How to Make Extra Money When You Work Full Time
Ever wanted to make extra money on the side using side hustles? I know for me, the biggest issue I ever had with money was my income or the lack of income.
Even with a salaried job making $50,000 — it wasn’t enough. So what did I do? Well what most people do, is find another source of income and learned how to make money fast.
Whether it was taking on extra hours at work, picking up a weekend shift or starting a side hustle, I made sure to find ways to make more money. And you can too! Check out some of these tips on how to make extra money when you work full time.
Sometimes One Job Isn’t Enough
The average American is struggling to make ends meet each month, with 59% of U.S. adults saying they live paycheck to paycheck, according to a recent survey from Charles Schwab. I needed to find ways to support my family without sacrificing my time and my health.
Financial stress is one of the leading causes of mental and physical health issues. I found out firsthand how serious stress can be on your personal wellness. So, my search began to find ways to increase my income and build my savings account. I wanted to keep grinding and use my talents and experiences to build multiple sources of income. That’s when I discovered the side hustle.
Flex Your Side Hustle Muscle
In this post, I will share some of the best side hustles I ever had. I have always prided myself on being a workaholic since middle school. I was taught that if you work hard you can accomplish a lot. There isn’t such a thing as free money, you have to work hard for yours.
So I got my first job at sixteen while participating in multiple activities at school and maintaining honor roll. Even today I have two jobs and a fabulous up-and-coming blog that is bringing in steady income each month.
Managing your time effectively and working to support your family is easier with multiple income streams. Try to find jobs that aren’t too physically exhausting and provide a good amount of income. You should always look for ways to get a higher income stream for your family while reducing the amount of time you must actually be at work.
Here are some of the best ways to make extra income.
1. Survey Apps
One of my favorite ways to make extra money is by taking surveys on my phone. There are a lot of survey apps for money, but Swagbucks is the best paid survey site out there. Swagbucks offers the most ways to earn, the most ways to cash out, and the easiest payout threshold to claim your cash.
Earn Swagbucks points called SB. It’s 100 SB to reach $1.00. You can cash out with PayPal cash, cryptocurrency, free gift cards to Amazon and other popular stores, or other reward options when you reach at least $3 in earnings. All you need to do is answer questions about your opinion on products and services. You can easily do this on the side and earn money to pad your bank account. Or just take surveys for gift cards for your favorite stores.
2. Claim App Bonuses
Want to get $5 dollars now? Then you can turn to claim app bonuses that’ll pay you for completing certain tasks or fulfilling easy requirements.
Getting small sign up bonuses can add up over time, and all you have to do is download the app, complete your info and start earning.
InboxDollars has a $5 sign up bonus and they’ll also pay you for doing a bunch of other activities online like getting paid to play games or watching ads and taking paid surveys. Join InboxDollars now.
3. Driving for Lyft
Driving for Lyft is a good way to get an instant income boost but it is definitely like running your own business. There are tax and insurance obligations. You are responsible for other people and need to be professional.
You have to keep your car and phone updated and in good working order. It’s much like having another job but you make your own hours. This is one of the most effective side hustles for my family.
4. Sign Up for Bank Bonuses
Another great way to make some extra money is to sign up for bank bonuses. A lot of banks are offering $100-$300 just for signing up and setting up a direct deposit.
I was able to get a $200 bonus from Chase Bank by doing this. It’s definitely an easy way to make some extra cash without having to do much work.
The best digital banks offer lucrative bonuses such as Chime and Current. Chime offers a $50 bonus just for signing up and Current will give you a $50 checking bonus for signing up. If you’re not sure which digital bank to sign up and use you can read this Current vs Chime review.
5. Blogging/Freelancing
I learned how to get paid for writing articles and start my own personal blog not only for monetary purposes but as a stress reliever. It’s become my outlet and a passion. My dream as a teenager was to write a book and I am well on my way to accomplishing that. I took the plunge and launched my blog.
You don’t have to be perfect but you have to be able to educate yourself and practice continuously. Be confident in your goal which is to help others by sharing your expertise. Blogging and freelancing are help-focused career paths and it isn’t easy. Find your niche and focus on your audience to become successful. Be aware that there is definitely work involved and it is not an overnight success. Websites like Fiverr allow you to list the freelancing services that you get paid for!
6. Gaming Apps
Did you know there are a ton of game apps to win real money that are available for free? I’m talking about real money, not just in-game currency. If you’re looking for a way to make some side cash, then playing games on your phone can be a great option.
The most popular ones include Skillz games such as Blackout Bingo and 21 Blitz. All you need to do is sign up for an account, deposit some money, start playing games, and rack up those earnings. I usually play these type of games in my free time and get 10 dollars every now and then. There are even some games that pay real money through Cash App that you can consider.
7. Market Research
Market research sites are a great way to earn some extra cash in your spare time. I used to wonder if paid survey panels really work but they do.
I do surveys on my tablet or phone while watching tv or riding in the car or even on my lunch breaks. You can earn small amounts per survey with minimal effort or time and make $20 fast every few weeks.
Some of the best survey sites will give you gift cards instead of cash which come in handy for family expenses, such as gas, groceries or to local department stores.
I joined a few different survey sites to increase my survey intake and profit potential. My current favorites are:
- Swagbucks
- InboxDollars
8. Babysitting and Odd Jobs
You can also make extra money on the side by babysitting or even pet sitting. I’ve also signed up for Avon and found odd jobs on Fiverr, and Craigslist too.
Just be careful, always use your intuition and be cautious with these jobs because sometimes you can get scammers.
Be alert and aware of strange requests and people. I would get jobs from family and friends who needed someone to care for their pets or children. We mowed lawns and cleaned homes or garages for extra cash to boost my income. There are so many different ways to find part-time jobs by using apps like Steady or gig economy sites.
Wrapping It All Up
Using these methods you can certainly find ways to make extra money on the side using side hustles. Please, understand that the true definition of a side hustle is to increase your income.
There are many ways to do that so find what works best for you. Once you find something stick with it. You can use the extra income to pay off student loans, pay off consumer debt, and save up for your financial goals.
So, there you have it! Eight different ways to make extra money on the side when you work full time. It’s definitely possible to make more money if you’re willing to put in the extra effort. How will you make extra money this month?