Are you creative? Skilled at a certain craft? Or just willing to put in a little effort and a couple hours a week? If you said yes to any of those, you can be making an extra $500+ per month!
After all, it’s 2022. And doing things like working as a remote freelancer, using apps to find gig work, and making money online have never been easier.
The best part: this is true no matter if you’re a high school student, college student, recent grad, or full-time worker. Anyone can make extra money these days!
The only thing is that you have to pick the one or two money-making methods that will work best for you in the long run.
To help you figure that part out, we’ll be sharing 37 of the best ways to make or save — at least — an extra $500 per month. We’ll also be sharing the apps, websites, and additional resources that make each of those methods incredibly easy to start ASAP.
Sound good? Awesome! Let’s jump right in.
37 Ways to Make an Extra $500 a Month
Below, you’re about to find some of the easiest ways you can get started making extra money. Some you’ll likely have heard of or maybe even tried before. And others could be entirely new.
Some may also take some time to build before you see a profit. While others you could start earning money from today. You also may need to combine two or more methods to get to a full $500 a month.
Some you may also need to 18 years or older. So, if you’re still in high school, you may want check out our list of online jobs for teens instead.
Either way, we encourage you to go through the entire list, pick one or two ideas that interest you, and commit to making it work!
#1 Resell Your Clothes and Accessories
What is it?
Reselling is one of the easiest ways to make some quick extra money. All you have to do is go through your unused or unwanted things, determine what someone else might find valuable, and set up an attractive ad on an online marketplace.
If your closet is full of old or unused clothing and accessories that are in good condition and from high-quality brands, that’s a good place to start!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To start reselling your clothes and accessories, create an account and start listing your items on reselling platforms like:
Where you can learn more
Here’s How to Sell Clothes Online and Make Money in 2021
#2 Resell Your Electronics
What is it?
You can also resell old and unused electronics. This is a great way to make extra money if you’ve got a bunch of old cell phones, tablets, video games, watches, etc. that you no longer use or want.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To start reselling your electronics, create an account and start listing your items on one of the platforms below:
Where you can learn more
11 Best Places to Sell Your Used Electronics in 2021
#3 Resell Furniture and Collectables
What is it?
It’s also incredibly easy to resell old furniture and collectables. And sometimes you don’t even need to own these things to start! Whenever people move out of their home or apartment, there are often items that they no longer want and can’t sell quickly enough. So, what do they do?
They list them on places like Facebook MarketPlace and Craigslist for cheap or free! All you have to do is go pick up the item and resell it on one of the platforms below.
You can also usually find things you can buy and then resell for a higher price at places like garage sales, antique stores, and second hand stores.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
Once you’ve determined what you want to sell, you can list everything on platforms like:
Where you can learn more
How to Resell for a Side Hustle (and Make Serious Bank)
#4 Rent Out Your Stuff
What is it?
You probably have a ton of things lying around your home that you don’t really use anymore. We’re talking about things like power tools, kitchen appliances, and old sports equipment. Well, you can rent those things out regularly and make easy money!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To get started, all you need to do is set up an account with a platform like FriendWithA. Then, just pick the things you’re comfortable renting and set your price.
Where you can learn more
12 Ways to rent your possessions
#5 Dog Sitting and Walking
What is it?
If you love dogs, this one’s a no-brainer. People will hire you to help walk and take care of their dogs when they’re too busy. And some dog walkers report making up to $1000/month!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To get started, you just need to set up a profile with one of the companies listed below and pass a background check. That’s it!
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How to Make Extra Money as a Dog Walker and Sitter
#6 Cancel Unused Subscriptions
What is it?
Signing up for free trials of subscriptions to things like TV and music streaming services is fun. Forgetting to cancel the ones you don’t actually want and constantly getting charged monthly without even realizing it… not so much! Luckily, there are services that can help you manage, cancel, and save money on your subscriptions.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To get started, you sign up for an account with a service like Rocket Money that can also help you do things like negotiate your bills for lower rates and track your spending.
Where you can learn more
I Saved $468 a Month by Cutting My Subscriptions and Recurring Fees
#7 Online Surveys
What is it?
Companies will pay you to take surveys to collect feedback on their products, services, promotions, and ideas. You may not make a full $500 a month from this method alone, but it’s an easy one to do whenever you have spare time.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To get started, all you need to do is create a profile and fill out some demographic information on one or more of the platforms below.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How To Earn Money By Taking Online Surveys
#8 Test Websites
What is it?
Sometimes companies want or need to make sure the design and navigation of their website are intuitive for their target users. To learn what they can improve, these companies pay people like you to test the website and provide feedback.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
No special skills are required for this side hustle. Just sign up with one of the platforms below.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How and Where You Can Make Money Testing Websites
#9 House Sitting
What is it?
While away from home, some homeowners will hire a house-sitters to do things like water plants, collect mail, keep things tidy, and care for pets. If you’re trustworthy, responsible, and know where to look, you can make decent money as a house-sitter no matter where you are in the world.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
Getting started as a housesitter is easy and, generally, doesn’t require any special skills apart from being responsible and good with pets. If that sounds like you, sign up for a paid membership with one or more of the sites below, complete a background check, and then have access to an unlimited number of house sitting jobs.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
What is house sitting and what do house sitters do?
#10 House/Handy Work
What is it?
A lot of people have at least one or two household tasks that they either hate doing or just don’t have the time to do. You know: things like cleaning gutters, installing household electronics, building furniture, or even just keeping things tidy around the house. Thanks to a few apps, you can get paid to do one or all of those tasks for them.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
Obviously, you need to be skilled in whatever service you’d like to provide. But other than that, you just need to create a free profile on one of the platforms below.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
The Ultimate TaskRabbit Review: These Two Taskers’ Actual Experience
#11 Food and Grocery Delivery
What is it?
This one’s also pretty popular — especially during this past year that likely required you to spend more time at home than you’d like. So, we’ll be brief. People want food or groceries delivered to their door. They pay you to pick up and deliver it. All on your own schedule. Enough said.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
You’ll need to sign up with one of the platforms listed below, have a reliable method of transportation (car, motorbike, bicycle), have a valid license for that method of transportation, and pass a background check.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
13 Ways to Make Money Delivering Food, Packages, and More
#12 Drive for Uber or Lyft
What is it?
This is another popular way to make money. So, we won’t spend too much time explaining. But, in case you didn’t know, it’s worth mentioning that the average person who drives regularly for Uber or Lyft makes a little over $350 a month. So, you may need to combine this method with another one in this article to achieve that extra $500 a month.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To drive for either platform, you’ll need a car in good condition that has four doors and meets state requirements. You’ll also need to have a valid driver’s license, pass a screening process, and have at least the minimum car insurance required by your state. Each service also has a few additional requirements that you can check out on their website below.
Where you can learn more
How to Become an Uber, Lyft Driver
#13 Cash Back Apps
What is it?
Cash back apps reward you for using their app to do online shopping. Every time you make a purchase, you’ll receive either credits you can redeem at select stores or cash to spend how you please.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To start earning cash back on your purchases, download one or more apps like:
Where you can learn more
How to Use Cash-Back Apps to Save Money Daily
#14 Credit Card Balance Transfer
What is it?
If you have high-interest credit card debt, you may be able to save some money by transferring your balance over to a card that offers zero interest for a certain introductory period (e.g. 18 months). By doing this, you can continue to pay down your balance while saving money that would have otherwise been spent on interest.
Where you can learn more
How Credit Card Balance Transfers Work
#15 Credit Card Rewards
What is it?
By using certain credit cards, you can earn points or cash back every time you spend. Depending on the card, you can expect anywhere between 1-5% in cashback — which, unless you charge a lot to your card monthly, probably won’t get you $500 a month. But sometimes, the rewards (to be used for things like travel, store discounts, and more) can help you save some serious cash in the long run.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To qualify for the best rewards credit cards, you’ll need to have good to excellent credit. For some cards, you may also need to pay an annual fee.
Where you can learn more
How To Use A Credit Card To Make Money And Earn Extra Cash
#16 Freelance Audio Transcription
What is it?
Some companies need audio files to be transcribed and captioned. As a freelance audio transcriber, you listen to the audio, accurately type what you hear, and create polished transcriptions for the company to use however they need.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
For this job, you’ll need a good pair of headphones, your computer or laptop, high-speed internet, typing skills, and good listening skills in English and/or any foreign languages you speak fluently.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
5 Platforms Where You Can Earn Money by Transcribing Audio
#17 Freelance Virtual Assistant
What is it?
Virtual assistants help busy professionals with a wide variety of tasks. For example, you may be asked to do things like admin work, data entry, research, creative content creation, website management, data analytics, and more. And because there will always be entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals who need help, this job is always in demand!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
Because the services you offer as a virtual assistant can vary, so will the necessary skill set. But, even with just a few basic professional and technical skills, you can get started right now. To easily find clients, check out one of the platforms below.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How To Become A Virtual Assistant
#18 Apply for a Student Loan Forgiveness Program
What is it?
If you’re a college graduate with student loans, you know the monthly bills can be costly. But did you know that if you work in certain fields – such as nursing, education, and law – you can get some of your balance forgiven? If not, you do now! And with your overall balance lowered, you can either end up paying less every month or pay off your student loans faster than you expected.
What do you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)?
To get started, first check the article below to see if you’re in one of the professions that qualify. Then, you’ll need to apply directly for student loan forgiveness with the relevant program.
Where you can learn more
Do You Qualify For Student Loan Forgiveness?
#19 Change Your Federal Student Loan Repayment Plan
What is it?
If you have federal student loans, there are a variety of different payment plans you can choose from. But, for some reason, a lot of people don’t go through the trouble of choosing the best plan for their current financial situation. As a result, you can end up paying way more than you need to each month. Luckily, it’s never too late to change that. And we can help!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To get started, all you need is information and details about your federal student loans. We take care of the rest.
Where you can learn more
Scholly PayOff | Reduce Your Student Loan Debt Today
#20 Refinance Your Private Student Loans
What is it?
When you refinance your student loans, you trade your existing loan for a new one with a private financial institution. By doing this, you can benefit from lower interest rates. This can lower your monthly payments and save you money over time. Refinancing is typically best for people who have private student loans.
If you have federal student loans, refinancing probably isn’t a good idea. That’s because federal student loans already have relatively low-interest rates and the potential for student loan forgiveness after a set number of years. While uncertain, there is also still the chance that some or all of your federal student loan debt could be canceled.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To refinance your student loans, you’ll need to contact one or more private lenders who refinance student loans to find which one can offer you the best terms and conditions.
Where you can learn more
How To Refinance Student Loans And Reduce Your Monthly Payments
#21 Babysitting / Nanny
What is it?
You for sure know this one. Busy parents and guardians need someone to help with childcare. And you’re a trustworthy person to look after and play with the kids for a set period of time. You may have done this for free for your relatives. But you can turn it into a business, too!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To succeed as a babysitter or nanny, you’ll definitely need to be good with kids. It’s also a good idea to take a babysitter course and get certifications for CPR and general first aid.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
#22 Online Language Tutor or Teacher
What is it?
All over the world, people are looking to learn and practice foreign languages. And you can help them (and get paid!) — even if you only speak English and don’t have any formal teaching certification. You don’t even need to leave your home. Because all of you can meet with all of your students online.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
Becoming an online language tutor is pretty simple. You just need to sign up with one of the platforms below, create an introduction video for students to watch, and set your schedule and price per lesson. If you have a formal teaching qualification (e.g. TEFL), you can also sign up to be an online language teacher and charge more per lesson.
As far as equipment, you probably already have everything you need. Most teachers just use their laptop, a simple microphone (like the one on a pair of headphones), and a high-speed internet connection. Of course, you can also invest more into your business as you progress. But those basics are all you need to get started!
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How to Make Money from Languages: Become a Language Tutor
#23 Freelance Editing & Proofreading
What is it?
Do you consider yourself a spelling and grammar nerd? Well, you can make money for it! That’s right. There are tons of aspiring authors, bloggers, students, companies, and more who are looking for someone like you to help polish their writing.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To be a freelance editor and proofreader, the most important thing to have is a method of finding clients. Check out one of the platforms below. Or build your own website to market your services.
Of course, you’ll also need to be skilled in editing and proofreading for spelling, grammar, style, tone in one or more languages.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How to Become a Successful Freelance Editor and Proofreader
#24 Academic Tutoring
What is it?
Students of all ages need help studying for standardized exams, getting ahead in their classes at school, writing papers, and completing assignments. If you consider yourself knowledgeable in any academic field, you can find students who will pay for your help.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To get started, you just need to be confident that you can teach and explain difficult concepts in one or more academic subjects. Then, go sign up to tutor and find students on one of the websites below.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How to Start a Tutoring Business
#25 Design and Sell Your Own Merch
What is it?
Ever have a creative idea for a design for something like a T-shirt, hoodie, phone case, tote bag, leggings, or mug? Well, you can create the design (or hire someone else to do it), have it put on the merch, and then sell it online using Amazon, eBay, or your own online store!
And thanks to companies like Printful, Teespring, and Amazon, you don’t even need to buy the merch yourself. It can all be printed, packaged, and shipped on demand without you ever needing to touch the physical product!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
For this to work, you’ll need at least one design to put on your merch. If you don’t have the skills to do this, you can hire a graphic designer to bring your idea to life.
Then, you’ll need to either set up an online store or register to sell your merch on a site like Amazon. You may also decide to set up accounts on social media to market and advertise your products.
Where you can learn more
How To Start A Clothing Store—7 Essential Steps
#26 Stock Photography and Videos
What is it?
Whether you’re a trained professional or an amateur photographer/videographer, you can make money selling your photos and videos. Companies buy your photos and videos to use on their marketing materials, website, app, promotional videos, presentations, etc.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
You’ll obviously need to have some photography/videography and editing skills for this to work. But again, you don’t need to be a trained professional. You just need the tools (e.g. a high-quality digital camera), professional editing software, and a way to easily market and sell your work.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How to Make Money as a Photographer in 2021
#27 Investing
What is it?
By investing, your money can make money for you. Now, this won’t happen overnight. But if you’re patient and make smart decisions, investing is one of the best ways to build significant wealth over time. And if you think investing is only for the rich, you’re wrong
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
These days, you can get started with investing with very little money thanks to discount online brokerages (e.g. Charles Schwab), robo-advisors (e.g. Betterment), and micro-investing apps (e.g. Acorns).
Where you can learn more
2021 Beginner’s Guide To Investing [For College Students And Graduates]
#28 Rent Out Space in Your Home
What is it?
You’ve likely stayed in an Airbnb apartment before when traveling. So, you don’t need us to tell you that’s an option. But that’s not what we’re talking about here either.
We’re talking about renting out storage space in your home. Because there are people who need space to store things like their furniture, car, and bicycles but don’t want to deal with expensive storage warehouses. So, if you have the extra space in your garage, basement, etc., you can be just the person they need.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
Getting started with this income source is pretty easy. All you need to do is create a free account with a service like Neighbor or StoreAtMyHouse.
Where you can learn more
How To Earn Money Renting Storage Space in Your Home
#29 Rent Out Your Car
What is it?
If there are times when you don’t need your car or have an extra car, you can rent it out to people using services like Turo. According to Turo’s website, the average annual income of someone renting out one car (valued between $25,000 and $34,999) for just seven trips per month is $10,516!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
For this to work, you’ll need a car (obviously), insurance, and an account with Turo or similar services like GetAround or HyreCar.
Where you can learn more
Build a small car sharing business
#30 Blogging
What is it?
Think about something you’re interested in. It could be anything. We guarantee there are hundreds of blogs on that exact topic. And some of them are run by bloggers who make good money through ad revenue, affiliate links, and marketing their own products. That could be you!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To make money as a blogger, the most important skill to have is writing. But you’ll also want to make sure you know how to create engaging content and promote it to your target audience.
Other digital marketing skills (e.g. SEO) are also important, especially if you’re writing about a popular topic. Lastly, you’ll need to set up, register, and maintain a website or publish on a platform like Medium.
Where you can learn more
How to Make Money Blogging in 2021
#31 Create a YouTube Channel
What is it?
There’s a good chance you already spend hours every week watching videos on YouTube. You likely also have a few influencers that you look to for regular content. Well, with a bit of work and passion, you could be just like them!
YouTubers make money in a variety of ways. Yes, you can make money from ad revenue once you qualify for the YouTube Partner program. But you can make money in other ways, such as affiliate marketing, selling products, or licensing your videos for the media.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
It’s obvious that you’ll need to know how to create engaging videos to do well on YouTube. But apart from that, you’ll also need to learn at least a bit about marketing (e.g. YouTube SEO) and have the equipment to create quality videos that your audience will enjoy.
Where you can learn more
How to Make Money on YouTube (Without a Million Subscribers)
#32 Freelance Graphic Design
What is it?
Graphic design is pretty much always in demand. And is, easily, one of the best ways to make an extra $500 a month if you have the skills.
That’s because businesses will always need things like new logos, designs for packaging, posters, templates, images for advertisements, and more. As a freelance graphic designer, you can help those businesses turn their creative ideas to life.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
You’ll need to have creativity and design skills of course. But you’ll also need to invest in professional design tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, InDesign, and Photoshop.
You may also need to buy a new laptop or computer to support prolonged use of those tools if your current one doesn’t have enough HP. Lastly, you’ll need to buy and build your own website to market your services or sign up for one of the platforms below.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
10 Ways To Make Money As a Graphic Designer
#33 Freelance Social Media Manager
What is it?
A freelance social media manager does exactly what you think: manage social media accounts for businesses and entrepreneurs. Specifically, you might have to come up with content ideas, write captions, respond to comments, and find ways to increase followers.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
To get started, you just need to develop a solid understanding of how to create engaging content and build community on one or more social media platforms.
If those aren’t already skills you’re comfortable using, they can easily be learned by taking an online course. Once you’re ready, you can easily find clients on one of the platforms below.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How To Make Money As A Freelance Social Media Manager
#34 Freelance Web Development
What is it?
Freelance web developers help companies build functional and attractive websites. Sometimes this means knowing how to code. But you can even choose to specialize in using platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress to build websites without any advanced coding knowledge.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
You’ll need to have some experience building websites and, as mentioned, may need to know coding languages. Apart from that, you’ll need to either purchase and manage a website to market your services. You can also create a profile and look for clients on one of the following platforms.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
The Complete Freelance Web Developer Guide
#35 Freelance Writing
What is it?
Freelance writers help companies with a variety of marketing materials. For example, as a freelance writer, you can get paid to write blog articles, brochures, website copy, social media captions, ad copy, marketing emails, and so much more.
And, if you get really good, build a stellar reputation, and have specialized knowledge in a particular field, you can charge premium rates that will allow you to vastly exceed an extra $500 a month!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
Being an excellent writer is a good start. But to be successful, it’s also a good idea to spend some time learning about things like copywriting, content marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, UX, SEO, SEM, and sales.
You don’t necessarily need to become an expert in any of those to make $500 a month. But, if you do, it will help you figure out what type of things you’d enjoy writing, the best way to market your services, and how much you can charge.
To market your services and find clients, you may also need to spend money to build and maintain a professional website. But you could also look for clients on one of the websites below.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How to become a freelance writer: A guide to a successful freelance career
#36 Freelance Bookkeeping
What is it?
Bookkeepers help businesses and organizations keep track of and manage their financial records. As a freelance bookkeeper, you’ll help companies stay organized and ready to make important financial decisions. But don’t worry. You won’t need to advise anyone before they make those decisions. That’s their accountant’s job.
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
Some businesses may prefer for you to have a degree in accounting or business. But it’s not required. What’s more important are strong organizational skills and the ability to learn how to use different accounting software like Quickbooks.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How To Start a Bookkeeping Business in 2021 [Step by Step]
#37 Freelance Consulting or Coaching
What is it?
Do you consider yourself to be a specialist in a particular field? If so, you can become a freelance consultant or coach and make good money! Because there are tons of people and businesses that need someone with your specialty skillset to help them grow.
And, really, your specialty could be anything. Maybe you’re really good at creating engaging content for Instagram or Snapchat. Maybe you’re an expert at winning scholarships for college. Or, perhaps, you’ve mastered something else entirely. The possibilities are endless!
What you need to get started (skills, money, apps, etc.)
Apart from having specialized knowledge, you may also want to invest in building and maintaining a simple website to attract clients. But you can also build a profile and personal brand on one of the platforms in the next section to look for work.
Where you can look for work
Where you can learn more
How to Do Virtual Consulting and Earn Money
Final Thoughts
We hope you now see that there are many ways you can make an extra $500 a month. But remember to do yourself a favor. Don’t try to start all of these ways to make money at once!
Instead, pick one or two of the methods that stood out to you most. Then, give yourself time to build them up over time.
Because unless you’re already extremely skilled in one of the freelance jobs we’ve shared, the money won’t happen instantaneously.
But, with patience, you can create a sustainable side hustle that generates extra cash for the long term! Good luck!