In 2020, a growing number of people are exploring the possibility of multiple and alternative sources of income. This is an endeavor that rewards diligence, decisiveness and ingenuity. Above all else, making extra income requires an open mind. If you have a laptop and any of the traits listed above, you may be able to earn money in your spare time!
Do you have any skills, talents or certifications? Maybe you can draw really well or have a knack for graphic design? Perhaps coding is a skill you possess, or software engineering? Google ads? Film editing or production? Or maybe you’re like me and you (hopefully) have strong writing skills? Even if none of the above apply to you, I highly encourage you to spend a few minutes on each of the above platforms browsing the diverse and numerous jobs up for grabs.
You may be surprised to find out that you indeed do have a marketable skill. Results may not occur overnight, and the most successful freelancers devote the time necessary to build a portfolio to help them win the jobs they want.
If you’re interested in a specific field or type of freelance work then you can find highly specialized platforms or companies that can provide you with more lucrative and specialized jobs. To do so, simply run a quick google search for your specialty and include “freelance jobs” (for instance “xyz freelance jobs”). Look for job boards, forums, blogs or services that relate to your particular niche and get involved. It’s going to pay off to out in some solid research and elbow grease in this area, make no doubt about it.
Skilled freelancers with solid portfolios and references will be the ones most likely to acquire recurring business from reputable clients, and that’s where the real money is to be made. In order to get there though, you may have to start small, completing projects at no cost during the portfolio-building process is not altogether uncommon, while freelance veterans can make hundreds or even thousands on just one project.
- Selling Online with eBay and Marketplace etc
I won’t go into vast detail about the nuances of different platforms. Beyond a basic description of each platform I’ll provide you with a link to a more specific article or blog that talks about each one more in depth.
A friend of mine told me years ago about how they paid their mortgage with money they made on eBay. Intrigued, I asked him to tell me how he did it. If you’re a hustler, like my friend is, you can actually make good money on high end clothing bought low and sold high. By tapping into the local market and hunting the best deals, you can get high-end fashion at low prices and make a bunch of profit selling it on eBay. Try attending local estate sales and yardsales in good parts of town, some stores like goodwill may even have really nice things at insanely low prices (like a Cartier watch for 100 dollars) if you go to ones in the more affluent sections of your city.
There are stores such as Nordstroms rack which offer high-end merchandise at moderately discounted prices, and if you know what to look for you can make a profit reselling that merchandise on eBay (here is a beginners guide to ebay selling that can teach you more about the ins and outs of being an eBay seller).
If you’re committed enough to hustling up some extra cash, you can post items for sale locally. You might have different levels of success with certain items locally than you would on eBay, but I’ve found some of the best items to sell include electronics, game consoles, jewelry and tools. If you need some inspiration in the realm of profitable items to invest in look here.
- Working Remotely Part Time
One advantage of belonging to today’s world is that many things are just a keystroke away from making you a dollar. You can get hired for a variety of different companies in a myriad of roles and never even have to commute to work.
In general, companies offering remote positions will require you to have a distraction free workplace, a dedicated internet connection that meets speed requirements, sometimes a phone line and, at some companies, a door that shuts.
Check out our article on 5 of the Best Remote Work From Home Opportunities for a comprehensive guide that provides you with companies that hire remotely, what they typically pay their remote workers, if they provide equipment or not and tips to get you hired.
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