When the coronavirus pandemic hit, millions of Americans working in offices suddenly moved to full-time work-from-home arrangements, ostensibly on a temporary basis. Best ways to make money from home.
But according to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey, more than half of those who started working from home during the pandemic would prefer to work remotely. According to Pew, more than three-quarters have adequate workspace and home business technology, and more than half have flexible scheduling that allows them to stop and start work at their discretion.
Even before the pandemic, employers were offering more flexible working arrangements in an effort to attract young workers who preferred the freedom to perform their duties from almost anywhere. COVID-19 has pushed remote hiring into the mainstream, aggressively. But these days, you don’t even have to land a traditional nine-to-five job to take advantage of the work-from-home trend.
Whether your goal is to build a sustainable passive income stream or simply earn a few extra dollars to supplement your part- or full-time income, all you need to work from home is a computer, a quiet space, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to follow these tips for working from home more efficiently…
Best ways to make money from home
Here are a variety of legitimate ways to earn extra income, land a second job, start a full-time career or start your own small business – all from the comfort of your own home.
Some of these opportunities are based on hobbies that you may already pursue without economic gain. Just be sure to avoid the annoying common scams working from home that can really cost you money.
1. Financial Empowerment Apps: Finding New Income Sources
Whether you already have an inner hustle (or a whole business) or you’re still exploring ways to earn more in your own time, you need Steady – the financial empowerment app that connects you with revenue growth and diversity opportunities.
Steady members earn more than $5,000 more each year, according to the app, and Steady has already paid out more than $10 million in cash incentives. It has helped members earn at least $4 million in emergency cash assistance as well.
Steady’s income opportunities are flexible and personalized. After answering a few questions about yourself and completing your profile, you’ll receive a regular set of personalized income recommendations and ideas from our growing community of established members.
In addition, Steady partners with reputable third parties that offer real cash incentives – income boosters – when you make smarter financial decisions. And you can keep tabs on how much other Steady members in your area earn — and how many local employers pay, too — with detailed, community-driven data.
According to Steady, users earn more than $5,000 extra each year, on average, using the Steady app. This is serious money. Steady has paid out more than $10 million in cash incentives while facilitating another $4 million in emergency cash assistance (and the number is growing).
2. P2P Lending: Exploit Excess Capital (Part One)
The sharing economy has created new opportunities for ordinary people to use their excess capital to work. There are two opportunities worth talking about here:
Real estate crowdfunding. Real estate crowdfunding sites like Groundfloor allow everyday investors to lend money to real estate projects. Loans return anywhere from 5% to 25%, depending on the level of risk. If you are looking for other ways to indirectly invest in real estate, consider a platform like Arrived Homes.
P2P lending. Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms like Prosper are trusted outlets for uncredited individuals seeking above-average returns on investment – anywhere from 4% to over 10% per year, after factoring in non-performing loans and platform service fees. .A word of caution: unlike high-yield savings accounts and CDs, P2P loans and real estate crowdfunding opportunities are not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. This means that they present a very real risk of losing capital. Don’t lend any money you can’t afford to lose, and carefully read the platforms’ prospectus and disclaimers before participating.
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Best ways to make money from home
3. Online surveys and focus groups: Sell your opinions
Your opinions are more valuable than you think. Countless companies are paying huge sums to learn more about the motivations and preferences of their target audience.
Online surveys
You can take online surveys in the comfort of your own home whenever you want: during working hours, at lunch or dinner, when you have free time in the evening, or in the early sleepless hours.
time investment
Although your answers should be honest and reasonable, you do not need to devote your full attention to online surveys. This is undoubtedly music for multitasker ears. And you can invest as much or as little time as you like. Individual surveys can take anywhere from two to 20 or 30 minutes to complete, and you can do as much or as little as you want in one sitting.
earning potential
Online surveys will help you make money online, but they will not make you rich. If you sign up for several survey firms and diligently complete the tasks assigned to you, you can earn a little more than minimum wage – maybe $10 an hour. But that’s not something to sneeze at, especially if you’re able to get other tasks done while logged into survey accounts.
Reputable online survey options
The online survey scene is very crowded. These are among the most popular and potentially profitable opportunities for consumers residing in the United States:
Ipsos iSay. Ipsos iSay is an active online community where it is easy to get paid for giving your opinion. You can take quick surveys about specific products or trends, but that's not the only way to earn — you can also try new products, become a regular participant in discussion boards or online communities, and even contribute to market research while running errands or shopping online.
Brand surveys. Branded Surveys specialize in consumer surveys of big brands - names you're likely to come across in your day-to-day business anyway. Surveys are easy to complete in your spare time, compensation is fair, and it is delivered with cash and gift cards. With over 2 million current members, they have paid out over $17 million since 2012. In addition, they have earned 4.5 Trustpilot points with over 40,000 reviews.
Junkie survey. Survey Junkie is a popular online survey site with lots of opportunities to participate in surveys. You will earn points for every successfully completed survey and you can cash out your account balance once it reaches 1,000 points ($10). Learn more about Survey Junkie in our Survey Junkie review.
American consumer opinion. American Consumer Opinion sends users one survey survey per month and approximately one complete survey per quarter. Screening surveys pay less than full surveys - no more than $0.50 per piece. Complete surveys can pay up to $50 per piece.
focus view. Compared to the opinion of the American consumer, there are more opportunities in general on Opinion Outpost. However, the overall earning rate is lower.
Swagbucks. Swagbucks offers multiple opportunities to earn additional income online, including paid surveys. Narrow-objective and time-consuming surveys can pay well, but some basic opportunities - which only take a minute or two to complete - pay for nothing. Learn more about Swagbucks in our Swagbucks review.
There are plenty of other opportunities, but be sure to do your due diligence before you sign up. Be wary of companies that ask you to pay to join their committees.
Online focus groups
Online focus groups are closely related to online surveys and, in some cases, are run by the same companies.
Like in-person focus groups, online focus groups require more time and focus than online surveys. Configurations vary, but you generally have to join a board and participate in a certain number of issues weekly or monthly. Online focus groups are often more selective than online surveys – if you don’t meet specific demographic or income criteria, you may not qualify.
The end result: the pay is much better, as are the chances of getting prizes and free stuff. With effort, you can earn $500 and maybe more per month in cash or in-kind prizes.
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4. Blogging: Sell Your Ideas
Best ways to make money from home
Blogs are not just places for bored people to share their thoughts about anything and everything. It can also be a legitimate source of income for aspiring bloggers who are eager to make money online.
Your blogging journey begins with an idea. This is an early decision that makes a final decision about your blog – if it’s not completely unique, your idea should at least be more straightforward and compelling than that of your competitors.
You should know your blog topic cool – ideally from personal experience or formal training – and have no problem writing about it fluently. Over time, you will tighten your writing process and produce great content in less time.
Next, come the nuts and bolts: choosing and buying a web domain, hosting and designing your site, and planning the content. While this takes a lot of work before publishing your first post, resist the temptation to cut corners. You are laying the foundation, we hope, for a long-term endeavor.
Once you’ve created a quality site and created a following, there are plenty of ways to make money from your blog.
Pro tip: Aspiring bloggers can buy hosting through Bluehost for as little as $5 per month and get a free domain for the first year.
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5. Virtual lessons: sell your expertise
Virtual tutoring is a personal way to make money by sharing your subject matter expertise. Unlike online courses, which are available to dozens or even hundreds of paying clients at one time, tutoring sessions are usually one-on-one privacy. However, you can have as many students as your schedule allows.
As with online teaching, to increase your chances of success as an online teacher, stick to topics you know well. Use a reputable, high-visibility niche, organize your sessions sensibly, price your services in line with the market, follow scheduling best practices, and promote yourself enthusiastically (or choose a platform that does it for you).
The best places to find teaching jobs online are platforms that focus specifically on teaching, such as Education First. Prices are set by the hour or per session based on the topics teachers choose – for example, computer science teachers generally earn more than English language teachers. Chegg starts teachers at $20 an hour and claims that prolific teachers can earn upwards of $1,000 a month.
Before you sign up, make sure your computer meets the system requirements for your chosen platform – you’ll need a reasonably fast processor and real-time video chat capabilities. In most cases, if you are studying English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) online, you will also need to obtain a TEFL certificate; We recommend Premier TEFL.
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