medium to high
- Earnings: $1,000–5,000 in ad revenue for every million views
- Extra tools: Phone or camera, editing software
20. Sell Your Family Crafts Online
Have a craft night at home and then sell your artwork! You could make anything from Christmas ornaments to painted canvases. To sell your art, post your favorites on Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, or your own ecommerce website. Inform your loved ones of the sale and ask them to share on social media.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: Pay varies by item
- Extra tools: Camera or phone, art supplies
21. Add Your Drawings to T-Shirts and Sell Online
If you have an eye for fashion and art, sell your drawings on a t-shirt. Create an Etsy account or start up your own website, with your guardian’s permission, to sell your items. Before creating your t-shirts, you will have to purchase blank ones and invest in an ecommerce store.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: Pay varies by item
- Extra tools: Camera or phone, art materials, t-shirts
22. Craft Your Owns Stories to Sell
Do you love reading and storytelling? Work with your loved ones to curate your own story. Once it’s perfected, put it into a book. You could make each book by hand or create digital and bound books using Blurb. Sell your story to your closest loved ones or reach out to local publishers.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: Up to $10,000 (if published), plus royalties for every copy that sells
- Extra tools: Art supplies (optional)
23. Make and Sell Candy Bouquets
For special occasions, most of us are looking for ways to indulge. To help others celebrate achievements, holidays, or special occasions, create candy bouquets. Purchase candy, a vase, small sticks, and tape to complete your bouquet. Upcharge your masterpiece by selling each one for $10–$40.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $10–$40 for each bouquet
- Extra tools: Candy bouquet materials, camera, or phone
24. Teach Online Music Lessons
Your loved ones may have already put you through music lessons, and if they have, help others do the same! Teach kids in your community how to play the piano, guitar, or even drums online. You could fit this side hustle into your after-school schedule and add it to your resume.
- Time: Low
- Earnings: Up to $50 an hour
- Extra tools: Video software, musical instruments
Creative Ways for Teens to Make Money at Home
As you get closer to high school graduation, you may be gearing up to start saving for the future. Before earning your diploma, having a full savings account is an important goal you can reach by side hustling.
25. Start a Blog (and Earn Money Off Ads)
Create a platform to share your passion. This passion could be fashion, career, music, reading, or even finance. Buy a domain and learn how to create your own website. Share all your favorite stories, tips, and advice on this site and add it to your resume. Place ads on your site or earn sponsorships as you make your way through school. Over time, each post could make you an extra $750.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $25–750 a post
- Extra tools: Illustration software, domain, website template (optional)
26. Test Out Affiliate Marketing
If you love to shop and have great taste, you could earn commissions off your purchases. Sign up for affiliate marketing programs like LikeToKnowIt, Amazon Associates, Solvid Affiliate, or eBay Partner Network. Every time a link you give out is used for a purchase, you earn a percentage of the sale. Add these links to your social media accounts and website pages, or send them directly to your loved ones.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $100–$10,000 a month
- Extra tools: Website or social media accounts
27. Love to Write? Proofread for Some Cash
If you love to write and read, you could be qualified to proofread copy by the hour. To find proofreading side hustles, create an account on a freelancing website like Upwork. Set your desired hourly wage and take on projects whenever you have free time. Your skills could help improve someone’s resume or research report.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $25–50 an hour
28. Tutor
Based on your expertise, you could help tutor those in need of extra help. Create a profile on a freelancing platform or reach out to your local community. Tutor your favorite subjects: Writing, art, music, math, or science. Post your tutoring services on your social media accounts or create a profile on a freelance site like UpWork.
- Time: Low to medium
- Earnings: $10–$75 an hour
- Extra tools: Video software
29. Pet Sit During Your Free Time
To make extra money and get your animal fix, pet sit during your free time or over the holidays. Apply to websites like Rover or Fetch! to connect with pet owners in your area. You’ll take care of the pet at your own home so you won’t have to worry about coordinating at someone else’s house. You could earn $15–90 an hour by watching your favorite furry friends.
- Time: Medium to high
- Earnings: $15–90 an hour
- Extra tools: Camera or smartphone for pictures, a pet-friendly living arrangement
30. Start a Podcast
For those that like to chat, start a podcast. Bring on your favorite guests or go solo to talk about subjects important to you. Start by picking out a name, creating a website, and brainstorm your first 10 episodes. Before starting, consider investing in a microphone, stand, and any other electronics needed.
- Time: High
- Earnings: $500–900 per episode per 10,000 downloads
- Extra tools: Podcasting equipment, editing software
Legitimate Ways for College Students and Young Adults to Make Money From Home
College is all about building your resume and learning what you do and don’t want to do as you grow into your career. To learn new skills, take on jobs from home to learn what you want to pursue as a young adult. Not only can you discover what interests you, but you could also earn money while doing it.
31. Get an Online Internship
Get a head start in your future career and reach out to professionals about online internships. Attend virtual career fairs, contact your college career center, or reach out to your professional network for opportunities. Not only are you able to make some extra cash, but internships are a great way to build your resume.
- Time: Medium to high
- Earnings: $10–20 an hour
32. Freelance Your Skills
Have a passion for video editing, creating graphics, writing, or podcasting? Utilize your skills by applying to a freelancing website — add your resume, your hourly rate, and your expertise to get started. Those in need of your skills will reach out to hire you. Plus, this is a great way to earn money and find new career opportunities.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: Varies
- Extra tools: Other tools depending on your skills
33. Become a Social Media Mogul
If you find yourself scrolling social media more than you should, you may have an eye for social media marketing — a skill many brands hire for. Reach out to local businesses or add social media marketing to your freelancing profile. Connect with those that pay $15–80 an hour to connect with their community using social media.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $15–$80 per hour
- Extra tools: Smartphone, social media planning and management tools (optional)
34. Plan Trips for Those That Travel Frequently
While COVID-19 has slowed down travel, many still have to travel frequently. Whether these trips are for work or fun, many can’t be bothered with the planning. If you love organizing, creating schedules, and researching, plan trips for those that don’t like to. Post your skills on social media or a freelancing website to connect with those looking for your expertise.
- Time: Medium to high
- Earnings: Commission and earning fees vary
35. Be a Customer Service Representative
If you love to connect with strangers while running your weekly errands, you could make a great customer service representative. While many customer service professionals work in person, many others work remotely for ecommerce websites. To suit customers’ needs, work as a part-time, full-time, or freelance customer service representative. All you’ll need is a computer and maybe a phone or video software.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $14–20 an hour
- Extra tools: Video software and/or phone
36. Buy and Sell Website Domains
If you’ve ever heard of house flipping, there’s something similar called domain flipping. Instead of buying a house and renovating it, you could buy a website domain and clean it up. If you have an interest in coding, consider purchasing used domains for cheap to renovate. Not only could you earn up to $300 for each domain you resell, but you could practice your coding skills.
- Time: High
- Earnings: Up to $300 per domain
- Extra tools: Coding or website building tools (optional)
37. Research For Others on TaskRabbit
Some companies need conductive research done on different industries, consumer markets, or even on their own company.
To help out, you could get hired on TaskRabbit to conduct research for businesses or independent employees. You could earn anywhere from $17–$80 an hour to complete research tasks. To get hired, create an account, fill out your profile, and market yourself on social media.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $17-80 an hour
38. Start An Online Community (That Pays)
If you have a loyal following, you could create a unique platform just for them. For instance, websites like Patreon help users create communities through a monthly subscription plan. You’re able to share exclusive content, connect with your community, and earn money. Market this idea on your social media and to your closest loved ones to show support.
- Time: High
- Earnings: Varies in earnings
- Extra tools: Social media
39. Monetize Your Car with Ridesharing
You may have a car, but spend most of your time at home. While you’re spending your day without using your vehicle, rent it out using Turo. You could be able to earn up to $1,000 a month. This money could go to your gas, car insurance, or your car payment (if you have one). Plus, you could earn spare cash to invest and grow your earnings.
- Time: Low to Medium
- Earnings: Up to $1,000 a month
- Extra tools: Smartphone (for app communication) and vehicle
Remote-Friendly Ways for Seniors to Make Money from Home:
You may have fulfilled your career and opted for retirement. Or, you may be ready to start a new venture on top of your current job. For easy ways to make money and teach others about your lessons learned, keep reading below.
40. Rent Out Your Unused Living Spaces
Having unused space could earn you a profit. Whether you have an unused guest house, spare room, or even a full apartment, consider renting it out. Depending on your location, square footage, and amenities, you could earn more than your mortgage or rent payments. Websites like Airbnb, Vrbo, and HouseTrip help connect short-term renters with landlords.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $200–800 a month
- Extra tools: Smartphone (for app usage and communication) and extra space
41. Try Your Hand at Entrepreneurship
Thirteen percent of Americans between 55 and 64 started a new business in 2019 — it’s never too late! You could start anything from an online store or bootstrapping your own media agency. Investing in your passions could keep you busy and earn you money on the side.
- Time: High
- Earnings: Varies in earnings
- Extra tools: Other tools depending on your interest
42. Rent Your Extra Driveway Space
Your extra driveway space could be more valuable than you think. If you have a driveway in a safe area going unused, you could rent it out. Customers can park their campers, boats, four wheelers, cars, or trucks. You can make up to $320 a month on a platform like Boxcar.
- Time: Low
- Earnings: Up to $320 a month
- Extra tools: Driveway, camera, or phone for pictures
43. Refurbish Furniture
Refurbishing old furniture could make you a lot of money and be a fun side project. If you frequently find used furniture to flip for your own living space, you could also start a business. Consider flipping furniture and selling it on Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, on your social media platforms, or your own website.
- Time: High
- Earnings: Varies in earnings
- Extra tools: Computer, refurbishing tools, camera or smartphone
44. Help With Resume Writing
You may have already gone through your career and learned some valuable lessons. To help others get started on their own career journey, help write and edit resumes. Charge $50–$75 per resume to bring in extra side hustled profit. Taking it a step further, design resume templates to sell to your favorite customers at a premium.
- Time: Low to high
- Earnings: $50–75 per resume
- Extra tools: Scripting software or illustrator (optional)
Working from home is the perfect way to earn money. You could be traveling the world or enjoying your morning coffee in your PJs while making money. Whether you’re looking to start a side gig or a full-time job, doing it from your couch is a great option. Who knows, you could uncover a new passion or pay off your credit card debt.
(Published in partnership with Intuit Mint. To learn how to budget these earnings, download the mint app.)
