Five Ways You Can Make Some Extra Income Online In Your Spare Time

Everyone is feeling the squeeze right now. With rising bills and interest rates, more people than ever before are looking for ways to make their money go further.

If you're feeling the pinch then and trying to save money where you can, why not think about some easy ways to bring in some extra cash, too? You may be interested to learn just how easy it is to pull in some extra dollars online in your spare time - whether from the comfort of your own home, on your morning commute, or even during your lunch break.

Here are the top five simple ways to get your laptop, smartphone, or other mobile devices to earn their keep and bring in some money!

Survey Sites

Getting on board with one of the many online survey sites out there is a super easy way to generate extra income whenever you have a few minutes to spare.

Signing up is quick and easy, and once you've registered an account, you're good to go. Typically, members will have access to a range of surveys, and each one completed will earn a small amount of money. Once the amount of funds in your account has reached a certain level, you'll be able to withdraw this money into your bank account. As well as surveys, some sites may also ask members to play games, watch videos, or visit certain online stores to earn a quick commission.

Side Hustles

Got a side hustle? Whether you create hand-made beaded jewelry, are a dab hand at blogging, or can do bookkeeping, your skill could earn you a little (or a lot!) of extra cash. Consider selling on a site like Etsy, set up as a freelancer on a website like Upwork, or get your own website up and running to sell your services or products directly.

Website building platforms offer an affordable, quick, and convenient way to get a professional-looking website, complete with e-Commerce capabilities, off the ground so you can start monetizing your passion. Use the tools that come as part of these packages to integrate with your social media accounts or run promotions to get things moving quickly.

Sell Your Stuff on Auction Sites

Why not set aside some time on your next day off to have a major clear-out: make a pile of everything that could be resold, whether it's clothing, kitchen items, or gaming equipment, and spend the next week or two listing your items for sale on an auction site whenever you have a few minutes to spare.

You may be surprised by how much cash your old stuff can generate. Getting started with selling is easy, but deploying a few tips and tricks can help you get the best price for your items possible. For example, it's worth spending five minutes seeking out instruction manuals and original packaging where relevant and achievable - this will make your item more attractive to buyers and will likely bump up the final price, too.

Scheduling your auctions to run for a week, ending on a Sunday evening, could be a good move, too. This allows your listing to be seen by as many people as possible, meaning it's an effective way of getting more bids. Finally, write a full and honest description of each item, and provide clear, high-quality photos from various angles.

Access Cashback

Like survey sites, cashback sites have become an extremely popular way for people to make a little money on the side. In most cases, once you've signed up for a cashback site, all you need to do is visit this site before you do any online shopping. Search for the store (or product type) you're looking for, and if it's listed, you'll be able to visit it via a portal on the site itself.

Typically, your activities will be tracked, and a percentage of the sale value will be credited to your cashback account if you make a purchase. The money made in this way can easily add up, especially in relation to your weekly online grocery shop or when you purchase high-ticket items, such as a holiday, item of jewelry, or electronic device.

Sell Your Snaps

If you're known for your beautiful or quirky photos, then selling your images on a site like Shutterstock is a quick and easy way to make money in your spare time. Simply upload your photos, and every time an individual or business purchases one to use in a brochure or magazine, you'll receive a small commission.

To give you an idea of the sort of money you could generate in this way, amateur stock photographers will, on average, generate $0.02 per image per month; a professional will make between $0.05 to $0.25 per image monthly.

As a way of making a little bit of passive income doing something you love, selling stock photos could be a winner.

The Takeaway

The five ideas above are great ways to start making money online, but there are loads more out there, from house or pet sitting to carrying out tasks as a virtual PA! Think about the time you have available, the level of commitment you're comfortable making, and your skillset to choose the best means to monetize your spare time.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes