9 Ways to Make Money on the Side
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Apps aren't only fun--they're income!<br />
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<a href="http://easyshiftapp.com/" target="_blank">Easyshift</a> is an app that lets you moonlight as a "mystery shopper." When you go on your regular errands, you complete tasks for retailers' research departments like taking pictures or answering a few questions, and you get paid ($2-$4 per task) for the privilege.<br />
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Other apps for extra cash include <a href="http://wereward.com/" target="_blank">WeReward</a> and <a href="http://www.fieldagent.net/" target="_blank">Field Agent</a>.</p>
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By <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/" target="_blank">Learnvest</a></p>
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Have you heard of <a href="http://www.taskrabbit.com/" target="_blank">TaskRabbit</a>? It's a website (and app) that lets you outsource chores to willing parties. If you're one of those willing parties, you can earn some extra cash doing anything from picking up groceries to assembling IKEA cabinets.<br />
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To get a better feel for the service, read <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/2012/04/money-mic-how-i-earn-extra-cash-as-a-taskrabbiter/" target="blank">one woman's account of being a TaskRabbiter</a>.</p>
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By <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/" target="_blank">Learnvest</a></p>
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If you have a reliable car (and some great driving tunes), consider bringing in some extra money from a car-sharing service. Services like <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/2012/07/need-a-ride-find-one-with-just-a-click-123/" target="_blank">ZimRide</a> let you sell seats on trips you're already taking for as much as $25, and services like <a href="https://relayrides.com/" target="_blank">Relay Rides</a> let you rent out your car at your chosen price for the hour, day or week (and provides free insurance!).</div>
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And what about parking? If you have it, you can rent that out, too, with <a href="https://www.parkingpanda.com/" target="_blank">Parking Panda</a>.</div>
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By <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/" target="_blank">Learnvest</a></p>
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Do you have a Masters degree in Engineering? Are you a whiz in the kitchen? Do you know the ins and outs of Photoshop?</div>
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Any skill someone else wants to learn is an opportunity for you to teach it. Depending on experience and whether or not they join a larger organization, tutors can bring in up to $50 an hour (in cash) teaching out of their own homes, or visiting their students (who could be both children <em>and</em> adults).</div>
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In addition to advertising in your community through the standard newspaper ads, Facebook posts and fliers in the library, consider applying to be a tutor on sites like <a href="http://www.tutor.com/apply" target="_blank">Tutor.com</a>, <a href="http://www.PrincetonReview.com" target="_blank">the Princeton Review</a> and <a href="http://www.Kaplan.com" target="_blank">Kaplan</a>.</div>
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By <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/" target="_blank">Learnvest</a></p>
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Almost everyone has dabbled in babysitting at some point, but the job only becomes more lucrative as you grow older and are able to offer more skills, like driving, cooking or CPR certification.</div>
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Websites like <a href="http://www.sittercity.com" target="_blank">SitterCity</a> (we interviewed the founder <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/2012/09/entrepreneurship-101-q-a-with-the-founder-of-sittercity/" target="_blank">here!</a>) or <a href="http://www.care.com" target="_blank">Care.com</a> are great resources for matching sitters with families.</div>
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Charging $12-$15 an hour is pretty standard, but to figure out how much is appropriate for your age and experience, use SitterCity's <a href="http://www.sittercity.com/babysitters/babysitters-rate-calculator.html" target="_blank">Babysitter's Rate Calculator</a>.</div>
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Spread your availability by speaking with your child's teachers, any friends who work in your community and with real estate brokers, who may work with families with small children who are new to town. If possible, you may even consider an arrangement where you can watch children at your house--it's a built-in play date for your own kid!</div>
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(Prefer watching four-legged cuties rather than two? <a href="http://www.petsitting.com" target="_blank">Petsitting.com</a> has you covered.)</div>
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By <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/" target="_blank">Learnvest</a></p>
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If you spend hours surfing the Internet, what's a few extra minutes spent taking a paid online survey?</div>
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Websites like <a href="http://www.freepaidsurveys.net" target="_blank">Free Paid Surveys</a> or <a href="http://www.OpinionPlace.com" target="_blank">Opinion Place</a> allow you to make money from the comfort of your home. If you're looking for something more interactive, list yourself as available for focus groups by joining <a href="http://www.FindFocusGroups.com">FindFocusGroups.com</a>.</div>
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By <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/" target="_blank">Learnvest</a></p>
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Another way to finance your habit might be cleaning your closet--and your child's. It's doubly beneficial: You can clear clutter and make some cash at the same time.</div>
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Start by choosing high quality pieces from the current season without any visible wear and tear. Make sure they're clean and folded, then bring them into your local consignment store (here are <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/2009/12/how-to-sell-to-a-consignment-store/">our tips for consigning clothes</a>).</div>
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If it's easier, take well-lit pictures of the pieces and list them on a site like<a href="http://www.ebay.com">eBay</a> or <a href="http://www.dresm.com/" target="_blank">Dresm</a>, a site specifically meant to facilitate sales of used clothing.</div>
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By <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/" target="_blank">Learnvest</a></p>
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Style blogs don't have to be a guilty pleasure. Instead, they can be the inspiration for a side-job as a "style entrepreneur."<br />
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<a href="http://www.StyleOwner.com">StyleOwner</a> is a free site that lets you create your own store by choosing items from a "Master Closet" of over 2,000 brands. When your friends--sent that way through your tireless efforts on Facebook, Twitter and emails, no doubt--buy from your store, you earn 10% on everything you sell!</p>
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By <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/" target="_blank">Learnvest</a></p>
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If you're lacking a yard (or half-decent weather), there's also the option of hosting a <em>virtual</em> yard sale: The app <a href="https://www.getyardsale.com/" target="_blank">Yardsale</a> lets you connect with neighbors and friends without setting up a single folding table.</p>
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By <a href="http://www.learnvest.com/" target="_blank">Learnvest</a></p>
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<a href="http://www.learnvest.com/2012/10/the-ultimate-guide-to-buying-in-bulk-for-your-family/" target="_blank">The Ultimate Guide to Buying in Bulk</a></p>
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<a href="http://www.learnvest.com/2012/10/the-best-savings-tips-weve-ever-heard/" target="_blank">The Best Savings Tips We've Ever Heard</a></p>
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<a href="http://www.learnvest.com/2012/10/a-guy-confides-i-get-paid-more-than-my-female-coworker/" target="_blank">A Guy Confides: I Earn More Than My Female Co-Worker</a></p>
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<a href="http://www.learnvest.com/knowledge-center/10-stock-market-secrets-straight-from-brokers/" target="_blank">10 Stock Market Secrets Straight From Brokers</a></p>
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<a href="http://www.learnvest.com/2012/10/5-ways-to-save-on-halloween-decorations/" target="_blank">5 Ways to Save on Halloween Decorations</a></p>
