We could all use a bit more money in the bank when it comes to buying things we want, paying down debt, or just saving for a rainy day. In the past, the only way to make serious income was to find a job, or even multiple jobs, to pay the bills. Now, all of us have access to the internet and making extra money, or even replacing your entire salary, can be done online if you know where to look.
In this article, we'll be discussing a number of methods that Canadians can use to earn more money from home.
1. Sell your used possessions
If you have a bunch of possessions that you don't use often, you could think about getting rid of them for a price. Things you may not use anymore could include lightly worn clothes, board games, books, furniture, appliances, cookware, vehicles and electronics.
There are many marketplaces online where you could post your items. You can create a free account on Ebay and start selling today. Additionally, you could post your items on Craigslist and run a virtual garage sale. Despite being old school, Craigslist is extremely well used. Kijiji is another great site that is very popular in many Canadian towns and cities.
In summary, if you're strapped for cash, interested in making more income, or just looking to make a few extra dollars, you may not need to look any further than your own possessions. By letting go items you don't need, you can declutter your home and your life at the same time.
2. Tutor online
If you like to teach, you could consider teaching English to earn in your spare time. VIPKid is a great service where North American teachers and tutors can connect with students in China for private English lessons. As a teacher on this platform, you could earn anywhere between $14 and $22 per hour.
In addition to online platforms like VIPKid, you can also find gigs on Craigslist. There are many potential customers looking for tutors to help them or their children. If you have any relevant skills perhaps in sciences, english, or economics just to name a few, there are plenty of opportunities to earn side income by sharing your knowledge.
3. Become a freelancer
These days, it's easier than ever to become a freelancer. A good way to start freelancing is to identify your skillset, what you could get paid to do, and your target clientele. If you're a good writer, find writing gigs. If you studied accounting, there are plenty of bookkeeping jobs. You should define your objectives. How much do you want to make? How much time are you willing to dedicate to your craft? Do you want to replace your full-time job or just make a few hundred extra dollars?
Some good places to start looking for gigs are Fiverr and Upwork. You can even peruse Craigslist's and Kijiji's jobs sections.
4. Sell your crafts on Etsy
If you have a knack for crafting, you can sell your wares on Etsy. During the pandemic, Etsy has really taken off, with many more people creating their own online stores. In 2020 aline, Etsy grossed $10 billion in total merchandise sales.
To identify a good opportunity, make sure that your idea can be profitable. Before diving in, do some quick research on Etsy. Look at different shops to see the number of sales of similar products that they've made since opening up. Next, make sure that you can make something as good or better! If you're a master woodworker, jeweler or artist, building your own shop on Etsy could be the perfect way to get started in the world of entrepreneurship and start making more income.
5. Become a Twitch streamer
According to Newzoo, the gaming industry is growing exponentially at over 100% a year. The global gaming market reached $162 billion in 2020. By 2026, that number is expected to rise to nearly $300 billion. Some gamers have managed to become millionaires well before 30.
What does this mean for you? If you game already, you can start streaming your games by signing up for a Twitch account, and monetize your gaming through donations, selling subscriptions, brand partnerships, or even selling your own merchandise.
6. Rent out your car
During the pandemic especially, many of us haven't driven nearly as much as we otherwise would have. As a result, your car may have been collecting dust and could be better used making money for you via a car sharing platform like Turo.
Turo is like AirBnb but for cars. You can list your car for free on Turo, and other people can request to rent your car. For many customers, using a peer-to-peer car rental service like Turo is often cheaper than booking through a more established service. All the communication between you and customers wanting to book your car is done through the chat. Finally, all the insurance needs is handled by Turo, saving a lot of time and making your life easier.
7. Become a pet sitter or dog walker
If you love pets, you can make money as a pet sitter or dog walker via apps like Rover or Spot Walk. Even if you have a day job that lets you work from home, you can sign up for a walk during your lunch break, whenever you have some downtime, or even on the weekend.
If you have space in your home, you can even board pets overnight or even longer. Of course, you'd be wise to clear this with your landlord, if you rent. In addition to using apps to find walking or sitting gigs, you can post on your local classifieds, Craigslist or Kijiji to market your pet sitting and walking services, or search for jobs that others may have posted.
8. Test websites and apps
Get paid to share your thoughts by testing websites and apps. Check out UserTesting; a website that lets freelancers like you earn up to $60 per test. As website builders and operators, companies need easy-to-use websites and apps in order to create successful businesses. Because of this, there are a lot of companies who will pay you for your time to evaluate and provide feedback on the websites that they design and operate. Things that you would test for include usability of the website, bugs, and your overall satisfaction.
While you might not be able to earn a steady living as a tester, many people are able to earn decent side income.
9. Start an e-commerce business
Over the past five years e-commerce has exploded. It's easier than ever to set up an online store, source products, and start selling. In certain cases, you don't even need to buy your own inventory!
Dropshipping, for example, can be a very profitable and also easy to set up business model. With dropshipping, you can find a niche that you're interested in, like health, beauty or apparel. You can find a dropshipping supplier and set up a store in less than a few hours using Shopify. Whenever you sell an item, your supplier will be notified, and will ship your customer's order directly. You won't even need to touch the product.
Of course, there are many different methods of selling online, such as through Amazon, or creating your own branded products—each with their own advantages. However, the point here is that with the internet and the explosion of e-commerce platforms, being able to start selling online is now more accessible than ever before.
10. Make money from your blog
One of the most popular income streams targeted by internet entrepreneurs is blogging. Blogging can take quite a bit of upfront work. You'll need to identify your niche—something that you're passionate about, and a subject that you could write endlessly about and commit years of your time to. Despite the upfront investment, if you keep at it, you can quickly see dividends.
Many bloggers monetize their websites through affiliate links, courses, products, advertising and more. Ultimately, the more traffic that you can drive to your blog, the greater your ability will be to make money through your content.
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