How to Make an Extra $500 Every Month: 40 Ideas

With the great resignation and many out of work, finding ways to make more income is necessary. 

Here are 40 ways to make an extra $500 every month. 

1. Work as a Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is someone who works for clients from the comfort of their own homes. There are many different tasks that a virtual assistant can do, including writing blog posts, answering emails, and scheduling social media content.

These jobs pay an average of $15-$20 per hour, depending on how much time you dedicate to working each week.

2. Work as a Virtual Accountant

A virtual accountant is similar to working as a virtual assistant but requires more advanced skills. Virtual accountants deal with their clients' finances while also managing their social media accounts and blogging platforms.

These jobs pay $25-$35 per hour, depending on how much time you have to dedicate to working each week.

3. Take Online Surveys

Online surveys are a great way to make a little extra money each month. They usually only take around 15 minutes to complete, and you can earn anywhere from $0.50 to $15 per survey, depending on the length and complexity of the questionnaire.

There are many different survey websites available, so be sure to do your research before signing up for them.

4. Become a Tutor

If you have a specific skill or knowledge that others are looking for, becoming a tutor is one of the best ways to make money online. You can either offer your services as an in-person tutor if there are students nearby or become an online tutor through websites like Tutor.

This job usually pays $15-$20 per hour, depending on how much time you have to dedicate to working each week.

5. Take Advantage of Cash Back and Rewards With Credit Cards

If you’re already using a credit card, you can start earning cashback and rewards with little effort. Most cards offer a percentage of your purchase total back in cash or points that you can redeem for gift cards or other items.

Be sure to read the terms and conditions of each card before applying, as some have annual fees while others do not.

6. Sell on eBay

eBay is an excellent platform for selling items you no longer need or want. You can sell everything from clothes and accessories to electronics and furniture.

Be sure to take pictures of your products before listing them, as this will help increase the chances of someone buying them.

You can also opt to use eBay’s “sold listings” feature to understand how much similar items have sold for in the past.

Pro Tip: If you don’t want to handle shipping and handling yourself, consider using eBay’s drop-shipping service.

7. Freelance as a Handyman or Landscaper

If you’re good with your hands or have experience in landscaping, freelance work could be an excellent option. Many websites allow people to post jobs and services that they need to complete, and these often pay well.

Be sure to list your qualifications and the services you offer on your freelancing profile, as this will help increase the chances of someone hiring you.

You can also search job boards and classified ads for opportunities in your area.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have any prior experience, consider starting out by offering small tasks like lawn mowing or window washing.

8. Rent Out Spare Bedrooms in Your House or Rent Out Your House

If you have an extra bedroom in your house that isn’t being used, then consider renting it out to a tenant. You can list the room on websites like Airbnb or Roomorama, and people are often looking for short-term accommodations.

If you don’t want to deal with any tenants, you could also rent out your entire house instead. This option is excellent for people going on vacation or needing a place to stay while their home is being renovated.

You can find potential renters by posting ads online or by word of mouth.

Pro Tip: If you decide to rent out your entire house, ask for a security deposit from your tenants.

You can access my free landlord resources here.

9. Start a Blog

Blogging is a great way to share your knowledge on different topics, and it can also be incredibly profitable if you have the right audience.

The more traffic that your blog receives, the more money it can potentially earn through advertisements or affiliate marketing programs.

You could even choose to monetize your blog by charging for access to certain content areas, such as exclusive articles or e-books. Pro Tip: Keep track of how much time each task takes when blogging to know whether this will fit into your schedule and any other side jobs you might want to pursue.

10. Become a Ghostwriter

Ghostwriters are paid to write content for other people, and they often work on books or blog posts.

You can find potential ghostwriting gigs by searching job boards like Upwork and Craigslist, but you might also be able to get jobs through your personal contacts. You could even choose to market yourself as a ghostwriter online using social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Pro Tip: Ghostwriters earn anywhere from $15-$100 per hour, depending on how much experience they have under their belt.

11. Do Food Delivery

Many food delivery opportunities can provide fast cash if you have a car.

You could choose to deliver for local restaurants or even businesses like Starbucks while wearing their uniform and handing out flyers in your area. You might also be able to do deliveries on the side using apps like Postmates, Uber Eats, Doordash, etc. Pro Tip: There’s often an additional fee associated with each order you pick up from whatever restaurant is being used and a small tip that goes into your pocket at the end of the day.

12. Be a Social Media Manager

Social media is a great way to interact with customers and potential clients, especially if you can do it from home.

You could choose to manage social accounts for small businesses or even larger companies looking for someone who can provide regular content on their profiles. You might also be able to find opportunities by reaching out directly through your personal network.

Pro Tip: Be sure that you create an agreement specifying each party's expectations.

13. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money by recommending products or services that you believe in.

You could choose to become an affiliate for different companies, and then receive a commission for every sale made due to your recommendation. You can find affiliate programs through websites like Clickbank or Commission Junction, and there are often many programs to choose from.

Pro Tip: When choosing which program to promote, be sure that it’s something that you would feel comfortable endorsing to your friends and family.

14. Be a Website Builder

If you have experience in website design and development, you could offer your services to people who need a new website or want to update their existing one.

You can find potential clients by posting ads online or by word of mouth. You might also be able to get work through your personal contacts.

Pro Tip: When pricing your services, remember that you will most likely need to factor in the cost of the domain name and web hosting for each site that you build.

15. Edit Videos

If you have video editing experience, there are many potential opportunities to get paid for your services.

You could choose to work on videos through freelancing websites like Upwork or Freelancer by posting a job description and waiting for requests from interested clients. You might also be able to find jobs in your local area if you’re willing to travel with some of the necessary equipment.

Pro Tip: When applying for any job related to video editing, it can help significantly if you have previous examples of your work.

16. Be an SEO Consultant

If you know a thing or two about optimizing websites for search engines, you could offer your services as an SEO consultant.

You can find potential clients by reaching out to businesses you think might be interested in your services or advertising your availability on freelancing websites. You might also be able to get work through your personal contacts.

Pro Tip: When pricing your services, keep in mind that there is a lot of competition for this type of work. Be sure to highlight the unique value that you can provide.

17. Online Advertisement Management

If you have experience managing online advertisements, there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

Pro Tip: Be sure not to post anything too specific about what type of company or person you want to work with when trying to attract new leads.

18. Write and Publish an Ebook

If you’re an expert on a particular topic or have a lot of knowledge to share, writing and publishing an eBook could be a great way to make extra money.

You can find potential clients by reaching out to businesses that might be interested in your work, or by advertising your availability on freelancing websites. You might also be able to get work through your personal contacts.

Pro Tip: When pricing your services, remember that you will need to factor in the cost of creating the ebook and marketing it.

19. Write an Online Course

If you have a lot of knowledge to share, writing an online course could be another excellent way to make extra money.

Pro Tip: When pricing your services, remember that there will likely need to be multiple videos included with each course and other materials. Be sure, not under-sell yourself so that people are getting their money’s worth purchasing from you.

20. Drop Shipping

If you’re familiar with drop shipping, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

Pro Tip: When pricing your services, remember that you will need to factor in the cost of setting up a shop and marketing it.

21. Resell Electronics

If you’re familiar with reselling electronics, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

Pro Tip: When pricing your services, remember that you will need to factor in any shipping costs and advertising costs. Be sure, not under-sell yourself so that people are getting their money’s worth purchasing from you.

22. Flip and Resell Furniture

If you’re familiar with flipping and reselling furniture, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

Pro Tip: When pricing your services, remember that you will need to factor in any shipping costs and advertising costs. Be sure, not under-sell yourself so that people are getting their money’s worth purchasing from you.

23. Rent Out Your Possessions

If you’re familiar with renting out your belongings, there are many potential opportunities to get paid for your services.

Pro Tip: When pricing your services, remember that you will need to factor in any shipping costs as well as advertising costs. Be sure, not under-sell yourself so that people are getting their money’s worth purchasing from you.

24. Become a Dog Sitter or Dog Walker

If you’re familiar with the process of taking care of pets, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

Pro Tip: When pricing your services, remember that there will likely need to be multiple videos included with each course as well as other materials. Be sure, not under-sell yourself so that people are getting their money’s worth purchasing from you.

25. Be a House Sitter

If you’re familiar with the process of watching over homes, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

When pricing your services, remember that there will likely need to be multiple videos included with each course as well as other materials. Be sure, not under-sell yourself so that people are getting their money’s worth purchasing from.

26. Drive for Uber or Lyft

If you have a car and are familiar with the process of driving for Uber or Lyft, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

27. Become a Transcriber

If you’re familiar with the process of taking notes, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

28. Sell Stock Photos and Videos

If you have a knack for photography or videography, there are many potential opportunities to get paid for your services.

29. Rent Out Your Car

If you have a car that you don’t use often, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

30. YouTube Videos

If you have a knack for creating videos, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

31. Freelance Graphic Design

If you have an eye for design and a knack for working with vectors or pixel images, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

32. Freelance Coaching or Consultation Services

If you have a unique skill or knowledge that people may be interested in, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

33. Teach English Online

If you are a native speaker of English and have a college degree, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

34. Be a Personal Trainer

If you are knowledgeable in fitness and have a certification, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

You can find clients by reaching out directly through social media or personal contacts and using freelancing websites like Upwork or Freelancer to advertise your availability. You might also be able to place ads on Craigslist if it is allowed in your area, but make sure that the website doesn’t prohibit this before posting.

35. Drop Shipping

If you are knowledgeable in e-commerce and have a desire to start your own business, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

36. Event Planning

If you have a knack for organization and enjoy planning social events, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

37. Resume Writer

If you are knowledgeable in resume writing and have a certification, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

You can find clients by reaching out directly through social media or personal contacts and using freelancing websites like Upwork or Freelancer to advertise your availability. You might also be able to place ads on Craigslist if it is allowed in your area, but make sure that the website doesn’t prohibit this before posting.

38. Open an Etsy Shop

If you enjoy being creative and have a knack for crafting, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

39. Mow Lawns

If you have a lawnmower and are willing to do some light labor, then there are many potential opportunities for you to get paid for your services.

40. Babysitting

If you are a responsible and reliable person, there are many potential opportunities to get paid for your services.

Conclusion

Hopefully, one (or more) of these opportunities sparks your interest and motivates you to get started on making some extra money.