Financial stress can feel overwhelming, especially when prices keep rising even after you’ve cut back on spending.
If your budget isn’t covering everything, consider finding a way to earn extra money on the side. There are many ways to bring in additional income, including jobs you can do from home.
Trying to pay bills and save money when your income is tight is a challenge many people face. Sometimes, there just isn’t enough to go around.
A 2024 Pymnts report found that 62% of consumers live paycheck to paycheck, including 36% of those earning more than $200,000 per year.
To ease that burden and get ahead, take steps to increase your income.
There are plenty of legitimate ways to make extra money in your free time—often with little to no long-term commitment. Here are 10 ideas to help you get started.
1. Join a Focus Group
Companies want to know what customers think about their products and services. They often hire research firms to organize focus groups, where people share their opinions in exchange for payment. Some companies to check out include Focus Group, User Interviews, and Probe Research.
Participating in focus groups can be a simple, interesting, and profitable way to make extra money, either online or in person. For example, User Interviews reports that participants typically earn $75 per hour. Doing four focus groups a month could add $300 to your income.
2. Take Part in Research Studies
If you’re open to contributing to scientific research while making extra money, you might consider signing up for paid clinical trials.
Earnings depend on factors like the length of the study and the number of visits required. Some opportunities can be quite profitable. For instance, Velocity Clinical Research pays participants anywhere from $75 to $4,500 for participating in research studies.
To find clinical trials near you, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.
3. Start a Side Job
Even if you already have a full-time job, you might be able to take on extra work in your field during mornings, evenings, or weekends.
No matter what your skills are, there’s likely a freelance job you can do. Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr connect people with projects that match their abilities.
Earnings vary depending on the job and rates you negotiate. For example, Upwork reports that web designers typically earn $15 to $30 per hour, while bookkeepers make between $11 and $25 per hour.
4. Offer Consulting Services
If you have specialized knowledge in areas like finance, marketing, or technology, companies may be willing to pay for your expertise.
Consulting firms such as Gerson Lehrman Group and AlphaSights allow professionals to create profiles listing their skills and availability. If a company is interested in speaking with you, you’ll be contacted for a phone consultation.
Depending on demand and your experience, consultants can earn hundreds of dollars per hour.
5. Take Online Surveys
Looking to earn a little extra cash while waiting in line or relaxing at home? Online surveys can be a quick and easy way to make money.
You can take surveys anytime using your phone or computer. Some reputable survey sites include Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Opinion Outpost.
You won’t get rich doing surveys, but every little bit helps. According to Swagbucks, members can earn anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand extra dollars per year.
6. Watch Videos for Money
Believe it or not, you can make extra money by watching TV shows, commercials, and movie previews.
Companies like Nielsen reward participants with points that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards. Nielsen reports that participants can earn up to $60 in points per year.
7. Help Out in Your Community
There are many ways to make money by offering simple services to your neighbors. You could pet sit, babysit, help someone move, or do yard work.
Setting a fair price and doing quality work can help you build a good reputation and get more opportunities.
Check platforms like Nextdoor or Facebook groups to find local jobs. You can also use services like Care.com, where pet sitters in cities like San Francisco typically make around $20 per hour.
8. Sell Items Online
Many people hold garage sales to get rid of things they no longer need, but you can take it a step further by selling items online.
You can collect items from friends or family members, or find bargains at thrift stores and resell them for a profit. Platforms like Poshmark and Depop make it easy to sell clothing, accessories, and other goods.
According to Gigworker, the average seller makes about $500 per month on Poshmark.
9. Refer Friends to Businesses
Many companies will pay you for referring new customers to their products or services.
This usually involves sharing a unique referral code or link with your friends and family. When someone signs up using your code, you earn a reward.
Check a company’s website or emails to see if they offer a referral program. For example, Chase Bank offers $50 for every friend you refer who opens a qualifying checking account (up to $500 per year).
10. Drive or Deliver for Cash
If you have a car, you can make money by driving passengers or delivering goods. Companies like Uber and Lyft allow you to earn money while driving people around, and delivery services like DoorDash and Instacart pay you to drop off food and groceries.
One of the advantages of this type of work is flexibility—you can choose when to drive and fit it into your existing routine.
According to Salary.com, the average hourly pay for an Uber driver in 2024 is $19 per hour.
Keep an Open Mind About Earning Extra Money
There are countless ways to bring in extra cash if you’re willing to think creatively and take on new opportunities.
By finding new income streams, you can ease financial stress and work toward your savings goals without relying solely on your 9-to-5 job.
