Do you wish you could travel more, but don’t know how you could fit it into your already tight budget? How can you earn more so you can travel more without giving up what time you do have that you could use to travel? Here are 20 flexible ways to make more money, yet won’t rob you of your vacation time.
20 Flexible Ways To Earn More Money So You Can Travel More
(Links in this post are affiliate links. I will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking those links. See disclosure page for more information)
These first three points about filling out surveys, using point programs and using cash back websites and apps are not big money earners. In fact, done together I think the average user can make about $100 a month by spending minimal time on these three income streams. That might not sound like much, but that is $1200 over the course of a year and that is a week-long camping vacation for our family. Plus, these three tiny streams of income can be done in those little moments in your day and especially with the point programs and cash back websites and apps you are getting paid for something you already do with no compensation.
1. Fill Out Surveys
There are a lot of survey companies out there that are super frustrating; you spend precious time filling out all the “pre-approval” forms only to be told you don’t qualify. Well I found a few survey companies that at least give you a couple of points if you don’t get into the survey or they don’t have any pre-approval screening at all.
- PrizeRebel–I like that PrizeRebel offers a few more ways to earn points than just taking surveys. Go here to sign up for Prize Rebel.
- Branded Surveys–Great selection of surveys and you usually earn points even if you don’t make it past the screening process. Go here to sign up for Branded Surveys.
- Paidviewpoint–Never get screened out of a survey with Paidviewpoint. Go here to sign up for Paidviewpoint.
2. Use Point Programs
- Swagbucks–I have been using Swagbucks for years. Some of my readers of my blog Snail Pace Transformations report earning $100 a month with Swagbucks. However, those are what I would call power users; the average user can earn at least $25 a month doing just a few point reward actions a month. Go here to sign up for Swagbucks.
- InstaGC –What I love about InstaGC is that you get your rewards delivered the moment you order them, and you can cash out for a gift card when you have as little as 100 points for places like Amazon and Walmart. Go here to sign up for InstaGC
- Mypoints— I have been an active member of Mypoints since 2006 it was the first point program I joined, and I still use it 12 years later. You can read my tutorial on how to use Mypoints here.
3. Use Cash Back Websites And Apps
- Ebates–In the last two months I have earned $27 in cash back on purchases with Ebates, and it is so simple to earn. I have the Ebates Chrome extension button installed on my toolbar. When I am on a website that offers a cash back, the Ebates button alerts me that there is one and all I have to do is click on it to accept it. Go here to join Ebates.
- Ibotta–It said in an email I received from Ibotta recently that regular users of the app earn over $100 per year. Ibotta is an app that offers you cash back on purchases made in-store or online. It can be used for all types of stores including, grocery, clothing, crafts, electronics and more. You can even get cash back on travel bookings made through their travel section. Go here to sign up for Ibotta.
- FetchRewards–FetchRewards is a grocery savings app that is so simple to use. Just submit your receipt when you finish grocery shopping and earn points. Use my referral code RE9FU when you sign up and get 2,000 points (worth $2) when you scan your first receipt.
4. Resell Items You Already Own
I once read that the average home has enough items to resell to earn $1,000. A thousand dollars is what it costs my family of five to go camping for a week. And that is not just sticking around the campsite, that is going out and exploring places and trying out local foods.
- eBay–Before the beginning of almost every homeschooling year, I list several school items we no longer need on eBay and generally sell them all in a short amount of time for a good return on my money spent. Here are my tips for selling on eBay.
- Facebook Marketplace–What I love about Facebook Marketplace is how simple and easy it is to sell items. What I don’t like is that sometimes people don’t show to pick up those items. Here is an article I wrote about using Facebook Buy and Sell groups.
- Poshmark Or thredUP–If you have a love of fashion and a closet full of trendy name brand clothes to prove it, Poshmark or thredUP are great places to unload the items you are not wearing and make some cash in the process. These are also great places to save money on name brand clothing. Use my code SNAILPACER when you sign up for a Poshmark account and earn $5 towards your first purchase, use my referral link to sign up for a thredUP account and get $10 off your first order at thredUP.
5. Flip Items
Flipping items differs from reselling items you already own in that you buy things with the intention of reselling them for a profit. My best tips for flipping items is to stick to items you know something about, always research what items sell for before you buy, and always clean up the item before you sell it. Here is an article I wrote that shares more advice on how to get top dollar for items you resell.
- Garage Sales–When my children were little, I used to go to yard sales almost every weekend all summer long to get clothing and other items the children would need for the next year. While I was shopping for our family, I would keep my eye out for items I could buy and resell for a profit.
- Thrift Stores–Not all thrift stores sell items for rock bottom prices, in fact, I have walked into a few where I found items priced higher than new items on the clearance rack. My tip is to explore all the different thrift stores in your area to see if you can find one with reasonable prices that perhaps have a regular half price sale day. Go on that sale day and stock up on items to flip.
- Back Alleys–I once met a woman who made enough money each year for her husband and herself to go on a motorbiking road trip from back alley furniture finds. These items were set out on “big item” pick up day for trash removal. She had a knack for furniture repair and refinishing and made broken items look new and trendy. She also loved thinking of how she was helping reduce the number of items sent to the landfill.
6. Start A Blog Or Youtube Channel
I started my first blog in 2012. When I started out I made pennies an hour; now I make roughly $13 an hour working part-time hours between the needs of my family. I find blogging to be an extremely flexible income source.
I don’t have a YouTube channel–yet. But I do know that if you have a knack for video creation, YouTube can be a good income stream.
7. Rent Out Items You Own
I recently did some research for a blog post I wrote about items you can rent out over on Snail Pace Transformations and discovered 23 different things you may own that you can rent out.
8. Freelance
In this digital age, freelance work is becoming available in all types of fields. To get an idea of just what job skills people are hiring freelancers to perform, check Fiverr and Upworks.
One freelancing job that is much needed is that of a virtual assistant; this eBook is a great resource for those wanting to leap into the field of becoming one.
9. Teach English Online
Several different companies allow you to use video conferencing platforms to get paid to teach students abroad how to speak English. You do need to have a degree to do this. With the time change between those teaching and those learning most of this type of work can be done in the early morning hours before the rest of the house is up, at least if you live in America.
10. Tutor Online
Do you excel in certain subjects? Help others who struggle with those subjects through online tutoring services.
- Wyzant for Tutors
- Chegg Tutor
- Care.com
11. Write, Publish and Sell eBooks
I currently have one book I wrote on Amazon and hope to add more in the years to come. Self-publishing isn’t as hard as you might think, it is the ongoing marketing of your book that is hard. Although I haven’t read it yet, this book has been on my to-read list for a while as a book recommended by a friend to learn how to increase book sales.
12. Create And Sell Digital Products
Do you have a set of printables you use to organize your day that your friends envy? Sell your printables. Perhaps you are the queen of productivity and you constantly have people asking you to share your tips on how you get so much done each day. Create a line of courses on time management.
13. Create And Sell Crafts
If you are the creative type who loves spending your weekends crafting, sell some of your wares either online or in person. Here is a blog post I wrote all about the different ways and places you can sell crafts.
14. Test Websites
Testing websites is not that profitable, but it is flexible and can be done whenever you have a spare hour or two. Sign up for a few companies, I have heard that User Testing is a good one to try.
15. Make Money Off Your Clearance Finds
If you have a knack for finding awesome clearance items you might want to look into selling them for a profit using the Amazon FBA program. For more information as to how to get started, here is a short eBook on the topic that has good reviews.
16. Turn Your Vehicle Into A Taxi
Turn your vehicle into a taxi on the days off from your regular job. The app that gets you the most work might depend on your area.
- Lyft Driver
- Uber Driver
17. Sell Your Photos
If you have a knack for photography, you can use the two apps mentioned below to earn money from your talent.
- Foap
- Snapwire
There are also online sites where you can submit your photos such as Shutterstock.
18. Work For A Delivery Service App
Live in an urban area and have a day or an afternoon free? Use it to deliver items to others for cash. You might even be able to pick up a bit of work delivering items on your way home from your main job each day.
Deliver Groceries
- Instacart
Deliver Restaurant food
- Doordash
- Caviar
- Uber Eats
Deliver Packages And Hard To Ship Items
- Roadie
- CitizenShipper
- AmazonFlex
19. Become A Handyman
Use the website TaskRabbit to offer your handyman services to others. This can be anything from putting together Ikea furniture to small household repair jobs.
20. Share Your Expertise With Others
What is your passion? Something you love so much that you have become an expert at it? Cooking, art, yoga? There is probably a way to create a flexible side-job out of your expertise.
Do you love cooking and hosting dinners? Try working with Eatwith.
Love dogs? Sign up to walk or board them or both using Rover.
Do you love hosting overnight guests? Try renting out a room on Airbnb. If you have a yard that would be perfect for pitching a tent or a she-shed that could accommodate overnight guests, try HipCamp.
Do you have another skill you could turn into an experience for others, such as art lessons or a tour? Try out the Airbnb experience area.
Leave a Reply