I don't know about you. But I need some money. I need some extra cash and I'm willing to work for it. So I scoured around for the best creative ways to make money now and preferably from home.
Whether it's to pay off debt faster, save up for a nice vacation, or retire early, we could all use a little extra cash every now and then. Especially now.
But, if you're like me, you're not interested in taking on another part-time job. Nor do you want to hear the same old money schemes you are used to hearing. Do Lyft, Postmates, Uber Eats. Complete surveys online. And the list goes on.
Well, I've put together a list of some truly, little-known creative ways you can start making some money today. Yes. Right now.
And the best part is, you are in control.
What's more, most of them are actually quite interesting and enjoyable! (If I do say so myself!) So let's get into it and starting making that dough!
18 Little-Known Creative Ways to Make Money
Some of these are wild, right!? I mean, how do you get paid to walk or for inviting people over for dinner?? Let's take a closer look at each of these below.
Become an Online Mock Juror
Talk about a creative way to make money online. Who would've ever thought you could become an online mock juror and make some good money!
As a mock juror, you would review real legal cases. Then respond to the attorneys questions. This helps the attorneys prepare for their cases.
And you get to choose which cases you do. You set your hourse.
Not only is this an interesting side hustle but one that doesn't have many requirements. You just have to be a US Citizen over the age of 18.
Getting Started
Simply head over to Online Verdict or eJury and sign up. When you do, you will have to fill in some demographic info such as your date of birth, ethnicity, marital status, etc.
Other sites include: Resolution Research, JuryTalk.com, VirtualJury.com
How Much Will You Get Paid?
Most cases should take between 20 and 60 minutes to complete. And you can expect to earn $20 - $60 per case if you decide to go with Online Verdict.
For eJury, however, the pay is $5 - $10 per case. They also have a few more conditions such as not being a convicted felon. The other sites have a pay range as well but many seem to over around the $30 mark.
Answer Questions Online
Another creative way to make money online is by signing up to answer someone's questions. If you have a specialized skillset and would love to help people solve their problems, you should head over to JustAnswer. com and sign up.
You would only need an internet connection and a phone or computer. And, of course, you get to set your own hours and choose what questions you want to answer.
Getting Started
To sign up, you'll need your SSN, a valid ID, and your certifications/licenses. Then once you are vetted by a third party, you'll be on your way to making money.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
Starting off you will get 20% of the fee paid by the asker. Overtime you will be able to work up to 50% of that fee. This would depend on your ratings.
So be thorough and in-depth with your answers.
More Q&A Sites
Other sites for answering questions and making money include 6Ya (where you can help people over the phone), Live Person (where you can set your own rate, and hours), and StudyPool (though they will take 20% commission).
Flip Domain Names
There is more of a market than ever for domain names as millions of people have started, or are thinking of starting, new online businesses.
So naturally one way you can take advantage of this is by buying domain names on the cheap and then selling them to the highest bidder for a premium.
Of course, you'll need to do your research to really understand the market and to determine which domain names are the most popular before you dive in.
Getting Started
Should you decide to do some flipping, you'll want to figure out where you can get cheap domain names. You could check out the popular domain sites such as GoDaddy and Namecheap.
Or even better buy an expired domain name (these are known to be cheaper) on sites like The NameSilo Marketplace. You may also want to check out Flippa.
The hardest part to flipping domain names is finding a buyer. This may take a lot of time and reaching out to many potential buyers before you manage to seal the deal.
But you can also use the sites mentioned above to auction off or sell your domain names.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
Pay will vary greatly as it depends on your ability to find and buy a good cheap domain name that someone wants. So really you could make $0 or upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You would just have to be willing to put in the time and effort to learn the market and find the buyers.
Test Websites
Another creative way you can earn some cash is to volunteer to test out websites. With so many new websites popping up and companies trying to get into the game of an online business, opportunities abound.
These companies and individuals need people to test their sites to ensure functionality and user friendliness. After all, no one wants to go to a site that looks sketchy and is hard to use.
Getting Started
To get started you will need to apply to be a website tester. That usually just means registering on the site and taking and passing a sample test. Once you're approved though, you're in!
The most popular sites for testing websites are UserTesting, TryMyUI, and UserLytics (where you can test apps, video commercials, and more).
How Much Will You Get Paid?
For most of these sites the pay is $10 per 20 minute site test. Not too shabby. Plus, UserTesting offers more for interviews and for Userlytics you can get paid up to $90 depending on the project.
Getting paid to test websites is easy!
Invite Guests for Dinner
I'll be honest. When I came across this one, my first thought was, "Wait! You can get paid for that?!" It's such a creative way to use your skills to make money.
I was even more surprised that there was actually a market for it. Essentially, what it is, is inviting tourists or other travelers over to your place for a nice home-cooked meal. You make money by charging them per plate or per person.
Sometimes travelers don't want to just eat the food they give to tourist. They'd rather have a more traditional, local cuisine. And who better to give them that than locals themselves?
And as a bonus, they would get to talk to a local about the food and the culture of the new city they are in. It really is an amazing opportunity.
You get to decide your rate and how you will charge them. So you could, like others before you, make some serious coin doing this.
While opening your doors to strangers might not be everyone's cup of tea, it can be fun and exciting.
And bonus point good news, if you love cooking and are a great chef, it could be your opportunity to share your gift with the world.
Getting Started
There are a few sites you can sign up with to get started hosting dinners: Traveling Spoon and EatWith. You can also sign up to teach cooking classes or take them on market visits (Traveling Spoon).
To apply, you will have to complete the online application, do a Skype or phone interview, plus have someone come out and taste that oh-so-yum cooking of yours.
It's a pretty in-depth process but it could be well worth it.
And if you're an avid traveler like me you could even sign up to be an ambassador (read food tester) with Travel Spoon! That is definitely going on my list of things to do!
They both seem like great companies but EatWith seems to have more in terms of management and marketing tools that you can use to schedule your dinners and promote your services.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
That is totally up to you. You get to decide what to cook, how many people can join, if you will charge per person or per plate, and how much you will charge. Eatwith says you can make up to $700 hosting an event.
Sell Your Notes
Man. I wish I had known about this back in the day! This is such a great way to earn some extra dough with very little extra effort. Especially, if you are currently a student.
So if you are someone who takes or has taken good notes in your classes, you may want to consider starting this side hustle. All you would have to do is scan or type your notes and upload them to the various note selling sites.
Here are the top 3 sites you should check out: Course Hero, Nexus Notes, and NoteSale.
Getting Started
Signing up can be as easy as just submitting your notes with NoteSale or it can be a little bit more in-depth as with Nexus Notes. First, you need to look up your course subject on the site.
Then you can submit your notes and wait for approval. Once approved students can begin downloading your notes.
With Course Hero, you would need to open an account, upload your documents, and essentially become a 'tutor'.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
With Nexus Notes, each download costs $35 and you will get paid 50% of that, so $17.50 per download.
If you decide to go with Course Hero (though maybe you could do both), they pay $5 - $20 for every new user who signs up for your document. Plus, $1 for every 20 unlocks of your document.
Are you a teen looking to make some extra cash online? Check out this post by Bella Wanana: 50 Online Jobs for Teens
Review Music
Did you know that you could review music and actually get paid?! If your a music lover, then this just might be the perfect way to earn a little extra cash on the side.
Essentially, you will listen to new music before it's released and give your opinion on it. This will help aspiring artists, radio stations, or talent agencies see what is actually a hit and what's not.
Easy peasy, helpful, and entertaining!
Getting Started
To get started check out one of the sites for reviewing/listening Music: Slicethepie (review music) and Fusion Cash (listening to the radio).
With Slicethepie you must listen to the song for at least 90 seconds. Then write your review. You can write your review while listening though.
Your pay is dependent on how good of a review you write though. So make it good.
Fusion Cash offers many ways to make money. One of the being to listen to the radio.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
Payments for Slicethepie range from $0.02 - $0.20 per review. They only pay out, though, when you reach the $10 threshold.
You can also earn a little extra for refer a friend. And even after they join, you will get a cut of the money your friend earns from reviewing as well.
Fusion Cash pays $0.03 for every 30 minutes of radio time. But at the moment, you can get a signup bonus of $5. (US Residents only)
They also have a refer a friend program where $1 for email confirmation, $2 for when they complete a task, and $5 every time they cash out.
You won't earn much with these jobs but if you love listening to music and would be listening to the radio anyway, might as well make a few extra bucks.
Get Paid to Scan Your Receipts
When you go shopping, you should keep your receipts. Not only for tax purposes but also because you could be getting paid to scan them!
This is one of the most unique ways I've found to make money on the side.
Ibotta is one of the most popular apps when it comes to getting paid to shop. And they work with some of the biggest brand names such as Walmart, Best Buy, Kroger's, and more.
It's pretty easy to sign up and they have a limited time offer for FREE Thanksgiving dinner on Walmart!
Getting Started
Getting started with Ibotta is easy. You simply have to download their Chrome browser and app and sign up. Then before you go shopping find offers and add them to your account.
Finally, after you've purchased your items, scan your receipt, and once approved you'll have the cash back offer in your account.
You may also want to check out: CoinOut (get random cash rewards for uploading receipts), Punchcard (get points that can be exchanged for gift cards, etc.), Checkout 51 (earn cash back on gas and groceries)
How Much Will You Get Paid?
The amount of cash back you receive will vary depending on the offer. But if you check out their reviews, you'll see that people start racking up cash back very quickly with Ibotta.
Write for Revenue Sharing Sites
If you are a writer or blogger, another way to make some extra money is to write for revenue sharing sites. These sites will give you a percentage of the ad revenue generated when visitors visit your page.
Revenue sharing sites could give you great passive income. Potentially forever. And if you're a blogger, it could help you generate more traffic to your website.
Some of the more popular sites are HubPages*, Info Barrel, and Virily.
Getting Started
With HubPages, it is pretty easy to get started. Just sign up on their website. It takes all of 2 seconds and then you are off to the races!
How Much Will You Get Paid?
That depends on how much traffic you get coming to your articles. So you will need to make sure you write quality, SEO friendly articles that people want to read.
They do post some of their writer's stories on the homepage. And you can see when they started writing for Hubpages, how many followers they have, the number of articles written, and how much they make monthly.
Many seemed to be making around $300 a month.
Earn passive income forever by writing for a revenue sharing website!
Get Paid to Play Video Games
Now you can take your favorite past time and earn a little extra cash while your at it.
With an app called Mistplay, you can get paid to play video games. Mistplay allows you to earn units, or points, just by playing games on your phone.
Those units can be later cashed in for Amazon, Visa, and other gift cards.
They give away prizes every month and you can unlock achievement badges which will help you earn more units.
After you play, however, you will have to give your opinions about the game. This will help the game makers make improvements for their targeted audience.
Getting Started
You will need a mobile phone to get started. Then just head on over to Google Play to download Mistplay. From here, you just find a game that interests you and start playing.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
Your pay depends on the game and how long you play it. Generally, the longer you play a game the more money you can make.
They do however limit your earning to $50 per month.
Become a Field Agent
No idea what that is? Neither did I.
While the name sounds pretty cool, like you are going to be a spy for the KGB or CIA or something, it actually is, to put simply, a task runner.
Being a Field Agent means completing quick and easy tasks assigned to you by local businesses or companies.
It might be as simple as snapping a picture of an item, gathering information, or doing some mystery shopping at a local store. You can even just do surveys if you like.
Getting Started
To become a field agent, simply download their app. Once you set up your account, start reserving and completing your assignments. They will check your answers. Then pay you for each completed task.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
Your paid via PayPal but the money you receive depends on the tasks you complete. But pay typically ranges from $3 - $15 per task.
Do Rent-a-Friend
I'm sure you've heard of someone renting a date for a wedding or a dinner party before.
Or seen that hilarious Netflix movie with Kevin Hart about a guy needing someone to pretend to be his bestie for his wedding? No. Was that just me?
Well, by signing up with Rent-a-Friend, you can make money just be hanging out with someone for an hour or two. Enjoy a free movie, party, or day at an amusement park. And get paid to do it!
Getting Started
Signing up is easy. Just go to the Rent-a-Friend website and register to become a friend with your email address.
You get to set your own hours and only do the things you want to. Plus, you get to keep 100% of what you make!
How Much Will You Get Paid?
That is totally up to you, as you are able to set your own pricing. You could charge $15 an hour or $50. You decide.
But in addition to getting paid, you'll be able to go to free concerts, events, shows, etc. An added bonus!
Get Paid to Watch TV
This just might be the best creative way to make money on the side. Getting paid to watch TV all day. Talk about living the dream!
There are a few ways to do this. One of which is to become a Netflix tagger. This means you will have to go through and watch tons of Netflix videos and tag them based on content, category, etc.
Sadly, there are not many tagger positions open. Go figure. So they will be hard to get.
But you can use Swagbucks or InboxDollars to earn some extra cash from watching videos, shopping, and more. It may not be much but it's something.
Getting Started
To get started with InboxDollars, you simply have to sign up with an email and password. And fill out a questionnaire about yourself.
Once you confirm your email, you'll have access to all their money making opportunities, including watching videos.
Signing up for SwagBucks is essentially the same.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
When you sign up for InboxDollars, they give you $5 automatically. From there you get scratch-off reward cards for watching videos that give you typically $0.05-$0.25 per card but occasionally up to $25 or more.
Pay outs vary for other assignments such as surveys, polls, etc.
With Swagbucks, you'll receive rewards points for completing assignments, which you can then convert to cash or gift cards. Pay varies.
Write Greetings Cards
Do you have a way with words? Are your friends telling you that you should be a writer? Are you an aspiring poet?
Well you may want to looking into writing greeting cards. It could be a cool way to test out your writing skills and make some money while you're at it.
Card companies will pay you for your poems, sayings, quotes, art, and even photography. Calypso Cards, Avanti Press, and Shade Tree Greetings are a few card companies that will pay for your work.
There's also Card Gnome, an online store where you can sell your card designs, and they'd take care of the rest.
You would earn 10% on each sale which may not be much but could go a long way in building your reputation as a writer or designer for greetings cards.
Good news is, you still get to keep the copyright to your designs!
Getting Started
To get started in the card writing world, you're going to have to do your research. You'll need to know the different publishers out there, their style of writing, and what's popular at the moment.
So go out and visit card shops, trade shows, or where ever you can, to build up this knowledge. Then write submission tailored to the publishing company you wish to apply to.
Make sure you follow their guidelines to the tee or you could be dismissed without actually being given a chance.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
Pay will vary by company and what you submit. Are they punch lines? quotes? photos?
According to the Greeting Card Association, pay typically ranges from $25 to $150 per submission.
You can get paid to watch TV, listen to music, and write greetings cards! There are so many creative ways to make money!
Sell Coupons Online
For all those avid coupon clippers out there, here's a way you can not just save money but make money with those coupons. (And if you're not a coupon clipper, there's no reason why you can't start now.)
With sites such as Ebay or Craigslist, you can scan and upload coupons for people who simply may not have the time to do so on their own. And so are willing to pay you for it.
You may also want to check out more niche sites such as CheckoutSaver. With Checkout Saver, you can even sell unwanted gift cards.
Getting Started
To get started with Checkout Saver, you have to sign up for an account and download their Chrome browser extension. They also have an app that is in the works.
As for Ebay and Craigslist, you just need to have an account with them to get started. Then start listing your items and you're good to go.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
Payments will vary on the demands of the market especially for sites such as Craigslist or Ebay. But other sites such as Checkout Saver, have more of a process.
Typically, you can sell your coupons for $5 but if it is a percent off coupon (i.e. a 20% off coupon), the company will give you a percentage of the customers total sales.
So if they have a $200 order, you may be able to receive up to 10% of the purchase price. Which would mean $20 in your pocket.
They also have a refer a friend program that pays $5 for each referral.
Get Paid to Walk
Turns out there truly is an app for everything and this one will pay you to go for a walk. So if you are looking for a way to make money and exercise, you've found it.
Check out SweatCoin. With this app, you can start earning points for walking. So far it is the only app I know of that will pay you to walk.
Getting Started
First, you will need to download the app to your phone. Then leave it running as you go about your day. Be careful not to swipe it away or close the app or it will stop counting your steps.
There are different subscription levels with SweatCoin. The free version limits you to only getting paid for 5,000 steps per day. But you can choose to opt for a higher limit and pay in sweatcoins (swc) every month.
Up to 20,000 steps per day, will cost you 30 swc per month. And you'd be able to earn 20 swc per day. You could also opt to pay $0.99/ month to be able to earn 50 swc per day.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
You get paid in sweatcoins which you can then later use to buy goods, services, trips, or even donate to charity. For every 1000 steps, you get 0.95 sweat coins.
Though it may not sound like much, you'd be amazed at how much you walk in a day. Especially, if you live in a place like New York City.
Furthermore, you can invite your friends and fam to join you. And you can combine your sweatcoins to make bigger purchases more attainable!
Profit from Old Magazines and Newspapers
Got old magazines taking up space in the attic? STOP! Don't throw them away just yet!
Believe it or not, but there are people out there who would love to get there hands on some old advertisements, pictures, and other memorabilia from the years gone by.
So if you have some old magazines or newspapers lying around, dust them off because it is time for their debut!
Start clipping articles, adverts, old cartoons, and sell them to the highest bidder on Ebay, Etsy, and other specialized sites. In this way, you can get more than one sale from a particular magazine or newspaper.
Or you could also sell your whole, undamaged magazines and newspapers to private collectors, pawnshops, antique or vintage stores, etc. This could potentially net you huge profits.
These old magazines and newspapers may be something that is worthless to you. But others might not think so. So do a little digging and sell your old mags and newspapers to the highest bidder.
Getting Started
First, you may want to look into getting your old mags or newspapers appraised. Check out the American Society of Appraisers if you want it professionally done. Although they can be a bit pricey.
If you don't want to pay for an appraiser, you can check out Ebay to see how much it may go for. Or look at sites like Vintage Magazine to see how much similar magazines are selling for now.
There are also graders you may want to look into such as CGC Magazine. They can have the condition of your magazine or newspaper assessed and certified for you. This will add more value to your collectible.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
Most magazines are worth between $5 and $20. But you may luck up and have a winner on your hands. Some magazines have sold for over $1000. Others, $156,000. While others still have been valued up to $635,000.
It's rare. But you never know just a valuable something is until you try to sell it. One man's junk is another man's treasure as they say. You could get lucky.
Become a Plasma Donor
What better way to earn some extra dough then by saving a life. Plasma donors are always in high demand as they offer the only way to treat some of the most rare, chronic diseases.
That's why they say that by giving plasma you are giving the "gift of life".
Of the few people who are eligible to donate plasma, there just aren't very many people willing to do so. So there's a constant shortage of plasma.
And with the current pandemic, the FDA is even encouraging people who have had COVID-19 to donate their plasma as they may be able to help current patients fighting the virus now.
Getting Started
To get started, you must be at least 18 years old, pass intensive medical screening, and weigh at least 110 pounds. They will also test you for any viruses that can be transmitted.
It is quite a long process to get on the plasma donor list. You must be screened twice and remain negative for 6 months before they will allow your plasma to be used.
Other companies may have additional policies such as diet restrictions so do check them out.
How Much Will You Get Paid?
You could volunteer to donate your plasma for free with DonatingPlasma.org. But there are some companies willing to pay you for it.
One company, CSL Plasma, is willing to pay up to $700 each month (though prices vary by location).
This is a great side hustle. Especially for those of us with more philanthropic tendencies. You get to save lives and make money while you do it.
Save lives and make some cash while your at it!
Did you know that you could get paid to receive text messages from your family and friends?
This can be done with the McMoney app. You will just have to download the app and consent to receive message from them every once in a while. They pay $0.05 for each message.
Sadly, it is only available for Android phones.
All in All
So there you have it 18 little known creative ways to make money. With these ways to make extra cash, you could have that debt paid off in no time or the savings you need to buy your dream vacation.
There are so many ways to make money out there. So making a few couple hundred bucks a month is easy.
Of course, not everything that is quick and easy is legal. So be careful of scams and make sure you vet everything before you decide to dive right in.
As you probably know by now, I am all about the side hustle. So no matter what, I will always have more than one job. And in 2021 I'm planning to turn it up a notch. Who's with me?
Here's to making some coin!
Want to learn about investing in the Stock Market? Check out my Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Investing in the Stock Market! And learn how to invest wisely!
*DISCLAIMER: The Information provided in this post is simply the opinions of the blogger and is given in the spirit of educational fun. I have not vetted any of the sites so am unsure about whether they are legit or not. Please do your own research before committing to anything online.
Further, my opinions are not investment advice. Please do your own research and decide what is right for you before investing in any asset. If necessary, seek the help of a certified professional in discussing your options.
Wow! These are great ideas. Thank you for sharing it.
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading! 🙂