The last few years have been rough on the bank accounts of Americans, and inflation will almost certainly result in a recession.
It’s a good idea to try to save up as much money as you can. The problem is that it can be pretty hard when you’re broke. It’s still possible to save money, but it’s going to require a little creativity and a lot of dedication. The first step is to try to increase your monthly income.
Thankfully, we still exist in the gig economy: there are plenty of opportunities for passive income, and many extra cash gigs can help you earn money online. You’ve likely heard about the benefits of starting an online business, becoming a freelance writer or blogger, or revving up a YouTube channel to start as an influencer.
This article will review ways to make money online for beginners.
You won’t need much upfront know-how or years of experience as a business owner, just an internet connection and some willpower. These online jobs and opportunities can bring in a reasonable amount of money. Read on to learn more.
What Are Some Ways To Make Money Online?
Many people have turned to a second job to help boost their income. But that’s not always an option for everyone, and it might not be enough for others. If you need some extra money, here are a few options that you can try for free online:
1. Join Yotta
Yotta is first on this list because it’s the easiest way to get paid. The less that you do, the more that you can make. Seriously. It’s all possible due to the concept of prize-linked savings. Spending less money can increase the opportunity for you to win more prizes.
Most banks reward their customers in the form of interest payments. This money is based on a percentage of their account balance. A typical interest rate for such an account is only about 0.01% annually.
Yotta operates differently. Instead of interest payments, you get paid through sweepstakes entries. A new drawing takes place each night at 9 PM EST. Six numbers get drawn: five regular numbers and one YottaBall. Depending on how numbers you match, you could receive anywhere from a few cents to the grand prize of $1 million.
You receive one ticket for each $25 in your account. A balance of $10,000 would give you 400 tickets for each drawing. Even with bad luck, you should be able to win several prizes after 365 days of drawings.
The best part is that it doesn’t cost you anything. Your account balance stays the same even if you don’t match any numbers of any tickets. You can’t lose a dime, but you might win $1 million.
Yotta does not hold any customer funds. Deposits are held with Evolve Bank & Trust, member FDIC. Funds held with Evolve Bank & Trust, member FDIC are eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000.
You can easily open a Yotta account and deposit any money from the other options you choose from this list. The less you spend, the more stays in your account, and the more chances you’ll have to win some serious money.
2. Answer Online Surveys
49% of women say they wash their hair every day. 38% of Millennials say they have at least one tattoo. 69% of parents say their family has at least one pet. You can find statements like these all over the internet.
In some cases, the writer uses the information to convey a specific point. But most of the time, the information comes from legitimate surveys with paid participants.
The pay rates vary based on the survey conductor and the estimated completion time. Survey sites like Survey Junkie conduct market research, and you can find them pretty easily on any search engine.
You shouldn’t expect to get paid enough to replace your day job. Still, surveys about digital products, business ideas, or other niche topics entrepreneurs may be interested in can bring in a lot of money.
You’ll only be getting a few quarters for each survey or maybe a few dollars at the very most. Sometimes, you’ll receive gift cards or “Swagbucks” for your surveys. However, a few perks make this a viable option for an additional side hustle.
For starters, you’ll be able to make your own schedule and participate on your terms.
The other major perk is that answering surveys is as easy as it gets — you don’t need any prior knowledge, and there are no wrong answers. It’s just as easy as it sounds. Make sure to look for the best rates, and don’t be afraid to use multiple sites.
3. Play Games Online
The mobile game industry is extremely popular. The latest statistics estimate that around 2.7 billion people play games on their cell phones.
The vast majority of these gamers play casually to kill time and have a few quick dopamine hits. However, a few gamers out there play to make some extra money.
Many of these games are the mobile version of real-life games of chance. For example, tons of bingo games are available for download that pay out various sums of money to the winners.
You won’t be making hundreds of dollars for a win, but some apps pay more than $1 per win. Playing frequently and winning can quickly add to a decent chunk of change.
It’s not just bingo games that can pay you, either. You’ve undoubtedly seen advertisements for fantasy sports apps that feature huge prizes.
But there are plenty of card games, such as solitaire, spades, and poker. You can play dice games, dominoes, or puzzle games. You can even play games like pool and bowling.
The chances are high that you can find a similar game to the ones you’ve been playing. The difference is you’ll earn real money instead of playing for fun.
Just ensure you aren’t breaking any gambling laws in your state. Technically, these games can be considered gambling, so you’ll need to be careful.
4. Sell Your Old Stuff
Saturday morning yard sales have been a staple in American neighborhoods for a long time. Neighbors from all over town can browse your old stuff and buy a used item for a fair discount.
You make a little extra money and have the bonus of decluttering your space. It’s a win for everyone. The problem is that yard sales don’t have the same appeal as in the ‘50s and ‘60s.
People aren’t just aimlessly driving around various neighborhoods on Saturday mornings hoping to spot a deal. Instead, they just go online to certain websites and scroll through their offers. It’s improbable that you’ll see enough foot traffic to see everything.
Besides, hosting a yard sale means sitting outside all day and bartering with customers over old t-shirts and video games. That’s quite a time commitment, and it can be a real hassle dealing with some people.
That’s why it’s much better to list your old stuff online. There are several different options that you can choose from. As the old business saying goes, “if they won’t come to you, then you must go to them.”
You’ve probably already heard of websites like eBay or Craigslist, which have been around for a long time. You can list your list for a specific price or put it up for auction.
In recent years, social media has become the preferred location for these sales. The idea is that you post an item for sale, and people local to your area can come to buy it.
It’s probably best to start off using social media to try and make a sale. If that doesn’t work, you can expand your customer base by putting it on a more traditional website. You might not make as much money, but you’ll get something from it.
If it goes well, you could expand into a full-time small business in eCommerce, running your store on sites like Amazon and Etsy or integrating Shopify on your own site.
5. Create Content
The internet never sleeps and is constantly starved for more content. Recent studies suggest that around 31% of Americans are online almost constantly.
The first step is to gather a following of people. Almost everyone has a social media presence, so that’s an excellent place to start. When you start building up your numbers, you can move to a site like YouTube.
Additionally, the world of affiliate marketing may open up to you. Affiliate programs often enlist prominent influencers to promote their products and brands. If you have a podcast, a big presence on social media platforms, or your own website, you could get signed on as an affiliate and bring in some extra passive income.
You could also translate your niche into a profitable online course with referral codes or start online tutoring. Scams dominate this territory, so make sure you’re offering something valuable.
From there, anything is possible, as Hollywood might become interested next. It’s doubtful that you could go on to become an international superstar using this method.
However, it’s not impossible, and there have been a lot of high-profile celebrities who got their start this way. You never know what can happen, and it’s at least worth a try.
Win Money by Saving It
Increasing your monthly income usually means dedicating more time to working a job. However, the above options offer an alternative to a second or third job.
You can take surveys, play games, sell useless items, and create new content for others to enjoy. Any of these activities are likely preferable to working another job.
And there are other viable options with substantial payouts include:
- Freelance writing on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and others
- Other freelance jobs, such as data entry, user-testing, graphic design, and SEO services
- Becoming a part-time virtual assistant
- Start offering transcription services as a transcriptionist
- Test websites and domain names for small businesses and startups
Still, if you want to make some serious money, you should join Yotta. You probably won’t win huge money during your first drawing. However, a new drawing occurs every single day.
With enough tickets in play, you can win something substantial eventually. Remember that anything you win is pure profit because it’s free to join and play. Visit Yotta whenever you’re ready to open an account and get serious about saving money. You could win enough money to quit your second job and start enjoying your free time a lot more.
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