Tag: make money

Sell Used Clothes: 21 Places to Sell Your Threads Online and In Person

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If it’s time to clean out your closet, then it might also be time for you to make some money. Yes, selling your used clothes could be the solution to all of your problems — or at least some of them.

There’s no need to wait until spring to do an overhaul of your wardrobe. In fact, we recommend you do it at least once a season.

Here’s a great place to start: Make a giant pile of all the clothes you don’t wear anymore. Yes, that means going to the hall closet and looking through your winter gear, your swimsuit collection and, yes, all the shorts and shirts you said you would keep in case someone in the family had a child. You can buy them new clothes with the money you make on your old items.

As you examine each piece, ask yourself some key questions: Does this fit? Do I still like it? When’s the last time I wore it?

If your answer is no, no and it’s been years, then it’s time to sell. The next question you might be asking yourself is: but where do I actually do it? Don’t worry—we’ve rounded up the best stores in person and online to take the items you no longer want.

Where to Sell Used Clothes Online

1. Depop

Depop is fast becoming the top app for fashion-minded Zoomers. It’s as much of a lifestyle and social media app as it is a clothing marketplace, and that means high-quality photos with unique staging are a must.

The app is user friendly, and you can set up an account, sync it to your PayPal and start listing clothes in just a few minutes. Depop doesn’t charge you to create a listing. Instead, it takes a 10% cut when your item sells.
You can also choose your shipping method. You can either ship through Depop using the U.S. Postal Service or arrange your own shipping. You can choose to provide free shipping or charge your buyer for shipping.

2. Ebay

Compared to other websites and apps, eBay may seem like a relic of the past. But the site, after more than 25 years, remains a solid option for selling just about anything online — used clothes included.

So long as you create fewer than 250 listings each month, making a listing won’t cost you a dime. Like most e-commerce sites, eBay does charge seller fees. For most clothing, eBay charges 15% of the total amount of the sale if the item is sold for $2,000 or less. If the item is over $2,000, eBay takes 9% of the total amount of the sale. For select clothing, like men’s or women’s athletic shoes, those numbers are lower — 8% of a sale of $150 or more and 12.9% of a sale that is less than $150.

EBay provides a variety of shipment methods, and the price is based on the dimensions and weight of your package. And if the buyer is local, you can forgo shipping altogether by allowing for pickup.

Website: www.ebay.com
Download the app: App Store, Google Play
Good for: All types of clothing and accessories for primarily national buyers
Payout: Direct deposit

3. Facebook Marketplace

In recent years, Facebook has invested a lot into fine-tuning its Marketplace feature, which is built into the regular Facebook app. There is no standalone version, meaning you must have a Facebook profile to use it.

Creating a free listing is almost as easy as creating a status update. Look for the storefront icon along your menu bar, click or tap “create a new listing,” follow the prompts, add some well-lit pictures and thorough descriptions, and you’re good to go.

A word of advice: In general, Facebook Marketplace caters mostly to local sales. Oh, and get ready to haggle.

4. Poshmark

As a “social marketplace,” Poshmark really encourages you to attend buying and selling events, interact with its community and share fashion tips. But if you just want a quick way to get rid of your whopping wardrobe, you can skirt all the bells and whistles and make a listing relatively easily.

For sales under $15, Poshmark charges a flat fee of $2.95. For sales above $15, Poshmark takes 20%. So for items straddling that cut-off point, you’ll want to think carefully about how much to charge. $15 for that vintage tank top and you’ll have to fork over $2.95. $20 for the same tank, and the fee would drop to $2.

What’s nice about Poshmark is that, for each order, the company provides a prepaid shipping label.

Website: www.poshmark.com
Download the app: App Store, Google Play
Good for: Popular mid- to high-end brands for men, women and children
Payout: Direct deposit, check (via USPS) or store credit

5. Swap.com

Unlike most other places to sell used clothes online, Swap.com does almost all of the work for you. But that convenience comes at a price.

When you sell with Swap.com, you pay $19.99 for a shipping label, load up the high-quality clothes you want to sell, and they do the rest. They’ll inspect them, photograph them, list them and sell them for you.

For items with a sales price of $8 and under, you will receive only 15%. For items that sell for more than $8, you receive 70% of the sales price but are also subject to a flat $4.95 processing charge.

Given these steep fees, you’ll want to be sure your clothes meet (and exceed!) the Swap.com’s acceptance criteria.

Website: www.swap.com
Download the app: Google Play
Good for: Well-known, higher-end brands for men, women and children
Payout: Store credit or cash (via PayPal)

6. ThredUP

ThredUP’s mission is to reduce fashion waste. And it does this by allowing you to sell your used clothes easily. Quickly? Now that’s another story. The entire process, from shipping to payout, could take months.

To sell with thredUP, you simply choose a “clean out kit,” which they mail to you with a provided shipping label. You fill up the bag and send it back. Then you wait for them to inspect your clothes and list them. Once they’re ready to be listed, you have a window of time to choose how much you want to charge for them. (Alternatively, you can use a suggested price.)

For the clothes that are accepted and sold, you receive a portion of the profits depending on the sales price of the item. For items that aren’t accepted, consider them donated. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay to have them returned to you.

The payout system for thredUP is more complicated than most other comparable marketplaces. Check out this chart or click here to read more.

ThredUP Payout System

Sales Price	Payout Percentage
$5 to $19.99	3% to 15%
$20 to $49.99	15% to 30%
$50 to $99.99	30% to 60%
$100 to $199.99	60% to 80%
$200 or more	80%

Website: www.thredup.com
Download the app: App Store, Google Play
Good for: Mall- and designer-brand clothes that you’re okay with donating if they don’t get accepted
Payout: PayPal, prepaid Visa or store credit

7. Tradesy

think again. The company boasts millions of people who use its marketplace to sell gently used designer brands for women.

Items that sell for $50 or less incur a flat $7.50 seller fee. For items above $50, Tradesy takes a 19.8% commission. All of your profits are kept in a Tradesy wallet, available for withdrawal to your PayPal, debit card or checking account for a 2.9% transaction fee. You can skirt the fee by spending your earnings on Tradesy.

The good news is that the buyer pays the shipping fees, and Tradesy provides you, as the seller, a prepaid shipping label and box to load up your finest fashion.

Website: www.tradesy.com
Download the app: App Store
Good for: High-end women’s fashion
Payout: PayPal, direct deposit or store credit

8. The RealReal

The RealReal is a great place to sell online if you want to get top dollar for your clothes and they’re luxury or high-end. The online marketplace sells everything from fine jewelry to kids clothing. Some recent sales include a $3,000 Chanel vintage quilted bag, a $645 Versace silk mini dress and $5,650 Rolex. If you think you have things that fit into this category, why not try your hand at this?

The process is simple: either schedule a pickup, ship or even drop off in a limited number of locations. The RealReal has authentication experts that will review each item to see its value. Once your items have been accepted, the site does all the work for you — photography, listing, pricing.

And if your item does sell, you’ll make more money percentage-wise based on how much it sells for and what sort of item you’re selling. Percentage-wise, collectibles, watches, handbags and outdoor equipment tend to do best. Your annual sales also impact your commission: if you make $1,500 a year or even $5,000 or $10,000, these can put you at higher tiers with The RealReal and earn you more money.

9. Mercari

Mercari brands itself as a site for people to declutter, and what’s great about it is, in their own words, “you can list almost anything.” Unlike more authentication-driven sites, Mercari puts the onus in the seller’s hands — take photos, describe your item and price it.

You can ship on your own dime, purchase a prepaid label or have UPS pack and ship the purchase for you. After the item is delivered, the buyer has three days to review it and rate the transaction. Sellers will receive their money either through instant pay or direct deposit.

If you want to get rid of a few things around the house with little additional effort, Mercari may be the way to go.

10. ASOS Marketplace

ASOS Marketplace aims to be a trendier option for all the vintage lovers out there. The brand benefits from its association with ASOS, already a popular online store. But it’s intended more for the vintage entrepreneur than for someone who wants to sell one-off articles of clothing. After all, there’s a 15-piece minimum to start.

The good news is that there are no listing fees. Sellers are considered to have their own boutique and pay a 20% commission fee to ASOS. In general, customers pay for the shipping and sellers have two days to ship an item after payment clears. You’ll receive your money through PayPal or Stripe.

11. Vestiaire Collective

Much like The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective has a reputation for being the marketplace for luxury items. They purport to have a community of more than 23 million fashion lovers worldwide, so it’s worth trying to sell on the platform.

But sellers should know that they will have to do most of the work themselves. Create a listing, wait for someone to bite and Vestiaire Collective will send you a prepaid shipping label. They will also take at least 12% of your sales for items between $100 and $16,500, while an item less than $100 has an established fee of $12. Each transaction also comes with a 3% payment processing fee, so make sure to factor this in when calculating what you might earn. Like many other platforms, sellers get paid through PayPal.

12. Vinted

Like Poshmark or ThredUp, Vinted is a more casual site for the person who wants to sell off a few of their preloved items. You sell by listing your items of choice on the app. This is yet another service that requires you to do the work yourself. When your item is sold, you print your prepaid shipping label and you’ll get paid through direct deposit.

What sets Vinted apart from other sites is the fact that sellers don’t actually pay to list their items or pay a commission. It’s the buyers who pay a buyer protection fee of 5% of the item’s price plus $0.70.

13. Kidizen

If you’ve gone through your kids’ closets and found far too many pieces of clothing that no longer fit or you no longer want, then Kidizen is the site for you. The resale platform is devoted to children’s items — and some things for Mom.

Selling works in two ways: go with the site’s personal sellers, who will tell you what to sell and list it for you, or list yourself. Brands like Patagonia, Kate Quinn Organics and Tula tend to be Kidizen favorites, according to the site, but check out all their best-selling brand names here.

Once your item sells, expect to deduct 12% as a marketplace fee for Kidizen if you’re selling yourself. According to the site, “sellers are responsible for shipping costs” but they can purchase a shipping label through Kidizen. Once your item has been processed by the buyer, you receive your cash as Kidizen credit or through PayPal or direct deposit.

Where to Sell Used Clothes In Person

While there are many options to sell your clothes online, maybe you don’t have the technical know-how (or the patience) to do it yourself. Don’t fret.

There are several national brick-and-mortar places to pawn off your used clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories — even baby clothes, toys and supplies — to get cash in your pocket by the end of the day.

14. Buffalo Exchange

Founded in 1974, Buffalo Exchange has remained family owned as it has expanded. The company is a firm believer in reusing and recycling clothes to reduce waste and pollution (and save cash). Each store also partners with local charities.

Buffalo Exchange accepts a wide array of clothes for both men and women — vintage, activewear, plus sizes and more. Contrary to its name, it does not accept livestock at this time. Sorry in advance.

Website: www.buffaloexchange.com
Located in: 15 states
Good for: Everyday staples in popular brands, including plus sizes and menswear
Payout: Cash or store credit

15. Clothes Mentor

Clothes Mentor is a one-stop shop for fashionable women’s clothing size 0 to 26 and maternity wear. It’s a hub for those who want designer brands without designer price tags.

Clothes that sell well include Anthropologie, Banana Republic,White House Black Market and others. Shoes, accessories, jewelry and handbags are also accepted. Clothes Mentor has a number of stores in the U.S. — click here to see them all.

16. Once Upon a Child

It’s no surprise that child care expenses are a budget buster, but Once Upon a Child can help keep costs down when it comes to baby clothes, supplies and even furniture.

In addition to children’s clothes in sizes preemie to youth 20, Once Upon a Child will buy used cribs, cradles, strollers, baby electronics, Halloween costumes and toys. Even more good news for parents: You won’t have to look very far. Once Upon a Child has more than 400 stores across the U.S. and Canada.

17. Plato’s Closet

Ah, the ole standby, Plato’s Closet. You may not have known this was a clothing exchange store, but it’s likely that you’ve caught a glimpse of one of its more than 480 locations in North America—likely tucked in an unassuming spot.

Plato’s is Winmark Corp.’s most successful clothing exchange franchise, and it’s aimed at teens and young adults. Everyday styles from Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, H&M, Nike and Obey are typically in demand.

Plato’s Closet also buys athleticwear, shoes and accessories.

To see if your wardrobe surplus is a good fit for Plato’s, browse its website for other brands and styles that sell well.

18. Style Encore

Another solid option from Winmark Corp. is Style Encore. It’s like Plato’s sibling, only slightly older and more sophisticated.

Style Encore accepts women’s clothing from brands like Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Coach and Kate Spade. Like Clothes Mentor, Style Encore has personal stylists to help you look like a million bucks (without spending a million).

It’s Winmark’s newest clothing exchange brand, so there aren’t as many locations as its other stores.

Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder

19. Uptown Cheapskate

Want to show off some labels? Uptown Cheapskate is your place. It’s a cross between a trendy boutique and a thrift store for young adults. You can sell or trade in men’s and women’s clothes at any of its more than 100 locations nationwide. Sellers either get 25-35% of the item’s price in cash or around 50% of the item’s value in store credit. High-end items like Chanel and Louis Vuitton can get as much as 60% in cash for the seller.

Brands that do well at Uptown Cheapskate include Lululemon, Free People and Zara. If you’re unsure if your clothes will fit in style-wise, visit the store’s website for more info on trending brands and styles.

20. Crossroads Training

Crossroads Trading is like a trendier version of Plato’s Closet or Buffalo Exchange. With locations scattered throughout the country, you have a good chance of finding one within a relatively small radius of where you live.

Crossroads stores focus on trendier items — they currently list homestead chic, underground edge and sporty wear among the items they’re looking for on their site. Name-brands are particularly desirable.

When sellers bring their clothes to Crossroads, they either get 50% of the store price in store credit or 30% in instant cash.

21. Bonus: Local Consignment Shops

If none of the above stores fit the bill, you can always try your nearest consignment shop.

These shops work a little differently than clothing-exchange stores, because consignment stores may not pay you until your item sells. That means it’s unlikely you’ll walk out with a pocketful of cash. It’s also difficult to predict what brands they will buy, because most local stores don’t have databases and metrics off of which to go. Sales are often based on personal taste or season.

But hey, anything is better than leaving unused clothes tucked away in the furthest corner of your shelf for years to come.

Quick Tips on Getting the Most Cash From Your Clothes

Some things are guesswork when trying to sell your clothes. Stock at brick-and-mortars are constantly in flux and styles change, so it’s hard to say for sure which brand or outfit will sell. However, there are a few things you should always take into consideration, no matter the item or the store.

Following these few guidelines will ensure you get the most money for your clothes.

Clean and Fold Your Clothes

Almost every store and online marketplace recommends washing your clothes before taking them in or shipping them off. At in-person clothing exchanges especially, your payout is based on an associate’s quote. After they carefully check each item, you don’t want dirt or food caked to your shirt. It’ll definitely go in the “no” pile.

Pro Tip

In general, to keep colors bright, you can soak your clothes in salt. Only wash them as needed — inside out and in cool water to avoid fading.

Likewise, super wrinkly clothes come across as unwashed, and you don’t want to give that impression. So be sure to fold them neatly before taking them in or pack them neatly if you’re shipping.

Use a Nice Basket or Hamper to Carry Your Clothes (if You’re Selling In Person)

Quick! What do you think of when you see trash bags?

Trash, right? Not clothes.

Again, presentation matters. The appraisers checking your clothes don’t want to sift through trash bags. So after you’ve washed all the clothes you want to sell, fold them and place them in a basket, hamper or box that you can take to the store.

The Penny Hoarder Shop is always stocked with great deals, including technology, subscriptions, courses, kitchenware and more. Check it out today!

Check for Damage or Pit Stains

If you were a shopper, would you buy a shirt that had pit stains or a missing pocket? Didn’t think so. No one wants damaged, stained or heavily faded clothing.

Before you take your clothes in or list them online, examine them under a bright light to check for tears or discoloration. Certain online stores will ship your clothes back to you if you send them low-quality clothes they’re unable to sell.

Sell Your Clothes Often

Buffalo Exchange’s biggest tip is to buy or sell your clothes every three months. That way, your clothes cache will always be in style, which means more money in your pocket when you sell.

Since most clothing exchanges buy with seasons in mind, it may be best to wait till spring or summer before purging your bathing suits.

But if you live in warm winter places, such as Florida, Arizona or Southern California, then January’s probably fine.

Adam Hardy is a former staff writer for The Penny Hoarder who specializes in stories on the gig economy. Elizabeth Djinis is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder, often writing about selling goods online through social platforms.

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hardyjournalism@gmail.com (Adam Hardy)

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November 2, 2022

November Class Action Settlements Involve Snapchat, GEICO and Coppertone

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Several large class-action settlements affecting consumers nationwide have claim deadlines in November. Consumers who take action by these deadlines could recover significant compensation for false advertising, privacy violations, data breaches and other legal issues.

Coppertone Sunscreen Benzene False Advertising $2.3M Class Action Settlement

Bayer and Beiersdorf agreed to pay a combined $2.3 million to resolve claims that Coppertone sunscreen contains benzene.

The settlement benefits consumers who purchased certain Coppertone sunscreens before Aug. 2, 2022. Products included in the settlement are from Coppertone Pure & Simple, Sport, Complete, Glow Shimmer and Kids product lines.

Beiersdorf recalled 12 lots of Coppertone sunscreen spray in 2021 due to concerns the products contained benzene — a carcinogen linked to blood cancer and other health issues. Consumers took legal action against Beiersdorf and Bayer HealthCare, arguing that the companies had a duty to prevent and screen for dangerous contamination that could cause serious health problems for purchasers.

In order to receive settlement benefits, consumers must submit a valid claim form by Nov. 7, 2022.

Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, Nasty Gal Fake Sale Prices $4.75M Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

Boohoo and BoohooMAN, PrettyLittleThing and Nasty Gal agreed to a $4.75 million class action settlement to resolve claims they used false sale prices when selling clothes.

The settlement benefits California shoppers who made purchases on the Boohoo website since April 9, 2016, on the PrettyLittleThing website since May 19, 2016, and/or on the Nasty Gas website since March 1, 2017.

Consumers in a class action lawsuit claim that Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing and NastyGal websites use false reference prices when selling clothes. These prices allegedly duped customers into thinking they were getting a good deal on items. In reality, customers say the reference prices were not original, retail or former prices and only served to encourage shoppers to make purchases they otherwise would not have.

No claim form is required to benefit from the settlement. However, the deadline for consumers to exclude themselves is Nov. 28, 2022.

Snapchat Biometric Privacy $35M Class Action Settlement

Snapchat will pay $35 million to resolve claims its filters violated Illinois biometric privacy law.

The settlement benefits Illinois residents who have used Snapchat’s “Lenses” and “Filters” features since Nov. 17, 2015.

According to Illinois Snapchat users, the app’s lenses and filters features violate the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).

Snapchat allegedly violates BIPA by scanning and storing user facial geometry without getting prior consent or providing the necessary disclosures required by the law. In addition, the company fails to make its retention and destruction schedule public as required by BIPA, the plaintiffs contend.

The claim deadline in the settlement is Nov. 5, 2022.

Labrada Supplements False Advertising $625K Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

Labrada Bodybuilding Nutrition agreed to a $625,000 class action settlement to resolve claims that it misrepresented its weight loss supplements.

The settlement benefits Californians who purchased Labrada Green Coffee Bean Extract or Labrada Garcinia Cambogia supplements between Feb. 2, 2012 and July 15, 2022.

Plaintiffs in the supplement class action lawsuit accused Labrada of false advertising. Specifically, the consumers challenged the “Fat Buster” and “Fat Loss Optimizer” claims on the supplement labels. According to the class action lawsuit, these fat-loss claims were not supported by actual evidence and instead served to deceive customers.

In order to receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Nov. 11, 2022.

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Humana, Cotiviti Data Breach Class Action Settlement

Humana agreed to an undisclosed settlement amount to resolve claims it failed to protect consumers from a 2020 data breach.

The settlement benefits consumers who received a data breach notification from Humana informing them that their personal and health information was compromised between Oct. 12 and Dec. 16, 2020.

Humana announced it and Cotiviti, its analytics partner, suffered a data breach between October and December 2020. The breach reportedly affected sensitive patient data, including Social Security numbers, birth dates and health information.

According to a subsequent class action lawsuit, Humana and Cotiviti could have prevented the data breach through reasonable cybersecurity measures. As a result of the companies’ alleged negligence, the plaintiffs say they will face the risk of identity theft and fraud for years.

The claim deadline for the settlement is Nov. 15, 2022.

PBM Nutritionals Baby Formula Servings False Ad $2M Class Action Settlement

PBM Nutritionals agreed to a $2 million class action settlement to resolve claims its baby formula, sold under many brand names, doesn’t make as many servings as promised.

The settlement benefits consumers who purchased Well Beginnings, Meijer Baby, Little Journey, Wesley Farms, Burt’s Bees Baby, Berkley Jensen, Parent’s Choice, Earth’s Best Organic, Comforts, Up & Up, Babies “R” Us, Member’s Mark or Bobbie Baby brand baby formula between Jan. 1, 2017, and July 21, 2022.

According to the baby formula class action lawsuit, PBM’s baby formula products do not make as many servings as are advertised on the product packaging. In reality, each product case allegedly makes 7.9% to 12.1% fewer servings than promised.

Shoppers say they wouldn’t have purchased the baby formula products or paid as much for them if they had known the truth about how many servings each package could make.

In order to receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Nov. 30, 2022.

GEICO California Total Loss Sales Tax, Fees $19.1M Class Action Settlement

GEICO will pay $19.1 million to resolve class action allegations that it failed to pay sales tax and regulatory fees when paying total loss claims in California.

The settlement benefits Californians who were insured under a GEICO automotive insurance policy and were not paid sales tax or fees on total loss claims submitted between June 27, 2015, and Aug. 27, 2020. Specific deadlines apply based on which GEICO insurer issued the policies.

Policyholders in a class action lawsuit say that they were denied sales tax and regulatory fees on total loss payments following automotive insurance claims. According to the plaintiffs, they were owed these benefits under both California law and GEICO’s policy terms. In some cases, failing to pay sales tax denied customers thousands of dollars, the plaintiffs contend.

The deadline to submit a claim in the settlement is Nov. 11, 2022.

Remicade (Infliximab) Antitrust $25M Class Action Settlement

Johnson & Johnson and Janssen agreed to pay a combined $25 million to resolve claims they violated antitrust laws by suppressing generic competitors to Remicade.

The settlement benefits individuals who indirectly purchased, paid for or reimbursed the purchase of Remicade (infliximab) between April 5, 2016, and Feb. 28, 2022.

According to the class action lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson and Janssen conspired to suppress generic alternatives to Remicade, an autoimmune treatment drug. The companies allegedly used exclusionary contracts and other anti-competitive actions to prevent generic competition. Plaintiffs say this allowed the drug manufacturers to charge more for Remicade than they could have in a competitive market.

In order to receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Nov. 30, 2022.

GEICO Auto Claims Underpayment Class Action Settlement

GEICO agreed to pay an undisclosed amount as part of a settlement to resolve claims that it underpaid healthcare providers for treatment covered by automotive insurance claims.

The settlement benefits Florida healthcare providers who were paid only 80% for services involved in an automotive insurance claim during various periods between May 7, 2014, and May 31, 2022. Specific deadlines apply based on which GEICO insurer issued the policies.

The GEICO class action lawsuit accuses the insurer of underpaying Florida medical providers for services covered by auto insurance claims. According to the plaintiffs, GEICO only paid healthcare providers 80% per claim. The healthcare companies argue they deserved to receive 100% reimbursement under Florida insurance law.

The claim deadline in the settlement is Nov. 28, 2022.

CSL Plasma Biometric Data $9.9M Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

CSL Plasma agreed to pay $9.9 million to resolve class action allegations it violated privacy laws by collecting donor fingerprints in Illinois.

The settlement benefits anyone who scanned their finger at a CSL Plasma collection center in Illinois between Sept. 5, 2014, and Oct. 16, 2019.

Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit claim that CSL Plasma violated BIPA by scanning donor fingerprints at its donation facilities. According to the class action lawsuit, CSL Plasma failed to get the required consent and provide the necessary disclosures required by BIPA.

In order to receive settlement benefits, Class Members must submit a valid claim form by Nov. 3, 2022.

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November 1, 2022
How to Become a Paid Caregiver for Your Loved One Through Medicaid
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Children, spouses, siblings and friends of elderly people can get paid by Medicaid to help take care of their loved ones. Medicaid would rather pay a friend or family member to help someone while they are still living in their own home, instead of paying for them to be in a long term care facility.

Genworth, a Virginia-based provider of long-term care insurance, conducts an annual survey on the cost of care for seniors. The median price for one month in a private room in a nursing home in 2021 was $8,910. A semi-private room cost $7,800 a month.

To keep clients living at home longer — even once they need some assistance — all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer some kind of program through Medicaid that lets clients choose a family caregiver who is paid with Medicaid funds. Many programs are “participant-driven,” which means participants can choose who will take care of them and Medicaid will pay for some or all of the cost.

“The vast majority of older adults want to stay in their homes as they age, and allowing them to pay a friend or family member to help with their daily needs can make that possible,” said Susan Reinhard, senior vice president of AARP’s Public Policy Institute. “The pandemic provided a push for states to expand this option, and we hope many of them will make their policy changes permanent.

“Paying family caregivers is a solution that saves states money and meets the growing need for long-term care,” she added.

How to Become a Paid Caregiver for a Family Member

Clients must show they need a certain level of care, and caregivers must show they are capable of providing that care. If the client needs medical care the loved one isn’t trained for, they cannot be designated as the caregiver.

The amount of money family caregivers are paid varies among states’ Medicaid programs, the level of care the individual needs and the average wage for a home health aide in each state. The programs that allow family caregivers to be paid also go by different names and have different caveats and benefits in each state:
- Home and Community Based Services Waivers are offered by the majority of states. But many have a limited number of these waivers, so there may be a waiting list. This waiver allows the Medicaid participant to hire a friend or relative as a personal care assistant. This is also referred to as the 1915 C waiver. For instance, Iowa has the HCBS Elderly Waiver, Indiana has the Aged and Disabled Medicaid Waiver, and the District of Columbia has the Elderly and Persons with Physical Disabilities Medicaid Waiver.
- The Self-Directed Personal Assistance Services State Plan Option, also called the 1915 authority, allows a Medicaid participant to hire, train and pay the personal care assistant they choose. Based on the budget Medicaid offers, the participant decides what the assistant is paid. One unique part of this option is the participant may be required to pay employment taxes on the assistant. An intermediary helps with this financial aspect of the process.
- Community First Choice, also called the 1915 state plan option, actually applies to Medicaid recipients who are in nursing homes but need personal care services. Instead of paying extra for a staff member at the facility to provide that care, this option allows friends or family to help with bathing, grooming, light housekeeping and transportation. According to the American Council on Aging, the following nine states offer this option: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Montana, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.
- With the Caretaker Child Exception, Medicaid doesn’t pay the adult child a wage to care for their parent but allows the parent’s house to be transferred to the adult child as a form of payment. This comes into play when an elderly Medicaid participant is moving into a nursing home but wouldn’t qualify for Medicaid because they own their home. For the adult child to qualify to receive the house and the parent to qualify for Medicaid, the child must have lived with the parent for at least two years immediately before the parent went into the nursing home. If the transfer is not done legally, Medicaid’s “look back rule” could then rule the parent is ineligible for Medicaid.
Learn More About Medicaid

Medicaid eligibility in general, not just for these programs and waivers, is not consistent across the country. A general rule of thumb as of 2021 is senior applicants can’t have more than $2,583 in income and $2,000 in assets.

The limits vary by state. For example, in New York assets can be as high as $16,000. State-specific eligibility can be found here. If a senior is already enrolled in Medicaid, the next step is contacting their state’s Medicaid office.

The American Council on Aging strongly recommends finding a Medicaid planner to help with applying for caregiver roles and other benefits.

Katherine Snow Smith is a former staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She writes about ways to make money, save money and other topics. Her work has appeared in the Tampa Bay Times, Charlotte Business Journal and Greenville (S.C.) News.

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November 1, 2022
Para App Gives Gig Workers More Info So They Can Make More Money

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The Para app promises to make navigating the gig economy easier than ever before. When you’re ready to jump into your vehicle and earn extra cash, the folks behind Para are betting they can help you work safer and make more money.

Rather than juggling multiple gig apps, you can work entirely from within Para and accept jobs from DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber and Lyft. Working from within a single app eliminates the dangers of shuffling between apps while on the road and allows you to view the best job offerings from each service.

Once you install the app, create a Para login and link your gig accounts to get started. You can accept or decline offers from multiple gig services and see how much per hour and per mile you would make on a job.

We particularly like that Para shows you estimated payout information and details about the delivery location. Are you wondering if you are delivering to a home, office or apartment? Para shows you the information before you accept the job.

One distinctly popular feature offered by Para is trip transparency, which enables drivers to see exactly how much they will make by accepting a delivery. DoorDash doesn’t always show the entire amount you’ll make, including tips, by accepting a delivery.

Para tells drivers exactly how much they’ll make Dashing, helping maximize potential earnings. DoorDash has continually fought against tip transparency, so the feature tends to have occasional bouts of unavailability while the folks at Para fight back.

Delivery services, such as DoorDash, stipulate that drivers cannot share access to their accounts with third parties. If you opt to connect your DoorDash account to Para, this may put you at risk of deactivation.

However, Para says it has not had any users deactivated for any platform using Para. It does note that its “features may be a violation of gig app terms of service, but we believe that this is the right thing to do — independent contractors have the right to make informed decisions.”

Para also works by leveraging advice and comments from other gig workers to keep you in the know. For example, before accepting a job, you may see a tip from another driver that the restaurant or delivery location doesn’t offer parking access.

We’ve heard from gig workers who note that the only way they make enough money is to balance multiple apps at once, a task that can be tricky and dangerous. We are happy to see an app offering from a third party that makes the job much more manageable.

Beyond the four supported services on Para — DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber and Lyft — the app also offers a feature known as ParaWorks. With ParaWorks, you can find other “high-paying scheduled & on-demand job opportunities.”

We haven’t had a chance to test out the ParaWorks function of the Para app, but if it works as described, it should be a nice bonus for gig workers.

If you’re a gig worker who earns a living through apps such as DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber and Lyft, it might be worth trying out Para. As always, continue to understand the risks of using a third-party service to help maximize your earnings.

Michael Archambault is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder specializing in technology.

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October 31, 2022
Animal Lover? Pet Sitting Just Might Be the Paw-Fect Side Gig for You
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Does getting paid to cuddle cats and walk dogs sound like a dream job?

If so, pet sitting might be the perfect side hustle for you.

If you love animals and need some extra cash, consider watching other people’s pets. It’s a relatively easy and flexible gig, and several websites can help you market your services and find clients.

Pet sitting isn’t all puppy kisses and kitten snuggles, though. You’ll need to be responsible, prompt and good with people as well as pets.

Here’s what it takes to become a pet sitter.

Saint, a golden retriever puppy, gets belly scratches from his pet sitter Lisa Peddicord during her visit with the puppy.The veterinary technician pet-sits for Tails and Trails as a side gig. Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder

What Does a Pet Sitter Do?

Though snuggling furry friends is a major perk of pet sitting, it does involve other responsibilities.

Pet sitting services might involve:
- Walking dogs. (Bet you saw that one coming.)
- Administering medication.
- Cleaning out litter boxes or cages.
- Making sure animals have food and water. You’ll want to discuss any feeding schedules or dietary restrictions with the owner beforehand.
Pet sitting can take place in your home or the client’s home, either as quick visits or overnight stays.

What Makes a Good Pet Sitter?

Even if the responsibilities sound manageable, you’ll still want to make sure you’re up for taking care of a client’s animals.
- Be a good communicator. As a pet sitter, you’ll spend a lot of time talking to the pet owners. You’ll have to listen to them on each pet’s needs and schedule, and they’ll probably want regular updates.
- Have good time management. Depending on how busy you are, you might be juggling a lot of clients. You’ll want to get to each job on time and have plenty of time to take care of any tasks.
- Be understanding. Each animal you interact with will have a different personality. Some animals don’t interact well with strangers and some will want to jump on you as soon as you walk in the door.
- Don’t be afraid of getting dirty. You’re going to deal with poop at some point. You might have to give Fido a bath after he finds a mud puddle on your walk. Embrace the chaos.
How Much Money Will You Make?

The amount of money you’ll make is largely dependent on the rates you charge and services you offer. Overnight boarding will be more work than a quick home visit, but you can charge more. You can also charge more during holidays or if you’re caring for multiple animals. A typical home visit price can be anywhere from $20-30.

Unsure of what prices to set? Look for pet sitters already available in your area and see what they’re charging.

If you’re new to pet sitting, you can also start off at lower prices and increase them as you gain clients and experience.

Peddicord trains Saint during her 30-minute visit to a St. Petersburg, Fla., client’s home. Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder

How Do You Become a Pet Sitter?

As a pet sitter, you can strike out on your own or register with established websites. Either option allows you to set your own pay rates and work schedule.

And each has its pros and cons. Third-party sites will take a cut of your profits, for example, but these services could save you a lot of time and energy marketing yourself.

Starting Your Own Service

If you’d rather put in the legwork yourself and keep all your profits, here are some things you can do to attract clients. The downside? You’ll have to pay the costs of running your own business.

1. Get Relevant Experience

If you’re a pet lover but don’t have a background in a pet-related business, that’s OK. You can gain pet sitting experience by offering the service for free to friends and family.

Even if you’re just starting out, don’t be afraid to post your services on social media. Advertise in your local yard sale groups.

You can also gain experience and help dogs in need of attention by volunteering to walk dogs at an animal shelter.

2. Decide on Your Services

As you gain experience, you’ll get a general idea of what type of services you want to offer. Maybe you’ll limit your business to cats and dogs. Or maybe you’re up for caring for anything from horses to hamsters, too.

Are you willing to walk multiple dogs? Can you take a pet to the vet if asked? Do you want breed or size restrictions? These and other questions will come up as you begin your pet sitting services.

You’ll also want to stock up on any supplies you could need and what rates you want to set, depending on what you’re offering.

3. Get Certified

Set yourself apart from the average pet lover by getting a Professional Pet Sitter Certification. You can do this through different organizations, such as Pet Sitters International (PSI) or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). The courses and exams cover important information for pet sitters and legitimize your business, but these certifications can cost $200 or more.

Cheaper options are available, including this certification course by petsittercourse.com for just $45.

4. Get Insured

Anything can happen when you’re running your own business, so pet insurance is a great way to protect yourself and your clients. You can get general liability insurance for less than $200 per year from companies like Pet Care Insurance or Pet Sitters Association.

5. Learn Pet First Aid

Give yourself and your clients peace of mind with a pet first aid certification. These classes cover how to care for cats and dogs by checking vital signs, caring for wounds or seizures and other medical emergencies. The American Red Cross offers a basic online course for $25. You can find more extensive courses through organizations like Pet Emergency Education and Pet Sitters International, but those options cost more.

Becoming certified in first aid for pets is also a good idea if you plan on becoming a pet sitter through an existing website.

Whippet dogs Cooper and Allie greet Diana Sanchez as she arrives at their home for her 30-minute visit. Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder

Using a Pet Sitting Website

If you’d rather find jobs through an established source or just want a side gig, you can use dog sitting websites. It will make finding jobs easier and it can be cheaper than going it on your own, though you’ll still have to pay fees.

1. Rover

One of the most popular pet sitting websites is Rover. Rover allows sitters to choose their own schedule, services and prices. Services you can offer through Rover include pet boarding, dog walking, doggy daycare, house sitting and drop-in visits.

You can also set preferences on the characteristics of animals you take, such as size and age. Payments are ready for withdrawal after two days. However, Rover has a $35 profile review fee when you get started and they take 20% from your job earnings.

Before you can get started, Rover will take 10-20 days to approve your profile and you’ll also be required to pass a background check.

2. Wag!

Wag! is another well known website for pet sitters, with over 400,000 caregivers currently on the service. Like Rover, you can set your own schedule and prices.

When setting up your profile, you’ll be required to provide five endorsements from friends or family.

To provide services on Wag!, you’ll have to submit an application and be approved, which takes 14 days on average. You’ll need to pass a pet care quiz and a background check. The background check is a one time fee of $39.95.

Wag! caregivers are paid through Stripe every Friday for the services done the previous week. Unfortunately, Wag’s service fee per job is pretty steep at 40%. You do keep all of your tips.

3. Fetch! Pet Care

Unlike its competitors, at Fetch! Pet Care, you work through an established Fetch! location, so long as one is available. You’ll apply and be interviewed by the local owner. However, you’ll still be setting your own schedule.

With Fetch!, you’ll become familiar with your clients and their pets, as the company assigns primary and backup sitters to each client. You’ll also be required to keep a Pet Journal during your assignment.

Fetch! Sitters go through an in-depth interview and background check to get started.

4. Care.com

Though you probably think of babysitting two-legged children when you think of Care.com, the site also connects fur babies to pet sitters.

Care.com has two membership levels. With a basic membership, you’ll pay $18.99 per year for a background check and can only find and apply to jobs.

Premium memberships are $8.99 per month and give you first access to jobs, higher ranking in search results and you’ll be able to see who has viewed your profile. The background check fee is also waived.

When you set up your profile, you’ll select your schedule, availability and preferred hourly rate.

One of the advantages of Care.com is fast payment. The money you earn goes to your bank account within 24 hours.

Like the other websites, Care.com users are required to pass a background check before they can participate in the site.

Contributor Jenna Limbach writes on financial literacy and lifestyle topics for The Penny Hoarder from her home base in Nevada.

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October 28, 2022
Mystery Shopper Beware: Here’s How to Avoid Falling for a Scam

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Whether you’re a college student, stay-at-home parent or retiree, mystery shopping is a fun and legitimate way to make some extra cash — sometimes a lot of extra cash.

But secret shoppers beware: mystery shopper scams are a thing. So, if you’re considering one of these gigs, you need to stay alert for shady shopping jobs.

Mystery shopper con artists will always lurk around the internet so it’s important to know how they operate.

The Most Common Mystery Shopper Scams

Like most cons, mystery shopper scams come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Here are some of the most common ones you might encounter when looking for a secret shopper job.

The “Oops We Overpaid You” Scam

One of the most common mystery shopping scams involves getting a victim to give up their name and mailing address, ostensibly so the fake company can advance the shopper some money for a gig.

When the victim receives a check in an amount larger than they were expecting, Fake Company tells them to deposit it in their personal bank account and wire back the overage amount. (Hint: if a company asks you to wire money, it’s probably a scam!)

You guessed it. The check bounces and the victim is out whatever money they wired to Fake Company, never to be seen again.

The U.S. Postal Service warns against a similar scam involving unsolicited mailings from scammers inviting people to become mystery shoppers.

Be sure to check out the copy of an actual fake check and letter to see how convincing these con artists can be.

The “Buy Us a Gift Card” Scam

A not-so-fun twist on the fake check scam is the gift card scam. Scammers impersonate real companies and get mystery shoppers to send prepaid gift cards — only to steal them without ever reimbursing the victims.

Here’s an example of how it works. Fake Company sends you a check for $500. They instruct you to buy a $500 value Target gift card with the money they sent. Then, they ask you to send pictures of the gift card redemption codes. The unhappy ending: The check bounces and they use the gift card. You’re out $500.

Bottom line? If you get a fat check before you’ve ever started working, it’s probably a scam.

The “Pay Us to Find You the Best Shops” Scam

This con plays upon our natural desire to want guidance navigating through the hundreds, if not thousands, of mystery shopping jobs available across the internet.

These fake companies promise to find you best, highest-paying, most fun jobs in your area — for a fee.

They may claim to have special search capabilities, access to mystery shops that aren’t advertised online or recruit for well-known mystery shopping companies.

Don’t you believe it.

Legitimate companies don’t hide their jobs from applicants or require special search tools to find.

Drop these fraudsters like radioactive waste. You can find a long list of real opportunities for free right here, on the Mystery Shopping Providers Association website.

The “Oddly Specific Invitation” Scam

The AARP, which tracks all kinds of scammers through the Fraud Watch Network, reports that fake mystery shopping gigs have been around for a while.

“One way the scammers found many of their victims during the recession was through job boards where people could post their resumes,” said Amy Nofziger, regional director for the AARP Foundation.

“Scammers would use these to personalize their pitch to specific job seekers, homing in on the job seeker’s previous experience,” she said “They still use these methods today.”

So if you get invited to apply for a secret shopper position that sounds a little too perfect for you, watch out. That’s one of the warning signs that you’re being scammed.

The “Make $9,000 a Month!” Scam

You know we love mystery shopping here at The Penny Hoarder HQ, even when we kind of accidentally fail at it.

Several of us are secret shoppers as a side hustle, but we know it’s not going to be a full time job.

True, some shops can net you anywhere from $45 to check out a church up to as much as $100 to shop for a trench coat.

But those mystery shopper opportunities are rare.

Most legitimate opportunities to secretly shop net you more like $5 – $10 per gig, or just some free booze (hey, that’s good enough for me).

Armed with that knowledge, be highly skeptical of any company that promises you’ll make enough money to drive around in a Lexus while nibbling caviar at stoplights just by shopping undercover.

Protecting Yourself from Secret Shopper Scams

New mystery shopping scams pop up all the time, so your best defense is a good offense.

When deciding whether to apply for a mystery shopper job or run away like your hair’s on fire, keep these tips in mind.

1. Research. Then Research Some More

You probably already knew I was going to tell you to do your homework, but it really is the number one way to protect yourself from scams.

Don’t be afraid to go all Sherlock on the company you’re thinking of signing up for.

Check out them out with Better Business Bureau, run them through the BBB Scam Tracker, and type their name in your browser’s search tool to see what pops up. (“[Company Name] scam” is a particularly useful search string.)

Another great resource is the Mystery Shopping Professional Association’s Scam Alerts page. It’s a regularly updated list of scams, complete with the actual links and texts these fake companies are sending out. If you are vetting an opportunity and find it on the MSPA’s Scam Alerts page, run!

2. Don’t Respond to Mystery Shopping Companies That Find You

Don’t answer unsolicited emails about mystery shopping jobs, no matter how enticing they seem. Toss mystery shopper snail mail you didn’t send for and hang up on companies that call you out of the blue.

Reputable mystery shopping companies don’t spend money and time recruiting shoppers through cold calls and emails to random people around the country.

3. Keep Your Hard-Earned Cash

You want to make money as a mystery shopper, not spend it.

Any mystery shopping company that asks you for money in exchange for plum assignments, application fees, or background checks does not have your best interests at heart.

The Federal Trade Commission says it best: “Honest companies pay you, not charge you, to work for them…”

What to Do If You Spot a Secret Shopper Scam

If you spot a job posting that looks like a mystery shopper scam, don’t bother trying to call them out.

Instead, report ‘em!

They’re the experts in handling this kind of thing. So file a quick complaint and get back to the business of finding a legitimate mystery shopper job.

Nofziger noted mystery shopper scams can happen any time but occur more frequently during economic downturns and at certain times of the year.

“We often see an uptick during the holidays, when people are looking to make some extra income for the holiday shopping,” she said. “The scammers will often use this same season as a way to sound more legitimate by touting ‘the extra people needed for these secret shopper positions during the holiday shopping season, as companies want to ensure good customer service.’”

Nofziger advised that vigilance and consumer education are the best weapons against falling for fake mystery shopper gigs.

“These scammers are very clever at what they do and in the ways that they trick people.”

Remember, there are many mystery shopper opportunities out there that are one hundred percent legitimate. Just watch out for red flags so you can enjoy your side hustle without getting scammed.

Ciara McLaren contributed to this report. McLaren is a freelance writer with work in HuffPost, MoneyGeek, and The Penny Hoarder. You can find her on Substack (@camclaren).

Lisa McGreevy is a former staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. The best mystery shopper gig she ever landed was a full makeover at a fancy department store. She got to keep the lipstick.

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October 28, 2022
The 25 Best Side Hustles: Our Top Picks to Help You Make More Money

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Side hustles, also known as side gigs, are paid projects you do outside your main job. They can be a great way to pay off debt or earn more money on the side.

They can also be a means to tap into unused skills and explore your passions. And if you really want to get creative, you can use a unique side hustle as a testing ground for a business idea.

Looking for a ready-made side hustle? Or maybe a creative gig you can use to carve out a niche for yourself outside of your full-time job? Either way, you’ve come to the right place. We curated the best side hustle ideas we’ve come across.

How Much Money Can You Make With Side Jobs?

The short answer: It depends.

For one, it matters if you want to make a little extra money, work a part-time job or full-on replace your full-time income.

Each side hustle recommendation is paired with our best tips and other resources to help you get started. Plus, we’ve included an earnings estimate based on side hustlers we’ve interviewed, industry reports, wage estimates and a healthy dose of reality. (Just because an app says you can earn up to $30 an hour doesn’t mean that’s likely.)

Depending on how much money you want to make in your spare time, you can “right-size” the amount of freelance work you take on.

The 25 Best Side Hustle Ideas to Earn Extra Money

These side hustles can be done outside your 9-to-5 and are mostly available nationwide, year-round. Some side hustles are easily obtainable, some will take some planning and setup but provide passive income, and others offer opportunities to hone specialized skills.

All of them are tried and true. And we have the resources to help you get started on your side-hustling journey.

Here are our picks for some of the best side gigs — some of which you can begin and make a few extra bucks (and then some) pretty much immediately.

1. Rideshare Driver

Use your car and your smartphone to chauffeur people around your city and earn some decent cash on the side. Uber and Lyft, the most popular ride-share companies, are always looking for drivers.

To qualify, you need to:

Be at least 21 years old

Have a valid U.S. driver’s license

Have proof of car insurance and vehicle registration

Have a four-door vehicle

Be able to pass criminal and driving background checks

Also, for Uber, you need to have at least three years of driving experience if you’re under 25. Check each website for a full list of requirements to drive for the respective companies in your area.

Pay is based on a ride-by-ride basis, plus tips, that can translate into a handsome hourly wage once you get the hang of it. Earnings are largely determined by tips and how many rides you complete each hour.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $15 an hour or more including tips.

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2. Food Delivery Driver

Driving strangers around isn’t for everyone. So, try meal delivery instead. Most food delivery apps and services work the same: A customer places a food order with a local restaurant, you drive to the restaurant, grab the order and take it to the customer. You get paid by-the-order plus tips.

Gig delivery services DoorDash and Uber Eats dominate the market nationally, and they are generally considered the best ones because they’re the most consistent. You may have smaller delivery options in your area as well like Postmates, Bitesquad, Caviar and others. Compared to rideshare driving, the car requirements are less stringent. You’ll still need a valid driver’s license, insurance and the ability to pass background checks.

Earnings are largely determined by tips and how many deliveries you complete each hour.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $15 an hour or more including tips.

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Destiny Frith of Nashville, Tenn., works with Shipt eight to 10 hours a week to help pay off her credit card debt. William DeShazer for The Penny Hoarder

3. Grocery Delivery Driver

Some people hate going to the supermarket, which is why grocery delivery services are on the rise. Not to mention, the pandemic created a surge in demand for these services.

Instacart and Shipt are the two largest players. They hire armies of gig workers who go shopping, pick out requested items and deliver them to customers’ homes. In some locations, DoorDash offers limited grocery delivery services, too.

As a grocery-delivery driver, you may have a higher earnings potential when it comes to tips. But the work is more laborious compared to other driving-based side hustles.

Earnings are largely determined by tips and how many deliveries you complete each hour.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $15 an hour or more including tips.

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4. Package Delivery Driver

If you’d rather your car not absorb the smells of your gig, you can also deliver packages on-demand. Amazon Flex is the main package-delivery gig provider.

Amazon Flex stands out from many other app-based side hustles in that, per Amazon, most drivers make between $18 and $25 an hour (depending on location, tips, etc.). You can sign up for “blocks” or shifts for a finite amount of time, which allows you to better estimate your daily earnings.

You need to be 21 years old, hold a valid license and have proper auto insurance to qualify.

Vehicle requirements vary based on the type of delivery. For Prime Now orders, any reliable car will do. A larger vehicle may be required for Amazon.com orders.

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5. General Freelancer

If you have specialized skills and want to make some side money using them, join a freelance network. Marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork are a good way to test the freelancing waters. The websites help you find gigs and connect with clients.

As a freelancer you get to decide who you want to work with and how much to charge for your services. The most common types of freelance services in online marketplaces include marketing, customer service, virtual assistant work, administrative support, web and software development, and writing.

Makeup tutorials and personal training are popular gigs you can do in person or online, as well. If you have a brand or huge fanbase, you can earn more money — and maybe parlay that into bigger earning endeavors by being an affiliate marketer or operating your own online store.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: About $20 an hour. More for specialized work.

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6. Freelance Writer

Freelancing is sometimes synonymous with freelance writing. Sure, the general freelance marketplaces like Fiverr, Upwork and content mills are decent places to start. But successful writers pivot off of them quickly and start pitching directly to the publications and websites they want to write for.

Once you’ve built up a few clips, it’s good to specialize in a niche topic that interests you. Usually, the more focused your topic and deeper your expertise, the higher your rate. Overall, rates are dependent on the industry (journalism, fiction, marketing, etc.) and the prestige of the publication or website.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: 30 cents to $2 per word.

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Pro Tip

Don’t sell yourself short. Here’s how to figure out what to charge as a freelancer.

Getty Images

7. Graphic Designer

Becoming a successful graphic designer won’t happen overnight. But if you have an artistic eye, creativity, the people skills to negotiate and Adobe Creative Suite, designing can be very lucrative.

The opportunities to design are plentiful. Other freelancers need logos, small businesses need brochure templates, websites need pleasing graphics, restaurants need menus. The list goes on, and there’s a lot of growth potential.

Starting out, you may find yourself earning around $20 an hour for small-scale projects. But as you hone your artistic skills, the more selective you can be with your side projects. It’s common for skilled designers to make well over $100 an hour.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $20 to $150 per hour or more based on skill level.

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8. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants often handle administrative work like organizing workflows, scheduling meetings and filing documents. But as this remote side hustle becomes more popular, higher-level tasks are often part of the gig.

These days, it’s typical for virtual assistants to also provide graphic design, copywriting, bookkeeping, translation and other services. Almost a virtual jack-of-all-trades. If you can provide these secondary skills, then you can also bump up your hourly rates.

You look for these gigs on Upwork, Fiverr and VA-specific job boards.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: About $20 an hour.

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9. Freelance Social Media Manager

Small and medium-sized businesses, now more than ever, need to have an online presence. But many business owners simply don’t have the time to keep up with their business pages on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. And it shows.

You can use that to your advantage. It can be quite obvious which businesses have left their social accounts to languish. Frustrating for customers. But for you? It’s an opportunity to reach out to the business, offer your services and make money using your social media skills.

You can offer businesses a mix of help with branding and customer service — with prices way more appealing than an agency.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: About $20 an hour. Potential to scale into a business.

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10. Social Media and Search Engine Rater

You’re surfing the web anyhow. You should make money doing it.

Several companies are willing to shell out the cash to get your opinions on advertisements and other content primarily on social media and search engine websites.

All you have to do is scroll through search results or social media feeds for a few hours per week. Sometimes on your phone. Sometimes on your computer. These popular micro-jobs are typically available at Lionbridge, Sutherland Global and Sykes.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $10 to $19 an hour.

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Whippet dogs Cooper and Allie greet Diana Sanchez as she arrived at their home for her 30-minute visit where she fed the dogs, let them out to use the bathroom and showed them affection in Tampa, Fla. Tina Russell / The Penny Hoarder

11. Pet Sitter

Pet sitting is the perfect side hustle if you’re an animal lover. The work is flexible, ubiquitous and you get to play with some adorable pets. What more could you want?

The old-fashioned way of socializing at dog parks and pinning up bulletin board ads is one route to build up clientele.

If you want to jump right in, try Rover or Wag — the two of the most popular pet-sitting apps. They work like many other gig apps. You sign up, create a profile and get matched with people in your area who need their pets taken care of. You can choose what services you want to offer, too: walks only, pet and house sitting or pet boarding. It’s a solid way to set up a steady stream of income.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $12 to $20 an hour.

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Pro Tip

Are you an animal lover with a reliable vehicle? You might be able to make $10,000 a month as a pet transporter.

12. Babysitter

Babysitting is an old side gig standby and might be the first experience some of us had ever making our own money. It’s not just for teenagers (though it certainly can be).

Obviously, word of mouth recommendations and personal contacts are an easy way to start finding side gigs. Care.com and SitterCity are popular online options. Both websites offer free and paid accounts to help you find gigs nearby. You can also use the sites to show off any relevant credentials and competencies such as a CPR certificate or American Red Cross coursework.

Such experience is a great way to get a leg up on competition and put parents’ minds at ease.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: About $15 to $20 an hour.

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13. Airbnb Host

Have a spare room? Might as well try to make money on the side by listing it on Airbnb.

If you’re a good host with a desirable dream home, you could add hundreds — even thousands — of dollars to your bank account per month. What makes a space desirable is cleanliness and proximity to nightlife or tourist destinations.

It takes some effort to curate a private space, establish rules and set up your listing, but after that, all there’s left to do is assist interested travelers and clean up when they leave. You get full control over how much you charge per night and what nights the space is available. Airbnb takes a cut per each confirmed booking — usually 3% but could range as high as 20% depending on the area and type of listing.

Many successful Airbnb hosts use side hustle earnings to offset the cost of their mortgage or other bills, sometimes entirely. The coronavirus has no doubt slowed travel-related activities. So don’t expect your earnings to offset your mortgage payments immediately.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $50 to $250 per night.

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Donna Fernandez of Boston, Mass., navigates the mangrove tunnels at South Lido County Park in Sarasota, Fla., during an Airbnb Experiences excursion. Fernandez was participating in a tour led by Paradise Adventures Sarasota.

14. Airbnb Experiences Host

Airbnb is well known for its on-demand renting services. In 2016, the company launched Experiences, a standalone service that allows locals to list interesting activities for groups, usually tourists, to take part in. Experiences offer a great side hustle option for charismatic and interesting locals.

If you know your locale well — all the good eats, breweries and a bit of history — you could host a walking tour. Or if you want to get really creative, you could curate date-night experiences for visiting couples. During the pandemic, safety is key, and you’ll want to detail the steps you’re taking to make sure everyone stays healthy.

You can attach an Experience to your existing Airbnb rental account, or you can create a new account just to host an activity. You can charge whatever you want, and Airbnb takes a 20% fee.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: Varies by duration and group size.

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15. Notary Public

A Notary Public is actually a formal government designation. The “Commission” (or term) usually lasts about four years, and it’s a side hustle worth considering.

As a notary, you can make money on the side by signing legal documents such as wills or power of attorney forms — even school- and sports-related forms. You’ll need to be 18 years old and complete the appropriate application with your state. Only about a dozen states require some form of training or exam.

We highly recommend finding a specialization to increase your earnings and eliminate competition from banks and UPS branches that offer notary services. For example, you can find a niche in real estate as a Notary Signing Agent and charge more for your services, shooting your earnings potential up to hundreds of dollars per document packet.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: 50 cents to $10 per signature — up to $200 per signing for specialized notary services.

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16. Wedding Officiant

As a wedding officiant, sometimes called marriage officiant, you get paid to celebrate with people who are experiencing one of the most memorable events of their lives. What’s more, you’ll have an active role in helping people tie the knot, leading the ceremony and eliciting the vows and the “I do”s. Many officiants find the side work highly rewarding.

This is a true side hustle. It has little chance to creep into your day-to-day schedule as there are limited amounts of weddings (and Saturdays).

Pro Tip

Consider doubling-up on your side hustle by becoming a notary as well so that you can certify the wedding certificate.

The requirements to become an officiant vary by state and sometimes even by county. In most cases, you will need to be ordained. But you can score those credentials quickly online through the Universal Life Church Monastery. Just ensure they’re recognized by your local government first.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $250 to $500 per ceremony.

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Jen Ross of VIPKID teaches from her home office in Mount Dora, Fla., with the help of her musical talents. Carmen Mandato/ The Penny Hoarder

17. Online Tutor

Tutoring was a side hustle before we called second jobs side hustles. With a host of websites to choose from, it’s easier than ever to find students and make money. Most tutoring websites work like marketplaces: You fill out a profile that lists your subject expertise, education, experience and hourly rates. Then, you can reach out to students or vice versa. A few websites will do the matching for you based on a preset schedule.

But not every online tutoring company works like that. Some more formal companies may conduct interviews and administer screening tests, similar to on-site tutoring jobs.

Common tutoring topics include core K-12 subjects (math, English, science, reading and social studies), as well as SAT/ACT prep and college-level courses.

As you get the hang of tutoring online, we recommend gravitating your side hustle away from the tutoring platforms. Try to establish a student base on your own — with sessions that you can host independently over video-conferencing platforms like Skype and Zoom.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $10 to $25 an hour with potential to scale.

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18. Online English Teacher

Teaching English online is becoming a mainstay in the world of virtual side hustles. It’s one of the best side hustle ideas if your day job is a grade-school teacher, as your skills and credentials are a natural fit.

Most companies will require you to have a bachelor’s degree and a TEFL/TESOL certification. (The acronyms mean basically the same thing — Teaching English as a Foreign Language and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.)

Be wary of Groupons for teaching certificates: Not all online TEFL or TESOL programs are the same. You won’t always need those credentials, anyway; it ultimately depends on the company. Also, take note of any location restrictions (for instance, California residents may not be eligible to teach for some companies due to local government limitations).

Beside requirements, most gigs operate the same way: You’ll be teaching English to one or more students typically located in China.

As a result of the distance, peak hours tend to be in the early morning or late evenings. When you first start teaching, you’ll earn around $16 per hour with bonuses that can quickly add up to $24 or more.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $16 to $24 an hour.

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19. Crafts Seller

Not all side hustles are service-related.

Consider selling your art, crafts and other homemade goods online. Thanks to Amazon Handmade, Etsy, eBay and other e-commerce platforms, you have several ways to get your creations out there.

Each website comes with its own pros and cons, but you should experiment with multiple ones to find the right customers. No matter which one you choose, be sure to factor in the seller fees, cost of materials and shipping expenses into your sales price.

You can also host free tutorials on YouTube or social media channels to answer questions, expand your reach and sell more products. Or, create a niche blog and become an affiliate marketer.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: Based on item sales. Potential to scale into a business.

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20. At-Home Clothes Cleaner

Doing laundry is at the top of most people’s hate-to-do list. That’s where you come in to save the day with your clothes-cleaning prowess.

In apartment complexes especially, people might not have washers or dryers. Driving to a coin laundry is not only laborious but time consuming. The sell — for you to drop by and pick up their clothes and bring them back clean and folded — is pretty simple.

To get started taking on clients, you’ll just need your own car, a washer, dryer and space to fold the clothes up neatly. If you already have that, this is one of the best side hustles that doesn’t require a ton of start-up costs or specialized skills.

Care.com, Laundry Care and TaskRabbit are solid websites to get your side hustle rolling. We always suggest building up clients outside third-party websites, and you can do so by advertising your services near coin laundries and at apartment communities that don’t come equipped with washers and dryers.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: About $20 an hour.

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21. Flipper of Goods

Flipping goods on the side has probably crossed your mind at some point in time. Maybe you found a scuff-less pair of Doc Martens at Goodwill, and for only $15? You could make a huge profit reselling them.

Turns out, many people make a living off doing just this. Thrift stores and garage sales can be treasure troves for those with a good eye for profit. You might also find great deals at local retail stores, too. Flipping new items is often referred to as retail arbitrage. Different name, same premise.

Whatever the case, when you find a great deal, there are plenty of websites that can help you make money off your purchase. Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, thredUP, Instagram, eBay and Etsy are all great places to start your flipping side hustle — or just pawn off one-time items. If you restore, enhance or upscale the item in some way, even better.

Just be sure to match the product to the best website. Those Doc Martens might not do well on eBay but might make a killing on Poshmark.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: Based on item sales. Potential to scale in a business.

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22. Online Course Creator

If you’re an expert of a subject, topic or skill and want to make some passive side hustle income, consider creating an online program. Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs, provided by companies like Udemy and Teachable allow teachers and professionals to instruct students wanting to sharpen their skills.

In addition to academic subjects, professional and homesteading skills are welcome. Put your unique skill set to use for your business!

As an instructor, you can create the courses, which consist of audio, video, a PowerPoint-style presentation, practice assignments and exams. You charge a fee to enroll. The longer the course, the higher the pay. Depending on how students sign up, your earnings will fluctuate. (Did they enroll directly through your registration link? Or did they use the website’s search function?)

Online course creation isn’t for everyone, but this popular side hustle can provide a solid income source for those who have the know-how.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: Based on length of course and enrollment.

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23. Competitive Gamer

The video game industry has been booming in recent years, and more people than ever are playing video games. If you have developed some serious skills in popular titles, you can turn your hobby into a lucrative side hustle.

Like video games themselves, real-money gaming competitions are becoming more popular. For amateurs, websites like GamerSaloon, GameBattles and WorldGaming Network offer ways to make money on the side: by crushing your opponents in online tournaments. Prize pools for these sites can vary from $1 to $500.

Trending competitive games include Dota 2, the FIFA series, the Call of Duty series, Madden, Counter-Strike and League of Legends. Once you get a few notches under your belt, you may qualify for esports competitions, which are typically held by the developers of the popular competitive games. Earnings from those tournaments can reach seven figures.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $1 to $500 per match for online competitions; $35,000 or more for professional esports tournaments.

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24. T-Shirt Designer

You have ideas for catchy slogans or eye-catching graphics. Why not put them on a T-shirt?

Print-on-demand services such as Merch by Amazon, Printful and Redbubble allow people to upload their designs and sell products without dealing with the hassles of inventory and shipping. Each shirt is made to order, and the designer receives a percentage of the sale.

No graphic design skills needed for this side hustle. They certainly couldn’t hurt, though.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: Passive income based on item sales. Potential to scale into a business.

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25. Audio or Caption Transcriptionist

A transcription side hustle can be a good, low-barrier fit for some people looking to make a little side money online. You’ll just need lightning-fast typing skills with high accuracy.

Allegis Transcription, TranscribeMe, Rev, Net Transcripts and Lionbridge frequently recruit transcribers to work on-demand during a flexible schedule.

Basic transcription gigs are usually related to insurance claims or court cases. But you can also find a side hustle transcribing lyrics for songs and captions for movies — especially if you have second-language skills.

TPH’s Earning Potential Estimate: $15 to $25 per audio hour.

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What the Best Side Hustles Have in Common (Besides Bringing in Extra Cash)

We’ve spoken to countless people with side jobs and found commonalities in gigs that are successful. Here are a few elements we think your next side hustle should include.

1. Schedule Flexibility

Don’t let your side hustle interfere with your day job. In fact, some companies have policies in place that prevent you from taking on an extra gig.

Be sure you’re in the clear to start a side hustle and that the hours complement your main job’s schedule. Try not to overdo it, too. You may be tempted to take on a ton of work on the side in the excitement of setting things up but find out that it’s too much to handle in the long run. Set aside some spare time to get started, and then you can ramp up once you have a handle on the business.

2. Enjoyability

No matter what you end up choosing for your side hustle, you should enjoy the work on some level. Seek out the best side hustle that fits your personality and interests because it’s going to take up a lot of your free time. Otherwise, it might be hard to justify the extra cash — and you could risk burning yourself out.

3. Low Cost of Entry

When choosing a side hustle, it’s important to consider how much it’s going to cost to get it off the ground. Some part-time side hustles, such as those that are app-based, can be done right away, while others, like selling goods online, may need more time and money up front. If the project is ambitious, ease your way into it. Don’t dig yourself into a money hole before you even get started.

4. Fulfills a High-Demand Need

This is a big one. It’s easier to get started with a side gig you don’t need to hard-sell anyone on.

For instance, if you live in a pet-friendly apartment complex filled with busy young professionals, you could start a dog walking service. You won’t need to go far out of your way to find clients (you can advertise online in your resident portal or Facebook group), you’ll earn extra income and you’ll get plenty of fresh air and exercise. (Plus, being a dog walker = plenty of puppy cuddles.)

Think of a service people need — and most importantly, will pay for — that you could provide. Your great idea could bring in quick cash.

5. A Means to a Professional or Personal Goal

The best side hustles don’t only help you make more money. They also help you achieve your goals.

Paying down student loans or learning new skills to help you land a better full-time job are both great reasons to get a side hustle. However, side hustles can also lead to endless work and burnout if you don’t set boundaries. That’s why you should establish a side hustle exit plan: a clear end point or at least a pausing point where you can re-evaluate why you started your gig and see if you need to change course — or maybe even scale it up to full time.

What Skills Do Side Hustlers Need to Have?

Finding or creating a great side hustle is important, but that’s only half the equation. Every side hustler needs a certain set of qualities to succeed.

Self-Motivation

You’ll need to be a self-starter in order for your side hustle to succeed. It’s up to you as the sole employee to create your own workflow and stay motivated so your products or assignments get done on time.

Perspective

It’s going to take a little while before your side hustle gets up to full speed and — hopefully someday soon — makes you a lot of money. The money doesn’t always start flowing immediately. And know that, if your side hustle doesn’t work out, you can always reset and try something else.

Willingness to Learn

You’re never too old or too experienced to learn something new. Even if you know the skills or subject matter of your potential gig already, starting a side hustle itself is a learning experience. And if you want to try something completely new, you’ll obviously have to take the time to hone your skills. Your side hustle experience can not only earn you money in the short term, but the skills you develop can also help you advance your career — even if you don’t scale your idea into a business.

Self-Forgiveness

You’ll be better off knowing from the beginning that you’re going to make mistakes. This may be your first attempt at side hustling while balancing a day job and a personal life. There will be long nights and a lot of trial and (probably more) error. If your side hustle isn’t going how you planned, the faster you can forgive yourself and cut your losses, the better.

Are You Ready to Start Your Side Hustle?

Whether you pursue your side gig as a part-time job or freelance endeavor, it can be empowering to develop a recurring income stream. And who knows? It could be the catalyst to starting your own business on your own terms.

Of course, your second gig doesn’t have to become a second job, either.

Whether you want to dedicate a few minutes a day to earn extra money (online surveys or focus groups) or work a few jobs (writing resumes and dog walking) to pay off your student loans, feel free to create a schedule that works for you.

If you want, you can control your own time and how much money you make. Start selling, work on that extra income and then retool if necessary.

Contributor Kathleen Garvin (@itskgarvin) is a personal finance writer based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and former editor and marketer at The Penny Hoarder. She owns a content-writing business and her work has appeared in U.S. News, Clark.com and Well Kept Wallet.

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October 26, 2022
Ready to Start Freelancing? Here’s How to Build Your Freelance Resume

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The employment landscape shifted drastically over just a few short years. The pandemic showed us that most of today’s non-blue-collar jobs can be done remotely and the subsequent economic turmoil showed how fragile relying on traditional employment is. These and a few other factors combine to demonstrate to many Americans that:

You don’t have to work under a conventional corporate structure.

You don’t necessarily need to be a stereotypical small business owner with a storefront or eCommerce site.

You can get paid while working anywhere in the world if you have in-demand skills.

The natural outflow from this series of realizations is the power of freelancing. Freelancers can harness skillsets from education or past work experience, effectively market those skills to clients, and maintain a steady income while working from home or traveling. It’s a surprisingly practical reality for many Americans — believe me, I know.

Post-pandemic, I was dissatisfied with my job and career trajectory. I had an advanced degree in finance, but my talents were underused. At the same time, I worked under a series of bosses of questionable intellect and ability. So, I pulled the trigger and left my job. I had enough cash on hand to float. At the same time, I looked for a full-time remote position before I realized: “I’m skilled and credentialed — why should I look for another salaried position where I’m dependent on the whims of others?”

So, I broke into freelancing.

It wasn’t easy initially, but I learned many valuable lessons about getting started and building a freelance resume. These first few weeks (or months, for some) are the most difficult, but I can attest that once you build momentum, it’s unstoppable. After grinding for a brief period, I found myself awash in high-paying, high-quality clients to the point of turning some away.

Here are a few notes I took during that process.

How to Build a Freelance Resume

Find a niche.

Generate samples.

Professionally format and host your portfolio.

Sell benefits based on skills.

Find a Niche

Finding a niche is the first and most crucial step in building a freelance resume. Many markets are saturated with generalists with minimal experience or specific skill sets. I freelance in content writing, and this field is particularly fraught with this type of aspiring freelancer.

Don’t do this. Don’t have an Upwork or other profile advertising every possibility under the sun. I often see writing profiles advertising writing expertise in real estate, engineering, medicine, travel, business, and social media copywriting. There’s no way someone is proficient in all of these fields, and chances are they’re churning out low-quality plagiarized content.

Set yourself apart and find a niche. Looking into your academic and work history is the best way to find your expertise. Did you do anything specific that’s marketable to clients? For example, you may have done graphic design work for small used car dealers, social media copywriting for eCommerce companies, or studied architecture in college. These specific and niche roles help connect you directly to clients who know what they need and set you apart from the rabble.

If you don’t have a background, don’t worry – but it’ll take some extra work. Think about your passion and get to work learning it. You might have gotten really into epidemiology during the pandemic, for example. You don’t need a degree in the field, but some self-study can make you an expert medical writer for device companies or insurance firms.

But first, you’ll need a portfolio.

Generate Samples in a Portfolio

Many new freelancers struggle to land the first few jobs because they’re unproven and thus unable to get momentum to achieve the snowball effect of compounding work. The way to get around this is to build a portfolio. If you previously worked in the field, you can use old work samples for marketing your expertise.

If you have less experience, you’ll need to build a portfolio from scratch. This is invaluable because it’s a tool to land jobs and hone your burgeoning craft. Even if it’s as simple as a well-written blog post in your niche, you should be working tirelessly to build a bench of work to show clients to convince them you’re the right pick.

Much like the jobs themselves, portfolios compound over time. As you work on more projects, you will have more samples to pick from and be able to better target your past work to prospective clients.

Professionally Format and Host your Portfolio

The polish of your portfolio can depend on your freelancing platform, but don’t let it. In addition to your profiles on the many freelancing platforms, you should also have your own digital space. A simple landing page with your skill overview, portfolio, and contact information can set you apart from other freelancers with similar skills. Having that custom domain and discrete space protects you from unpredictable platform politics and demonstrates professionalism.

Sell Benefits to Clients Based on Skill

This should be a no-brainer, but it isn’t. Many freelancers cold contact potential clients with a list of things about the freelancer.

I’m an expert at….

I’m really good at…

I’ve done a lot of work in…

Don’t do this. It’s a fine line to walk, but you should first sell the benefit to the client, then sell your skill. For example, if a private equity fund was looking for a content writer to discuss a specific investment they were marketing, I might say:

I’ve worked on projects that packaged and sold a similar product and achieved a reach of 100,000 in the target demographic in less than a week. The firm had a 14% conversion to sale within a month and also built a contact lead list that generated over $1M in revenue over the next year. I was able to do this because of my finance degree.

Yes, I did mention myself at the beginning but only in the context of how I’ve benefited past clients and could do the same again. I sold this benefit before talking about myself exclusively. As I said, it’s a fine line, but an important one to follow. Clients don’t care about you (sorry, it’s true); they care about what you can deliver.

The Last Word

As you continue your freelancing journey after building a resume, you will experience that snowball effect. Job prospects compound as you gain experience in your niche and in managing freelancing activities overall. Make sure to set yourself and your resume apart from the endless sea of inexperienced acolytes thinking the field is easy money. Find a niche, develop it, and show how you can add value to your clients’ lives and businesses.

New York-based contributor Kiara Taylor specializes in financial literacy and financial technology subjects. She is a corporate financial analyst.

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October 25, 2022

Could Your Old Pokemon Cards Make You a Millionaire?

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The resurgence of Pokemon has young adults rummaging through their closets in hopes of finding their old trading card collection.

And, if they’re lucky, a rare card that could make them a fortune.

The 1997 Japanese anime-turned-trading-card-game-turned-video-game series holds a special place in the hearts of ‘90s kids, who cherished the furry creatures with elemental powers that could be traded and battled and hoarded for years to come.

For Scott Pratte, a Pokemon enthusiast and card-trading expert, the hobby never dimmed. Pratte collects and sells some of the most treasured Pokemon cards in the world.

“I’ve done seven-figure deals,” Pratte said. “That’s just one deal, not even my lifetime” earnings.

Due to nondisclosure agreements, he can’t say exactly which cards have made him the most money, but he said that his trophy cards, aka the rarest Pokemon cards on the market, easily rake in upwards of $1 million.

Only a select few people hold these trophy cards, usually those who won Pokemon tournaments in the early 2000s and were awarded ultra limited edition cards. But there are a fair amount of more common Pokemon cards that could sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Top Tips in This Article

Pratte, our expert card trader and collector, provided lots of tips to make money selling Pokemon cards. Here is his best advice:

First edition or New Edition? All kidding aside, we know that you know New Edition is a boy band from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Still, you need to know what you have in that box of Pokemon cards. In other words, which are the rare cards and which are not. Do you have one of the original holographic cards? Cha-ching.

What’s the condition of your cards? If they’ve been under the bed in a box so light didn’t fade them or the dog didn’t get to them, you may be in good shape. Never taken out of the wrapper? More cha-ching. That is what’s called mint. All cards in good condition are likely worth more than what you (or your mom) paid for them.

The best place to sell Pokemon cards? It’s eBay all the way. It would be great to sell one card for oodles of money and eBay has facilitated some of that. But if you want a big audience and buyers willing to shell out $30 a pop for your cards, you can rack up sales.

Think you’ve got something valuable? Consult the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and get an estimate. This will put you in a good position to haggle with a buyer, which you should expect to do.

Pokemon Cards Worth Selling

The two biggest value factors to consider if you want to sell Pokemon cards are their rarity and condition.

Rarity: Is Your Collection All That Special?

In terms of rarity, “base-set” cards are where the money is for most collectors, and these cards are the most traded ones in the hobby. Set cards are “any card you can pull from a pack” bought from the store, Pratte said. The base set comprises the original 102 cards printed in 1999 and includes classic Pokemon like Pikachu, Blastoise, Charizard and Venusaur.

A complete first-edition base set in mint condition sold for $100,000 in December 2017. If you have a base-set card in your card collection, there are a few visual indicators of its worth.

Illustration by Chris Zuppa and Adam Hardy

Holographic cards: These are the most discernable at first glance. The background of the Pokemon illustration is shiny and reflective — not the whole card, only the picture of the monster. They’re typically referred to as “holo” cards, and only 16 of the original 102 are holo.

First-edition cards: Directly next to the left corner of the illustration appears the “edition 1” logo. These rare cards were bought up shortly after initial release and remain some of the most sought-after and valuable cards.

Shadowless cards: This version is almost identical to the first-edition prints but excludes the first-edition logo. If you don’t have a newer card for comparison, this is particularly hard to notice: the illustration box appears 2D. On newer cards, the picture box has a shadow along the right border to give it a 3D appearance.

Unlimited cards: These cards are still old and rare, but they do not include the first-edition symbol and have an added shadow behind the illustration to give the picture box a 3D effect. To check if your card is part of the base set, look at the bottom right corner of the picture box. If you do not see one of the many later-added set symbols, then you have a base-set, Unlimited card.

Condition: Did You Take Good Care of Your Cards?

The second important factor in a card’s value is the condition. If you do happen to have a first-edition, holographic base-set Charizard, you’re not guaranteed thousands of dollars. The selling price depends on how well the card has been taken care of.

If you have a card that you expect is worth more than $100, Pratte recommends getting it graded by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA).

Despite its name, the PSA grades all kinds of trading cards, including non-sports cards like Pokemon. PSA’s 10-point grading scale is accepted as the industry standard, and the company also publishes price guides to help you determine a card’s worth.

According to its current valuations, first-edition cards in perfect condition are valued at a minimum of $40. Those aren’t rarer, holographic cards either. A first-edition holo in mint condition can rake in between $1,000 and $24,000.

So why Pratte’s $100 limit? Well, the number isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, but the card-grading services offered by PSA will cost $20 or more per card, meaning a lower-value card doesn’t always merit the cost to get it authenticated.

“It’s a process,” PSA spokesperson Terry Melia said. “But it’s something that could reap big rewards in the end.”

In addition to grading the condition of the card, PSA ensures the card isn’t a forgery by using high-powered lights and magnifying equipment to check for tampering.

“There are a lot of forgeries and bogus merchandise out there,” Melia said.

Especially so online.

Examples of Valuable Pokemon Cards

The table below includes the values of some of the rarest Pokemon cards in the world, i.e. ones that were acquired as prizes for winning competitions in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

These types of cards were never available to the general public, and they make headlines every so often by selling for six figures at auction. (But as Pratte notes, they may sell privately for much higher — and may be subject to NDAs.)The table also includes some cards that were available publicly as part of the original base set prints. According to Pratte, these are the most commonly sold cards among hobbyists. And if you do have a rare card in your collection, it’s likely to be of this type. Note how the condition (on a scale of one to 10) drastically changes the value.

Valuable Pokemon Cards

Pokemon Care Set Condition Card Value

Holo Pikachu (Illustrator) n/a; limited contest release Mint 7 $375,000

Holo Edition 1 Charizard Base set Gem Mint 10 (Perfect) $375,000

Holo Edition 1 Charizard Base set Near-Mint 7 $7,500

Pikachu (Shadowless) Base set Gem Mint 10 (Perfect) $100

Pikachu (Shadowless) Base set Near-Mint 8 $25

After you’ve done some homework — checking the type of card, estimating its value and sending it in for authentication, if needed — you’re finally ready to sell.Where to Sell Pokemon Cards

The Best Place to Sell Your Pokemon Cards Online: eBay

“The main marketplace is for sure going to be eBay,” Pratte said. “Even if you’re someone who just stumbled upon your childhood collection, it’s really easy to take a couple of pictures [and] make a decent listing.”

Why eBay? It’s home to several high-profile deals, and it also caters to the $20 and $30 transactions. In short, eBay is the perfect meeting ground for nostalgic buyers and sellers and those who’ve been wheeling and dealing Pokemon cards since the ‘90s.

Other Places to Sell Your Pokemon Cards

Cardmarket: a German-based online marketplace that caters to trading-card-game hobbyists.

Troll and Toad: a hub for all things gaming-related, including video games, table-top games and trading-card games.

TCGplayer: an e-commerce marketplace that allows stores and hobbyists alike to buy and sell trading cards.

Facebook Marketplace: a free tool connected to your Facebook profile that allows you to buy or sell almost any physical item locally.

Local comic book or hobby shops: a great alternative to Facebook Marketplace if you want to buy or sell Pokemon cards without the hassle of shipping.

Selling Pokemon Cards: Expert Tips and Takeaways

Look for rarity indicators such as the type of Pokemon, set symbol and shadow box (or lack thereof) and, of course, the holographic reflection.

Pratte recommends getting your cards authenticated and graded if you know they’re worth at least $100 each—and especially if you plan to see them. For cards of lesser value, the cost of getting it graded could exceed the potential selling price of the card.

Don’t fret if you don’t have ultra-rare cards. Even some of the lesser-known cards in the base set are worth about $20 each as long as they’re in good condition.

Be prepared to haggle. Getting them graded can definitely help prove your cards are legitimate, but you’ll still need to back up their worth with quotes from other buyers, PSA’s price guide and other sources when negotiating to get the best deal.

FAQs

Do Pawn Shops Buy Pokemon Cards?

Pawn shops do buy Pokemon cards in some cases, but we don’t recommend selling them there. Unless the pawn shop is known to specialize in trading card games, chances are high the clerk won’t know the ins and outs of Pokemon card trading. So you can expect a lowball offer.

If you want to sell them locally and in-person, try comic book shops or hobby shops instead.

What’s the Most Valuable Pokemon Card?

The “Pikachu Illustrator” cards have sold for the highest amount, publicly at least. These cards were awarded to winners of a Pokemon contest held in Japan circa 1998. Less than 40 of these cards are known to exist. In recent years, a few have sold for between $100,000 and $375,000.

Gem mint 10 (aka perfect condition) first edition holographic Charizards from the 1999 base set are nearly as valuable. They have sold for as much as $369,000 at auction. Most recently, the card sold for $270,600, according to the PSA.

Should I Sell My Old Pokemon Card Collection?

You should sell your Pokemon card collection only if you are prepared to part with it and you know its true worth. In true Marie Kondo fashion: if owning the cards brings you joy, then keep them. If selling them would bring you more joy, do that instead.

Should I Get My Pokemon Cards Graded?

Getting your Pokemon cards graded can take a while, and it can cost you about $20 per card. With that in mind, you should consider getting your card graded so long as its value exceeds about $20.

Some exceptions apply. For example, if you own an entire base set that you’re looking to sell (or display), getting each card graded may be worth it — even if an individual card is worth less than $20 — as having the entire set graded would enhance its overall value.

Take the Time to Study Their Worth

As Pokemon re-enters mainstream culture with the release of new video games and movies, expect to see an uptick in buying and selling activity of old cards. But interest doesn’t pick up overnight.

“It’s not binary in that sense,” Pratte said.

Instead, it’s a more gradual process where each new Pokemon-related release reminds twenty- and thirty-somethings of their childhood: the crinkling sound of ripping open a new pack of cards followed by a strong whiff of ink as they shuffle through the set, hoping to find something rare.

But as you rummage through your collection, remember that there’s no rush to purge now. Spend some time with your cards. See if they’re valuable. Consider getting them authenticated. Then decide if they’re worth selling.

After two decades, Pokemon — and its card-collecting hobbyists — aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Adam Hardy is a former staff writer for The Penny Hoarder and specializes in stories on the gig economy. He’s a University of South Florida graduate, who studied magazine journalism and sociology.

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October 25, 2022

IRS Is Sending Letters to Millions Still Eligible for Stimulus Checks

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If you didn’t file an income tax return earlier this year, check your mailbox. Normally nobody wants to hear from the IRS, but you definitely need to be looking for anything that comes from the government agency.

It could mean serious money for you.

The Internal Revenue Service has started mailing letters to 9 million people and households who could be leaving thousands of dollars on the table because they didn’t file 2021 tax returns.

Those potential payments include:

The third round of stimulus checks, worth as much as $1,400 for individuals or $2,800 for couples.

Child tax credits of up to $3,600 per child.

The earned income tax credit that’s worth up to $1,500 for childless workers, and rises to more than $6,700 for people who have at least three children.

We know the term “tax credit” isn’t exactly sexy, but in this case it could mean actual money in your pocket.

To get that money, you’ll need to file an income tax return by mid-November — even if you normally don’t need to file.

Who’s Eligible for This Money From the IRS?

Who are these 9 million people who could be eligible to get thousands of dollars from the IRS?

To be blunt, we’re mostly talking about low-income households. The IRS says people who weren’t required to file 2021 tax returns are typically individuals earning less than $12,500, or married couples who earned less than $25,000 last year.

But there are also higher-earning people who, for various reasons, haven’t gotten around to filing their 2021 taxes. However, the IRS is only mailing letters to people who appear to qualify for these tax credits but haven’t filed a 2021 tax return yet.

Which means if you don’t hear from the IRS, they’re not trying to give you money, so you’re not missing out on anything. Sorry.

So Who’s Eligible for What, Exactly?

Every year, millions of eligible taxpayers fail to claim tax credits that they’re eligible for. Various studies and reports say this is largely due to misperceptions about how hard it is to claim them, and whether people qualify for them.

All of those potential tax credits and things can be a lot to keep track of. Here’s how it all shakes out:

Stimulus Checks

Last year, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan sent stimulus payments to millions of Americans. Technically, these payments were an advance of a credit that’s referred to on Forms 1040 and 1040-SR as the “Recovery Rebate Credit.”

Some people didn’t get the full amount of money they were entitled to, so the IRS is trying to reach them now.

For the third round of payments, eligible Americans with an individual adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less were entitled to the full $1,400 payment. (Your AGI is the amount of your income that’s subject to federal income taxes. It’s your income minus tax deductions and adjustments like retirement plan contributions.)

Eligible taxpayers could also claim a $1,400 stimulus payment for each dependent. That included dependent college students, disabled adult children or parents you were supporting.

Tax Credits

The 2021 American Rescue Plan that authorized the stimulus checks also made existing child tax credits and earned income tax credits more generous.

Again, millions of Americans never claimed the full amount of money they were entitled to, according to the IRS.

For example, thousands of families received advance monthly payments for up to half the value of their overall child tax credit — $3,600 for each child under 6 and up to $3,000 for each child ages 6 to 17. But they still have to file their taxes to get the rest of the money they’re eligible for.

How Do You Claim Your Money?

If the IRS says you’re eligible for any of these payments, you’re going to need to file a 2021 income tax return — even if you didn’t have much income last year, or any income.

Technically, you have up to three years from the original filing deadline to claim tax credits that you’re eligible for. So in this case, your ultimate deadline will be in April 2025.

But realistically, you should try to do it by mid-November. That’s the deadline to use most of the online tools that streamline the process for people who don’t typically file.

IRS Free File is open until Nov. 17. If you make $73,000 or less, you can file your tax return for free there.

Another tool, GetCTC.org, is open through Nov. 15. It gives tax filers a simple way to claim the third stimulus checks, child tax credits and earned income tax credits.

ChildTaxCredit.gov is another way for people to file 2021 tax returns to get the stimulus checks or child tax credit payments they’re eligible for.

Like always, you need to gather some forms before filing your tax return. That includes W-2s and 1099s. It also includes the total amount of child tax credits or stimulus check payments you received for 2021. You can find that information by opening an online account at IRS.gov.

Claiming This Money Won’t Hurt Your Other Benefits

The IRS is stressing that if you claim these 2021 tax credits, it won’t change whether you’re eligible for other federal benefits for low-income households — namely the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

So don’t worry about that.

Watch Your Mailbox Like a Hawk

The bottom line here is: If you see a letter from the IRS in your mailbox, don’t throw it away. Open it!

That letter could mean serious money for you. But in order to close the deal, you’ve got to be prepared to take action pretty soon.

Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

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October 24, 2022
We Counted More Than 500,000 Openings: Here’s Who’s Hiring for the Holidays

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As the holidays near, the same companies that you’re browsing through to find gifts and supplies are hiring — in the thousands. And maybe even tens or hundreds of thousands.

Just a short time before Halloween, the number of permanent and seasonal positions needing to be filled in advance of the holidays for the companies we researched is around 515,000.

Seasonal jobs can help you recoup costs related to gift giving or traveling, and they may even blossom into a full-time career. But the fact that many of them are, or can become, permanent extends stability into the new year.

If you’re looking for seasonal work, this all translates to good news. To entice workers, many employers are offering $15 starting wages or higher, sign on bonuses, employee discounts and other interesting benefits.

Here’s a look at who’s hiring for the holidays and how to apply.

Amazon: 150,000 Full-Time, Part-Time and Seasonal Jobs

With more than 1.5 million employees, the second largest corporate workforce in the world, you know Amazon will be hiring many seasonal workers — and they definitely are in 2022. The company will hire 150,000 workers in full-time, seasonal and part-time roles.

Amazon will hire for all backgrounds and experience levels, with positions ranging from packing and picking to sorting and shipping. The company says employees can earn, on average, more than $19 per hour based on the position and location. They are also hosting a warehouse hiring day on October 26 at locations across the country.

Apply: Put in an application on Amazon’s careers page.

Target: 100,000 Seasonal Jobs, With Many Staying on Full-Time

The retail giant plans to hire 100,000 workers to prepare for this holiday season, with in-store and distribution center roles available.

In-store roles include cashiers; general managers; Starbucks baristas; tech, style, grocery and beauty department associates; general merchandise associates; and shelf stockers. Distribution center jobs focus on warehouse workers, packers, fulfillment center and operations workers — all of which need to be able to frequently lift and carry items up to 60 pounds.

Starting wages range between $15 to $24 per hour. Target says, on average, more than 30% of seasonal workers stay on after the holiday season.

Apply: You can apply on Target’s seasonal job site.

UPS: 100,000 Full-Time and Part-Time Seasonal Jobs

UPS is looking to bring on 100,000 seasonal workers as well — a mix of full-time and part-time seasonal jobs.

The best part? Nearly 80% of these positions don’t even require an interview. You can fill out an online application, which takes 25 minutes or less, according to the company. The company is specifically looking for seasonal delivery drivers and truck drivers, package handlers and driver helpers. Outside of driver jobs, which have additional requirements, many of the jobs are entry level.

Most warehouse worker-related positions pay between $15 to $25 per hour, though a full-time UPS driver makes an average of $95,000 per year.

Apply: Visit the UPS jobs site.

Macy’s: 41,000 Full-Time and Part-Time Seasonal Positions

Macy’s Inc. announced in late September that it would be hiring 41,000 full-time and part-time seasonal positions across its Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury stores, supply chain locations, and call centers.

Macy’s offers pay starting at $15 per hour. The company says that nearly one-third of its store leadership started their Macy’s careers during the holiday season.

The application process takes as little as five minutes, and many offers are made within 48 hours.

Apply: You can look for positions at macysJOBS.com, bloomingdalesJOBS.com and bluemercury.com.

Walmart: 40,000 Seasonal Workers

America’s largest employer is hiring only 40,000 seasonal workers in 2022, much lower than the 150,000 workers than brought on last year.

Walmart is looking to hire seasonal in-store associates, as well as those who work for Walmart’s pickup and delivery services. They’re also looking to bring on customer care associates for Walmart’s call centers and full-time truck drivers.

Walmart doesn’t have a company-wide minimum wage, but it says the average U.S. minimum wage is more than $17 per hour.

Apply: Check out Walmart’s job page for seasonal positions in your area.

United States Postal Service: 28,000 Seasonal Workers

USPS says its “aggressive hiring efforts” have continued in 2022, with the government agency seeking to hire 28,000 seasonal employees this holiday season.

Among that number, the postal service says it plans to bring on 1,000 truck drivers, along with letter carriers and processing team members. They also say that 41,000 part-time workers have converted into career roles since the beginning of the year.

The average salary at USPS varies from $17 per hour for mail handlers to $25 per hour for truck drivers to $67,000 per year for supervisors, according to Indeed.

Apply: You can put in an application at USPS.

Michaels: 15,000 Seasonal Workers

If arts and crafts are your thing, you might enjoy working at Michaels, which is the country’s largest arts, crafts and home decor retailer.

The company announced in September that it would be hiring 15,000 seasonal positions across its stores and distribution centers in the U.S. in Canada in preparation for the holidays. The company says it converted more than 50% of its seasonal workers to full-time positions following the holidays last year.

Apply: You can search and apply online for Michael’s positions in the U.S. and Canada.

DHL: 12,000 Seasonal Workers

The logistics company of DHL Supply Chain is hiring 12,000 workers as part of its preparation for the holiday season.

Of those 12,000, DHL says 9,000 will be placed in the company’s warehouses that cater to its retail and e-commerce customers in anticipation of the higher holiday shopping volumes. During the peak week of last year’s holiday season — Black Friday through December 3 — DHL processed 3 million orders.

Warehouse workers at DHL typically make around $18 per hour, according to Indeed.

Apply: Online at DHL.

Dick’s Sporting Goods: 9,000 Seasonal Associates

The sporting goods corporate chain will be hiring 9,000 seasonal associates in preparation for the holiday season. Their hiring efforts also include positions at Public Lands, Field & Stream and Going, Going, Gone! stores across the country.

Dick’s is looking for employees in-store and at distribution centers across the country. The company held a “National Signing Day” in late September that sparked the process but hiring efforts will continue through the holiday season until all positions are filled.

Apply: Search for a position on Dick’s Sporting Goods job page.

1-800FLOWERS.COM: 8,000 Seasonal and Year-Round Positions

The gourmet food and gifts company, 1-800FLOWERS.COM, plans on adding 8,000 seasonal and year-round positions to meet demand.

The company says the majority of available roles are in Illinois, Ohio and Oregon in key high-volume areas, including production, gift assembly, distribution and operational support. But remote contact center positions are also available.

According to Indeed, the average salaries for these types of hourly positions range from $12 for a warehouse worker to $13 for customer service to $15 for material handler.

Apply: Find out what positions are available in your area on the career page.

Geodis: 5,000 Seasonal Warehouse Workers

Geodis, a global transport and logistics provider, plans on adding 5,000 workers ahead of the holiday season in the U.S. and Canada.

The company is mainly focused on hiring material handlers and equipment operators to work across its 20 campuses, which currently hold 13,000 total employees.

These positions at Geodis typically pay around $17-$19 per hour, according to Indeed.

Apply: Find out more information about Geodis and apply on Work at Geodis.

Williams Sonoma: 1,000 Seasonal Positions

The retailer kicked off holiday hiring with remote customer service jobs and is still looking for nearly 1,000 in-store seasonal roles.

These roles are mainly customer-service focused and pay around $15 per hour. The company is hiring for temporary roles across all its brands, which include Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm, and others.

Apply: Visit Williams Sonoma’s career page to apply.

Other Large Companies

Kohl’s announced holiday hiring plans in September, but didn’t include the number of positions they were looking to bring on. Kohl’s said it would be hiring for seasonal roles across its 1,100 stores, as well as fulfillment centers and distribution centers.

FedEx typically makes an announcement about holiday hiring in the fall. But, as of late October, no such announcement has come. The company currently has nearly 250 seasonal positions listed on its jobs page.

We’ll keep you posted on new announcements from these and other companies throughout the holidays.

Robert Bruce is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.

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October 24, 2022
Kohl’s and Macy’s Are Hiring 130,000 Seasonal Workers for the Holidays

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People walk by a Kohl’s department store in Clifton, New Jersey, on Jan. 27, 2022. Kohl’s and Macy’s are hiring a total of 130,000 seasonal workers for the upcoming holiday season. Ted Shaffrey/AP Photo

Kohl’s and Macy’s are hiring a total of 130,000 seasonal workers to help them handle the anticipated boom in business for the holiday season.

In addition to earning some extra cash for the holidays, you can take advantage of the employee discounts that both retailers offer. So you can save on your own holiday shopping.

Kohl’s is hiring 90,000 part-time and full-time associates.

Meanwhile, Macy’s plans to hire more than 40,000 full- and part-time seasonal positions.

For department stores, it’s the most important time of the year. They have a lot riding on the holidays, when these stores are the most crowded and are making the most money.

And even as inflation threatens to put a damper on holiday shopping, a tight labor market means retailers are still scrambling to fill open spots.

Here’s what we know:

Kohl’s

Kohl’s is looking to hire hordes of seasonal workers for its 1,100 department stores, its distribution centers and its e-commerce fulfillment centers.

Stocking, retail sales and fulfillment associates are the three main in-store jobs, based on seasonal job listings. These positions require basic math and technological skills, legible handwriting and an ability to carry 50 pounds. Otherwise they’re entry-level, although some customer service experience is preferred.

Distribution jobs include warehouse and loss prevention associates. As a warehouse worker, you’ll need the same basic qualifications as in-store positions, but the job is more physically demanding. Loss prevention jobs require a high school diploma or GED.

Kohl’s doesn’t have a company-wide minimum wage or share pay information on its job applications. According to national wage estimates from Indeed, seasonal pay is around $12 an hour. All seasonal workers are paid weekly and get a 15% discount. If you work 30 hours a week or more, you’re also eligible for health insurance.

Although Kohl’s has already held its national hiring events for the season, plenty of seasonal gigs are available outside the event. Apply here.

Macy’s

The largest American department store chain in sales, Macy’s is hiring about 41,000 full- and part-time seasonal workers positions at its Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores, its supply chain warehouses and its call centers.

That’s down a little bit from the 48,000 seasonal employees Macy’s hired last year.

Like Kohl’s, Macy’s isn’t sharing official salary information for its seasonal jobs. But judging from job listings on Indeed, seasonal pay appears to be around $15 to $18 an hour.

Macy’s employees are paid weekly but can also get instant access to up to 50% of their daily wages, the company says. Employees also get a 20% store discount.

To help get workers in the door in this tight labor market, Macy’s is touting the opportunity for seasonal workers to transition into permanent jobs. In 2021, Macy’s says, more than 10,000 holiday workers stayed with the company and landed permanent gigs.

You can apply here.

Other Seasonal Job Opportunities

Amazon, now the second-largest employer in America, is hiring 150,000 seasonal workers to help handle what’s expected to be a blockbuster online shopping holiday season. It’s also offering hiring bonuses of up to $3,000.

Walmart is also hiring seasonal workers — 40,000 of them.

Meanwhile, Target plans to add 100,000 seasonal employees for the holidays. UPS is hiring 100,000 too.

Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

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October 21, 2022
From $100 to $15,000: Here Are 16 Companies Offering a Hiring Bonus

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Amid a tight labor market, many employers continue to look for ways to counter staffing shortages and lure potential hires back into the workforce.

While some use creative benefits or work-from-home options as hiring draws, others hope to attract employees quickly with immediate cash in the form of a signing bonus.

Many notable, large corporations are offering signing bonuses — from $300 as a shift manager at McDonald’s to $3,000 as customer service representative at AT&T and up to $10,000 as a baggage handler with United.

The amount of the hiring bonuses vary greatly across each company and do change. But a quick browse through a corporation’s career page can show you what’s available. Here’s what we found.

16 Companies Offering Jobs With Hiring Bonuses

Some of the most notable companies offering hiring bonuses include:

AT&T

United Airlines

Amazon

Sysco

McDonald’s

CVS

Walmart

Marriott

Wegmans

FedEx

Sheetz

Hilton

Alaska Air

Verizon

Omni

Comcast

AT&T

The communications giant has thousands of available positions at all times, and many come with a nice hiring bonus. Some examples include $3,000 for a customer service rep, $3,000 for inbound call center sales and typically $5,000 for installation technicians, though some locations offer $10,000.

United Airlines

United Airlines is currently offering significant sign-on bonuses even for lower paying jobs — such as $10,000 for part-time baggage handlers. Other positions that come with sign-on bonuses are $10,000 for a facility maintenance technician and an aircraft maintenance technician.

Amazon

The retail giant regularly offers hundreds of positions with sign-on bonuses, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Typical opportunities include air associate, fulfillment center warehouse associate and delivery station warehouse associate.

Sysco

The food service company also offers quite a few significant signing bonuses with its jobs. Sysco’s career page shows a CDL delivery truck driver with a $15,000 bonus, as well as a warehouse order selector — no experience required! — with a $7,500 sign-on bonus.

McDonald’s

Working for the Golden Arches can come with a financial boost if you apply for the right positions in the right places. Many jobs offer a $300 sign-on bonus, including department managers, shift managers, maintenance crew and morning prep team members.

CVS

CVS offers an array of jobs with bonuses — including $10,000 for a delivery driver with a CDL, $5,000 for a medicare field sales representative, $5,000 for a maintenance technician, $5,000 for supervisors and $1,000 for a warehouse stocker. (Pro tip: Use “bonus” as your search term on the jobs page.)

Walmart

Walmart isn’t offering many bonuses right now — outside of eye-popping bonuses for pharmacists — but hiring bonuses include $1,000 for pharmacy technicians, $2,500 for an optician position, $2,000 for an HVAC tech, $1,000 for a food equipment technician and $300 for cashiers.

Marriott

The hospitality industry has been desperate for workers since the pandemic, and Marriott is no exception. The giant hotel company has positions throughout the world that offer hiring bonuses — like $1,000 for a night auditor, $500 for a specialty cook, $2,500 for a sales executive and $1,000 for a turndown attendant.

Wegmans

This grocery store chain with 109 locations, many of which are in the northeast, is currently offering $1,500 signing bonuses for a variety of jobs, including warehouse worker, distribution associate and warehouse order selector. Other bonuses include $750 for overnight stocker and $500 for an overnight associate. If you have a CDL, Wegmans is offering up to a $10,000 hiring bonus for related positions.

FedEx

The global delivery company has also recently jumped on the signing bonus bandwagon. Positions may include $5,000 for road driver, $1,000 for forklift operator and $1,000 for retail customer service associate.

Sheetz

This East Coast-based convenience store chain currently offers several jobs with sign-on bonuses from $500 for regular team members to $1,000 for supervisors.

Hilton

Like Marriott, Hilton is an international hotel chain with plenty of employment opportunities. Depending on the location, jobs with $100 to $1,000 hiring bonuses include night auditor, guest service agent, banquet set up, dishwasher, cook, steward, overnight cleaner, room attendant, massage therapist and more.

Alaska Air

United isn’t the only airline getting on the sign-on bonus bandwagon. Alaska Air offers some opportunities as well for potential candidates who live in the northwest. Positions include ground service agent with a $2,500 bonus, a ramp and customer service agent offers a $2,000 bonus, and a warehouse agent position offers $1,000.

Verizon

Verizon currently has hundreds of positions across the country with pretty nice signing bonuses. They offer $2,500 for a variety of positions, such as retail sales associate and retail sales representative. Heftier bonuses of $10,000 come into play for business sales manager and business sales account executive.

Omni

Another hotel chain with quite a few jobs with hiring bonuses is Omni Hotels and Resorts. They run the gamut from $250 for bellhop, $500 for dishwasher, $750 for maintenance engineer, $1,000 for housekeeping attendant and $3,000 for catering sales manager.

Comcast

The telecommunications corporate giant has plenty of opportunities across the country. They currently have signing bonuses for sales professionals ($2,000), installation technicians ($1,500) and retail sales professionals ($2,000), plus hundreds more.

Robert Bruce is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.

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October 20, 2022
So You Want to Be a Writer: 11 Free Tools to Get You Started

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Whether it’s a calling, a passion, a way to make money — or some combination of all three, writing is a pretty rewarding way to spend your time, not that I’m biased.

But before you set out for your favorite cafe with a typewriter and a funky hat (neither of which are an actual requirement of the profession), hear this. There are actually several online tools that can help you get your career as a wordsmith off the ground — without spending a dime.

In this list, I’ve included 11 of my absolute favorite (and completely free) writing tools currently on the market. Whether you’re looking for a distraction-free writing platform, a way to save your ideas on-the-go, or a keen editing buddy — these freebies have something for every writer. Keep scrolling to find your new favorite free writing tool.

1. Google Docs

It isn’t glamorous, but it is free, and it certainly does get the job done. With plenty of free storage, and endless ways to organize your work into folders (and share it with other writers and editors), Google Docs is a must-have for any serious writer.

You can access Google Docs simply by signing in (or signing up) for a Gmail Account. From there, you can create new documents and folders, spreadsheets (which can be super helpful for tracking your taxable income), and so much more.

2. Draft

Think of Draft as an online, distraction-free word processor. With many of the same features as Google Docs, draft offers a cleaner, simpler interface. If you’re the type of person to become easily distracted while writing, you might want to give Draft a try.

One of the best things about this word processor is the automatic word-count tracker, which allows you to set up and easily track your daily word count goals.

3. FocusWriter

Another great free tool for easily-distracted writers, FocusWriter answers the call with that perfect blank-page look, and no fussy settings or additional controls to get in the way.

Customize your background theme, set a timer or alarm and then get to work. Since this application is available via download rather than in a web browser, you’ll need to have one of its supported devices. Fortunately, FocusWriter is available on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.

4. Sprinter

It doesn’t get any simpler than Sprinter, a one-window online writing platform that allows you to set a timer (or not) and just “free-write.” (Pun intended. The company is also behind Freewrite — a line of smart typewriters which will satisfy any writer’s aforementioned hipster-cafe fantasies).

Drafts can be saved and accessed through the company’s online platform, or copied and pasted into any word processor. Besides the timer and old school typeface (which is especially satisfying for some reason), this free platform also includes a real-time word count and “read-time” to help you determine the length of your current draft.

5. Medium

If you’re a new writer just looking to dip your big toe in and make a name for yourself, you might want to try using Medium. This blogging website offers clean distraction-free writing experience and also allows you to get your work in front of more people a lot faster than you would just by starting your own blog.

You can write and publish your work for free, and even submit it to publications within Medium (to get more eyes on your writing). Whenever I meet a new writer looking to get out there, I always recommend submitting to these publications. Not only do they make impressive samples to show to would-be clients, but it also teaches you a bit about how to cater your writing for certain audiences and platforms— an important skill if you want to get paid to write.

6. Milanote

If you’re a highly visual kind of writer looking for an organizational tool more than a writing interface, then you might just want to try Milanote. It offers a great way to compile all your images, notes and anything else into one easy-to-use visual board.

Once you try Milanote, it’s easy to see how it would be helpful for larger projects like longer essays or books where you have lots of ideas and notes to keep track of. It could also be a useful brainstorming tool if you like making mood boards for your writing work.

Although Milanote has a paid version $9.99 per month, there’s also a free version which includes 100 notes, images or links, and unlimited shared boards with other users.

7. Evernote

Although it’s not strictly a tool for writers, Evernote is a great application to know about. Similar to Milanote (but less mood-board-ish and more about note-taking), Evernote allows you to organize all of your notes and ideas in one place. I especially like Evernote for the way it syncs seamlessly across all devices.

Use it to make notes on the go, then open up the application on your laptop and dive back in, right where you left off. You can use the basic version of Evernote for free, or get a few more perks by paying $7.99 per month.

8. Hemingway Editor

If you’re looking for a free way to edit your work before submitting it to an editor, The Hemingway App is a great way to go. This free online tool allows you to paste your completed article or essay and get instant feedback on everything from grammar, to formatting, and even readability.

I especially like it for this last point, since the app stresses the use of simple language and short sentences, both of which will help improve your writing and make your editor’s life easier.

9. Grammarly

For writers in need of a bit of extra help with grammar, you might want to try Grammarly, which can be downloaded onto your device or used in the form of a browser extension. This free tool provides instant feedback on grammar as well as clarity, word variety and tone.

Some editors even require their freelance writers to use Grammarly when starting out, so if you’re not feeling 100% in your ability to draft up grammatically correct prose, this is a great place to start.

10. yWriter

For longer bodies of work like novels and other books, this free downloadable word processor may prove invaluable. Combining a clean, distraction-free interface with loads of great organization tools — like the ability to break your work into scenes or chapters and find them again later — makes yWriter one of the best free writing tools on the market.

The best part about yWriter is that it was created by an author for authors. Offering some of the same functionality as paid tools like Scrivener, yWriter is a great one to get once your work starts reaching lengths in the thousands of words and organization becomes imperative.

11. Reedsy Book Editor

For the writer who already has a large body of work and is looking to edit it, consider trying Reedsy Book Editor. This platform offers more than just editing. It also has a huge network of freelance editors, designers, and publicists available to help you bring your manuscript up to speed, whether you’re sending it off to a literary agent or self-publishing.

While you will have to pay for advanced services, you can access the free formatting tools on their website, which allow you to format your manuscript as an epub or PDF, something you’ll need to do before publishing no matter how you choose to do it. Beyond these tools, the company also provides a variety of free online mini-courses for writers including a self-publishing course, a marketing course for published writers, and a course to help jumpstart your novel.

The Final Word

Writing isn’t easy, but when it comes to everything else — editing, formatting, and even publishing — there’s a free tool that can help. The best part about getting comfortable using these online tools is that you’ll actually become better at your craft by using them.

Platforms like Medium and Reedsy can help you better understand what it takes to get published, while Draft and FocusWriter may help boost your daily word count. Once you get in a groove, you may find you need these tools less and less, which is one clear way to measure your growth as a new writer.

Contributor Larissa Runkle specializes in finance, real estate and lifestyle topics. She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder.

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October 19, 2022
Win up to $500 Just for Playing Solitaire on Your Phone

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Pst… Penny Hoarders… listen up.

If you like to play solitaire on your phone, this app could give you $500 for it.

Everyone else has to pay an entry fee for a shot at the winnings, but if you download their app with this special TPH-only link, you’ll get in for free.

Here’s how to get your shot at $500 without paying a cent for a ticket: Download Solitaire Cash and register your free account. Then you’ll have one week to play games and get to Level 9 to register to receive your ticket.

This promo only runs until Nov. 21, so sign up here before your chance is gone.You can also enter the promo code “GoHigh” directly in the app. Since you’re already playing Solitaire on your phone, you have nothing to lose — and hundreds to potentially gain.

At the end of the month, the winner of the $500 cash prize will be announced.

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October 13, 2022
Yes, You Can Make Money Playing Video Games. Here Are 11 Ways to Do It

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Over the years, gaming has become increasingly popular with almost all age groups. The Entertainment Software Association has tracked gamers with an annual survey since 1997, and its latest data show that more than two out of every three Americans play video games.

Perhaps what’s more surprising is that the typical gamer may not be who you think. In the U.S., more women play video games than teenage boys.

If you belong to this new wave of gamers, you’ve probably thought at some point, “There’s got to be a way to get paid for this.”

Turns out, there are plenty.

How Much Money Can I Make Playing Video Games?

Frederick Aldeco was the youngest of three boys who loved to game.

Growing up, he and his brothers first fought over who could play the Nintendo, then the Super Nintendo, then the PlayStation. He could only play when his older brothers let him.

But then he got his own Game Boy. It came with Pokémon Yellow, and everything changed.

“I could play anytime I wanted to without them having an issue,” Aldeco said.

Nearly two decades later, Aldeco, 29, still loves Pokémon — so much so that he runs a Pokémon news channel on YouTube under the moniker DaddyGamer Fred.

He’s found a way to do what most gamers dream of doing: Make money playing video games. While it’s not his full-time gig, Aldeco said his content has earned him up to $300 a week.

How to Make Money Playing Video Games

These recommendations require actually playing a video game to earn you quick cash. You may need some in-depth knowledge or skills for most of these methods — but not all of them. So don’t worry if your gaming abilities aren’t esports-ready just yet.

1. Participate in Video Game Tournaments

The League of Legends World Championship is an esports tournament that can earn elite winners millions of dollars and millions of fans, but most gamers are not at that level and never will be.

Instead, opt for amateur tournaments to earn $0.50 to $20 per match. GamerSaloon is one video-gaming site where you can do just that. Anyone 18 years or older can create a free account and start joining tournaments.

These tournaments do come with an entry fee. The larger the entry fee, the larger the potential winnings. If you’re not very confident in your abilities, though, you can start out low-stakes. Entry fees can be as low as $1, and stretch up to $22+.

Pro Tip

The Penny Hoarder outlines five online video game tournaments where you can sign up and start earning – plus tips from a competitor who banked more than $45,000 in prize money.

The website is open to gamers around the world, but the system is based on the U.S. dollar. All other currencies are accepted – including bitcoin – but will be converted to USD automatically.

2. Earn Extra Cash Through Crypto Gaming

The crypto bubble has burst for the time being, but if you’re still into digital currencies there are still some earning opportunities out there in the world of gaming.

Here are five games that will pay you to play, along with their corresponding cryptocurrencies:

Gods Unchained: Ethereum

Age of Rust: Bitcoin

Axie Infinity: Axie Infinity Token & Smooth Love Potion

Town Star: GALA coin & Ethereum

Decentraland: MANA coin & Ethereum

Typically, the way this works is that your character(s) and sometimes their items are considered your own NFTs. Then, on some sort of in-game marketplace, you’ll be able to sell your NFTs for an amount set in cryptocurrency. Once that money is sent to your digital wallet, you’ll be able to continue keeping it as crypto or convert it to actual USD.

3. Become a Beta Tester

Millions of people now pay for video games before they are released by pre-ordering them.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if video game companies would pay you instead to play their video games before the release date?

Actually, that’s a thing.

Several companies pay people to beta test video games to collect feedback and work out the kinks before the mass market gets its hands on it.

For the lucky gamers who live near Redmond, Washington, Nintendo will sometimes list Product Tester contract positions on its job page. There are no listings as of Oct. 2, 2022, but when they’ve been listed in the past there were no remote testing options available.

For those living outside that area, there’s VMC Consulting, a tech company that specializes in quality assurance and support. It runs a Global Beta Test Network, which tests major multiplayer video games for consoles and PCs before their release. Applicants can live anywhere, but must be at least 18 years old.

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4. Start Streaming

No, not on Netflix. In the video-game world, streaming has a different meaning. It refers to a live feed of someone playing a video game. Streaming services allow the streamer to interact directly with the audience via a chatroom system. Viewers can also tip the streamer in real time.

There are several free streaming services to choose from, the most popular being Twitch.tv. You don’t have to be a pro to stream, either. You just have to be entertaining. One streamer, Cory Michael — aka King Gothalion — turned his streaming hobby into a six-figure salary.

Michael said the main three sources of income are subscriptions, tips directly from viewers and ad revenue.

Even if you don’t manage millions of subscribers, streaming could still get you tips here and there, and once your channel becomes more popular, you could land a paid partnership with the streaming service.

5. Create a Business on Second Life

Nineteen years later, Second Life is still kicking.

Second Life is a video game that was slated to revolutionize the internet . But it’s hard to call Second Life a video game. It’s more than that.

There aren’t any overt objectives. No bosses to beat. No princesses to rescue. Instead, all of its content is user-generated, from the avatars themselves to the worlds they inhabit. In Second Life, people date, have children, build houses and travel to replicas of famous landmarks.

People spend years carving out a piece of digital paradise. Some hire real-life experts to help get it just right. Architects, publishers and fashion designers have used their industry knowledge to bolster their virtual businesses on Second Life. There’s even a journalist, Wagner James Au, who works inside Second Life and reports on in-game artists and entrepreneurs.

Second Life spawned the first video game business millionaire, Ailin Graef, and she’s not the only person to make a fortune with the game.

“There are multiple people and businesses that have made over a million U.S. dollars in Second Life over the years,” said Brett Atwood, Director of Marketing at Linden Labs, the company that created Second Life. “Many are still active.”

Since Second Life’s launch in 2003, players have spent billions of dollars of real money on in-game currency called Linden Dollars (or L$). Users can go to the Second Life exchange store to purchase L$, then use L$ for in-game services. The level of customization is incredibly granular, and users are eager to pay L$ for real-life experts to apply their knowledge to the virtual world.

Atwood said the big bucks are usually in virtual real estate and fashion.

6. Coach Others in How to Play

Are you a Starcraft god? A Fortnite legend? Share your strategies with us noobs for cash.

You can teach beginners basic lingo or coach seasoned players on the latest competitive strategies. Some online tutoring websites, Superprof for example, are general tutoring platforms that happen to allow video-game listings.

However, there are some other platforms that are tailored specifically for gaming lessons. Gamer Sensei is one such platform that hires senseis, aka coaches, to teach lessons in specific games, including League of Legends, Counter-Strike, DOTA 2 and Fortnite.

Making a sensei profile is free. Senseis set their own schedules and prices and have no hourly time commitments.

Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder

Other Ways to Make Money With Video Games

Gaming is a whole industry. You don’t have to play to use it to make extra cash.

You could instead enter the resale market or create content around the latest gaming news.

7. Sell Video Games for Cash

Do you blast through video games? Are you constantly in search of new ones to conquer? Then you should consider selling your used video games once you’re finished.

Your pile of old games can fund your next virtual adventure, or get you some quick cash to make rent.

The Penny Hoarder guides you through a GameStop trade-in technique that can earn you more than 50% extra cash for your used games. It’s how I turned a $72.40 cash offer for a few of my video games and a controller into $111.14.

Not a fan of GameStop? You have plenty of other options to sell your video games online and in-person.

Alternatively, you can sell games on eBay, but you may be stuck with a bunch of additional fees if you don’t meet the site’s minimum seller service standards.

8. Make Video Game Guides

Perhaps you’ve played a game for so long that you’ve discovered all the Easter eggs, all the glitches and all the best farming spots.

You can create guides to help people do the same, whether they’re articles or YouTube videos.

Stephen Robinson, better known by the moniker Ratty Star, creates YouTube guides for a post-apocalyptic role playing game, Fallout.

Several major gaming publications accept freelance pitches for video game guides and commentary, too. So if you prefer writing to video editing, give IGN, Kotaku, Escapist Magazine, Game Informer and GamesRadar+ a shot.

If you’re not a seasoned freelancer, we have a guide that walks you through how to come up with story ideas, pitch to editors and ultimately make money as a freelance writer. In the meantime, you can build up your portfolio by writing for GameSkinny, which will pay you based on how many views your articles get.

Neither Robinson nor Aldeco are ultra famous. They have just over 13,000 followers between the two of them. Getting famous really isn’t the point.

“I’m doing it because I’m enjoying the creative process,” Aldeco said. “Whenever the money comes, of course it’s a plus, but [it’s] not truly the end goal for me.”

How to make a living in the video game industry

There are ways to make more than a side hustle income in the gaming industry. In fact, you could make a whole career out of it.

These options are not a quick-and-easy way to pick up extra cash, but after you fulfill training and educational obligations, they could lead to a career you love.

9. Video game journalist

If you’ve built next-level freelance writing skills or have a background in journalism, you could opt to become a video game journalist.

Some journalists work in-game, like the aforementioned Wagner James Au in Second Life.

But others work for more traditional publications in the real world. You could cover gaming news for any of the sites we covered in the freelancing section, or you could get a job working for the Wall Street Journal or other financial publications covering the finances and latest stock news for companies in the gaming industry.

Glassdoor puts the average salary for this profession at $64,335.

10. Video game developer

As a video game developer, you’ll be writing the code that turns an idea for a video game into reality.

According to Glassdoor, the average video game developer makes a salary of $80,439 per year, with salaries starting around $50,000 and maxing out around $131,000.

A degree isn’t always necessary to get this type of job, especially if you can prove you have some coding experience. But many more doors will open to you if you have a four-year degree in computer science or another related filed.

Coding skills you’re likely to need are C# and C++. It will also be helpful to have experience with Unity, Unreal Engine, and other like platforms.

11. Customer service at a video game company

If you really love the gaming industry but don’t have any coding experience, you could always get a job as a customer service rep.

The pay isn’t great – Glassdoor provides an estimate of $42,891 for full-time CSRs in this industry. But a job is a job, and at least it’s one in an industry where you have an active interest.

Adam Hardy is a former staff writer for The Penny Hoarder.

Pittsburgh-based writer Brynne Conroy is the founder of the Femme Frugality blog and the author of “The Feminist Financial Handbook.” She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder.

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October 13, 2022
Got Wandering Feet? Here Are 11 Places That Will Pay You to Move There

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If you could use a change of scenery, why not get free money to move somewhere?

In the face of declining or slowing population growth, some cities have decided to get aggressive about their survival.

Despite soaring real estate prices in the past few years, there are still cities giving away free land while others are handing out major financial incentives to folks who agree to move to their metropolitan area.

Here are nine places that really, really want you to move there.

11 Places That Will Pay You to Move There

If you’re looking for a new place to call home, but you don’t have your heart set on a specific area or major cities, we’ve found 11 places — both states overall and specific cities — that are offering deals worth thousands of dollars to entice you to make their communities your home sweet home.

Places that will pay you to move there include:

Tulsa, Oklahoma

The Shoals, Alabama

Curtis, Nebraska

Baltimore, Maryland

Newton, Iowa

Hamilton, Ohio

West Virginia

Minnesota

Kansas

Indiana

Alaska

1. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s second largest city is offering to pay remote workers $10,000 cash to relocate there through its Tulsa Remote program.

You’ll get $10,000 upfront cash with a purchase/lease agreement on a home or apartment. And they’ll throw in a 36-month membership at a coworking space so you don’t have work all by your lonesome.

The only requirements are that you must:

Be 18 years old;

Eligible to work in the U.S.;

Be a full-time remote employee or self-employed full-time outside of Oklahoma;

Move within the next 12 months;

And, you know, want to live in Tulsa.

Click here for the application.

2. The Shoals, Alabama

If you work remotely full-time, make more than $52,000, can move within six months and are 18 or older, then you’re eligible for The Remote Shoals relocation plan. You’re also eligible if you’re self-employed outside of Colbert and Lauderdale counties.

They’ll pay you $10,000 to move there — with 25% coming up front, 25% after six months and the remaining 50% after living in The Shoals area for a year. The Shoals is comprised of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia in northern Alabama and is a two-hour drive from Birmingham, Nashville and Memphis.

3. Curtis, Nebraska

How’d you like to build your dream home — without spending a dime on the land itself?

It’s possible in Curtis, Nebraska.

Construct a home in Curtis within a set amount of time (and according to certain specifications), and you’ll receive the land free. All of the lots come utility ready and are located on paved streets.

And in Curtis, it’s the more the merrier — and more lucrative. The family incentive program awards $500 for the first kid, $750 for two and $1,000 for three or more children who move to the city and enroll in the Medicine Valley Public Schools.

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4. Baltimore, Maryland

Ready to give a little love to an underloved property — and get paid for it?

Baltimore’s Vacants to Value Booster relocation incentive gives $10,000 to buyers of Vacants to Value properties in an effort to address the blight caused by abandonment in the area. The home must be your primary residence, and you must be willing to invest at least $1,000 of your own resources. Also, the $10,000 must go toward your down payment and closing costs.

If that’s not enough reason to move to Old Bay country, the city also has a Buying Into Baltimore program that offers a $5,000 incentive to use toward buying a home anywhere in Baltimore. You must attend a Trolley Tour event to be eligible; 20 individuals are selected on a lottery basis.

Still not convinced? We have two words for you: crab cakes.

5. Newton, Iowa

The Newton Housing Initiative began in 2014 and will last through 2023. It offers individuals who build single-family homes, valued at $190,000 or more, within the city limits of Newton a $10,000 cash incentive plus a “Get to Know Newton” welcome package.

The Newton government’s goal is to create momentum for housing development within the community and to develop and ensure a stable and growing population by having affordable housing readily available.

6. Hamilton, Ohio

If you have student loan debt and have graduated in the last seven years — preferably from a STEAM program (science, technology, engineering, arts or mathematics) — Hamilton, Ohio wants you!

They want you so much that they’re willing to pay you a “reverse scholarship” — a program where recent graduates receive assistance with student loan debt. The Talent Attraction Program scholarship offers up to $10,000 ($300 per month) to recent grads who move to Butler County for employment or are full-time remote workers in a professional role.

7. West Virginia

Through West Virginia’s Ascend program, the state will pay you $12,000 to move there and work remotely for two consecutive years. You’ll also get free access to outdoor recreation for a year, free coworking space and other resources.

You can choose from communities in the beautiful Greenbrier Valley, the lively Morgantown area or the eastern panhandle. The state will even let you give the move a trial run with its “try before you buy” partnership with Airbnb. (Hint: This perk applies to other places too.)

8. Minnesota

Life’s simpler in the Midwest — especially when you can get land for free.

If you build a home within a year of receiving the land’s deed, your new property in New Richland, Minnesota’s Homestake subdivision will be 100% free of charge. Plus, the town’s in proximity to a golf course, lake and bike trails.

Don’t miss the fine print on this one, however. The website states: “You will be assessed for part of the cost to develop your property with streets, curb and gutter and water and sewer. Total estimated cost per lot for development is approximately $25,000.”

There’s also Harmony — known as the “Biggest Little Town in Southern Minnesota.”

The town of Harmony will provide home-builders a cash rebate of up to $12,000 to cover costs of construction — and the program has zero age, income or residency restrictions.

The specific rebate amount will depend on the estimated market value of the new or renovated structure.

9. Kansas

Kansas has many cities that would love to show you what they have to offer.

Topeka, which is Kansas’ fifth largest city, features a Choose Topeka program in which they’ll pay you up to $15,000 to work within Shawnee County, or even live there and work remotely, with different restrictions.

If you’re looking for something a little more rural, Lincoln, Kansas, offers free land to qualified new residents. According to its website, you’ll be able to see the buffalo roam from your home on the range, should you take Lincoln up on its offer.

You’ll have to comply with the city’s requirements for building and inhabiting a home within set time parameters. Contact Lincoln City Hall for full details.

Lincoln (pop. 1,209) isn’t the only small, rural Kansas town offering free home sites. If you’re interested in calling Kansas home, check out:

10. Indiana

The Hoosier state also has many cities that would love to be your home.

Grant County’s Grant for Grads program offers up to $7,500 of down payment assistance toward purchasing a home in Grant County, which is located in north central Indiana. The program has some restrictions: You’ll need to work in certain industries to qualify and one-third of the potential $7,500 will need to come from an employer match.

Work from Purdue incentivizes remote workers to come live within the Discovery Park District at Purdue University. “Relocation packages may include up to $4,000 in cash relocation stipends, $1,000 dining credit good in the union’s Atlas Family Marketplace and other housing discounts,” according to their press release,

Over in east Indiana, Muncie hopes to attract 45 new remote workers by 2023 through its relocation program. Fully employed individuals who move to the city using the program will receive a $5,000 stipend.

Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder

11. Alaska

Why limit yourself to just one city when Alaska will pay you to live anywhere in their state?

Since 1976, Alaska has paid its residents to live there via its Permanent Fund Dividend. The payouts are funded by Alaska’s oil royalties and are divided up evenly among citizens.

Yearly payouts vary, but the 2022 dividend was $3,284. Not too shabby just for being there!

To be eligible for the rebate, you cannot claim residency in any other state or country. Check out the full details here.

But That’s Not All …

If none of these cities or states strike your fancy and you’re still itching to make a move, check out Make My Move — a website that lists offers from communities willing to pay for new residents with all the details.

As the site says, “Do what you love, from a place that you love.”

Robert Bruce is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder. Deputy editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors contributed.

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October 12, 2022
How to Get Paid $15/Hour as a Search Engine Evaluator

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Search engines use complicated algorithms to determine the results you see.

For example, when you type “puppies playing with kittens” into a search engine box, a half-million possibly relevant web pages are searched using various criteria, and a second later, a list of videos or articles that match the criteria pop up onto your screen. The links on the top will likely be advertisements, while the others offer you websites hosting material that matches your request. The more information you type into your search, the more detailed your results will be.

But search engines don’t always provide quality matches.

To offer significant and relevant matches, the search engines require actual humans to examine the results and judge them for quality and usefulness. The human input is then programmed into the search algorithms to provide more directed results.

The people who research the search engine results are known as search engine evaluators. In some cases they are called personal ad evaluators. They get paid to review search results, and they almost always work at home.

As remote jobs go, this is one that provides relatively easy work that offers true results to the hiring company.

What a Search Engine Evaluator Does

A search engine evaluator examines internet search results to determine the accuracy of web search results, how useful the results pages are, and the relevance of the search results to the topic requested. Every employer has different requirements for the position, but a search engine evaluator will be required to input qualitative data measurements and be able to speak to the results found.

How to Make Money as a Search Engine Evaluator

It is possible to get a full-time job as a search engine evaluator, and Ziprecruiter estimates the pay for that position to average almost $55,000 a year. But a freelance position usually pays between $12 and $15 per hour, according to Glassdoor.

To become a freelance search engine evaluator, you must take a qualifying test to determine your experience with search engines. Some companies conduct this test digitally, while others will conduct a phone interview with you.

You will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement so you cannot divulge to others the keyword searches and results you find. You will also be asked to prove the capability of your internet connection wherever you plan on doing the work.

Why You Might Like Working as a Search Engine Evaluator

1. You get to work at home.

This is the perfect remote job, because there is no reason for you to be required to go into an office to conduct internet searches.

2. You can work when you like.

Some companies want you to work certain days, but usually you set your own hours and take days off whenever you want.

3. You can work as much as you want (up to a limit).

You generally have to work a minimum number of hours per month to stay enrolled, but it isn’t too much. Also, you can work for 10 minutes on a task, log out for a break and then work 20 minutes later.

4. Many search engine evaluators have said they like the pay.

It’s better than minimum wage in many states, and you don’t have any commuting costs.

5. You get exposed to new ideas and topics.

You will be asked to search for information that you would not normally be interested in. You will become conversational on a number of new topics.

Getty Images

Why Search Engine Evaluator Jobs Might Not Be for You

1. There are no job benefits.

You are hired as an independent contractor, so you do not get health insurance, vacation pay, or even unemployment coverage. You can be fired for any reason.

2. You have to pay your own taxes.

As an independent contractor, you’ll be responsible for all taxes. You may have to make quarterly estimated tax payments, and you’ll have to file a Schedule C at tax time. You can probably write off some computer-related supplies as business expenses, but you need to keep track of everything.

3. You have to track your hours.

If you don’t keep close track of the hours you work, you won’t be paid for them. You’ll log in online, but this is just used by the company to check against the hours you submit on your monthly invoice.

4. You’ll probably get paid just once a month.

Some workers complain about the slow and infrequent pay. Typically you work for the month, then you submit an invoice, and then you wait several weeks to get paid.

5. The work is irregular.

Lack of steady work is a very common complaint. This is not a full-time, regular job.

Need a banking service that’s built for freelancers, helping you save for taxes and keep track of your expenses? Check out Lili. (It’s free!)

Where to Find Search Engine Evaluator Jobs

One of the easiest ways to find a legit work-from-home job is The Penny Hoarder’s own WFH Portal — you can search for “evaluator” as a keyword.

Here’s what to expect from some of the most popular companies that hire search engine evaluators:

Appen

Qualifications: Appen’s landing page says there are no requirements other than a commitment of 10 hours a week. But it does have opportunities for those who are fluent in a language other than English.

Training/testing: You’ll have two chances to pass the initial qualifying exam. Depending on the assignment, you may be required to pass additional language assessment exams.

Payment method: As an independent contractor, you’ll need to invoice Appen once a month. Payments are made via direct deposit within 30 days of receipt. You can make as much as $16 per hour at Appen.

Equipment requirements: You need to provide your own personal computer running Google Chrome. Additionally, you’ll need to have high-speed internet access and up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware software.

Good to know: Completing the online registration process and passing the online qualification exam typically takes 14 days or less, according to the company. You won’t make any money until then, and considering you won’t receive your first payment until almost a month later, this is not the way to go if you need to make money this week.

Click here to apply.

Lionbridge

Qualifications: Jobs typically require you to be bilingual and have a strong background in the country’s culture and current events. Many require you to be a resident of the specific country you’re evaluating for.

Training/testing: For most roles, you’ll need to take an online assessment test before you can apply. One contractor reported the unpaid test took 8 hours to complete.

Payment method: Pay rates depend on the job — some are task-based while others are per hour. Payments are made via direct deposit.

Equipment requirements: You’ll need to provide your own equipment — typically a PC or laptop and a high-speed internet connection.

Good to know: Although the company has jobs available around the world, the roles are often specific to that country, so if you move, you might lose the gig. The good news is that if you want to quit, you only need to provide one day’s notice.

Click here to apply.

Getty Images

iSoftstone

Qualifications: Most jobs have language and residency requirements. You’ll also need in-depth knowledge of the country, including news, pop culture, business, sports and entertainment.

Training/testing: Tasks take a maximum of 15 minutes to qualify, according to the company website.

Payment method: Pay for the U.S. position is an average of $8 to $11 per hour, plus bonuses.

Equipment requirements: You’ll need to have a personal computer running Windows OS and a stable, high-speed internet connection.

Good to know: Many job postings note that you’ll work 10 to 25 hours per week on a flexible schedule.

Click here to apply.

TELUS International

Qualifications: Open to U.S. residents who are familiar with current and historical business news, media, sports and cultural affairs in the U.S.

Training/testing: You will be required to go through a recruitment process.

Payment method: Monthly. Glassdoor says TELUS pays a median rate of $25 per hour.

Equipment requirements: The one specific mention on the Telus form is that you need to have a smartphone to scan barcodes that get you into your assignments. Other firms require the same qualification.

Click here to apply.

One employment option missing from this list is Google. The search giant calls it evaluators “ad quality raters,” but they have essentially the same function. However, the company doesn’t hire raters directly on its career page; instead it screens applicants through one of the above companies or another outside job portal, like FlexJobs.

Kent McDill is a veteran journalist who has specialized in personal finance topics since 2013. He is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder.

Steve Gillman, a Penny Hoarder contributor, contributed to this post.

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October 10, 2022
Here’s How to Become a Transcriptionist and Work Your Way Up the Pay Scale

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Remote jobs providing customer service or making dozens of sales calls aren’t for everyone.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a flexible work-from-home job that requires little to no prior experience and doesn’t force you to be on the phone all day?

If that sounds like a better fit for you, consider becoming a transcriptionist. This job lets you make money while having the freedom to set your own hours. In many cases, you can work as much or as little as you want each week.

The Role of a Transcriptionist

Transcription work involves converting a video or audio file to a written document. You need stellar listening skills and an excellent command of the English language to be able to take what you hear and turn it into written words.

Transcriptionists produce written records of conversations, interviews, programs, lectures and more. They also help provide accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Transcriptionists work in a variety of settings including courtrooms and doctors’ offices, but there’s a lot of flexibility in this profession to work from home — and at your own pace.

Many transcription jobs from home don’t require strict set hours. You can find contract gigs that pay by the amount of work you’re able to transcribe rather than being on a payroll and earning an hourly or annual salary.

As a freelance transcriptionist, you can choose to work when you desire. You could work part time or full time, during normal business hours or at night while everyone else in your household is sleeping. Transcribing from home can be an ideal option for stay-at-home parents to earn money while juggling child care duties.

Besides the flexibility, other perks of working remotely as a transcriptionist are that you have the autonomy of working alone, and you don’t have to deal with inbound calls or the complaints of frustrated customers. Depending on what you’re transcribing, you can also learn new and interesting things.

Types of Transcriptionists

There are several different types of transcriptionists. Typically, the transcription industry is broken into three categories: General, medical and legal.

If you’re a beginner, start by looking into general transcription jobs. This career path has a much lower barrier to entry — often requiring no formal education or training and little prior experience.

Working as a transcriptionist who specializes in medical transcription or legal transcription will likely require a state license or completion of a certification program. You’ll also need to understand potentially complex medical or legal terminology. These specialized fields often pay better than general transcription work.

General Transcription

General transcriptionists are hired to provide text for a variety of video or audio files. You might transcribe podcasts for a blogger or interviews for a writer. You could transcribe business meetings, college lectures, speeches at conferences or discussions during marketing focus groups.

There are also broadcast captioners who create closed captions for movies and television programs. Speedy transcribing is important in these jobs, but employers often hire people with a lot of general knowledge about news, sports, entertainment, and world events. This means people have a better understanding of broadcasts.

Real-time captioning for live events or broadcasts is in high demand and generally pays more than creating captions in post-production. Simultaneous captioners work quickly and need good spelling skills.

A specialized segment of captioning work is CART captioning. CART stands for “Communication Access Real-time Translation” and is for audiences who are hard of hearing or deaf. In addition to transcribing all spoken words in real time, CART captioners also make note of audible sounds like laughter or applause.

Experienced transcriptionists, which you will be after a while, can become transcriptionist reviewers, proofreaders, and quality control transcriptionists.

Medical Transcription

Medical transcriptionists listen to audio recordings from doctors and other healthcare professionals and convert them into written reports. While they may work from home, medical transcriptionists also work in hospitals, labs, operating rooms and other medical settings.

Working as a medical transcriptionist may require a license, certification or prior work experience depending the company you work with and the role you take on. You’ll need a robust understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, medical procedures and healthcare documentation.

While a medical transcription career often pays better than having a general online transcription job, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects there will be a 7% decline in jobs in this field over the next decade. Technological advancements — such as the use of speech recognition software — and outsourcing overseas is leading to this decline.

However, some medical professionals use speech recognition software to create a first draft of the audio they’d like transcribed, and then hire a medical transcriptionist to go over the work and edit for accuracy.

Legal Transcription

Legal transcribers provide written records of depositions, trials and other legal proceedings. A court reporter is a common type of legal transcriptionist.

Legal transcriptionists may also be hired to transcribe police interrogations, victim interviews and undercover law enforcement recordings. The written documents they produce are often used to help lawyers prepare for trials and may be used in court.

This type of transcription career usually requires a certification or license. You need to be familiar with legal terminology, procedures and systems in this line of work.

Some legal transcriptionists can work remotely, but others work on-site in courtrooms, in legislative sessions, at law offices and in other legal settings.

The BLS expects court reporter job growth will be flat in this decade, with about 2,000 jobs a year opening up.

How Much do Transcriptionists Get Paid?

Compensation for transcription services varies based on a variety of factors, including the type of work you take on, your speed and skill level, your experience and the company you work for.

According to Payscale, the average hourly rate for a transcriptionist is $16.59. Spanish and other bilingual translation and transcription services pay slightly better, averaging $17 an hour. Beginners who do general online transcription may only earn about $10 an hour or less, but there’s potential to earn over $25 an hour as you gain experience and enter into higher-paid specialties.

Companies may also pay you more to transcribe a more difficult audio file — such as one with multiple speakers or speakers with heavy accents — or for work requiring extras, such as timestamps, or a very short turnaround time.

It’s important to note that many companies pay freelance transcribers by the audio hour (or the audio minute). This means that you’ll earn money based on transcribing an hour’s worth of audio, which could take a beginner between four to six hours to complete, depending on the complexity.

Experienced transcriptionists often consider rates below $45 to $50 per audio hour too low. If it takes you five hours to transcribe one audio hour at those rates, you’d be making $9 to $10 an hour.

However, if you’re brand new to the industry, you may find it’s worth working at those lower rates to get started. As you gain experience and improve upon your skill set, you could land a better-paying transcription job later on.

Pro Tip

Keep in mind: The faster you can accurately complete the work, the better your compensation will be.

Other companies may pay contract transcriptionists per project or per page of transcribed work. Factor in the time it takes you to complete each project or page to determine if the job is right for you. Generally, anything less than $1 per page is low.

As you’re evaluating pay, make sure you’re considering the costs you’ll encounter as a freelancer, especially if you’re new to working for yourself. As a 1099 worker, you’ll need to pay quarterly estimated taxes. If you aren’t covered under an employer’s health insurance plan, your healthcare costs will be coming out of your own pocket.

Do you need better tech for your work-from-home office? Will you have to upgrade your internet? Include all these extra expenses into the equation as you’re assessing a company’s offered rate.

Need a banking service that’s built for freelancers, helping you save for taxes and keep track of your expenses? Check out Lili. (It’s free!)

What You Need to Get Started as a Transcriptionist

You’ll need a combination of technical skills, soft skills and equipment to become a transcriptionist. It may seem fairly simple to listen to a recording and type out what you hear, but it’s more challenging than you might think.

If you want to level up in your career and get paid better, seek out transcription training in a specialized field. As you move up the ladder, you’ll probably want to upgrade to better equipment, too.

Here are some of the skills, equipment and training you’ll need to build a career as a transcriptionist.

Skills

To work as a transcriptionist, you’ll need to have stellar listening skills, including the ability to decipher audio with heavy accents, background noises and multiple speakers. You’ll need to be able to concentrate on a task for an extended period of time. Having a quiet, dedicated workspace at home helps.

Another important skill is the ability to type fast. If you’re just starting out, a typing speed of 65 words per minute (wpm) is fine, but eventually you’ll want to aim for between 75 to 90 wpm. The more you practice, the better your speed will get.

You should have an excellent command of the English language, including grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary. You’ll want the written copy you turn in to be free of errors, so you should have good proofreading skills as well.

Having great time-management skills will help you stay on top of deadlines. It’s also essential that you’re detail-oriented and patient in this line of work. You might be listening to the same audio over and over to transcribe audio files verbatim.

Additionally, you should be a tech savvy individual who’s able to work with the necessary software and equipment.

Equipment

The equipment you’ll need to work from home as a transcriptionist will vary based on what type of work you do and the company you work for.

Some companies that hire newbies don’t require you to have much beyond a good-working computer, high-speed internet and a pair of earbuds or a headset.

Your computer or laptop should have sufficient RAM and storage space and should be able to run basic programs, such as Microsoft Word. The company you work for might require you to download specific software. Google Chrome is a helpful internet browser to use.

Your internet connection should have download and upload speeds of at least 10 mbps. Your company may have specific requirements.

Pro Tip

As with other online jobs where you’re working from home, make sure you have a distraction-free, private workspace with a comfortable desk and office chair.

If you want a career in online transcription instead of just pursuing this as a side gig for extra money, you’ll benefit from investing in noise-cancelling headphones, a mechanical keyboard, dual monitors and a foot pedal for controlling audio playback.

Downloading transcription software, such as Express Scribe, will make your work easier and help you cut down on your transcription time. There’s a free version of Express Scribe, but you can also upgrade to a professional version for less than $100. If you plan to use a foot pedal, most are compatible with this software.

You may also want to get text expander software to help you type common words and phrases faster.

If you’re a court reporter or legal transcriptionist, you’ll probably need to use stenography equipment.

Transcription Training and Certifications

Working as a transcriptionist doesn’t require a college degree. If you are new to the field and are providing general transcription services, you likely won’t need any certification.

If you aim to specialize as a medical or legal transcriptionist, however, you will need advanced training. Many community colleges and vocational schools offer certification programs, which can last from one to three years.

Aspiring medical transcriptionists can get certified as a Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) or a Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist (CHDS) through the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity.

The National Court Reporters Association offers certification as a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR). Another option is to earn the Certified Electronic Reporter (CER) designation or Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET) designation through the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers. The National Verbatim Reporters Association also offers a variety of professional certifications.

If you’re a general transcriptionist, you can also take courses to improve your skills and, hopefully, advance to better paying jobs. Transcribe Anywhere has a course in general transcription — and also a free mini-course. Udemy also has various courses on how to become a transcriptionist (like this one, this one on subtitling and captioning and these practices).

When evaluating whether a course is right for you, check the reviews or, if possible, speak to program graduates to gauge whether the course increases people’s employment prospects.

If you’re going to work in the United States, it is recommended that you take courses from a U.S.-based company.

How to Become a Transcriptionist in 8 Steps

Wondering how to become a transcriptionist? Follow these steps to launch a career — or profitable side gig — while working from home.

1. Decide What Types of Transcription Jobs You’re Interested In

Are you looking for general transcription work where you might create transcripts of podcasts for a blogger or make a written record of a company’s business meeting? Or would you like to specialize as a medical or legal transcriptionist?

Consider the amount of hours you plan to dedicate to this work. Are you looking for something full-time or part-time?

Would you like to work for a company that’ll give you transcription work or would you rather be a freelance contractor who finds your own gigs? Your answers will guide you to the right path for you.

Pro Tip

If you’re planning to establish yourself as a freelance transcriber, here’s what you need to know about running a freelance business.

2. Practice Your Typing Skills or Pursue Advanced Training

The more you practice your typing and transcription skills, the quicker you’ll be able to take an audio file and convert it into written copy. And the faster you’re able to turn around work, the more you’ll earn per hour.

Express Scribe has practice files for you to test your skills. So does GoTranscript.

If you want to become a medical or legal transcriptionist, check your local community college for certification programs or see the section above for accreditations you might want to pursue.

3. Prepare Your Resume

After completing training or earning a certification or license, make sure you update your resume.

Even if you choose not to pursue formal training, you should revamp your resume to highlight transferable skills that will help you succeed in a transcriptionist role, like the ability to listen attentively or being a fast typist.

4. Apply to Transcription Jobs

If you’re just starting out, it may be easier to get work through a transcription outsource company than trying to establish yourself as a freelancer.

Below you’ll find a list of companies that hire people with little to no transcription experience.

5. Get Familiar with the Company’s Style Guide

Each company will have its own style guide outlining its preferences for transcribed work.

Some companies may ask you to transcribe verbatim, while others will say it’s okay to correct mispronunciations or incorrect grammar. The style guide might also lay out how the company wants you to identify multiple speakers in an audio file.

Take time to study the style guide so you turn in work that adheres to the company’s guidelines.

6. Take a Typing Test

During the application process, transcription companies will have you take a typing test to access your speed and accuracy. You might be asked to listen to a few minutes of dialogue and transcribe what you hear.

The tests for lower-paying companies that hire beginners will be easier than the test for companies seeking experienced pros.

7. Make Sure You Have the Required Tech

At the very least, you’ll need a working computer or laptop, high-speed internet, quality earbuds or headphones and a quiet home office space.

Additional equipment, like a foot pedal and transcription software, may not be required by the company you work for, but it could help you do your job better.

8. Move Up to Better-Paying Companies With More Experience

After you have some experience under your belt and you’ve improved your typing speed and turnaround time, you should seek out gigs that pay more money.

Ditto Transcripts and Allegis Transcription are two companies that hire experienced transcriptionists. You could also use platforms like Freelancer.com or Upwork to find work-from-home transcription gigs.

Another strategy for finding higher paying work is to create a webpage for your independent transcription business and advertise your services. Reach out to potential clients, like law firms or podcasters, directly to solicit work.

Where to Find Transcription Jobs as a Beginner

If you’re looking to earn a little extra money online, try with one of these transcription companies to get started. You won’t get rich, but you will get paid to learn how to transcribe audio files — and this could open the door to more lucrative transcription opportunities in the future.

The following transcription companies regularly hire newbies. You’ll need to take short assessments before getting assigned work, and you can work as much or as little as you’d like. In most cases, you won’t need any special equipment like a foot pedal or transcription software.

Crowdsurf

Crowdsurf specializes in providing transcribed media files to the hearing impaired. You’ll have to create an account with Work Market — an online marketplace for freelancers — where Crowdsurf houses their transcription tasks.

You can earn up to 20 cents per media minute (which comes out to $12 an audio hour), plus bonus rates. Most transcription tasks will be less than 10 minutes long.

Go Transcript

To work for GoTranscript, you’ll first need to register and take a transcription test. Once approved, you can choose from a variety of projects to work on.

The average payment rate is 60 cents per audio minute, which equates to $36 an audio hour. The average earnings per month is $150, however, top workers earn up to $1,215 per month. GoTranscript pays on a weekly basis via PayPal or Payoneer.

Quicktate

Quicktate hires independent contractors to transcribe short voicemail messages, as well as memos, conference calls and more.

After you have done transcription for Quicktate for some time, you may be promoted to iDictate — a sister company that pays slightly more to transcribe an audio file. Quicktate pays approximately one cent for every four words transcribed, while iDictate pays two cents for every four words transcribed.

Quicktate pays its freelancers weekly by PayPal.

Rev

Rev pays transcriptionists between 30 cents up to $1.10 for each audio minute, which works out to $18 to $66 per audio hour. The average earnings per month is $245, but top earners make up to $1,495 per month.

Rev pays weekly via PayPal and doesn’t require any special equipment apart from a computer with reliable internet.

Scribie

Scribie’s site mentions that they work with new transcriptionists and experienced ones. You have to take a test to get certified. Scribie is interesting in that instead of being assigned work, you can choose your files. They also provide an automated transcript that helps the process.

Scribie starts at $5-20 per audio hour. They pay daily by depositing money into your Paypal account.

TranscribeMe

Before you can take on projects with TranscribeMe, you have to register and take its training course and exam.

TranscribeMe starts you off transcribing short audio clips less than five minutes long. The company pays $15 per audio hour. You’ll be paid weekly via PayPal for the work you complete.

You don’t need any special equipment to start working beyond a computer or laptop that has Google Chrome and a stable internet connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trying to decide whether you want to become a transcriptionist? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Transcriptionist?

The time it takes to become a transcriptionist can vary widely, depending on factors such as your skill level and whether you want to specialize.

If you’re already a fast typist with an excellent command of the English language and stellar listening skills, you might be able to apply to work for a transcription company that hires inexperienced transcriptionists. Depending on how long it takes to get through the application and hiring process, you could start working in a matter of days or a couple of weeks.

However, if you choose a specialized field of work and enroll in a two-year certification program to become a legal transcriptionist, it would take at least a couple of years to begin your career.

How Do I Start to Become a Transcriptionist?

For those new to the profession, it’s often recommended to start in general transcription, taking work for outsourcing companies.

Take practice tests before applying so you can improve your typing speed and accuracy. After working entry-level transcription jobs for a while, you’ll be able to take on higher-paying work.

How Much Can You Make as a Transcriptionist?

The average hourly rate for a transcriptionist is just over $16, according to Payscale. However, factors such as your experience level, the business you work for, the type of work you do and your turnaround rate will impact how much money you make.

As a beginner, you could earn $10 an hour or less. More experienced transcriptionists who work in specialized fields can command over $25 an hour.

Is it Hard to Become a Transcriptionist?

Becoming a transcriptionist doesn’t require a college education or formal training, and there are companies that hire workers with little or no experience. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s easy to become a transcriptionist.

Just like any other job, what’s easy for one person won’t be for another. Passing a company’s typing test, for example, may not be as simple as you’d imagine.

The files you listen to might be very poor quality, making it difficult to understand what’s being said. And other times, you might find yourself trying to interpret unclear dialogue spoken with a thick accent.

The work is also quite repetitive. You will have to listen to the same audio over and over again to be sure you have transcribed it perfectly. If you don’t like repetition, transcription might not be the line of work for you.

Nicole Dow is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Anna Thurman is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder.

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October 7, 2022
5 Dangerous Money Tips Being Shared on TikTok Right Now

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Way back when, the only way to get your hands on some financial advice without professional help was by walking yourself to the library. Or better yet, getting rich-uncle advice over the holidays.

Now, thanks to the internet, it’s quick and easy to find advice on pretty much any financial query. But having so much information at our fingertips has its disadvantages — especially when it comes to the advice on social media, where literally everyone is allowed to share their opinions.

Sure, you can find sound financial advice on TikTok, it’s true. But just because you know how to create a viral TikTok doesn’t mean you’re a financial expert.

We’re sharing five alarming money tips we’ve seen on TikTok, plus five smarter things to do with your money, instead.

1. Dangerous Advice: The Promise of Quick Results and Easy Money

Get-rich-quick schemes have been around since one caveman convinced the other he was a wealthy foriegn prince. Now, these schemes exist in the form of young charming influencers flaunting their wealth and claiming you can make thousands of dollars a week with very little effort. You just have to do what they did, and you’ll find the same success.

The truth is, there are no simple tricks that unlock the stock market, and there definitely aren’t any “real-time money glitches.” Using any of these tips and tricks is like walking into a casino and putting everything on black. It might work a couple of times, but it’s not going to work over the long term. There’s simply no reliable shortcut to financial wealth.

Do This Instead: Spend $1 to Own a Piece of Amazon, Google or Other Companies

Instead of looking for quick results and easy money, we suggest you look for reliable long-term investments. So, where to start?

Take a look at the Forbes Richest People list, and you’ll notice almost all the billionaires have one thing in common — they own another company.

If you don’t have millions of dollars lying around, that can sound totally out of reach.

But with an app called Stash, it doesn’t have to be. It lets you be a part of something that’s normally exclusive to the richest of the rich — on Stash you can buy pieces of other companies for as little as $1.

That’s right — you can invest in pieces of well-known companies, such as Amazon, Google, Apple and more for as little as $1. The best part? If these companies profit, so can you. Some companies even send you a check every quarter for your share of the profits, called dividends.*

It takes two minutes to sign up, and it’s totally secure. With Stash, all your investments are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) — that’s industry talk for, “Your money’s safe.”**

Plus, when you use the link above, Stash will give you a $5 sign-up bonus once you deposit $5 into your account.

2. Dangerous Advice: Complicated ‘Money Hacks’

Some of the most amusing money-saving TikToks come from people sharing the most complex ways to make or save a few bucks — like working for a food delivery app just so you can get paid to pick up your own food. Or, my personal favorite: starting your own landscaping business to write off your new lawn mower.

Aside from some of these tactics being sketchy or downright illegal, you’re likely to waste far more of your valuable time and energy compared to the extra cash you’re pocketing.

Do This Instead: Let This App Pay You Up to $83 When You Win Solitaire Games

If you’ve got your heart set on finding interesting ways to make some extra cash, there are actually some much simpler options out there that won’t have you wondering if what you’re doing is illegal.

For example, there’s a free iPhone app called Solitaire Cash that lets you play for real money. You could get paid up to $83 per win.

With each game, you’ll battle it out against at least five other players. Everyone gets the same deck, so winning is totally a matter of skill. The top three players who solve the deck fastest can win real money — anywhere from $1 to $83.

Over on the App Store, it has over a million downloads and more than 15,000 ratings, averaging 4.7 stars (out of 5).

To get started, just download the free app and start playing your first game immediately.

3. Dangerous Advice: Oversimplifying Debt

Debt is a complicated principle. Unfortunately, some TikTok creators have taken it upon themselves to oversimplify how debt works so that the information fits into a short video format.

Advice comes out half-baked, like explaining it’s good to apply for a credit card without mentioning the importance of making your credit card payments on time or monitor your credit-utilization ratio.

A lot of this advice also assumes we’re all in the same financial boat, and that there’s a one-size-fits-all way to look at and deal with debt. In reality, we’re all in different stages of our financial journey.

Do This Instead: Ask This Website to Help Wipe Out Your Credit Card Debt

So let’s talk about that debt that’s eating you up inside. The anxiety, the interest rates, the fear you’re never going to escape…

And your credit card company doesn’t really care. It’s just getting rich by ripping you off with high interest rates — some up to 36%. Websites like AmOne want to help.

If you owe your credit card companies $50,000 or less, AmOne will match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every single one of your balances.

The benefit? You’ll be left with one bill to pay each month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmOne rates start at 2.49% APR), you’ll get out of debt that much faster. Plus: No credit card payment this month.

You don’t need a perfect credit score to get a loan — and comparing your options won’t affect your score at all. Plus, AmOne keeps your information confidential and secure, which is probably why after 20 years in business, it still has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

It takes less than a minute and just 10 questions to see what loans you qualify for — you don’t even need to enter your Social Security number. You do need to give AmOne a real phone number in order to qualify, but don’t worry — they won’t spam you with phone calls.

4. Dangerous Advice: Aggressive Investments

Another big trend we’re seeing on TikTok is influencers sharing the success they’ve had with aggressive investments — like taking equity from their homes to invest in more properties — resulting in a steady, passive income.

These types of investment can work, but again, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. Plus, it comes with a lot of risks and a lot more hard work than any of these influencers care to admit.

When you’re borrowing equity from, say, your house, to invest in something new, just remember you’re going into more debt to do so. If your investment fails, you could lose your house, and more.

Do This Instead: Earn $300+/Month in Risk-Free Passive Income with Your Extra Space

There’s actually a safer way to make a passive income. So, before you take out a huge loan and go all in on that fixer upper down the street, take a quick look at the existing space you have.

If you’re like us, your garage probably isn’t doing much of anything at the moment. Maybe you have some tools in there, or maybe it’s home to your boxes of odds and ends, collecting dust.

But with a website called Neighbor, your extra space — whether it’s a spare room, an empty garage or a parking space — could be earning you an extra $300 a month in totally passive income.

Neighbor works by connecting people who need storage space with hosts who have the room to spare. The average host makes about $300 a month, but some people have earned up to $50,000 a year just by letting people park on their property.

It takes less than 10 minutes to get started. Just answer a few questions about your space, take some pictures and set your asking price. Neighbor will recommend a dollar amount based on your location and type of rental, but the final listing is up to you.

Neighbor even gives you up to $1 million in free protection as a host and offers protection plans for your renters, giving you both peace of mind.

Neighbor is an easy source of passive income, and it’s easier than most side hustles. It’s free to list your space, and you’ll only be charged a 4.9% processing fee from the profit you make each month, so there’s no risk to you.

Sign up here and see how much you could earn.

5. Dangerous Advice: Distractions

Many TikTok influencers focus on fun and trendy financial tips and tricks in an attempt to gain more followers.

Like, have you ever found yourself labeling hundreds of colored envelopes in an attempt to save money? Or, did you try and fail to get extra money from your airline after watching a very engaging and entertaining influencer act out a fake scenario with indisputable success? If so, you might’ve been duped by the latest trending TikTok instead of focusing on your long-term financial goals.

Do This Instead: Keep Your Eye on the Prize and Add up to 300 Points to Your Credit Score

When it comes to your credit score, it’s important to stay organized and keep tabs on it. After all, it’ll play an essential role in any big purchase you want to make — whether that’s a home or a car.

So if you’re looking to get your credit score back on track — or even if it is on track and you want to bump it up — try using a free website called Credit Sesame.

Within two minutes, you’ll get access to your credit score, any debt-carrying accounts and a handful of personalized tips to improve your score. You’ll even be able to spot any errors holding you back (one in five reports have one).

James Cooper, of Atlanta, used Credit Sesame to raise his credit score nearly 300 points in six months.**** “They showed me the ins and outs — how to dot the I’s and cross the T’s,” he said.

Want to check for yourself? It’s free and only takes about 90 seconds to sign up.

Now What?

Keep a wary eye out for these dangerous tips on social media. Always check out a TikTok influencer’s credentials and background. And always do your own research before you take any financial action.

Good luck out there, and whatever you do, don’t put all your money on black.

*Not all stocks pay out dividends, and there is no guarantee that dividends will be paid each year.

**To note, SIPC coverage does not insure against the potential loss of market value.

For Securities priced over $1,000, purchase of fractional shares starts at $0.05.

***Like Cooper, 60% of Credit Sesame members see an increase in their credit score; 50% see at least a 10-point increase, and 20% see at least a 50-point increase after 180 days.

Credit Sesame does not guarantee any of these results, and some may even see a decrease in their credit score. Any score improvement is the result of many factors, including paying bills on time, keeping credit balances low, avoiding unnecessary inquiries, appropriate financial planning and developing better credit habits.

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clara.stratford@clearlink.com (Clara Stratford)

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October 6, 2022

Pokemon Care	Set	Condition	Card Value
Holo Pikachu (Illustrator)	n/a; limited contest release	Mint 7	$375,000
Holo Edition 1 Charizard	Base set	Gem Mint 10 (Perfect)	$375,000
Holo Edition 1 Charizard	Base set	Near-Mint 7	$7,500
Pikachu (Shadowless)	Base set	Gem Mint 10 (Perfect)	$100
Pikachu (Shadowless)	Base set	Near-Mint 8	$25

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Tag: make money

Where to Sell Used Clothes Online

1. Depop

2. Ebay

3. Facebook Marketplace

4. Poshmark

5. Swap.com

6. ThredUP

7. Tradesy

8. The RealReal

9. Mercari

10. ASOS Marketplace

11. Vestiaire Collective

12. Vinted

13. Kidizen

Where to Sell Used Clothes In Person

14. Buffalo Exchange

15. Clothes Mentor

16. Once Upon a Child

17. Plato’s Closet

18. Style Encore

19. Uptown Cheapskate

20. Crossroads Training

21. Bonus: Local Consignment Shops

Quick Tips on Getting the Most Cash From Your Clothes

Use a Nice Basket or Hamper to Carry Your Clothes (if You’re Selling In Person)

Check for Damage or Pit Stains

Sell Your Clothes Often

Coppertone Sunscreen Benzene False Advertising $2.3M Class Action Settlement

Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, Nasty Gal Fake Sale Prices $4.75M Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

Snapchat Biometric Privacy $35M Class Action Settlement

Labrada Supplements False Advertising $625K Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

Humana, Cotiviti Data Breach Class Action Settlement

PBM Nutritionals Baby Formula Servings False Ad $2M Class Action Settlement

GEICO California Total Loss Sales Tax, Fees $19.1M Class Action Settlement

Remicade (Infliximab) Antitrust $25M Class Action Settlement

GEICO Auto Claims Underpayment Class Action Settlement

CSL Plasma Biometric Data $9.9M Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

How to Become a Paid Caregiver for a Family Member

Learn More About Medicaid

What Does a Pet Sitter Do?

What Makes a Good Pet Sitter?

How Much Money Will You Make?

How Do You Become a Pet Sitter?

Starting Your Own Service

1. Get Relevant Experience

2. Decide on Your Services

3. Get Certified

4. Get Insured

5. Learn Pet First Aid

Using a Pet Sitting Website

1. Rover

2. Wag!

3. Fetch! Pet Care

4. Care.com

The Most Common Mystery Shopper Scams

The “Oops We Overpaid You” Scam

The “Buy Us a Gift Card” Scam

The “Pay Us to Find You the Best Shops” Scam

The “Oddly Specific Invitation” Scam

The “Make $9,000 a Month!” Scam

Protecting Yourself from Secret Shopper Scams

1. Research. Then Research Some More

2. Don’t Respond to Mystery Shopping Companies That Find You

3. Keep Your Hard-Earned Cash

What to Do If You Spot a Secret Shopper Scam

How Much Money Can You Make With Side Jobs?

The 25 Best Side Hustle Ideas to Earn Extra Money

What the Best Side Hustles Have in Common (Besides Bringing in Extra Cash)

1. Schedule Flexibility

2. Enjoyability

3. Low Cost of Entry

4. Fulfills a High-Demand Need

5. A Means to a Professional or Personal Goal

What Skills Do Side Hustlers Need to Have?

Self-Motivation

Perspective

Willingness to Learn

Self-Forgiveness

Are You Ready to Start Your Side Hustle?