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Need More Money? Here Are 30 Ways to Earn Extra Cash in 2019

It’s simple enough: You. Need. Money.

Now.

But deciding how to make money — or how to make more money — can get complicated.

As Penny Hoarders, we have plenty of experience sharing ways to make bank, and we’ve compiled 30 ways to do it quickly in 2019.

Whether it’s online, offline, at your job or by doing nothing (OK, not nothing, but through passive income), we’ll tell you how to find moneymaking opportunities and how much you can expect to take in.

What are you waiting for? Let’s earn some quick cash!

How to Make Money Online

Although there may be plenty of ways to make money online, that doesn’t mean they’re all worth your time. We’ve researched the effort vs. reward for these online options — from earning a few bucks for completing simple tasks to making enough dough to quit your day job.

Read on for more ways to earn extra cash on the web.

1. Trade Unwanted Gift Cards for Cash

What to do with all those gift cards from well-meaning relatives who either don’t know your interests or don’t take your location into consideration? (Thanks for the In-N-Out Burger gift card, but I live in Brooklyn.)

Sell them for cash (or a gift card you’ll actually use).

The Penny Hoarder’s Branded Content Editor Dana Sitar analyzed five gift card exchange sites that swap for cash or other gift cards.

Although you can make some fast cash this way, know that you won’t get the full face value of the card. Sitar suggests checking out two or three sites to find the best deal.

She also warns people to be wary of fast-cash offers through mobile payment sites like PayPal, which charges additional fees.

How much money can you make? The site Cardpool offered Sitar $21 cash for a $25 Target gift card.

2. Find a Side Hustle on Upwork

Hey there, fast fingers. You might be feeling low with the news that ”typist” is among the dying occupations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find a way to make money hitting the keys (at least for now).

Upwork is a freelance site that lets you indicate whether you prefer short- or long-term projects and the number of hours you wish to work. You can narrow your search to specific jobs like “virtual assistant” or “data entry” within categories that include design, writing, administrative support and customer service.

Improve your chances of finding jobs that fit your skill set and fit into your spare time by being as precise as possible in your profile title and focusing on just a few keywords.

You’ll get paid by the hour or by the project, minus a percentage that Upwork charges freelancers.

How much money can you make? One Penny Hoarder earned $40 per hour on Upwork as a virtual assistant.

3. Freelance on Fiverr

Looking to pad your bank account by writing articles, designing logos or translating text?

Check out Fiverr, an online marketplace for freelancers. You can set up your platform for free, but Fiverr collects 20% of the transactions made over the site. Then it’s just a matter of choosing your gig.

Jobs tend toward the creative types, but there’s a wide range of categories, including graphics and design, digital marketing, writing and translation, video and animation and music and audio.

How much money can you make? Pay starts at $5 per project, but Charmaine Pocek told The Penny Hoarder she earned $30 to $800 on Fiverr as freelance writer creating resumes and cover letters and optimizing clients’ LinkedIn profiles. In the past six years, Pocek has added to her to total and has now made $2.3 million from work she’s found on the site, according to Abby Forman, spokeswoman for Fiverr.

4. Teach ESL Online

You love kids, but at a distance — because, you know, those sticky hands. So snag a work-from-home job teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) to Chinese students ages 4 to 12 through services like VIPKID and Qkids.

Both online platforms require a bachelor’s degree, a six-month commitment and the ability to work a minimum of six to seven hours per week. Teachers fill time slots by posting their availability — and since China is on the other side of the globe, your schedule will need to accommodate the time difference. (If it’s 6 p.m. in China, it’s 5 a.m. in New York).

After quitting her full-time job, new mom Kirsten Cherry of Twin Falls, Idaho, found part-time work teaching students through VIPKID.

“I got hired in June. Within two weeks, my schedule was 97% full,” said Cherry, 26. “In the first month, I earned over $1,000.”

How much money can you make? Qkids states on its site that the base pay is $8 per 30-minute lesson, plus attendance and performance incentives. Cherry said she makes up to $22 teaching two lessons in an hour through VIPKID.

5. Test Websites and Apps

For all the sprinters out there, website and app testing could be your path to fast cash.

Start by filling out a registration form with a testing service. Once approved, you’ll receive access to projects as they become available. Testing involves interacting with a site and completing a series of tasks while providing feedback for market research.

Most testing requires you to work from a computer rather than your cell phone, as you’ll speak your feedback out loud as the company records your experience through the testing interface.

Cherry said she tried three different testing platforms and found the most success with Userlytics.

Most tests only take five to 15 minutes to complete, she noted, but you have to be ready to test at a moment’s notice.

“A lot of them I can actually do, as long as I click on them and follow the link on time,” Cherry said. “Sometimes even within 10 to 15 minutes after you get the email, they’re already full; they already have enough tests done.”

How much money can you make? Banking $10 to $20 per test, Cherry has earned $200 for taking a total of 18 tests.

6. Become a Search Engine Evaluator

Use your attention to detail to make money as a search engine evaluator.

Evaluators analyze the relevance and quality of ads and news feeds — think: deciding if those Google search results make sense. The guidelines are fairly strict for these kinds of jobs, and testing can be extensive.

You’ll need in-depth, up-to-date knowledge of the topics you cover and of the web in general, according to Prathima Tothempudi, senior human resources business partner at Lionbridge, a company that regularly posts openings for search engine evaluator gigs. In exchange, you’ll get a job that typically offers a flexible schedule.

How much money can you make? Lionbridge pays $10.80 per hour, Tothempudi said.

7. Sell Free Stuff on Craigslist

The online classified site Craigslist lets you sell stuff for cash, including items you get for free. And you don’t even need to leave the site to find those freebies — there’s a “free” listings section right there on Craigslist. Convenient, right?

Penny Hoarder Steve Gillman picked up six boxes of floor tiles he found for free on Craigslist, then sold them to the first flooring company he passed on his way back home.

How much money can you make? Gillman made $10 off of the pile of tiles.

8. Sell Thrift Store Finds on eBay

Selling your possessions on the auction site eBay is one way to pocket some cash quickly.

You can also make money by buying designer clothes for cheap, then selling them on the site to the highest bidder. If you have an eye for fashion — or at least the most popular labels — you can track down inventory at local thrift stores.

Create listings for your items, making sure to include well-written item descriptions and quality photographs to give your listings a professional polish (and get top dollar). Check out similar items to get a sense of where to set your starting bid, and be sure to incorporate the costs of shipping and eBay’s seller fees into your price.

Penny Hoarder Kat Tretina resold designer jeans by starting with a minimal investment — packaging tape and a scale to weigh packages for shipping — and ended up more than tripling her money.

How much money can you make? Your profitability depends upon what you’re selling, but for working 10 to 15 hours a month, Tretina made $500 to $800.

9. Sell Handmade Goods on Etsy

If you have a knack for crafting, you probably are already familiar with Etsy, aka the crafters’ paradise.

And if you’re considering making the leap from selling your wares at the farmers market to earning your money online as a crafty small business, starting out on Etsy is fairly simple. When you set up your site, you’ll pick a name, choose the items to list (the site recommends starting with at least 10) and set up payment and billing.

The site charges 20 cents for your first item, and you’ll pay transaction and payment-processing fees when you make a sale. To turn your shop into a viable moneymaker, take advice from those who’ve gone before you.

Lena Gosik-Wolfe, who followed up on a successful Etsy store with a second business advising people how they can sell on the crafty site, offered the following tips for ways to make money on Etsy:

Treat your shop like a brick-and-mortar version.

File necessary tax documents.

Design a professional site to attract customers.

Develop a clear, cohesive marketing strategy.

How much money can you make? Your Etsy profitability depends on what you’re selling and how much time you put into your business. Crafter Beth Gates told The Penny Hoarder she made $400 during her first six months selling Southern-style sundries and crochet items. After dedicating more time to her business, she made more than $4,000 in one year.

10. Do Online Transcription

Those listening skills you honed by eavesdropping on your roommates’ conversations could finally pay off with a job in online transcription.

Transcription jobs usually require an assessment test to gauge your typing speed and accuracy. Depending on the service, you could be listening to a car commercial or court hearings, so find out what you’re getting into before you apply.

Cherry wishes she had known that tip before she signed up for her first transcription gig, which brought in $85.15 over six months for a job that required extensive testing and a lot of studying to follow a strict style guide.

“For that first transcription job, oh my gosh, I spent hours on that, and I got paid so little,” Cherry said. “I wish I would have just, in the beginning, told myself, ‘Hey, this just isn’t going to be worth it. Find something else.’”

Cherry had better luck after discovering the transcription service Rev, which offered a user-friendly platform and more lucrative projects.

How much money can you make? Making 40 cents to 75 cents per minute of transcription at Rev, Cherry earned $87.45 in one month for less than four hours of work.

11. Incorporate Affiliate Marketing Into Your Blog

Hey bloggers, there’s money to be made through affiliate marketing.

The basic process for making money through affiliate marketing goes like this: Write reviews about products on your blog and include a specific tracking link. When readers click the link and make a purchase, you receive a commission.

The more readers you have, the better your chances for making money, so attracting more eyeballs to your site is essential. One way to do that: Pitch articles to other blogs that allow you to link back to your blog.

How much money can you make? The affiliate marketplace ClickBank, which offers products and services to promote in your blog, says commissions range from 1% to 75%. The maximum commission on a single sale is $150.

12. Take Online Surveys

Looking to make a few bucks from a task that doesn’t require much effort? Taking online surveys could be your jam.

After signing up with a platform like Swagbucks or InboxDollars, you’ll select surveys based on your initial application, then answer questions that take an average of 20 minutes to complete.

The Penny Hoarder reviewed six online survey sites, noting that some paid out cash directly while others paid in gift cards or even sweepstakes entries. So do your homework before you sign up.

How much money can you make? Swagbucks surveys pay anywhere from 40 to 200 SB (100 SB equal $1), according to our Swagbucks review. Earn 300 SB to cash out for $3 gift cards to places like Amazon or Dunkin Donuts.

How to Make Money Fast (and in Person)

What if you need money fast and you want to do something that calls for less face time with your screen and more face time with actual, live human beings (or animals)?

Read on for ways to make more money in person.

13. Drive for Uber or Lyft

Need a fun, flexible way to earn money while also meeting lots of new people?

Try driving with Lyft.

Demand for ride-sharing has been growing like crazy, and it shows no signs of slowing down. To be eligible, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old with a year of driving experience, pass a background check and own a car made in 2007 or later.

Best of all, you can do it on your own time. You can work days, nights or weekends — it’s up to you.

Because it’s easy to switch between apps, Lyft drivers often also sign up to drive with Uber.

How much money can you make? We talked to Paul Pruce, who had been driving full-time with Lyft for over a year and earning $750 a week as a driver.

14. Do Household Tasks Through TaskRabbit

You’re the person Aunt Peggy always calls to fix a faucet or assemble a bookshelf.

It’s time you stopped getting paid in oatmeal cookies. (Sorry, Peg).

Instead, use your household know-how to earn extra cash on TaskRabbit, which connects you with clients who need help cleaning their house, hanging pictures and making deliveries. In exchange for getting paid for your work, TaskRabbit deducts a 15% service fee.

How much money can you make? The company has stated you can make up to $2,000 per week — but no cookies.

15. Start a Pet-Sitting Business

If you prefer your coworkers to be the four-legged variety, snagging a job as a pet sitter could be the job you’ve been begging for (as if you thought I wouldn’t go there).

Posting notices on your local social networks will help you find owners in need of walkers, sitters and general companions for their fur babies.

Want to improve your rate of hire as a newbie? Instill trust by snapping a few photos of the pet when you’re with them, then send them to the owner, according to Lisa Peddicord, who has a pet-sitting side gig.

How much money can you make? Peddicord told The Penny Hoarder she made just under $10,000 in 2018.

16. Walk Dogs With Rover

If you’re looking for a flexible, independent way to earn money — and you love hanging out with dogs — Rover might be your perfect gig.

The online network connects dog walkers and sitters to local dog owners through its 4.9-star-rated app, so you don’t have to staple flyers on every utility pole across town.

Rover dog-sitter requirements vary by location. In general, you must:

Be 18 years or older.

Pass a background check.

Have access to the Rover app (iOS or Android).

Here’s how it works: You’ll create an online sitter profile where you’ll answer questions about your experience with puppers and your schedule availability.

You can choose to offer a variety of services, including dog walking, overnight boarding at your home or theirs, and daycare. Boarding is the app’s most popular service, so offering it can get you more gigs. You set your own rates. (Rover keeps a small percentage as a service fee.)

Dog owners will reach out to you. Accept which gigs you want, then start snugglin’ pups. As soon as you complete a service, you’ll be paid within two days.

How much money can you make? Rover says sitters can earn as much as $1,000 a month.

17. Deliver Groceries Through Shipt and Instacart

Enjoy spending money but still need to make some? You can pocket cash if you’re willing to shop for other people — particularly for their food — and drop it off at their homes.

So if you have a keen eye for kiwi or a knack for knowing your knockwurst, you could make bank shopping and delivering groceries for Shipt or Instacart, on-demand grocery-delivery services.

To get started, you’ll sign up for an account, then select your schedule based on your availability. Instacart lets you pick between shopping and delivering or just shopping in-store, so you don’t even necessarily need a car.

You’ll receive orders through the company app and can communicate directly with the customers in case the store is all out of their preferred brand of pickled pig’s feet.

How much money can you make? Instacart shoppers in larger metropolitan areas can make $25 per hour during high-demand times, according to Instacart Boston city manager Nima Zahedi. Shipt notes on its website that shoppers make an average of $22 an hour, and Shipt shopper Destiny Firth told us she made approximately $600 per week (including tips) working 35 hours per week.

18. Sell Your Old Video Games

That old Mario Kart at the bottom of your video-game bin could be making you money instead of collecting dust.

Penny Hoarder Staff Writer Adam Hardy used GameStop’s rather stingy buyback policy to his advantage by swapping store credit for gift cards and maximizing his profit.

How much money can you make? GameStop originally offered Hardy $72.40 cash for his games, but he opted for the $111.14 Shell Gas card instead, which he could then trade on CardPool for $95.58 cash.

19. Become an Airbnb Host

Have a spare room? Might as well try to earn some money by listing it on Airbnb.

If you’re a good host with a desirable space, you could add hundreds — even thousands — of dollars to your savings account with Airbnb.

A few simple steps can make the difference between a great experience and a less-than-satisfactory one. We talked to Terence Michael, an Airbnb superhost based in Los Angeles.

Here are some of his tips:

Break out the labelmaker. “I have the entire house loaded with labels,” Michael says. “They look nice; they’re modern. This helps people feel less helpless.”

Be a good host, and stock your place with the toiletries you’d expect at a hotel — toilet paper, soap and towels. Here’s a little hack from Michael: “I order on Amazon and have it delivered when people are there.”

Be kind to your neighbors. “I say, ‘I’m not going to put anyone here who I think won’t be good for you,’” Michael explains. “And I turn a lot of big groups away, especially in Nashville. I don’t want anyone going to the cops or the city.”

How much money can you make? Figure your potential earnings with this Airbnb calculator.

(Hosting laws vary from city to city. Please understand the rules and regulations applicable to your city and listing.)

20. Rent Out Your Ride on Getaround

It doesn’t seem fair: While you toil away at the office all day, what is your car doing?

Living the sweet life in a parking garage.

Make that freeloader earn its keep by renting out your ride during your workday. (You can also do it on weekends you prefer to stay in and binge watch “The Good Place.”)

Peer-to-peer car rentals let you lend your car and pocket the cash. Getaround, available in New Jersey and 13 cities in other states, allows you to list your vehicle for free.

How much money can you make? Getaround says users can make up to $800 a month.

21. Find Baby-sitting Jobs on Care.com

You can recite the names of every Paw Patrol member, you knew Doc McStuffins when she was just a resident and you can sing every verse of “Baby Shark” — with a smile.

You were born to baby-sit.

If you’re the responsible type and love kids, baby-sitting can be an easy gig to pick up on the side, starting with your own friends and family

And services like Care.com can expand your client base beyond your inner circle — plus, it lets you choose other caregiving options like pet sitting or senior care.

How much money can you make? The average baby-sitting rate was $16.20 per hour, according to a 2018 Care.com Cost of Care Survey.

Make Money on Social Media

You already spend a lot of time on social media, so why not make some fast cash there, right?

Most people who make big money do so based on the size of their audience (hello, Kardashians). But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to make some bank — especially if you have a loyal following that has the potential to grow.

Considering 70% of teenage YouTube subscribers say they relate to YouTube creators more than traditional celebrities, there’s plenty of reason to believe that even smaller social media influencers can attract advertiser dollars.

If you’re among that group of influencers, there are ways to grow your audience, build a professional profile and thus attract more money. Online platforms like Kred, Klear and GroupHigh can help you connect with companies that will pay you to mention their brands to your audience.

Ready for the spotlight? Check out these ways to make money on social media.

22. Stream on Twitch

Your mom was wrong. Playing video games might not be a waste of your time after all.

Cory Michael started streaming his gaming sessions and over four years attracted 29 million people to watch him tackle Destiny and other multiplayer online games. As a result, Twitch accepted his partnership application and agreed to pay him to play.

How much money can you make? Michael explained to The Penny Hoarder that there are three ways to make money streaming on Twitch: tipping, ad revenue and subscriptions. Top Twitch streamers can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars per month.

23. Produce Videos for YouTube

Put that camera phone to work by making some bucks logging your life, times and cat videos on YouTube.

But you’ll need more viewers than your biggest fan (thanks, grandma!) to make money on the video streaming site. To be reviewed for the YouTube Partner Program, your channel must have at least 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months and 1,000 subscribers.

Linden Wolbert, who makes a living performing as a mermaid, said she loves teaching kids about the ocean on “Mermaid Minute,” an educational web series she launched on the YouTube channel in 2012. But after YouTube raised the bar for its Partner Program in 2017, “It’s become a lot more challenging,” she said.

To help attract more eyeballs to your site and reach the threshold, the YouTube Creators channel advises vloggers to post new videos consistently and frequently — think Monday through Friday at 3 p.m., no matter what your cat did that day.

Your channel can make money through advertising, subscribers and Super Chats — that’s where fans can pay extra to add a highlighted message to the chat as you live stream.

How much money can you make? Wolbert made four figures a month before YouTube updated its algorithms, but YouTube indicates there are opportunities to earn even more money. Its press page states that the number of channels earning five figures per year grew 50% year over year.

How to Make Passive Income

Even if you don’t have the free time to take on a part-time job, you can still make money by putting in a little front-end work.

It’s called passive income, and we’ve found ways to help you pad your bank account without lifting a finger (or at least maybe not all of them).

24. Earn Cash Back on Purchases With Ebates

Instead of handing over all your hard-earned money when checking out, how’d you like to earn some of that cash back?

Ebates lets you earn anywhere from 1% to 25% on purchases you make at its retailers; (there are 2,500, so lots of options). You can sign up for free using your Facebook or Google account.

By clicking the “shop now” button before you check out, a percentage of the price goes back to your Ebates account.

How much money can you make? On its site, Ebates says you can earn a $10 Walmart gift card or Ebates cash bonus by spending at least $25 and making your first purchase through the site within 90 days of signing up.

25. Upload Your Receipts to Ibotta

You’re already a coupon cutter (right? right?!?), so discover another easy way to make cash back on your groceries with the Ibotta app.

After you sign up for an account, click the little addition sign next to the products you can save on (just like couponing, but without the scissors). Then upload a picture of your receipt, and Ibotta deposits the amount saved into your account. You’ll get a $10 sign-up bonus after you upload your first receipt. Once you reach the $20 minimum, you can cash out through PayPal or Venmo.

Even better, the app isn’t limited to grocery store purchases — you can earn cash back on other shopping and travel, too.

How much money can you make? Penny Hoarder staffer Colleen Rice earned approximately $45 from Ibotta during one road trip by finding cash-back deals on Hotels.com.

26. Invest in Real Estate

Even if you’re not exactly the handy type (hand raised) or you don’t have cash to sink into million-dollar properties (both hands raised), you can make passive income from real estate through online investment options like Fundrise.

For as little as $500, you can join the crowdfunding-style real estate investment platform, which invests in American properties. Learn more in The Penny Hoarder’s review of Fundrise.

How much money can you make? Fundrise has seen historical returns of 8.7% to 12.4%. (Note: As with any investment, past performance isn’t indicative of future results.)

27. Earn Interest on Savings Accounts

Will you get rich quick putting your money in a savings account? No.

But if you’ve been leaving your money to waste away in a traditional savings account with its minuscule returns — or you don’t have a savings account at all — high-yield online savings accounts can offer you at least some passive income.

Varo Money combines traditional banking tools with modern technology to help its customers become financially healthy.

Here’s the best part: Pair your bank account with a Varo Savings Account, where you’ll earn 2.1% annual percentage yield. That’s 35 times — repeat, 35 times — the average savings account, based on a 0.06% average reported by CNN Money.

Varo goes easy on the fees, too. As long as you use one of its 55,000 ATMs across the world, you’ll never pay fees.

Additionally, you’ll pay no monthly service fees, no minimum balance fees, no foreign transaction fees and no cash replacement fees. You’ll just pay any fees charged by out-of-network ATMs and cash deposit fees if you deposit cash in-store through Green Dot.

How much money can you make? If you tuck away $1,000 in an account with a 2.1% annual percentage yield (APY), you’ll earn an extra $21 this year.

28. Use Credit Card Points

Wait a second, you say, I’m trying to make money, not spend it!

But you do have to spend money on some essentials, right? Like groceries and gas?

I can speak from personal experience that collecting points on these purchases can help you earn cash back and gift cards.

The key to this being worthwhile, though, is that you must pay off your credit card each month. Otherwise, the interest you’re paying on the balance negates any profit you’re making through point accumulation.

How much money can you make? I received $250 in Target gift cards last year by using points I earned on my Mastercard.

How to Make More Money at Your Job

This may seem like an obvious option — you’re already making money at your job, right? (If not, find another job.) But since your employer is already a source for earning cash, why not consider it as an option for making more money?

29. Ask for More Hours (and More Money)

If you’re working a part-time job, one way to make more money is to ask for more hours.

In addition to the extra cash, a full-time position may offer more benefits, like paid time off and health insurance coverage.

Make your case for more hours with a list of current accomplishments and ways you can further help the company, suggests career strategist Emily Kapit of ReFreshYourStep.com.

“You set yourself up for the best chance of success… if you go in prepared and also positioning it as helping the manager,” Kapit said. “You’re going to feel more empowered.”

Check out this article for more tips for turning your part-time gig into a full-time job.

How much money can you make? It depends on how many additional hours you can snag. And since benefits account for 31.8% of an employee’s total compensation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, be sure to check out this article to figure out your total compensation package.

30. Ask for a Raise

Wouldn’t it be great if your boss just said, “Hey there, superstar, how’d you like a big pile of money for being awesome?”

That probably won’t happen. (And if it does, don’t do the humblebrag thing on Facebook. It’s annoying.)

If you want to ask for a raise, you should first know whether you’re in a good position to negotiate, according to Michelle Tillis Lederman, CEO of Executive Essentials and author of “The Connector’s Advantage.”

“Are you getting good assignments? Are your getting good feedback?” Lederman asked. “What was your performance-review comment? Did you exceed expectations, or did you just meet expectations?”

Before scheduling a meeting with your boss, arm yourself. Check out salary-comparison calculators on sites like Glassdoor, and document your work wins — and the approximate value they add to the company — to prove your worth. And don’t forget to check out what the competition is offering someone with a job similar to yours.

How much money can you make? Chad Busta told The Penny Hoarder he used a competing offer to negotiate with his current employer for a 6% pay raise and the ability to work from home.

More Ways to Make Money

Here’s the thing to keep in mind about making money: No matter what the flimflam artists may claim, you generally don’t make money without any effort.

But instead of dreaming about making a million dollars by posting videos of your cat on YouTube, you can realistically expect to make extra cash by putting in some time and effort.

That’s been Cherry’s experience. She says that by working a few hours every day, she’s earned money to help her family — and to enjoy a few perks.

“If I earn a certain amount of money, I say I’ll give myself 10%, and then I put it toward what I want,” she said. “It just makes me happy that I’m earning something and that I can buy myself a little extra.”

And if you’re looking for even more ways to make bank, check out our post on side jobs to make extra money.

Happy earning!

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a writer/editor for The Penny Hoarder. Find her on Twitter @TiffanyWendeln.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

The Penny Hoarder Promise: We provide accurate, reliable information. Here’s why you can trust us and how we make money.

Need More Money? Here Are 30 Ways to Earn Extra Cash in 2019 published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

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Disclaimer: I have no affiliate links, no plugs, and nothing to sell you. I am working on a freebie in exchange for email sign-ups for my website, but this is down the road when I actually get things off the ground. This is some practice, plus sharing helps the world go round.Of all my random endeavors, I'd say my most successful (and enjoyable) has been thrifting and flipping sartorial footwear. It's not the sexiest side-project, and I'm not living on my earnings, but it has done far better than I first expected.To simplify it all, I find high-quality men's dress shoes, repair and/or clean them, and sell them.I also thrift menswear items and do some resale, however a lot of that is for my own wardrobe. This isn't a massive enterprise, although my last month has been my most profitable to date ($500 in earnings, which is about $400 in profits), and I'm hoping to take things more serious moving forward. Link to stats: https://imgur.com/q8gC2pI - I've actually just passed this and am nearing $700 in earnings.I think I've stuck with this more than other endeavors because 1), its almost immediately profitable, and 2), I honestly enjoy it, so it doesn't feel like to huge chore to for look and list items. Having a little extra here and there certainly helps fund other hobbies and interests.If you're interested in fashion, want some extra money, or want to seriously fund a project you're working on, you might find thrifting and flipping can do just that.The processIf you've ever flipped something before, it's pretty much the same idea: find something at a low, discounted price, make any required repairs or fixes, make it look presentable, and sell it at a higher price than you bought it.I choose quality shoes because compared to items like t-shirts, coats, oxfords, and pants, they are available at a low price point, hold onto their value better (generally), are pretty durable, clean up well, and just resell better than the rest.Here's my general workflow when it comes to buying, fixing up, and selling shoes. The rest of this guide is broken up into these 8 sections.Hit up a thrift store: thrift stores are your haven. Some days, you might come home with five pairs of fantastic shoes in near-perfect quality. Some days you'll come back with nothing and broken dreams. Others, you'll get annoyed that there's nothing worth buying and you end up buying an overpriced pair of crap boots you know you shouldn't have bought. Regardless, thrift stores are where you'll do most of your hunting due to their lower prices.Searching for shoes: following a number of criteria, you will search for quality shoes that can be resold, and require minimal work to do so. Shoes of a certain brand, quality, model, condition, colour, leather, etc. will sell better than others. It sounds obvious, I know, but it's important to take this into consideration. Shoes that look 'cool' to you might be worth nearly nothing, while that beat up pair of oxfords might be worth $300 to the right buyer after a good cleanup. I'll give you a number of criteria so you can identify what's worth buying.Purchasing the shoes: once you've found a pair (or two, or three), now you need to see if the price they're being sold for is worth it. I've never been to a thrift store where I can haggle, so my advice to you is to not bother unless it is stated. eBay is your friend. Download the app and under the additional search criteria, click on 'Sold Items'. This gives you items that fall within your search query that have already sold, so you know what prices buyers might buy for a similar item.Get them home and do additional research: you'll get better at this with time, so you'll need to do less and less research before/after you buy a pair of shoes. Once you're home, take a look not only at how much the shoe sells for, but what type of leather the shoe is made from, the welt (how the leather part of the shoe is attached to the sole of the shoe), the style of shoe, etc. This isn't just education for your sake; knowing the various properties and * of the shoe will help you describe it better in your selling descriptions on eBay and other sites.Clean the shoes and apply leather conditioner: I'll provide more in-depth instructions, but you'll take time to use leather cleaner (water works in less severe cases) and leather conditioner, along with a brushing with a good horse hair brush to give the shoe some shine and encourage oils to spread throughout the leather. You may or may not want to polish the shoes with shoe polish, but 95% of the time I don't bother. In certain cases, you may want to apply some shoe stain or polish that matches the colour of the shoe to hide scuff marks.List items online: there is no end to what site you can list your goods. For the most exposure, I recommend eBay. There are a number of tips to help you determine a final price, and how to optimize your listings and get exposure.Package and ship them out: I admit I could do better here than I am currently, but I'll share what I currently do to ship out shoes.Profit!Let's begin. Please excuse any mistakes; I'm going to go over this a few times. It's also a bit long, but I haven't added anything that isn't important if you want to take this a little more seriously than others.1. Hitting up a thrift storeThrift stores acquire goods through a number of different sources. Some are donated direct to the store, while other times dry cleaners with past-due clothes will donate the clothing. Those charity boxes where you donate clothes (think for cancer, diabetes, etc.) also give these clothes to thrift stores like Value Village (or are actually owned by the company) and they sell it for a profit.No matter where these items come from, they'll be available to you at a discounted price. Obviously, used goods will be cheaper than brand-new, and shoes are no exception.I live in Canada, so I don't have access to the same number of discount/thrift stores you'll find in the US, however my favourite tends to be Value Village, simply due to the fact that their stores are much larger than other chains, and generally have a well rotated shelf. You can go into a Value Village one day and the next they'll have a few new items to check out.Some tips for thrifting:Go during your work lunch, on your way from work, or early on weekends. Don't bother going at the same time everyone else does, which is sometime after work in the evenings, or later in the day on weekends.Have an understanding of stocking size. Shelves at thrift stores are generally a set size. This means if a shelf can hold a maximum of 20 items, it will only every house 20 items. If a store has a small shelf dedicated to men's shoes and they don't sell many of them or cycle through them, you won't find new items. Check locations with larger shelves/more stock more often and make the most of your time.See how often new items come out, and when. Thrift stores don't usually work like clock work, however there are vague schedules when new items come onto the floor, or when items are rotated in and out. If you're aware that someone stocks new items sometime in the morning before noon, for example, try timing your visits to take advantage of these facts.Go out at least 3 times a week, and not to the same location. Make this a habit. Go when you can, even if it is on a weekend, but use the previous rules to thrifting to make the most out of your time.Don't be discouraged. You will find nothing some times. You will also come back with more than you can managed. Understand that it is all luck, with a little strategy. If you remember this, that there are ups and downs (just like life), you'll do fine.Try to hit up areas with an older, more wealthy population. Thrift stores ship out stock between locations to ensure they have relatively full shelves. However, much of what is donated in an area is kept there to be sold. That means if you go to a thrift store where the populace is older (is more willing to own older or higher-quality goods to some degree) and wealthier (has disposable income and may rotate through old goods quickly), you might have more luck. Areas with a high student population are often picked clean, although sartorial goods aren't always picked through.Give yourself time. Give yourself at least twenty minutes if there is a sizable shelf for shoes. I like to give myself half an hour at a thrift store to check out everything, but if you're just selling shoes, twenty minutes is enough.If you take just one thing away from this sections, it is time. Hit up stores regularly, and don't rush yourself.2. Searching for shoesPlease refer to section 4's 'Beginner Shoe Brand List'. Use that list as a guide to find shoes. Use that same section's 'Signs of Quality' list to understand what some of the hallmarks are of a good shoe. Please, take a look at these shoe brands, take a look at the hallmarks of what makes a quality shoe, and use this information to inform your purchasing habits.Discard your perspective that thrift store goods are filthy and disgusting. Sure, goods like clothing don't smell great (luckily shoes often don't smell), but it doesn't mean they're unwashable/untreatable. You'll never find the good stuff if you let a few off-smells scare you.Look at the men's shoes section, but don't ignore the woman's shoes as well. I don't mean look at all the woman's shoes (unless you want to get into woman's shoes, which is certainly a profitable niche), but look out for mislabeled shoes and boots that could be male. Shoes without heels, are generally larger, and have less feminine features could possible me male shoes, so keep your eye out.Check out the showcase/high-end sections. You can find some good items in these areas, but be careful. They sections are notorious for counterfeit items, but only for the designer/popular brands. When dealing with dress shoes, this isn't as much of an issue, but if you see a pair of Gucci loafers, take into consideration that you might be looking at a fake. Also, although an item might be genuine, it might be priced too high for the risk to be worth it.Dirty or scuffed shoes aren't write-offs. A little dirt might be masking a wonderful pair of shoes underneath. What looks dirty and dull can, more often than not, be restored with a little water, leather cleaner, leather conditioner, or polish. With time, you'll be able to spot what can be fixed, cleaned and restored, and what isn't worth your time. For example, shoes and boots made of chromexcel or 'pull-up' leather can look nearly brand-new after some leather conditioner/oil, and a good brushing. What looks horrible on the shelve will always look better once you've done the bare minimum restoration work.But don't just pickup a pair to take home without checking for less than apparent issues. Check the entire shoe for damage that might discourage buyers.Look at the underside of the shoe; the sole. Is there a visible welt (a line of thread around the perimeter of the shoe)? How worn is it? Is it almost gone, reduced to mere dots of thread? Are the soles showing heavy cracking or damage? Do you see any cork on the bottom of the shoe? Any holes? Are any layers of the sole separating or breaking apart?Look to the sides of the shoes, then the top. Are there any cuts or cracks in the leather (cuts and cracks are different than creases, as this has compromised the leather and cannot be fixed in the vast majority of cases)? Any heavy discolouration that seems to be deeper than surface level? Any heavy scuffing that cuts deeper into the leather? Any marker or paint stains? Have any seams (especially on the back of the shoe) begun to come loose? Did the previous owner step on the back lip of the shoe?Look on the inside of the shoe. Does the inside shoe heavy discolouration (from sweat, pressure, general age, etc.)? Are there any large tears? Anything that looks really off? Is any leather peeling away along any seems?Use your senses when trying to determine if a shoe is worth buying. Many of your purchase decisions will be made by identifying a shoe's brand name and model, but there are times where it's more difficult than that to determine more about the shoe. You'll need to get a feeling of the overall quality, and various unique features of the shoe to tell you more about it. Touch the shoe's leather, see if the inside is lined or unlined, if it has a quality welt...all of these indicators might tell you if your shoe might sell well online by a buyer who knows what they're looking for. Just because its not on eBay, or hasn't sold on eBay, doesn't mean it won't sell.3. Purchasing shoesHonestly, there isn't much to say here. If it's an independent thrift store that allows haggling, feel free to do so. I've dealt with consignment shops that are open to budging a bit, but that's about it.My rule of thumb when buying shoes to resale is to sell the shoe for at least x3 it's original cost. If a shoe costs $20, I should feel confident that I can sell it for at least $60. The pricing on shoes seems to be very haphazard, even at chains, and these companies often price well known designer brands highly, but lesser known ones they have no idea.4. Take them home and do additional researchBefore I get deep into this section, I'd like you to think about how often you see these brands.Aldo, GEOX, Ecco, H&M, Dockers, Old Navy, American Eagle, Steve Madden, Call it Spring, Zara, Rockport, George.These brands are what I generally refer to as 'fast fashion' brands (GEOX and Ecco aren't per se, but you'll find your fair share of their plasticky, misshapen shoes donated, anyways). They really won't make you money unless they're in perfect condition (ideally with price stickers still intact) or are a limited run, disproportionately popular model, part of a collab, or are made in countries associated with higher-quality menswear (Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, Portugal, etc.)My advice: don't buy them.Okay, fine. So what should you buy?Let's start with the importance of brands in evaluating worthwhile footwear. Brands are important when dealing with men's shoes for a number of reasons.Story: All brands have a history; a story. Some are quite interesting; others...not so much. Some companies will buy the rights to old, historic brands, just so they can say they have over 100 years of heritage (you wouldn't believe how rampant this is in the watch world). Think Viberg, Rancourt, Allen Edmonds, etc.Clout: Especially relevant to designer items, you're paying more for the prestige behind the name. This doesn't always (or often) mean an item is of higher quality. Think Gucci, Prada, etc.Quality: Some brands are known for better quality goods. Quality is subjective, of course, but there are a few markers to watch out for. You can generally expect a shoe from Allen Edmonds (at least their vintage shoes till now) to be of excellent quality compared to what the average consumer wears. Think Vass, Edward Green, etc.Materials: Some materials are simply more expensive to source, purchase, and to work with.Production Location: Brands produce their shoes in various countries. Some are known to only create goods in countries associated with ethical treatment, which increases cost.Production Methods: Some brands make their shoes fully, or partially, by hand (also called 'benchmade'. This increases cost and generally means you're looking at a quality piece of footwear.When a retailer sells you a shoe, the price is based on a combination of these factors. It's just like with purses, clothing...you name it, these factors dictate price and worth to consumers.When you're buying a designer brand of nearly anything, you're usually paying a premium for the story behind the brand and for the clout associated with it.If you see the brands below in good quality (not deep gashes, cuts, heavy discoloration, heavy sole damage, etc.) :A Beginners Shoe Brand ListRed WingsWolverineJohnston & Murphy: If they are vintage are are in good condition, or have a goodyear welt, buy them.Allen EdmondsCole Haan: This one's tricky. If they're not made in India and don't have a rubber sole, they're likely a good purchase.Florsheim: Also difficult. If not made in India, consider them.Salvatore FerragamoHugo Boss: Hit or miss. Some mainline series aren't fantastic, but a few show high-quality construction.AldenCarminaLoakeMeerminHerringBeckett SimononCharles TyrwhittDack's: Generally a good buy if the style isn't too dated.GrensonFryeCommon ProjectsBallyCrockett & JonesTrickersJohn Varvatos: Made in the US or Italy are of higher quality.Aquatalia: Hit or miss, as their shoes quality can be all-over the place.ChippewaGrant StoneChurch'sTod'sRancourtAlfred SargentOak Street BootmakerR.M. WilliamsVassVibergFor the most part, I have excluded items that even if you see, you should consider that they might be replicas. Brands like Gucci and Prada are notorious for this.As great as brands are, there will be some that don't come up very often. Sure, an eBay search can help, but will be times when you stumble upon something incredible, but didn't take the time to look into it. That's why being able to recognize the markers of a quality shoe is so important. When you're searching along a rack quickly to make the most of your time, too many times I find myself searching for a brand. Sure, well known brands make money. But every so often, you find something new that scores you BIG.Consistency, I honestly believe, is the most important factor when hunting for shoes. Sure, a pair of Gucci loafers might sell because of the brand name, but you'll make more money by selling shoes that are well-made and resonate well with the sartorial crowd. The people who buy these shoes aren't often considered with brand name, particularly; they're not hypebeasts.Those one-off mega-finds don't come around too often, so always be on the lookout for quality footwear. You won't regret it.Below are some marks of quality that you should look for. Some of these will jump off the shelf at you, saving you time at the thrift store.Signs of Quality:Stitching: Goodyear welts, blake welts, hand stitching, etc. These welt are sometimes simulated, but are marks of better quality. The soles and the leather upper are stitched together (in different ways depending on the stitch) but the main thing is that they are NOT cemented, or simply glued together. Shoes that are 'cemented' together generally do not last long and are a pain to repair when the upper separates from the sole.Actual, non-corrected leather: Corrected leather often looks and feels plasticky, and has been sanded down to remove any signs of discolouration, poor hides, etc. Hell, even before we talk about corrected leather, you should ensure you're dealing with leather at all (check for 'genuine leather' and stay away from 'made-made upper'), as some simulated leathers can be convincing on first glance. It will take time to understand what corrected-grain leather looks like, but take a look at nearly any typical shoe from ALDO, and you'll have your answer.Clean, even stitching: Sure, mistake happen, but high-quality shoes have very clean stitching that should be the same on both shoes.Layered leather soles: It can be hard to tell if there is simply a wood veneer on the sides of a shoe's soles, however they try to replicate a stacked leather sole, which is multiple layers of leather that are cut and polished. If your shoe actually has these, it's another element that bumps up the cost of the shoe. Shoes that only have rubber soles are very likely of a lower quality.Chromexcel, pull-up, and more durable leathers: Bad for the planet due to the toxic materials used to dye the leather, they offer outstanding durability and develop a great patina with time. It can be hard to tell if a leather is chromexcel or pull-up, but generally they are thicker, have well-faded scrapes or scratches, and sometimes exhibit a lightening of the leather if you press upward on the underside of the leather (why it's called pull-up).Rounded toes vs square/box toes: For the most part, square toed shoes aren't often made by quality manufacturers. I'm not saying they aren't, but many sartorial shoe makers with history or prestige don't make them. 99% of the time, if a shoe has a box/square toe, it isn't worth looking at. Shoes with round toes (and that includes the 'pointy' toes) are a safer bet.Handwritten sizing/details: This might seem a little random, but older shoes, or shoes made by hand, often have the sizing and additional details (like model number) written in some permanent ink by hand. Not all shoes of quality have handwritten details, but those that do are generally benchmade and worth a closer look.Made in a country where production is more expensive: Think Canada, the US, UK, Italy, Bulgaria, Peru, Australia, and, in general, Europe. India, Malaysia, China (with a few exceptions), Sri Lanka, and other countries offer cheap labour and lower quality control. Be aware that countries like Italy still make great shoes, but there are large-scale factories that take advantage of that old-world assumption that Italian goods are high-quality.5. Clean the shoes and add leather conditionerNow for the moment of truth: cleaning the shoes and making them look like a million bucks. Here are my tips for cleaning regular leather (and not suede, which is that fuzzy, nappy leather that isn't smooth and shiny).Brush your shoe well with a horse hair or soft plastic brush. Brushing the shoe, from top to bottom, will remove any dust and large particles, and also result in a less dirty cleaning cloth. Remove the laces and pull the tongue out so it can be brushed and cleaned as well.Lightly dampen and wring a cleaning cloth (preferably cotton) and clean the shoe with circular strokes. Leather doesn't love water, so it's best to use a little while you clean your choose and not to soak them. DO NOT use soap. Leather cleaners can be effective, although try to stick with brands like Saphir, who have a good name with a good reputation, as to not damage your shoes. Cleaning in circular strokes does the trick well, especially when spot cleaning. Use an old soft-bristle toothbrush with a little water to clean where the sole of the shoe meets the upper (the leather body of the shoe).If a shoe is especially dirty, let it dry after a few go-overs. Don't over wet the shoe, as you might end up staining the leather and causing water damage. If there is a significant amount of dirt on the shoe, or if the shoe has excessive polish or stain, resort to a leather cleaner. Most leather cleaners help dissolve dyes and other compounds on the surface of a shoe, and usually don't strip shoe stains much.After the shoe looks pretty clean, let it dry for a few minutes, give it a brush, and apply your leather conditioner. Again, giving the shoes a few minutes to dry is a good idea. Brush the shoes to remain any additional dust or debris that might come from your cloth. Next, get a fine terrycloth (or a cotton cloth this is very fine, or even some woman's stocking or hose) and add a tiny bit of leather conditioner to a section of the shoe. Only apply leather conditioner to non-suede or nubuck leather (again, none of that fuzzy leather, else it will most certainly ruin the texture and colour). My all-time favourite is Saphir Renovateur, which goes for a pretty penny compared to some Amazon brands, but it works wonders. Rub it on in a circular motion until absorbed, and do so until you covered the leather upper of the shoe.Brush, brush, brush. Brushing shoes seems a little odd, but the process helps redistribute the oils naturally present in the shoe, as well as the conditioner we just applied. Under certain conditions (like with Saphir Renovateur, it also adds an excellent shine that makes the shoe pop Brush the shoe until you're uncomfortable, then brush a few moments longer. Brush the technique below:Brush horizontally on a piece of leather, side to side.Then on the same section, turn the brush 90 degrees, brushing up and down.If you brush with this technique, you are brushing the surface of the shoe evenly.If you follow these instructions, you're probably going to end up with a pair of shoes that look quite a bit better than they did initially, especially if they picked up some dust and grime on the shelf at the thrift store.6. List the items onlineIf you only ever listed shoes on eBay, you'd do rather well. However, some shoes, especially if you don't stick strictly to dress/sartorial shoes, will sell better on other platforms. Grailed is a fantastic website for more 'hype' brands and leather sneakers. Some of my favourite or commonly well-loved options include:The Real Real: More luxury brands, plus they take a more significant cutPoshmark: Generally anything, especially mass-market designer itemsDepop: Quirky itemsEtsy: Vintage itemsI don't do much listing of items locally, as I've found I get minimal hits/traffic compared to eBay or Grailed. However, don't discount:KijijiFacebook MarketplaceLetgoCraigslistOther local marketplacesA lot goes into properly listing an item online. There's tons of room for optimization, which I'll be delving into when I work on my first ebook, course, or whatever I end up doing. But I'll give you a few tips below.The more photos, the better. A newer phone camera will do just fine, but high-quality shots help sell items. Try to have a neutral backdrop. Take photos of the top, the sole, and all sides of your shoes. Make sure at least one photo includes the brand logo. Ensure you have a photo of the shoe's sizing, which can be found on the tongue or the inside near the heel. Make sure you take photos in a bright area (natural like is often preferred). Finally, take photos of any damage that might catch someone's attention, like cracks, cuts, or deep craps or nicks. You will need to make note of these.Ensure the title includes the shoe's brand, series/line, colour, size (US and EU, preferably), width (C, D, EE, etc.), and anything else of note are included in your listing. Giving browsers key information immediately will work in your favour.Ensure all fields are filled out (that are applicable) to the best of your ability. eBay has tons of fields, especially for shoes, but be sure to fill out the sizing, material, brand, colour, and description/condition fields. The latter is especially important, as seasoned users will look to you to provide details on the condition of yours shoes, such as damage or wear. Be clear. You do not want to deal with returns, so don't give the customer a reason to prompt one.Start buy using historic 'Sold' prices on eBay to determine listing prices, and start off with 'Buy Now' listings. Do your due diligence and see how much the same brand of shoe has sold for in the past, and try to take an average of those. You can push your listing price to the high end, but you will likely see fewer inquiries. Because auctions with reserve prices (basically your item MUST sell for more than the reserve price, which means you won't accidentally sell an item for $10) cost money to list, I stayed away from them at the beginning and just listed 'Buy Now' listings. I added a minimum offer value, so I automatically refuse offers under a certain value, so low-ballers don't waste my time.Do your research on how to set up shipping, especially to an international audience. I'm still struggling with this myself, but I'd save a good amount of time figuring it out in advance. Nearly all the questions I get ask how much shipping to a certain location will cost, so I encourage you to get ahead of the game and set up a shipping table with eBay. Most of the time you can guesstimate the general weight of the package by weighing the shoes in advance.7. Package the shoes and ship them outWohoo! You sold your first pair of shoes. If you didn't change your default eBay settings, you have about 2 days to ship out your item. You can change this setting to give yourself more time to prepare.Here are a few tips to ensure your shipping goes off without a hitch:Before you buy any boxes, save and use the boxes from your past delivers from Amazon, etc. These boxes are perfectly fine for your shoes, as long as they fit. If you live in a condo or apartment building and have shared recycling, go and grab a few clean boxes and use those. Don't be ashamed; you're saving yourself from paying $2-5 for a damn piece of cardboard. If you need to buy a box, look at which post offices/providers have the cheapest boxes.Invest in a roll of packing foam (by-the-roll variety) or packing paper. I often get enough packaging and wrapping goods from my Amazon orders, but investing in packing material isn't a bad idea. It not only protects the shoes in transit, it also looks more professional. You can order some from a few shipping/logistic companies, and you can even try your luck at a Home Dept or similar store.Use eBay's Shippo to easily print labels. Shippo is eBay's built-in label creating platform that integrates with nearly every courier and delivery service. Go to your sold items section and click on 'Print Label' in the dropdown beside the item. It will take you to Shippo, where you can create an account, attach a payment method and create a label immediately. It will import nearly everything about your listing. The only thing you need to insert is the size and weight of the package, and fill out any customs info. Select the company you would like to use (it will show you the cheapest ones first, but try to use what you advertised in your listing). Pay for the label, print it, and tape the correct section of the label onto your package. Done.At this point, you can drop your package off at the applicable postal office or box. At this point, hold onto the tracking info if you have any, and send it to the buyer. This not only creates trust with the buyer, but you would appreciate it in their position. Just for some piece of mind.8. Profit!If you use eBay, you will most likely have your funds held until the buyer receives their item. Don't despair! You'll get your money soon.As you can also see, I haven't calculated my actual profits or anything. I could, but I just haven't yet. But just like anything with entrepreneurship, you just need to do it. I have excuses, but I'm trying to work past those. I would encourage you to keep records and see how much you spend on buying goods, and your margins after selling.And that's about it! Feel free to ask any questions you have, about thrifting, reselling, and menswear in general. It all comes naturally for me at the moment and I'm sure I've missed a fair bit (although I am saving some of the sauce for my website content in the future).

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