Over the last few years, I’ve personally tested out a lot of different ways to make extra money. From quick cash such as taking surveys for some extra money, selling unwanted items online to designing websites, etc. This extra cash didn’t make me a millionaire overnight, but it was really helpful to avoid getting into debt.
In general, there are 5 different categories of the side hustle:
- On-demand labor
- Renting
- Creating
- Investing
- Selling
The level of difficulty, time commitment, duration to see desirable results, and the startup cost is different for each category.
In this post, you’ll learn how to make $100 a day that actually works.
Sell Your Stuff (Type: Selling)
Cleaning up your closet or garage and selling old household items you’re not using anymore is a great way to make money from home in your spare time. In fact, I made a lot of money, a total of $9162.08 by selling used clothes and handbags, second-hand shoes, pre-owned electronics, old household items, etc.
Poshmark is a great platform for selling used trendy or designer items. $10-$30 seemed to be the right spot in terms of selling prices. These are brands that sell well on my Poshmark closet: Lululemon, Madewell, Free People, Coach, Nike, North Face, and Levi’s.
On the other hand, eBay buyers tend to look for a specific item that is hard to find locally. For example, the 8-bit handheld game console Nintendo Game Boy is sold for $129.85 on eBay. Some specific Pokémon cards like Alakazam are $100 for just one piece. eBay is a very interesting marketplace.
In addition, I sold a TV remote control for $50, used Surface Pro for $380, and a computer mouse for $16 on eBay. For pre-owned electronics, selling on eBay is a much better way to earn money than a trade-in.
Related: Making Money Online With PayPal
Food Delivery (Type: On-demand Labor)
What exactly does food delivery do? When customers place an online order through the app, like Postmates, the food driver will pick it up and bring it to the customer’s home, office, or other location.
The delivery and service fees depend on the restaurant customers select, but the average food driver hourly rate in the United States is $14.35 as of June 29, 2021. You may need to work 7 hours to make $100 a day as a food driver. $14.35 x 7 hours = $100.45.
Want to know how to start making some extra cash? Usually, you’ll fill out an online application and undergo a background check. Once you pass the background check, you can download the driver’s app.
Apps like DoorDash have quite limited delivery areas while UberEats has large delivery areas. If you are a beginner, I would recommend delivering in your local area. Learn local restaurants, which areas are busy at what time, traffic, etc.
If you are not a beginner, I would recommend managing multiple platforms simultaneously to maximize your potential earnings. I used both iPhone and iPad to manage two different platforms. Please note that each food delivery company has restrictions and limitations. Always read guidelines carefully.
Grocery Delivery (Type: On-demand Labor)
Similar to food delivery but a little more work!
When customers place an online order for groceries through the app, you’ll pick and choose grocery orders to fill and deliver. The average grocery driver’s hourly rate in the United States is $21.88 as of June 29, 2021. You may need to work 5 hours to make $100 a day as a grocery driver. $21.88 x 5 hours = $109.40
Same as Food Delivery, to get started, you need to fill out the short online application. Some Grocery Delivery companies do virtual interviews, either through your computer or on your phone.
I live in a suburb of Michigan, not a big city like NYC. But still, so many people use Grocery Delivery services. Grocery Delivery(like InstaCart) is a legit way to earn extra money.
Helping Others Move (Type: On-demand Labor)
On-demand moving services like Bellhop earn $18-$21 an hour plus the opportunity for tips and bonuses. As a mover, 6 hours of work would be enough to make $100 a day. $18 x 6 hours = $108
Most on-demand moving gigs have very flexible schedules, but you need to be familiar with the app. You’ll use the app to set your availability, track job details, review your payment history, and contact your team. To become an on-demand mover, you’ll need to fill out an online application and pass a background check.
Dog Walking (Type: On-demand Labor)
You might be surprised by the money-making potential of dog walking. Getting paid $100 a day is a pretty realistic goal with these side gigs. The most popular websites/apps to advertise your skills and find your first clients are Rover and Wag.
Potential earnings depend on location, dog size, age, and other pet preferences. However, the average hourly pay ranges are $21-$31 an hour. 5 hours of dog walking can be $100 a day. $21 x 5 hours = $105
To get started, you need to create a profile on websites/apps that showcases information pet owners care about. Please note that dogs are your client’s family members. It’s like babysitting, you need to be very careful with dogs.
Invest in Dividend-paying Stocks (Type: Investing)
Although the dividend stock won’t make $100 a day right away, I added it to the list because money generates money.
Dividends are regular payments a company makes to stockholders. It’s a portion of profits or reserves. Sometimes there is no dividend payment if the company doesn’t make enough money, but it’s still good passive income that requires no work hours. For instance, you’ll earn $100 a month if you invest $40,000 with a 3% dividend yield.
The dividend yield is a financial ratio that shows how much a company pays out in dividends each year relative to its stock price. If you want to create a monthly dividend income, find the dividend payable date for each stock and pick and purchase the stocks you like. Creating your own dividend calendar could be helpful in building your first dividend income!
Related: Make Money Online for Free
Wrapping Up
There are so many different ways to make money at home or to start making money online. But “on-demand” side gigs are the fastest ways to make extra cash!
These on-demand gigs are really flexible schedules that allow you to use your free time, and you can start them without any specific skills. Side Hustles, side income, side jobs, part-time jobs, weekend jobs, call it what you will, but I highly recommend getting involved in these sharing economy platforms to make more money. Creating additional sources of income to earn extra cash is one of the best financial safety nets for anyone. Taking small steps to create financial safety nets will give you more choices during unexpected hardship.
