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Tag: side gigs

  • How Much Do You Get Paid to Donate Sperm? All Your Questions Answered

    How Much Do You Get Paid to Donate Sperm? All Your Questions Answered

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    Let’s talk about how to make money by selling your sperm. Like, how this actually works.

    Popular media sends a strong message: Selling your sperm is a lucrative and simple way to make money when you’re low on cash.

    There’s no need to feel weird about sperm donation, despite the many jokes about the process. Sperm banks support thousands of families who struggle with infertility and parents who want to conceive without a partner.

    In a span of 30 years, an estimated 120,000 to 150,000 babies were born of anonymous donor insemination, according to an unpublished study by the American Association of Tissue Banks, reported by Cryogenic Laboratories. That’s 4,000 to 5,000 births per year that happened because of sperm donors.

    But the process isn’t nearly as simple or fun as the gags might imply.

    Don’t expect to pop into your local sperm bank, make a contribution and walk out with a check that afternoon.

    Here’s everything you need to know about the process and requirements to donate sperm to figure out whether it’s the right move for you.

    How Much Do You Get Paid to Donate Sperm?

    The phrase is a little confusing — sperm donation isn’t a charitable act.

    You do, in fact, earn money. (Not nearly as much as its counterpart, egg donation, but it won’t take nearly the toll on your body, either.)

    Like everything else about becoming a sperm donor, the amount of money you make varies depending on the sperm bank or donation center you work with.

    Here are some examples of compensation models:

    • Donors through the Seattle Sperm Bank can earn $100 per approved donation.
    • Donors through the Sperm Bank of California earn $140 per approved sample, with most donors earning between $500 and $700 per month. The bank also offers $500 for completing an exit appointment six months after your final donation.
    • Donors through the international sperm bank chain Cryos earn $25 and a $10 gift card per ejaculate delivered, plus an additional $30 for each approved ejaculate, plus another $250 for every batch of 10 approved donations.

    Sperm banks also offer free fertility test results, physical exams and blood testing as long as you remain a donor, and some even provide a free annual physical after you stop donating.

    Some clinics have more complicated contracts that require you to keep up steady visits and provide regular donations if a recipient chooses you as their donor. That arrangement could affect when you’re paid.

    A sperm bank might hold your paychecks in escrow until you’ve completed a contract, so you might not get paid immediately.

    Many sperm banks pay monthly or per visit, however. Like any other side hustle, get details on compensation before you sign any contracts or make any commitments.

    3 Things to Consider Before Selling Your Sperm

    Take some time to understand all the information before you set your sights on sperm donation as your next side hustle. You might be surprised by some of these requirements, limitations and choices, including:

    • Donor qualifications.
    • Donor offspring limits.
    • Anonymous versus open identity donation.

    Do You Qualify for Sperm Donation?

    Each sperm bank has its own list of physical requirements for donors, but they’re all fairly similar.

    Most donation centers require donors to be:

    At least 5’7” tall and up to 6’6”.

    Between 18 and 40 years old (none accept donations from minors).

    Height and weight proportional.

    In good overall health, based on general physical health screenings and fertility tests.

    College graduates, enrolled in college or military veterans. Some banks pay more if you have a doctorate or attended an Ivy League school (because recipients pay more for those donor qualities).

    A non-smoker and non–drug user.

    Able to provide a biological family medical history.

    Even if you meet a clinic’s basic requirements, you’re not guaranteed to be accepted.

    Sperm banks are for-profit organizations, and like any business, they aim to provide what the market demands.

    That means your sperm might be subject to the same kinds of biases you encounter among people face-to-face. In addition to the explicit requirements listed above, you could be denied because of supply and demand at a clinic based on things like your skin color, hair color and eye color.

    Based on FDA regulation, potential donors are denied if they’ve ever had sex with “another man” within five years. (The regulation doesn’t address potential nonbinary or transgender women donors.)

    You could also be denied for genetic health issues, such as blood clotting disorders.

    Some sperm banks will tell you why your application is denied, but some might not. You might want to know that information before you apply, so you’re not left wondering.

    Donor Offspring Limits

    Donation centers are regularly updating policies and practices to address ethical questions that come up about sperm donation and assisted reproduction.

    Every few years, it seems, a news story reveals another serial sperm donor with hundreds of offspring. Check the details, though — in many of these cases, the donor worked with the recipients privately (a.k.a. a “known donor”), not through a donation center.

    Most donation centers set a limit on the number of births or recipients per donor.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates sperm donation (and other organ and tissue donation), doesn’t set a legal offspring limit. Instead, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) sets guidelines for the industry and recommends a limit of 10 births per population of 800,000 (roughly the size of Seattle).

    Many donation centers set limits well below the ASRM guideline — around 25 families in the U.S. per donor is a common maximum.

    Anonymous vs. Open Identity Donation

    The FDA requires clinics to keep some donor information for medical purposes, but it doesn’t regulate anonymity. You’ll make that choice based on the clinic you choose.

    Ask the donation center about its policies, and be crystal clear about your options and long-term obligations before you donate. Donor arrangements include:

    Anonymous: Neither the donor nor the recipient get identifying information about each other. You likely won’t even know whether a recipient conceived using your sperm.

    Semi-open: You and the recipient get some information about each other, but not identifying details or contact information. The clinic is usually a go-between to pass correspondence between you and the recipient. You might learn whether the recipient had a baby using your sperm and even get baby photos. Or you might just stay open to possible contact in the future from the child once they’re an adult.

    Open: You and the recipient have each other’s contact information and communicate directly, maybe even meeting in person. Ideally, you and the recipient determine together how much ongoing communication you’ll have and whether or not you’ll have contact with the child. But the child could always decide to contact you on their own sometime in the future.

    Here’s the catch: Technology, as it often does without trying, has thrown a bit of a wrench in this situation.

    Increasingly accessible family-tree DNA testing has made some curious (or unsuspecting!) donor-conceived children privy to their genetic roots — even when donors and recipients agreed to anonymity.

    Many countries, including the U.K., have removed the option for anonymity in recent years by legislating a donor-born child’s right to find their biological father (i.e. the source of their donor sperm) after they turn 18.

    COVID Considerations for Sperm Donation

    Sperm donation centers are medical facilities and are subject to recommendations and mandates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local health agencies.

    Stay up to date with those recommendations so you know what to expect regarding vaccine requirements, capacity restrictions and other measures the centers might take to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

    Is Vaccination Required to Donate Sperm?

    The FDA hasn’t added a vaccine requirement for sperm donation, and it doesn’t require COVID-19 screening, either, because it doesn’t classify COVID as a relevant disease in reproductive tissue donation. That’s because respiratory viruses aren’t transmittable through reproductive tissues like sperm.

    As private facilities, some sperm donation centers might have their own requirements in place to protect their staff and participants. Some centers might request or require proof of vaccination, or require COVID screening, for example, from people who enter the clinics.

    The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone at least 6 years old, including people who are trying to get pregnant — including those who provide the sperm. It notes there’s no evidence that the vaccine affects fertility, and in the vast majority of cases, antibodies aren’t transmitted to reproductive tissue.

    Rumors about Sperm and Vaccinations

    Rumors have suggested “unvaccinated sperm” could be worth a lot of money in the near future, but they’re just that: rumors.

    Most important to note here is that all sperm is “unvaccinated sperm,” because vaccines don’t affect reproductive tissues, according to the FDA. Because vaccines don’t affect DNA, sperm or fertility, there won’t be a difference between sperm from donors who received a vaccine and those who didn’t, so you probably won’t see a soaring unvaccinated sperm price.

    And because potential vaccination requirements would be related to staff health in clinics and not to the screening process for sperm donors, it’s not likely sperm donation centers will even record whether a donor was vaccinated — so recipients won’t have the option to use that as a criteria.

    We can’t say how niche perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine will affect one-to-one sperm donations with known donors. Misinformation about the vaccine’s effects could mean some families will look for unvaccinated sperm donors outside of donation centers.

    The Sperm Donation Process

    Every donation center dictates its own process for sperm donors, but they’re pretty similar and many parts of the process are regulated by the FDA. After you find a sperm bank, you should expect to be pre-screened, to have a physical exam and share your family medical history, provide a sample and to sign a contract.

    1. Find a Sperm Bank

    Track down a sperm bank that’s close to you through this National Directory of Sperm Cryobanks.

    Most centers require donors to live within 25 miles or about an hour of the clinic, because if you’re chosen to be a donor, you’ll be visiting the facility regularly.

    A legitimate organization will be registered with the FDA. Enter the clinic’s name in this FDA directory to make sure it’s registered.

    2. Get Pre-Screened

    All applicants start by going through a pre-screening over the phone or through an online application. Here’s an example application for Cryos.

    The pre-screening confirms:

    Your eligibility to work (and be paid) in the U.S.

    Some medical history, including potential sexually transmitted infections, mental illness, allergies and drug use.

    Your height, hair color, eye color and ethnicity.

    3. Provide Detailed Family History & Get a Physical Exam

    If you pass the initial screening, you’ll be invited in for a thorough interview that takes a deep dive into your family tree. Be prepared to provide a detailed medical history for several members of your extended family.

    This overview of the process from Phoenix Sperm Bank shows an example of the information you can expect to provide.

    You’ll also get a physical exam that includes a blood test, urine test and DNA analysis, and screening for STIs including HIV. You won’t pay anything for this exam, and most clinics provide regular physicals as long as you’re a donor and possibly after.

    4. Provide a Sample

    If you pass the first two levels of the screening process, you’ll provide a semen sample for the clinic to test.

    It’ll go through a fertility test for the kinds of things you’ve probably heard joked about on TV: sperm count and motility, and the overall health of the sperm.

    In other words, what’s the likelihood this sperm can help conceive a baby?

    Depending on the company, you might have to wait up to six months to find out whether your sperm passes this test. Semen samples are frozen and tested again after several months to make sure they can hold up in storage waiting for a buyer.

    You don’t usually get paid for providing this sample, and the sperm bank won’t save it to sell to a recipient in the future.

    5. Sign a Contract to Become a Sperm Donor

    Eligible donor? Check. Healthy genetics? Check. Hearty sperm? Check!

    You’ll be invited to become a sperm donor once you pass the full screening process, and you have to sign a contract with the donation center.

    Depending on the clinic, the contract might include things like:

    How often you’re expected to donate. Sperm banks prefer frequent donors, so your contract might require you to donate several times per month or even multiple times per week.

    A requirement to abstain from sexual intercourse before donation. Presumably to ensure strong sperm samples, you could be asked not to have sex within a few days before donating sperm.

    Payment terms. Your contract should spell out how much you’ll earn, and when and how you’ll be paid, plus any stipulations you have to meet.

    6. Donate Regularly

    You might be surprised to learn how often you’ll be expected to donate — but the rest of this part of the process is pretty much what all the TV and movies have prepared you to expect.

    You can’t collect your semen from home and deliver it to the clinic. You have to visit the clinic and deposit your sample on site, in a private room and with access to pornography.

    You’ll deposit the sample itself into a sterile container, and the sperm bank will freeze it until a recipient chooses your profile. Then it’s thawed and used for the artificial insemination process.

    Are You Ready to Be a Sperm Donor?

    Infertility isn’t an uncommon circumstance in the U.S. About 11% of women and 9% of men of reproductive age have experienced fertility problems, according to the National Institutes of Health. In addition, some people who don’t have fertility issues also use sperm donors to get pregnant.

    Sperm donation is one way to help them start the families they want, and the sperm banks all say the need for donors is high and growing.

    The onboarding process is quite a bit more involved than most side gigs you’ll encounter, but the payoff is fair. If you’re accepted as a sperm donor, you could earn upward of $1,000 a month for a quick trip to the clinic about once a week.

    Dana Miranda is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® and founder of Healthy Rich, a platform for inclusive, budget-free financial education. She’s written about work and money for publications including Forbes, The New York Times, CNBC, NextAdvisor and a column for Inc. Magazine.


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    dana@danamedia.co (Dana Miranda, CEPF®)

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  • A Side Gig for Music Lovers: Get Paid to Review New Songs

    A Side Gig for Music Lovers: Get Paid to Review New Songs

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    Do you spend hours painstakingly curating the perfect Spotify playlist? We have the perfect side gig for you!

    Playlist Push pays music lovers to give new songs a shot. They send over a track, and you listen. If you’re a Spotify user, your next step is to send the artist an honest review of the song. If you’re a TikToker, you make a video featuring the track.

    Then, you get paid! How much? A lot. Spotify curators get up to $12 per track, while TikTok users can get up to $250 per video.

    So why isn’t everyone getting paid to listen to music? Here’s the catch: the eligibility requirements for this lucrative side hustle are pretty strict. Spotify curators need a playlist with at least 1,000 followers and 30 active listeners; TikTokers need at least 31,000 followers with 3.1k views per video.

    Could that be you? Read on.

    What Is Playlist Push?

    When evaluating a potential side hustle (especially one that sounds too good to be true!) it’s smart to figure out the company’s business model. So why would Playlist Push pay you to listen to music, exactly? Here’s the quick and dirty explanation.

    Independent music artists struggle to get their music out there. But sometimes they get lucky: a popular curator adds their music to a playlist, or an influencer makes a video dancing to their song. This can get them a lot of exposure and sweet, sweet streaming money.

    Playlist Push makes that lucky break a little more likely. Artists pay Playlist Push to share their work with influential music lovers in the hope that they’ll share it with their followers.

    How Do You Apply?

    Interested? Not so fast. There are strict requirements to become a Playlist Push curator.

    Basically, you need to have a healthy following on Spotify or TikTok.

    For Spotify curators, you need a playlist with

    • 1,000 followers
    • At least 30 active monthly listeners
    • At least 1% active monthly listeners out of total
    • No bot followers or listening activity

    What’s more, that playlist cannot be:

    • A movie or television soundtrack
    • Based on a particular artist, song, or album
    • From a specific decade
    • Aimed at gaining followers (i.e. “Sub for Sub” or “Follow me!” in the title)

    Here’s an example of a qualifying playlist from a real Playlist Push curator: “Ballet/Contemporary Dance/Modern Dance.” It has more than 9,000 likes, well over the 1,000 threshold. It’s organized around dance music that inspired the curator, not a particular decade, movie, or band. If you have a similar playlist, you’re in good shape to apply!

    The requirements for TikTokers to be considered are simpler: at least 31,000 followers with 3,100 views per video to qualify.

    Note: At the time of writing, there is a waitlist to be considered for the Playlist Push TikTok network.

    How Do You Review Music on Playlist Push?

    Once you’ve made it past Playlist Push’s strict eligibility requirements, what do you actually have to do? It depends on whether you’re a Spotify curator or TikTok influencer.

    For Spotify curators, a typical day side hustling for Playlist Push might look a little something like this:

    • Log in to the curator dashboard. If you get approved as a curator, you’ll get access to a private dashboard where you receive tracks for review.
    • Listen to a track. The number of tracks curators receive per week varies. For instance, if you’re known for hip-hop playlists, and 10 hip-hop artists pay Playlist Push to promote their music one week, you might get 10 tracks for review. If you’re known for classical music, you might have to wait awhile.
    • Write a high-quality review. Here’s an excerpt from a real Playlist Push review of a hip hop track: “Your voice matched with your flow goes really hard… Really well-made song where your voice is clearly your highlight but also well complimented by your lyrics and your beat.”
    • Add the track to your playlist (optional). Playlist Push does not pay curators to add songs to their playlists. That would be against Spotify’s terms of service. But there’s always a chance the curator will love the track and add it to their playlist!

    For TikTok curators, the process is a little different.

    • Log in to the curator dashboard. 
    • Pick a sound. TikTokers don’t get access to tracks to review – they get sounds to use in videos. The sounds come from real tracks by up-and-coming artists. According to Playlist Push, TikTokers can expect to see at least 30 new sounds per month.
    • Make and post a TikTok. If you get inspired, you can use the sound in a TikTok and post it.
    • Send the link to Playlist Push. Once they see you’ve shared the sound with your followers, you can get paid!

    How Much Can You Earn?

    Spotify Curators can expect between $1 and $15 per review. Why do some curators get a buck while others get $15? It comes down to a few factors. Curators with more followers and more active listeners are more valuable to artists, so they get higher payment.

    TikTokers can expect up to $250 per video. Similarly, a bigger following means bigger payments.

    Members of the Playlist Push network get paid via Venmo or direct deposit.

    Other Ways to Make Money to Listen to Music

    Playlist Push isn’t the only company paying music curators to check out indie artists. Partnered Projects, Indie Music Academy, and SubmitHub have a similar business model. If you get rejected as a curator with Playlist Push, you could give these companies a try.

    Love music but hate influencing? There’s more than one way to make money with music. You can teach music classes, perform, or even put your own music on Spotify for extra cash. Read more here.

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


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    ciara.ainsley@gmail.com (Ciara Ainsley McLaren)

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  • 25 Online Jobs That Will Help You Build the Life and Career You Want

    25 Online Jobs That Will Help You Build the Life and Career You Want

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    No matter where you are, most jobs require a lot of online work. You email clients, promote stuff on social media, process orders through an online system or create reports in Google Docs.

    So why chain yourself to a desk… in an office… in the same town… every day?

    An online job lets you work from anywhere and, often, anytime you want. You can do tons of jobs online — whether to make a little extra money, kick off a serious side hustle or create a full-blown nomadic career.

    Whatever you’re looking for, picking up an online job can help you build the life and career you want.

    In this guide:

    Where to Find Online Job Postings

    Remote and online jobs are everywhere, so you can probably find something in any field. You just have to know where to look. To discover online job postings, try:

    Back to top ↑

    Remote Work vs. Entrepreneurship

    Getty Images

    There’s a lot of crossover with online jobs between:

    • A remote job: You’re an employee for a company.
    • Freelancing and entrepreneurship: You work for yourself.

    A lot of online jobs can go either way — you can be a social media manager within a company, or offer the service as a business owner, for example.

    Entrepreneurs, freelancers and gig economy workers enjoy complete autonomy that many employees don’t — you choose your hours, set your rates, accept and decline work on your own standards, and live and work anywhere you want.

    Being a remote employee is a great compromise if you want a level of autonomy and freedom over your work, but prefer the security and simplicity of a full-time job. You’ll get to choose where — and, often, when — you work, but you don’t have to take on the burdens of running a business, like finding clients, computing taxes or managing workers.

    You could also use one online job to develop skills and experience and to build your network, then transition into freelancing or entrepreneurship in the same field.

    Or you can switch back and forth between being an employee and a business owner throughout your career. Once you develop your skill set and get comfortable working online, the transition is pretty easy!

    Back to top ↑

    25 Online Jobs for Every Skill Level

    There are so many jobs that you can do from home, it would be impossible to create an exhaustive list. As technology evolves and cultural attitudes shift toward accepting remote work, more work-from-home jobs are created every day.

    Here’s a list of some of our favorite virtual careers to give you an idea of the scope of online job opportunities.

    Jump to:

    Creative Jobs

    Time to let your special skills shine through! Creative online jobs are perfect for anyone who wants to make money doing something they love and avoid the 9-to-5 office atmosphere.

    A graphic designer smiles as she works from home.
    Getty Images

    1. Graphic Designer

    Pay: $59,970 average salary; $28.83 average hourly rate for freelancers

    Graphic designers apply artistic skills through programs like Adobe Photoshop and InDesign to create things like presentation graphics, logos, social media images and infographics for companies.

    You’ll need a good eye for visual design — things like color, composition and balance. You’ll also need to be comfortable with design software.

    How to Get Started

    You can earn a college degree in graphic design, usually as part of a fine arts program. Depending on the program, you may also study professional skills like management and entrepreneurialism.

    But you can become a graphic designer with nothing more than a high school diploma. Teach yourself the software and skills you need, then put together a portfolio.

    Find full-time, part-time and freelance work through job boards for graphic designers, like Behance.

    2. Writer or Editor

    Pay: Typically $50+ per article or $33 per hour

    Online writing and editing can be lucrative and flexible work. You can find gigs writing about almost anything, so focus on subjects that interest you to do work you enjoy.

    Writing and editing jobs could make you a full-time or part-time employee with a company, or a freelancer, depending on what kind of work you want to do. You might specialize in areas like:

    • Blogging
    • Content marketing
    • SEO writing
    • Magazine writing
    • News reporting
    • Translation

    How to Get Started

    Writing work is abundant online. Your first step to finding online writing jobs is probably pitching story ideas to some publications. That’ll help you get a few pieces published and build a portfolio you can use to get more work.

    Check out our articles on where to find work as a freelance writer:

    3. Proofreader

    Pay: $27 per hour on average

    Got an eye for detail? Proofreading is similar to editing and often a good way for writers to make some extra money.

    You’ll do the final look through articles, documents, books, graphics, videos and other materials to catch typographical, grammatical or formatting errors in written copy.

    How to Get Started

    Proofread Anywhere offers a free introductory workshop that tells you what starting a proofreading career is all about.

    If it seems like a fit, you can join its general proofreading course, which teaches you everything you need to know to set up a business, find clients and become a successful proofreader.

    A vlogger records a video in her home.
    Getty Images

    4. Niche Blogger

    Pay: varies

    Don’t believe anyone who says it’s easy to make money blogging — but it certainly is possible.

    Your best chance at success is to choose a topic that offers a clear value to readers, based on something specific that people want to learn about, like fixing cars, cooking or starting a business.

    Figure out what people want to learn about the topic, write articles that answer those questions, and you can gradually become an authority in your niche — a go-to source of information on the topic.

    That authority helps you attract an audience, so you can make money through relevant advertising, affiliate marketing and sponsored posts. The passive income could make a good side hustle at first and maybe even grow into a full-time business.

    How to Get Started

    Follow these steps to start a blog and start earning money:

    • Choose your niche. Based on your interests, expertise and demand from an audience, what will you blog about?
    • Pick a domain name and web host. You can purchase the domain (the website address) and website hosting through the same service.
    • Connect to a blogging platform. This is the service you’ll use to publish posts and pages on your website. The most popular by far is WordPress.
    • Build your website. An easy way to start is with a theme or template, which you can find for free or to purchase through blogging and hosting platforms. In most cases, they’ll install with a click, so you don’t have to worry about coding.
    • Start writing. You’ll need basic pages, like an about page and contact page. And you’ll need some posts! Plan your editorial calendar ahead at least a few weeks, and prep content before officially launching your site.
    • Promote your blog. Get readers by sharing content on social media, through email, via PR and through guest blogging on related sites.
    • Monetize your blog. Add display ads and affiliate links for quick and easy monetization. Sponsored posts take more effort, but are still a simple way to make money. You can also produce your own ebooks, courses and other products to sell.

    5. PowerPoint Presentation Designer

    Pay: Typically $33 per hour

    When speakers and business managers don’t have time to create presentations for their meetings or events, put your skills to use to do it for them.

    You’ll need some writing, graphic design and communication skills to distill information and ideas into eye-catching and professional-looking slideshows. Brush up on the latest versions of PowerPoint, Google Slides and Apple Keynote to present yourself as an expert to clients.

    How to Get Started

    Create your own website to attract potential clients through search, or search for gigs through freelance sites like Upwork and Freelancer, and list your services on Fiverr.

    6. Website Developer

    Pay:  $80,407 average salary

    A front-end web developer is responsible for how a website looks and functions for visitors (readers or shoppers, for example).

    You’ll work with coding languages, like JavaScript, HTML5 and CSS, to set up how websites deliver content. You may need some understanding of design or work closely with a website designer to create the visual aesthetic of the site.

    How to Get Started

    Don’t be intimidated by computer programming! Like many skills, you can learn to code on your own through free resources, take a quick coding bootcamp or study computer science more in depth in college.

    Once you have some skills, build a client base like any other creative freelancer: Network through social media, advertise to family and friends, and build a portfolio to showcase your skills.

    Remote-work job boards like Remote.io and We Work Remotely tend to be gold mines for developer and web design jobs.

    Teaching Jobs

    Turn your knowledge into a moneymaker by teaching and tutoring online. Online teaching jobs let you reach a broader audience and scale your business beyond what you could do in person.

    A woman jump ropes during a virtual fitness class.
    Tami Perkins leads a virtual CrossFit class from the driveway of her home in St. Petersburg, Fla. Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder

    7. Online Tutor

    Pay: $17 to $29 per hour or more

    Set up an online tutoring business to teach college students or K-12 students. You could teach everything from math to fashion — follow your interests!

    We even spoke to a woman who teaches online music lessons and one who moved her CrossFit business online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Don’t be afraid to offer something you haven’t seen before.

    How to Get Started

    You can promote your services on your own, simply by emailing people in your network and sharing on social media.

    Or list your service through online tutoring companies to broaden your reach. Try these:

    • Chegg Tutors: 24/7 homework help for K-12 students.
    • Brainfuse: Tutoring for K-12 and college students. Bachelor’s degree required.
    • Tutor.com: Tutoring in any subject you’re an expert in; some require a degree.
    • Skooli: Tutoring for K-12 and college students. Bachelor’s degree and teacher certification, master’s degree or specialized certification required.
    • Yup: On-demand math tutoring up to Calculus AB.
    • Elevate K-12: Live-stream classes for groups of students who are in the classroom or remote.
    • TutorMe: 24/7 online tutoring and ACT and GRE prep. University enrollment or degree required.

    8. Online Course Instructor

    Pay: Varies; you set your price!

    Creating and selling online courses is a fun way to make money from your unique skills, hobbies and expertise. Many people create self-directed online courses — which means you can set them up and earn passive income as students sign up.

    How much you can earn this way depends entirely on how much you charge for the course and how many people you get to sign up.

    Courses for soft skills or hobbies might reach a wider audience but command a low price, while courses for hard and in-demand skills — like coding, SEO or starting a podcast — can likely command a higher price for a narrower audience.

    How to Get Started

    You can create an online course to sell through a marketplace like Skillshare, Teachable or Udemy. They take care of the design and functionality, so you don’t have to worry about how to deliver content to your students.

    Platforms take a cut when you sell courses, though. If you want to keep 100% of what you charge, consider setting up something simple of your own. You could create a basic website using WordPress or Squarespace, or send an email series through Mailchimp.

    9. Online English Teacher

    Pay: $10 to $40 per hour depending on experience

    Tons of people earn money teaching English online to non-native speakers around the world. You’ll tutor individuals or groups of kids, usually grade-schoolers who live in China.

    You should like working with the kids — even though it’s a video chat, you should come prepared with all the songs, puppets, colorful props, funny faces and positive energy that keeps kids engaged.

    Lessons are usually in 30- to 60-minute blocks. You can work part-time around a school or work schedule to make extra money. Lessons usually take place early in the morning or late at night, because of the time difference with international students, so it might be tough to make this a full-time gig.

    How to Get Started

    You can connect with students by signing up with companies for teaching English online. Requirements vary. Many require you to be a student or have a bachelor’s degree. Some require teaching experience, but some require no degree or experience at all.

    Technical Jobs

    Enjoy digging into the minutiae others balk at? A job that’s heavy in tech, numbers or research could be a good fit for you.

    A software engineer works from home.
    Getty Images

    10. Software Engineer

    Pay: $93,846 average salary

    Software development is a fast-growing field — so it typically comes with an impressive payday. Software engineers design the systems and applications that run, well, everything we do.

    You’ll work with programming languages like Python, C++ and Java to create the code that runs in the background of programs and apps we use every day. You could work remotely as an employee for a company or as a contractor for specific projects.

    How to Get Started

    Many software engineers earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, but you could be successful as a self-taught developer, too.

    Find remote software development jobs through job boards like Remote.io and We Work Remotely.

    11. Genealogist

    Pay: Varies, typically $70 to $700 per project or $35 per hour

    Family trees are super trendy, and not everyone can afford a DNA test or take the time to scour old family records themselves.

    That’s where you come in. If you enjoy putting together a tricky puzzle and answering challenging questions, offer your hand as a genealogist to help people in your area discover their family histories.

    How to Get Started

    Create a website, like this one for professional genealogist Anthony Adolph, to attract customers through search. You can also advertise your service on your own social media, in local Facebook groups and on freelancing sites like Fiverr.

    12. Bookkeeper

    Pay: $48,448 median salary

    Bookkeeping is a staple job in any business. It’s also a job you can easily do online. You could be a remote employee for a company or start your own virtual bookkeeping business and work for yourself!

    Bookkeepers keep track of a company’s transactions, income and expenses. You’ll be responsible for record-keeping, and producing reports and financial statements for other people in a company.

    How to Get Started

    Although the job is related to accounting, you don’t have to have any certification to be a bookkeeper — just the right tools. Besides a computer and internet connection, you’ll need accounting software like Quickbooks.

    The Bookkeeper Launch course shows you the technical skills you need to become a bookkeeper, plus what you need to know to build and grow an online business.

    You can also find bookkeeping jobs through general job-search sites or freelancer sites like Upwork.

    Marketing and Sales Jobs

    Some people have a way with people. If you know how to get the right products in front of the right people at the right time, marketing or sales could be for you.

    A t-shirt designer poses for a portrait while wearing one of his designs.
    Josh Waldron wears one of the T-shirts he designs and sells while in his home office in Waynesboro, Va. Waldron, a former teacher, sells T-shirts he designs using Merch by Amazon. Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder

    13. Amazon Seller

    Pay: varies

    There are tons of ways you probably haven’t thought of to make money on Amazon working from home — including multiple ways to sell things on the platform.

    You could:

    • Do retail arbitrage: Fulfillment by Amazon lets you buy products from anywhere, then ship them to be stored in an Amazon warehouse and sent to the customer when they buy through Amazon.
    • Design your own brand: Contact a supplier, and design a label to sell private label products.
    • Be an affiliate marketer: Join the Amazon Associates program to earn a commission when you recommend products to Amazon shoppers.
    • Publish an ebook: Use Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform to publish and sell an ebook — no technical know-how or publishing industry connections necessary.
    • Sell t-shirts: Create designs, and use the Merch by Amazon print-on-demand service to sell t-shirts without wasting money on inventory.

    How to Get Started

    Start by creating an Amazon account if you don’t already have one. Then, depending on what you want to sell, sign up for the necessary Amazon seller service:

    14. Digital Creator

    Pay: varies

    If you’re interested in a niche like food, fashion, travel or fitness, and have a knack for creating engaging content, you could make money by posting on social media.

    A digital media or social media influencer builds an audience on sites like YouTube and Instagram, and makes money through advertising. You could collect royalties from ads that run during videos, or negotiate flat rates with brands and create custom photos or videos to post on your platforms.

    The fun part about this gig is that most of your job is just being yourself!

    You’ll build a relationship with an audience around your unique personality, ideas and talents. Brands pay to get in front of your audience, because they know your followers trust your recommendations.

    How to Get Started

    Getting started as a digital creator is easy — just take a photo or create a video, and post it! Building an audience happens slowly, but you can do it by posting new content consistently, tapping into trending topics and hashtags, and interacting with your followers.

    Once you have 1,000 subscribers on YouTube, you can apply to join its Partner Program to earn money through ads on your videos.

    As your audience grows, brands might reach out to you about sponsored posts and videos. You can seek these connections proactively through influencer marketing platforms like iFluenz,, Chamboost and Amazon Influencer.

    15. Sales Consultant

    Pay: $50,286 average salary

    An online sales consultant job is just like an old-fashioned sales job in an office: You speak with a company’s existing customers or prospective buyers by phone or email, answer their questions, explain products and promotions, and — ideally — make sales.

    Online sales jobs are often available with tech and software (SaaS) companies, where your job is to talk with people at other companies to sell products and services that help their business.

    Many require previous sales or customer service experience, but if you’ve got the charisma, you could become a sales consultant with no experience.

    Direct Sales Companies

    If you want the flexibility of working for yourself, consider becoming a consultant with a direct sales company — a.k.a. multi-level marketing (MLM).

    You’ll become a seller with these companies and sell things like clothes or beauty products. You can do it entirely online, but product sales often requires demonstration, so you might consider hosting in-person or virtual events to showcase your products.

    Direct sales companies can be a good opportunity to strike out on your own with the support of an established brand. But the MLM model lends itself easily to scams, so do your research before signing up and handing over startup money. Before joining an MLM, ask yourself these four questions.

    How to Get Started

    Find work-from-home sales jobs through general job search boards and startup job boards like Wellfound (formerly AngelList).

    Interested in MLM? Check out some of the most popular — and legit — direct sales companies.

    A trendy woman smiles with a phone in her hand.
    Getty Images

    16. Social Media Manager

    Pay: $47 to $60 per hour

    Managing a company’s social media accounts is a fun way to connect with businesses you love and earn money online.

    You’d help the company present itself publicly, promote itself and engage with customers through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and, depending on the company and its target customers, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

    The job is part marketing, part customer service, and might require a range of skills, including writing, marketing and graphic design.

    How to Get Started

    Social media managers might work as an employee or freelancer for a company, or run an agency managing accounts for multiple companies. Job opportunities will show up on general job boards.

    If you want to strike out on your own, start with local businesses you love.

    Reach out to business owners with a plan to improve their existing social media presence, and propose ways to connect with customers on platforms like Snapchat or TikTok. Small business owners might not have thought of those avenues or don’t have time to pursue them, so they may be willing to pay for your expertise.

    Entry-Level Jobs

    Less worried about landing your dream job and more interested in just making money online? Seek out these online jobs that require no previous experience or training.

    17. Data Entry Clerk

    Pay: $16 to $20 per hour

    Data entry jobs are entry-level jobs that don’t require a ton of skills to get started — just a computer and internet connection. Because of that, they also don’t pay as well as some other online job options.

    How to Get Started

    Find online data entry jobs through these sites:

    18. Search Engine Evaluator

    Pay: $26.59 per hour on average

    Earn up to $27 an hour cleaning up search engines, like Google, Yahoo! and Bing.

    No matter how advanced the algorithm becomes, search engines still are not perfect. They need people to look at search results and evaluate their accuracy and usefulness based on search terms.

    How to Get Started

    Find search engine evaluator jobs through these sites:

    A woman works on her iPad while on vacation.
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    19. Micro-Freelancer

    Pay: $3 to $100 per gig

    Micro-gigs are a simple and fun way to earn money online. Individuals and companies need people to complete tons of small odd tasks, like data entry, surveys or proofreading, that you could complete quickly for a few bucks.

    Just make sure to value your time wisely — if you only earn $5 an hour, even the easiest tasks are probably not a good way to spend your time.

    How to Get Started

    List any service you want to offer on Fiverr, or check for gigs on these sites:

    20. Virtual Assistant

    Pay: Varies with duties and experience: $18 to $35 per hour

    Are you super organized and passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed? Get paid for it!

    Like many assistant jobs, virtual assistant gigs vary in pay, hours and even the type of work you’ll do. You’ll be available to help professionals with tasks that help them keep their careers or businesses on track.

    Make sure you agree on a scope for your work before starting, so you can be paid properly for the amount of work you do and the skills required. VA work could include:

    • Data entry
    • Social media management
    • Website maintenance
    • Research
    • Customer service
    • Bookkeeping
    • Writing and proofreading

    How to Get Started

    Find virtual assistant jobs through these sites:

    21. Transcriptionist

    Pay: $15 to $25 per hour or more

    Transcribing requires little to no prior experience, and offers flexible hours and workloads.

    The work sounds easy: Listen to audio and type what you hear. But it can be repetitive and requires a lot of attention to detail.

    With that said, the flexible work hours fit well around an academic schedule. And the pay is a pretty good selling point: Earn around $15 to $25 per hour for general transcription, and more if you learn to specialize in the legal or medical fields.

    How to Get Started

    Find transcriptionist jobs through these sites:

    Or, if you want to start your own transcription business and pick and choose your clients, Transcribe Anywhere offers online courses. There’s even a free introductory mini-course that’ll let you take a trial run.

    A man works from home while talking to a customer through a headset.
    Getty Images

    22. Customer Service Representative

    Pay: $15 to $19 per hour

    Did you know you could be a customer service agent without working in a call center? Yep! You can work at home and do this popular job.

    Customer service representatives answer customer questions and — let’s be real — field complaints. You’ll speak with a company’s customers over the phone, by email, via online chat or through social media.

    Many companies also need product specialists or tech support agents. These positions are similar to customer service — your job is to answer customer questions — but may require more training or expertise and pay more.

    How to Get Started

    Keep an eye on The Penny Hoarder Work-From-Home Jobs Portal, where we post tons of work-from-home customer service jobs. Subscribe to The Penny Hoarder Jobs newsletter for the latest.

    Find customer service jobs through general job search sites using titles like:

    • Customer support
    • Client specialist
    • Client support
    • Customer happiness
    • Customer experience
    • Client/customer success

    23. Product Tester

    Pay: Free products, sweepstakes, gift cards

    Do you write Yelp reviews people want to read just for fun? You could get paid to do that!

    Online product testers receive products for free from companies ahead of a launch and provide feedback.

    Companies may use product testers to get direct feedback to develop a marketing strategy, or they’ll ask you to evaluate the product and write a review on Yelp, Amazon, Google, Facebook and other review sites.

    Your honest review — even if it’s negative — builds trust with potential buyers, because they can see what real people think and not just rely on sales copy.

    Some companies pay you for your time writing the review, but most just offer free products, entry into sweepstakes (for additional free products) and gift cards. This gig pays off best if you sign up to review products you’d otherwise spend money on.

    How to Get Started

    Some companies post product tester jobs online, so you could find them through general job search sites.

    You can also sign up as a tester with sites that connect you with companies looking for reviews, including:

    • The Pink Panel: Get free beauty products.
    • Influenster: Review beauty, health and skin care products.
    • RedBook: Join the Team Red reader panel to test beauty, fashion, fitness, home and food products and techniques.
    • PinchMe: Choose a box of free samples about every two weeks.

    Help Other People Find Jobs

    You know how important it is to find the right job for you — so get paid to help others find theirs!

    24. Resume Writer or Editor

    Pay: $25 to $65 per hour

    Helping someone polish their resume, LinkedIn profile and cover letters is fairly easy work, as long as you’ve got some experience evaluating resumes or getting hired yourself.

    Often your job is primarily as an editor or proofreader — make sure everything is typo-free and makes sense. But you could go deeper and offer guidance on resume content based on the jobs clients are looking for.

    How to Get Started

    You can find online resume writing jobs through these freelancing sites, though you’ll face a lot of competition:

    For better success, try reaching out to your own network through email and LinkedIn to connect with people hunting for jobs. Include the service on your own LinkedIn profile, or even set up a simple website to promote the service and help people find you through online search.

    25. Virtual Recruiter

    Pay: $38 per hour on average

    Do you have a broad network and a knack for connecting people? Those skills could help you find success as a virtual recruiter.

    In this freelance role, you’ll work with companies to shape jobs and find potential new hires. You might write job descriptions, post openings to job sites, evaluate resumes and cover letters, negotiate salaries and even conduct screening interviews.

    How to Get Started

    Look for virtual recruiter job listings on these sites:

    Back to top ↑

    More Jobs You Can Do From Home

    This list just scratches the surface of online jobs. You can turn just about any skill or interest you have into a writing, coaching, consulting, design or teaching job online, so don’t be afraid to get creative.

    If you just want to make a little extra money on the side, you can find dozens of even smaller, simpler ways to make money online, including:

    • Online surveys
    • Cash back apps and shopping sites
    • Online games
    • Micro-investing apps
    • Market research

    These opportunities usually just pay a few cents at a time — or pay in rewards and gift cards, rather than cash. Most people can’t rely on them to pay the rent, but they could be a good way to use your down time to build up your bank account.

    You can also find gig apps that help you make money by connecting with people online, but require offline work, like:

    • Ride share: Uber and Lyft
    • Food delivery: Uber Eats, Doordash and GrubHub
    • General delivery: Postmates
    • Grocery delivery: Instacart and Shipt
    • Home share: Airbnb, VRBO and Homestay
    • Odd jobs: TaskRabbit
    • Selling stuff: Letgo and OfferUp
    • Pet walking and sitting: Rover and Wag
    • Babysitting and house cleaning: Care.com

    Gig apps generally give you the freedom of working for yourself, like freelancing does, and they take care of the work of finding clients or customers. Making a full-time living in the gig economy usually requires putting in a lot of hours, but people are able to do it.

    Back to top ↑

    Ready to Find an Online Job?

    Working online is a great fit for a lot of people, especially anyone who wants a flexible schedule or location independence, faces barriers to landing traditional jobs, or just works better in solace.

    Inspired? Use this list of online jobs as a starting point to build the career that’s just right for you.

    Online Job FAQs

    individual_review_faq id=”1″]

    Dana Sitar and Larissa Runkle  contributed to this article. 

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    dana@danamedia.co (Dana Miranda, CEPF®)

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  • Welcome to the New Penny Hoarder Community!

    Welcome to the New Penny Hoarder Community!

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    Hey Penny Hoarders! As many of you know, we have a Community site that’s a gathering place for folks to discuss all things money. Through the support of fellow Community members, the site has helped people tackle their debt, increase their credit score and even book a dream vacation.

    We’re excited to announce our Community site just got a makeover – one in which we feel provides a much more user-friendly experience. We wanted to share some things you can expect when you visit the new Community site.

    What to Expect in the New Penny Hoarder Community

    First up, The Penny Hoarder Community is still the place to share tips and find support on all-things money. Besides contributions from other Community members, you’ll also find our staff sharing personal stories on topics like frugal finds, money wins and fails, and more.

    Earn Badges

    So many badges. On the Community site, you can now earn badges for all sorts of things – creating or commenting on a post, or liking someone else’s post. Even just visiting the Community site on a regular basis. Also, the more badges you earn, the more things you’ll unlock on the Community site. Do you have what it takes to be a top contributor? You’ll not only earn the respect of your peers, but also gain access to exclusive opportunities and offers from The Penny Hoarder.

    Events, Feedback and More

    Badges are just the beginning. Throughout 2023, we’ll be adding more new elements to the Community site. We’ll use it as a spot to post and host regular Penny Hoarder events where we dive into pressing money topics together and let attendees connect with experts from The Penny Hoarder (and elsewhere).

    There’s also a new section specifically for feedback where we welcome your suggestions for ways to continue to improve ThePennyHoarder.com, the Community site, our email newsletters and our social media spaces.

    Already a member of The Penny Hoarder Community? Be sure to read our post on logging in to the new site. We hope to see you there!

    Will Simons is a community marketing product manager at The Penny Hoarder. Originally from Omaha, Neb., Will loves to help people get talking about bettering their finances.


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    will.simons@thepennyhoarder.com (Will Simons)

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  • Time to Let Go of That Furby — Here’s What Your ’90s Collectibles Are Worth

    Time to Let Go of That Furby — Here’s What Your ’90s Collectibles Are Worth

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    Any chance you know when you last saw your wide-eyed Furby in your parents’ basement? Does your teenage dresser now double as a time capsule storing Spice Girls posters? Could your old Sega Genesis console still be up in the attic?

    If so, now is the time to sell that 90s memorabilia. Members of Gen Z, who were born in the 1990s and early 2000s are fans of the music that was hot in that era and want their kids to play with the same toys they did. These items are on their holiday wish lists and they are paying more than you’d think for them online.

    That Furby is worth $16 to $65, the right  Spice Girls poster could fetch more than $150 and pre-owned video game consoles are selling for $50 to $150. These values are based on recent “sold items” on eBay.

    The Britney Factor 

    If you have any Britney Spears T-shirts, posters, backpacks or even CDs, you are sitting on cash. The beloved singer rose to fame in the 1990s, hitting the charts with “Baby One More Time” in 1998.

    The saga of her conservatorship followed on Instagram by millions of people and her recent $15 million book deal make anything Britney-related valuable.

    A Britney “Jive” photo postcard signed by the singer recently sold for $350. A Britney Spears Monopoly game went for $50 while a 2007 Bratz doll honoring Britney sold for $100.  Even if you don’t have big ticket items like those, anything Britney brings cash. CDs, posters, magazine covers and T-shirts sell for between $10 and $30 on average.

    Sarah Wasserman, a recent graduate of  the University of Vermont in Burlington, proudly wears a Britney T-shirt her friends gave her for her birthday. They pooled their money to buy it because it was on the top of her wish list.

    “With her being freed from her conservatorship there’s reason to celebrate and enjoy her music even more,” she said. “I grew up in the early 2000s. I remember getting a Barbie keyboard that played a snippet of ‘Oops I Did It Again’ and feeling so cool listening to it.”

    For a broader list of hot ‘90s stuff, Self Financial, a company that helps people build good credit, created this searchable research showing some of the top selling items.

    Why ‘90s Collectibles Are a Hot Market

    “We have people who come to our sales buying that stuff up,” said Brett Kennedy, of Kennedy Brothers Auctions in St. Petersburg, Florida. “They are usually younger kids (high school and college age). Everybody is looking for a side hustle these days.”

    Smart customers are buying popular items and reselling them on eBay or other outlets.

    “We have buyers who come to our sales (online and in person) looking especially for T-shirts. The kookier the better. They may have been a limited production. You can pick these things up for $2 or $3 (at a yard sale or find them at home) then sell them for $20, $30 or even $100 depending on the subject matter,” Kennedy said.

    Concert and movie posters sell well, too. Kennedy Brothers recently sold a batch of movie posters that actually hung at theaters, including a few from Star Wars films, for $850.

    “The Gameboys, kids played with them over and over and they got destroyed. So, if you find one that’s actually operable, it’s worth something,” he said. But why would someone want to spend that much money to play a game with ‘90s technology when so many advanced options are available now?

    “People buy what they remember. It brings back fond memories of their past,” Kennedy said.

    The market for ‘90s collectibles grew during the pandemic because of pent-up demand from collectors and young parents nostalgic for a simpler time, according to Jason Williams, who owns Big Fun vintage toy store in Columbus, Ohio.

    “I think the pandemic has brought out a lot of recreational collectors,” he said. “A lot of these toy lines that may not have sold as well before like Polly Pockets now sell pretty well.”

    Cashing in on Nostalgia

    Along with trying your hand at selling on eBay or Etsy, remember the brick and mortar vintage toy and collectibles stores in your region along with auction houses. Many local outlets sell to local audiences as well as national and international buyers online.

    Here’s a list of some of ‘90s collectibles and what they sold for recently on eBay.

    • An unopened, mint condition Polly Pocket’s Disney Cinderella Castle that cost around $20 in 1995, recently sold for $375. A used version with all the pieces sold for $100 and a castle without any pieces went for $40.
    • Some of the top selling console games are the Super Nintendo Entertainment System with two controllers, which sold for $159, a Nintendo 64 console sold for $75 and a Sega Nomad Genesis Handheld System Console with three game cartridges went for $250.
    • Games sold on their own  fetch a wide range of prices. A Super Mario Bros. 3 Nintendo game just sold on eBay for $60, while a Donkey Kong Nintendo 64 games went for just $22 And a Looney Tunes Space Race for a Sega game console cost $64.
    • As for those expensive American Girl dolls that were the final fabulous gift on Christmas mornings in the ‘90s, they haven’t gone up in price like other 90s icons. But, if one is just sitting in the attic it is definitely worth the time to sell it online. An Addie doll just sold for $150, Kirsten went for $95 and one Kit sold for $40 while another for $70. All were pre-owned, pre-played-with and not in their original boxes.

    Music posters from the ‘90s are selling well these days. A London Calling poster recently brought $30 while a rare Kurt Cobain Nirvana poster went for $180.  A David Bowie poster based on his Diamond Dogs album scored $149. It’s hard to tell what makes a Spice Girls poster what someone wants or what someone really, really wants. They sell for an average of around $20, but a few rare images of the British singers go for $100 to $150. If you have one, load it online and see what happens.

    Many T-shirts from the ‘90s are selling for more than they cost back then.  A 1993 Lollapalozza shirts just sold for $170 while a shirt from a Pretenders concert in 1994 fetched $55. Several Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon recently sold for $20 to $30. And some happy bidder paid $30 Seinfeld T-shirt from NBC studios.

    Contributor Katherine Snow Smith covers 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. She is the author of” Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker: Missteps & Lessons Learned.”


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    kvsnowsmith@gmail.com (Katherine Snow Smith)

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  • 20 Great Part-Time Jobs for Retirees Who Aren’t Ready to Call It Quits

    20 Great Part-Time Jobs for Retirees Who Aren’t Ready to Call It Quits

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    Who even knows what “retired’’ means anymore?

    You might have left the career you had in the 40-hour-a-week workforce. But now you don’t exactly want to be glued to your couch watching puppy videos. You want to be active, you want to work, and you want to make a little money to support your fun retirement plans.

    While “retirement income’’ or “retirement job” might seem like oxymorons, they are a more reasonable pursuit today than in years past due to advancing life expectancies and improved health among older citizens.

    Many people reach so-called retirement age and are in no way done with being productive. Many continue in freelance jobs and part-time gigs, whether in a brick-and-mortar setting, from home, or even outdoors.

    There are plenty of ways to bring in some extra money to augment pension, social security, or other retirement funds. We’ve rounded up 18 ideas for good jobs for retirees that offer part-time opportunities, flexible hours, or both.

    20 Part-time Jobs for Retirees

    Most of the examples here require your physical presence on-site, but there are remote jobs, too, such as virtual assistant and customer service work that can be done from the comfort of your home.

    As you browse these possible jobs for retirees, keep in mind one warning: If you are collecting Social Security, you can only earn a certain amount each month before your benefits are reduced, until you reach the age of 66 years and 4 months. At that point, you can earn whatever you want and still collect all of Social Security benefits.

    So let’s get to work, shall we?

    1. Substitute Teacher

    Substitute teachers have never been more valuable than they are today. Although most schools have returned to full-time schedules after two years of pandemic struggles, people still get Covid. When that happens to a teacher, their students need someone to keep them occupied — and that could be you.

    Most school districts have lenient requirements for substitute teachers, often requiring just a bachelor’s degree with no teaching experience.

    To be successful, you need to be ready to deal with a room full of 20 or so children of varying ages. But it could pay off. School districts in Chicago, for example, pay as much as $200 a day for a full day of work.

    If you have an advanced degree, you may also qualify to be an adjunct instructor at a community college or four-year university.

    2. School Support Worker

    Most schools are always looking for crossing guards, recess supervisors and other positions. A call to your local elementary, middle or high school could lead you to a good retirement job that would fit your schedule. Even better is searching online for jobs at your school district. This will give you a range of what’s out there.

    This is a classic retirement job that gets you out of the house, allows you to have contact with neighbors, and lets you provide security and safety with another set of adult eyes on the children.

    3. Tutor

    There are hundreds of tutoring companies in the U.S. who work with kids of all ages to enhance their school education or prepare for college entrance exams. If you sign up with one, they’ll match you with work and you won’t need to market yourself as a tutor.

    The hourly pay for these companies ranges from about $13 to $25. Requirements often are limited to a bachelor’s degree, although exam-prep work might require a recent ACT or SAT test score, or might require you to retake the exam for verbal or math instruction.

    If you are interested in online tutoring, there are many good paying gigs out there. Match your skills to the openings.

    Getty Images

    4. School Bus Driver

    School bus drivers can earn up to $20 per hour. They have regular hours with the opportunity to earn extra for field trips or outings. Some states require a specific license (a commercial drivers license, or CDL, for example) or require you to pass a driving test to qualify.

    Recent news reports indicate there are many job openings for school bus drivers.

    The job is likely to include more than just driving, however. You may be asked to supervise students on the bus, and you may be called upon to discipline rowdy students or those who are making the trip unsafe. A tolerance for children of all ages is probably an important requirement.

    5. Shuttle Bus Driver

    There are dozens of different types of shuttle bus driver jobs. Most hotels have shuttles to and from airports. Senior citizen homes, churches and community centers often offer shuttles to shopping areas or grocery stores. Hourly pay for shuttle bus drivers can average about $17 per hour, and that’s not including tips from satisfied riders. Like school bus drivers, shuttle bus drivers have regular hours.

    Depending on the particulars of the job, a commercial driver’s license might be required.

    There are different state laws regarding licensing for shuttle bus drivers. A specialized license might be required if the bus holds a certain number of people or is a particular size. Your state motor vehicle website will tell you what’s required in your state, and any potential employer will know, too.

    6. Tour Conductor

    Tour guide is one of those jobs that, when you see someone doing it, you think, “Well, I could do that too!”

    Businesses, organizations and sites that host tours come in many shapes and sizes, from historical sites to museums, from outdoor walking tours to behind-the-scenes workplace tours. They can be an everyday part of a business or scheduled by appointment. What do they all have in common? A tour leader.

    These jobs require knowledge about the subject and the ability to tell a good story — often while walking backwards.

    Tour guides make an average base salary of almost $23 per hour. Plus, they are often offered tips by tour participants.

    This could be a dream job for someone who knows the topic well and likes to retell stories about history, natural science or architecture (among many other possibilities).

    If this appeals to you, don’t overlook a special area of knowledge you’ve developed during all those years in the workplace. Know a lot about the manufacturing industry? Maybe you’re just the person to lead tours at a cheese factory.

    Looking for a fun part-time side gig? Here’s how you can earn money visiting theme parks as a Disney nanny.

    7. Patient Advocate

    The job of a patient advocate is to assist someone who is struggling to cope with the healthcare system. A patient advocate deals with paperwork and appointments, and communicates with healthcare providers to get information on diagnosis, treatment and followup procedures.

    Advocates might also be asked to work with insurance companies to understand coverage and costs. Many are asked to help a client obtain assistance with financial or legal issues. The range of duties can be as varied as the patient’s needs.

    Being a patient advocate does not require any particular educational degree, but it is possible to become certified in this role.

    These positions can be part- or full-time, and they pay well, averaging $18 an hour. So if you plan to collect Social Security benefits, make sure to check how your wage impacts your benefits.

    A senior citizen plays with two children outside that she's babysitting. They are chasing each other with water guns.
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    8. Child Care Provider

    Child care might be a bit of a political football these days, but rarely has it been more necessary. Single parents or two-parent families that require or want two incomes are likely to need child care, and that could take the form of a nanny or frequent babysitter.

    A babysitter sits in a home with a child or children. A nanny is responsible for getting children to day care or other activities; they are a substitute parent in many cases.

    Craigslist, Next Door or other neighborhood job sites are great ways to search for these positions, but your best bet is to work with your personal network. Let people know that you would be willing to work as a nanny or frequent babysitter, and, with the proper recommendation, you could have a very gratifying retirement job.

    There are no actual nanny or babysitter licenses or certifications in the United States, but many families require that nannies be bonded, which is a guarantee of service. It is a protection against someone failing to show up for work; one such failure forfeits the bond and that area of work is no longer available to that nanny.

    Taking classes in CPR or other emergency response techniques, which offer certifications upon completion, can improve your chances of being hired.

    Nannies are likely to make $15 an hour on average. Babysitter earnings vary widely by affluence of the neighborhood. Check out The Penny Hoarder’s tips on how to get paid up to $21 an hour babysitting.

    9. Virtual Assistant

    Virtual assistants are independent contractors who offer business services virtually. Those services can include website management, website design, marketing assistance, social media postings, blog writing, email correspondence or any number of clerical duties that can be carried out with a computer and phone. This kind of work is often well-suited to flexible hours.

    As of this writing, Ziprecruiter indicated there were more than 174,000 virtual assistant jobs available and suggested that a virtual assistant could make up to $60,000 a year, depending on the work required.

    You are more likely to work on an hourly wage determined by your experience and amount of work you are required to perform. There are also job firms that provide virtual assistants; you can sign on with them and accept work as it is offered to you.

    Any task that can be done virtually via computer is likely to be requested by a virtual assistant. Firms would rather pay a freelancer than an employee to do the work.

    10. Bookkeeper

    You have a good head for numbers. You are in charge of your own finances, and you perhaps worked in an accounting role at a previous job.

    Many small or civic organizations cannot afford, nor do they truly need, a full-time bookkeeper or accounting service. They are not in it for the money. Often, they are charitable or non-profit organizations. But they need occasional bookkeeping, often with an eye towards tax advantages.

    A part-time bookkeeper job often requires simple financial recordkeeping or upkeep of other financial records. Part-time bookkeepers are usually former accountants or have experience as a bookkeeper. They may be asked to track invoices, but most companies use financial services for paychecks.

    The average salary for a part-time bookkeeper is around $20 per hour.

    11. Umpire and Referee

    This is a perfect retirement job if you have a sports background and the ability to withstand criticism.

    Competitive sports programs need officials for their games. Baseball, basketball, soccer and football all have leagues at various ages that need officiating. Depending on where you live, the work can be constant. If you get certified for multiple sports, you can work all weekend long and often during the week.

    While high-level programs require officials to get licensed or certified, lower-level and youth group programs require just a basic knowledge of the rules. Look around your community for sports leagues in need of umpires or referees.

    Pay is often dependent on the age of the players and the competitive level of the organization, but officials are likely to make at least $25 per game. At higher levels where certification is required, you can earn $100 per game.

    A man walks a gaggle of dogs at his dog walking job.
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    12. Pet Sitter and Pet Walker

    For between $10 and $15 an hour, you can earn money by pet-sitting in a home or, if the pet happens to be a dog, you can walk the animal. Pet-sitting is a good job for retirees who want to work outdoors without a lot of physical requirements other than being able to walk while pulling or being pulled.

    Pet sitter/walker is also a good line of work to get into because one job can lead to another. Pet owners tend to concentrate around each other, and they will give recommendations to other pet owners about a reliable person who can watch Fido or Fluffy while they are on vacation.

    If you are going to house-sit the animal, you will likely get paid more for also keeping an eye on the property while the owner is away.

    13. Freelance Writer

    Although freelance writers no longer provide articles — it’s called “content” now — freelance writing is a gig that can offer the freedom to accept the assignments you want. There are firms that will connect freelance writers to people or companies in need of blogs, resumes, cover letters, marketing content and more.

    According to Indeed, the average hourly pay for a freelance writer is approximately $25 per hour, but you are often paid by assignment or by word, so the pay varies. If you have knowledge in certain topics like science and medicine, the pay can be higher.

    Writing skills rarely diminish, but the requirements for writing change over time. A knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) is going to open more doors. Many jobs that use job search websites like Indeed ask for candidates to take a writing test, but many of those are simple grammar or proofreading tests.

    While there are occasional situations where someone needs a one-off writing assignment, freelance writer jobs often offer consistent, if sporadic, work. A retiree who can write could have a client for years. Check out this Penny Hoarder article on places hiring freelance writers.

    14. Call Center Employee

    Just to be clear, we are talking about taking calls from customers, not making calls. A call center representative answers incoming calls from customers or potential customers and either answers questions or sends the caller to someone else who can answer.

    As much as this is a remote job, it is definitely a people-person retirement job. You are likely to be talking to someone who is upset or unhappy, and you are the first line of communication for the company you are representing. You need to be capable of being friendly and helpful in the face of unpleasant conversation.

    As such, typical hourly wage for a as a call center representative is just under $17.

    15. Freelance Bartender

    Freelance bartending doesn’t require bartending school and can earn you good money working at large events or small, private parties. Hourly pay for freelance bartenders can be anywhere from $20 to $50 even before tips.

    If you can memorize lots of cocktail recipes, if you have an outgoing personality and a steady hand, and if you’re willing to cut people off if needed, this could be a fit for you. Your best bet might be starting out tending bar for people you know and then building a network of referrals.

    Plan on some up-front costs, such as a portable bar (if the host doesn’t have one) and basic bar tools. The host is expected to supply the alcohol and mixers. And to protect against possible liability you might want to consider an annual liability policy.

    16. Shopping Specialist

    Is it the shopping or the buying that you enjoy? If it’s the shopping, then you might consider becoming someone’s personal shopper.

    The job title describes the job. You are given a shopping list and the means to make the purchase, and you chase after the items.

    Certainly, many people already have personal shoppers and don’t know it. When they contact a grocery store and provide an itemized list of goods they want, someone does the “shopping,” and the items are then delivered.

    But true personal shoppers are more likely to purchase clothing and accessories than groceries. A personal shopper often finds items and then sends photos and descriptions to the person who hired them to get approval.

    Some high-end clothing stores offer personal shopper services as well. These positions might be a little less “personal,” as they might be a one-day relationship. But the concept is the same.

    Personal shoppers who go after groceries or staples are likely to make typical hourly pay of $14 to $20. Those who work for a service are likely on a wage or salary determined by the service rather than by the client.

    There’s also money to be made as a mystery shopper. Mystery shoppers are sometimes called evaluators or secret shoppers and often work on their own time. Their job is to document their shopping experiences and report back to the owners to help them improve customer service.

    Got what it takes to be a mystery shopper? We’ve rounded up five companies that are hiring retail sleuths. 

    17. Security Guard

    A security guard who does not carry a weapon serves as a presence to discourage inappropriate behavior. While many large businesses like Target or Wal-Mart hire security personnel from a service, small employers such as charitable or service organizations are likely to hire someone who is reliable and gives the appearance of authority.

    The responsibilities of a security guard depend on the needs of the company being guarded. There may be requirements that go beyond just being a presence, but the differences depend on the needs of the company.

    Hourly pay for security guards without weapons training is likely to be between $10 and $17. Night-time security guards are likely to make more than daytime ones.

    This is a good job for retirees who do not mind a bit of boredom.

    Security guards who do carry weapons require special training and weapons licensing, and is an entirely different job pursuit, perhaps not as well-suited to a retirement job.

    18. Seasonal Job Employee

    Remember when you had a summer job as a teenager or a part-time job during your winter break from college? The same logic can work when you’re thinking about some extra retirement income.

    Many seasonal jobs are defined by the weather, which is defined by the time of year and the climate where you live. Seasonal jobs are popular, never go out of style (except when the season changes), and can actually be a fun job to look forward to.

    Ski resorts in the winter and water parks in the summer are two great examples of places that require seasonal employees. It is not necessary to be a ski instructor or a lifeguard, either. These places require assistance in areas outside of their main purpose: security, transportation, customer service. Even the National Park Service hires seasonal temps.

    Also included in seasonal work are holiday positions during the months of October-December. On-site customer service, truck unloading, shelving of new goods, and custodial services are among the positions for which big box stores are likely to need employees. For example in 2021, we tallied more than 500,000 jobs at national retailers and delivery services.

    Some stores hold hiring events in October to fill these positions, but they often continue searching for employees throughout the final three months of the year.

    A man takes out a croissant out of a display case for a customer who is purchasing it.
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    19. Baker/Butcher

    Perhaps you grew up baking your own bread, and your cupcakes were legendary at your kid’s school events.

    Perhaps you know your way around a rump roast, or can identify all the various cuts of meat they offer at your local butcher.

    You could turn your lifelong interest in food preparation into a part-time job, and you are likely to be welcomed because you don’t need as much training as a newbie. Your local grocery store would be a good place to start, letting the hiring manager know that you have some background as a butcher or baker.

    These are speciality skills, and as such get paid better than some other positions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a butcher’s hourly wage is approximately $17.15 an hour. Payscale.com lists the average hourly wage for a baker at just over $13 per hour.

    20. Specialty Store Employee

    You know which hardware store to go to to get advice from someone who has fixed a toilet in their life. You know which fabric store to go to where the employees know the difference between chiffon and silk.

    You could be one of those employees.

    During your life, you have become knowledgeable about some aspect of household or everyday life. People with your knowledge are hired by companies to help people who do not yet have that experience. Stores that serve a specific type of customer would love to hire someone they don’t have to train extensively.

    According to payscale.com, the average hourly rate for a hardware store employee is just under $13. Indeed says a sales associate at a specialty store will make an average of just over $10 an hour, maybe more now that minimum wages are increasing across the country.

    Pro Tip

    The Penny Hoarder’s Work-From-Home Jobs Portal makes the remote-job hunt easy. Our journalists scour the web for the best gigs, vet the companies and aggregate the latest listings in one place.

    Kent McDill is a veteran journalist who has specialized in personal finance topics since 2013. He is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder.


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  • 12 Recession-Proof Side Hustles to Help You Weather a Financial Storm

    12 Recession-Proof Side Hustles to Help You Weather a Financial Storm

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    As the economy floundered in 2022 — with gas prices soaring, inflation spiking and interest rates on the rise — talk of a recession continued throughout the year.

    Whether or not we were actually in a recession depends on who you talk to. And with that said, the conditions are still ripe for a possible recession moving into 2023.

    After peaking in the summer, inflation has slowly dropped to 7.7% in the month of October. The average price of gas is pushing $4 per gallon, and a 30-year fixed mortgage rate is over 7% —  about 4 percentage points higher than this time last year.

    If that’s not enough, the stock market fell into a bear market recently after gradually declining throughout the year.

    Amid all this doom and gloom, what’s a worker to do?

    Start a side hustle. Having another job on the side started long before the pandemic and hasn’t waned. Many people find that a second, part-time job provides extra financial stability, especially in an unstable economy.

    12 Side Hustles to Get You Through a Recession

    If a recession is on the way in 2023, a side hustle might be the buffer that helps get you through it. So what are your options?

    1. Grocery Store

    Restaurant business usually drops during a recession as more people cook at home to save money — and shop more at grocery stores.

    People might have to trim their budgets a little, but the need for comfort foods and pantry essentials won’t go away.

    So whether it’s stocking shelves, bagging groceries or providing customer service, there will almost always be a need for grocery store workers.

    A grocery store shift can work well with a full-time job, too, since most stores have early morning, evening and night hours.

    2. Grocery Store Delivery

    Grocery delivery services have taken off since 2020, making life a little easier for consumers while providing more opportunities for side gig workers.

    Third-party apps like InstaCart, Shipt and Boxed are extremely popular, as are grocery stores that have created their own delivery apps, such as Walmart and Kroger.

    3. Bookkeepers

    Death and taxes, right?

    Recession or not, individuals and businesses have to pay taxes and track their finances.

    While accountants work mostly full-time, bookkeepers might work either full- or part-time or even seasonally – making this a viable side hustle option.

    Over the last several years, more bookkeepers have been offering their skills virtually as well.

    4. Virtual Assistants

    The need for virtual assistants isn’t going anywhere either. And during a recession, businesses are a little more picky when hiring support staff — making part-time, hourly virtual assistants an attractive option.

    Not only that, companies save money when they use virtual assistants. Companies save 78% of their costs by hiring a virtual assistant instead of one that works on-site, according to one study.

    5. Mobile Mechanic

    The average new car price reached more than $48,000 in September 2022. That’s $6,000 more than last year, according to Kelly Blue Book. Used car prices are much higher as well.

    This simply means car maintenance is incredibly important — and mechanic skills are even more valuable.

    The convenience of a mobile mechanic is attractive to people who don’t want to spend hours waiting at a repair shop, juggling a drop off or having a car towed to a shop.

    Other car-related businesses — such as mobile tire and windshield repair — should continue to grow as well. You could even start a mobile car detailing business as a side hustle, no special training required.

    6. Handyman

    Let’s face it. Stuff breaks, no matter what state the economy is in.

    There’s a world of DIYers out there who love to fix things and take on new projects. Then there’s everyone else who just wants to call someone and let them do the fixing.

    If you’re good at home maintenance or improvement, a part-time handyman job might not be a bad idea to earn some extra money, recession or not.

    7. Senior Care Workers

    Whether it’s in a care facility or at home, senior care providers look after the daily needs of aging citizens — everything from household chores to skilled nursing.

    With 54 million seniors in the U.S. now, the senior care industry will only grow as the number of seniors is expected to nearly double in the next three decades, according to the federal Administration on Aging.

    8. Child Care

    The need for child care doesn’t dissipate during a recession.

    Even if workers are laid off, they may still pay for child care so they can spend time looking for a new job or building a business and avoid losing the child’s spot.

    And with more companies offering child care as a workplace benefit, the need for child care workers only continues to grow.

    9. Staffing Agency

    During a recession, when businesses are laying off more workers, they may turn to staffing agencies for temporary, less expensive replacements.

    Side hustling with a staffing agency may be a decent place to find yourself during a recession.

    10. Pet Care

    More than 90 million Americans own a pet. That’s about 70% of households — a number that has been growing gradually over the last ten years, according to an American Pet Products Association report.

    The pet care industry is pretty doggone recession proof, even growing during the last two recessions: 29% in 2001 and 17% in 2008-2009, according to a Mauldin Economics analyst.

    All that to say, America loves its pets. And recession or not, essential grooming, dog walking and pet sitting still happens. You can even rent out your yard as a dog park if you like.

    11. Alcohol-Related Jobs

    While restaurant jobs — including bartending — have declined in past recessions, Americans still find ways to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail.

    That makes any job that involves alcohol — whether it’s a liquor store clerk, wine store stocker or delivery driver — a much-needed position during a recession.

    12. Tutoring

    While teaching jobs are always available during a down economy, they’re too demanding to work as a side hustle.

    However, if you have the qualifications, you can still find plenty of jobs as a substitute teacher — or even a tutor. You don’t even have to teach in person, if you find a tutoring position through one of these companies.

    Robert Bruce is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.


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  • Substitute Teachers are in High Demand: Here’s How to Get a Gig

    Substitute Teachers are in High Demand: Here’s How to Get a Gig

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    If there’s one job that’s in high demand right now, it’s substitute teaching. All you have to do is open up a tab in your browser and type in “jobs near me” and you’ll start to see ads offering flexible hours and “no experience necessary” to help fill the gaps in your local school system.

    And while it’s easy to blame the need for substitute teachers exclusively on the pandemic, this trend also speaks to something deeper: A shortage of teachers that started over 20 years ago.

    We dug in to find out just what caused these changes, and how you can cash in on an opportunity to try your hand at teaching. Here’s everything you need to know about how to be a substitute teacher right now.

    Why Schools Are Paying More for Subs

    According to ZipRecruiter, average hourly pay for substitute teachers ranges from $10.62 to $17.03 depending on the state, or up to $35,425 if doing it full-time. The top-paying states are Nevada, Massachusetts, Alaska, and Washington.

    But that’s not the whole picture. As it gets more difficult to keep up with demand, some school districts are increasing wages, adding incentives and relaxing their usual requirements for substitute teachers.

    Reports about substitute teacher shortages include stories about school boards hiking pay as they struggle with shortages: up to $240 a day in one district, bonuses up to $500 in another, and $130 per day for those with a teaching license in yet another district. In some districts, schools are even attempting to recruit parents to fill the gaps.

    Newer variants of COVID are playing a role, with more teachers falling ill or in quarantine. But to fully understand what’s driving the shortage, it’s helpful to go back a few years.

    According to a 2016 national survey of college freshmen, only 4.2% of students said they intended to major in education — this compared with 11% in 2000. The downward trend seems to have only gotten worse: In 2019, the Student Research Foundation reported that only 3.6% of high school students intend to be teachers.

    Combine this pre-existing shortage of educators with COVID and the so-called Great Resignation with thousands of people leaving the workforce, and you have the perfect storm for the education system, and a serious lack of qualified people to help run it.

    How to Become a Substitute Teacher

    Because of all of the challenges school systems are facing, it’s easier than ever to become a substitute teacher. Whether you want to work full time, part time or even per diem, a lot of schools are willing to take any help they can get.

    But there are still a few qualifications to know about before diving headlong into applications.

    Requirements for aspiring substitute teachers are set at the state level and by each local school district, says Joseph Fitzgerald, vice president of operations for the Mountain West States division of the substitute staffing provider ESS.

    “Many states and school districts allow individuals with a high school diploma or GED to become substitute teachers, while other states add requirements ranging from passing the ParaPro Exam to requiring a Bachelor’s degree,” Fitzgerald says.

    While education and experience requirements vary, one thing is for sure: You’ll have to pass a criminal background check and undergo some training before you can step into a classroom.

    The Substitute Teacher Application Process

    Procedures vary from state to state and from one school district to the next. But here is the typical process.

    1. Apply on your local school district or staffing agency’s website

    Although you might be applying for a particular substitute teacher position, most substitute teaching roles are filtered through the school district, not just one particular school. The main exception is when you’re applying for a role with a staffing agency like ESS, in which case you would apply on their website, which coordinates with the local school district on your behalf.

    2. Complete the substitute teacher onboarding process

    Once your initial application has been reviewed, you’ll likely be prompted to undergo a criminal background check, as is required by law for prospective substitute teachers. Once this has been approved, you may also be asked to take an orientation training, as well as provide professional references and proof of your education and certifications.

    3. Check in with the ‘substitute portal’

    After completing the onboarding process with your local school district, you’ll typically receive access to an online substitute teacher portal, which is where jobs get posted. This is where the process gets interesting, because from here you can start mapping out your new work schedule.

    “If you’re a type-A planner, you can log on far in advance and pick up jobs that are posted early,” says long-time certified teacher and education blogger Whitney Rancourt of Mama Manages. “However, there is some benefit to logging in early in the morning on the days you’re available to work.”

    By doing some combination of the two, you’ll be able to snag jobs happening in advance (planned teacher absences), as well as take advantage of any last-minute sick days.

    How Much Can You Earn as a Substitute Teacher?

    Although many schools don’t require extensive teaching experience, higher education degrees or college credit hours, you’ll likely earn more if you have those qualifications.

    “I have heard of substitute pay as low as $70 per day and as high as $200 a day,” says Rancourt. “Most districts will pay slightly more than their base rate for certification, bachelor’s degrees, and to retired teachers of that district.” A bigger factor, says Rancourt, is location. Higher cost-of-living areas often pay higher hourly rates.

    That being said, school districts everywhere are ramping up their offerings to make more competitive offers in the current market.

    “We are seeing school districts respond to substitute staffing shortages with higher pay rates and other incentives,” says Fitzgerald. “If you considered substituting a year or two ago, we encourage you to take another look as many school districts have increased their pay rates.”

    Which Substitute Teaching Jobs Pay the Best?

    Another factor influencing pay rates is the duration of a substitute-teaching gig.

    “Building-based substitutes and long-term substitutes are typically higher-paying roles,” says Fitzgerald. Building-based substitute teachers commit to working each school day at the same school. Long-term substitute teachers have the added duties of lesson planning as well as grading, “and thus school districts compensate for the position more than daily substitutes.”

    Some school systems will also pay higher wages for aspiring substitute teachers who have a valid teaching license, are qualified to work with special needs students, or to teach a certain subject or grade level.

    Another thing to ask is whether the school pays hourly or daily. If you end up working a longer shift, this could make a big difference in your overall take-home pay.

    A final thing to keep in mind when it comes to your earning potential as a substitute teacher: some jobs might even offer benefits, especially if you’re hired through a staffing agency.

    “At ESS, we offer all of our substitute staff health, vision, dental and life insurance,” Fitzgerald says. “Most school districts don’t offer benefits to their substitutes, but it’s worth checking because some do.”

    Is Substitute Teaching Right for You?

    It’s important to consider whether teaching in a classroom is actually a good fit for you — because it’s definitely not the easiest job out there.

    “Being a substitute teacher is not easy money,” says Rancourt. “If you’re not physically tired by the end of the day, you’re not doing the job right. Subs should be moving about the classroom for the entire day, interacting with students, actively monitoring, and checking the quality of their work.”

    So who exactly is a good fit for this kind of side hustle? Fitzgerald fills us in.

    “The best personality types for substitute teaching are people that care about education and want to make a positive impact on the lives of students,” he says. “They must also be able to connect with and lead a group of children or teenagers, so those with strong social skills and assertiveness can especially thrive in substitute teaching.”

    How Substitute Teaching Advances Your Career

    If that sounds like something that interests you, then you might just want to give substitute teaching a try. Even if it ends up not being your long-term profession, the role may open other doors and career opportunities.

    “Substitute teaching can spark career advancement in various areas of education,” says Fitzgerald. “Many of our substitute teachers go on to become school district employees in various capacities, such as teachers, paraprofessionals, or other support positions such as staffing the front office.”

    The Bottom Line About Substitute Teaching

    Although it may not be for everyone, substitute teaching is worth exploring if you’re passionate about education, want to work with kids, and trying to earn extra money.

    And who knows? Substitute teaching might inspire you to explore other roles in education, including online tutoring. It can also be a nice boost for your resume. In either case, that’s a win-win.

    Contributor Larissa Runkle frequently writes on finance, real estate, and lifestyle topics for The Penny Hoarder.


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  • Here’s How You Can Make Up to $500 an Hour (Really!) to Give Your Opinion

    Here’s How You Can Make Up to $500 an Hour (Really!) to Give Your Opinion

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    A few years ago, I was invited to participate in a focus group. I visited in-person along with about 15 other people. For two hours, we vented all of our feelings about the ways a particular health insurance company interacts with its customer base.

    At the end, we each walked out with $125. The health insurance company wanted consumer feedback on their products and customer service, and it compensated us for providing our insights.

    Focus groups can be a lucrative side hustle when you break down per-hour pay. You get to be a part of a company’s market research efforts, magnifying your opinion above those of other potential consumers.

    These days, you canto participate in paid focus groups in person or online. Today, we’ll focus on the online space. These focus group platforms to earn anywhere from $20 to as much as $600 per hour.

    Online Focus Groups: A Viable Side Hustle

    Focus groups can pay extremely well for the amount of time you actually “work.” They can provide surges of side hustle income all at once.

    However, they’re not likely to sustain you in lieu of traditional income. Earnings can be extremely inconsistent. First of all, you won’t qualify for every survey, as each focus group has a specific demographic it’s targeting.

    Often, though not always, the highest-paying surveys also have the most exclusive demographic requirements. The company may be looking to work with construction foremen who work with specific brands of equipment, for example, or with mobile app developers who use a specific type of programming.

    In addition, some consumer research companies will only allow you to participate in one focus group every six months.

    Just because work is sporadic doesn’t make this a bad side hustle. When the money does come in, you’re getting paid so much per hour that it’s worth setting aside 30 to 90 minutes of your time.

    What You Do in a Paid Focus Group

    Most focus groups require between 30 minutes and 90 minutes of work. When you’re doing a focus group remotely, you may be asked to fill out a multiple choice survey. Most of the time, though, you’ll complete a phone or Zoom interview with a live person.

    Topics for focus groups are unlimited: You could find yourself answering questions about your favorite margarita recipe, how you’re coping with parenting in the 2020s, or a survey related to your profession.

    Some focus groups may require you to dedicate some time outside the interview itself. For example, you might have to give a specific product a test run or keep a journal of your experiences. This extra time is often accounted for in the compensation.

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

    5 Sites to Find Online Focus Group Jobs

    • Respondent
    • WatchLab
    • Focusscope
    • FindFocusFroups.com
    • User Interviews

    These market research companies pay well for your time and consistently update listings for more opportunities. We surveyed current listings for hourly pay and estimated average hourly pay given the jobs currently available.

    1. Respondent

    An overwhelming percentage of the focus group opportunities listed on Respondent are remote. The majority of the listings are not city-specific, allowing you to qualify regardless of where you live.

    Current job listings range between $20 and $250 per hour, with the average focus group paying around $120 per hour.

    2. WatchLAB

    WatchLAB doesn’t have as many opportunities listed, but it does regularly update its inventory on its Facebook page.

    Jobs are often city specific, though there is a wide variety of cities with opportunities available.

    Pay for WatchLAB focus groups ranges from $75 to $900 per hour, with the average focus group paying around $125 per hour.

    3. Focusscope

    Focusscope is another smaller consumer research company. It updates its users regularly about new opportunities on its Facebook page, and most studies are now completed remotely. Focusscope pays $75 to $250 per focus group, with an average payout of $100.

    4. FindFocusGroups.com

    FindFocusGroups.com isn’t solely a consumer research company. It is also a job listing board. It aggregates opportunities available across the country, and allows consumer research companies to submit listings.

    You can search these focus group listings by state. The average focus group pays around $125 per hour, though there are currently jobs listed for pay ranges anywhere from $75 to $595.

    Pro Tip

    Participating in medical trials can be another lucrative way to hustle together some extra cash. 

    5. User Interviews

    If you’re looking for online or over-the-phone focus group opportunities, User Interviews listings are plentiful. However, compared to the other companies on this list, more of these focus group opportunities are in-person. Use filters while you search to ensure you’re only being shown the remote opportunities.

    A portion of the listings on User Interviews are medical studies rather than focus groups.

    Participating in medical trials can be another lucrative way to hustle together some extra cash.

    Listings on User Interviews pay between $25 and $500 per hour — though few studies get close to the $500 mark. The average focus group pays $60 per hour.

    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. Information from Penny Hoarder writer and editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors is included in this report.


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    femmefrugality@gmail.com (Brynne Conroy)

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  • There’s Probably Cash Hidden in Your Walls. Here’s How to Find it…

    There’s Probably Cash Hidden in Your Walls. Here’s How to Find it…

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    You might think a treasure hunt means diving in the ocean to find sunken ships or exploring ancient ruins in faraway countries looking for hidden chambers full of gold and jewels.

    But fortunately, you can also become a treasure hunter in and around your own house, starting with nothing or perhaps a small investment in a metal detector.

    Most of us don’t believe there’s anything valuable hidden in the house, but after you hear these 10 stories, don’t be surprised if you start knocking down a wall or two…

    10 Places to Find Treasures Hidden in a Home

    You never know what valuable items — and even cash — may be hiding in your home.

    Inside the Walls

    It isn’t easy to look in your walls, but there can be valuable things there. For example, more than one home owner has found movie posters that were once stuffed between walls as insulation. In a 2010 case a man in Canada sold 40 movie posters for $50,000 after finding them inside the walls of his house during remodeling. Keep that in mind the next time you think about expanding your bedroom.

    If you’re careful, you might be able to peek inside some walls. Turn the power off, remove the plastic covers from switches and electrical outlets, and shine a light in wherever there is an opening that you can see through.

    Crawl Spaces

    Death is perhaps the biggest reason that there are thousands of hidden treasures to be found.

    If a crawl space can be accessed from inside (or an opening in the basement) it’s more likely to have been used as a hiding place because of the privacy. And it isn’t just buried items that might be there. In a crawl space I found a chest in the corner with coins and currency from Vietnam, along with documents and other things. I knew the previous owner so I returned these finds, but if he had passed away in the meantime I might have considered them fair game.

    You can use a metal detector to look for buried objects or you can just look for clues, like a dip in the ground or a patch of dirt that looks different. Dig gently; there shouldn’t be wiring buried there, but water lines and drain pipes are common.

    Attics

    Stories of hidden valuables in an attic are almost cliché, but that’s because these discoveries are so common. I once demolished an old house and I found a glass piggy bank full of pennies under the insulation in the attic. If you plan to poke around under fiberglass insulation you should wear protective gear (disposable clothes, a face mask and safety glasses). Some attics will have things stored in boxes and trunks. These are especially promising if some of them were there before you moved in. Check online for help determining if your finds have value.

    In 2013 an original Vincent Van Gogh painting was found in an attic in Norway. Pablo Picasso produced more than 20,000 works of art during his life, and more than a thousand of his paintings are listed as stolen, missing or disputed. So check that attic.

    Behind the Washing Machine

    Many washing machines have water lines and drain lines that come through the wall about halfway up. Sometimes these openings are not sealed, which is why I was able to stash a pouch full of cash there in a house I owned years ago. I hung it on a string anchored inside the hole so it would be down inside the wall by the floor. I’m not trying to be morbid, but I should remind you again that people sometimes die without revealing all of their hiding places. Take a peek if you have an opening into the wall for your washing machine drain line.

    Closets

    If your home was inherited or for other reasons came with things already in it, search through those closets. In 2012, Michael Rorrer found comic books worth more than $3 million while cleaning out a closet in the home of his deceased great aunt in Martinsville, Virginia. He found a total of 375 classic old comics, including the first issue of Batman.

    Even if you thought the closet shelves were empty when you moved in, sometimes there are things at the back that can’t be easily seen. And poke around for secret hiding places.

    Basements

    If you watch the PBS program Antiques Roadshow, you might have seen the episode with the woman who discovered a photo album signed by Abraham Lincoln. She found it in her grandmother’s basement. It was signed by President Lincoln and was estimated to be worth somewhere between $75,000 and $100,000.

    Apart from being a natural collection point for all sorts of forgotten items, basements also have many hiding places. Look around and think about where you would put something if you wanted to hide it really well. If the basement wall is made of concrete blocks and the top row is accessible, there could be things hidden inside the blocks there. Use a mirror and flashlight to take a look.

    Under Carpet

    While taking the carpet out of an old house my parents had bought, I discovered that newspapers lined the entire floor. An old-timer told me this was once a common form of cheap carpet padding. What didn’t occur to me at the time was that those newspapers were old enough to have some value to collectors. I just browsed the old headlines and threw them all away.

    Money is sometimes hidden under carpeting. This is most common in places where a corner can be pulled up without loosening the whole carpet. Check for unattached corners in the backs of closets and under stairs, and take a peek.

    Old Desks

    A Scottish man restoring an antique Victorian desk in his loft discovered medals from the Crimea War hidden in a secret compartment. The medals were estimated to be worth 2,000 pounds (or about $2,300).

    Some desks have secret compartments. Look underneath to see if there is enclosed space that doesn’t seem to be accessed from the usual drawers. There are also drawers that don’t open all the way but appear to do so because of a false back. If you find coins or bills or even old postcards, you can use online resources to determine if they’re worth anything.

    Books

    As you pull apart your home in the name of treasure hunting, you might find some valuable old books. You can sell them on eBay. But don’t discard the worthless ones too quickly. My mother told me about an uncle who stashed currency in books. After he died his family discovered thousands of dollars while leafing through the pages. Apparently hiding money in books was common for those who lived through bank failures during the Great Depression.

    More recently a man in Massachusetts found $20,000 inside a book that he bought at a used book sale. It’s likely that someone got rid of it after a loved one passed away, and didn’t take the time to open it and leaf through the pages. Check those books!

    Under Floorboards

    When we were children we used to throw pennies into a hole in kitchen floor. We never did know why there was a quarter-sized hole through the linoleum and wood. We also never retrieved any of the coins. They might be there today, almost forty years later.

    Apart from accidental stashes like that, things are often purposefully hidden under floorboards. Recently, a man in England found valuable old British Rail posters stashed under the floorboards of a house he bought. They sold at auction for 18,000 pounds, or about $20,000. Unless you’re renovating you probably don’t want to tear open your floors. But you might find a loose board that can be removed, and you might find access from the floor below. In the case of our kitchen hole it would probably have been as simple as popping open a ceiling tile in the basement. That brings us to our next potential treasure location…

    Ceilings

    While remodeling, a New York couple found $15,000 in their ceiling. Actually it was their contractor who found the bag full of money, and he was honest enough to give it to them. Again, you can’t tear open a ceiling just for the small chance that there’s something valuable in there, but you can look for clues. Maybe part of the ceiling has already been removed and can be removed safely again. A drop ceiling might have tiles which are easily lifted, so you can take a look. An attic can provide access to a ceiling as well.

    That should be enough to get you started, and we haven’t even considered getting out of the house to the garage, shed, barn, garden and yard. Those will be covered in a future post. Meanwhile, here’s one last place to check: your furniture. If all of your hard work scouring the house for valuables doesn’t get you anything, at least you can round up the lost change in the couch and recliner for a minor treasure hunting success.

    Steve Gillman is a former contributor to The Penny Hoarder. Deputy editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors updated this story.


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    stevengillman@hotmail.com (Steve Gillman)

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  • Get Paid $10K to Travel and Dine as Ramada’s Chief Eats Officer

    Get Paid $10K to Travel and Dine as Ramada’s Chief Eats Officer

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    Are you the foodie who documents every meal on TikTok and Instagram? 

    How’d you like to do what you love while getting paid $10K to travel the world?

    Man, have we got a mouthwatering dream job for you.

    The worldwide hotel chain Ramada by Wyndham is launching a global search for a new “CEO” — Chief Eats Officer, that is.

    This one lucky individual will jet around the globe for three weeks, staying at the chain’s 900 or so hotels, exploring the intersection of food and culture while lavishly documenting it all in videos and blog posts.

    Ramada operates in more than 60 countries, so think sizzling street tacos in Mexico, chimichurris in Argentina, fish curry with coconut in Sri Lanka, roasted pig in Bali.

    For this culinary world tour, Ramada is looking for a food-obsessed, social-media-savvy adventure seeker. Ready to pack your bags? Here’s what you need to know. 

    How to Become the Chief Eats Officer 

    Is this your dream job? Then you’d better apply for the gig with the coolest video you can come up with by Nov. 14.

    The “CEO” will be chosen by mid-December. If you’re picked, you’d do your thing and immerse yourself in international culinary delights for a few weeks sometime between May and August 2023 — plenty of notice to take time off from your real job!

    You can apply via TikTok or email. (Frankly, we’d probably recommend TikTok. After all, the whole point of this gig is to be a brand ambassador on social media.) 

    Your video should be one to three minutes long and in English. Make sure to mention what country you’re from. (You must be a legal resident of the United States, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Mexico, Thailand, New Zealand, Turkey or the United Kingdom.)

    What Are the Qualifications?

    As Chief Eats Officer, you’d be expected to shoot videos for social media and also write blog posts and travel tips for all the destinations you’d be visiting. Your work would be featured on Ramada’s global marketing channels.

    To qualify for this gig, you must be:

    • Active and proficient on various social media platforms (TikTok and Instagram are preferred).
    • At least 21 years old, with a valid passport.
    • Fluent in spoken and written English, with strong writing skills.
    • Comfortable working remotely and on deadline.
    • Available to travel for up to three weeks from May to August 2023.

    Along with the $10,000 payday, the job comes with a $150 daily travel stipend, paid airfare and paid accommodations at Ramada’s hotels.

    You’d also have bragging rights for having the best job in the world.

    Chief. Eats. Officer.

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


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    mike@thepennyhoarder.com (Mike Brassfield)

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

    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.

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    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

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    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.

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    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

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    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)

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    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

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    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

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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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  • How to Become a Paid Caregiver for Your Loved One Through Medicaid

    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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  • Para App Gives Gig Workers More Info So They Can Make More Money

    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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  • Animal Lover? Pet Sitting Just Might Be the Paw-Fect Side Gig for You

    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.

    A woman trains a golden retriever puppy.
    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.

    A woman pets two whippet dogs
    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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  • Mystery Shopper Beware: Here’s How to Avoid Falling for a Scam

    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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  • The 25 Best Side Hustles: Our Top Picks to Help You Make More Money

    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.

    A man with curly hair and tattoos works on an illustration on his desktop computer.
    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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    A woman pets two whippet dogs.
    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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    A woman wearing a hat smiles as she navigates the mangrove tunnels in an area of water in Sarasota, Fla.
    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.
    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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    A man works from home.
    Getty Images

    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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    A woman throws her hands in the air and smiles upward against a blue wall outside.
    Getty Images

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

    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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    robert.bruce@thepennyhoarder.com (Robert Bruce)

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  • Kohl’s and Macy’s Are Hiring 130,000 Seasonal Workers for the Holidays

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

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    People walk past a Kohl's department store while wearing jackets and face masks.


    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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  • How to Get Paid $15/Hour as a Search Engine Evaluator

    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.

    A young woman pets her dog, who is sitting in her lap, while working on her laptop at home.
    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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