Recently updated on February 3rd, 2021
For the quick, to-go list of 10 Safe Ways to Earn Money Online, scroll to the bottom of this article. I get it, your time is valuable!
Is it me, or does life just get more and more expensive? Just when I was beginning to feel solid in my finances and career, in comes a new car payment at 75mph! On top of that, a mortgage and the dreadful student loan payments.
Then I got engaged. Obviously, I am completely enamored and filled with bliss, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the idea of paying for a wedding terrifies me!
If you are anything like me, you do not have a hidden trust fund, a wealthy family or a winning lottery ticket. You have a budget. Welcome, “no spend weekends”, drip coffee and generic brand food! We are going to get to know each-other real well this year.
…Or you could find ways to earn a little side money!
As a full-time teacher, I knew that driving to another part-time job (ew!) would completely wear me out. …and let’s be real, I wanted to be paid for something that required as little brain work as possible.
Fast forward 6 months, I now have a couple tried-and-tested side hustles that are consistently helping me make a little extra money! All are online!
I am so, So, SO excited to share with you my list of safe ways to earn money online!
This post contains affiliate links. However, all opinions and advice are 100% my own. In order to stay truly transparent and honest, I only recommend services and products that I use, love and believe will benefit others.
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10 Safe Ways to Make Money Online
Broken down into 5 different categories.
1. Blogging
Creating a blog is your ticket to a potential 6 figure salary… for reals! It is mind boggling how well some bloggers are doing out there.
Check out how I made money during my first few months of blogging! My monthly income continues to grow!
- My First Month Blogging – What Worked & Didn’t Work
- My Second Month Blogging + Income Report
- My Blog Income Report for Oct-Dec 2017
- How to Start a Profitable Blog
I have yet to earn 6 figures on my blog, but I can say it has be a creative outlet and simple way of earning passive income. I achieve this mainly through ads right now, however I hope to grow more sales through affiliate links.
How do Bloggers make money through their blog? This can be achieved in many different ways! However, the most common ways are through ads, affiliate links, product/service sales and sponsorship. The easiest way to monetize a new blog is through ads and affiliate links.
If I had to choose 2 ad/affiliate markets to begin with they would be:
So if you have a passion for something or you just have really great ideas, invest in yourself and start a blog! The skies the limit with blogging!
2. Survey Sites
Survey sites are perfect if you have a little extra time to spare (or you are a great multi-tasker). Basically, you are paid to share your opinion on topics such as common household items, retailers, commercials, etc. Most survey platforms either pay you in pay-pal cash or through gift cards.
How do survey sites have money to pay their users? Various product companies hire survey platforms in order to find consumers to take their surveys. Basically, we as the survey takers are earning a small portion of their commission.
- Survey Junkie – I’ve made around $130 within a few months.
- InboxDollars <–Sign up via this link and earn a $5.00 starting bonus!
- SwagBucks <–Sign up via this link and earn a $3.00 starting bonus!
- Paid Viewpoint – I’ve made around $5 during the first few weeks.
- Global Test Market
2. Shopkick
Finally there is an app that rewards me for what I do best… shopping! What?! Yes, all I have to do is proceed with my normal weekend groceries and shop kick will pay me in “kicks”. These points are later redeemed in gift cards of your choice.
The app itself runs off of Bluetooth. You “check in” once you are in a qualified store and you earn kicks! You continue to earn kicks by scanning and purchasing items. It’s kind of like an adult Easter egg hunt.
Qualifying stores include Walmart, Costco, TJMaxx, American Eagle, and just about every popular grocery store out there.
How does Shopkick have money to pay their users? Different stores and brands pay Shopkick to use their products within their app. In theory, these brands are receiving more customer sales thanks to Shopkick.
- Try Shopkick Now – I earned my first gift card within 3 weeks of using the app
3. Testing Websites
Another quick and easy way to make money online is by testing websites. Depending on the test, you will be paid anywhere between $5-$10 per test. Most of them last around 30+ minutes and you are sometimes prompted to write a bit of feedback on what you tested.
How do these testing websites have money to pay their users? Similar to survey sites, these “Site Testing” platforms are the distributor. Various websites, apps and companies pay the “Site Testing” platform to find testers (you) to ensure quality in their projects.
4. Achievement Fitness App
Achievement is an app that rewards you for getting your health and fitness on! The app gives you points based off of how many steps you take in a day. You can also synch up Achievement with Apple Health, MyfitnessPal and your Fitbit to earn even more points for exercise, food, water intake and daily weigh ins.
Similar Post: How I made over $100 while exercising.
Once you get to 10,000 points you can cash out $10.00. I’ve had the App since early summer and I’ve earned around 6,000 points ($6.00). It definitely takes time, but they can’t just throw money at you now can they?! However, in a few months I will be $10 richer than I would have been without the app! (Hopefully a few pounds lighter as well…)
How does Achievement have money to pay it’s users? In theory, Achievement is paid by other fitness related apps and platforms that users can synch to their Achievement account. For example, I downloaded the MyFitnessPal along with another running App. Those two companies received my business thanks to Achievement.
- Download the Achievement App – I’ve made over $10 so far! They send your $10 to your Paypal.
There we have it! 10 simple, but most importantly, SAFE ways of making money online. I hope you found this article helpful. I wish I knew about these years ago! They really have been such a blessing to my fiance and me during our wedding planning adventures.
If you know of any other great ways to make passive income online, please let us all know in the comments!
Best wishes to you!
Quick List – All safe & highly rated.
- Money Making Blog
- Survey Junkie – I’ve made around $110 within a few months.
- InboxDollars <–Sign up via this link and earn a $5.00 starting bonus!
- SwagBucks <–Sign up via this link and earn a $3.00 starting bonus!
- Paid Viewpoint – I’ve made around $5 during the first few weeks.
- Global Test Market
- Shopkick – I earned my first gift card within 3 weeks of using the app
- User Testing
- Enroll App
- Achievement App – I’ve made over $10 so far!
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I m making money from InboxDollars but I want to make money from blogging.