We’ve all been there. Your car got a flat tire. Maybe your dog ate chocolate and needed to be seen by the emergency vet. Or how about your dishwasher breaking mid-cycle and leaving you with a sink full of dirty dishes. Life has a way of throwing expensive challenges at us, and when disaster strikes, we are often left wondering how we will cover the costs.
Just about everyone has been in a situation where they found themselves in need of money fast. It’s a stressful situation to be in, but thanks to the Internet, there are plenty of ways to earn the cash you need.
If you are trying to find ways to earn money online, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, you will discover five real ways to make money online. Keep reading to learn more!
Sell Your Old Stuff
When you need money in a hurry, selling off your unused stuff is one of the fastest and easiest options. Hop on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or any other online market to sell everything from books and movies to exercise equipment to vehicles. No matter what you have lying around your house, there is likely someone online who would be willing to buy it.
Clean your items up and take decent pictures of them prior to listing them for sale. Write out clear descriptions that let potential buyers know what each item is, what sort of condition it is in, and how much it costs. It’s also a good idea to note whether the price is negotiable.
If you end up selling to someone locally, play it smart and meet up in a public place. If possible, bring someone else with you for extra safety. There are plenty of horror stories about meet-ups gone wrong, but with a little caution and common sense, you can sell your stuff and get the money you need safely.
Transcribe Videos and Audio Files
If you can accurately type at least 80 words per minute and have a reliable Internet connection and a good set of headphones, transcription work is a lucrative opportunity. You can earn up to $25 per hour by listing to audio and tying exactly what you hear. For someone with exceptional typing skills, it doesn’t get much easier than that!
There are several sites that offer transcription services to clients and hire freelancers to get the job done. Submit an application to Rev or TransPerfect, offer up your services on Fiverr, or look for transcription work on a freelancing site like Upwork.
Become a Freelance Writer
Becoming a freelance writer is a good way to make money online fast and set yourself up for a rewarding long-term career. Writing is a great side hustle that enables you to earn as much as you choose. If you need a little cash here and there, spending a few hours each day writing blog posts, articles, or even social media content is a good option. If you are looking to replace your 9-5, you can become a full-time freelancer and work for business owners who are more than willing to shell out big bucks for your skills.
When you are looking to make money online as a writer, there are plenty of options. Content mills like Textbroker are good for beginners because they allow you to start earning money and building a portfolio quickly. They tend to pay low rates, but they are a good stepping stone to larger projects. You can also search for jobs on sites like Freelancer or Upwork, create a stellar profile on LinkedIn and start reaching out to business owners or offer your services on Fiverr. There are also writing groups on Facebook where you can connect with people who may be in need of your services.
Take Paid Surveys
Filling out surveys isn’t exactly the most exciting way to make money online, but it is a legitimate way to earn some extra cash. Websites like Survey Junkie and Global Test Market pay users to complete surveys about household products, cars, opinions and beliefs, and more. Many of the surveys pay less than $1 but take just a few minutes to complete, making them fairly lucrative if you are willing to complete several.
When checking out survey sites, always read online reviews before joining. There are plenty of sites out there that promise huge payouts for completing simple surveys, but many of them are not legit. If an offer seems too good to be true, there’s a good chance that it is. There are high-paying surveys out there, but they are few and far between.
Sign Up for Amazon Mechanical Turk
Amazon Mechanical Turk, or MTurk, is loaded with Human Intelligent Tasks, or HITs, that you can complete to earn some extra cash. These tasks are generally simple things like identifying objects in videos or images, transcribing short audio files, looking up information, writing product descriptions, etc.
Most of the tasks on MTurk are pretty low-paying, but they are simple enough that you can complete several within an hour or two. You can also request or earn various qualifications that will allow you to work on higher-paying HITs. Once your work has been approved, you can instantly transfer the funds to your Amazon Payments account or have them converted into a gift card to use on Amazon. Once the money is in your Amazon Payments account, you can request to have it deposited into a linked bank account.
Closing Thoughts
When you need to make money online in a hurry, the Internet is a great place to turn. The web makes it possible to connect with people all around the world who may be in need of products or services that you can provide. Whether you sell your electronics, pick up a side gig as a writer, take surveys, or try one of the other ideas listed above, you can start earning money almost instantly without making any sort of upfront investment. Get started now, and you will be making money online before you know it!
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