12 Ways to Make Extra Money in Your Spare Time

Posted on May 08, 2020 by Andreas Jones, One of Thousands of Money and Finance Coaches on Noomii.

They say money can’t buy happiness. It can’t buy freedom, either. But having a little extra dough in your bank account each month certainly makes obtaining these much easier.

Whether you’re looking to save for a down payment on a house or to reduce the stress of crippling debt or tap into the emotional benefits of saving money, there are many ways to make extra money.

But not all side gigs are created equal. Some can be done while you’re on a beach sipping mojitos. Others might require you burn the midnight oil. Some might bring in an extra $200 a month, while others can make over $2,000. It’s not always clear which side hustles are legit and which ones simply add the stress of another full-time job to your plate.

That’s why we’ve rounded up the ways to make extra money — without investing too much time or effort.

12 ways to make extra money
1. Be a user tester

When websites and apps are having user experience issues, they hire companies like UserTesting to help them find out why. You can join a UserTesting panel where you’ll test out different websites and apps. After each 20-minute test, which involves recording your thoughts on what’s not working, you’ll earn up to $60 — and hopefully, the site or app fixes those frustrating problems. It’s a win-win. Other user experience testing sites include Analysia and TryMyUI.

2. Rent out your parking space or car

Have an unused parking spot, garage, driveway, even curbside? Live in a city that’s strapped for parking? You can make some serious cash from people who want to rent a parking space. Companies like JustPark, Spot, and Pavement can help you make extra money by renting out your empty parking space.

Alternatively, if your car spends a lot of time just sitting in your driveway, consider renting that out instead. Companies like Getaround, Turo, and Maven can help you make extra money with your car. Earning potential varies by car and location, but standard vehicles typically rent for $30 to $50 per day.

3. Advertise on your car

If you spend a lot of time driving your car around town, then the best way to make extra money might be to offer it up to an advertising agency. Depending on what you drive, where you drive, and how many miles you drive, you might be eligible to put advertising on your car.

Be warned: Some fraudsters set up cashier’s check scams, so make sure you’re working with a legitimate company, such as Wrapify, Carvertise or Pay Me for Driving. These companies will ask about your car and driving habits and require you to have car insurance. If they ask you for money or don’t have contact information on their website, walk away.

4. Drive people around

Another way to monetize your car is to become a driver for Lyft or Uber. It’s great because you can drive as much or as little you want whenever you want. Plus, think about all the interesting conversations you’ll have along the way.

5. Drive food around

If you’re not much of a conversationalist, consider becoming a driver for Postmates, Grubhub, Uber Eats or Instacart. You get paid per delivery, and if you’re good, you can even earn tips.

Don’t have a car? No problem! Postmates lets you use a bike, scooter, or your own two feet to make deliveries.

6. Do online surveys

Another way to make extra money or earn gift cards is by taking online surveys. Now, this isn’t the biggest moneymaker on the list, but it is one of the less labor-intensive options. Reputable survey sites include Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, MyPoints, and Vindale Research.

Keep in mind that these sites are looking for specific criteria, so you probably won’t be eligible for every survey. That’s why it pays to sign up for several of these survey sites. You’ll not only be eligible for more surveys, but then you’ll also be able to pick the ones that pay the most money.

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7. Save your change

What if every time you made a purchase or transferred money out of your bank account, you rounded up to the nearest dollar and swept that money into your investment account? That’s what Acorns Save Your Change does for you.

For example, if you buy a cup of coffee for $3.50, Save Your Change will round that up and move 50 cents from your bank account to your investment account. Over the course of a year, you could save over $300.

8. Become a Tasker

If you like lifting heavy things, putting together Ikea furniture, organizing closets, or doing yard work, then consider signing up for TaskRabbit. TaskRabbit connects people who need something done with people willing to do it. Taskers can be paid at an hourly rate or a per-task price (minus a service fee), with the highest-paying jobs being moving, cleaning, delivering things across town, and being a handyman.

9. Try tutoring

More brain than brawn? Try tutoring instead. Subjects range from reading and math to Spanish and English as a second language to computer science and test prep. Popular sites for online tutoring include Tutor, TutorMe, Skooli, and Chegg, which claims that its top tutors can earn over $1,000 a month.

10. Shop at a Dosh partner

To save money while you spend it, sign up for Dosh and link your credit and debit cards. Then whenever you shop at a Dosh partner location using one of the cards connected to your account, you can receive up to 10 percent cash back automatically in your Dosh Wallet. Dosh partner locations include Sam’s Club, Dunkin’ Donuts, Pier 1 Imports, Pizza Hut, 1-800 Flowers, Jack in the Box, Sephora, and Cost Plus World Market. When you’re ready to cash out, simply transfer your earnings to a bank account or PayPal.

11. Become a dog walker or sitter

If you love dogs — and spending time outside — consider becoming a dog walker with apps like Wag and Rover. Like Uber and Lyft, you can walk whenever it fits your schedule, earning up to $1,000 a month.

Both companies also offer sitting services, so if your home is dog-friendly, you can earn up to $60 a night pet-sitting for others in your town. Sitters who offer boarding as well can make up to two times more than sitters who don’t, according to Rover.

12. Become a house-sitter

Prefer people? HouseSitter has nearly 10,000 house-sitting opportunities. House-sitters can make up to $45 a day, according to the company’s website.

There are so many ways to make extra money in your spare time. If you try a few of these proven side hustles, you could move one step closer to hitting your money goals, whether that’s paying off debt, saving up for your dream vacation, or putting a little extra toward retirement.