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The post Shipt Review – Should You Become a Shipt Shopper? appeared first on Millennial Money.
Thanks to grocery delivery services like Shipt, you can get paid to do someone else’s grocery shopping for them. But is it worth your time and effort to become a Shipt shopper? In this Shipt shopper review, we’ll give you a complete overview of working for the grocery delivery service, including how it works, how much you can make, and how to get started.
Pros
Cons
or, skip straight to the section on how to sign up for Shipt
Shipt is a same-day delivery service that connects local community members with people who get paid for shopping at major retailers such as Target, Meijer, Walmart, Petco, and CVS.
Shipt pays shoppers for their efforts, compensating them with up to $22 per hour or more for deliveries. Shipt shoppers work as independent contractors and use the Shipt app to shop and deliver items to families in their local area. So it all takes place through an easy and user-friendly mobile app, and most people do it as a part-time job on their own schedule.
Shipt is loaded with great features and perks, making them one of the premier apps on the market right now.
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect when using Shipt.
Shipt is aligned with the flexible gig economy and doesn’t require workers to set hours or be on call. Instead, shoppers can work when they want and where they want for maximum earning potential and flexibility. The service is similar to apps like Uber and Lyft.
This makes Shipt great for college students, busy professionals looking for a side hustle, and caregivers and nurturers who need to bring in some extra money to run their household.
While Shipt has an application process, the company is non-exclusive. Shipt shoppers don’t have to worry about being exclusive to the company because they can work as freelancers. So there’s no threat of running into non-compete issues or being held back from other opportunities. You can be both a Shipt and an Instacart shopper at the same time.
Shoppers don’t have to worry about paying for items out of pocket and getting reimbursed. All items get covered through a prepaid Shipt card, which automatically loads with funds for orders that require payment.
Shipt offers optional resources, including online courses to help you become a more informed and knowledgeable shopper.
Why take the time to browse educational resources? It’s simple: The better you are at shopping, the more likely you’ll get bigger tips.
Shipt pays shoppers every Friday through a direct deposit program that funnels money right to your bank account. So there is never any threat of missing payments or experiencing delays. The process is efficient and automatic. You don’t even have to send in any invoices for added convenience.
This part is important. Nothing is worse than a payment delay when freelancing, although it happens quite frequently. Companies that pay promptly are therefore worth their weight in gold.
Shoppers are paid on a per order basis, and they can also earn tips and bonuses for added earning potential.
Shipt is selective about whom they bring on board, so you have to go through an application process before getting started.
To start, head over to Shipt.com and submit your first and last name, as well as your email address, phone number, and zip code. You need to be at least 18 years old to qualify.
Next, Shipt is going to ask for some basic information. For example, this includes taking a questionnaire, submitting video responses so the company can get to know you, and signing a Shipt shopper agreement, which is meant to weed non-serious shoppers out. Most shoppers tend to agree that it’s worth going through the process, but of course, some may feel differently.
Next, wait for a recruiter from Shipt to get back to you. This may take a few days or weeks and it depends on your area’s current need. After getting approval, you can download the app and start shopping.
Here’s a list of what Shipt shoppers need to get started:
If you go through the process, act professionally, say the right things, and have all your documentation in order, then you should hear back from the company.
It’s well within your right to inquire if you don’t hear back from the Shipt team after a reasonable amount of time. The team is generally very responsible and easy to deal with (more on customer service below).
Shipt uses consumer reports and collects detailed background checks on workers through a third-party vendor called Checkr. In addition, the company searches federal databases when hiring. So this is something to expect before getting started.
Shipt offers some enticing perks for shoppers. Here are some of the top perks to know about.
Working as an independent contractor can be challenging from a tax perspective, and people often have questions when filing. Shipt offers tax prep services and is currently even offering a 50% discount from TaxSlayer. This is a great perk that users should consider taking advantage of.
As a tip, it’s always good to work with tax consultants when working as an independent contractor. You don’t want to miss important details and wind up owing a lot to the government.
Shoppers get a free Shipt membership, meaning you don’t need to worry about Shipt Pass delivery fees — which can be helpful if you’re out hustling and don’t have time to shop for yourself.
The company offers some very customer-centric policies in terms of pandemic-related support. At the time of writing, Shipt is offering active shoppers up to two weeks of financial assistance if they can’t work due to a positive diagnosis of COVID-19, a mandatory quarantine, or if a household member receives a positive diagnosis.
Shipt recognizes that shoppers need their automobiles to get around and make deliveries. So the company provides some great auto perks for shoppers to ensure their cars remain functional.
When shopping for Shipt, it’s possible to receive discounts on auto insurance, maintenance discounts, and even gas savings programs. The company partners with Avis, Budget, NTB, Tire Kingdom, Gas Buddy, and Jiffy Lube.
Shipt has partnered with companies like Nift, ShopRunner, Toggle, and Hurdlr for additional perks.
Healthcare coverage is available for medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as discounted prescription plans and gym memberships.
Shipt doesn’t offer much security information on its website. However, from a physical security standpoint, the company does provide services to protect shoppers while they are out and about.
For example, Shipt offers no-contact deliveries, helping shoppers avoid interaction with customers and maintain some space and distance. The company also offers phone number protection, so that the shopper’s number always stays private when interacting with customers.
In addition, the company offers security perks like identity theft protection and legal resources.
It’s a great feeling knowing that the company that you’re working with has your back and is there to solve challenges when they arise.
Shipt offers a contact page with a contact form so shoppers and customers can submit feedback or ask questions at any time, for an email response.
In addition, Shipt lists a telephone number, email address, and physical addresses for its offices in Birmingham, Alabama, and San Francisco. Live chat service is also available on the Shipt website, for instant access to Shipt customer service members.
Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of working for Shipt.
Consider the following pointers to get the most out of your Shipt shopping experience.
This part is important. If you want to get good tips and reviews and avoid complaints, it pays to meet your assigned delivery window. Don’t make customers wait or forget to go on a run. If you do this consistently, you could wind up losing your position and losing money.
Put some thought and care into the process. Pick fruits and vegetables that aren’t damaged, and make sure items aren’t delivered in a way that is sloppy. The more care you put into the process, and the more accurately you gather items from the grocery list, the more money you will make.
Shipt is a great service, but you aren’t going to be able to get by doing it as a full-time job.
Let’s take a look at some alternative side hustles to supplement working with Shipt.
Shipt is part of a growing lineup of on-demand apps that deliver goods to community members.
Here are some similar apps to check out.
Instacart offers a similar pricing model to Shipt, where you can get paid for going on shopping trips and delivering the items to customers.
DoorDash is an on-demand delivery app that connects with local businesses and lets drivers pick up items from multiple stores.
Grubhub and Uber Eats are two competing services to check out as well.
Postmates is an on-demand delivery app that goes beyond food items and allows drivers to deliver household and office supplies to customers around town.
Saucey provides an on-demand delivery service exclusively for alcohol. So drivers can get paid to deliver booze to households and parties around town.
Amazon Flex is a delivery service that enables drivers to pick up and drop off Amazon Prime items and deliver them to customers around town. Download the Flex app, and complete your own on-demand deliveries for customers in your local area.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Shipt.
Shipt is a completely legit delivery app and on-demand service.
Shipt pays up to $22 per hour and can provide steady work depending on availability in your local area. The app is safe to use, and the company offers a variety of great perks like auto care, insurance coverage, and even COVID-19 related financial support to shoppers.
Shipt now offers nationwide service and same-day deliveries in most states. Check out Shipt’s complete list of locations on its website.
Shipt’s policy is that you can’t see who tips until two hours after the delivery is complete. At that point, shoppers gain visibility and can see if extra money was deposited.
It’s never been easier to start a new side hustle, and Shipt is one of the best personal shopper apps out there. You can use Shipt to bring in extra cash and supplement whatever other income-producing projects that you are working on.
The more you earn from grocery shopping, the more you’ll want to go out there and hustle. Drivers often start working with the first order, get a taste of the good life, and then double or even triple down on production — replacing downtime during the day and evening with money-making endeavors to get ahead.
Make no mistake about it: Once you embrace the money-making mindset, you will be unstoppable. You may even be able to retire early and live the life of your dreams. However, the pathway to financial independence requires hard work and relentless effort. But it can be done — and driving around delivering groceries for services like Shipt can be a great start.
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The post Shipt vs. Instacart Review appeared first on Millennial Money.
Most people love to eat. And a lot of people like to cook. But when it comes to going to the grocery store and buying food, that’s a different story.
More and more people are turning to online grocery delivery services like Shipt and Instacart to put food on the table without having to get in their car, shop for items, and stand in line at the grocery store.
These services took off during the pandemic, when people needed at-home grocery delivery service and didn’t want to venture out into stores. But they’ve continued to be popular even as coronavirus worries have faded.
Shipt and Instacart are two leading grocery apps on the market. By shopping for these companies, you can help people get the groceries they need and put some money in your pocket at the same time.
If this sounds up your alley, it can be a fun, flexible, and convenient way to make money.
Here’s a quick comparison summary:| Shipt | Instacart | |
| Availability | 260 cities | 🏆 Thousands of locations |
| Security | No-contact deliveries, phone number protection | Contactless deliveries |
| Payout Options | Every Friday through direct deposit | 🏆 Instant cashouts |
| Customer Service | Phone support | Phone support |
With all this in mind, let’s take a closer look at Shipt vs. Instacart, how they work, and compare the two services to see which makes the most sense for you.
Target’s Shipt service is a leading same-day grocery delivery app that connects local community members with shoppers for a fee.
The service works with stores like Target, Winn Dixie, Costco, Lowes Foods, Piggly Wiggly, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Meijer, and H-E-B, to name just a few examples.
Thinking about becoming a Shipt driver? Here’s how it works.
Shipt hires shoppers to work as independent contractors. When driving for Shipt, you’ll be in command of your schedule and have the opportunity to accept or decline orders as you like.
Here’s a breakdown of how the service works for shoppers.
After you’ve downloaded the Shipt app, go through the application process by submitting your personal information.
The company also makes you answer a questionnaire to see if you’re a good fit. You’ll have to submit a short video response.
After you submit your application, the next step is to wait for a recruiter to contact you.
Shipt doesn’t accept everyone. The company is a bit selective about whom it hires. What’s more, opportunities depend on local demand.
In other words, getting accepted to Shipt isn’t a given. It’s better to know this before applying to avoid disappointment in case it doesn’t work out.
If there’s an opportunity in your area, Shipt will eventually contact you if you’re a good fit. A representative will give you instructions on how to begin using the app and making money.
Shipt works for both Android and iOS platforms. Whichever device you use, look for the Shipt Shopper app and download it to your device. Keep in mind that it’s a different app than the one that shoppers use.
After communicating with the representative and accepting the position, the company will onboard you and you can soon begin driving around and earning money.
Here are the top features for Shipt.
Shipt has an early delivery option that customers can opt to use. This gives shoppers the option to drop off groceries any time after the store opens as long as it’s within the requested grocery delivery window.
Concerned about coming into contact with people and spreading germs? Shipt offers a contactless delivery option where you can leave groceries at a secure spot for pickup.
Shipt offers educational tools to make you a better and more informed shopper, including online courses. The more you learn, the better your service becomes. This, in turn, looks better for the company and potentially gets you more tips.
Shipt will reward you with more orders when you shop during preferred times and deliver strong customer service. If you’re looking to really hustle and make money, this option can help you increase your earnings.
Here are the pros and cons of Shipt.
The Instacart app is similar to Shipt, offering a same-day grocery delivery service that lets customers place orders through an app. The service also has a large partner base with leading stores like Loblaw, Publix, Whole Foods, Kroger, Sprouts, Wegmans, Aldi, and many others.
Learn More:
Instacart hires independent contractors to shop for items and deliver them to customers. The company also hires part-time workers for on-site shopping support. In other words, there are two ways you can work with Instacart.
Here is a breakdown of how Instacart works for shoppers.
Instacart has a brief approval process that requires a background check. Go through the approval process, pass the background check, and once the company gives the green light, you’ll be ready to become an Instacart shopper. Generally speaking, it’s pretty easy to start using Instacart.
One of the nice aspects of Instacart is that you can choose when you want to work. It’s a bit like Uber, where you can see the items you need to pick up on the screen, and the destination.
For example, you may have some time to kill on a Saturday afternoon and want to make a few extra bucks. In such a scenario, you can turn on the app and take orders at your own pace.
And if you see an order that looks too hard, you don’t have to take it. The app won’t punish you for passing over an opportunity.
After accepting an order, head to the store and shop for the items. Items will be more expensive with a 24% markup when shopping through Instacart, but the customer ultimately foots the bill, so you don’t have to worry about that.
It’s always a good idea to communicate with the customer while you’re shopping.
For example, you might ask them if a certain tomato looks good or for clarification on a product. They’ll usually appreciate the support and may tip you better for going the extra mile.
Pay for the items, transport them safely (watching out for road bumps so you don’t break any eggs), and drop them off. Instacart pays directly through the app. You can cash out instantly, giving you fast access to cash.
Here are the top Instacart features.
Just like Shipt, Instacart has a contactless delivery feature for a safer grocery delivery experience. There’s no need to worry about interacting with any customers or catching any of their germs.
Instacart lets you work whenever you want. This service makes a great side hustle for people with busy schedules. If you’re busy with school and full-time work, you can fit Instacart in during your free time.
If you live close to a grocery store, this could be a great way to earn some extra cash.
Instacart enables you to deliver groceries using your own vehicle. You don’t have to drive a van or company car, which may make the experience more comfortable.
Most Instacart drivers work as full-service shoppers, delivering groceries to customers throughout the week. The company also has part-time options available to help meet increased demand.
Part-time shoppers do in-store shopping only and work fifteen to twenty hours per week. This option comes with medical, vision, and dental insurance and a 401(k) offering.
Here are the pros and cons of working with Instacart.
Here are the top differences to understand between Shipt and Instacart.
If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to start, Instacart is the better option. All you have to do is pass the background check and you’ll be up and running shortly.
Instacart doesn’t make you submit any videos like Shipt and they are generally less selective about who they bring on board.
Both options offer contactless delivery, so you can limit coming face to face with other people when shopping and dropping items off.
Both companies also offer phone number masking and in-app communication, so you don’t have to worry about sharing your personal information when chatting with customers. This helps protect your identity.
Not all rideshare and grocery delivery apps offer live customer support. For example, Uber does not have a live phone number that you can call for support, which users find frustrating.
Both Shipt and Instacart shoppers receive phone support, so you can contact someone and speak with a live agent if you run into security, payment, or app-related issues.
One of the biggest differences between the two services is the compensation model.
Shipt pays every Friday through direct deposit for orders completed and tips accrued during that week.
Instacart offers instant cashouts for orders and tips, meaning you don’t have to wait until the end of the week to receive your income.
This is a big deal due to the time value of money principle, which basically says money is worth more today than it will be tomorrow. In this light, Instacart definitely has the edge over Shipt.
This is another category where Instacart has a big edge. Shipt is available in only 260 cities, while Instacart has thousands of locations across the U.S.
This is a bigger deal for shoppers in smaller communities, which may lack Shipt representation. Check out your local area and see which option is available.
Keep in mind that you may be able to drive for both companies, increasing your earning potential along the way.
Shipt shoppers receive a variety of benefits, including COVID-19 financial assistance, tax preparation support, free Shipt deliveries, automobile and transportation discounts, lifestyle and entertainment benefits, healthcare and well-being bonuses, and security and insurance discounts.
Instacart offers perks through a partnership with PerkSpot. Drivers can access benefits like family fun nights, discounts on flights and hotels, local discounts at restaurants and gyms, and auto maintenance benefits.
Both Shipt and Instacart now offer a $10 referral reward. Instacart also offers a sign-on bonus with a $10 discount on your first order.
There’s a whole world of delivery apps to explore and you can make decent money by spreading out your time among several different services.
Here’s a look at some of the top delivery apps on the market for 2021.
Uber Eats is the on-demand food delivery arm for Uber. The company has widespread service across the country and an extensive list of partnering restaurants.
Grubhub is one of the oldest delivery providers on the market. The company no longer has the biggest market share, but it’s still turning a healthy profit. The service is very popular among customers, making it an excellent option for drivers looking to make extra money.
DoorDash brought in 57% of U.S. consumers’ meal delivery sales in November, making it the leading provider on the market right now.
Download DoorDash if you want to capitalize on surging demand and a popular service.
Postmates goes beyond food service, enabling drivers to pick up household items and office supplies from retailers like CVS, Petco, and Walmart. Drive for Postmates if you want to expand what you deliver to customers ashipt nd increase revenue opportunities.
As an on-demand alcohol delivery service, Saucey can make you a hero for any party or social event. Not only will you make money, you’ll also keep people off the road after they have had too much to drink. It’s a win-win!
Amazon Flex enables you to deliver packages for Amazon using your own car. Pick items up from distribution centers and drop them off to customers in your local area.
It’s easy and straightforward, and with the way people shop on Amazon, there’s always something to deliver.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Shipt vs. Instacart.
Drivers for Shipt and Instacart can both make about $15 to $20 per hour. How much you make depends on your location, the size of the market that you’re serving, and how much time you put into shopping.
Keep in mind that the more you work, the more you’ll spend on gas. Plus, driving around puts wear and tear on your vehicle.
Instacart Express is an annual membership plan. The Instacart Express membership plan costs $99, and frequent users can benefit from free deliveries when spending at least $35. It’s a popular option for busy families who need to load up on groceries each week.
Grocery shopping for Instacart and Shipt can be a great way to make money. You’ll have to hustle to make ends meet with these iPhone and Android delivery apps, but if you live in a big city like New York or Chicago, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to serve a variety of customers.
By working as a personal shopper for these popular grocery delivery services, you can take part in the growing gig economy. In fact, many young people today are exploring these types of side hustles and taking jobs as store shoppers to get ahead.
To excel as a grocery delivery services driver, you have to be able to move quickly and turn around an hour or half-hour delivery. Delivery times can be very tight, especially during busy times.
If you’re interested in the prospect of delivering food for a living, it can’t hurt to give these apps a whirl. If you like using them, figure out how to optimize your workflow so you can gradually take on more orders as you become more efficient.
Who knows? With the right approach, you might end up cruising up and down grocery store aisles with purpose, as you help customers keep their cupboards stocked and bring in some extra cash.
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The post Top 12 Ways to Get Paid to Sleep appeared first on Millennial Money.
If you’ve ever spent restless nights worrying about money, this guide is for you. In it, we’ll disclose the best ways to get paid to sleep.
Talk about killing two birds with one stone!
So whether your dream job is professional napping or testing sleep products, read on! We’ll even include a few passive income ideas you can use to get paid while you sleep!
Coyle is a market research company that provides consumer feedback to its hospitality clients. As a Coyle Mystery Shopping Evaluator, you can get paid to sleep by staying at hotels and reviewing them.
You’ll have to share detailed feedback about your experience such as how comfortable your mattress was and whether or not the staff was friendly.
To work with Coyle, simply sign up and wait for opportunities in your area. The company will pay you for your time and reimburse your expenses. You can also get paid to be a mystery shopper at restaurants, cruises, spas, health care institutions, and luxury retail shops.
Sleep Standards studies how environmental factors cause sleepless nights. The company is currently searching for one lucky person who’ll receive up to $2,000 to participate in a five-night sleep study.
According to the company’s website, at least one of these nights will be in a 5-star resort. Each night, Sleep Standards will adjust the environment of your sleeping place (e.g., the temperature and the amount of light in the room).
The company will then ask you to rate your environment on a scale of 1-10 and write a report about your sleep experience each night. Not a bad tradeoff, if you ask me.
At first glance, Craigslist may not seem like a likely place to find paid sleep opportunities, but they definitely exist.
Local universities and sleep centers often post ads on Craigslist looking for people who want to take part in studies and clinical trials. You can make money taking naps, trying mattresses, and testing environmental conditions and products. Companies may also be willing to pay you simply to study your sleep habits.
As an example, a research team may want to analyze your sleep patterns at various noise levels or different temperatures. And if you have a condition like sleep apnea, you may be able to increase your earning potential.
Care.com is the number one site for landing babysitting and pet care gigs. You can also find house-sitting gigs and opportunities to care for older folks.
Look for overnight gigs to maximize your paid sleep earnings with Care.com. For example, if a child’s parents are going on vacation, you can get paid to watch their kids at home, including when everyone is sleeping.
Many pet owners prefer to board their pets at home when they go on vacation rather than at a kennel. As such, you can get paid to sleep at these pet owners’ houses while their year-old pup sleeps in his crate.
Never forget that time is money. So even if the person or pet you’re caring for is sleeping, you should still be getting paid for those hours.
Whatever you do, just be ready to wake up quickly when your puppy, baby, or even Granny needs to use the bathroom.
Although these sleep studies have expired they may come back so keep them on your radar.
NASA is continuously studying how the body adapts to weightlessness. This is important research for space flights and extraterrestrial exploration.
In the past, NASA was looking for candidates willing to participate in long-term bed-rest studies. This involves spending one or two months in bed.
Two months is an awfully long time to spend lying down. But if you’re willing to go full-blown Rip Van Winkle for some cash, then it’s worth looking into.
Do you speak German? If so, the German Space Agency (DLR) is launching a similar study.
EachNight is a popular website that focuses on sleep research and mattress reviews.
Recently, the company hired five nap reviewers to participate in a variety of sleep experiments. This study’s goals included determining optimal nap durations, understanding the effects of napping on fatigue levels, and finding out how sleep affects memory, productivity, and motivation.
Participants were eligible to receive $1,500 at the end of the testing period.
Unfortunately, the deadline for applications ended on June 30. Be sure to check in with the company for updates, because another study could pop up soon.
Sleep Junkie is a leading online resource for people who love sleep. The company offers mattress guides, sleep product reviews, and occasional paid opportunities.
In June 2021, the company was searching for one lucky Sleeping Beauty to test and critique top-rated mattress companies.
Here’s how it worked: The company sent the lucky candidate three mattresses over a two-month period. Sleeping Beauty’s job was to test all three of them and provide insights about sleep quality and comfort level, among other things.
At the end of the testing period, the Sleeping Beauty was able to keep one of the mattresses (a $1,500 value) and receive $3,000. Talk about a dream job.
If this opportunity sounds awesome, it might be worth proactively contacting Sleep Junkie to see if they plan to run the program again. The requirements were straightforward: You need to be a self-starter, available to work immediately and have strong English writing skills. Of course, it also helps to love sleep.
A more scalable and sustainable way to earn money while you sleep is to create a passive income stream — or several of them. By taking this approach, you’ll invest either time or money and then sit back as the dollars roll in passively. When your head hits the pillow at the end of the day, you’ll still be raking in profits.
There really isn’t a better way to earn money while you sleep than to invest your cash into stocks and ETFs. Instead of breaking a sweat yourself, let the market do the heavy lifting.
When your money is in the stock market, it’s working for you day and night without any effort from your end.
If you don’t already have a brokerage account, some of the more popular ones to check out are Schwab, Vanguard, Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, and E*TRADE.
Investing in crypto is risky, but the market operates 24/7. So you can both make and lose money while you sleep.
Coinbase is a top place to buy leading coins such as Bitcoin (BTC), Etherium (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Litecoin (LTC).
This one is for the aspiring writers out there.
Kindle Direct is Amazon’s self-publishing service. Of course, you’ll first need to write a book to generate passive income, which is easier said than done.
Amazon pays up to 70% royalty on sales, and you retain full ownership of your work.
Who knows? Your book might become a viral hit.
CrowdStreet is a real estate crowdfunding platform for accredited investors (i.e., individuals that earn over $200,000 annually or couples that make over $300,000).
On the platform, you can purchase shares of commercial real estate property without the hassle of owning property directly.
YouTube is one of the best places to produce passive revenue — if you can create valuable content.
YouTube’s parent company, Alphabet, typically pays around $1 and $2 per 1,000 views. You can start producing revenue after reaching 10,000 views, and there’s a minimum payout threshold of $100.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about getting paid to sleep.
Not really. While some of the above opportunities pay in the thousands, it’s extremely competitive to get those roles. You can earn a few thousand if you are very lucky, but most people will only make a few hundred at best.
If you really want to make money while you sleep, you need to generate passive income.
Sleep studies are usually safe. However, you need to be careful about looking for sleep studies on Craigslist because you never know whom you’re really dealing with until you get to the location.
If you love hitting the snooze button more than anything else in life, getting paid to sleep may be the perfect side hustle.
You won’t make enough to earn a full-time income, but a few hundred extra bucks here and there never hurt anyone, that’s for sure.
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The post 13 Ways to Get Paid to Do Nothing appeared first on Millennial Money.
Believe it or not, there are ways you can get paid to do nothing.
You can do this by generating passive income, in which you earn money without putting in any hard work. It’s the “set it and forget it” technique for making money.
Keep reading to learn more about our 13 favorite ways to set up passive income streams and get paid to do nothing.
One of my favorite ways to earn passive income is by making smart investments. Take my word for it: This is one of the best financial moves you can make in life.
When you invest, you put money into securities and other assets with the expectation that it will produce a solid return over time. Some types of investments require a lot of hands-on work, while others don’t.
Here are a few types of investments that require little-to-no maintenance.
Investing in individual stocks typically requires your daily attention. After all, stocks can soar or sink overnight, and you have to be ready to take advantage of these swings.
But not everyone wants to be an active investor, and that’s perfectly okay. For long-term investing with less of a commitment, index funds are a great option.
An index fund is a portfolio of stocks and bonds that tracks a financial market index. When you invest in an index fund, you can receive a broad range of stocks that’ll produce slow and steady growth over time.
You can buy index funds through any leading broker like Schwab or Fidelity. You can also go directly to an investment company like Vanguard for top-performing funds at affordable prices.
By investing in REITs, you can earn passive income from commercial properties while avoiding most of the headaches of being a landlord.
A REIT is a company that owns and operates commercial properties. By law, REITs have to pay 90% of taxable income to shareholders in the form of dividends. Assuming the REIT doesn’t collapse, this means money in your pocket at regular intervals — without having to deal with the hassle of renters or banks.
Some REITs to look into include Broadmark Realty Capital ($BRK), Realty Income ($O), Digital Realty Trust ($DLR), Equity Residential ($EQR), and Omega Healthcare Investors ($OHI).
There are two ways to invest in digital currencies. You could quickly buy and sell coins for short-term gains (and pay hefty short-term capital gains taxes) or think long-term and hold crypto as an asset.
The other approach is to wait for a coin to drop to a reasonable price, scoop it up, and hold on for dear life (HODL). This requires a lot of patience, but it can work. Just look at Bitcoin, which exceeded 300% growth in 2020.
As a disclaimer, it’s a good idea to research cryptocurrency before pumping any capital into an exchange like Coinbase or Binance. Make sure you know how cryptocurrency works, and you’re aware of the risks. Cryptocurrency can help you make extra money, but it’s also very risky.
If there’s one point I can’t stress enough, it’s to take care of your future self.
It’s only a matter of time before you’ll be old. And when you get to that point, you’re not going to want to work as hard as you are right now.
One way to collect money during retirement is through a pension. Basically, this is where the employer contributes money into a pool of funds and invests it on behalf of its workers.
Pensions are nowhere near as prevalent as they once were. But some companies still offer them — and they’re easy to find in the public sector. For example, teachers, nurses, state and local government workers, and military members all currently receive pensions.
The amount you make from a pension depends on the organization and the pension benefit they offer. Median benefits can range from around $10,788 annually (private pensions and annuities) to $22,662 (state and local government pensions).
For most, a pension won’t produce a ton of money in retirement. But it’s an excellent way to supplement retirement accounts, Social Security, and savings.
Investing and starting a business are both great options for long-term income, but they both require putting in a bit of upfront work.
This isn’t the case with housesitting. Working as a sitter can be the easiest job in the world. All you have to do is find someone who’s going out of town and needs someone to watch their place.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, two great sources for house-sitting gigs are Care.com and Nomador.
Here’s a pro tip: Once you land a house-sitting gig and sit down to watch videos, consider viewing through a survey site like Swagbucks to earn extra cash and free gift cards on the job.
In addition to paying users to watch videos, Swagbucks also lets people earn money by browsing the web with its search engine.
Sleep research providers occasionally offer promotions and giveaways. You could potentially make money just for trying new mattresses and sleeping.
For example, EachNight is a leading sleep research and mattress review website. The company recently hired five nap reviewers to participate in sleep studies. Participants had the opportunity to receive $1,500 when the project was complete.
Fifteen hundred bucks just for going to sleep? Sign me up.
If you live in a community with other people nearby, you should look into setting up a hotspot and selling connectivity.
Simplify offers a service that basically lets you act like a mini internet service provider.
Basically, the service lets you sell unused Wi-Fi or mobile bandwidth for cash. It’s very easy to set up and deploy.
According to Simplify, selling 100 GB bandwidth can bring in about $100 per month — enough to at least pay your internet bill.
I know the aim is to do nothing here. But picking up your unwanted clutter and sending it to a company for cash isn’t exactly back-breaking labor — especially when the company pays for shipping and sends you a box.
Plus, you probably need to get rid of some stuff anyway.
Decluttr can help make this a reality. The company pays cold, hard cash for unwanted devices, games, and DVDs.
Decluttr either sells your stuff in its online merchandise or recycles it. The company even wipes data from your devices, saving you a big step — although this is something you’ll probably want to take care of anyway.
If you’re like most people, you’re on your phone all day, every day.
Have an Android? Use an app like Screenlift, and you can make money just for unlocking and using your phone. You can bring in around $20 per month — not bad for merely swiping or entering a PIN on your device.
Screenlift has a 3.7 rating on Google Play, which is pretty decent overall.
Right now, there don’t appear to be any functional apps on the market that pay you to unlock an iPhone. These companies come and go all the time.
That said, both Android and iPhone users can access Nielsen Mobile. You can make an easy $50 per year just by letting the firm access your phone for market research purposes.
If you own a house or rental property, consider putting it up on a site like Airbnb.
Airbnb lets you set your own rates and determine the specific time periods when your house is available.
Don’t want to manage this process? No problem. Hire a management company and you won’t even have to clean up after guests.
The site is safe and easy to use, and you can potentially bring in hundreds of dollars per month — or even more.
Saving money is as good as making money. And you can do this by using an app like Ibotta for cashback deals.
Ibotta provides rewards for everyday purchases like groceries, pet supplies, and gas — things you have to buy anyway for you and your family to survive. It works with in-store and online shopping. The app partners with leading providers like Lowe’s, Petco, Cabela’s, and Walmart, to name a few examples.
One nice feature about Ibotta is its “nearby offer alerts” feature. If you’re near a store that has a deal going on, you’ll get a notification — and a potential opportunity to save money or get a reward for making a purchase.
An affiliate link is basically a special URL that connects customers with online retailers.
The trick is to set up a blog or a website and embed affiliate links into your content. You can receive a cut anytime someone clicks on a link or makes a purchase.
For example, you may write a cooking blog and rate the best frying pans on the market for 2021. In that piece, you may link to several different listings on Amazon. If someone clicks one of the links and then ultimately ends up buying something, you’ll earn a commission.
You can use affiliate links on free sites like WordPress or Medium. If you’re interested in this, look into the Amazon Affiliate program. According to one study, the top 10% of affiliate marketers earn over $71,000 each year.
With Turo, you can make money from your vehicle when it’s not in use. In my opinion, every car owner should use this app.
Turo lets you list your car in a marketplace and rent it to just about anyone in the area. The app offers insurance, and you can also use a tracking device to reduce the likelihood of theft or nefarious behavior.
Best of all, you don’t have to do anything. Simply leave the car in a designated area like a lot or garage during the day, and use a lockbox so the renter can pick up the vehicle.
Turo gives you control over pricing, so you can set your own rates. This is particularly a no-brainer if you have a car that you rarely use.
Have an idea that’s worth sharing? It may be worth taking the time to write a book.
In the past, publishing a book required going through a traditional publisher and having a company accept your work for print. Today, you can self-publish on a site like Amazon Kindle Direct and market the book on social media. Amazon will even print hard copies on demand.
You’ll retain full ownership of your work through Kindle Direct and receive a royalty anytime someone downloads your material. You can also set your own prices.
In other words, it’s never been easier to become a published author. You just need dedication and determination.
As a tip, think about doing something related to your professional field. Focus less on creating a masterpiece and more on offering solid advice and presenting it in a way that’s clear, concise, and easy to digest.
This may take a few months or years of work. But the result can potentially yield steady passive income.
I won’t sugarcoat this: Starting your own business takes a lot of hard work, and there’s no guarantee that it will pan out. Many businesses fail within their first year.
But if you’re successful, you could potentially wind up in a position where you sit back and collect passive income while other people do all the grunt work.
If your goal is to create passive income, make sure you choose a business that has little overhead. For example, if you start an online business managing social media or creating digital products on Etsy and can work from home, this will be much easier than starting something like a restaurant. It also carries substantially less risk.
Thinking about making a move? LegalZoom is a great place to begin the process.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about getting paid to do nothing.
Passive income is money you earn without making an ongoing effort, as opposed to active income, which includes employment situations like showing up for work each day.
You typically have to make an upfront investment in the form of time or money. But after that, you can kick back as payments roll in.
It all depends on the opportunities that you set up.
If you form the right plan and have patience, you can make a fortune over time. For example, opportunities like investing and starting your own business tend to be much more lucrative than taking online surveys.
Either way, the trick is to set up multiple passive opportunities to maximize your revenue.
The short answer? Probably not.
Don’t quit your job until you have substantial savings to carry you for at least six months — and several passive income streams that produce steady cash flow.
There’s a lot of pressure today to quit your job and be an entrepreneur. But it takes careful planning and research.
Your paycheck is still one of your greatest financial assets. Don’t give it up until you know you can replace it and then some.
Money-making doesn’t always have to involve hard work and long hours. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to pad your bank account and supplement your full-time income without lifting a finger — but only if you take the right approach.
By setting up passive income opportunities now, you’ll fast-track your journey to financial freedom. In a few years or even a few months, who knows how close you’ll be to long-term financial independence?
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The post Top 24 Ways to Make Money From Your Phone appeared first on Millennial Money.
The phone you’re holding in your hands can be one of two things — a giant waste of time or a money-making machine.
Here are twenty-four ways to turn your cell phone into a machine that makes it easy to make some extra money online.
There are a number of free apps that give you a fun way to make real money from the comfort of your own home (or anywhere else you have a cell phone signal or wifi access). Here are some of the more popular ones.
TaskRabbit is an app that can connect you to people in your community who need help with household tasks.
Download the TaskRabbit app, create a profile, and start applying for jobs in your community. You can get paid to mend fences, paint walls, mow lawns, and perform things of that nature. Complete jobs and you’ll get paid and reviewed through the app for a seamless experience.
Working on TaskRabbit is fun and can lead to steady work if you’re willing to hustle. This is a great option for people who live in metropolitan areas where there are a lot of users.
Ibotta is a cashback app that can provide money back on everyday purchases at your favorite stores, including groceries, gas, travel, and apparel. Simply search for offers on Ibotta and get cash back when you buy stuff.
Ibotta is now offering a $20 sign-up bonus for downloading the free app and completing certain tasks. You can use Ibotta on your smartphone or over a web browser.
Taking online surveys may seem like a waste of time. However, you can rest assured that it’s perfectly legit — if you avoid scams and use the right website.
Swagbucks and InboxDollars are two of the most well-known survey sites on the internet. Sign up for both of them, and you can get paid extra cash to sit on your sofa and fill out surveys asking for your opinion on various items.
Swagbucks also pays users for surfing the internet, watching movies, and playing games. Spend some time on Swagbucks and you’ll see just how lucrative and fun the site can be.
This is something anyone can do while watching Netflix or unwinding after a long day. You can also try Swagbucks and InboxDollars on your lunch break or when waiting for a bus or airplane.
Download the Instacart app and start getting paid to shop for groceries for people in your community.
Instacart allows you to connect with customers and actually chat with them and ask questions as you shop for an interactive experience. For example, you may ask someone to clarify an order or ask if they prefer hard or soft avocados. Going the extra mile on Instacart and providing great service is a way to generate better tips.
Pay for the items with an Instacart prepaid debit card and then drop them off at the person’s house. Instacart will compensate you for your time and effort.
When was the last time you cleaned out your closet or basement? Chances are you have tons of unwanted electronics, old media, and toys sitting around collecting dust and taking up space.
Download the Decluttr app and get some money for these unwanted objects. Decluttr will send you a box, pay for shipping, and give you cash payments. They’ll either recycle and wipe your unwanted tech or turn around and sell your items on their online marketplace.
Trust us: You’re never going to use that old screen again or watch your Aqua Teen Hunger Force DVDs. Get rid of that stuff!
If you’re a crafty type, download the Amazon Handmade app.
This money-making app can provide you with a marketplace for your handmade items like potholders, shirts, scarves, mittens, drawings, coasters — the list goes on. Amazon Handmade can enable you to sell these items right through your phone, essentially launching and managing an e-commerce business.
Another way to make money from your phone with Amazon is to sell designs through Amazon Merch.
This app is a bit like Amazon Handmade, except you don’t have to sell the actual items. All you have to do is provide designs that other people can put on things like shirts and mugs.
This way, there is much less overhead and much less hassle. If you’re creative, it can be a great way to earn passive income.
Poshmark is a social commerce platform that enables users to make extra money by selling unwanted old clothes and accessories.
First, round up some unwanted old clothes or go out and buy some cheap clothes from a local thrift store that you can turn around and sell at a higher price online. Then, download the Poshmark app.
Here’s how it works: Take a picture of the item and share it in Poshmark. Shoppers can then discover the items and decide whether they want to make a purchase.
Poshmark will take 20% of the sales price for anything over $15 and a fee of $2.95 for anything less.
There’s nothing like the feeling at the end of a college semester knowing that you’ll never have to read that textbook ever again — and that you can potentially sell it online.
One app that can make this happen is BookScouter. Simply download the free app, search through more than thirty buyback vendors, and compare prices and seller feedback. Then, ship the item for free and the company will pay you. It’s that easy.
You can get good money for your textbooks. It’s much better than letting them rot on your bookshelf or putting them into the trash. Check out BookScouter and start profiting today.
Your community is full of people ordering food on Doordash at all hours of the day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you don’t bring them their food, someone else will.
Download the Doordash app (or Uber Eats), get in your car, and start making deliveries. There’s money to be made out there, and these apps make it easy to track it down.
Another cool delivery app to check out is Postmates, which goes beyond fast food and provides on-demand delivery opportunities for things like office supplies and alcohol. Postmates is yet another way to make extra cash driving around in your own car and making deliveries.
Arguably the best way to make money driving is through Uber and Lyft. If you download these rideshare apps, you don’t even have to get out of your car. Just turn on the app and drive around picking people up and dropping them off at various destinations like airports and restaurants.
By working with Uber and Lyft, you’ll get to work flexible hours. So if you’re up at midnight and want to make a few extra bucks, you can get in the car and drive.
Remember: The on-demand economy never stops. When you have apps like Uber and Lyft, you can make money around the clock and work your way to financial freedom while others are sleeping.
Disclaimer: One thing to keep in mind is that Uber and Lyft drivers often pick up drunk passengers. You just need to make sure you are OK with this before getting started.
Gigwalk is an app that pays users to do quick jobs in their local area. Download the app, register your account, link a PayPal account, and then find jobs in your area. It’s that simple.
These jobs are available as gigs, meaning they’re short-term projects that you take on and complete. Once the job is complete, you’ll get paid through Gigwalk.
Mobee is a secret shopper app. Download this app and get sent on local missions. Whatever the task is, you can earn rewards for taking on jobs and completing them.
Survey Junkie is a bit like Swagbucks. Sign up and download the app, take paid surveys, and start earning rewards like cash, rebates, and free gift cards.
Survey Junkie is completely legit, and it’s a great way to make money in your spare time without having to work too hard for it. Plus, you can make a difference by helping brands improve their products.
Your phone most likely has a powerful camera built-in that’s capable of taking high-quality images. It’s time to start making money from your photos using a site like Shutterstock.
Open an account through Shutterstock and submit a series of photos for review. Once you get accepted, you can earn royalties any time a site uses your work. Shutterstock is a great way to turn photography into a money-making opportunity.
Foap is another photographer community that enables photographers to sell images to brands for private use. Download Foap, submit pictures and get paid for your work.
One of the best ways to make serious money with your phone is to invest with a brokerage app from companies like Schwab or Fidelity. Another service to check out is Acorns.
These apps offer powerful investing tools that can provide users with a range of financial services, making investing easy and intuitive. Of course, investing is risky, and it pays to know what you’re doing.
But thanks to these apps, you can view stocks and funds and trade them when necessary right from a mobile device.
Love playing mobile games? Who doesn’t?
Now you can get paid to play games through sites like MyPoints, a cashback program that incentivizes mobile game playing through cash rewards.
This is the perfect thing to do when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store or on the bus. Bust out your phone, play some games, and collect great rewards. What’s not to like?
The only thing better than being the life of the party is being the hero who delivers booze to the party. You can be that person through an app called Saucey, an on-demand alcohol delivery service.
This site works just like Uber Eats. Thirsty consumers make purchases, you pick up their beer, wine, or hard liquor, and deliver it to their doorstep. Then you get paid. Boom.
Sweatcoin is a rewards app that pays you just for walking. Download the app, and it will pay you in a digital currency every time you take 1,000 steps.
Once you start racking up Sweatcoins, you can redeem them for currency in the app’s online marketplace. This is available on both Apple and Android devices.
If you love dogs, check out the Rover app. This site connects dog sitters and walkers with local pet owners in their communities.
Create a profile and connect with pet owners looking for caretakers for their pets while they’re at work or out of town. This app requires taking on a lot of responsibility, as you’ll be tasked with looking after someone’s animal during specific times of the day. Either way, it can pay decent money and lead to steady work.
This is an excellent option for anyone who loves animals and is looking for consistent side hustle money. The Rover app is easy to use and fun.
Some companies will pay you to manage their social media accounts. If you’re savvy with a phone, you can do this from any location — tweeting, updating Facebook, and responding to customers when they make inquiries.
The cool part about this is that you can essentially get paid to be the voice of a company. Companies across all markets — especially small businesses — are looking for help with their social media profiles, and that’s where people like you come into the equation.
If this sounds interesting, find social media jobs and create your own opportunities on LinkedIn. You can also look for jobs on Indeed and find local businesses in your area through Yelp.
If you’re savvy with social media, you may want to consider becoming a social media influencer and posting social posts with targeted advertisements.
Start by forming a content strategy and figuring out a game plan based on your unique personality. For example, you may be great at Tik Tok, cooking, yoga, or singing. Use a site like Upfluence to land gigs.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about making money from your phone.
“Side hustle” is a hip way of describing a job that brings in extra money apart from your full-time profession. There are all sorts of side hustles ranging from social media work to dog walking to completing jobs on TaskRabbit.
Working a side hustle can be a lot of fun and lead to some great new opportunities and career paths that you never knew existed. Plus, you’ll be part of the growing gig economy. Any way you slice it, there is a lot of upside to starting a side hustle.
The obvious option is to treat gift cards like cash with participating retailers. The other option is to sell them using an app like Cardcash, which can give you cash in exchange for your unwanted cards.
This is a great way to put some extra cash in your pocket if you’d prefer cold, hard cash to something like an Amazon gift card or Walmart gift card.
At the end of the day, there are countless ways to use your phone to make money fast. If you need more money in your bank account, then it’s time to put your phone to work.
The most important takeaway is to stop wasting time on your phone and start using it to bring in bucks. A phone gives you an easy way to earn extra income. And some apps are so easy to use that they’re essentially like getting free money!
You can get paid for merely opening your phone, shopping, and for trying new apps and services. It’s just a matter of discovering opportunities and pouncing on them.
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The post Get Paid to Play Games appeared first on Millennial Money.
There are two reasons to play games today: for fun or for money.
Most people play games for fun as a way to relax or pass the time. But believe it or not, some people view video games with dollar signs in their eyes — looking for ways to rake in cash or even free gift cards while playing the games they love.
Let’s take a look at how you get paid to play games.
Here’s how to get paid to play games.
Swagbucks is a cash-back rewards app that can reward you with real money for doing things you love. For example, Swagbucks provides rewards for things like watching movies, browsing the internet, and even playing games like Trivia Game Show and Solitaire Cube.
Simply install a mobile game app from the Swagbucks site and start earning rewards for playing it. Once you’ve made some money, you can cash out via your PayPal account.
InboxDollars is another app that provides cash prizes and gift cards in exchange for playing games. The app connects folks with online game companies that want to attract more users and rewards participants for their efforts. You can play arcade games, casino games, and even enter cash tournaments.
Twitch is an online streaming service that’s a subsidiary of Amazon. You can create a channel on the Twitch app, stream live games or other content like music or art demonstrations, and attract followers.
If you attract enough followers and viewers, you can become a Twitch Affiliate or partner and potentially earn thousands of dollars per week. In fact, some users earn millions of dollars annually through sponsorships and promotional opportunities.
Imagine getting a lucrative contract from a game developer like Epic Games and becoming a professional Fortnite gamer. That would certainly be an amazing way to achieve financial freedom!
Of course, making a substantial amount of real money on Twitch takes talent and time. But it’s not impossible. You just have to be prepared to put in the work to get there.
Another app that pays users to play games is Mistplay.
Create an account on Mistplay, discover new games, play, and collect points, or units. The more you play, the more units you’ll collect. Then cash them in for rewards.
The Mistplay app offers rewards like Amazon gift cards, Google Play credit, Visa gift cards, and PayPal distributions, among other things.
Video game developers often crowdsource testing, relying on individuals like yourself to test games, find bugs, and report experiences.
Check out iGameLab to get started. This site will pay you to be a beta tester and provide game feedback.
Imagine making real money testing out some of the best games on the market. How cool would that be?
If you’re feeling ambitious and really enjoy gaming, consider starting a blog and writing video game reviews, tutorials, walkthroughs, and Q&As.
Folks who produce solid content about their favorite games and can market the blog effectively have the potential to make real money through sponsorships and advertisements. These can be obtained by approaching companies directly or through a service like Google AdSense.
Another way to make real money playing games is to start a YouTube channel and post video game content online. This is similar to Twitch, in that it involves posting a lot of content and attracting subscribers.
If you reach a certain threshold of views, the YouTube app will compensate you.
The esports market has skyrocketed in recent years, with more and more players getting sponsored and making a living simply by playing games.
As a disclaimer, becoming an esports pro is not easy. You have to be able to compete at gaming tournaments with the best of the best and keep up with people who are expert gamers.
Consider pursuing esports if you’re extremely talented at video games and capable of playing at the highest level there is. On top of the potential real cash prizes you can win at events, an esports career can lead to extra income from sponsorships — not to mention the swag you’ll get from game developers.
Not everyone is great at video games. For some, it just doesn’t come naturally.
As such, there’s a strong opportunity at hand for those who are proficient to teach others and help them improve their game.
To find work as a video game coach, start by testing your network of friends and community members. Of course, you’ll have to demonstrate your skills and proficiency before someone will pay you to teach them how to play games.
Here’s something you can try: Ask to play games with someone, demonstrate your superiority firsthand, and then offer to share your secrets — but for a price tag.
Here are some things to keep in mind before you turn your video game hobby into a profession.
Spend some time thinking about whether you want to keep your gaming habit as a hobby or if you really want to turn it into a side hustle.
For some people, making real money playing games can actually be depressing because it can take the fun out of the experience. If you play video games to relax and have a good time, you might spoil your hobby by turning it into a job.
Of course, this doesn’t really apply if you simply want to make extra cash by fiddling with a game app. This is more for serious gamers who are considering starting a professional streaming channel or entering into the esports realm and playing more competitively for cash prizes and sponsorships.
This one is important: Watch your health when playing games. Playing games can become addictive, leading to hours upon hours of sitting down staring at a screen.
Often, people lose entire nights and weekends because they lose track of time. If left unchecked, gaming can wreck your health.
Since that’s the case, you need to take care of yourself by pacing, taking breaks, and remembering to eat well and exercise.
Otherwise, you could wind up developing conditions that can be expensive and detrimental to your health in the long run.
Once you start making real money gaming, you may fall in love with the idea and want to quit your day job to game full-time.
Before you try this, stop and think the situation through. Remember that your day job pays for things like a high-speed internet connection, food, and the roof over your head — all of which are required to play video games.
It can be very difficult to make a living playing games full-time, and you may find yourself regretting your decision if you opt to go this route.
Of course, there are exceptions. Only you can decide how to live your life and what you want to do for a living. But don’t do anything too hastily without considering all the angles.
It’s important to be savvy about the money that you make playing video games. Consider trying the following strategies to maximize the income you make from playing games.
If you’re in debt, you’re going to want to get out of it as quickly as possible. Use the money that you bring in from video games to pay down your high-interest credit cards, student loans, auto loans, personal loans, and mortgage.
The faster that you can escape from high-interest credit card debt, the more financially sound you’ll be in the long run.
Once you’re in a position to do so, it’s a good idea to start thinking about investing. Look into starting a taxable brokerage account or retirement account — like an individual retirement account (IRA) or 401(k).
Investing can potentially stretch small video game returns into much larger payouts over time. For example, say you get paid $20 for playing a video game. Your goal should be to turn that into $100 or more over time by purchasing growth stocks or other types of investments.
It’s also critical to save as much as possible. Focus on building an emergency fund and stacking up at least six months of expenses.
The point of saving isn’t to maximize interest, as rates across the board are too low. Instead, the point is to have money on hand so that you can pay for expenses when they arise and cover yourself in an emergency situation — like when dealing with a home or auto repair or an unexpected job loss.
In addition to gaming, consider the following alternative side hustles.
There are tons of small businesses out there looking for social media support. Ask yourself whether working with them as a social media manager is a fit.
If it is, you might craft social posts and engage with customers throughout the day. Managing social media can be tons of fun as it involves having conversations with people and acting as the voice of the brand.
Just keep in mind that some companies can be very particular about their social media presence and may want you to adhere to specific guidelines.
If you like working with kids, consider asking around your network and seeing who needs a babysitter. This is a great way to make money hanging out. Most of the time, all you have to do is put a movie on, cook dinner, and make sure the kids don’t run amok.
Who knows? If you find some downtime, you might consider making some extra cash playing a Swagbucks game app while the kids are asleep.
People who are highly organized and efficient should consider working as a virtual assistant, organizing meetings, paying bills, and answering phones.
This is a flexible job that can introduce you to tons of exciting people. Do a good enough job, and this opportunity might translate into something much more lucrative over time.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about getting paid to play games.
It largely depends on the type of gaming that you want to be doing.
For example, downloading mobile games from the App Store and Google Play can easily produce rewards. However, if you want to become a professional gamer, that takes a much different level of commitment and expertise.
Technically any activity that brings in money on the side can be considered a side hustle.
However, if your goal is to make real money, you’re probably not going to be able to cut it by playing mobile games. You’ll most likely have to supplement this side hustle with other, higher-earning endeavors like driving for Lyft or Uber and walking dogs.
A gift card is almost never better than real money because cards are inflexible and don’t generate interest.
Unless you’re going to spend all of the money immediately, the best thing to do when getting a gift card is sell it or exchange it and then invest the proceeds.
Professional gamers on platforms like Xbox and Playstation can make upwards of $5,000 or more each month.
Top earners can generate millions annually through sponsorships and other means. This requires expert gaming ability, savvy, and above-average marketing ability on social media.
Don’t expect to hit the jackpot playing video games online — unless you’re extremely talented. However, playing games can help you generate extra money and be used to supplement other side hustles.
At the end of the day, there are tons of ways to make real money online through the gaming industry, and playing video games as a streamer, tester, or teacher may be up your alley.
Just watch out for scams when downloading apps and playing on different sites, and always avoid giving out your personal information when collecting money. You’ll also want to make sure that you don’t spend too much time playing games to the point you can’t pay your bills anymore!
With the right approach, you can strike the perfect balance between making some extra money and having fun playing your favorite games. What’s not to like?
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