10 Creative Ideas on How to Earn Easy Money

If it were possible for people to make money by doing nothing, then we would probably all be millionaires. Obviously, not all of us afford the luxury of having other people work in our stead, and simply collecting the “prize”. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of people have admitted that they are not satisfied with their salaries, and considering the current economical crisis in which America and other European countries are, it should not come as a surprise. According to a recent poll, the price of happiness is no more than $50.000.

We know that money doesn’t buy happiness, but poverty doesn’t either. Furthermore, lack of money can only bring misfortune. Would you like to spend half your day figuring out how to pay the bills, or frantically searching for a new job? Probably not. Luckily for you, there are ways to earn easy money without having to give up on your social life all-together. For those who are feeling very ambitious, the life of a freelancer, or online entrepreneur might be a solution (see 10 Best Freelance Job Platforms if you are interested on the matter). However, for most of us, some extra income, in the shortest amount of time can be the solution.

The truth is that there is no way of making extra money, without working for it. What I will be presenting to you, are a few quick, and efficient solutions of adding to your normal income, and in certain situations, even replacing it all-together. There is an old saying which says that it is better to work intelligently, than to work hard. If you are planning on filling for unemployment, you should think of alternative revenue solutions for your financial security.

Lastly, if you are expecting a top ten list of sugar-coated techniques that will turn you into millionaires by the end of the month, you’re in the wrong place, because there is no such thing as a free lunch (unless, of course, you luck out). The methods described bellow are reliable, they have nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with your willingness to commit to them. So without any further ado, here are the top 10 easiest way to make money online:

1. Sell Useless Stuff – FAST

To earn easy money with no work is the American dream, sadly it is nearly impossible to become a millionaire just by snapping your finger. Nevertheless, the easiest way to boost your income (when you need fast money) is by selling tones of stuff. Obviously, this will not work forever, but you can at least make some extra bucks. Here are the best thing you can sell, and how.

#1 Sell Bodily Materials:

Granted, this method may sound a little strange, but I’m not telling you to sell your organs or anything. There are certain parts of your body that you can easily get rid of, for large amounts of money. Have you ever heard of companies that buy hair? They are usually wig businesses, so if your hair is longer than ten inches, you might want to consider this possibility. People pay very well for hair, especially if it is healthy, untreated and uncolored. Another thing you could sell for a lot of money, is plasma. Every donation can bring you 50 dollars, on average, and it is something that you can do on a regular basis.

Another seemingly unorthodox tip would be to sell sperm, and we only recommend it to guys who are really short on cash, because it is indeed a responsibility to share your genetic materials. There is also a solution for the ladies! By selling your eggs you can earn up to 10.000 dollars, depending on how much a certain family is willing to give for your genetic material. If I were ever short on money, I would definitely consider this solution, even if I would have to go through a few procedures beforehand.

#2 Sell Your Clothes, Books, Jewelry etc..

The truth is that we usually have a lot of crap lying around the house. We never use it, but we can’t just seem to let go of it. Stop collecting all that junk, because you know it will never be useful to you anyway, and sell it. This way you can make a lot of cash, really fast. Obviously, you can’t sell anything. Before even considering an article for sale, think whether or not you would like to purchase it once more. Clothes are something everybody has, but somehow we can never stop buying them. Girls, in particular, have the tendency to lose control, so if you have some cute outfits at your disposal, you should definitely sort through your wardrobe.

#3 Are you an avid reader?

If you think that your library holds a nice collection of books (rare ones, old ones, interesting ones), try to sell them online. Books in good condition can even be worth a few hundred bucks. Additionally, if you have “vintage items” (old phones, antiquities etc.) you can check them out online and see what they would be worth. Speaking of which, have you checked out these super-cool 15 Vintage Phone Designs? Jewelry can also be sold, but make sure you put a correct price.

#4 Have you ever considered selling metal?

“Metal” can range from priceless jewelry, to simple scraps of metal from your backyard. As a matter of fact, scraps of metal are a great way to earn easy money, because there is always some sort of flea market that needs them. Depending on its weight, you can even make a few thousand bucks. Don’t be reckless with tin and metal cans, because they can also pe sold for 70 cents/pound. (this way you can make money, and protect the environment).

Trick: purchase old, run-down cars, and sell the metal from them. In most cases, the metal casings are more valuable than the price of the car.

 

The only problem that remains now is where you should sell them. Here are a few suggestions:

• You can hold a garage/yard sale. Nevertheless, at garage sales people are usually expecting “freebies”, so prices should not surpass 50% of the initial value. Before you hold your little sale, make sure you properly announce it through the neighborhood.
• There is a possibility to sell stuff to second hand shops, or small boutiques. Although it is a fast method, you might only be able to sell valuables, and the prices are not that flattering. I would hold this as a last resort.

• The best way to sell your things is online. I prefer to use social media, because that’s where all my friends are, and it’s the best way to “abuse” them. If you are shy, however, you can try your luck on Craiglist, eBay, and other online shops.

#5 Rent Some of Your Space

 

No matter how poor you are, you probably have a place to call your own. If this is the case, I’m pretty sure you can make do without one of your rooms. People are always looking for a cheap place to stay, and by renting one of your rooms you can make constant money, with little to no effort. Before you do this, make sure you write up a lease and get a hold of proper paperwork. You can advertise your room-for-rent on the internet or in the local newspaper.

2. Part-Time Jobs and Gigs – FAST

You are probably out of money, there are bills to pay, the mortgage is due, and you have no idea what you’re going to do to fix things. Luckily for you, there is a faster way to earn easy money than by looking for a new jobs. Granted, the examples below are still jobs, but they will not require you to send out CVs, or work under contract, so you can stop whenever you feel like it. Here are a few easy jobs, that you can do to supplement your income:

#1 Cover Your Car with Advertisements

This is the easiest thing you could ever do. Have you ever seen a car plastered with advertisements driving down the street? You probably thought it’s a company car, but you are wrong. There are a great number of companies that actually pay drivers to post commercials on their cars. It usually depends on the type of firm, and advertisement, but you can get paid between 400 and 900 dollars per month, simply for becoming a moving billboard (here’s a place where you can get started: FreeCarMedia).Anyway, all you will have to do is drive around town. The only difficult part about this job, is to get selected. If you are a professional driver, cab driver, or truck driver, the chances will increase.

#2 Work for a Cosmetic Company

Do you have lots of girlfriends? Than you should definitely consider working for a company like Avon or Oriflame. All you have to do is bring the product flier with you while visiting, and send out the orders. This way you will get discounts on products, and also make a few honest bucks. Although I am not the biggest fan of selling stuff like this, it is still a good alternative revenue solution, so it is worth at least one try.

#3 Work at Special Events or Conventions

More and more companies are trying to expand their reach in different cities. They hold webinars, conventions and special events in order to do this, but in most cases they need the help of a local person. You can be that person. The job descriptions usually include answering the phone, attracting attention to your designated booth, handing out fliers or samples etc. Sometimes you will only have to wear a T-Shirt and smile. The pay is great because it is given out by the hour, but the visual appearance is something that these companies care about.

#4 Walk Your Neighbors’ Dogs

When it comes to walking the dog, people are very lazy. They hate going out in the middle of the night, early in the morning ,through rain or snow just so that their precious mut can take a leak. This means that they are willing to pay very well for someone who will do the job for them. Why do we believe that this is an easy way to make money? Because you can combine it with your morning walk, stay fit, and get paid.

#5 Become a Mystery Shopper

If you are the forever-alone type of person (just joking), you can have some fun with this job. What you basically have to do is to walk around town, buy gas, eat somewhere, but clothes, and when you are done, you must report to the employer. The idea is to tell them how clean the place was, how the staff treated you etc. You will then receive the money you spent, and a pay that ranges from 12-25 dollars per assignment. Check out this website if you are interested in such a gig.

#6 Become a Baby-Sitter

If you’re good with kids, and you want to make fast money, you can consider this type of job. You will basically have to take care of other people’s children while they are at work. The payment is usually decided by both parties.

3. Become a Human Test Subject – FAST

It may not be your life’s dream to become a human guinea-pig, but hey, at least earn some good cash, and when I say good, I mean great. At the moment, there are countless of science projects which require humans to take part in them, so we’ll jump right to them.

#1 Participate as a Test Subject in a Drug Trial

If you really need money, you can always become a drug trial test subject. In most cases you will be administered certain substances, and scientists will report how you respond to them. The Thomson CenterWatch Clinical Trials Listing service, is a wonderful resource for the latest developments in the world of drugs. Clinical Connection is another is another way of finding opportunities according to different criteria.

#2 Join the Space Flight Simulation Study

Have you ever considered surrendering your body to science? Now is your chance. NASA is always looking for ways to minimize the changes that occur to the body during space flight, and this can only be done with the help of tests. Obviously, astronauts are too busy with other tests, but you can help them. Nevertheless, these studies are quite long (over 2 months), but they pay very well. The Flight Analogs Project Team at the Johnson Space Center is looking for test subjects that fit their criteria, take a look.

#3 The NASA Bed Rest Study

You have probably heard about this, and although it sounds like some sort of urban legend, it is 100% true. You receive 5000 dollars for lying in bed for 70 days. Granted, it may sound too good to be true, bot three months of bed rest is not something a lot of people can afford to “rest”. The NASA study means that you will not be able to do a lot of physical activity, but you will be allowed to watch TV or use computers. You will basically be paid to be a couch (or better yet, bed) potato. So if you were ever thinking of writing your own book, now is the chance to do so.

#4 Surveys

Probably the least invasive way of making money by being a test subject, is the survey. Not only will it not include risking your health, but you will also be able to protect your intimacy. In order to get started you will have to join an online survey company, fill out a profile, and wait for notifications. There is also a similar thing called focus group, where you are asked to go on location and answer a few questions.

4. Active and Passive Investing – SLOW

Truth be told, there is no “get-money-rich-scheme” that works for all. The only person that has benefited from it is the schemer, and the chances of repeating it are close to zero. If you want to earn easy money you will still have to do something, or at least invest some of your time.

A good way of making easy money (by easy money we mean not having to conduct any strenuous physical/psychical labor) is investing. At the moment there are two types of investing: passive and active. Active investing means making constant updates to your portfolio, and trading stocks. This type of investing is quite dangerous, because there are many daily fluctuations of the market stock, and short term capital gains. At the moment, the average holding time of a stock is roughly half a year (which is not a lot compared to the 4.5 years registered in the mid 70s).

Passive investing, on the other hand, means buy-and-hold strategies. In other words, you buy a stock (or index fund), hold it for a long time (or forever).

“An investment strategy involving limited ongoing buying and selling actions. Passive investors will purchase investments with the intention of long-term appreciation and limited maintenance…Unlike active investors, passive investors buy a security and typically don’t actively attempt to profit from short-term price fluctuations. Passive investors instead rely on their belief that in the long term the investment will be profitable.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Asset Allocation

Asset allocation is another nifty thing in investing. It simply means the process of apportioning asset classes in your portfolio according to risk and reward. These strategies vary from person to person, but the idea is that asset allocation ensures you don’t have undue risk in any class. In other words, it will protect you from large market fluctuations. It is especially important for passive investing, because it ensures minimal trades. It will help you buy low, and sell high because your share in bonds will be reallocated and balanced.

The dream of passive investing is to build a portfolio, and wait for the cash to roll in. Nevertheless, it will take some work to create a steady return, now more than ever, that the economy is very volatile. What you will want to do is find a stable set of assets, that will eventually start making money. The best solution would be to invest in real-estate, P2P (person-to-person private market), loans, bonds, and dividend-paying stocks.

But as beautiful as the dream of passive investing sounds, it still requires a lot of active investing at the start (especially if you did not inherit your stocks). The secret is to conduct enough research on the market before you start. If you want to make a good investment, you should prepare to research and build your portfolio. It might take a few years to do this, but once you are all set up, you will be able to rely on a good passive income.

“Of course, even when you do get to the point that your portfolio can pretty much generate your desired income, you still need to remain somewhat involved. This is true not only for business investments but for income-producing securities. You might need to occasionally re-balance your passive portfolio, sell losing assets and buy undervalued assets. A couple times a year, it makes sense to check with your property management company and make sure it is doing a good job. “ (Source: Money.News)

BONUS:

 

Certain banks offer decent amounts of money simply for opening a new account, and there are also no strings attached. Let’s take ING as an example. They are offering a nice incentive for people opening an Orange Savings Account (25 dollars), and an even nicer one for those opening an Electric Orange Checking Account (50 dollars). Furthermore, there are no fees, or overdraft policies involved. With ING Direct you can also get a 100 dollar bonus if you transfer your brokerage account to ShareBuilder. Last but not least, for every referred friend you earn 10 dollars, and you can earn up to a maximum of 500 dollars.

5. Sell Your Knowledge – SLOW

You have probably not lived your life for nothing until now, so there is definitely something that you are good at, may it be cooking, dancing, internet, writing, foreign languages, etc. Try do pin-point your strengths and put them to good use. There are many people online who want to learn new things, and they are actually willing to pay for this.

#1 Classes

It doesn’t matter what you want to teach (knitting, soap making, yoga, fitness etc), the idea is to market yourself in an unique way. Don’t just start another boring cooking class, make it more specific. The truth is that there are endless possibilities, but you need to find a fresh way of starting. As long as you provide people with something special, they will register.

The initial idea is the most important step. If you start on the wrong foot, you might never earn any profit, but if you do get it right, you will make money fast. Keep in mind that people will want to know exactly what they’re gonna get for their money, so you will have to explain concisely (you are pitching your idea to possible clients). Furthermore, you must decide in advance how you are going to teach the class. Will it be once a week, twice a week. How will you structure it? It is a commitment for a few weeks/months so make sure you are up for the task.

Before establishing your prices, snoop around at the competition. Decide what you can offer that they cannot (or vice-versa) and adjust your expectations accordingly. If you plan on becoming a in-home teacher compare your talent and expertise with that of others. Don’t forget, that lower prices can be a great selling-point, and the more people sign up, the better your income will get. Before you start you should check out the 20 best business websites.

Another great selling point is establishing certain premium packages for long-term clients, or groups. If ,for example, you are giving flower-arrangement classes, you can cut a deal with the local flower-shop to utilize their flowers and then market them to your clients. This way you will save money, and maybe even make some. Last but not least, the key to success lies in your ability to get the word out. Word of mouth, and personal recommendations are the best way to market yourself, so make sure that people are contempt with your classes. Market yourself on social media, or by giving out fliers in busy places (churches, schools etc, depending on your target audience). Once your business picks up, you can think of creating a special website, where people can find you.

#2 Consulting

Most consultants offer their advice for a certain fee. Many businesses use consultants to garner media attention (with the help of press releases), or to develop certain events. Individuals also need consultants for tax or financial advice, personal problems etc. Basically, if you have a proven skill in a certain area, you can become a consultant. The great thing about this is that you can work from your home. But before you get started, here are a few tricks:

• Prove to your potential clients that you really have the necessary knowledge to help them. Become a member of certain organizations, create a portfolio, or market yourself by word of mouth. Another option would be to create a blog, but this can be time-consuming. The easiest way to show your skills is to take certified tests, in order to prove your credentials.

• As a consultant, you will not market someone, you will be marketing yourself, so make sure that you package yourself in a way that people like you. Why would anyone trust their life savings to you? Why would anyone want your legal advice? These are questions that you must find an answer to.

• Last but not least, people will probably be visiting you at your home, so make sure your office looks neat. A professional office will make people trust you even more. If you are running low on space, you can transform your study room or garage in a home office.

#3 Writing

Many companies are looking for copywriters to market their brand online. In case you didn’t know, the online medium is full of opportunities, and companies are trying to improve their SEO performance in order to appear in top searches. This can only be done by appropriate content marketing techniques. In other words, they need high-quality articles related to their niche.

If you are talented at writing, or you have certain knowledge in a relevant field, why not share it with other people? You can check out some freelancing sites, and choose jobs from there. Why are we considering this an easy way to make money online? Let’s say you are a PHD in science, or you are really good with knitting (or God knows what else).

You will actually be writing about things that other people do not know. So your prices will be higher than that of a copywriter (who usually spun content, or regurgitates it from other articles). In addition to this, there are also doctors and experts who make audio notes on patients, and need them transcribed. You can do this for them, for decent amounts of cash.