Constantly being broke is one of the worst feelings in the world, but if you have a little free time, you can make money online. If you're smart, “make money online” should be setting off scammy alarm bells in your head, but these are completely legal, totally legit ways to make some dough. Are you really going to say, “no thanks,” to some extra money?
Online Surveys
Whether you’re in school or not, you’re probably are familiar with the concept of academic research. Sure, sometimes these projects are in-person and involve accidental psychological torture, but many times you can contribute online, via surveys. Amazon hosts a website called Mechanical Turk that gives you the chance to answer all sorts of surveys for money. You're not going to get rich doing this, but depending on the amount of time you have, you can pocket an easy $20 or more in a few hours.
Just remember to answer the questions accurately—because they’re designed to weed out those that click-and-go without reading the content. Also, you're kinda impeding the progress of human knowledge, which is definitely a dick move.
Sell Stuff
How many collectibles do you have sitting around your house collecting dust? How many old games do you own that you never play anymore? You could go the in-person route and sell your unused items at a flea market or place like GameStop, or you could go the easy (i.e. good) route and sell them online.
Sites like Amazon, Ebay, and Etsy allow you to sell nearly anything you own that you never use. The stuff you want to get rid of may seem like junk to you, but you never know what obscure piece of memorabilia will excite the wealthy, eccentric weirdos online.
Ebook Publishing
Do you have a story rattling around in that beautiful brain of yours? Self-publishing books on platforms like Kindle and Nook can be ridiculously profitable if you have the patience, hone your writing skills, and choose a popular genre.
If you're lucky, that self-published book of yours could even land you a lucrative movie deal. If it happened for Andy Weir with The Martian, it can happen for you too!
YouTube Videos
Finding success on YouTube is all about personality. It doesn't matter if your camera is ancient and only works periodically—if you've got a face that sells and a demeanor to match, making money on this video platform can quickly turn into a reality for you.
It doesn't even matter what your videos are about! Gaming, rants, product reviews, and even the weird, weird world of muk-bang all draw sizable followings on YouTube.
Online Tutoring
Even if you're too modest to admit it, you probably know something about something, whether it’s history, Photoshop, marketing, writing, or whatever. Sites like Udemy and Tutor are designed to connect you with folks who need your expertise and want to throw money at you. From creating instructional videos, to assigning classwork, to providing extra assistance, anyone can transform themselves into a preeminent Internet pedagogue with just a little effort.
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