Make Money Without a Job

Make Money Without a Job, 16 Ways to Make Money Without a Job

Learn about some ways to make money outside of the traditional 9-to-5 career path.

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There are ways to make money without a traditional job. Some people make money through flexible side gigs or freelance work, or by monetizing their hobbies.

Whether you're a student, an entrepreneur, or unemployed, we've got you covered with alternative ways to make money without a job.

Nerdy Takeaway:

It's possible to make money without a traditional 9-to-5, but it will take time, effort, and sometimes an investment in equipment.

You may already possess skills that you can monetize.

In addition to exploring ways to make money, look at your living expenses to see where you can cut back or find ways to reduce your bills.

1. Participate in paid market research

Paid market research allows companies like Usertesting.com, for example, to pay participants to express their opinions on everyday items, services, brands, apps, and websites. This can include paid surveys, participating in focus groups, and participating in medical research (being paid to provide feedback or help test drugs or treatments).

Opportunities vary in the amount of pay you get — some pay participants with a points system, an hourly rate, or gift cards.

2. Become a Virtual Assistant

Individuals, groups, and businesses often need administrative support. A virtual assistant helps businesses with everyday tasks like email management, bookkeeping, and social media from a remote location.

According to the job site Indeed.com, the average salary for a virtual assistant in the United States in 2023 was about $24 per hour.

3. Audio and Video Transcription

Transcriptionists convert audio and video recordings into written documentation. There are usually typing tests and recommended typing speeds, and a decent budget laptop will help. Also, keep in mind that some training may be required for certain types of work, such as legal or medical transcription.

According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a transcriptionist is about $20 per hour.

4. Selling things online

Make Money Without a Job, The first step is to decide what to sell — do you have vintage clothes, electronics, or furniture that you no longer use? Next is determining the best site to use to sell them. Check out sites like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.

5. Housesitting

Housesitting can include keeping a house clean and organized, caring for pets, watering plants, delivering mail and packages, and more.

Benefits include having flexible hours, choosing your own clients, and setting your own rates. You can choose to house sit anywhere in your neighborhood, city, or the world, sometimes with free travel accommodations.

Check out websites like housesitter.com and housesittersamerica.com, but be aware that many sites charge a fee to use their platform to find jobs. And some house-sitting platforms focus on finding free places to stay where you want to travel, rather than paying for gigs.

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6. Write online reviews

Make Money Without a Job, Many companies that sell a product or service may pay users for feedback or reviews. Some websites pay for reviews and surveys with cash or a check upfront. On other sites, users earn points for each survey they take, and those points can be redeemed for cash, checks, gift cards, or prizes.

7. Start a blog - Make Money Without a Job

Once you start writing quality content, you can use advertising, affiliate marketing, courses, e-books, and more to monetize your blog. You will likely need to build a significant audience before you can make money blogging.

8. Gaming on Twitch

Gamers can make money playing video games on Twitch, the world’s leading livestreaming platform, but success and earnings are different. Check out this article to learn how to make money on Twitch.

9. Selling Photography

Turn your hobby or talent for photography into income by selling your images on stock photography websites and freelance marketplaces like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Upwork, and Fiverr. You can use your portfolio to acquire clients without using a third-party website.

If you don’t have access to a camera, consider using your phone and investing in editing software like Adobe Photoshop.

10. Pet Sitting

Make Money Without a Job, Pet sitting can be a great side hustle for college students or anyone else looking for flexible hours and rates. To get started, sign up with a pet-sitting service like Rover or Fetch! Pet Care. Or, you could start a pet sitting business in your area and grow your business through referrals. According to Indeed.com, the average hourly wage for a pet sitter is about $15.

11. Do freelance work

If you have a skill or interest in writing, graphic design, or coding, you can become a freelancer. You can also learn to use generative artificial intelligence tools, which can help you make money by creating or editing AI content or teaching others how to use AI tools.

Freelancers can use Fiverr and Upwork, online marketplaces for freelance services, to create ads or personal websites, and market services using social media, email, and word of mouth.

The average hourly wage for a freelancer is about $23, according to Indeed.com. But keep in mind that freelance salaries vary depending on the industry, clients, schedule, economic market, and more.

12. Create a Podcast

Make Money Without a Job, Starting a podcast can be a fun way to make money. A January 2023 survey by Edison Research found that 42% of Americans ages 12 and older listened to a podcast in the past month, up from 38% in 2022. Learn how to make money with podcasts and build an audience as you launch your program

13. Become a rideshare or delivery driver

If you have time on your schedule and love interacting with people, consider signing up with a rideshare company. Read more about how to become an Uber or Lyft driver. Also, research smaller rideshare companies like Via. Similarly, you can make money delivering food as an Uber Eats or DoorDash driver.

Pay for drivers varies by location, and expenses will be deducted from earnings. (See how NerdWallet writer Tommy Tindle did it when he checked out how much DoorDash pays.) And to compare rideshare driver salaries by area, visit Indeed.com.

14. Tutoring

If you’re knowledgeable about a specific subject, tutoring can be a great way to make money.

You can explore different approaches and learn how to start a tutoring business. Options include a franchise or a school, or teaching in your home. In fact, the average salary for a tutor in the United States is about $24 per hour.

15. Renting Items - Make Money Without a Job

You can rent out clothes, cars, houses, spare bedrooms, furniture, appliances, storage, tech equipment, and other items. Specialized websites often offer a specific type of rental. A platform like KitSplit would be great for those who rent out camera gear, while Vrbo might be best for those who rent out their homes. Also check out common websites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

16. Use a cash back app

Who says you can’t get cash back for spending money? There are several coupon and cash back apps that let you link your debit card, bank account, or Venmo and PayPal accounts and then earn a percentage back on your purchases at select retailers. Sometimes you earn points that can be converted into cash or gift cards.

Make Money Without a Job, 16 Ways to Make Money Without a Job

Make Money Without a Job