We all know nobody has a money tree in their backyard that grows dollar bills you can pick on-demand. However, you can still get money right now if you’re dealing with an unexpected bill, home repair, medical expense, or whatever it may be that is causing you to scramble for a quick money WITHOUT having to borrow it.

With a little hustle and creativity, you can begin implementing these ideas today to quickly increase your cash flow.

Believe me, my wife and I have had to raise cash quickly without paying late fees or borrowing money. Even if you have enough money in your emergency fund to cover a surprise expense, you can quickly replenish your balance with these earning hacks as well.

Making Extra Money With Your Car or House

Most of us have either a car or a house and which means you can put each of them to work for you to make money. Here are a few of my favorites when it comes to having your car or house go to work for you!

1. Deliver Food, Drinks and Groceries to People

Have you ever thought about delivering food with DoorDash?

Doordash is a service where people can order food, drinks and groceries and have them available for delivery or pickup. The people who provide that service and get paid, are people just like yourself.

Postmates states that experienced couriers can earn up to $25 an hour and work on their own hours.

However, if you only want to deliver groceries to people, then you should also sign up for Instacart.

Instacart pays people quickly to deliver groceries from grocery store to their clients doorstep. Currently, people working with Instacart are making anywhere from $50 – $1,000 per month as a side hustle.

2. Become an Uber Driver

Uber is a great option if you have a car and like interacting with people. There are two additional reasons to consider driving for Uber:

• Flexible hours
• Weekly pay
• Signup incentive for new drivers

Another reason to consider Uber is for their schedule flexibility; you drive when you have time and aren’t beholden to a specific shift or having to be available at least X hours a week.

You can find more information here to determine if driving with Uber is right for you.

3.  Deliver for Uber Eats

Uber Eats allows you earn on your own schedule by delivering food from restaurants to people.

The best thing about Uber Eats is you get to choose your wheels based on the city you live in. Depending on your city, you can deliver for Uber Eats via your car, bike or scooter. Just turn on the app in the morning before work, when you get home, or whenever you have some extra time to make money on your terms.

Also, the driver qualifications are less stringent for Uber Eats. In case you don’t meet the age and vehicle requirements to be a full-fledged Uber driver, you can be an Uber Eats driver until then.

4. Become an Airbnb Host

Become and Airbnb Host and you can start making really good income each month. There are many of benefits to being a homeowner, including the option to rent out your unused rooms for cash. But, by becoming an Airbnb host, travelers stay in your spare bedroom, basement, or second house.

Real estate is one time-tested approach to earning passive income and Airbnb can be less stressful than being a full-time landlord or trying to fix and flip houses for a profit. And, you get to interact with visitors coming from all corners of the world!

5. Rent Out Your Car

If you don’t drive your car every day or have the time to be an Uber driver, you can make some extra cash by renting your car on Turo. You can earn on average $877 a month ($10,516 a year) when your car is worth between $25,000 – $35,000. This income can easily cover your monthly insurance premium and car payment.

Considering most cars are depreciating assets that lose value every day and cost money to maintain, renting your car on Turo is one of the very few ways your car can actually make money for you.

You will receive payment within five days after a rental period ends.

6. Rent Your Spare Bedroom

You can also make money by listing your spare bedroom or a second house as an Airbnb host. An increasing number of travelers prefer staying at Airbnb because it’s typically more reasonable than most hotel rooms and it’s a more enjoyable experience. Airbnb will help you through the listing process so you can begin taking guests and putting your vacant real estate to good use.

I Need Money Now – Earning Online

The good news is if you really need money right now, you can get money right now. Whether you want to make money from home, from an app on your phone or you’re willing to put your skills to work, here are some great ways to start earning income today.

7. Trade In Your Cell Phone and Put $475 in Your Pocket

Buyback Boss is who I continue to use whenever we upgrade to a new phone because they guarantee the most money for your phone and they send same-day payments via check or PayPal.

If you have an old phone in a drawer somewhere, why not sell it today and get paid ASAP? Think of that old phone as cash sitting in your drawer that you need right now.

You can also downgrade to last year’s model (often getting the phone for a few dollars with a new contract) and sell your current phone for up to $695. Here’s a screenshot I snapped of the latest offer I received on my current used phone (iPhone 12 Pro Max) in good condition.

8. Get Money Sent to Your PayPal For Your Opinion

Survey Junkie is a great place to start because cash can be deposited into your PayPal account, or you can get paid out via Amazon or Target gift cards for simply giving you opinion online.

We also have a full list of all different types of survey companies who are looking to pay people for their opinions on different products and brands. You can see the full list of the top survey companies here.

Our Top Pick: Survey Junkie has been around since 2005 and is the most trusted in the survey industry with a Trustpilot Rating of 4.4/5.

You can start making money today by checking out Survey Junkie here.

9. Get Paid to Play Games

Yes, you can actually get paid to play games.

Mistplay is one of the very best places to get started.

The reason is online game creators need to have their games tested by real people before they launch it out to the market. 

For testing out their games on you mobile device, apps like Mistplay will pay via credits. These credits can then be cashed out in the form of different gift cards, including Visa or Amazon gift cards.

We also put together a full list of places that will pay you to play games here.

10. Teach English Online

Earn $14/hr – $22/hr teaching English online to international students. This can be the perfect side hustle opportunity if you want to work before your children wake up or after bedtime. VIPKid is one of the leading online classrooms. To get started, you need a webcam, microphone, and a love for teaching.

Most of these online teaching sites require you to have a teaching degree or prior classroom experience.

11. Save Money and Make Money with the Honey App

The Honey App will search every online coupon for you and apply the best promo code at your checkout for free. This is the first way to save money.

Also, for every 2 people you refer to Honey, they will pay you $10 in the form of popular gift cards like Amazon, Walmart and Target.

By reducing how much you spend, you won’t have to earn as much money from these side hustles. Honey makes it easy to save money when you shop online by automatically applying every known discount code to your order when you checkout.

If you shop at Amazon, Honey also compares the prices of third-party sellers to the current Amazon price to quickly spot the lowest price so you pay less for the exact same product.

With no additional effort, Honey saves you money on products you are going to purchase regardless. Now, make sure you put your savings to good use!

You can also learn about the triple savings hack with honey here.

12. Complete Mini-Online Tasks

Swagbucks is the best place to start when for getting paid to complete tasks such as reading emails, surfing the web, playing games, shopping online and using mobile apps to name a few.

BONUS: One thing I really like about Swagbucks is the option to donate to one of the many charities they work with.

Our Top Pick: The most widely known company is Swagbucks, with a Trust Pilot Rating of 4.3/5.

With Swagbucks, you earn swagbucks that can be redeemed for cash via your PayPal or through gift cards to places like Walmart, Amazon, Express, or even Bass Pro Shops.

13. Get a quick $10 with Rakuten 

Rakuten sends you cash via PayPal for shopping online or in stories at places you already normally shop.

Let’s be clear, unnecessary shopping is one of the last activities you need to do if you need to get money fast, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a smart shopper for those unavoidable purchases. My wife and I shop with Ebates and get up to 40% cash back on nearly every online purchase.

Ebates cashback arrives once a quarter via PayPal or mailed check and you can get a bonus by referring your friends to shop with Ebates too. Using Ebates is like getting paid to shop.

Also, you can get a free $10 when you create an account with Rakuten today.

14. Freelance Online with Fiverr

Freelancing online with Fiverr is another great way to make money online. With Fiverr, you use your talents online without performing manual labor. Here are some of the possible gigs you can perform:

• Writing blog posts
• Graphic design
• Website design
• Creating YouTube videos
• Translation
• Proofreading
• Voice Over
• Jingles, sound effects, and songs

Similar to Fiverr, Upwork is another great platform for aspiring freelancers.

I have been freelancing online for the past two years and it’s been an excellent source of supplemental income because you can truly work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection and get paid.

15. Proofread

If you have an eye for detail and can spot typos from a mile away when you read the news or visit a restaurant, you might find your calling as a proofreader. Several proofreading companies require prior experience, but you can also get your foot in the door at other freelancer platforms including Upwork and Fiverr.

If you are looking to perfect your craft as a proofreader and earn more money, look into Caitlin Pyle’s Proofread Anywhere program.

16. Create an Online Course

With Udemy, you can create a video course to teach others something you’re an expert in. Your video can be teaching computer coding, cooking skills, making a craft, or anything else in the Udemy course catalog. You collect a royalty for each course purchase and you can easily create new courses to continue earning residual income.

17. Transcribe Audio Recordings

Do you excel at dictation? Audio transcriptionists put sound recordings to paper. With sites like TranscribeMe, you transcribe one or two-minute recordings on a variety of topics. If you have medical or legal experience, you can make extra money transcribing these recordings that require a professional background.

18. Test Websites and Apps

Another fun way to make money online is testing websites and apps. UserTesting is one of the most popular testing platforms. Each test takes up to twenty minutes to complete and you make $10. At that rate, you make $30 an hour for testing websites!

To become a tester, you will need a computer or app that has a functioning webcam and microphone. You are given a series of tasks to complete during the test and you verbally share your thoughts as you complete each task.

19. Sell Unwanted Gift Cards

Sometimes, you don’t have to work to make money because you already have it in unwanted gift cards. Instead of letting your gift cards collect dust, sell them on Gift Card Granny.

You can sell your unused and partially used gift cards quickly with three different selling options:

• Sell It Now
• Name Your Price
• Trade In

Gift Card Granny finds the best price on the top gift card marketplaces and you get paid almost instantly when a sale is made.

I have sold several gift cards online almost always within 24 hours of posting and payment is sent via PayPal within three business days. Selling gift cards is one of the quickest ways to get money fast because of the quick turnaround.

20. Sell Unused Clothing

As your fashion tastes change or your children grow older, you might find yourself with a closet full of clothes you’ll never wear again. While you can sell them at a yard sale or local consignment shop, you might also consider selling online at thredUP for men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing.

For designer clothing you wish to keep but don’t plan to wear in the near future, Rent the Runway lets you rent your high-end articles for up to one month at a time.

Finally, my wife has also had success selling on eBay and Poshmark. To increase the odds of selling your items, make sure to take plenty of pictures and consider wearing them or putting them on a mannequin so the buyer can visualize how the item fits.

21. Sell Your Old Books

You can also make a quick buck by selling your used books and textbooks that you’ll no longer read. Selling our old books is another way we boost our income each year and you can start with these three sites:

• Amazon Marketplace
• Cash4Books
• Bookscouter (Textbooks only)

Selling is easy as you only have to enter the ISBN to receive an instant quote from Cash4Books and Bookscouter. If you like the price, you ship the books for free using their prepaid shipping label and you will be paid via PayPal once your shipment arrives and is processed.

I recommend using Bookscouter for selling your textbooks as they compare the prices of 42 buyback vendors in a single search; saving you time while finding the best buyer.

22. Sell Movies, Music, and Video Games

You can also make some extra cash by selling your old DVDs, CDs, and video games with Bonavendi. With their app, you can scan barcodes and compare the prices of 28 companies including Amazon and Best Buy.

23. Sell Old Electronics

Decluttr can be the most efficient app to sell your old electronics, smartphone, and tech gadgets. The Decluttr app scans item barcodes and you receive next-day payments via PayPal and direct deposit once Decluttr receives your shipment. College students can also receive a 10% bonus payment to earn a little extra cash.

Make Exta Money In Your Local Area

You should also consider making money within your local community. After all, not everybody wants to stare at a computer screen to make extra income. If you enjoy being on the move or have handy skills there are plenty of ways to have a gig without working a regular shift.

Also, ask your friends and family if they have any potential clients. Word of mouth referral is always one of the most effective forms of advertising.

24. Become a Handyman

If you are handy around the home and you’re capable of any of the following:

• Home improvement
• Mounting and installing new household devices
• Furniture assembly
• Moving and packing

Then it’s time to get connected with people who are in need of a Handyman. Check out Handy.com to get connected with someone in your area.

25. Mow Lawns

You can also mow lawns and offer basic landscaping services to make money to while improving curb appeal for the homeowner.  This is a great idea to boost your income in the summer months when there’s more daylight and you’re probably outside already.

If you live in a region with significant snowfall, you can get paid during all four seasons to keep lawns and driveways in tiptop shape.

26. Clean Houses

Another way to make money any month of the year is to clean houses or places of business. You can find openings on Craigslist or on Handy.com. For example, you might be able to clean vacation cabins on the weekends if you live near a touristy area. Or, cleaning services might also be looking for people to clean office buildings or industrial properties.

Depending on your personal network, you can also ask your friends and family if they know of anybody that needs help cleaning. Asking a simple question can help you find long-term clients or cleaning before somebody has company arrive to visit.

27. Donate Plasma

There’s a perpetual demand for plasma to treat rare, chronic diseases and you can make $400 each month by donating your plasma. Maybe this is something you or your friends did in college for some extra “weekend money.” You must be at least 110 pounds, at least 18-years-old in most states to donate and free of certain illnesses.

28. Get Cashback on Grocery Purchases

Each time you shop at grocery stores, you can get cashback with iBotta or Checkout51 . By activating offers and scanning your receipts, both of these apps gives you a cash reward for every redeemed offer. These cash rewards are in addition to any paper coupons you might clip, and you can potentially double your savings.

Checkout51 publishes their newest offers every Thursday. Once your account balance reaches $20, you can request a cash payment.

29. Become a TaskRabbit

There are people who need simple tasks completed but simply don’t have the time. Whether it’s putting together furniture from iKea, delivering a dresser across town, or trimming some overgrown bushes in the backyard – people will hire you.

Here are the top three places to find work using your phone:

• TaskRabbit
• OfferUp
• Handy.com

Simply create a bio about yourself and then start looking for the task requests to pour in. I personally can tell you I utilize one of these three apps a week to find someone to do tasks for me!

30. Sell Locally on Craigslist

Bulky items aren’t cost-effective to sell online because they cost too much to ship. When that’s the case, sell locally with Craigslist or another app to sell locally. We periodically sell our unwanted items during the year and pocket 100% profit because it’s free to sell on these apps.

Beyond Craigslist, there are also dozens of other similar websites where you can sell your stuff locally as well.

31. Scan Grocery Receipts and Get $10

Earlier we told you ways to make money delivering through places like Postmates, Instacart and Uber Eats. However, there is still other money to be made by simply scanning grocery receipts.

Scanning grocery receipts for money is a real thing and there are over 20 apps that allow you to get started. While some are better than others, we recommend starting with the most popular receipts scanning app, Ibotta.

Our Top Pick: We like Ibotta because you can redeem digital offers plus your regular coupons for many food items at most supermarkets and even discount stores like Walmart and Target, and you also get a $10 sign-up bonus. When your rewards balance reaches $20, you can request PayPal payment or a gift card.

32. Recycle Scrap Material

It’s also possible to make money recycling scrap material for cash. You can get cash for some of the following items you might have in your house:

• Loose metal (i.e., sheet metal, copper, tire rims)
• Appliances
• Metal cans
• Glass bottles

For larger objects like your old washer and dryer, you will need a truck and trailer to haul your scrap off. You can look online for scrap yards and recycle-for-cash facilities near you.

33. Picking Up Dog Poop

You can also make money picking up dog poop when you don’t have the time to walk dogs or pet sit. Why? Because it only takes a few minutes to clean up a backyard compared to keeping a pet for several hours.

One man operates a full-time business picking up dog poop for a premium in the Phoenix area. You can scroll down to #73 on this side hustle list to see a video of how he turned dog poop into a full-time income.

34. Sell Used Furniture

Did you recently upgrade your living room or dining room set? If there’s still some life in your old furniture collection, get a few bucks for it. When it comes to selling furniture, you have have plenty of great options to sell your stuff.

35. Sell Your Car

Another way to raise cash quickly is to sell a car you no longer need. Even if you need to sell your fancy ride and drive a clunker instead, how else can you access $10,000+ instantly.

Especially with the the prices of used-cars at an all-time high, now may be the perfect opportunity to turn your car into well needed cash.

36. Have a Yard Sale

Decluttering helps you discover a small fortune sitting underneath your roof. The only problem is that you must sell your stuff to get cash. Having a yard sale is one of the quickest ways to sell most of your items in a weekend.

Coordinating your yard sale with your neighborhood sale is a good idea, but you should also post your sale on:

• Craigslist
• Facebook Marketplace
• Your local newspaper

37. Pick Up Trash

You might find this income stream a tad bizarre, but you can make money picking up trash! Brian from Clean Lots has been doing it for thirty years and makes a six-figure income.

Business and shopping center parking lots don’t clean themselves. If you’re not afraid of getting your hands a little dirty, you can put some extra green in your wallet.

Tip: Hear Brian’s story on Episode 59 of the Money Peach Podcast.

38. Sell Your Clothes

You could do what you always do and hold a garage sale, or you can also try selling your clothes to a nearby consignment store. It’s less work and you might make more money! You can also use the same tactic for bulky household goods that are too expensive to ship to an online buyer.

Another option is to try selling your more valuable clothes online if you think you can earn more selling it yourself. Make sure you take good pictures and factor shipping prices into the equation too.

39. Flip Garage Sale Finds

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Some people might be selling their treasures at a discount because they need money now. By perusing garage sales and thrift stores, you can find bargains that can be sold online for a profit.

You can also scour the “Free” section on Craigslist for steals too. Once you figure out the average selling price of the items you plan to flip, shopping will be much easier and quicker.

You will need to find the system that works best for you to find treasures and the best places to sell them.

Every town has a different dynamic to find discounted items. One tip is to visit the thrift stores in the wealthier parts of your town as they are more likely to sell quality items at steep discounts. For example, you might be able to find designer clothing for a dollar that can be sold for $10 or more.

40. Wash Cars for Cash

You can offer to wash cars by hand by having a mobile car wash station or you can travel to a person’s house to wash the car. If you provide house calls or interior detailing, you need to provide your own cleaning supplies in addition to the car wash soap you use.

It’s also possible to offer exterior car waxing services to if you have the time and want to make some additional cash.

41. Pressure Wash Houses

Here’s one task that many homeowners neglect is pressure washing their home. Some people only pressure wash their homes when they get ready to sell it. You can advertise your services online or the old-fashioned way of knocking on doors.

To increase your chances of landing a job, take before and after pictures of a few homes that you pressure wash. Being able to show your clients visual examples of your quality work goes a long way.

42. Participate in Paid Clinical Studies

Another option for making money locally is to participate in paid medical studies. You can find studies by searching for “paid medical studies near me” to find paid opportunities. You can also ask your local college or medical center if they are aware of any opportunities too.

When medical studies are available, you may have to be experiencing certain medical conditions. You will also need to be okay with being a “medical guinea pig” and testing new medications and treatment ideas.

43. Teach Lessons

All those piano lessons or karate lessons your parents paid for can finally be put to good use. You can teach a skill one night a week or multiple nights depending on how many students you have. Whether it’s music lessons, karate, gymnastics, or another talent you can teach individually or to a group, you can advertise locally to get students.

Once you decide what you can teach, you can advertise your services on Craigslist or also leave flyers at local businesses, community centers, or the public library.

44. Babysit

Parents sometimes need a break–date night— from their children and need to hire a babysitter. Besides asking for your family and friends for gigs, you can always advertise your services on Care.com.

45. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

Animals need loving too and you can make just as much money pet sitting when their owners leave town or work long hours. Dog walking is another daily hustle opportunity as you take the dogs on their daily walk so their owner doesn’t have to.

Believe it or not, some professional dog walkers make $100,000 a year for doing something that millions of dog owners do every day for free.

A great place to begin advertising your pet sitting and dog walking services is at Rover.

46. Shovel Snow

You can also make money during the winter shoveling driveways and sidewalks. By owning a truck and plow, you can earn more keeping parking lots clean. Because snow removal is more labor-intensive than mowing a lawn, you can earn more per property than mowing (I did at least).

47. Clean Gutters and Rake Leaves

In the fall, you can also rake leaves and clean gutters before winter sets in. Once again, these are simple tasks that most homeowners simple don’t enjoy doing and offer a decent income if you enjoy working outside.

48. Pressure Wash Houses

Most houses need to be pressure washed every two or three years to maintain that “new” look. Many homeowners either don’t own a pressure washer or don’t have the time to keep their siding clean. You can advertise your services online or simply start knocking on doors to get your first clients.

49. Paint Houses

If you own a paint sprayer, can smoothly roll paint, or know how to seamlessly cut in wall edges, painting houses is another possibility. This is one task most homeowners won’t attempt on their own, especially if they aren’t a skilled painter or they are preparing to sell their house and want a professional-quality job.

50. Collect Scrap Metal

You or your family and friends might have a garage full of old household appliances. Maybe you have acquired a small scrap metal collection from your other side hustle opportunities. Regardless of how you (legally) collect your scrap, taking your ferrous and non-ferrous metal to a local scrap yard will yield an instant payment.

Some of the best ferrous and non-ferrous metals to collect are:

• Aluminum
• Brass
• Copper
• Steel

You will get the best price by bringing a single, large load compared to many small loads–even if they’re the same weight. Scrap yards have an easier time selling larger quantities to buyers and reward you with a volume bonus for making their job easier.

51. Deliver Newspapers

Newspaper routes are a steady part-time income stream if you can work in the early morning hours before your regular job or classes. If there are multiple newspaper in your town, you can also apply for a route that might deliver only a few days per week–instead of all seven– if you can’t commit to delivering papers every day of the week.

52. Deliver Phone Books

A one-time, seasonal hustle is delivering phone books five days a week. You need to be at least 18-years-old and have a driver’s license to participate. PDC is one of the largest delivery companies and they might be looking for delivery people like you.

53. Cut Firewood

Many people still heat their houses with wood in the winter or need wood for summer camping trips, but they don’t have access to their own firewood source. Or, they don’t have the time to cut their own wood. Cutting and delivering firewood is another in-demand income stream.

Make Better Decisions with the Money You Have

Whether it’s getting on a budget or learning how to manage the money you currently have, you still get a raise. In fact, the biggest raise you will ever receive in your working lifetime is not when you make more money, but when you control the money you already have.

54. Get on a Budget

Most of us don’t like the word budget because it’s so restrictive, right? We think if we are on a budget, then the result is our life goes from fun to awful in a blink of an eye.

But what if a budget was simply a plan for your money. Instead of wondering where it went at the end of each month, what if you decided where it went? What would it feel like if you were in control of your money each month?

Creating a budget is easier than you may think.

Step 1: Start a free and simple budget today.

55. Ditch Your Permanent Life Insurance Policy

One of the worst “investments” an adult can make is buying permanent life insurance – aka Cash Value Policy. In most cases, the policy benefits are not worth the extra cost. Apply for a term life insurance policy instead that can be ten times cheaper than a permanent life insurance policy. Once you have your new term policy in place, cash out your cash value immediately!

56. Switch to a Credit Union

This hack won’t give you more spending money, but it helps you make better decisions with the money you have. Banks are owned by investors and customers like you and I are there to make profits for the investors. Credit unions on the other and are non-profit, and they don’t have investors — they have members. When you become a member at a credit union, you will enjoy lower fees, better rates, and a member-focus versus an investor focus.

57. Refinance Your High Interest Debt

There are much better options for you instead of high interest credit card debt or any high interest debt for that matter. Borrowers are literally saving thousands of dollars in interest payments by trading their higher interest debt for a lower interest personal loan. The nice thing is you have so many more options than you did just a few years ago and with the competition for your business, your new interest rate could be much lower than what you have now.

Check our our favorite places to start for lowering your high interest debt.

Immediately Cut Your Spending for an Instant Pay Raise

Are you ready to learn the secret on getting an immediate pay raise? Reduce your monthly spending.

For example, if you can spend $100 less each month than right now, you get an instant $1,200 indirect pay raise for the year. And, it might only take a few minutes to make a few quick changes to immediately begin saving money.

Besides using your free time to make money, you can also use these money hacks to instantly cut your spending. Another mantra you might take to hear is, “Spend less, work less.” By cutting your spending, maybe you don’t have to sacrifice your work/life balance to make extra money.

59. Save Your Spare Change

Maybe you’ve heard the tip of stashing all of your $1 bills in a savings envelope instead of keeping them into your wallet to spend on coffee and candy bars to easily save money for the future. The Acorns app makes it even easier to save and invest your spare change instead of spending it.

With each purchase, Acorns rounds up the purchase amount to the next dollar for every credit or debit card purchase. For example, a $4.25 purchase becomes $5 and the extra 75 cents is invested to build a small nest egg. You can also get extra cash investments by shopping online through Acorns retail partners too.

60. Stop Paying High Investing Fees

Each time you buy or sell a stock or ETF, your brokerage might charge up to $7 per trade. If you’re only investing small amounts of income at a time or are simply tired of paying hundreds of dollars in trade commissions each year M1 Finance is an option you should definitely give a look.

61. Trim Automatically Gets Rid of Your “Gray Charges”

Ask Trim makes it easy to “work smarter and not harder.”  For free, Trim monitors your spending, account balances, and can even reduce your monthly bill amount in the following categories:

• Cable, cell phone, and internet
• Car insurance
• Unwanted subscriptions

With a single text message or Facebook Messenger request, Trim works on your behalf to find discounts on your current monthly bills or cancel the services–streaming plans including Hulu and Spotify, insurance, and gym membership– you no longer use but are still paying for.

You will realize the savings the next time you get ready to pay your bills and realize there’s more money in your bank account than usual; and you never lifted a finger.

Read our full Trim Review to learn about all of Trim’s benefits to save you money.

62. Cancel Your Cable TV Subscription

The average household cable TV bill is over $120 a month and most people only watch 20 of the 100s of channels to choose from. We dumped our cable years ago and use services like Hulu for our favorite shows with SlingTV for a total of $26/month (and no contracts).

By cutting the cord, you instantly save $100 a month on cable TV by streaming live and on-demand programming over your high-speed internet. Sling TV can be watch with any flat screen TV, computer, or mobile device.

63. File Price Protection Claims for Online Orders

You can already get cashback on every online purchase when you shop with a shopping app like Ebates and you can get additional cash back if the price drops after you make the purchase.

With Paribus, you can get free price protection notifications when a retailer drops the price on recent purchases. Paribus then submits the claim on your behalf, which means you don’t have to monitor for price changes yourself and then submit it.

Disclaimer: Paribus does compensate MoneyPeach when you sign up for Paribus using the links we have provided in this post. 

64. Earn Credit Card Rewards

Many people stick with debit cards because you’re still required to immediately pay for your purchases with cash. While you won’t go into credit card debt, you’re missing out on credit card rewards for cash back or travel rewards.

If you are going to use a credit card, make sure to pay them off in full so you don’t incur high interest payments. The best way to do this is to set a reminder to pay your credit cards in full once per week. If you don’t feel like paying them in full each week, then set up auto-pay so you never carry a balance.

Also, choose the best credit card rewards that fit your lifestyle. If you notice you spend most of your money at the grocery store and on fuel costs, then you may want to look at a card that gives you the highest cash back on those types of purchases.

Conversely, if you are someone who enjoys traveling, then it may be a good idea to look at cards that offer the best travel perks.

Check out Nerdwallet’s credit card reviews to help you choose the best option

65. Stop Going Out to Eat As Often

Food is a large portion of most people’s household budget. You might be spending more on food than you must because you go out to eat all the time. In many cases, you can make the same meals at home for a fraction of the cost. For a family of four, you can easily spend at least $40 for each restaurant meal.

If you don’t think it’s possible to feed a family on a budget, visit $5 Meal Plan. You can access delicious recipes that let you feed an army for pennies.

66. Switch to a Health Sharing Plan

You may not realize it, but health insurance is one of the largest monthly expenses. Switching to an affordable health sharing plan saves my family 75% in health insurance premiums compared to traditional health insurance. Honestly, it’s probably one of the best financial moves we made when I became self-employed.

Our Top Pick: There are many great health sharing options, but our favorite is Medi-Share because of the affordability AND their own MDLive program: a FREE add on that gives you 24/7 access to a doctor visit via your smartphone, which saves you time and money on co-pays!

Summary

It doesn’t matter if you want to pursue a side hustle, sell some of your belongings, or cut spending, there are multiple ways to get money fast. We all have different skills and schedules so you pick the ideas that work best for you. No matter which ideas you pick, just choose something that puts a personal check or cash in your hand for your efforts!

Side hustles are a great way to quickly increase your income to do things like build your emergency fund, rapidly pay off debt, and save for those big purchases. When I was facing $52k in consumer debt alone, I was constantly looking for different side hustle ideas to pay off the massive debt I had created.

My Favorite Side Hustle Ideas Right Now

These first eight side hustles right now are my favorites. Right now during the COVID crisis, delivering food is the way to go to make decent money as quickly as possible. You can also do well as a virtual assistant for the same reason and make up to $50/hour.

1. Earn $17 to $20 Per Hour Delivering Food From Restaurants

Food delivery from restaurants is my favorite pick right now for side hustle ideas. Since the start of COVID, food delivery is up by over 70% compared to the same time last year. This means there is still a ton of opportunity to earn great side hustle money delivering food.

If you have a car, bike, or scooter, this is a great side hustle for anyone. 

2. Earn up to $50/hour as a Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants have been around for years, but during the economic shutdown due to coronavirus, the industry has exploded.

Businesses are turning to virtual support, which means virtual assistants are in high demand. In fact, many small businesses (like Money Peach) need help but don’t want to bring on staff to their location, so instead they turn to virtual support.

This virtual support can be a range of things from responding to and checking email, scheduling meetings, booking travel arrangements, updating social media content — really anything you can do online.

The starting pay for virtual assistants is really good — $15 – $50 per hour. 

I would recommend starting off by posting on your social channels offering services as a virtual assistant. I still can’t believe how many people don’t do this — it is such a simple way to land a job for yourself.

And here’s a pro-tip: think visualization. Make an image using a free service like Canva to create an image with a headshot and all the tasks you can help people with online. This will definitely help you stand out above the rest.

You can also listen to Episode 80 on the Money Peach Podcast where interview Kayla Sloan — my very first virtual assistant.

Think about it: if you could help a business owner spend $10,000 to make $30,000, would it be worth it to them to pay you $1,000 – $2,000 per month to do that for them?

3. Earn Money as a Freelance Writer

I have a good friend, Holly Johnson, that left her job in corporate America to pursue her passion — freelance writing.

She didn’t start off making a ton of money, but over time she created strategies to land more writing jobs, to find out what clients actually want in a writer, and how to be as efficient and profitable as possible.

Today Holly makes $225,000+ per year and if you follow her online you’ll notice something unusual — her family of 4 travels six weeks per year because she can write from anywhere in the world. Right now Holly writes for some of the largest well-known websites like Condé Naste, The Balance, Bankrate and Business Insider.

Keep in mind — you are not going to start off as a freelance writer making six figures per year. But, if you work hard you definitely can make $1,000 – $2,000 per month as a freelance writer.

You can do this the hard way by networking, pitching clients, and trying to price your services yourself. This isn’t a bad way to go, but it definitely takes a lot more effort.

Or, you could get help from a professional freelance writer. Holly has mastered her craft and she will show you exactly how to get started, how to get clients and how much to start charging your clients. She will also help you find the clients you want to write for.

In fact, many of the writers for this blog have come from Holly’s recommendation. She is the go-to resource for many bloggers looking for high-quality writers. And if they have been taught by Holly, then we all know they are high-quality.

4. Get Paid to Proofread

If you are someone (like me) that gets upset when you see your versus you’re spelled wrong or maybe the mix up between there, their and they’re — you are going to love this side hustle. Or maybe you are tired of seeing things like this in print:

Proofreading is a great side hustle (and career) that can be done from anywhere in the world. To learn more abut getting started as proofreader, check out Proofread Anywhere.

A great way to start is by learning from a professional proofreader. They will show you how to get started as a proofreader and explain how lucrative this side hustle really can be.

5. Earn Money Through a One-Page Website

One of the best decisions I made was starting a blog in 2015. This tiny little blog did not make any money that first year — it was merely a passion project about personal finance. However, the following year I made a little bit of money and every year since the blog has grown along with the income.

But you are NOT going to make a lot of money right now starting a blog.

Making money from a blog takes time and it’s not a great side hustle.

However, you definitely will increase your income by starting a one-page website for any services you are offering. Whether you’re a handyman, a Facebook ads consultant, a virtual assistant, a tutor, or any other side hustler, you must have a simple website for people to learn about you.

This is so simple and I cannot tell you how many people make the mistake of not taking the time to create a one page website.

How to Earn more money with your Own Website

If you’re looking to do any of the side hustles mentioned in this post, you’re going to want to create a simple website. Don’t worry — it’s extremely simple.

Let’s say for example you’re looking to get hired as a virtual assistant. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone could go online and read your “About Me” page, have the ability to contact you via your “Contact Me” page and even hire you through your “Work With Me” page?

No matter what business or side hustle you want to create, having a simple website will boost your credibility. Ask yourself this: if two people are offering the same exact services but only one of them has a website for you to learn more about, who are you more likely to hire?

If you’re looking for a simple way to get started building a quick website, I created a free step-by-step guide to help you get started. This guide will allow you to build your website in 15 – 20 minutes and for just a few dollars.

6. How to Earn Money with Affiliate Marketing

If you’re willing to put in the time and effort by starting a blog, then affiliate marketing can be a great side hustle. But remember, it takes time and effort.

With that said, when I created this blog in the beginning, I didn’t know anything about affiliate marketing. I just enjoyed blogging about how to create a budget, save more money, and pay off debt. That was until someone told me my blog could be generating thousands of dollars per month if I added in affiliate marketing.

Admittedly, I was super skeptical but I decided to give it a try.

I didn’t know what to do or how to get started, so I reached out to a blogging friend who started Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing . Within 60 days I increased the monthly income from my tiny little blog by $1,705 (and became one of her testimonies)

Yes, I was more than just a little shocked and since then I have told everyone I know about her program because it really changed my life. I don’t know about you, but $1,705 extra per month for making some tweaks to my blog is life-changing.

Keep in mind, making money from affiliate marketing takes time. Yes, you can make a lot of money from affiliate marketing, but in the beginning I would estimate only a few hundred dollars per month.

“I started my blog in March 2015 and didn’t even know what affiliate marketing meant. And….I didn’t do much about it. I think my largest month was around $500 last year and then died down to sometimes only a few bucks per month. It wasn’t my focus, but I didn’t realize I was leaving money on the table, meaning I was losing money every month! I decided to enroll in Michelle’s course, and I quickly noticed I didn’t know a thing when it came to true Affiliate Marketing! No wonder it just ‘wasn’t working for me’…

Results from the first 60 days of taking the course:

I am still nowhere close to implementing everything I’ve learned [from the course], but….My August affiliate income was $1,792.26.

That’s a $1,705 increase since I became a student of Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. So, my investment in the class was worth it!”

– Chris Peach, Blogger, MoneyPeach.com

7. Earn up to $22/hour Tutoring Online

Maybe you’ve never heard of VIPKID, but it’s actually a household name brand in China. Currently, there are over 70,000 American teachers teaching English as a second language to over 600,000 children in China. The current pay for this reliable side hustle is up to $22/hour.

Before you get started, beware there are some barriers to entry to partner with VIPKID. First, they do require you to have a Bachelor’s degree from either the USA or Canada, and second they ask for “some teaching experience”. However, from a teacher I have spoke with from VIPKID, she said “teaching” doesn’t have to mean teaching in a traditional educational setting.

The lessons are 30 minutes long and you will be paid up to $11 for each 30-minute lesson. One thing to note is since you are teaching across the globe in a live setting, you will be teaching at odd hours (late at night or first thing in the morning). However, the teacher I spoke to said it was fun, rewarding, and it paid well for being able to stay at home and teach from her laptop in her kitchen.

Live in the U.S. or U.K. and hold a bachelor’s degree? You can earn up to $22/hr plus bonuses to teach kids English online from the comfort of home.

8. Earn $600/month Renting Out Baby Equipment

I really love this side hustle right now because the feedback from readers has been extremely positive.

Imagine you’re getting ready to take a vacation with your small children and you start thinking about how you’re going the pack the stroller, the pack ‘n plays, and the crib. Then you start thinking about the car seats, toys, books, high chairs, carriers, noise machines, baby baths, bouncy seats, monitors, jumpers and every other little thing!

Today, that problem solved thanks to BabyQuip.

In 2016, a few parents got together and created BabyQuip to provide families with clean, safe and reliable baby equipment for rent. Since then there have been over 30,000 transactions and guess where the baby equipment is rented from?

If you currently have baby equipment stored at home, you can start renting it out in the over 500 cities across the US and Canada. To start earning money as a BabyQuip Quality Provider you need to apply online and once accepted you’ll have an interview. If you both feel it’s a good match, you will be onboarded so you know how to run your baby gear rental business.

The average BabyQuip Quality Provider makes $600/month, with some providers as high as $5,000 per month. Also, once you’re accepted as provider, you will be added to the community where you can meet other QPs and learn best practices to make the most money.

9. Make $1,000 to $2,000 Per Month Running Facebook Ads

If you were a business owner, would you pay $100 to make $300? What about spending $10,000 to make $30,000?

This is why today over 7 million advertisers are using Facebook ads and these businesses are spending on average between $2,400 and $9,600 on Facebook ads each year. And with over 30 million small businesses in the U.S. alone, there is huge opportunity for people to create a lot of revenue creating Facebook ads for small businesses.

Bobby Hoyt from Laptop Empires has the best program for teaching people how to run Facebook Ads and he really will show you to earn $1,000 – $2,000 per month per client as their Facebook ads manager.

Also, as I mentioned earlier this is not a get-rich-quick scheme. This is going to take 6-8 weeks if you’re moving quickly to not only learn how to do Facebook ads but how to get clients as well. Bobby will show you how, but you have to do the work. If you’re not willing to do the work, then I would move onto the next side hustle.

This may side hustle is not one that you will make money with right away. However, you will make the most money than any other side hustle on this post when you get your first client running Facebook Ads for small and local businesses.

The Best Side Hustle Ideas That Put Your “Stuff” to Work

Another great side hustle idea are the ones where your stuff actually makes money for you.

10. Earn $2,000 Per year Renting Out Your RV

Rent your RV out like a VRBO or Airbnb with Outdoorsy.

If you’re currently an RV owner, did you know over 17 million RVs sit unused for 350 days per year?

Whether you own a large RV, a fifth-wheel, a folding trailer, a camper van or anything similar, there is plenty of opportunity to turn a profit with your RV instead of it sitting idle.

In fact, many RV owners have been renting out their campers for years online ads or through word-of-mouth referrals. However, there is also a lot of risk and unanswered questions when you decide to rent out your RV by yourself.

Now, more people are turning to the largest and safest online marketplace for renting out your RV — Outdoorsy. You can think of Outdoorsy like the Airbnb for your RV.

Outdoorsy also provides plenty of safeguards to protect you and your RV. For starters, all potential renters of your RV have to pass an extensive driving history check before they can request your RV. Also, Outdoorsy provide you the owner $1 million in liability insurance and will also cover any theft or damage.

In addition to both liability insurance and the background check, Outdoorsy offers 24/7 roadside assistance which really turns your RV rental into a fully passive income stream. I know I mentioned above you can make $1,000 – $1,500 per month, however Outdoorsy does state on their website you can “Earn up to $50,000 a year renting your RV to people you trust”.

Since I don’t personally own an RV, I did do some research and found that since their start date in 2014, Outdoorsy has facilitated over 800,000 RV trips and has a Trustpilot rating with a 4.4 out of 5.

How it works:

First you will create a free account with Outdoorsy. Once your account is created, you will then create a profile for your RV. Outdoorsy walks you through the process of creating your profile to include things like the year/make/model of your RV, where it’s located, a detailed description, pictures, list of amenities, and your rules for renters.

Next you set your daily/weekly rental rate and post it to the site. Once someone rents your RV, Outdoorsy will release the funds to you via direct deposit within 24 hours of the start of the rental. 

11. Earn $700/month Renting Out Your Car

Turo is a peer-to-peer car sharing company where you can generate monthly revenue by renting out your car. With over 10 million users and 350,000 vehicles listed, Turo is a safe and reliable way to turn your car into a monthly revenue stream. Currently Turo is offered in US, Canada, the UK, and Germany.

How it works:

To get started you can list your vehicle (any make and model) for free. This process takes about 10 minutes and there are no sign-up fees or monthly charges for signing up.

Next, you can set your own daily price and rental rules for your car. Turo does have recommendations for you if you don’t know, but your pricing and rules for the rental are completely up to you.

Once a guest books a rental with your car, you’ll specify how your guest receives the car and will also “check in” your guest through the Turo App. Within three days after your car is returned and the trip is completed, you will get paid via direct deposit.

Turo takes a commission on the transaction, however in 2019 the average Turo host made $706 per month when they completed 12 trips per year.

The amount of days you would like to rent out your car is completely up to you and you’re also covered up to $1 million liability insurance through a partnership with Turo and Liberty Mutual.

12. Earn $1,000 to $2,000 Renting Out Your Room

Just about everyone has stayed in an Airbnb or at least knows someone who has. But, have you ever thought about making money with Airbnb?

This side hustle pays quite a bit because of what is at stake — you’re renting out a room in your house or your renting out your entire house. And, in some situations you may even be living with your guests during their stay. Whichever way you choose, this is still one of the most lucrative side hustles on the market.

How it works:

It’s free to list your space on Airbnb ad there are no memberships dues, sign-up fees, or any random charges. Instead, Airbnb earns a 3% host service fee per booking.

Once you’re space is listed, you can choose to make it available whenever you want. You also get to set the rules for your guests such as min/max number of nights and how far in advance they can book. As far as pricing, Airbnb has recommendations for you but ultimately you get to set the price you feel most comfortable with, including your cleaning fee, seasonal fees, or any other pricing options you think you may need.

Once your space is booked, Airbnb will usually pay you within 24 hours after the guest is scheduled to arrive via Paypal, direct deposit, or other methods if available. Airbnb also provides you with $1 million property damage insurance, $1 million in liability insurance and 24/7 customer support.

Again, I totally understand that renting out your room, house, or even living with a guest is a pretty big deal. However, you really can earn $1,000 – $2,000 this month and does not take much to get started. No marketing costs, creating your ow website or anything life that. Simply sign up for free, list your space, and start making really good money this month.

13. Earn $500 to $1,000 Per Month Renting Out Space

Peerspace is platform that allows hosts to rent their space for meetings, events, film and photo shoots, or anything else you can think of.

People are always looking for space to rent out for birthday parties, baby showers, film shoots, networking events, workshops, and a whole slew of other reasons that require space.

Renting out small spaces by the hour has become increasingly popular over the past few years, and now there is even a dedicated marketplace for it. And for those who aren’t ready to rent out a room in their home quite yet, maybe renting out your space for a few hours will work out better.

Whether you want to rent a room, your backyard, your office or meeting room, your garage, or any other space you can think of, the opportunity is there. And Peerspace is the leader when it comes to peer-to-peer space rental. 

How it Works:

Once you set up a free account with Peerspace, you can create your listing, the rules for your space, the pricing, and the availability. Then you simply list your space and it will become available to whoever is looking for your space within the Peerspace marketplace.

Just like Airbnb, Turo, and Outdoorsy, Peerspace protects you with $1 million in liability insurance and you can also list your space absolutely for free. Once someone rents out your space through their dashboard, you will receive payment from Peerspace, minus a 15% commission Peerspace takes.

Most of the spaces I found during a quick search are in the $50 – $100/hour with a minimum of 2 hours. If you are willing to open up your space just a few times per month, you could easily generate $500 – $1,000 extra as a nice little side hustle.

14. Earn $50/month Renting Your Driveway

A college student at Arizona State University identified a problem and created the solution.

Parking near the campus was difficult and the homeowners who lived near the campus had a major problem with illegal parking on the streets. Jonathan Barkl, a 20-year-old college student at the time wondered if you could take the idea of Airbnb and apply it to your own driveway.

Air Garage is a service that allows you to rent out your driveway for parking in three simple steps. Step one is Air Garage installs a free sign that instructs the public they can pay to park in your driveway.

Step two is for you to install and get set up with their online dashboard so you can manage your driveway parking status. And step three is your driveway is available for rent and you start collecting payments.

If your curious to learn more, I actually had the Air Garage Founder and CEO on the Money Peach podcast.

The Best Side Hustle Ideas That Pay Quickly

These side hustles will not generate the income you can generate with the above list, but they are something you can do right away and get paid quickly.

15. Share Your Opinion Online

Yup, you can actually generate side income by simply giving your opinion via online surveys. It’s not going to make you rich tomorrow, but it’s still a great way to generate extra income during your down time.

I like to do surveys when I’m literally doing nothing else. For example, if I am in the doctor’s office waiting room, or my estimated wait time is 21 minutes or even if I’m riding the train — I may as well make some extra money.

There are also a ton of survey sites out there and I’ll be completely honest — 95% of them aren’t that great. But, there are a few good ones out there that actually have really good reviews.

The top two I recommend are both Survey Junkie and Swagbucks.

Survey Junkie has you answer surveys online (desktop or mobile) and you can earn points that can be exchanged for either cash or gift cards. For every 1,000 points you earn, you can trade them in for the $10 equivalent. Survey Junkie has over 14,000 reviews with a Trustpilot score of 4.5 out of 5 — the highest rating among all survey sites. 

Swagbucks is another great choice because you earn in other ways beyond just answering online surveys. You can earn when you shop online, answer surveys, watch videos, test out new offers from top brands, search the web, play online games, or use their mobile app. Similar to most other survey sites, you can redeem points for cash or gift cards. Since 2008, Swagbucks has paid out over $400 million and sends out over 7,000 gift cards per day. 

16. Inbox Dollars

Another option for a quick-money-side hustle is Inbox Dollars.

Inbox Dollars is a rewards club that pays you in cash for completing a variety of online activities. This can include searching the internet, filling out surveys, printing off coupons, and shopping online. You’re not going to make a ton of money or anything like that, but If you are already doing these things, it makes sense to get paid for it too.

17. Earn $3 to $100 Doing Random Tasks 

Download the free Gigwalking App from Gigwalk and then find “gigs” in your neighborhood that companies are willing to pay you for. Can you check out the price of milk in a certain store for $6 or snap a pic of a storefront for $5 on the way to work? Note: You will start off with the low-paying jobs in the beginning, but prove yourself and you will start getting offered the higher-paying jobs soon enough.

18. Earn $10 to $12 Per Hour as a Rideshare Driver

This is an incredibly popular side hustle and just about everyone has been in an Uber or Lyft before.

To get started, some minimum requirements you need are a car, a smartphone, and the Uber or Lyft app. You become available to drive as soon as you complete the activation process and then you are ready to start earning money. Fares are paid out weekly or up to 5X a day when you register for Instant Pay with your debit card!

The nice part about becoming a rideshare driver is it’s truly on-demand. You can work only when you want and you can drive as much or as little as you’d like. However, from the rideshare drives I have interviewed, the money is good, but not great. 

19. Fiverr

Fiverr is a platform where you can sell your products and services starting at $5 per gig. After you have a few $5 gigs under your belt, you can start increasing how much you charge. Here at Money Peach, I hire people from Fiverr all the time. Just recently, we found someone for a quick logo design and another to transcribe some videos we created.

Also, the Fiverr platform does take 20% from each gig. Therefore, if you do a $5 gig, you will take home $4 per gig. However, if you can complete 3-4 gigs in an hour, your hourly rate could start at $16 – $20 per hour.

This is a very popular side hustle for good reason, but keep in mind you may not make a of money when you first start out. It may not feel worth it in the beginning because you will need to do small jobs to build up your rating before you can start charging more.

The Referral Program Side Hustle Ideas

These sites mentioned below are not to be used as a source of income, but rather a simple way to make a few bucks here and there. Most of them mentioned are ways to save money online, however they do offer gift cards for referring your friends. Again, not a big money-maker but more of a reminder you can still make a few bucks if you use any of these sits.

20. Rakuten (Formerly Ebates)

Rakuten is a company that has partnered with over 2,000 online companies to form an affiliate relationship with each of them. An affiliate relationship simply means Rakuten and each online company have created a partnership where Rakuten will refer you or I to buy something from them, and that company then sends Rakuten a thank-you referral.

The good news: Rakuten then splits the thank-you referral with you, and you earn  cash back. And when you refer your friends to Rakuten, you will get a referral commission. As of this writing, I have personally made $1098.48 since I joined Rakuten. Ninety-five percent of that came from referrals.

Even if you don’t plan on sharing your referral link, you still should sign up for Rakuten (free) and save money on all of your online purchases.

21. Honey Browser Extension

Honey works the same exact way as Rakuten — a refer-a-friend program.

Recently purchased by PayPal, Honey is a free tool that will search for online coupons and apply them to your online shopping cart to make sure you are saving the most money. Instead of searching for coupons one at-a-time and applying them individually, Honey does all of this for you in the matter of seconds.

Not only will you save money, but you can also make a little bit of money with their refer-a-friend program. For anyone you refer to the app, Honey will send you $5 as soon as they purchase something via the app up to $1,000. I have personally made over $3,000 with their referral program. You max out at $1,000 and then you need to create a new Honey Account and share out your new referral link.

The Create and Sell Side Hustle Ideas

Selling your stuff online is a great way to earn money quickly. Here are some of the go-to places for selling stuff online.

22. Offer Up

OfferUp lets you list and sell for free. It’s more of a “you’re on your own” site like Craigslist and LetGo, but is fairly popular and is well-organized. It also looks like OfferUp is surpassing Craigslist as the go-to place to sell your stuff locally.

23. Amazon

Selling on Amazon is almost identical as selling on eBay in terms of fees and ease of use. However, sometimes items that don’t sell as well on eBay do better on Amazon and vice versa. Either way, it is a side hustle worth looking at if you can buy for cheap and resell for a higher price.

24. eBook Publishing

Make money by writing your own book and self publishing it on Amazon for free. There are different options available for how your can price your book and earn income from the sale of your book in the Amazon store. Questions about self publishing your own book? 

25. Etsy

Instead of having to open up your brick and mortar store, sell your creations on Etsy. Whether you make clothing, crafts, baby toys, or jewelry, you can open up your own store at Etsy. I have a friend selling her awesome clothing line on Etsy and it brings in a very nice income for the family. This is another great side hustle, but don’t expect instant results. You may need to be patient for this one.

26. Craigslist

We all know you can buy and sell stuff on Craigslist, but have you ever thought about offering a service you can provide. If providing a service isn’t your thing, you can scan Craigslist for great deals and then later resell items for a profit. This takes persistence and patience, but I have a friend who went from a $4k truck to a $24k in truck in 18 months by flipping cars from Craigslist.

There are also many other sites competing with Craigslist and you may have better exposure by posting on these sites like Craigslist.

27. Zazzle

Make money on Zazzle as a designer by selling your artwork on different products or you can actually make and manufacture the products for sale. I have a friend who takes old dry wood and paints slogans on them. She needs to sell them on Zazzle; she could create a very quick and profitable side hustle.

28. eBay

You can have your own store up in only a few minutes at eBay. To start, you must have a seller account, must be verified through PayPal. You are even able to give a detailed description of your store with a catchy design to attract customers. I have a friend who will buy all of the unused bras at a last chance type of store and resell them for a profit at her eBay store. Last I heard, she was doing $1,000/month in her first couple of months.

29. Sell Your Photos Online

Do you take amazing photos? You can actually sell your photos online at places like iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, Fotolia, and Bigstockphoto. Photos can be sold over and over again, allowing you to earn a residual income! Beyond just photos, if you have anything to sell online, this would be a quick and easy way to make extra cash.

The Get Hired to Work Online Side Hustle Ideas

30. Earn $15 to $18 Per Hour as a Work-From-Home Customer Service Rep

There are many companies that hire part-time customer service representatives who can from home. Well-known companies like U-Haul, Hilton, Apple, Cruise.com and more hire customer service reps who work from home. I have a full list of the best customer service jobs to work from home here.

31. Do Transcription Work or Data Entry Work

Another great side hustle you can do from home is transcribing audio or video into captions. I personally have hired many people from Rev.com to do all of our captions for our videos and the quality is always great.

Rev.com says you can expect to earn on average $240 per month and you can also get paid weekly via PayPal.

I really love this side hustle because you can do this from home, on your own time, and work as much as you would like.

32. User Testing

Don’t want to do an online survey, but still like to surf the web and earn some cash? Companies will pay you to try out their apps or visit their websites and give them feedback. Usertesting and UserFeel uses your feedback on apps and websites that aren’t as user-friendly and then pays your for it.

The Some Skill Required Side Hustle Ideas

So, not all side hustles are for everyone. In fact, these ones below do require some skill to make money. But, the more skill you have, the more money you will make!

33. Become an Online Coach

If you have an idea and can help people, pay attention. Whether it is motivating someone, helping them pass a class, or teaching them how to build a website, this can all be done online. Setup you’re pricing, terms, and accept payment through something as simple as PayPal and you are on your way. I recommend using Skype or Google Hangouts since it is 100% free.

34. Create an Online Course

Is there something you are good at and can teach to others? My good friend Holly Johnson will show you how to get paid to as a Freelance Writer with her course Earn More Writing.

Another friend doing great things is Bobby Hoyt. He’s teaching people how to create Facebook Ads for small businesses with his online program, The Facebook Side Hustle Course. In fact, his average student earns $1,000 – $2,000 per month.

And, one of our former virtual assistants here at Money Peach left us to create her own online course — teaching people how to become virtual assistants. Her course is called 10kVA and her students are making up to $50/hour as virtual assistants.

35. Earn $900 Per Week Spray Tanning

A good friend of mine (Jessica) has become the queen of spray tanning in our area. In fact, she is making $900 per week cash spray tanning both the ladies and the men and it’s all through word-of-mouth! 

I asked her how she got started and she said this:

• She started with this exact tanning kit
• She uses this tanning tent
• She taught herself how watching YouTube

36. Earn $39/hour as a Voiceover Artist

You know those people who talk on radio and TV commercials but you never see their faces? They’re called voiceover artists, and they get paid good money to do what they do.

Sites like Backstage list available voiceover jobs, and Carrie Olsen, professional voiceover artist, has a great web site that can help you learn how to become a voiceover artist.

37. Make $200 to $300 as a Resume Writer

If you have a knack for writing compelling and attention-grabbing resumes, consider offering your services on sites such as freelancer.com, Craigslist, or on any social media platform.

When someone is going in for a job interview, it’s worth it for them to pay $200 – $300 per resume for a high-quality resume. In addition to writing resumes, you should also offer services such as writing cover letters and proofreading.

38. Catering

If you love cooking, serving food, and entertaining at your own home, then get paid to do it for someone else. This can be fun and can often go from side hustle to full-time if you’re really good at it!

39. Computer Repair

If you love “playing” computers, then help someone repair theirs and get paid for it. Note: You must know a little bit about computers.

40. Make $25/hour Teaching Computer Skills

How many Baby Boomers (or anyone for that matter) do you know who are still having trouble checking their email. If you were able to navigate to this web page, then you probably have the skills to teach extremely basic computer skills to an extreme beginner.

41. Make $300 to $500 Per Month Teaching Music Lessons

From singing to playing piano or any other number of instruments, parents everywhere are seeking music lessons for their kids.

If you have a gift for a musical skills, consider teaching that skill to local kids. You might be able to find jobs by looking on Craigslist, OfferUp, or Facebook Marketplace. You should also seek out local public school or homeschooling groups to connect with parents who have school-aged children.

42. Earn $300 to $500 Playing Guitar Gigs

A friend of mine finds guitar gigs online, on Facebook, and in the paper all the time. He shows up, plays for a few hours, and leaves with cash in hand. Note: you must be good at playing the guitar.

43. Earn $25/hour Doing Handyman Work

Some people are handy and others are not. Let your neighbors know that you are available to hang a ceiling fan, patch a hole in the drywall, fix an irrigation leak, or paint a fence. All can be done for them ASAP for a small fee.

I love TaskRabbit. Whether I need a doggy door installed, someone to clean my house this weekend, or even mount a TV, I can go on TaskRabbit to find someone in an instant. YOU could be that person I find next on TaskRabbit for hire!

44. Earn $18 to $22 Per Hour as a Lifeguard

Become a lifeguard and earn $18/hr – $22/hr part-time. Not only do you make some extra cash, but you are guaranteed to get a little tan as well.

45. Start Your Own Tutoring Business and Earn $30 to $85 Per Hour

Tutoring is a great side hustle and it’s in high-demand. According to Care.com, the most commonly requested tutoring subjects are SAT prep, math, English, chemistry, biology and physics. If you feel you have an expertise in teaching on any of those subjects, I would highly encourage you to start offering your services as a tutor.

Create a simple 2-3 page website with an about page, a contact page, and of course a hire-me page. 

Once you have your site up and running, don’t be shy — share your link to your site on social media and chances are someone will be calling you shortly. If not, I promise someone knows someone needing a tutor and you’re the first person they thought of because they saw your post.

46. Start a Baking Business

Do you have a gift for baking goodies such as cake, muffins or cookies? Why not use that gift to make yourself some extra cash?

Events such as birthday parties, weddings, office parties and meetings, retirement parties and more often have baked treats as a part of their celebration.

Advertise your culinary skills on Instagram, Facebook, and Craigslist. Also, don’t forget about local event venues to show off your bakery services.

47. Earn up to $31/hour as a Sports Umpire

Are you knowledgeable about the rules and regulations of certain sports? Do you like working with kids? Recreation associations often pay good money for organized sports umpires for football, baseball, and more.

In our area, umpires earn about $30 an hour. Check with local sporting organizations for job opening details.

The Physical Labor Side Hustle Ideas

If you don’t putting in a little sweat equity, you can do very well side hustling with some physical labor attached to it. I did #50 when I was getting out of debt and generated over $1,000 each month.

48. Earn $500 to $1,000 Per Month Cleaning Pools

This requires very little overhead and is simple to do. Go to Google Earth and look up which homes in your neighborhood have a pool, and offer to start today. I actually did this to get out of debt and it worked out great!

49. Earn $500 to $1,000 per Month House Cleaning

People are busy and don’t have time to clean their homes. This is where you come in. Search your area in Craigslist to get an idea for pricing your own services. Then market your services to friends, family and ask for referrals. Don’t be shy — the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

50. Earn $500 to $1,000 Per Month Mowing Lawns

If you don’t have the funds to purchase all the equipment, then offer to your mow lawns with their equipment. I actually did this in grade school because I wasn’t old enough to drive. I just showed up, grabbed their lawnmower, and was paid.

You can also find really good deals on used equipment on the Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist. This side hustle does require some upfront costs, but it’s a definite money-maker. I would recommend offering your landscaping services on OfferUp and inside the Facebook Marketplace.

51. Earn $25/hour Painting Gates

Gates fade and someone needs to repaint them. A kid in the neighborhood took pics of faded gates and pretty gates and posted them on the mailbox with his number and price. (I think one of the faded gate pics he took was my gate also). He spent about 2 hours taking off all the slats, sanding them down, and repainting them. He charged me $50 and was happy to pay it.

52. Earn $25 to $75 Per Hour Shoveling Snow

No one likes shoveling snow and this is why you will be paid for it.

53. Earn $5 per Window Washing Windows

I recently paid a guy to wash my windows because he advertised $5/window. He spent about 1 hour washing a total of 20 windows and walked away with $100 cash. His entire setup was a bucket and a squeegee. Maybe I should wash my own windows and my neighbor’s windows for an affordable price of only $5 a window.

The Really Unique Side Hustle Ideas

If you are unique, then you deserve some unique side hustles. Some of these are extremely cool, but a few of them…well I am still waiting for you to try.

54. Sell Your Hair Online

Thinking about a new hair style? You may want to. People are paying between $100 and $4,000 for quality hair. Just remember to wash it more than once a month before you get ready to sell. A great place to sell your hair is Hairsellon and they have a hair calculator here to show you how much they will pay you.

55. Make $50/hour Painting Street Numbers

A father and son rang my doorbell and pointed out to me my street numbers were faded. “For only $10, they would repaint my street numbers so my house would look better”. I paid it and it took them 37 seconds. They did 6 houses on my street alone. This is a great little side hustle.

56. Make $40/hour Doing Tasks For People

Whether someone needs furniture assembled, they need a package delivered across town, they need their TV hung on the wall, or a ceiling fan installed, you can get hired to do all these and much more via Task Rabbit.

The average Taskers are making around $40/hour, with some making around $2,000 per week!

To get started you first need to register for a free account online. Then you have to attend an online onboarding session to explain exactly how become a great Tasker. Once you’re approved, you can start accepting your first job via the TaskRabbit app and start earning money.

57. Start Earning $500 – $1,000 Per Month Home Staging Business

Somebody is always selling a home, and homes sell faster and for more money when they are “staged”.

As a home stager you can tailor your business to meet a variety of client needs. Creating relationships with local realtors is one way to help you find home staging clients. To create your pricing, find a local staging business and ask them for their rates. I would start lower than than what they currently offer to create business and then once you’re established, raise your rates.

58. Start an Estate Sale Service Business

An estate sale business buys a large majority of a client’s belongings, including furniture, vehicles and more, at a group rate and sells the stuff individually for profit.

This is a business that will take some work as you get to know the ropes but can be very lucrative in the long run.

59. Start a Vending Machine Business

Many companies want vending machines installed at their businesses for the convenience of employees and clients alike.

Although this type of side hustle would involve some costly initial cash, you may be able to make it up quickly if you install the machines in thriving businesses that service large numbers of people.

60. Pick Up Trash in Parking Lots

Brian Winch came on the podcast to share how he picks up trash around parking lots and now earns a 6-figure income by doing so. Although it may not be glorious work, it does pay well and it’s extremely affordable to get started. 

The You’ve Got to be Kidding Me Side Hustles

Before you read on, just remember the name of these side hustles are you’ve-go-to-be-kidding-me side hustles. Some of them will actually shock you ?.

61. Earn Up to $1,000 Per Month as a Sperm Donor

This is straight out of the movie Road Trip when they need gas money. However, you can make substantial money donating sperm, with some places offering up $1,000/month to healthy men. Be aware, if you’re not a true thoroughbred, you won’t be paid as much!

62. Earn $1,100 Per Month as a Plasma Donor

Since there is no way to synthetically make plasma, you will be compensated for your donation. Rates vary from state to state, but you can make up to $1,100/month for only a few hours of your time….and blood.

I personally know quite a few people who are doing this and they all have positive things to say about it. Not only do they like getting paid the money, but it feels good to help provide something that will end up saving someone’s life. Full disclaimer: I don’t like needles at all so you will never see a personal review from me on this one.

We have a full list of where you can sell blood plasma here.

63. Earn $40 to $80 per Hour as a Cuddler

Ah yes, cuddling. This is an actual real job and I recently saw it featured in a news segment. People are paying for up to 3 hours of platonic hugging (and they pay a lot). Job requirements: enjoy hugging strangers.

64. Earn $50/hour to Pick up Dog Poop

Who likes picking up dog poop? Nobody. This is why you can get paid for it. I did this interview on our local news channel about a guy who now makes a full-time living picking up dog poop.

65. Earn $20 to $50 Per Hour as a Rent-a-Friend

You can sign up for free at Rentafriend to be someone else friend both part-time and full-time with pay between $20/hr – $50/hr. Yes, this sounds very strange from the outside looking in, but a lot of times you are helping someone get acquainted in a new town, meet a new group of friends, or simply have a cup of coffee with. Most importantly – friendship is always platonic (no touching).

The Old School Side Hustle Ideas

These are some of the classic side hustles that we call the easy peasy ones. If you are looking for simple, but yet effective, these are the side hustles for you.

66. Earn $20/hour Babysitting

If you like kids and don’t go out on the weekends, become a babysitter. Advertise to all of your friends (and Facebook Friends) that you will watch their kids so they can have a date night. New to the area? Then get connected with Care.com to become a certified/recommended babysitter in your area.

67. Earn $15/hour Dog Walking

Create this ad: “Love your dog but simply don’t have time to walk them? Let me help you!” There will always be someone willing to pay to keep their doggy happy, and this person is you. However, if you want to sign up through a dog walking marketplace, try out WagWalking.com.

68. Sell Drinks

I live in Phoenix where it will hover at 116°F during the summer. During the hottest weeks, there is a guy who sells snow cones and water for a premium.

I asked him how business was recently – he smiled and said “Business is gooooooood”. Buy a case of water at Costco for $0.12 a bottle and resell them for $2 wherever it is HOT. Who wouldn’t pay $2 for ice-cold water during the dog days of summer?

69. Make $25 to $45 Per Day House-sitting

Who doesn’t want to get paid for simply living in someone else’s house for a few day days? This is simple and people will pay you for it. You can think of it as a mini staycation too!

70. Make $8 to $10 Per Hour as a Mystery Shopper

Get paid $10 – $30 on average to be a mystery shopper. However, beware because there are a lot of scams out there. I recommend checking out Marketforce, Best Mark, and Intelli-101 before you head anywhere else.

71. Earn $500 to $1,000 Per Month Pet Sitting

If you truly love animals, then why not get paid to hang out with someone else’s dog or cat for the weekend? You can become a pet sitter at Care.com or specialize in only watching over someone’s pooch at Rover.

72. Sell ScrapMetal

Post in your social media or offer in the newspaper that you will come and take any scrap metal away for people. Not only could you make a few extra bucks for hauling away metal, but then you could sell it at a scrap yard. Double whammy!

73. Sign Spinner

Do you ever see those people standing on the corner, wearing headphones, oblivious to the entire world around them, and flipping signs in the air? They are making money and you can too. What about sign holder? Well, maybe you’re not the spinning type…

Takeaway on All These Side Hustle Ideas

Remember, a side hustle is a just that — a way to make extra money on the side.

You’re not going to get rich doing any of these. You may one day generate a lot income from a side hustle, but don’t expect that to be the norm in the beginning. But, if you’re looking to make $50, $100, $1,000 or even $2,000 extra per month, then the side hustles mentioned can help you get there.

• Work means work. Whichever side hustles you choose will take effort on your part.
• Find something you are already good at (or enjoy) and start there.
• Determine how much money you need and then work backwards from there. This will help you determine which side hustle will be best for your goals.
• The side hustles that pay more require more time and effort. The opposite is also true.
• No more than three side hustles at at time.
• Not all side hustles are glorious, but the least attractive side hustles often pay the most.
• If you come across a side hustle that says “get-rich-quick” — go the the next one. It’s just not true.
• Commit, commit, commit. The biggest mistake you will make is giving up on your side hustle too early.

Now I need your help…

If there are any other side hustles that you have done and have actually made money with, I would love to know about them. Simply leave a comment below and let me know what you did and how much extra you money you were able to generate. 

I’m glad you found this post and good luck in your next side hustle adventure friend.

There are all sorts of reasons to take advantage of the many ways to get free baby stuff — especially with the recent high prices of just about everything and not to mention the recent baby formula shortage across the nation!

Whatever may be the case for you, here is our latest list of all the different ways to score free baby stuff.

1. Get Free Formula

With the recent news of a national baby formula shortage, we will start here.

Now, while breastfeeding of course offers the cheapest way to feed milk to your baby, it’s not always doable or desireable for everyone.

Here are some ways you can get free formula for your baby.

Similac Strong Moms Rewards

When you join Similac’s Strong Moms Rewards program, you can get up to $400 in gifts and savings. It’s free to join, and you’ll get access to an abundance of useful information for raising your baby.

And Similac customizes your free gifts and rewards to your individual needs and situation.

Enfamil Family Beginnings

The Enfamil Family Beginnings program also rewards you with up to $400 in free gifts. Some of those gifts and rewards include free formula samples, discount coupons and product offers.

When you sign up for the program, they’ll ask questions about you and your baby. Those questions help Enfamil to tailor their rewards to your individual situation. And yes; it’s free to join!

Nestle Baby Club

Nestle also has a baby formula product, and a club membership you can join for free. When you join you’ll get expert advice on child-rearing, and a welcome kit from Nestle.

2. Get Free Diapers

Anyone who’s ever used diapers or went shopping for diapers knows that they’re very expensive. The average family will spend $70 to $80 a month per child on diapers until they’re potty trained.

Fortunately, there are some ways to get free diapers for the babies in your life.

The Honest Company

The Honest Company is a company that focuses on selling chemical free, quality products. They sell baby products, beauty products, vitamins and more.

The company also offers a diaper subscription service, and you can get free and discounted diapers when you sign up.

Also, always check for a coupon code using the Honey app, a free app that will apply the best coupon at checkout.

The Huggies Rewards Program

The Huggies Rewards Program helps you earn free diapers by earning points that can help you save up to $100 in diapers. For each Huggies purchase you make, you get a certain number of points.

You can use those points to get free diapers or other items. When you go to redeem your points, just choose a gift card option. The rewards program has gift cards to Walmart, Target and other stores that sell diapers.

Note: Huggies partners with Fetch (using the Fetch app) for their rewards program.

The Pampers Gifts to Grow Rewards Program

The Pampers Gifts to Grow Rewards Program gives rewards points to members as well. For every Pampers purchase you make you earn rewards points.

You can use your rewards points to get coupons for discounts on diapers or other rewards too. Other rewards include charitable donations, gift cards to stores, and toys and other items.

The National Diaper Bank Network

The National Diaper Bank Network is an organization that distributes free diapers for needy parents. The NDBN ships the diapers to local charitable organizations around the country.

Those local organizations are then responsible for handing out the diapers as they see a need. To find free diapers for those in need in your area, go to the NDBN website.

3. Register for Baby Gifts

When you register for your baby at certain stores, they’ll often give you a welcome kit. The welcome kit will include a variety of free samples and free products. Many times you’ll get free money in the form of discount coupons for baby products as well.

Walmart, Target and Amazon are arguably the most popular places for registering for your baby. Here is some information about each of the “big three” baby registries.

Amazon

When you register on Amazon for your baby, you get a free welcome box full of baby stuff. You also get a chance to win $2,500 worth of baby items. That’s a lot of free stuff! Some of the other benefits of registering with Amazon include:

• A surprise box of items for parents and baby valued up to $35
• Enjoy a 10% completion discount on items left on your registry (Prime members receive 15% off)
• Universal registry that allows you to add registry items from other sites
• Free 365-day returns

And with the biggest selection of baby items, Amazon offers some great reasons to register.

Related: How to Earn Free Amazon Gift Cards

Walmart

Every person that registers with Walmart Baby Registry gets a free Welcome Box for their baby. Your welcome box might include diapers, formula or other stage-appropriate baby items.

Other benefits of registering your baby with Walmart include:

• Free returns on everything
• The Walmart Price Match Guarantee (if you find a lower price on a baby item on your registry, they’ll match it)
• Access to the Walmart registry app, which allows you to work your registry anywhere there’s Internet access available

One benefit to registering at a brick-and-mortar store like Walmart is that you can choose your items in person. Registering online is convenient, but some prefer to see items in person before they choose.

Also, stores like Walmart and Target have thousands of store locations throughout the U.S. If you’ve got loved ones that don’t like to shop online, this could be the way to go.

Target

The Target Baby Registry has one of the most popular baby registries around. Here’s what you can expect with the Target Registry:

• Free welcome kit valued at over $100
• A 15% discount on everything left on your registry after the big day
• One year of exclusive deals and coupons
• Group gifting capabilities for when people want to go in together on something

Also, Target has universal registry capabilities too. That means you can add items from other websites to your Target baby registry.

With all of the available benefits, why not register at all three places and potentially get three welcome kits?

Or, if the above “big three” aren’t enough, there are other stores you can register at as well. Some other places you can register for your baby include:

• Buy Buy Baby
• Pottery Barn Kids (free nursery design consultation)
• Crate and Barrel (no free stuff with this one, but you do get a 10% discount)

Baby registry programs are hugely beneficial to those who want free baby stuff. Check out websites or store locations near you for more information.

4. Register with Baby Care Companies

Many companies have membership programs that allow you to qualify for free samples of care items. The free samples they offer vary based on the company you sign up with. Here are a few suggestions.

Gerber

Gerber, the maker of Gerber baby foods and other items, has a program called My Gerber. When you register, you get free samples of baby foods, baby cereals and more.

Depending on the promos that are running when you sign up, you could get free bibs or other items too. Go to the MyGerber website to register; it’s free!

Johnson and Johnson

You know Johnson and Johnson, the makers of baby shampoos and more, right? When you sign up for their Care Club Rewards Program, they’ll send you discounts and coupons.

Bonus: You’ll also get trusted advice through parenting and baby articles they send.

5. Get Free Baby Shoes, Clothing and More

There are several companies that will send you free NEW baby clothing items when you use the Money Peach code. Here are some cool freebies.

Free Baby Leggings

If you go to the Baby Leggings website, you can get 5 free pairs of baby leggings! You’ll only need to pay for shipping.

Just go to the Baby Leggings website. Add five pairs of leggings to your cart (totaling $50). Enter the discount code Moneypeach1. You’ll get $50 off your order and pay for shipping only!

Free Nursing Pillow

Nursing pillows are wonderful for helping you keep comfy as you nurse your baby. With this special offer from Money Peach and the Nursing Pillow company, you can get $40 off at checkout.

Just shop and enter the discount code Moneypeach1, and your $40 discount will be applied at checkout.

Free Baby Moccasins

The Little Wanderers company sells the most adorable baby moccasins. And with your Money Peach discount code, you can get one $60 off at checkout!

Just enter Moneypeach1 at checkout and the discount will automatically be applied.

6. Get Free Baby Shower Supplies

Looking for free baby shower supplies? Here are some of the supplies you may have forgotten about.

Free Thank You Cards

If you’re having a baby shower, or just want thank you notes to have on hand to send, look no further. Homemade Gifts Made Easy has free printable thank you cards. 

Free Baby Shower Invitations

Greetings Island has a few free, downloadable, printable baby shower invitations on their site. Just go to the site via the link above, choose your design, customize it, download and print.

7. Get Other Free Baby Goodies

Here are some other freebies you may be able to take advantage of. Of course it depends on where you live, as each company resides in different areas. But they could be worth checking out!

Free Gymboree Class Pass

Gymboree, the cute kids’ clothing store, holds baby/parent classes at many locations. The classes are geared toward children aged 0 to 5.

They provide fun music and play interaction between babies (or toddlers) and their parents. Click here to get access to a free pass for one Gymboree class.

Free Baby Sign Language Chart

Interested in teaching your baby sign language? Many people swear by sign language as a great way to communicate with your baby.

The Tiny Signs website has this free printable chart that shows you how to do common baby signs. It also includes tips on getting started with signing, and online video instructions.

Free Product Coupons From Babyganics

Babyganics sells baby products that are made with wholesome ingredients. Some of the items they make include sunscreen, baby wash and detergent.

When you visit the customer service website, you can ask for free money-saving coupons for their products.

Babyganics products are sold at Amazon, Walgreens, Publix, Kroger, Target and more.

8. Check with Family and Friends

Another way to get free baby stuff is to check with family and friends whose babies are getting bigger. Lots of families that are done having babies are happy to give away clothes and other items.

Don’t feel comfortable asking? Be a bit passive and send out a note on Facebook asking if anyone has any baby items they’d like to give away.

Or, ask if they’d be willing to trade baby items for something you have at your house that you no longer want. You could also trade and get free baby stuff for services such as house cleaning or babysitting.

You might be surprised at how many people you know that will eagerly give you free baby stuff just so they can declutter a bit.

9. Check out Local Garage Sales

Garage sales that feature baby stuff often have a box or separate area designated for free stuff. The free stuff might be a little worn or have a stain or two (that can be removed with Shout).

Another option is to hit garage sales on their last day or within the last few hours. Sellers are usually super eager to get rid of stuff at that point. Therefore they’ll be more likely to give stuff away so they don’t have to haul it to the thrift store.

10. Check Craigslist

Craigslist (and other similar sites like Craigslist) have free sections on their websites. Those free sections often include listings for free baby stuff.

You might find smaller items such as baby clothes on the free page. I’ve also seen larger items such as cribs (in great shape, too) and toys on the Craigslist free page.

Why would someone give away such valuable items for free? Some people just want it gone. Others want to do good and be a blessing to others. Either way, you can benefit from these free baby items when you find a good deal.

Check the sites often because you never know what might pop up.

11.  Look on Facebook Marketplace for Baby Freebies

Have you ever shopped on your local Facebook Marketplace site? If so, you may have noticed that there’s a box on the left sidebar. It says “Only show free listings”.

If you check that box and then check “Family” under categories, you’ll see some subcategories. Check the “baby and kids” subcategory and you’ll get a list of all of the free baby stuff on Facebook.

When I checked in my large metropolitan area, there were dozens of baby items people were giving away. And many of the items were in great shape. Some of the things they had for free on my Facebook Marketplace site included:

• A stroller
• An infant swing
• Onesies
• Baby toys
• Baby shoes
• New, unopened infant formula
• Breast pump parts

And more. I’d highly recommend looking on your local Facebook Marketplace site to see what you can find.

12. Earn Money to Get Free Baby Stuff

If all else fails, you can always earn a little cash to get free baby stuff. There are several ways to earn money right from home that can get you free gift cards. You can use the gift cards to buy baby stuff such as diapers, formula, clothes and more.

Check out these options for earning rewards points that will get you cash or free gift cards.

Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a company that will give you free gift cards you can use to get baby stuff. After you join (it’s free) you might get asked to participate in some surveys if you qualify.

Or you might be asked to join a focus group to try out new products. For each survey, product test or focus group you participate in, you’ll earn rewards points.

You can redeem your points for e-gift cards or for a deposit to your Paypal account. Then you can use your gift cards or cash to get free baby stuff. And, you’re influencing tomorrow’s consumer products at the same time.

Inbox Dollars

Inbox Dollars pays people like you for giving their opinion on products and services. They’ll pay you for taking surveys, watching TV and videos, shopping and more.

If you sign up at the right time, they’ll even give you a sign-up bonus. After you’ve earned a certain number of points, you can trade your points in.

Payment options include merchant e-gift cards to stores like Amazon and Target. Or, you can request to be sent a check.

You can use the check or the e-gift card to get free baby stuff for your baby.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks pays you points for doing simple tasks such as playing video games, taking surveys and more.

You can also earn points by searching the Net or shopping online. One of the cool things about Swagbucks is that most activities only take a few minutes.

This means you can earn points while you’re sitting on the couch watching TV. Or while you’re at the dentist office waiting for your appointment.

With the points you earn you can get gift cards to Amazon, prepaid Visa cards or Paypal deposits. Then you can use your money to get free baby items. Too good to be true? Swagbucks has paid out over 260 million dollars in gift cards and  Paypal deposits to date.

As you can see, there are several ways you can get free stuff for your baby. And with the variety of free baby stuff out there, you could significantly cut your child-rearing costs.

Doing so means you can keep more of your money for other stuff such as early retirement or debt freedom.

Or, you could save it for your child’s college degree. I’m sure there are dozens of financial goals you have that could benefit from some extra cash.

Bonus: Renting Baby Gear?

Did you know there is an entire online marketplace that allows you to rent baby gear?

BabyQuip behaves just like Airbnb, except instead of renting out a room, it’s renting out baby equipment and gear.

In fact, right now BabyQuip is the #1 baby equipment rental service and marketplace serving over 900 cities across the United States and Canada!

So, whether you’re traveling and need to rent gear or maybe you would like to generate extra income each month, BabyQuip may be exactly what you are looking for.

Summary

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to get free baby stuff and save hundreds of dollars each month by just knowing where to look. Whether you’re looking for diapers, formula, or baby equipment — there are plenty of options out there to choose from.

Have you ever tried any of these above? Are we missing anything?

Drop us a comment below and let us know!

Need to cash a check quickly and you either don’t have a bank account or your bank is closed and you need to find somewhere that is open?

The good news is there is definitely a place near you where you can cash a check quickly. From 24-hour check cashing places, grocery stores, and local banks and credit unions, we have you covered.

Next time cash or deposit your check at the bank, earn 7x More than the National Average Rate when you open a CIT Savings Builder account and deposit $100 per month…or you can go to a mega bank and earn and earn 0.01% APR.

And whether you’re cashing a money order, tax refund checks, or maybe even a personal check from a recent side hustle, we will show you where to go, how to do it, and even the check cashing fees you can expect.

Let’s start with the places that are open 24/7.

24 Hour Check Cashing Stores

There are thousands of check cashing stores around the U.S. and the world. Most are not open 24 hours, however some are.

Here is a list of three check cashing stores that have some locations which are always open.

1. PLS Transportation Services and Check Cashing

PLS Transportation Services and Check Cashing offers checking cashing and other financial services.

They’re open 24 hours a day and have locations in 12 states, including:

• Arizona
• California
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Texas
• Wisconsin

If you live near a PLS location you can cash your checks any time; day or night. They’ll cash paychecks, a personal check, government checks and others.

Fees: The fee PLS will charge depends on the location. Most locations charge $1 plus 1 percent of the  check amount.

For example, if the check is for $500, then you can expect your check cashing fees to be $1 plus $5 (1 percent) for a total of $6 in fees.

Note: PLS also offers notary services and fax services too.

2. Speedy Cash

Speedy Cash is a check cashing and payday loan store that will cash nearly all types of checks. They’ll cash payroll checks, government checks, a personal check, and even student loan checks.

They also cash settlement checks, insurance checks, money orders and other checks.

Speedy Cash has locations throughout the United States. Most, but not all locations are open 24 hours.

Also, keep in mind check cashing stores like Speedy Cash are fine for check cashing but do not use them for anything else.

Payday loans, title loans, or any of these other type of places are known as predatory lenders. In fact, they are actually illegal in some states!

You can see the predatory lender rates across the United States and you will be shocked to see these lenders charge over 600% interest in states like Texas!

Compare that to credit cards with an average of 17% APR.

Fees: They charge you a minimum of $2 to cash your check.

3. Community Financial Service Center

Community Financial Service Center has over 187 locations in the U.S as of April 2022. They’ll cash a variety of check types, including:

• Payroll checks
• Checks issued from government
• Social security checks
• Benefit checks
• Income tax refund checks
• And others types of checks

Fees for check cashing vary by location.

Check limits also vary by location. Also, not all Community Financial Service Center locations are open 24 hours. Contact a location near you for their business hours.

Next, we’ll talk about some grocery store companies that offer check cashing.

Grocery Stores That Will Cash Personal Checks

There are a few grocery stores that will cash personal checks or any other type of checks 24 hours a day. Note that not all locations of all grocery stores are open 24 hours.

4. Walmart

Nearly all Walmart locations have check cashing counters. Many times the check cashing counters are open when the store is open. In other words, if the store is open 24 hours, so is the check cashing counter.

However, some Walmart stores close their check cashing service during overnight hours. If this is happens, simply ask if their cashiers do check cashing.

This is so the registers aren’t drained of funds needed for giving customers change.

Walmart will cash many different types of checks. They’ll often cash:

• Payroll checks
• Govt checks
• 401k checks
• Cashier’s checks
• Settlement checks
• And more

You can even cash money orders there if they were purchased at Walmart.

Fees: Most Walmart locations charge between $3 and $6 to cash a check. This fee may vary by location.

Note: There may be lower check cashing limits at the cash register.

5. WinCo Foods

WinCo Foods is a large grocery chain in the Western United States. You can find a WinCo Foods store in the western United States, in Oklahoma and in Texas.

However, WinCo will only cash payroll checks up to $1,000 per person. They will also accept up to two payroll checks within the same week. Your payroll checks must also be machine printed to be cashed at WinCo.

Fees: They’ll charge between $5 and $10 to cash a check depending on the amount. 

6. Tops Friendly Market

Tops Friendly Market has 150 locations in NY, PA and VT . They offer check cashing services for government checks and payroll checks only.

Fees for check cashing are minimal at Tops – only $1 per cashed check. However, they have lower check cashing limits too – often maxing out at $500. 

Note: Tops Friendly Markets are open 24 hours. Check with a location near you to make sure before going in.

Local Banks and Credit Unions

Sometimes the easiest place to cash a check is at a local bank or a credit union. Most often, the smaller banks and credit unions are willing to work with you when a larger national bank may not want to issue you a bank account.

7. Local Credit Union

Your local credit union will often be your best bet when it comes to cashing a check. They are much easier and flexible to work with. Since a credit union has members instead of customers, this translates to lower fees on things like check cashing services.

Also, if you are looking to open a checking account and have been turned down by one of the larger banks, visit a local credit union instead.

8. The Bank that Issued the Check

If you have your check in hand, look at the bottom left corner of the check and you should see the name of the issuing bank where the check orignated from.

If the bank has a local branch in your area, you should definitely go there and cash the the check.

One of the benefits of visiting the local bank that isused the check is they have the ability to verify the funds before cashing the check.

ATM Machines at Banks

If you need to cash a check after hours, you’ll have the best luck at a 24-hour ATM.  There are a few check cashing stores and grocery stores open 24 hours. However, there are many banks that have 24 hour access to ATMs.

Now, technically you don’t have the ability to cash checks when you use an ATM. However, you can still turn that check into cash while using the ATM.

Simply deposit the check into the ATM. Then, once the check is received you are simply making a withdrawal, which is a roundabout way to cash a personal check or any check for that matter.

Keep in mind, you will need an account at the bank that owns the ATM to use this method. If you don’t have a bank account there, your bank could also be a partner with the bank that owns the ATM.

If you don’t have a bank account there, you can open one to have access to 24 ATMs and get your checks cashed. Remember, you’ll pay much lower fees when using a local credit union or local bank verus a large national bank.

Note: Not all banks offer immediate withdrawals from ATM deposits.

9. Wells Fargo

If you would rather go with a larger national bank to cash checks, then Wells Fargo has branch locations throughout the United States. In fact, they’ve got over 8,000 branch locations and over 13,000 ATM machines worldwide.

As a Wells Fargo customer, you get instant access to cash checks with any of the following:

• Payroll checks
• Govt checks
• Personal checks
• Cashier’s checks

The amount you can withdraw right away may depend on the bank’s ATM settings. Contact your bank’s customer service center to adjust your ATM limits.

10. U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank is another big bank that has 24 hour ATM access at many locations. They have over 3,000 locations in the U.S.

Their ATMs typically allow customers to cash a personal check, govt check, payroll check, and cashier’s checks.

One added convenience with US Bank is the partnership they have with many local credit unions. This gives fee-free access for many credit union members at any US Bank ATM.

Note that U.S Bank ATM machines are set to only accept deposits of 30 checks at one time.

11. Bank of America

Bank of America has numerous of locations all over the world. In fact, they have over 4,000 branch locations and over 15,000 ATMs worldwide.

To cash a personal check at a Bank of America ATM, the check must be printed with magnetic ink. In other words, an ATM will not accept a check if printed from home.

Home-printed checks can only be cashed inside the bank, and they may put a hold on your check.

Note: You can deposit up to 10 checks at a time at Bank of America ATMs.

 12. Citibank

Citibank has bank ATM locations in the U.S. and around the world. There are over 700 branch locations in the U.S. and there are thousands of other locations around the world.

You can cash the following at Citibank:

• Govt checks
• Payroll checks
• Personal checks
• Cashier’s checks

Note: You must to have a Citibank account to use their ATMs to cash checks.

13. Chase Bank

Chase Bank was founded in 2000. Well, technically its parent companies have been around a lot longer than that. Chase Bank is actually the offspring of Chase Manhattan Bank and J.P Morgan & Co.  

Chase Bank has grown rapidly, with over 5,000 branches and 16,000 ATMs around the world. As far as choosing Chase Bank to cash checks, you can cash the following:

• Govt checks
• Payroll checks
• Personal checks
• Cashier’s checks there.

Their ATMs may let you cash other types of checks too. There is also a max of 30 checks that can be deposited via ATM at once.

Note: The amount you can withdraw will be based on your account settings.

14. Capital One 

Capital One has bank locations throughout the U.S. – over 700 in fact. The Capital One 360 account is a high-interest paying, no fee account. Capital One account holders get other special benefits too, like unique privelages when it comes time to cash checks.

If you’re an account owner you can cash personal checks, payroll, government, and more. For more information on the check cashing services along with the unique privelages, contact Capital One directly or visity their website.

15. TD Bank

There are over 1,100 TD Bank locations in the U.S. situated on the Eastern half of the country. They operate in 15 states and in Washington D.C. Their website tagline says they’re “America’s Most Convenient Bank”.

If you have an account at TD Bank you can cash a personal check, government checks, payroll checks and more. You can also deposit up to 30 checks at one time using a TD Bank ATM.

16. Citizens Bank

Citizens Bank operates over 1,000 branch locations and 3,100 ATMs in 11 U.S. states. You can find a Citizens Bank all over the northeastern U.S., Michigan and Ohio.

Whether you need to cash a personal check, a tax refund check or any other type of check, Citizens Bank will do it for you with a flat fee of $7 for non-customers.

17. Fifth Third Bank

If you live in the Southeastern U.S. or the Midwest, you may have heard of Fifth Third Bank. They have over 1,100 locations in states including Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee and more.

If you have an account there you can cash personal checks, government checks, payroll checks and others. Their are over 2,400 ATM machines might vary on settings for cash back amounts.

Fifth Third Bank charges 1% of the check amount with a $4 minimum and $25 maximum fee.

18. SunTrust Bank

SunTrust Bank was founded way back in 1891. They have over 1,200 bank locations and over 2,100 ATM machines in the U.S.

They operate primarily in the Southeastern U.S. including Washington D.C. If you’re a SunTrust account holder you can use the ATM to cash payroll checks, government checks and more.

Individual bank account rules apply when it comes to cashing checks at a SunTrust ATM.

19. M&T Bank

M&T Bank operates in eight U.S. States including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia and more. They have branches in Washington D.C. as well.

There are over 1,000 branch locations in the U.S. If you’re an M&T customer you can cash government checks, payroll checks and more at their ATMs.

Fun fact: M&T Bank was founded in 1856. They must be doing something right.

20. Valley National Bank

Valley National Bank was founded in 1927 and serves New Jersey, New York, Florida and Alabama. If you have a Valley National Bank account, you can use their ATM to cash payroll, government and other checks.

Note: Check depositing and withdrawal limits can vary based on branch locations.

Open a Bank Account

As you know by now, your problem of looking for somewhere to cash a personal check near me is quickly solved by opening a bank account in your local area.

Your best bet is going to be a local credit union. If you’ve struggled opening an account in the past, a local credit union will be the most likely place to work with you to help you open an account.

Also, when you have access to a local credit union, you will have the ability to get cash immediately when cashing personal checks or any other type of check for that matter.

Local credit unions will also have very low monthly checking account fees and the ability for you to make a mobile check deposit..

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re looking to cash a personal check, money orders, a cashier’s check, or any other type of check, you have plenty of options.

If you need to cash checks and it’s after hours, than visit your local Walmart or any 24-hour check cashing store.

Your next best option will be to cash the check at the issuing bank where the bank can quickly verify funds and turn your check into cash.

Lastly, keep in mind whether you need cash now or you can wait until the next business day will determine where you go to cash a personal check and what kind a fee you will pay.

Looking for some fun inexpensive hobbies that won’t break the bank?

Starting with the most popular hobbies and then moving into different categories based on whether you want to indoor, outdoor, skilled, or even hobbies that can generate extra income each month — we have it all here.

But first, let’s head outdoors for the first nine fun inexpensive hobbies.

Fun Inexpensive Outdoor Hobbies

Let’s move our fun inexpensive hobbies away from the computer and out inside the fresh air. Here’s a list of the top (and often free) hobbies that get you outside.

1. Gardening

Depending on how you go about it, gardening can be a pretty inexpensive hobby to try. If you get good enough at it, you might even be able to lower your grocery bill by growing more of your own food.

2. Camping

Camping is another cheap hobby than doesn’t have to be as expensive as you may think. I truly enjoy camping and waking up to a brisk morning. It’s almost like a vacation, only cheaper. 

3. BBQ Master or Meat Smoker

Whether you’re looking to get better at barbeque or you want to take up meat smoking, this is a great hobby to get started with. There are thousands of blogs and videos on YouTube dedicated to teaching you the art of barbeque. As you are probably aware, the popularity of this hobby has created some great tools — and with that comes a lot of added expense. I would recommend starting with something simple like a Pit Barrel Smoker. You can buy one brand new, but I able to find one on OfferUp for $100!

4. Geocaching

Geocaching is basically a high-tech treasure hunt.

5. Rock Collecting

Pick up all those shiny things. If you call it a “collection” no one will judge you for bringing home random rocks anymore. 😉

6. Bird Watching

Just don’t become a crazy bird lady (or guy)!

7. Hunting

The equipment can be expensive if you don’t already own it, but you may also be able to borrow from a friend or family member to try out this hobby if you’re a beginner. Most hunters enjoy sharing their hobby with newbies to keep the sport alive.

8. Fishing

Same goes here! Most avid fishermen are more than willing to take along new people who don’t have their own equipment. Just don’t wear out your welcome if you fall in love with this hobby.

9. Target Shooting

Whether you own a pistol, rifle, or shotgun, target shooting is a fun activity you can do outdoors. Depending on where you live, you may look for safe area to shoot or lookup a nearby shooting range. The ammo can be a little expensive, however there are sites like Ammo Seek that will help you find the cheapest amm online.

The Indoor Hobbies

Here are the best hobbies on the cheap. Most of these literally don’t cost any money at all.

10. Reading

This is pretty much the ultimate frugal hobby. Almost every community has a library you can use for free as long as you follow the rules and return your books on time. You can also start a book club, or swap books with friends to find more reading material.

11. Running

Running is probably the cheapest form of exercise out there. All you need to get started is a decent pair of shoes.

12. Cooking

For some cooking is truly a hobby. Even if you don’t love to cook, it’s definitely a good skill to have because cooking and eating at home is way cheaper than going out to eat.

13. Home Brewing

There are lots of online resources that can teach you how to get started brewing your own beer, wine, or cider at home. It might a little equipment to get started, but if you regularly enjoy these beverages instead of buying them at the liquor store you’ll definitely save money in the long run.

14. Garage Sale-ing

I love this hobby because you get out of the house, you meet people, and you can make money. I have a friend who started with $30 and a few months later she was making $1,000 per month garage sale-ing. She would buy things for cheap at the garage sale and re-sell online and make a profit. Her first buy was buying a Little Tikes playhouse for $30 which she cleaned up and resold for $200!

15. Explore Your Genealogy

Ask your family members for help with this project, or start looking online. When I put together my family genealogy, I was surprised at how much information I could find online.

The Exercise Hobbies

First we started online, then we started making money with your hobby, then we moved outside and after that we started using our brain power for our hobbies. This next list is the best fun inexpensive hobbies that will also burn a few calories.

16. Hiking

Depending on where you live, you may have some amazing hiking trails near you. To find maps, pictures and trail reviews from people just like yourself, download free All Trails app. The app not only will tell you about the trail, but also will score the trail for you so you know whether it’s an easy, moderate, or difficult hike.

17. Biking

Most people have a bike sitting in their garage or storage shed. If you have an old unused bike, it won’t cost you much to give it a tune-up so you can start riding it again. Biking around your neighborhood is free.

18. Try Crossfit

Crossfit is a type of high intensity interval training. By combining strengthing and conditioning with functional movements we use everyday, Crossfit has exploded in popularity over the past 10 years. Whether you’re brand new, a veteran exerciser, in your 20s or in your 70s, Crossfit creates programming based on your skill level, age, and fitness capability.

You can find a Crossfit gym in your local area here.

19. Dance

I’m not talking about paying money and going to a dance studio – those things can be very expensive. Instead I’m talking about turning on your favorite music and using it to make up your own workout routine.

20. Country Line Dancing

Country line dancing is extremely popular in the United States and more and more dance studios are offering country line dancing lessons. Just search “country line dancing near me” online or you can also try taking online country line dancing lessons.

21. Swimming

If you live near a public beach, lake, etc. you can probably swim there for free. Swimming is a great cardiovascular exercise and it’s fun!

22. Join a Club Sports Team

Most communities have a Recreation Department that hosts sports leagues for kids and adults. They’re usually fairly inexpensive to join and offer lots of different sports to choose from.

23. Try Yoga

There are lots of free yoga video on YouTube. All you need to get started is a mat.

24. Practice Meditation

Exercise for your brain.

The Online Hobbies

We start with online hobbies since you’re actually online right now. These are hobbies you can start today from the same device you are reading this right now.

25. Starting a Blog

Since my hobby was and still is blogging, I’m going to open up with blogging to start.

Do you happen to love writing? If so, wouldn’t it be cool to start your own blog where you are free to write about whatever you want and put it out there for the world to see?

Here’s the secret to blogging as a hobby: write about whatever makes you happy. 

Your mind is swirling with ideas and things you want to say, so say them through a blog.

Do you love being a mom? Then blog about it.

Do you love woodworking? Then you should blog about it.

Do you love coaching your kid’s sports? Then start a blog about it.

Or, do you love something no one has ever heard of? Then yes, you should definitely blog about that as well.

If you are ready (and I hope you are) to start you very own blog, I have personally put together a step-by-step guide so you can easily get started writing today for about $5 per month. I even included screenshots of the process to walk you through it step-by-step so you don’t have to worry about any of the tech issues.

In fact, if you can post something to social media or even ask Siri to call Grandma, then you can definitely start a blog.

26. Fill Out Online Surveys

There are dozens of these sites popping up that claim to pay you money for taking surveys online. Some of them are sketchy, however some of them are legitimate and will actually pay you in cash via PayPal or in gift cards. 

Survey Junkie has been around since 2005 and is the most trusted in the survey industry with a Trustpilot Rating of 4.4/5. 

If you’re going to spend your time on a free hobby, start out with Survey Junkie and they will send you cash to your PayPal, Amazon or Target gift card for taking surveys on your time!

27. Buy and Re-sell Things Online

There are so many re-selling websites to choose from these days, which can help you get the best prices for your “treasures”. OfferuUp, eBay, Craigslist, Facebook buy/sell/trade groups, Facebook Marketplace and Poshmark are just few of the best places to sell stuff online.

28. Listen to a New Podcast

There are podcasts about every topic under the sun. Surely you can find one that interests you.

You can start listening to the Money Peach Podcast in your car, at the gym, or on the go right here.

29. Watch Cat Videos

There are some pretty funny cat videos on YouTube that can keep you entertained for hours. (Or maybe that’s just me?)

30. Play Free Games Online

You may be surprised to learn that there are health benefits to be had from playing video games. There are so many websites where you can play games online and there are tons of different kinds of games to choose from too. There are even some sites that will actually pay you to play their online games.

The Financial Hobbies

What’s better than making money? How about a hobby that actually pays from extra pocket money all the way to full-time income.

31. Become a Landlord

You can start renting out a portion of your house on a site like Airbnb. If you find out you like being a landlord, you could always expand into owning rental properties.

31. Investing

Learning about investing and then actually doing it are two things that could almost be separate hobbies in and of themselves. Investing is a smart hobby to take up once you have a little extra income to put toward your investments. If you are already there and want to get started, here is our updated investing for dummies guide.

32. Thrift Shopping and Garage Sale-ing

When I lived in a bigger community I loved going to thrift stores and garage sales on the weekend. This is a fun activity, especially if you go with a friend. You can also save money as long as you avoid buying things you don’t really need.

33. Couponing

Again, couponing can be fun but you might end up spending more than you planned on if you aren’t careful with your purchases. One of our favorite couponing tricks is using the Honey browser extension. Instead of searching the internet for promo codes, Honey searches for you in real time and automatically applies the promo code for you at checkout.

34. Volunteering

That’s kind of financial since time is money, right? Give some of your time to your favorite charities, or join a group or board in your town to give back to civic organizations.

35. Start a Business

I’ve kind of touched on this before, but almost anything on this list can actually be turned into some kind of a money-making business or side hustle idea. Starting a business is fun and it’s a good way to make some extra money.

36. Budgeting Cash Flow Planning (that sounds better)

What list of hobbies on a personal finance blog would be complete without listing budgeting? It may not sound fun at first, but I actually love working on my projected budgets for future months now that I’ve gotten good at budgeting.

And if you would like to get started with your own budget, you can get started with the Cash Flow Formula for FREE.

The Cash Flow Formula is the #1 tool to start saving more money and stop overspending each month…and it’s a GREAT hobby!

Intellectual Hobbies

After exercising your body in the fresh air, here are the best fun inexpensive hobbies that only require brain power.

37. Writing

Writing can be a fun hobby and it doesn’t have to turn into more than that. You can write in a diary, write short stories for fun, or write even write to make money like I mentioned earlier. If you love writing and actually want to get paid for it, there’s currently a shortage of freelance writers. If this interests you, check out this post on getting paid to be a freelance writer.

38. Drawing

A pencil and paper is all you need to get started with this frugal hobby. Even if you expand your artist supplies later on, this hobby shouldn’t be too costly.

39. Learn a New Language

Is there a language you’ve been dying to learn? There are lots of resources online and books at your library that you can use to learn a new language.

40. Learn to Play an Instrument

Learning to play a musical instrument doesn’t mean you have to take expensive lessons. Many instruments can be self-taught, especially now that you can learn almost everything you need to know on YouTube.

41. Learn to Sew

Learning basic sewing skills is a good idea. Knowing how to sew has actually saved me money. For example, my sewing skills have helped me save my clothes from being thrown in the rag bin a few times when they only needed minor repairs.

42. Learn a New Game

Playing games is one of my family’s favorite hobbies, especially is the weather is crappy outside. We don’t discriminate, we like to play board games and card games. They can also be a good way to meet new people if you go to community game nights. You might be able to find some at your local library, churches, or on meetup.com.

43. Read the News

Doesn’t sound very exciting, but you might be surprised what you can learn when you start reading the news regularly. Don’t just keep up on local news either, the world is bigger than that. Make sure you find out what’s going on elsewhere in the world too.

Skilled Hobbies

Lastly, it’s time to apply your skills to your hobby list. From cooking, to home-brewing, and even woodworking, we have you covered with this last bunch of fun inexpensive hobbies.

44. Canning and Food Preservation

This old-fashioned skill can actually help you save money, especially if you are preserving food from your garden bounty to eat later on.

45. Furniture Restoration

I know several people who’ve taken up furniture restoration as a frugal hobby and they’ve also managed to furnish their homes with one-of-a-kind pieces they re-did themselves. You can also sell your restored furniture as a great side hustle hobby!

46. Animal Husbandry

Growing up we raised many different kinds of animals on my parents’ farm. I still love animals and taking care of them today and it’s definitely a good skill to have.

47. Carpentry

Even if you don’t learn how to make fancy things, basic carpentry skills can be good to have as they can save you money when you know how to fix things around the house.

The Not-So-Cheap Fun Hobbies

Maybe you’re just curios about the expensive hobbies? If so, here are a list of the top 10 hobbies that will absolutely break the bank.

48. Scuba Diving

Not only is scuba extremely fun, but it’s also extremely expensive. You can plan on $300 – $400 every time you throw the tank on and dive in and don’t forget it’s also extremely dangerous.

In fact, you will even have a hard time getting life insurance if you scuba dive on a regular basis.

49. Sky Diving

Technically their are statistics to prove you’re more likely to die in the car on the way to skydiving than actually jumping out of an airplane. As much as that is supposed to make me feel better, I still don’t like the $300 – $400 fee to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

However, if you have the extra coin to take part in this extremely intense hobby, then let us know how it goes in the comments below.

50. Flying

I don’t know if I need to go into a huge explanation here: flying as a hobby is expensive.

To even be certified as a pilot to fly your own plane will cost you $7,000 – $10,000. Then once you are certified, you then need to buy a plane or rent one at the starting cost of $125/hour. Then add on fuel and maintenance costs and you have an extremely expensive hobby.

51. Mountain Climbing

Where I live (Phoenix), mountain climbing is a very popular hobby. While getting started in this hobby is not extremely expensive, it will be eventually.

From the people I have talked to, you start off climbing the mountain near your home. After you climb that one, you start to travel to the next thriller of a mountain. Sooner than later you find yourself booking a trip to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro at a cost of about $4,000 not including travel expenses.

52. Ballroom Dancing

My wife and I actually looked into ballroom dancing lessons because we were told it was a fun inexpensive hobby. We were told wrong.

Thanks to Dancing with the Stars, this once inexpensive hobby will now set you back about $150 – $200 for each lesson. My wife and I went into ballroom dancing as something to bring us closer together. However, after seeing the cost we both realized it would only push us further apart (kidding).

Final Thoughts

Yes, you can always sit on the couch and Netflix and chill as a hobby. But, chances are since you’re reading this far down the page, you’ve been there and done that.

So what’s it going to be? Blogging, sewing, running, couponing, or are you going to dive into a more expensive hobby and jump out of an airplane?

Whatever you decide to do, please let us know about your new fun hobby in the comments below.

I will never forget that phone call. I knew this moment would eventually be here, but in the back of my mind I pretended if I didn’t think about it, things would eventually work out. We would just make more money. Someday we would pay off that balance. We could start saving next year. What’s the worst that can really happen, right?

Just a few minutes before the phone call, my wife Andrea was at the grocery store with our 10-month old son. Whenever she is out in public, people immediately recognize her as the morning-show news anchor from our city’s local news stations. Today was of course no different.

At the checkout, Andrea waited for each item to go across the scanner and into the bag. The total came to just over $150, which for our family of three was the standard going rate for a week of groceries, diapers, and formula. She handed her credit card over to the cashier and it was DECLINED. The second card DECLINED. The third card DECLINED.

The day was February 23rd, 2011: The Day We Went Completely Broke

Our Debt Free Success Story

Before I share with you our story, please understand that we were absolutely crazy about getting out of debt. We we “those” people who maybe took it to the extreme (okay, we did).

Paying off $52k in 7 months is not normal and we wouldn’t expect anyone to think it is.

However, we are sharing our story in hopes of one outcome: you make the decision to become debt free forever.

Going Broke

The next day when I came home from the fire station, Andrea and I sat down at the kitchen table and began to unravel this dirty little secret we were not only keeping from everyone else, but we were also keeping from ourselves.

It started the moment we left college and entered the real world. I joined the fire department and Andrea landed her dream job with the local television station. Not to brag, but the reality was we were young, we were making a six figure salary, and we didn’t have kids (yet). Life was easy…or so we thought.

As you can imagine, we started off life completely normal according to society standards. We bought a brand new truck, a luxury car, a new home, and all the bells and whistles to go inside.

Traveling was our kryptonite and we said “yes” to everything.

Whether it was lavish vacations, cruising the Caribbean, buying expensive jewelry – the answer was always “yes”.

After four years of living paycheck to paycheck, overspending, overindulging, and not paying attention to our money, we financially hit rock bottom. We had maxed out our credit cards, overdrafted the checking account, and had never thought to build up a savings account. All we had left to show for our financial stupidity was $52k of debt and a ton of shame.

“We Will NEVER Live This Way Again”

I remember sitting there at the kitchen table staring down at the floor in disbelief. Did we really let it get this bad? Were we so foolish to think the debt would never catch us from behind? How did this happen? Why did it seem like everyone else had it figured out, but yet we were sitting here flat broke?

To make things worse, we started worrying about the reaction from our friends and family. What were they going to think of us if they knew the truth? Would we tell them and how would they react? What about our son Carter? If we couldn’t even afford our family at this point in our lives, what would happen as life progressed, became more complicated, and much more expensive?

All of these emotions came crashing down into our pseudo-perfect world and that was when we finally had to face reality. It was now or never.

That was the moment when we both said:

“We will never live this way again”

• Never again will we make this much money and be this broke.
• We will never again be unable to buy groceries.
• The days of us sitting here at this very kitchen table completely out of money, out of hope, and without a plan will NEVER happen again.

That day would be known as day one of our own debt free success story.

We Created A Plan

The only good thing about hitting rock bottom is you have nowhere else to go but up. One of my favorite quotes by John Maxwell is this:

“Everything worthwhile in life is uphill.”

This saying became our motto. If living paycheck to paycheck, going deeper into debt, and overspending was easy, then the opposite would have to be true. Taking back control of our life and money was going to be hard. Period.

A Cash-Flow Plan

The first thing we needed to do was to figure out how to manage the money coming in and going out each month. Many people call this a “budget”, but we preferred to call it a cash-flow plan.

Why?

It’s simple really: budgets sound like prison food and water and a cash flow plan sounds like something Andrea and I would be willing to do together.

The Envelope System

We knew our spending habits were out of control. It was almost as if we had to order new credit cards throughout the year because we wore out those magnetic strips from overuse (not really, but you get the point).

We decided we would go to an all cash lifestyle.

Andrea and I became one of those weird people who carry around cash in envelopes and only spend what was inside each envelope for the month. When the envelope ran out of cash, we stopped spending.

I believe they call this “common sense”

Stop Borrowing Money (Forever)

We realized it would be impossible to dig our way out of debt so we decided at that moment we would never borrow money again. Never. Not for a couch, a car, a vacation, or even a house (luckily we already had a mortgage).

We were done playing with debt. We had been told in the past debt was a tool. Well, I believe it can be a tool for some people, but for Andrea and I, debt was a tool that created a disaster in our lives. We can admit it – we don’t manage debt very well. The choice became ours: we would never play with debt again. Period.

Sitting at our kitchen table, we one-by-one cut up every single one of our credit cards. It was scary, we were a little freaked out (okay, really freaked out), but it was also one of the most freeing moments I can remember in our little debt free story.

Cut Back Our Life(style)

When you’re completely broke, it doesn’t really make sense to have wants over needs. One of my favorite quotes from Seth Godin is this:

“Once you have enough money for beans and rice and taking care of your family, money is a story.” 

– Seth Godin

I hadn’t heard this quote until just recently, but it struck a nerve with me right away because money was our story. We had to decide what our story would be. Would it be a story of struggle or a story of freedom? Would it be a story of stressing over every bill each month, or would it be a story of financial peace?

We made the decision to change the ending to our story. Things were about to go from wild to almost out of control.

We sold (just about) everything

From clothes, to furniture, to pictures on the walls, shoes, textbooks, and even Andrea’s luxury SUV.

We turned off our cable and purchased this HD antenna. We cancelled subscription services we had forgot we subscribed to and we began saving money in any areas we could think of.

Lowered The Interest

We had spent so long ignoring the reality of our debt, we really had no idea how much we were paying towards our debt or how much we had been paying in interest.

Once we realized we were overpaying interest with both credit cards and student loans, we started to look at ways we could lower the interest rate. One of they key things we quickly learned was debt consolidation didn’t really do much for our money except make it convenient to have only one payment with an average interest rate and a small fee tacked on.

If you get out a calculator, it is obvious debt consolidation is a CONsolidation.

But, we knew we could save a ton of money with a lower interest rate.

We lowered the student loan interest rate by 3% and dropped our credit card interest in half with a personal loan.

Make More Money (Side Hustle)

Since we were no longer using our free time to spend money, we decided we would spend our free time making money.

I started a pool cleaning service in our neighborhood and was able to generate $1,000 – $1,500 extra every month.

Cleaning pools during the Phoenix summers of 118°F was not at all fun, but neither was remaining in debt. I did other odd jobs and worked as much overtime on the fire truck as they would allow. The best place to go when you’re completely broke……to work.

If you’re not into cleaning pools in the hot summer (I don’t blame you at all), there are plenty of ways to make money from home! Here a list of over 70+ different side hustles to start making extra cash right now.

November 17th, 2011

There are four days I will always remember for the rest of my life. The first is the day I watched my beautiful wife walk down the aisle. It’s still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

The second and third days were when our kids were born. No dad will ever forget that moment.

The fourth day was November 17th, 2011. This was the day we paid off our debt.

We jumped in our slightly used Kia and drove down to the Bank of America near our home. Our remaining balance was $1,272 and we had the money in our account to finally pay off this last chunk.

I remember pulling up to the bank and my heart was racing.

I grabbed my checkbook, Andrea’s hand, and we walked in side-by-side just like we had been doing over the past seven months. There was a small line to see the teller and both of us were standing in line, huge smiles from ear-to-ear, and giggling like a couple of school girls on the playground.

The teller waived us over and it was time.

It was our turn.

All the sacrificing, all the eBay and Craigslisting, all the overtime, all those days cleaning pools in the summer heat, all the whispers from the family, and not to mention the overflow of straight up rude comments from our friends, would all be coming to an end.

This was the moment Chris and Andrea would become debt free.

I opened my checkbook, put my pen to the paper, tore out the check and handed it over to the teller. She handed back our receipt with our new balance: $0.00 PAID IN FULL.

#boomshakalaka  (you won’t see that anywhere else…)

What is Life Look Like Today?

My amazing wife Andrea was able to retire from her career as a television news anchor and be home for her family more than she ever thought possible.

She took her passion of journaling and turned it into a thriving business. 

I still work for the fire department, however I don’t work as much overtime anymore because we don’t have debt payments anymore.

Instead, we are investing heavily and have even taken up on passive income strategies.

None of this would have ever been possible if we had remained in debt.

Period.

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t….you’re right”

-Henry Ford

Obviously there is much more to our story, but we would need a book and a publisher to put it all in writing. However, if you’re looking to get started, my best piece of advice is this: don’t wait another second. Just get started.

If you don’t know where to start, I would encourage you to take the first step.

Start with a Cash Flow Plan.

It’s step-by-step, easy-to-follow, and something I promise you will get a ton of value from.

And it’s free.

What is the one thing you can do today to move your life in the direction you want to go?

It starts with that first step.

Life is good awesome my friends,

-Chris Peach

Whether you are upgrading or recently moved into a new house there are plenty of ways to sell your used appliances for cash. In fact, some people make great side income, or even a full-time job by buying and selling at trade shows, flea markets, and online.

Keep reading to learn about all the other places who buy used appliances near you, and how to create epic listings that sell your items quickly.

9 Unique Ways to Sell Used Appliances Near You (For Cash)

Here are the top 9 places to start selling your used appliances. The ones at towards the top of this list will generate more cash for a little more work. As you move your way down, the effort becomes easier and the sale amount usually is smaller.

1. Sell Your Appliances Using Facebook Marketplace

In Facebook’s attempt to take over the world you can also find buyers using their version of Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace to sell items. This is a great way to let your friends and connections know that you are selling your appliances.

The main benefit of using Facebook Marketplace over Craigslist is the trust factor. If you’re friends with someone on Facebook you automatically trust the individual more than a stranger on Craigslist.

Plus, Facebook Marketplace makes it easy to share your free listing with others. If you have a good appliance, people can choose to share with their networks as well as increasing your audience dramatically. Make sure to ask friends and family to share with others if you choose to list on Facebook Marketplace.

You can use the same description from your Craigslist ad and choose to edit contact information as well. This is a great way to sell your appliance quickly and easily.

How to Get Started Selling with Facebook Marketplace

To list and sell your appliances on Facebook Marketplace use these simple steps:

1. From your mobile app click on the shop icon (looks like a house) at the bottom of the app.
2. Upload the photos that you already used for Craigslist. There is no limit and remember that the more pictures the higher chance of converting viewers into buyers.
3. Upload your description and change any terms and contact information.
4. Add your price. You can use the same as Craigslist or choose to edit.
5. Once sold, mark your item as sold to remove it from the marketplace.

That’s it! Plus, there are no transaction or listing fees as well. Facebook marketplace is a great option to sell your appliances quickly and easily.

2. Sell to Local Appliance Stores

If you don’t want to list online or deal with setting up a garage sale you can also sell your appliances to a local appliance store. Often times they have a used section as well as brand new appliances.

Make sure to call ahead and do some research to see what kind of pricing they offer. Also, specify if they will pick up and what type of charge it will cost. Sometimes, they will have it be a flat fee which is a great option if you have more than one item to sell.

3. Check with Resellers

Along with local appliance stores you can also sell items to local resellers. Check on Craigslist to see if you can find any. Typically, this will yield the lowest return as they are also trying to make a profit. But, if you need cash quick this is another viable option.

4. Have a Garage Sale

Garage sales are more old school than listing online but still a great way to sell your appliances for cash! There are still people who love Garage Sales and even apps like Varagesale and Yard Sale Treasure Map that can help you find garage sales near you!

A lot of buyers that visit garage sales are an older demographic who tend to enjoy the human interaction and seeing the items in person. Make sure you have the items in great condition and available to be picked up immediately.

To attract buyers to your garage sale make sure to list the garage sale on Craigslist. In the listing you can include several photos of the main items and list the others. Entice buyers to come to your yard sale by including your best photos and a short description.

If you want to spend a few dollars on advertising you can also do that as well. Put signs up around your neighborhood and let friends know on Facebook. The more visibility the more likely you are to sell the appliance quickly!

5. Sell to Scrap Metal Recyclers

Depending on where you live in the United States selling your appliances to a scrap metal recycler is another great option. But this option won’t be as easy as some of the others listed.

Not only do you need to transport the item you need to take it apart as they only will accept certain parts for each appliance. They tend to pay per pound but don’t accept just anything.

Make sure to contact several scrap metal recyclers if possible as they can pay different amounts. Plus, some of these facilities won’t accept scrap metal so make sure to do your homework before loading up your appliances and heading over.

6. Recycle For a Reward

18 of the 50 states allow you sell your appliances and make money via recycling. While the amount isn’t much, usually ranging from $25-$100 this is an option that is good for the environment and your wallet.

7. Use 1-800-GOT-JUNK

While I can’t say I’ve used 1-800-GOT-JUNK it’s another great option with minimal stress to get rid of unwanted appliances. You can schedule a no-obligation appointment online or contact them via phone.

They will come to your home and give you an estimate based on everything they will remove. Their prices are based on the total volume of how much your “junk” is taking in the truck. They will help you move the item, regardless of where it is in your home, and load into their truck.

They donate or recycle as much as possible and will charge you a one-time fee. If there isn’t a franchise close to you there might be a local establishment similar to 1-800-GOT-JUNK to help you as well.

8. Have Local Stores Pickup Your Appliances

If you don’t have a vehicle or don’t want to rent one, you can also choose to have a local store pickup your appliance. In the past, they used to actually pay you but this isn’t the case anymore.

Here are some of the common stores found nationwide that can help you get rid of your appliances.

Best Buy

Best Buy is of the last big box stores still surviving and will help you with your appliances. If you are buying new ones through them the fee is $14.99 to haul out your old. Well worth the price and hassle!

But, if you want them to remove additional items that you aren’t replacing there is another $99 fee as well.

Lowe’s

If you are replacing your appliances with Lowe’s your options are more limited than others on this list. While it’s said to vary by location is appears online that they only remove if you use a Lowe’s Business Credit account.

Make sure to contact them directly as you might be able to work out some sort of arrangement if you have one of their store cards or a frequent customer.

Sears

Sears is a dying brand that only has 500 locations nationwide but can help you with your appliances. They will only help if you are getting ones replaced and you have them uninstalled and ready to go for a one-time fee of $25. They will not come into your home, uninstall or help you move them.

Home Depot

Home Depot does offer to help you get rid of old appliances if you are replacing old ones. Make sure to contact your local store as some review sites have said that each location has a different policy. If you’re in store make sure to double check and negotiate to ensure you aren’t responsible for removing old appliances.

Costco

If you use their complete installation package Costco will remove and haul away your old appliances when replacing a similar one. This is 100% free service!

9. Donate Large Appliances

If you want to simply get rid of your appliances and aren’t worried about the cash, you can also choose to donate them as well. Not only will this good deed help others in need it can be used as a tax write off in the future.

Local stores and charities can sometimes pickup as well. If you have other things you’d like to donate you can also add as well.

Check out these sites to see if there are places locally:

• Salvation Army: Salvation Army will come to you directly and not charge anything for your donation. Make sure you receive a donation valuation guide for tax purposes as well.
• Habitat For Humanity: Like Salvation Army, they do not charge anything and can help you get rid of your biggest appliances.
• Goodwill: Very similar to the ones above, Goodwill offers free pickup for your large appliances that you wish to donate.
• St. Vincent De Paul: Contact the nearest Catholic Church in your community and ask if they have a Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference in their parish or know of one in your area for a free pickup and donation.

9 Ways to Create an Epic Listing That Will Sell Your Appliance

The most common place to sell used appliances, or anything locally, is still Craigslist. But with Facebook Marketplace and apps like Offer Up, it doesn’t hurt to list them in several places as well.

In high school I started selling items on eBay and Craigslist for extra money and got pretty good at it. I found there were certain things that helped each listing sell consistently.

Here are nine steps to create a listing to sell your appliances or anything else for that matter.

Step 1. Use a Catch Worthy Title

Like blogging or writing anything online, your title can make or break your listing. If you have a title like “ancient dishwasher” no one is going to want to buy it. Instead, you want to have something like “ Like-New dishwasher, with X & X features. “ That type of title will entice people to open up the listing.

Step 2. Create an Epic Description

Once you get them to click on the listing you need to have a great description and pictures. The description can make or break your ability to actually sell the appliance. Most importantly, your description needs to be 100% honest and accurate. Otherwise, it makes for a very awkward exchange when you meet the buyer in person.

You want to be 100% accurate with the condition of the appliance! If there are dents, scuffs, marks, or anything that is not working make sure to let them know. Talk about the use of the appliance, if anything doesn’t work, upgrades you’ve done and why you are choosing to sell the item.

Often times people are skeptical if you are pricing a good item at a price that seems too good to be true. Be honest about why you are selling this item. Are you upgrading? Moving? Or did it come with the house when you moved in? The more details the better the potential buyer will feel.

Lastly, you want the description to be informative and helpful to the potential buyer. A great idea is to try and find the model online and copy and paste the description. This way you can make sure it includes all the features, benefits, and exact size specifications.

Step 3. Link to Helpful Resources

The more expensive the appliance the more research people will do online to make sure they are getting a good deal. If possible, spend a few minutes researching the make and model of each appliance.

Try to find reviews, comparisons, and even manufacturer information to include these links within your description. Make it easy for buyers to say yes!

Step 4. Take Amazing Pictures of Your Item

Isn’t it awful when you look at something online and when you show up it’s totally different in person? Whether it’s a car, apartment, or something like this on Craigslist, it’s incredibly disappointing and generally a waste of time. Don’t be this person by providing fake pictures.

Instead, take amazing pictures of your item to be honest with potential buyers and show off the item. If you can find the model online, include one or two stock photos and five or more photos of the actual item.

You don’t need to get a professional camera as smartphones are better than ever. If you have an iPhone X with portrait mode use that as well. Make sure to have plenty of lighting and a good clean background. You don’t want a slightly used washer next to a bunch of junk in your garage. Make the environment look appealing for your potential buyers.

If you want to be an overachiever and increase your odds of making the sale, you can also film a short video of the appliance working. This can be one or two minutes and be uploaded to Youtube in the same amount of time. Include the link in the description to give people more confidence that the item will work as described!

Step 5. Price Your Appliance Competitively

With Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or Offer Up bartering is part of the process. You want to make sure you have competitive pricing but not too high or low. Too high makes it hard to compete with similar listings and too low makes it hard to barter. Instead, shop around these sites to find similar listing priced competitively.

If you are set on the price, make sure to let them know in the listing. Otherwise, include something like “will negotiate” or “OBO” which stands for “or best offer.” This way there isn’t’ any confusion when you meet with potential buyers on price.

Step 6. Specify Delivery

This is 100% your choice! As not everyone has trucks or trailers this can be a way to earn extra money with your appliances. Pre-negotiate a rate that is cheaper than renting one at U-Haul but enough to make sure it will cover your gas, time, and hassle. Make sure you learn their zip code so you can check the proximity and give them an accurate price.

If it’s a large item that is too heavy make sure there is someone there that can help you move the item as well. You don’t want to get injured as you’ll most likely be liable for any injuries that may happen. This is why having them pick up can be a betty option depending on your situation.

Step 7. Specify Payment Methods & Refund Policy

While there are tons of great ways to pay online the best way to pay for things on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or Offer Up is still cash. Checks can be voided and bank transfers can be canceled which can leave you empty handed.

Sometime buyers will try to trade other items but I always recommend going with cash and not offering any refunds. In the description make sure to include that the item is sold as is and state clearly your refund policy (if any).

Step 8. Include Best Contact Information

I’ve bought and sold hundreds of things on Craigslist and communication is key to making it happen. I’ve literally had buyers contact me and arrive within minutes if I was available. The quicker the communication the more likely you are to make the sale happen.

If you don’t want to include your phone make sure to leave your best email address so buyers can contact you with questions or inquiries. Also, make sure to whitelist Craigslist or Offer Up as it’s easy for them to go into spam and not see the messages until it’s too late.

Step 9. Closing the Deal

Once you do communicate with the buyer via text, call or email I always use presumptive language. Instead of saying “Do you want to look at the item?” say “When do you want to pick up?” Change the psychology and assume they already want to buy your appliance becuase you’ve created such a compelling listing.

If they aren’t sold and want to come look at in person make sure to specify a date and time. The sooner the better! I’ve found that buyers flake easily on these sites so try to meet them the same day if possible for both of you. Like I mentioned, I’ve literally had people arrive within minutes.

Also, if they are trying to push the date a few days out or seem flaky I recommend adding a deadline by saying there are other options or someone is coming sooner that day or the day before. Create urgency to get rid of your appliance, make money, and get the buyers to take action!

Lastly, always take precautions for your own safety. Craigslists and relevant sites still have individuals that ruin the experience for everyone. Always meet somewhere public if possible and if you do so at your home have someone else there as well.

Can Flipping Appliances Be a Side Hustle?

There are so many ways to make money outside your 9-5. Whether you are starting a blog, flea market flipping or selling used appliances, there have been more ways to earn money quickly.

If you don’t have the time or desire to start an online business this could be a great side hustle idea. The number one thing you will need to start this side hustle is a truck and/or trailer to help you transport larger electronics. Sorry, your small gas-saving car won’t work for this one!

Also, you will generally not be able to buy and sell them instantly. You will either need space a garage, the side of your house, or a storage unit. Storage units are a great place to store them and not annoy your family or neighbors with large, clunky appliances around your home. Plus, they can help if you live in an apartment or condo.

Where to Find Used Appliances

Most people start this side hustle by scouring craigslist. While it’s a great place to start don’t be afraid to check out your local flea markets, swap meets, and Offer Up. Once you begin searching, make sure the appliances are in good shape and as it will make it easy to resell them in the near future.

If you consider yourself a handy person this is also a good side hustle as the repairs can be easy for some people to fix and make huge returns. For others, it might take some more time watching Youtube videos and learning more about the business.

Personally, I’m extremely unhandy and wouldn’t consider this side hustle as I can barely change an air filter in my house but this is great for someone who likes to repair things. If you’re ready to start this side hustle here is what you’ll want to look at before picking up an appliance:

• Priced low enough that you can make money reselling
• Appliances that are close enough to your location to make it worth your gas and time to pick them up
• Ones that are in good shape so you have minimal, if any, repairs to avoid frustration

1. How to Find the Right Priced Appliances

If you want to make this a great side hustle you have to become a great bargain shopper. The only way to make money flipping anything is to buy low and sell high. I tried flea market flipping in the past and never had luck as I didn’t have a specialty item I was trying to flip.

But, if you make appliance flipping your main hustle you will get a good understanding what’s valuable and what’s junk. You can browse items online on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or free apps.

Make sure to also check garage sales, the free section of craigslist and even stores closing near you. Often times when stores are closing they will try to liquidate everything which can help you find a great deal.

2. How to Save Money on Gas and Find Appliances That Aren’t Too Far Away

Depending on where you live gas is very expensive, especially in the summertime with a large truck.  Before driving to the location try to calculate in advance how much it will cost to buy, repair (if needed), gas, time, and profit. If you are driving an hour to only make $100, spend $20 in gas is it really worth it?

If possible, try to create a route where you can stop by different locations or flea markets to save gas money and make the most out of your time. Saturday’s are a great day to meet with vendors, visit flea markets, or stop by garage sales. Map out your route and stops in advance.

3. Picking the Right Appliances to Flip

When it comes to selling large appliances you don’t have to just think about washers and dryers. You can also buy and sell refrigerators, chest freezers, and dishwashers. Some of the items will be bigger than others and also require more handiness if you need to repair.

I recommend starting with a niche so you can become more of an “expert” and it will also make repairs simple and easy. If you try to sell all large appliances it can be difficult to know the ins and outs of repair and pricing each item. Plus, some items might be too big to transport or store.

Find Rebates for Cash Back

The last thing you can do to make money for your appliances is to take advantage of tax credits, rebate, insurance savings, and others to save big on any new appliances you are purchasing. Make sure to check out these sites and act quick as they are given on a first come first serve basis.

1. Contact Your Local Utility Provider: Depending on your utility company they might give you an incentive or rebate for switching to a more energy efficient appliance. Call ahead and contact them for a list of approved appliances before shopping or purchasing.
2. Contact Your Home Insurance Provider: If you are a homeowner you can also contact your home insurance provider to see if you can receive a discount. This will be different for each provider so make sure to call ahead.
3. Find an Online Rebate: The biggest brands like PG&E and GE are always offering different rebates for new appliances. Sometimes this saving can be huge so make sure to not skip out on this easy money!
4. Energystar.gov: This site will help you find rebates on energy efficient appliances by zip code and product.
5. Energy.gov: Use this site to find appliance tax credits, savings, and rebates for the state you live in. Some states have huge amounts of savings!

Final Thoughts

There are no shortages of ways to get rid of your old, used, or unwanted appliances and turning those items into cash or a check in your name. At the end of the day, it really comes down to how much time and effort you want to spend offloading these items.

You can choose to sell them yourself using Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or relevant apps quickly and cheaply. Or, if you have other items in your home you can have a good old-fashioned garage sale and declutter your house and garage.

If you don’t feel like they are worth much or want to minimize the effort you can always sell to local stores, resellers, flea markets or cash in for scrap metal.

Lastly, you can choose to donate these items to help others in need. Not only is this a good deed but a tax write off as well.

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• Get the Free Honey Extension

In this latest Honey coupon review, I will show you how I personally use Honey. This free browser extension saves my wife and I a ton of time since we no longer have to search and test each promo code we find in Google. In fact, shopping trends for Americans show that American shop online 52 times per year and on average we will spend just over 7.3 minutes searching for a coupon code. This means we spend just over 6 hours every year searching online for a promo code before we hit the checkout button!

As I am sure you can agree, time is one of our most valuable resources. With that said, what if there was way we could turn that 7.3 minutes of searching into 2 seconds with a simple click of a button?

The best way I have found to automatically search for every online coupon at checkout is with the free Honey browser extension.

What is the Honey Browser Extension?

I pulled this straight from the Honey website to let them explain it to you as simply as possible:

“Honey is a service that makes it ridiculously easy to save money and time. Honey automatically finds coupon codes for the site you’re shopping at and applies them to your order when you check out, saving you money and coupon searching time.”

How cool is that?? So, instead of having to search dozens of coupon sites to find coupon codes to save cash on your purchases, you can leave that work all to your Honey app, and it’ll find your coupon codes for you AND apply them to your purchase!

BAM!

Doesn’t that sound a whole lot easier than having to search and find coupon codes on your own? Honey does the work for you, and you get the credit (i.e. the cash savings).

What’s really cool about using Honey instead of searching yourself is that if you’ve ever searched the various coupon sites for codes when you shop, you’ve likely had the same experience I’ve had – many of the coupon codes you find if you search manually for them don’t work.

They’re either expired codes, or bogus codes to begin with. You copy and paste each code you find into the coupon code box at the store as you go to check out, only to find they’re invalid codes.

So you spend all of this time searching for discount coupon codes and end up with nothing for your time.

The Honey app automatically finds the valid coupon codes that will work for your purchase, and does all of the work of applying them as well. It’s that easy.

How Does it Work?

So, you might be wondering what Honey has that you don’t – what makes it so easy for Honey to find coupon codes when you have to search dozens of websites, all the while often coming up empty-handed?

Technology, baby. Here’s how it works.

Have you ever arrived at the online checkout and you notice the empty box that says “Do you Have a Coupon Code?”

You then decide to quickly search Google for available coupon codes and apply them one at-a-time only to be disappointed to realize none of them worked and you just wasted 7.3 minutes of your life that you will never get back?

Honey’s job is to help get that time back for you all the while making this process absolutely painless. After you simply install the extension for your desktop browser (only Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Opera), the little extension goes to work for you by scouring the internet for every website you land on.

Honey’s technological expertise makes coupon finding super fast, and you don’t have to do anything but click the Honey button on your browser bar.

What Does it Look Like?

This happens quickly and seamlessly, and you won’t even miss the time. And, Honey can be installed on multiple computers and multiple browsers on your computers, so you’re not limited in where you can use it on your PC or laptop.

When Honey finds a coupon or discount, the Honey app then lights up with the available coupons it found for that retailer. You can click on the button to see what is available BEFORE you shop or you can wait until checkout and let Honey do the real magic.

The real magic is when you click on the Honey Button to search and apply for all coupons at checkout. Then Honey simultaneously applies every coupon found to your cart to make sure they work and to make sure you are getting the greatest discount with the best possible combination of available coupons!

Did you hear that? Honey actually works to find coupons that you can combine to save even more money.

Instead of you having to search all over the internet and waste precious time scouring through the dozens of coupon codes that probably won’t work, Honey does this all for you (for free) with the click of a single button.

Do I Need to Register to Get the Deals?

Here’s the thing: you don’t need to register with Honey to get publicly available coupon codes. However, Honey also shares exclusive offers and savings that you won’t find online publicly.

If you want access to all of Honey’s money saving coupon codes you have to register and open an account. But don’t worry: registration is free and super simple.

What if I Have My Own Coupons?

Guess what: if you have your own coupons, you can submit them to the Honey site for additional discounts.

There are two ways to submit coupons to Honey. The first way is by using the extension – just scroll to the bottom after you click on the “h” button and add your code into the “share a code” box.

The second way to use coupons you find is directly through the Honey website. When you go on the site you’ll see a live feed of coupons being submitted by Honey members.

You can submit your coupon right to that live feed for all to see, and get the additional discount on your purchase if the coupon is valid.

Which Stores and Sites Does Honey Work With?

Honey works with thousands of different stores and sites. Chances are they’ve got you covered for at least some of your online shopping. From pizza places to high end clothing stores, you can get additional discounts if you’re using Honey.

Here is just a small list of the stores and retailers Honey helps you save money at when you’re shopping online.

• Amazon, Walmart and Target
• Kohl’s and JC Penney’s
• Papa John’s and Pizza Hut
• Various online flower shops
• Groupon and Living Social
• Shutterfly and Tiny Prints
• Starbucks
• Michael’s Crafts and Joann ETC
• Cafe Press
• Eddie Bauer and The Sportsman’s Guide
• Macy’s Williams Sonoma and Lord and Taylor
• Fandango and Vista Print
• Harbor Freight Tools
• ThredUP

It’s easy to see from this small sample list of retailers Honey helps you get discounts on that there’s something for all of your shopping needs with Honey.

Honey also supports stores in Canada, the UK and Australia, so if you see your Honey button lighting up while shopping online at one of those international stores, click to get your discount.

Want to shop at a store Honey doesn’t yet support? They’re continually looking to add retailers to their list, so you can just submit a request to have your favorite stores added and Honey will look into doing so.

Whether you’re shopping for sporting goods, high end clothing or every day stuff at big box stores, you can get extra discounts on all of your shopping with the click of your mouse.

The Amazon Trick

Honey also has something I have been using with Amazon. Since coupon codes are very product specific when on Amazon’s site, rarely will you find a coupon for the product you are looking for. However, Honey does search Amazon’s site and makes sure you are getting the best deal. If not, Honey notifies you to let you know you could buy from a different seller and save money.

WOW. So Honey will actually do your comparison shopping for you as it’s searching for coupon codes to see if you can get a better deal at another retailer. Amazing!

Anything Else?

Yeah, there actually is. I want you to think for a moment beyond traditional online shopping and think everything online.

Let me give you an example: Last week we were hanging out with some friends and decided to order up some pizza from Papa John’s for dinner.

As I placed the order on laptop, I noticed that my Honey extension browser started lighting up. I clicked on the button at checkout and realized that Honey removed 30% from our order!

My friends were super impressed and I became a hero for the next four minutes of my life. So I encourage you; anytime you can buy something online – anything at all, whether it’s takeout or delivery from a local restaurant, work from a service provider such as an appliance repair service, or just your every day online shopping – take the extra two seconds and click on the Honey icon at top of browser.

You might find yourself pleasantly surprised at what kind of money savings you end up being handed, all for the simple work of clicking the Honey icon at checkout.

Not only will you impress your friends, you might just end up saving huge cash in the process.

Honey Droplist

Another benefit Honey can offer you is through a program called “Droplist”. Droplist is a feature from Honey that helps you make sure you don’t miss out on savings if you’re not quite ready to buy yet. Here’s how it works:

If you’re looking at a specific item but don’t want to buy quite yet, you can hit the “Add to Droplist” button if the item is available at select retailers, such as Amazon, Macy’s Overstock, Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and a few others.

Honey will automatically put the item you’re looking for on a watch list for either 30, 60 or 90 days. When the price drops more than five percent, you’ll automatically get an email from Honey telling you so.

Honey will also let you know when the deal is about to expire so you don’t miss out if you choose not to order it right away.

You can also manually check your Droplist items any time just to see what the current prices are so you can take advantage of a good deal if and when you’re ready, but if you’re not ready to buy yet Droplist will continue to monitor its prices for you.

More “amazing”!

Refer-a-Friend

Just like so many other rewards sites, Honey has a referral program where they pay you points (points that you can use as cash discounts when you shop) every time you invite your friends and they download the app and use it.

The process for referring others to download the Honey app is easy: You simply invite your friends with a custom referral link that Honey creates especially for you, or you can spread the word by sharing your custom referral link on your social media accounts.

Honey will pay you $5 (500 points equals $5) every time up to $1,000 when they purchase online using Honey!

HoneyGold

There’s also another benefit to using Honey: the HoneyGold program, which is the company’s cash back rewards program. As you start to use the Honey, you will accumulate points which you can later redeem for Amazon Gift Cards.

Honestly, this isn’t the reason you should be using Honey as it doesn’t pay enough in points to get you rich or pay for all of the gifts you buy throughout the year, but since it doesn’t require any extra effort, then I call it a padded bonus.

Just a little extra money savings for you, simply for downloading and using the Honey app.

The Triple Savings Trick

Want even more money savings with Honey? If you want to get a little crazy, you can do what I have been doing. I call it the Triple Savings Trick. I describe the process below, but I also actually made this super short video to show you how to use the Triple Savings Trick.

I use Rakuten, Honey, and Giftcard Granny all at once to save the absolute most money possible. Here’s how I do it.

When I arrive at the online retailer I activate my Ebates to get my CashBack activated. Then at checkout, I click on the Honey app to apply any available coupon codes.

Once I know my final checkout price, I search Gift Card Granny for an online gift card at a discount (for instance, someone may be selling a $50 gift card for $42 to get rid of it. The money savings aren’t usually that extreme with Gift Card Granny but hey, every cent adds up, right?).

By using the Triple Savings Trick, it means I am getting the cashback discount, the maximum discount using any and all coupon codes, and then the discount at the end with a bargain gift card.

Triple Whammy my friend! A ridiculous amount of money savings when you shop with very little time for your efforts. Definitely worth using the system.

Related: How to use Rakuten to get Cashback on Everything

Does it Work on Mobile Devices?

Yes!

There is a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices. Unlike the browser extension that goes with you when you visit the online store, the Honey App brings that stores to you through the app.

Just click on the button above and you’ll start enjoying savings on your online purchases.

It just couldn’t be any easier to start having fast access to valid coupon codes for all of your online shopping. Remember, this includes shopping at Amazon, pizza, travel and more.

Using the Honey browser extension is kind of like being handed free cash every time you shop. How can you say “no”?

Why Pay Full Price?

With Honey and all of the other valid money saving tools out there, there is just no reason to pay full price when you shop. And retailers know there are savvy customers out there searching for savings, so they’re happy to partner with money saving apps like Honey if it means they’ll get your business.

I would challenge you to take your money savings even one step further. Keep track of the money you save by using Honey and other savings tools, and put it aside in a separate savings account.

Use that separate savings account to help fund your financial goals. That might mean paying off all of your consumer debt (my wife and I paid off $52,000 in consumer debt in just seven months through various side hustle and money saving endeavors) and living a life free of the stress of debt.

Or you might have a goal of paying cash for an international vacation or a new car. Or maybe you’re tired of the rat race and want to save to be able to retire early or start a new business venture.

Summary

Whatever your savings goals, using little tricks like saving your Honey money to put toward those goals can help you reach them faster than ever.

Just one more reason to install Honey browser extension and begin saving today. You’ll be surprised at how combining all of your money saving techniques will add up over the long run.

And then there’s that high you get when you order pizza for your friends and save 30% at check out! You can’t beat that for a minute-of-fame moment.

What should you start saving today?

How do you calculate how much you need and how much to save?

The bottom line: YOU Must Create Retirement Savings.

And, if you’re planning on relying on your monthly Social Security checks to get you by in retirement, you might want to rethink your plan.

According to the latest studies, the median retirement savings for American adults is $65,000 for all adults in America. In addition, another report shows that 1 in 4 Americans don’t have anything saved for retirement.

Of course Social Security will help out a little, but it definitely won’t fund the lifestyle most people are used to prior to retirement. In fact, the average monthly Social Security check in 2021 was only $1,658 per month.

What is Life in Retirement Like for Those Who Didn’t Create Retirement Savings?

What does life hold for those who haven’t saved enough for retirement?

Chris Hogan was a guest on the Money Peach Podcast and shares the heart-wrenching story of Michael; a young man visiting his sweet aunt only to discover she had been (literally) living on dog food as that was all she could afford to eat.

The story brought a catalyst of change for Michael and his wife, partly because they had a financial picture themselves which included little savings, massive debt, and no cash reserves to help out Michael’s beloved aunt.

Another story is of Jean.

Jean worked her entire life as a cashier at a grocery store. The grocery store did offer a 401k retirement plan with a match, however she never took advantage of contributing to her own retirement.

When it came to retire, Jean soon realized her social security check would only be $1,100 per month, thus putting her right at the poverty line according the Federal Government.

At nearly 80 years old, Jean is going to work an additional 3 days per week to make ends meet. Remember, she went back to work not because she wants to, but because she has to.

How Much Do You Need in Retirement?

Don’t wait until you are in a position like Jean or like Michael’s aunt to start worrying about your level of retirement savings. As you can see, it’s extremely important to start taking the necessary steps to increase retirement savings NOW – while you still have the physical and mental capabilities to do so.

But how much do you I actually need in retirement?

This answer is different for everyone and it all depends on one thing: the number (dollar amount) you will need in retirement.

To start, ask yourself how much you need to have saved when you start your retirement. To help determine how much you will need, ask yourself the following:

• Will I have any debt left in retirement?
• Will I still have a mortgage?
• What about child expenses, if any?
• What will I do with the time originally spent working and how much will that cost?

It doesn’t have to be perfect, but come up with a dollar amount you will need each year in retirement.

The 4% Rule

A quick way to determine how much you will need to have saved in retirement is to use the 4% rule.

Now, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule but it’s a great starting point to determine roughly how much you will need at retirement. The 4% rule states that if you only draw 4% of your nest egg per year, not only will your nest egg last you throughout your entire retirement, but the value of your nest egg will remain the same (on average) throughout your entire retirement.

To calculate, simply determine the annual income you would need in retirement and then divide it by 0.04.

Example: If you want to retire with an annual income of $80,000, then you would need a $2 million nest egg in retirment using the 4% rule. If you think you need $120,000 per year, then you will need to build a $3 million nest egg.

How Much Do You Need to Start Saving?

Now that you know how much you need in retirement, let’s next determine how much you need to start saving each month. Of course there is no crystal ball that will guarantee your future nest egg amount, however you do have something you can lean on — the past performance of the stock market and retirement funds.

Going back and looking at the stock market (the S&P 500) from 1957 to 2021, the average return was 10.67%. Of course this doesn’t mean you are guaranteed a 10.67% return for your future investing, but it gives you a good starting point.

With the historical performance of 10.67%, use a range for your future savings. Maybe that range looks something like 8% – 12%, as your annual return inside an investment calculator.

This will also show you how much you will need to save each month depending on your age and the annual return you are using.

Let’s take a quick look at an example:

• Age: 30
• How much currently saved: $0
• How much invested per month: $450
• How long to invest: 37 years (age 67)
• Annual return on investment: 10%
• Estimated Retirement Savings: $2,096,923

Let’s look at another example:

• Age: 45
• How much currently saved: $65,000
• How much invested per month: $550
• How long to invest: 25 years (age 70)
• Annual return on investment: 8%
• Estimated Retirement Savings: $1,000,175

Allocate Retirement Savings from Your Monthly Budget

If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to create a budget — AKA a cash-flow plan.

A cash flow plans allows you to identify exactly what you need to save each month and where you will be saving from  in order to reach your retirement goals. 

Saving enough for a healthy retirement may require a few tough decisions, but I promise they will not kill you.

For example, you may be have to cancel your cable TV subscription, downgrade the type of car you drive, avoid spending too much time inside restaurants, or you may even want to pick up a montly side hustle.

When Chris and his wife paid off $52,000 in consumer debt in just seven months they had to make some of those tough decisions. They sold everything (including both of their newer cars), picked up extra jobs, and lived on “scorched earth lifestyle” to regain control of their life and money.

Today they are now on the path of building substantial wealth and they will both tell you their short term sacrifice was worth the long term gain.

Where Do I Invest?

Here is the order I recommend when it comes to investing for retirement using tax-favored retirement accounts.

1. Employer Sponsored Plan

Did you know that  67% of current employers offer a 401k plan? In addition to offering a retirement savings plan, employers on average will match between 3% and 8% into your 401k on your behalf. This is truly FREE money!

Start off by contributing up to the maximum match your employer will allow. For example, if you’re employer matches up to 4% if you contribue 8%, then contribute 8%.

Note: Other options beyond a 401k are a 403b, 457, TSP, and a ROTH option for each.

2. ROTH IRA

Once you’ve taken advantage of the free match from your employer, next is to contribute to your ROTH IRA. To jog your memory, a ROTH IRA is invested with after-tax dollars, therefore giving a tax-free withdrawals in retirement. In 2022, you can contribue up to $6,000 into your ROTH IRA and then an additional $1,000 per year if you are over age 50.

I have both a ROTH IRA and a Traditional IRA at M1 Finance — M1 Finance has expert portfolios for you to choose from based on your risk level. Also, with the price of single stocks often costing over $1,000, M1 Finance allows you to invest in partial stocks so you can still get started investing no matter how much you are starting with.

3. Go Back to Employer Sponsored Plan

The maximum contribution limits to your 401k (or the like) in 2022 is $20,500 and then an additional $6,500 if you’re over age 50. After you have taken advantage of the free match from your employer and then maxed out your ROTH IRA, any additional money you have to invest can go towarsd maxing out your 401k.

Retirement Funding Example

Let’s assume you need to contribute $18,000 per year ($1,500 per month) in order to meet your retirement goals. If your current income is $100,000 per year, this is the breakdown of your investing:

1. $8,000 into 401k (to get the 4% match)
2. $6,000 into ROTH IRA
3. $4,000 more back into 401k 

Retirement Isn’t an Age, it’s a Number

The best time to start saving for retirement is today. In fact, it’s never too late to start but — the earlier you get started, the easier it is.

Whether you’re someone who is nearing retirement or you have 40 years left to work, start saving for retirment today!

Lastly, unless you are fortunate to have a pension, retirement for you is not an age, it’s a number. Ask yourself these three questions:

1. How much will you need in retirement?
2. How much do you need to have saved at retirement using the 4% rule?
3. How much do you need to start saving right now?

Now that you know what to do, it’s time to get started.

Two Secrets You Must Know About Free Internet Service

Your free internet probably won’t be fast enough to watch Netflix on multiple devices at the same time, but you’ll still be able to surf the web, answer emails, and explore online side hustles.

In addition, most free internet options have monthly usage caps; similar to your monthly smartphone data plan.

If you’re okay with potentially slower data speeds and monthly usage caps, getting free internet service is an excellent way to save $50 every month, which is always fun to do.

Where to Get Free Internet Service

Because of wifi hotspots, it’s easier than ever to get free internet. The only catch is you need to go to a public place to enjoy the free wifi. This might be ok if you only need to use the internet a few hours a week or you live in a major metro area and can walk down the street to a cafe.

But, it’s also possible to get free internet at home too.

This section offers nine ways to get free internet service every month. Because there isn’t a true “free lunch,” there might be a one-time equipment purchase required.

FreedomPop

FreedomPop  is a wireless internet and cellular service provider.  They offer extremely affordable talk, text, and data plans for their customers, that actually starts at $0.00 per month! Now, keep in mind the free plan only offer 10 minutes of talk, 10 text messages per month and 25MB of data per month.

To understand how much 25MB of data is per month, this is the equivelant to checking about 10-20 emails per month (no data) and about 5-10 webpages per day.

However, if you are willing to pay just a few bucks more per month, you can increase your talk, text and data.

	250 Mins (unlimited text)	Unlimited Mins (unlimited text)	1 GB High-Speed	4 GB High-Speed	10 GB High-Speed	Unlimited High-Speed
$2.99	☑️		☑️
$4.99		☑️	☑️
$10.99	☑️			☑️
$12.99		☑️		☑️
$17.99	☑️				☑️
$22.99		☑️			☑️
$42.99		☑️				☑️

Whether you go with the free plan or any of the above plans, you’re still saving a ton of money as compared to the larger well known carriers.

Public WiFi Hotspots

Many restaurants, stores, and public places offer free wifi. While many businesses offer free wifi in anticipation that you’ll make a purchase, no purchase is necessary to use their internet. But, the cashier might begin badgering you to either make a purchase or leave to open up the table for another patron.

When looking for free wifi hotspots, consider these places first:

• Starbucks
• McDonald’s
• Panera Bread
• Target
• Walmart
• Shopping malls
• Public parks in major cities
• Libraries and community centers
• Airports

Find Your Closest WiFi Hotspot With Wi-Fi-FreeSpot

Wi-Fi-FreeSpot is a running database of free wifi hotspots across the world. They list the obvious places like Starbucks or your local mall and also the less obvious businesses too. In my own small town of 8,000 residents, Wi-Fi-FreeSpot lists two additional places I never knew offered free wifi.

While you might be expected to make a purchase to enjoy the free wifi when it’s at a restaurant or coffee shop, the price can still be cheaper than your regular monthly bill. And if you like to socialize and meet new friends, going to a public place can be a fun way to interact with others to build a human connection while you surf the web.

Or, you can always type “wifi hotspots near me” into Google too.

Juno

Before the days of unlimited home internet, we used to receive CDs with free internet minutes in the mail. While Juno no longer sends CDs in the mail, they still offer 10 hours of free dial-up internet access each month. That’s a far cry from the one hour of free internet we used to get from them 20 years ago.

If you only need home internet for basic correspondence and browsing, it’s worth considering Juno. Keep in mind, you’ll need an active home phone number to dial Juno’s server with.

NetZero

NetZero also offers 10 hours of free dial-up internet access. The one downside is that NetZero is only compatible with PC and mobile devices. Mac owners will need to consider using Juno or another internet provider instead of NetZero.

To get 20 hours of free internet service, you can signup with both Juno and NetZero and switch to the other when your monthly allowance is used up.

Like Juno, you need an active home phone number so your internet modem can dial the NetZero server to access the internet.

All Free ISP

Another easy way to find free internet providers near you is with the All Free ISP free internet search engine. You only need to enter your state of residence or area code to look for free and cheap internet plans in your city. The two most prevalent choices will be Juno and NetZero, but you might see another option as well.

Your Local Library

Most public libraries offer free internet from either their desktop computers or wifi network. You might have to apply for a library card to log into the network, but you can also borrow great books to read in your spare time too.

I periodically go to my own public library to use their free wifi hotspot. It’s quicker than my home internet which is a definite thumbs up when I need a change of scenery to work distraction-free. Each session is only one hour, but since I bring my own device I can continually renew the session and have worked in the library all day sometimes because of internet outages at home.

Ask Your Neighbor or Landlord

If your neighbor or landlord has internet access, they might be willing to share their internet with you. When you’re too far away from their router to get a reliable signal, you’ll need to invest in a wifi extender. Simply plug into a wall outlet between their router and where you will sit to normally access internet.

After linking the extender to their internet, it will begin repeating the signal and will be strong enough to surf the web and stream videos.

Before buying an extender you will want to review your local laws and the internet service provider terms and conditions to make sure you can legally use a wifi extender. This option might make more sense if you’re renting a part of the landlord’s house or you live in an on-property guest house and cannot get your own separate internet line installed.

Your Current Internet Provider

While many households are cutting the cord by ditching cable tv and landline phone service to save money each month, bundling your internet, phone, and cable can occasionally be cheaper.

Ask your current internet provider if they offer internet bundles. You might have to downgrade your internet speed, but they might be willing to waive your internet fee if you subscribe to other services.

If you pursue this option, be wary of introductory rate offers that expire after several months and the provider begins charging you for internet again. It is possible to avoid these marketing gimmicks with Trim Financial Manager, a free program that continually monitors your internet provider’s promotional offers to make sure you never overpay for internet and phone access.

School2Home

If you live in select California communities, you might be eligible for free internet service with the School2Home initiative. Some families won’t qualify for free internet but can get discounted internet for only $10 a month through national internet providers including AT&T and Frontier.

Upgrade to an Unlimited Data Plan

Unlimited cell phone data is back with many cellular networks. By upgrading to an unlimited plan that allows mobile hotspot capability, you can create your own free wifi hotspot. But, your speed and data usage can still be restricted when you’re in hotspot mode.

Cell phone plans regularly change, but here are the current policies for the largest networks:

• AT&T: Unlimited 3G mobile hotspot for $35 per month
• Sprint: Unlimited 3G mobile hotspot for $60 per month
• T-Mobile: Unlimited 3G mobile hotspot for $90 per month
• Verizon: 25GB of 5G LTE and then unlimited 3G mobile hotpsot for $45 per month

Some carriers also include free subscriptions to premium streaming networks like HBO, Hulu, Disney Plus and Netflix when you have an unlimited plan. As long as you’re happy watching this programming on your phone, upgrading to an unlimited data plan can save you money in more ways than one.

Having used this option to get free internet in the past to save a few bucks, I will tell you that using your phone as a mobile hotspot on a regular basis degrades the battery life and you will need to replace your phone sooner because the battery won’t hold a charge for more than a few hours.

Bonus Tip: Instead of putting your old phone in a desk drawer until the world ends, sell your phone for cash while it still has some material value remaining. I don’t know about you, but money is more valuable than a phone I never plan on using again.

Low Cost Internet

When 10 hours of free dial-up or 500 MB isn’t enough each month, you might also qualify for a discounted internet plan. These plans usually offer higher speeds and unlimited service, and they’re still affordable enough that these options are cheaper than buying a double shot espresso each time you go to Starbucks to use their free wifi.

Connect2Compete

The mission of EveryoneOn is to provide home internet access to the 75 million Americans that currently don’t have internet at home. This site is supported by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Connect2Compete initiative that partners with national internet service providers to provide fast, reliable home internet for $9.95 a month.

While Connect2Compete isn’t free, you can get the same internet service for a fraction of the cost. To qualify for these discounted internet plans, you must meet the three following requirements:

• Have at least one child eligible or enrolled in the National School Lunch Program
• Not subscribed to home internet in the last 90 days
• No outstanding bills or unreturned equipment

AT&T Access

Access from AT&T is one of the cheapest home internet plans for low-income families. Plans start at $5 per month and you can get speeds up to 3 megabits per second which is enough to do some basic video streaming on one device at a time.

Besides the unlimited home wifi internet service, you also get complimentary access to the AT&T wifi hotspot network that lets you access paid wifi hotspots for free.

To qualify, at least one person in your family must be eligible for federal SNAP benefits and live in the 21 state area where AT&T offers wireline internet service.

Internet Essentials

If you’re privileged to be served by Comcast, you can get fast, reliable, and free internet at home with Internet Essentials. Simply sign up and pay $9.95 a month and then enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and you will get your service for FREE.

PCs for People

PCs for People offers unlimited Sprint 4G LTE mobile broadband for $15 month with their entry level plan. As a national carrier, there’s a good chance you live inside Sprint’s 4G LTE coverage area.

Because the mobile coverage is unlimited, you can take your hotspot everywhere you go and downsize your smartphone data plan to offset the $15 monthly subscription fee. With this service, you might spend less than before because you get unlimited internet for $15 a month. And, multiple devices can connect at once.

Frontier Lifeline Program

Frontier offers dial-up internet at a very low cost and varies depending on where you live. You can either have landline phone service or standalone internet service to qualify for this discount internet program. Eligibility requirements will vary by state, but you must qualify for the Federal Lifeline program as a general rule of thumb.

CenturyLink Internet Basics

CenturyLink Internet Basics gives you internet speeds up to 100Mbps for $50 per month. You must meet all of the four requirements to qualify for Internet Basics service:

• Reside in CenturyLink service area
• Not subscribed to CenturyLink internet service
• Do not have an unpaid CenturyLink bill or unreturned equipment
• Follow Lifeline or TAP phone service guidelines

It’s also possible to get discount home phone access with CenturyLink too if you still need a home phone for your family.

Karma

By itself, Karma isn’t a free wifi service because you have to pay a monthly fee, but you they do offer the following plans:

• $10/month for 1GB Data
• $30/month for 5GB Data
• $50/month for 10GB Data

In order to use the Karma data, you will need to purchase a Karma hotspot device for $60.

Safely Using Free WiFi

Free public wifi used to be a novelty a few years ago that only a few restaurants, airports, and hotels offered. Now, it’s becoming virtually commonplace. While free internet is convenient, you need to be careful what you do on free wifi networks to protect your sensitive personal information.

While most people use free wifi for honest purposes, identity thieves with some advanced computer skills can potentially hack into your computer, phone, and tablet and steal your personal information without your knowledge.

If you don’t have internet at home, you might have no choice but to use free wifi to access your bank information, file your taxes, and make an Amazon purchase where you need to enter your credit or debit card information to pay for the goods. Using your friend’s home wifi network or your work internet might not be an option at the moment, so public wifi is your only choice.

With millions of free wifi hotspots worldwide, the odds of having your personal information stolen is relatively low but it only takes once and it can happen when you least expect it.

That’s why it’s so important to take the following precautions:

Verify the WiFi Server Name With the Cashier

If there are multiple wifi networks available, verify the correct hotspot name with the cashier. Computer hackers might name their personal hotspot to closely resemble the legitimate wifi hotspot hoping an unassuming customer will click on it.

For example, the correct hotspot network to join is “Panera” but you might also see an option for “Panera1.” Some businesses offer multiple networks so a single network doesn’t get overloaded and so Panera1 could very well be a legit network. Regardless, it’s always better to ask and be safe than assume and get scammed.

Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Whether you connect to the internet with a phone, computer, or tablet, you really should always connect to a free network with a virtual private network service like NordVPN. Using a VPN network encrypts your internet activity and makes it extremely difficult for scammers to steal your personal information.

If you use free wifi hotspots on a regular basis, a VPN is an absolute must to safely use public wifi for less than $3 per month.

Only Visit Secure Websites

Most websites are transitioning to using “https://” instead of “https://” for additional security, but not every site has yet. With Google Chrome, you can tell if the site your visiting uses https encryption or not because you’ll see a green padlock and the word “Secure” beside it.

If you don’t see that icon, be careful where you click on the site as it can be a phishing scam. Browsers also block certain sites they know are prone to phishing scams as well and you have to click a second box to visit these select unsecured sites.

Disable Your File Sharing Functions

Many devices automatically enable sharing functions that instantly transfer documents to the cloud or your friend’s device. This can be a backdoor way to access your personal data if you accidentally click a button to enable sharing with a stranger.

Turn Off WiFi When Not In Use

Finally, turn off your wifi router when you’re not using the internet. Not only will you save battery power, but a hacker can’t get into your computer if it’s not connected to the internet.

Summary

Free internet comes in three different forms: home dial-up, mobile hotspots, and free public wifi. A combination of these three mediums can make it possible to never pay for internet again, but you might have to pay for an upgraded plan if you need to use more data, require faster connection speeds or you want your own private network to protect your personal information.