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50+ Honest Ways to Make an Extra $500 a Month

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In the past, I wrote about the many ways to make $200 in one day, $100 fast as well as $10 in less than $24 hours.  I have covered it all, except for making this type of money every month.

While I did write about 61+ ways to make $1,000 or more, you may not need that much and a lot of those ideas only work one or two times.  Instead, you may only need about $500 or so, and you need it every month.  If that’s the case, then I have great news that it is possible.  It just takes some work.

In today’s post, I want to talk about how you can make $500 a month.  Some options may take up to 30 days, whereas some ideas may only take a few days or so.  Best of all, many of these tips can work from the comforts of home.  Yes, that means no telecommuting is required!

As long as you have the motivation and the will-power, then it is possible to make an extra $500 every month. 

Listed below, I cover so many ideas.  It’s your job to browse through them and pick out one or two that make sense to you.  If you do see something of interest, simply click on the link for even more information to get started.  And, as a fair warning, there are a lot of options to sift through!

With all of that out of the way, let’s dive in and see how it can be done.

How to Make an Extra $500 a Month Easily (Online Options Included)

Complete Surveys

I love taking surveys every month, so much so, that I rely on it to make a few hundred dollars a month.  While $500 a month is entirely possible, you will have to make sure that you’re consistent in logging into these apps/websites to meet your goal.  $500 is what?  $16 a day?  That’s about 10-16 surveys you may have to complete, so you will have to complete quite a few.  Nonetheless, the great thing about surveys is that it’s extremely easy money, you can get started today, and in some cases, these research panels will invite you to $75-$150+ online research groups!  To get started, I like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie and QuickThoughts.  There are many more, all of which you can browse in my 83+ survey panels hiring now.



Deliver Food

Put your car to use and start delivering food on your own time.  Apps such as Uber, Doordash, Postmates and Grubhub all let you work whenever you want, helping you earn up to $25 per hour simply delivering food.  It’s as easy as accepting the job orders that come to your phone and then delivering as the app states.  Personally, this is one of my favorite options, the main reason I put it high on the list.  If you don’t like the idea of the apps, you can always apply as a part-time pizza delivery driver.  It’s some of the easiest money you will make!

Personal Shopper

It’s a topic I covered in depth in the past.  As a personal shopper, it’s your duty to accept jobs as they come to you via your phone and then shop the items needed.  You get to work whenever you want and you can pick and choose the jobs as they come to you.  Since you’re considered an independent contractor, you’re in full control.  If it’s something of interest, start with the bigger companies like Instacart and Shipt.

Drive with Uber and/Lyft

Put your car to use again, toting people around from point A to point B with Uber and Lyft.  Yes, you can sign up for both and work both of these apps at the same time.  And, depending on where you live, some drivers report making upwards of $20 to $30+ per hour gross.  Of course, this depends on your market and how you work, but once learn some strategies as well as how your local market works, it’s not too hard to make more than $20 per hour.  Sign up for Uber and Lyft today and you can get started in as little as a few days.  By far, it’s one of the easiest ways to make $500+ a month.

Become a Tasker with TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is an awesome app that lets you do just about anything for people who need help.  From helping people move to assembling furniture, you get to choose the jobs that make sense to you.  There are a ton of jobs on here, so at least sign up and see what’s available in your area.  Like the many apps already mentioned prior, you get to work whenever you please and choose the work that you want to do.

Smartphone Apps

There are a ton of smartphone apps that can help you on your way to $500 a month.  While you may not make $500 solely with these apps, they can help you make $50, $100, sometimes more than $250.  It just depends on which apps you download.  I have written about money-making apps so many times, so if you’re interested in making money with your phone, be sure to check out my best paying survey apps and 41+ ways to make money from your phone posts

Odd Jobs on Craigslist

The “odd jobs” section on Craigslist can be a gold mine for odd-like jobs.  From helping someone move to maybe picking up a large item at a local retailer, the jobs are at random.  Yes, you’re dealing with Craigslist, but as long as you’re smart about where you’re meeting up and accepting a deposit of sorts before starting, there shouldn’t be an issue.  I have mentioned this option a few times and find it to be a great choice no matter where you live.



Babysitting

Whether it’s watching family, friends or even a stranger’s kid, there are always babysitting jobs out there.  You just need to know where to find them.  Thankfully, websites such as Care.com, UrbanSitter and SitterCity can all help you find people in your neighborhood that need a sitter as soon as today.

Freelance

I mentioned a few freelancing ideas on this list, but let it be known that there are hundred of other skills you can put to use to make money every single month.  Start with Upwork and browse the categories to see what’s hot at the moment.  If you find a skill that sounds of interest, learn it!  But, if you already know that particular skill and feel you can help others, then start applying to jobs and/or marketing your services.  There are hundreds of freelancing websites online, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a client or two.

Fiverr

This kind of ties in with freelancing and is considered to be one of the most popular service platforms out there.  Consider listing a service and see where it takes you.  You can sell almost anything here.  It can take you some time to make $500, but once you do, you could soon find yourself making a full-time income with the right skills and reliability.  Check out the Fiverr Master Class to see how sellers make six figures on the platform.

Mystery Shopping

Mystery shopping is an awesome way to get out of the house and shop “undercover.”  Some even allow you to work from home.  As a mystery shopper, it’s your duty to shop without anyone knowing, answering questions that a company gives you ahead of time.  Companies do this so that they can be certain their operations are running as they should.  As long as you can follow directions, you won’t have a hard time making money.  There are a ton of mystery shopping companies out there, so check them out to see if it’s something you’re interested in.  On top of getting paid, you can receive free food and groceries as well!

Petsitting

Yes, like watching kids, you can get paid to watch dogs and other pets as well.  And, like babysitting, there are multiple platforms that can help you find pet owners who need your help as soon as right now, such as Care.com and Rover.  Create a profile and start applying to jobs.   You may be able to find someone who continues to use you throughout the month, making it that much easier to make $500 a month.

Dog Walking

The dog walking app, Wag, can help connect you with dog owners who need walkers almost every day.  Make $10 to $20 per walk and easily hit your $500 a month milestone.  You can also use Care.com as well as advertise your services if it’s something of interest.  There are a lot of people out there who will pay you consistently to walk their dog!

Tutoring

As long as you have a college degree, tutoring could be a very lucrative way to make more than $500 a month.  From math to science, think of a topic you’re good at and then offer your skills to help others in need.  And, if you don’t know where to find the students, don’t worry as I covered more than 20+ platforms that are looking for tutors right now.

Teach English Online

This is one of the most popular ways to make money online.  It’s another option where you need a bachelor’s degree, at least most of the time, but it isn’t always required as some schools do hire you if you don’t have an undergrad.  In short, you will help teach the English language to students, primarily Chinese children overseas.  It pays up to $20+ per hour and best of all, you get to choose your own schedule.  If interested, I covered the more than 30+ ESL schools looking to hire teachers today.

Transcription

Transcription is another popular online job, and it’s one that can pay you up to $15+ per hour.  Most of the 100+ companies I researched allow you to work whenever you please and have a steady stream of work.  As long as you can type fast and can type what you hear, it’s something to at least consider.

Housesitting

Don’t want to watch children or a dog?  That’s fine as you can watch a house and get paid for it as well.  Yes, a house.  Whenever someone leaves for a long period of time, they often turn to people like you to check in and make sure everything is okay.  From watering the plants to getting the mail, the jobs are at random, but you can get paid looking over someone’s house while they are away.  Refer to my house sitting jobs guide to see where you can find these types of jobs today.



Take Pictures

This can be a stretch, but I want to include it here as some photographers do quite well on the side taking pictures.  Even if you don’t want to deal with the public with your own business, there are many platforms that enable you to sell your photos as noted in my 20+ ways to get paid taking pictures.  Of course, aside from using an app, you can start your own business as well, which could bring in much more than $500.  Refer to the many low-cost Amazon eBooks for inspiration to start your own business.

Start a Blog/Affiliate Marketing

This one can take a lot of work, but I promise you it could make you much more than $500 a month.  In fact, it could earn you much more than that and maybe allow you to quit your day job.  It will take some work and a lot of patience since you won’t see your first dollar until a few months down the road.  I have mentioned this tip a hundred times over and recommend you start with the fantastic free resources out there such as Income School, Authority Hacker, Backlinko, Quick Sprout and the Ahrefs Blog.  Take the time to read these blogs, apply the strategies to your blog and then watch it blossom into something special.

Publish a Book

You don’t need a publisher nowadays to publish your very own book as anyone can sell via the Kindle Direct Publishing tool.  Like creating a blog, it will take some work, but once you’re done, it can bring in some cash every month.  Heck, you can even combine your eBook with your website/blog to capitalize even more.  Think of your field of expertise and/or something you’re passionate about for inspiration.

Create a Class

Platforms such as Udemy allow you to setup your very own personal course and teach others your expertise.  From writing to playing an instrument, if you can teach it, you can create a course.  Much like a blog, writing a book or even starting a YouTube channel, you will have to market yourself and learn how to gather new customers, but I promise you that you can make quite the sum if you create a well put together course.  Take a gander at Udemy and see what people are selling.  If it looks like something you’re interested in, then I would become an instructor page to learn more about how it all works.

Writing

Freelance writing is one of the more popular jobs online.  And, even if you don’t have writing experience, you can still make money as some clients aren’t expecting newspaper writing quality.  Generally, as long as you can put your thoughts into words with very few grammatical mistakes, then you should do fine.  Be sure to check the more than 17+ entry level writing companies hiring as well as the many content farms hiring beginners.   These are all great stepping stones for anyone to start making decent money writing online.

mTurk

The Amazon mTurk could be a great choice if you’re looking for a range of jobs that are always changing.  If you’re unfamiliar with the platform, it’s a job portal of sorts, where you’re asked to complete very short jobs for $0.01 to $0.25.  I know the pay sounds low, but most jobs only take a minute or two to complete.  You won’t make a ton, but it’s not hard to make $15 a day to meet your $500 a month goal.  You can even make $50+ a day if you follow my tips.  From surveys to analyzing pictures, there are always thousands of jobs available.  No experience required and it’s free to join.

Flip Items

I have mentioned flipping items a few times, such as in my how to make money on Craigslist and cash paying only jobs posts.  Basically, what you’re going to want to do is find an item, either online or in store, that you can buy for less than what you can sell for online.  For example, if you found some video games on clearance for $5, but on eBay, the most recently sold were in the $15 range, then you could profit $10 before the fees.  It’s another topic to research in depth, so I recommend starting with the Reddit flipping subreddit as well as one of the many highly rated Udemy courses.  You can sell your flipped items on eBay, Amazon and even Craigslist.

Host a Foreign Exchange Student

If you have room in your home, consider homing a foreign exchange student for the time being.  This is a great way to not only bond with someone overseas but make money in the meantime, usually more than $500+ a month.  To find a foreign exchange student, some requirements do apply, most of which depend on which company you apply to.  If interested, start with larger companies such as the International Student Exchange or AFS.  A quick Google search using your city and state can yield even more results as well.  Just be sure to read the FAQs before applying so that you’re not wasting anyone’s time.

TV/Movie Extra

No, you don’t need to be a professional actor/actress to make money as a TV/movie extra.  As long as you can follow directions, you’re hired, at least most of the time.  This won’t work in all areas, but if you live in a movie-friendly city, i.e., NYC, L.A. or Atlanta, to name a few, then you may find it extremely easy to make $500 a month doing this.  Refer to my how to make $150 a day being a movie extra.

Make Jewelry

There are more than 15+ popular options that can help sell your jewelry.  No matter what your handmade craft may be, $500 a month may be possible if the demand is there.



Mow Lawns

Need I say more?  I know it’s a job a 13-year-old would love to do, but who says adults can’t do it, either.  It’s a seasonal job, at least in most states, but at $20 to $40 a lawn, it’s pretty easy to get to $500 a month.

Shovel Snow

The opposite of mowing lawn, of course.  It’s very seasonal, but it could be an easy way to hit $500 during the colder months.  Just hope it snows enough to make cash.

Clean Pools

It’s another seasonal side gig, but it’s one that can make you a lot of money, seeing people need their pools cleaned weekly.  Even if you have to purchase the equipment, you can easily make up to $20+ per visit.  Find five to seven owners, and boom, you’re at $500 a month.

Clean Houses/Offices

I’m sure there are hundreds of people who need cleaning of sorts, from their homes to an office.  The great thing about this gig is that they need you to keep coming back, whether it’s weekly, monthly or sometimes even daily.  If consider, be sure to treat it like a business so that you’re taken seriously.  This means getting bonded and insured.  To find people who need a cleaner of sorts, start with Care.com or HouseKeeper.com.

Detail Cars

Become a mobile car detailer and come straight to someone’s home to clean up their cars.  At $100 to $200 a pop, it won’t be hard to earn $500 a month.  Market this type of business no differently than any other, using Craigslist, Facebook, etc to find leads.  Get good enough and people will keep coming back to you frequently.

Be a Friend

This is a stretch and it can be hard for some to make $500 a month, but it is possible.  As noted in my get paid to be a friend guide, some people make more than $500 a month simply by being someone’s friend.  And, no, there’s no funny business nor do you have to commit to anything.  There are people out there who just want company for the day and are willing to pay you!  Check out that guide for more information on how to get started.

Painting

Painting does take skill, but it can make for a nice lucrative side hustle to make $500.  Heck, a few rooms of painting can earn you this in a day.  If considering this option, however, just make sure you know of the business legalities to protect you and your customers.

Golf Caddie

This is more of a summer job in most cities and is ideal for golf lovers.  If you like don’t mind the idea of strolling along a golf course helping other golfers out, this is a relatively easy way to make much more than $500 in a month, usually about $150 for four hours of work.  Of course, it’s temporary, but it could make for a wonderful summer job idea if you need the cash.

Become a Referee

This one you can’t do online, unfortunately, but you can easily make $500 for the month, sometimes more, simply by refereeing games.  Leagues that need your help vary depending on where you live, so I recommend you start with Indeed to see who’s hiring as of now.  Most jobs start at $10 to $15+ an hour, meaning you can make about $30 per 90-minute~ game.

Woodworking

Put your woodworking skills to work to make $500 a month.  From setting your own store up on Etsy to selling locally on Facebook, find a blueprint that sells and put your skills to use.  For inspiration, check out the more than 50+ profitable woodworking projects I researched in the past.



Donate Plasma

I don’t know if you can make $500 a month donating plasma, but I think you can come close.  As long as you don’t mind needles and can set aside about an hour in your day, it’s possible to get close to $500 in a month.  Refer to my plasma donation guide to see how you can get started.

Take Advantage of Medical Studies

Give up your body for medical reasons and make much more than just $500.  Be sure to know the risks, however, as many studies do ask you to take a medicine/supplement of sorts.  They do all vary, though.  Check out the seven companies that tend to have some of the highest-paying clinical trials.

Rent Out Items

If you have some items laying around the house, consider renting them out via the Buro app.  Whether it’s a pair of golf clubs or your camera, you can put just about anything up, as long as it’s legal, of course.  Depending on what you put up for rent, it may be possible to make $500 for the month.

Rent Out Your Car

This one can sound scary to some, but yes, it is possible to rent out your car and make money.  Since most car owners make about $20 to $30 a day, that’s an easy $500+ a month if you rent it out for more than half the month.  Check out the bigger marketplaces like Turo and GetAround to help get your car rented.  And, don’t worry about the people renting as these companies do a good job screening their customers as well as offering you a peace of mind with a hefty insurance policy.

Rent Out Your Home

Airbnb makes it easier than ever to help you find people who want to rent out your home.  Even if you don’t want to rent out your home in its entirety, you can always rent out a room while you’re still there.  Even at $30 a day renting out a room, it’s pretty easy to hit $500 a month, especially if you live in a popular area.

Sell on Amazon

Just like selling on eBay, you can sell on Amazon as well, particularly if you create your own products.  Known as Amazon FBA, it’s something to research in depth if you like the idea of creating your own products and then selling on Amazon.  If interested, I recommend you start on JungleScout.com and read the many how-to guides they have posted.

Drop Shipping

Drop shipping is the process of using a merchant of sorts and reselling their goods, either on your own storefront that you create or even on eBay.  It’s a big business, but the profits are insane if you find the right product to sell.  It’s a competitive space, but like anything, if a lot of people want to do it, then it probably means there’s money to be had.  Start with the many books mentioned on Amazon, some of them being free with Kindle Unlimited, to learn more about how this strategy works.

YouTube

Another option that can take some work, but it can become a very nice passive income opportunity if you find the right niche and stick with it.  Like blogging and creating a book, you will need to learn how to market yourself as well as how to create videos that people actually want to watch.  There are a ton of free tutorials online, all through a simple Google search.  I don’t have a favorite since I don’t work with YouTube, at least yet, but in the future, if I do find something of interest, I will be sure to link it here.

Build an App

Apps are huge right now, so much so that one app could earn you a full-time gig.  Whether you want to create your own and monetize or build it for others, the opportunities out here.  Don’t know how to make an app?  That’s fine as there are a ton of very low cost courses that can be found on Udemy.  Some free tutorials can be found on YouTube and through a Google search, however, I found the paid versions to be much more in depth.

Virtual Assistant

If you like the idea of becoming a virtual secretary of sorts, then you may want to consider becoming what’s known as a virtual assistant.  This position is so popular that I created a free in-depth guide, explaining exactly how the position works.  In short, as an assistant, you can help with everything from making phone calls to sending emails.  The jobs are endless, but it is a way to make $500+ a month relatively easily.



Edit Videos

If you don’t want to become a YouTube star, that’s fine.  Edit videos instead if you have the skills and patience.  Either apply to jobs on Upwork or consider creating a service listing on Fiverr.  This market is competitive, but with the right customer, word can spread and you could soon find yourself with more work than you can handle.

Web Design

Have the skills to create a website from scratch and/or setup a WordPress-like site?  It’s another competitive field, but it shouldn’t stop you from joining.  Again, consider promoting your services on Upwork or Fiverr.  A simple website can easily earn you $100+.

Final Thoughts

If you want to make $500 a month, it’s not as hard as you think.

I have listed so many opportunities that you can take advantage of right now.  Sure, some may take a while to start seeing the fruits of your labor, but who says money is easy?  It’s all about what you put in.

For now, take a gander at the many options and follow through on any links that are of interest.  As always, everything I list is 100% scam-free and is meant to help legitimately.  If you ever feel something isn’t what it’s intended to be, feel free to contact me and I will look into it.

As always, if you think I’m missing anything and/or you want to add to my list, then feel free to do so in the comments below.

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Tom Nathaniel

Hi! My name is Tom Nathaniel, and I created LushDollar to help share my honest thoughts on everything money. You won't find gimmicks here. It's the Internet's most honest money site after all. I graduated from Arizona State University, and I have worked in the finance industry since 2006, consulting with multiple Fortune 5000 companies.

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