How to Earn Extra Money Online: Cash Jobs From Home

Since 2021, inflation rates for the US have skyrocketed in comparison to previous years. You can’t stretch the dollar as far as you could before, so you need to be smarter about your financial situation. Otherwise, you won’t be able to build up a decent savings account.

Working a traditional 9-to-5 job may get your bills paid, but you need more money. Or maybe you have health issues so you can’t leave the house often. Either way, you’re looking to make money online from the comfort of your own home.

Read on for some great cash jobs from home you can do to earn money conveniently.

Writing and Editing

Those who have a creative flair can write a variety of works to “sell” online. From fiction to non-fiction, you can type out novels and guides to show off what you know.

Even if you’re not creative, as long as you have a solid grasp of the English language, you should do fine with writing. This is especially true if you’ve been to university and are familiar with research and writing formal papers.

To take it a step further, and to have more freelance opportunities, you can also offer editing services. This is a fantastic opportunity for those who have great attention to detail and a knack for fixing words.

Depending on your services, there are several places to get clients. For example, if you’re doing academic editing, you can post on your local university’s Facebook page or forum. Or if you’re writing ebooks, you can post or browse platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer.

To help attract clients, you should put together a resume and portfolio of your work. Showing proof of your writing and/or editing prowess will help convince people that you’re the right person for the job.

Graphic Design

Have you dabbled in graphic design to make your own unique products or websites? Or do you like doing digital drawing to create beautiful pieces of artwork? Well, it’s time you turn your tech hobby into one that earns you some money.

What’s good about being a tech enthusiast is that you’ve spent time honing your skills in a genuinely interesting fashion. After slowly adding to an impressive portfolio, you can then transfer the same passion to your clients’ orders.

Those who like to take bigger risks can try and create for themselves instead of clients. You can then put these designs on items like t-shirts and notepads to sell in an online shop.

There’s growing concern that AI will take over many careers, and graphic design is one of them. However, AI tools can help instead of hinder professionals, so embrace the change instead of fearing it. If you’re at the forefront of figuring out how to incorporate AI into your work, then you’ll be ahead of the pack by miles.

Virtual Assistance

One of the most popular remote work options is virtual assistance. Many businesses struggle to manage administrative tasks, especially if they’re small and/or just starting. Often, the owners are frazzled trying to handle everything on their own, so they’ll be more than happy to hire a virtual assistant to lighten their load.

In this role, you’ll basically act as their secretary. This means you need to have good organizational skills, as well as be adept at multitasking and communication. Not only will you have to speak often with your clients, but you’ll also have to be the middleman with third parties such as vendors, partners, and clients.

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge regarding administrative software. This includes the Microsoft Office Suite or Google Workspace, collaboration tools (i.e. Trello), and communication platforms (i.e. Slack). 

Customer Support

One of the side hustles online that’s similar to virtual assistance is customer support. If you don’t like planning and coordinating for people, then this is a suitable alternative.

To work in customer support, you’ll have to be thoroughly trained and well-versed in a company’s inner workings. After that though, you pretty much just have to be on call during certain hours.

When your clients’ customers call, you’ll help them troubleshoot whatever issues they’re having. Understandably, these people may be frustrated or even angry, so they may take it out on you. You’ll have to have a thick skin, and you need to be able to keep cool.

Otherwise, this gig is ideal for those who like to solve problems and help people out. Having a pleasant disposition can be a huge plus too, as you’ll be able to talk down high-tension situations.

Consulting

Are you an expert in a certain field and have years of experience? Then an avenue you can explore is consulting work.

This is an outstanding way to earn extra money without going back into the field directly. Plus, you can put your knowledge to good use, and it’s satisfying knowing that your expertise has enabled other people to flourish.

To do online consulting, you’ll need to know how to work with communication tools like Zoom or Google Meet. This job also requires a stable internet connection, as well as a high-quality webcam and microphone. Without these things, your clients won’t get an enriching experience, and they may be quick to stop their sessions with you.

If you’re wondering about where to get clients from, check out industry-related forums. These are places where people pose questions and get advice, and if you can show that you’re confident and competent, they’ll be interested in learning more from you.

Tutoring

People are always thirsty for knowledge, yet some aren’t the best at learning on their own. Real success comes from guidance, and you may be able to offer that.

If you excelled in school, then you can give your tips and tricks to those struggling to squeak by. You can also keep them on track and motivate them to not only complete schoolwork, but to have real interest in subjects too.

Those currently in higher education can benefit from tutoring as well. Teaching others can be a form of studying for you, and you’ll ace your tests.

In addition, if you’re multilingual, then you’re at a huge advantage. In the US, 78.3% of those older than 5 speak only English at home. This means that there’s a huge chance that Americans want to learn other languages, and you’ll be right there to teach them.

Like with tutoring, you’ll need a stable internet connection, familiarity with communication software, and a good webcam/microphone.

Online Courses

Online courses are an excellent way to expand your tutoring services. They’re also an outstanding alternative if you don’t want to have constant one-on-one interactions.

This route does require you to put in a huge initial effort, as you’ll have to painstakingly plan out your courses, then record them. Plus, you’ll have to piece the clips coherently and add in relevant images and/or videos.

However, once you’re through, the tough part’s over. What’s left is for you to upload the courses to sites where your target audience is. You may also have to market these videos yourself, depending on what the platforms you use do for their customers.

Content Creation

Creatives will thrive in this area for online income ideas. You have several choices here, depending on what your strengths are.

Many people blog, as it’s easy to get your thoughts out on paper. Attach a few gorgeous images for something more visual, hit “publish,” and you’re done.

Of course, you’ll have to market your blog posts, but the world’s your oyster as far as what to write about. To make money though, you’ll have to monetize it throguh ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing.

If you enjoy talking and conversing, then podcasting may suit you. You can talk about the topics you’re passionate about, and invite guests to discuss them with you. Earn money through sponsorships, listener donations, or premium content.

Otherwise, try your hand at making videos. You can then put them on YouTube and make money from home through ads, sponsorships, and even merchandise if you get popular enough.

Online Store

As we’ve mentioned earlier, you can combine graphic designing with online selling by putting your designs on merchandise. To cut down on waste, you can opt for “print on demand” products. Create custom designs for items like t-shirts, mugs, or phone cases, and these aren’t printed and sent out until someone orders them.

But you don’t necessarily have to stick with digital things. You can profit from your hobbies by putting your creations online. For example, if you like to knit or crochet, you can list amigurumi dolls on your Etsy shop.

Another way to sell online is to drop ship; you won’t have to buy and store inventory, as dropshipping eliminates this step. Instead, you work with a supplier or manufacturer, list their products, and then forward the orders when customers make them. Your main task is to market the online store and items.

Surveys

This online work choice may not be the most lucrative, but it isn’t difficult at all. As long as you have a computer and an internet connection, companies will pay you for simply giving your opinion and experience on things.

Not all paid surveys are created equally though, so maximize your earnings by being selective. You should also register on multiple platforms to get as many surveys in as possible.

What’s great about survey taking is that it doesn’t take up much time. You can sit down and complete one in a few minutes, ensuring that you won’t get bored. Of course, you can do a bunch in a row if that’s what you prefer.

Slowly, but surely, you’ll earn enough money to cash out for some necessities. Some sites may give you points instead of cash, but those are still worth considering since you can redeem those points for useful items or services.

Focus Groups

Focus groups are similar to surveys in that companies will pay you for your thoughts and opinions. However, the main difference is that as the name implies, you’re in a group setting rather than an individual one (usually six to 10 people). Businesses can see how consumers interact with one another and form opinions that way.

Traditionally, these are done in person; but this has obviously changed with the prevalent use of the internet. Today, you can log onto phone calls or video chat sessions to weigh in on products and services. This allows you to make money without stepping foot outside.

Expect to spend a few hours per session, so you’ll have to carve out a chunk of your schedule if you’re booked for a focus group.

Investing and Trading

Investing and trading is perhaps what will pay off the most on this list, but it also comes with the biggest risk. If you invest a decent proportion of your savings and it turns out to be a bad decision, you can end up with no financial safety net.

In addition, if you don’t already have a background in this industry, you’ll have to do some major studying. Not only can you put your money in stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), but you can trade or invest in cryptocurrencies too.

For something on the safer side, consider peer-to-peer lending. You can earn interest by lending money to either individuals or small businesses. There are plenty of online platforms that facilitate this process, so research them thoroughly to find ones that suit your needs.

Try These Cash Jobs From Home

Long gone are the days when if you couldn’t get out of the house, you couldn’t earn money. The beauty of the internet is there are many cash jobs from home you can do.

From graphic design, virtual assistance, and content creation to investing and trading, there’s no lack of avenues to explore. And if you have the resources, you can even combine a few of these income streams to pad your savings account more.

If you’d like more information about getting your finances in order, then read our blog post on financial freedom. IncomeFindr is here to help you earn money at your own pace.