Unless you’re one of the Walton sisters and heir to the Walmart fortune, chances are, you could benefit from making an extra $1,000 per month. Whether you’re a full-time mom or full-time employee, bringing in more money can help you:
- Free up your finances
- Pay down your debt
- Increase your savings
- And invest in the things that matter to you
Here are 8 ways to make an extra $1,000 per month and take that next step toward financial stability.
Freelancing
No “how to make money” list would be complete without mentioning freelancing – and for good reason. Freelancing is the go-to way to bring money your way. And if your side hustle is successful enough, you may be able to turn it into a full-time business!
One of the best things about freelancing is that you can tailor your work to your skills. Whether you’re good at writing, designing websites, or building board games, if a niche exists, you can make an extra $1,000 per month filling the need.
Of course, you can find some of the best (and coziest) jobs online, so start there first. Sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer cater mostly to freelancers who want to work online. You can also advertise your service on social media or by word of mouth.
Work as a Virtual Assistant
If you’re organized and enjoy coordinating with clients, working as a virtual assistant might be for you. Tasks range from customer service support to managing calendars to addressing emails, depending on your client(s).
And the best part is, you can choose between freelancing or working for a company that matches clients with assistants! While going through a freelance sites certainly has benefits (such as setting your own schedules), you can also apply to work for companies such as Zirtual or Agencysidekicks.
Start a Blog
If you’re looking to make money immediately, then starting a blog may not be for you. But if you have the time, patience, and energy to build your brand from the ground up, then a blog may be a perfect side project.
To get started, you’ll need to decide what you’re passionate and knowledgeable about. Do you enjoy cooking? Backpacking? Putting together model planes?
Then, you’ll want to design a content plan, find a web host – such as WordPress – and start putting your ideas out there.
Over time, the goal is to bring in money via advertisers, selling products, or putting up paywalls for premium content. (Or a combination of the three.) Because blogs take time to build a readership and rake in sponsors, you likely won’t make $1,000 in your first month – but you might by the end of your first year.
Design Websites
Maybe building a blog isn’t your thing – but you’re still confident in your HTML and CSS abilities. If that’s the case, consider a web design business instead.
After all, websites are a critical component in modern business. From individual bloggers to Walmart executives, plenty of brands are willing to outsource their web design needs to an expert who can make their websites pop.
Freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr provide excellent platforms to launch your name and build your portfolio. You can also advertise on social media, hunt for jobs on Indeed or Glassdoor, or offer services to small businesses in your community.
Sell Your Stuff
Whether you have too much stuff (who doesn’t?) or want to start your own crafting business, selling tangible goods is a popular way to make extra cash on the side. Depending on your wares, you may go through popular sites like:
Whichever service you choose, it’s important to understand where your target market is (and where they aren’t).
Start a Transcription Service
Transcription work can be a little repetitive, but with the right client, the money is worth the work. Typically, transcription work pays based on the length of the audio file; in other cases, you’re paid by the word. So, depending on how fast you type, you can earn an extra $500 to $1,000 in your first few months.
Keep in mind that you’ll need a clear ear and quick fingers to reach this earning goal. The job also requires patience and attention to detail to be successful. But if these traits are your strong suits, the sky’s the limit!
To get started as a transcriptionist, check out freelance sites such as Rev.com. Or, you can target your search to specialized companies like Allegis Transcription, eTranscription Solutions, or National Capitol Contracting.
Publish Your Very Own eBook
If you’re particularly knowledgeable on a topic (or enjoy research) and have an eye for the written word, publishing an eBook can be a way to bring in some passive income for years to come.
To get started, you’ll need to come up with a marketable idea. Maybe you have the secrets to the stock market in your back pocket, or you want to share your love of Italian cooking with the world.
Once you have an idea, you’ll want to do your research. Then comes writing, hunting down images, and the dreaded formatting process. Keep in mind that Amazon has specific formatting requirements for Kindle, whereas general eBook formatting follows ePub or PDF styles. (In other words, formatting in Microsoft Word doesn’t do the trick – you’ll need to invest in a program such as Google Slides or PowerPoint.)
Then, it’s time to publish your book – and watch the money roll in. (Of course, it doesn’t hurt to advertise your new book, either.)
Sit – for Children, Pets, and Houses
One big benefit of most of these jobs is that you can do them from anywhere there’s an internet connection. So why not double up on your earning potential and make more than $1,000 per month?
The great thing about babysitting, pet sitting, and housesitting is that you’ll almost always have some downtime in your day. Babies nap, children go to bed early, and younger teenagers have homework to grumble about.
As for pets? They’re just happy you’re there with them. (And houses just…sit there.)
If you’re ready to launch your sitting career, it helps to narrow your search. For babysitting jobs, sites like SitterCity or UrbanSitter are good places to start, while Rover and PetSitter both cater to children of the four-legged variety. But if you prefer the peace and quiet of an empty house, check out HouseSitter or HouseCarers.
Keep in mind that many of these websites overlap services – for instance, the SitterCity provides both babysitting and pet sitting services, while HouseCarers includes options to sit in houses that also have pets. This provides you more opportunities to tailor your search to the service(s) you wish to provide.
So! Now that you know where to start, break out your laptop, log in to your work host, and double up on your funds. Your bank account will thank you for it.
All Make an Extra $1,000 Per Month with a Good Work Ethic (and a Laptop)
Making an extra $1,000 per month might seem like a lofty goal now. But once you get started, the money will trickle in – and then, hopefully, flow like clockwork. With a little work ethic, some spare time, and an internet connection, you can make your financial dreams come true.