Right now we’re constantly hearing about “unprecedented times” and “uncertainty”. There are more question marks than answers. Legislation is in limbo. A major concern for many of us is money. Not just money, but income.
Cash dollars (well, not cash, because of germs and we’re in a pandemic). You get my drift. So I wanted to share some ways that you can make money with cashback, side hustles, and more. These are affiliate or referral links that help support this site but I only recommend stuff I use personally or think offers value to you. Read on to learn how you can make money relatively quickly.
1. Pei
My top expenses happen to be Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Target, In and out (don’t judge me), and formerly Lyft. Using Pei, a cashback rewards app, I get points when I spend money at those places. In the past year or so, I’ve gotten around $75. The best thing is you can use it for gift cards OR get it straight to your PayPal in dollars. Use my code to get $5 when you sign up: giekzm.
2. KashKick
If you want to earn money from surfing the web, taking surveys, and watching videos then you need to check out KashKick. Your earnings get deposited straight into PayPal.
3. Drop
Drop is another cash back app that is similar to Pei. You can earn rewards on your everyday purchases that you can use towards gift cards later on. I’ve had free Starbucks for a while because of this app.
4. Fetch
Going to the grocery store can take a big bite out of your budget. So why not get some cash back when you go to the store? When you use Fetch and snap your receipts, you get points that can be turned into rewards later.
5. Sell your old stuff
Now is the perfect time to purge. You can sell your old stuff on Offer Up, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Poshmark.
6. Find side gigs
When I was paying off debt, I found gigs on TaskRabbit and Craigslist. I helped someone move once, planned a 40th birthday party, and even sold water bottles at a rave (true story). Some of these gigs might not be on the table right now because of COVID, but check out what’s there. I legit saw a gig for a temperature taker on Craigslist recently.
7. Sell your service
Is there something you’re really good at? Are you good at translating or design? What about freelance writing or tech stuff? How about being a virtual assistant? You want to look at your passions and strengths to see what you can offer as a service. You can create a website on Wix or Weebly and get started. Start telling friends and family and cold pitch prospective clients.
8. Sign up for Instacart or Shipt
If you’re willing to go *out there*, you can earn money as an Instacart or Shipt grocery shopper. I spoke to someone last week who said that these tips are better than other apps like Postmates (which is another money-making option). Also, if you’re close with your neighbors and want to be semi-isolated why not see if you can work with them directly to buy groceries?
9. Stalk social media
You can find gigs on social media. Join community Facebook groups, Next Door, and Twitter. I have found writing work on Twitter (btw, I have a workshop coming up on Tuesday about it!) and connected with clients through Facebook groups. You can join groups in your field, connect with others, and find gigs.
10. Sell your creations on Etsy or Zazzle
If you’re a creative type and have physical goods that you create or want to make, Etsy and Zazzle could be a good option to make money. Why not make fun masks or gloves? Remember, someone made a bunch of money with the pet rock.
If you have an idea for a printable that someone could use, you can also sell a digital download on Etsy as well. You can create it once and then have people buy it an indefinite amount of times. Check out my money inventory example.
11. Become a pet sitter/dog walker
Though work might be slow with everyone home, some people are starting to travel. That’s where being a pet sitter or dog walker can come in handy. Get on Rover.com to see about getting work in your area.
12. Sell electronics
Do you have an old iPhone? Other electronics sitting around? Sell your electronics for cash on Gazelle.
13. Flip stuff
If you get free stuff in your neighborhood, you can flip it and earn more. If you find something at a great deal or buy in bulk, you could sell it a higher price and make a profit. I know people who have taken stuff they have found and sold it for good money.
Right now earning money is key. Figure out ways you can get cash back, make more with side hustles and declutter and pad your savings account in the meantime. These are hard times, so be kind to yourself and do what you can.
Melanie Lockert is the founder of the blog and author of the book, Dear Debt. Through her blog, she chronicled her journey out of $81,000 in student loan debt. She is also the co-founder of the Lola Retreat, which helps bold women face their fears, own their dreams and figure out a plan to be in control of their finances. She is passionate about empowering women, helping others get out of debt, and focuses on the intersection of debt and mental health. Every September she organizes a Suicide Prevention Awareness Blog Tour, to help share resources for those struggling with debt and suicide. In addition to her love of personal finance, art and music, she is also a karaoke master and a cat mom to Miles and Thelonious.