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How I'm Making My Dreams a Reality - Making Enough Money Every Month to fulfill my Wishes

Find out how I'm making money online through side hustles.

By Fatima Published 3 years ago 9 min read
How I'm Making My Dreams a Reality - Making Enough Money Every Month to fulfill my Wishes
Photo by micheile dot com on Unsplash

Do you want to make your dreams a reality? Do you want to generate enough money each month to fulfill your wishes? If so, then I'm here to tell you that it is possible.

Throughout my journey of self-discovery and financial freedom, I have discovered numerous ways to make extra money every month. From freelancing on Upwork and Fiverr, testing websites on UserTesting.com and Intellizoom, working from home with Arise or Appen - there are plenty of opportunities out there for those looking for more income sources!

In this article, I will share my experiences in the side hustle world so that you too can start making your dreams come true. So let's get started!

The Purpose of this Article

I'm writing this piece to share my experiences with side hustles and provide you with a list of fresh ideas that are worth exploring. I can personally vouch for their authenticity, as I've either given them a try in the past or received positive feedback from friends who have already benefited from these sources.

While some of these options may only be available to the residents of Canada, the United States, or the UK, I am confident that with a bit of exploration, you can find something suitable for your unique skills in your homeland too.

Everyone's financial situation will vary and risk tolerance differs greatly from person to person; thus, I'm sharing my own experience here so it might assist you when deciding which option is right for you.

If you are searching for a way to make some additional cash, these side hustles could be precisely what you need. With determination and dedication, your dreams of extra income can come true!

Freelancing Websites

Freelancing websites, such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer are excellent places for freelancers looking to make extra money.

I have personally used Upwork and Fiver to gain some extra cash through content writing, logo designing, and photo editing.

SS of my upwork profile - image by author

You don't need any prior experience to start out; all you need is an internet connection and the appropriate skill set. Depending on your skill set, you can fetch a decent amount of money through these websites by providing services like logo design, web development, copywriting, or virtual assistance.

Usertesting Websites and Applications

Usertesting.com and Intellizoom are companies that pay people to test websites, prototypes, or applications and share feedback about their experience.

SS of Invitation to participate in a study by Intellizoom - Image by author

This can be an enjoyable way to make extra money. The job entails loading up a website or application that you have been assigned, using it for some time to complete the assigned tasks, then sharing your honest feedback about the experience. It is easy money if you are good at giving constructive criticism!

SS of money received from Intellizoom

Multiple times a month, Usertesting.com and Intellizoom invite me to their studies for which I get paid $5 - $8 per study – sometimes more! This usually doesn't take any longer than 15-30 minutes of my time, as you can see from the accompanying screenshot. It's a great way to make some extra cash without putting in too much effort.

Appen

Appen is a company that utilizes information gathered from human interaction to make machine-learning programs act more like humans. They hire in a variety of fields such as speech recognition, natural language processing, voice and image data analysis, among others.

Arise – Work From Home

Arise is a company that allows people to work from home by taking customer service calls from big-name companies.

You will be taking inbound customer service calls. You must have a quiet home office environment with the necessary equipment, and be willing to put in the effort and energy required.

During 2017, I worked as a customer service representative for Turbo Tax via the Arise platform. I received a month of training (I had to pay an affordable fee in order to become certified). However, the return on investment was well worth it. The independent business owner (IBO) that employed me paid me $15/hour.

Pet Sitter/Dog Walkers

Being a pet sitter or dog walker can be rewarding, enjoyable, and a great way to make extra money. You will need to have your own transportation but that is the only requirement aside from being responsible and reliable.

When it comes to those who need to go away on vacation, one of the biggest considerations is what to do with their beloved pet. Leaving furry friends for any length of time can be heartbreaking and stressful. You could use this as an opportunity to earn some extra money by looking after other people’s pets while they’re away. This is a great way to not only help others in need but also make some extra cash.

You can advertise your pet-sitting company on different online marketplaces. Or get yourself attached to sites like Rover.

Founded in 2011, Rover is a pet sitter and dog walker network. The Rover app and website connect dog and cat parents with loving pet sitters and dog walkers in neighborhoods across the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe.

You can sign up, set your schedule, price, and pet preferences, and get booked for your area’s pet-sitting and dog-walking jobs.

Baby Sitting / Daycares

For those of you who are good with children, babysitting or daycare can be an excellent way to make some extra cash.

My friend is registered with Wee Watch. They train you and give you CPR and First Aid training. They do home visits to see if your house is suitable for daycare. You have to be criminal-checked as well. The company brings you, clients. So my friend watches kids in her own home and gets paid.

If you love kids, this could be your perfect side hustle!

Mystery Shopping

SS of Mystery Shopping Assignment in my Inbox - image by author

If you are a fan of shopping, mystery shopping can be an excellent way to make some extra money on the side. You get paid to shop and provide feedback about your experience. Companies hire mystery shoppers to evaluate their products, services, or customer service in stores and restaurants.

Mystery shoppers are hired to anonymously review a company’s customer service by partaking in activities such as:

  • Vacationing.
  • Checking the cleanliness of locations.
  • Talking with employees.
  • Making potential purchases and filling out surveys.

I have an account with Ipsos, and I get regular assignments to visit stores and perform various tasks, and then I get paid.

Airbnb Host

Airbnb hosting is an exciting and profitable way to make extra money. All you need is a spare room or two. With Airbnb, all the bookings are managed by the company so you don’t have to worry about marketing or managing guests. You simply provide a place for people to stay when they visit your city.

One of my husband’s relatives regularly rents their basement on Airbnb to travelers and earns a handsome amount. They love it because they get to meet interesting people from all over the world and have fun conversations with them. Plus, they get paid for providing this service!

Uber/Lyft Driver

If you don’t mind driving around town, then being an Uber or Lyft driver can be a great way to make extra money. Plus, it is really flexible; you get to choose when and how much you want to drive.

One of my husband’s cousin and two of his uncles are earning well by providing these services. All that is required is their time and vehicle. I would highly recommend this side hustle if you enjoy driving and meeting new people!

Personal Shopper

Personal shopping is a great way to make money on the side, especially if you enjoy shopping. You can work independently or with retail stores, supermarkets, and online companies as a personal shopper.

If you enjoy going to the grocery store, you might consider becoming a personal shopper to earn extra cash. As a personal shopper, you would be paid to shop for others. This could be a great way to make some extra money.

If you’re looking for a flexible job that you can do on your own time, then Instacart shopping might be the perfect gig for you. With no set hours or days, you can shop as much or as little as you want, anytime you want.

While Instacart is only available in Canada, many companies offer personal shopping services in other countries. You can find plenty of opportunities by doing a simple Google search.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a great way to start an online business. It’s simple and easy to get started, plus it doesn’t require any upfront costs or inventory. You can partner with a supplier who will ship products directly to your customers.

To kick off your venture, you've got to establish an online store and include products from the supplier of your choice. With orders coming in steadily, your provider will send them straight to consumers. You are then responsible for customer service as well as marketing campaigns.

I know some friends who are managing Shopify stores and earning well. Facebook marketplace is also a great platform for selling.

Search for local suppliers in your area or explore AliExpress online. Just be sure to do your research before partnering with any supplier.

Sell on Etsy

Etsy is a great platform for creative entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services. Etsy allows you to sell almost anything, including handmade items, vintage collections, artwork, and supplies. I’ve seen people making money selling jewelry, t-shirts, scarves, and bags on Etsy.

You need to list your items in the store and start promoting them on social media or with paid advertising campaigns. This will help boost your visibility and attract more customers to buy your products. You can also offer custom orders so that customers can get what they want without having it in stock.

I researched what to sell on Etsy and found out many people are using Canva to make templates and planners to sell on Etsy. You can try that too.

Start a Youtube Channel

Youtube is a great platform to share your ideas, stories, and experiences with the world. You can create videos about anything you are passionate about and start earning money.

You’ll need to have some knowledge of video editing software in order to be successful on Youtube. But don’t worry—it isn’t too hard to learn! Once you get started, you can earn passive income from ad revenue or sponsored content deals.

However, Monetizing it does require some time and effort. You need to have a certain number of subscribers and views before you can start earning money.

My friend launched her own cooking channel on Youtube which has become very popular. She now earns well every month from the ad revenue generated by her videos.

Online Language Tutor

If you are fluent in English, you could start tutoring students online! You can connect with students and help them learn English.

To get started, create a profile on a tutoring platform like LearnLight or VIPKid. Once you’re approved, you can start tutoring students online.

Online Tutoring

You can tutor various subjects online and help students with their studies. You can connect with students worldwide and provide them with academic support.

To get started, create a profile on a tutoring platform like Connections Academy (available in the USA only). Once you’re approved, you can start tutoring students online!

Blogging

If you have a knack for writing, you could start a blog. You can blog about anything that you are passionate about. Once you build up a following, you can start to monetize your blog through advertising, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing.

SS of my cooking blog - image by author

I have a personal cooking blog where I write about my recipes. I monetize my blog through ads and affiliate marketing. I also test equipment and write for this blog

There are many different ways to make money on the side. Whether it’s selling online through Etsy or Shopify, creating videos for Youtube, tutoring students in language or academics, or blogging about something you love; these opportunities provide a great way to supplement your income and increase financial security. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to making extra money – but with dedication and hard work, anyone can find success! So don't wait any longer - start exploring which options best fit your lifestyle today!

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About the Creator

Fatima

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