Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Looking for the best business ideas for teens? Whether you’re a teenager trying to find ways to make extra money or if you’re a parent trying to help your child start a business to learn about money, there are many positives of starting your own business young. Whether it’s in the summer, after school, or…
Looking for the best business ideas for teens?
Whether you’re a teenager trying to find ways to make extra money or if you’re a parent trying to help your child start a business to learn about money, there are many positives of starting your own business young.
Whether it’s in the summer, after school, or on weekends, having a small business can be a fun and educational thing to start.
I did many different things as a teen to make extra money, and they all taught me so much. There are many different ways for teens to make money, as you will learn below.
There are many business ideas for teens listed below. If you want to skip the list, here are some ways for teens to make money that you may want to start learning more about first:
Below are the best small business ideas for teenagers to start.
Recommended reading:
Babysitting is an obvious job for teenagers, and it can be a great way to make money. I was a babysitter when I was a teenager and regularly earned over $1,000 a month by babysitting (mainly in the summer).
Starting a babysitting business is a smart choice for teens as it’s simple to start with very few costs. Your main investment is the time and effort you spend taking care of children.
To get started, you’ll need to let people know you’re available. Reach out to your parents’ friends, neighbors, or family members. After a while, word of mouth can help you find more jobs.
Safety is really important too, of course. So, you will most likely want to get certified in first aid or CPR. This not only makes you more trustworthy but also helps you handle emergencies.
Starting a car washing business can be a great business for a teen entrepreneur.
To start, you just need basic supplies: a bucket, a soft sponge, window cleaner, and cloths for drying and polishing.
With a straightforward service like car washing, you can operate right in your driveway or travel to clients’ homes for convenience.
Starting a blog is a great way for you to share your thoughts and ideas while potentially earning money. Your blog can cover any topic you’re passionate about, whether it’s fashion, sports, technology, or your daily experiences.
While I was around 21 years old when I started my blog, I know a few people who started theirs as teenagers.
A blog can be a great business idea to start when you’re young, as you can decide how to build your blog, how you earn an income, and the schedule you put toward it.
You can easily learn how to start a blog with my free How To Create a Blog Course.
Here’s a quick outline of what you will learn:
Out of all of these business ideas for teens, blogging is by far my favorite. It does take more time to start making money, but it’s very flexible and fits with any kind of schedule.
If you’re a teen who’s really good at a certain subject, tutoring could be a great way to start a rewarding business. You can use your knowledge to help others do well in areas you’re good at.
Your friends or younger students might find it helpful to have one-on-one sessions where you explain difficult topics in simple ways.
Subjects you may be able to tutor in include:
Many tutors are teenagers, so this may be a great fit for you!
If you love capturing moments through a lens, starting a photography business could be a perfect fit for you.
Starting a business as a photographer can kick off with a relatively low investment. Initially, you might need to spend between $500 to $2,000 on equipment like a good camera, lenses, and editing software. But, if you already have a camera, then that is the bulk of the cost.
You can take pictures at events like birthdays or graduations, capture stunning portraits, or create art through landscape and wildlife photography.
When you start a home care services business, you’re stepping into a role that helps busy homeowners manage their households.
This can include a range of services that assist with the upkeep of a home, such as:
When I was a teen, I had a friend who was a personal assistant for someone in her neighborhood. She would pick up their dry cleaning, take care of their plants, walk their dogs, and more.
If you’re a teen who loves animals, starting a pet care business can be a great way to earn some extra cash. Pet sitting and dog walking services are in high demand and can be both fun and rewarding.
To start, you can join a dog walking app-based service. Rover is a user-friendly option that connects you with pet owners. You can create a profile, set your own prices, and specify the types of services you feel comfortable providing, such as dog walking or pet sitting.
You can typically earn between $15 and $30 for each hour spent with a pet, considering you might need to commute to the pet’s location.
If you’re interested in art and technology, you can start a graphic design business.
Graphic design is about creating visual content for companies and individuals. You’ll use software to make logos, social media graphics, posters, and much more.
As a teen graphic designer, your income will vary. Typically, you can make anywhere from $5 to $100 per project when starting. As your skills grow, so can your rates. The market for design work is expanding, making room for you to succeed.
Can you play piano, guitar, or violin? Or maybe you’re skilled in drawing or painting?
If you’re a teen with a talent for music or art, teaching art or music lessons can be a great business idea. Whether you play an instrument or paint like a pro, other kids and parents might pay for your expertise.
If you like being creative and making things with your hands, selling arts and crafts can be a great business idea for teens.
Here are some crafts that teens can create and sell for extra money:
You may be able to sell your homemade items at local craft fairs or online on Etsy.
Recommended reading: 16 Best Things To Sell On Etsy To Make Money
If you’re good with technology, starting a technical support service can be a choice to look into. Lots of people have trouble with technology and need help. As a teen, you can meet this demand by selling your tech-savvy skills and knowledge.
Services you can sell include:
You can market your business by telling your friends, family, and neighbors about your services, and even by creating flyers to distribute and post on local community boards and at local businesses.
Making a YouTube channel is a way for you to share what you love, your talents, and your ideas with the world. It can also become a fun way to earn some money.
Most people know about YouTube, and almost everyone has seen at least one video on the platform. According to YouTube, there are over 2 billion people who watch at least one video on YouTube every month.
Many people have goals of starting a YouTube channel and making money, but not many people ever actually start.
You can learn more at How I Grew From 0 Subscribers To Over $100,000 On YouTube In Less Than One Year.
Starting a print-on-demand business lets you be creative and make money. You can make products that are inexpensive to create, such as posters or custom-designed mugs.
To begin, design things that show your interests or what customers like. After that, use a service like Printful to put these designs on different products. The company takes care of everything else, from printing to shipping.
Starting a lawn mowing business is a great way for teens to make money and is one of the popular small business ideas for teens. It’s easy to get started, and you can make cash during spring and summer (or even year-round depending on where you live, like Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California).
All you need is a lawn mower, some fuel, and basic gardening tools.
You can talk to neighbors, family, and friends to find new lawn mowing jobs.
I know many families with teenagers who mow lawns to make money. Some even turn it into a full-time business as they grow up.
For teenagers, starting a house sitting business is a smart way to make money. You’re responsible for looking after someone’s home while they’re away, which is a big job.
Trust is important due to this, and homeowners must feel sure that their property and pets are safe in your care.
When I was a teen, I had a friend who was a regular house sitter for several people. She would water their plants, walk their dogs, and stay overnight in their homes to make sure everything was fine with the house.
If you want to earn money from home and be your own boss with low startup costs, creating printables could be a great option for you.
A printable is a digital product that can be downloaded and printed at home. You create them once and then sell them on a platform like Etsy for people to purchase. You don’t have to physically print anything; you’re just selling the digital download.
Printables include things like grocery shopping checklists, weekly meal plans that people can put on their fridges, gift tags, and quotes to be framed. These are digital products that users can download and print for their use.
Making money at home as a teenager through creating printables is great because you create one digital file download for each product, and then you can sell them an unlimited number of times.
I recommend reading about this further at How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy.
Important note: To sell on Etsy, you need to be at least 18 years old. If you’re between 13 and 17, you can still sell on Etsy with the proper permission and under the direct supervision of your parent or legal guardian. The Etsy account should be registered using the parent or legal guardian’s information.
If you enjoy being in front of the camera and are good at connecting with people, you could possibly make money as a social media influencer.
This can include platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and more.
Now, this is not a guaranteed way to make extra money as a teen, as not everyone makes it. But, you won’t know unless you give it a try.
It’s all about your image and your message (and some luck too, of course). Ask yourself, what are you passionate about? Fashion? Gaming? Fitness?
You’ll want to keep your posts consistent (for many platforms, this will include posting at least once a day) and your voice authentic. This is how you’ll attract followers who can’t wait to see what you post next.
You’ll also want to interact with your audience. Reply to comments, ask questions, and listen to what they want. An engaged audience is a loyal one, and brands notice this. The more you connect, the more your followers trust you.
As your following grows, companies might pay you to talk about their products. That’s because they see value in your ability to reach and engage with a dedicated audience.
You can learn more at How I Make Money On TikTok – How I Grew To 350,000 Followers and Made $60,000 In 6 Weeks.
If you love making videos, starting a videography business could be a perfect idea for you. As a young entrepreneur, you can begin this business idea with just a smartphone or a basic camera.
You can start this small business idea by practicing filming different events like school activities or community gatherings. This will help you to create a portfolio that highlights your unique style and skills.
If you like playing video games and have a fun personality, you may be able to make money streaming. With platforms like Twitch, you can create a channel where you showcase your gaming skills or entertain an audience with your commentary.
Once you gather a following, you can monetize your channel through subscriptions, ads, sponsorships, and donations. Selling branded merchandise is another way to earn money.
Recommended reading: How Much Do Twitch Streamers Make?
If you love making treats that leave your friends and family asking for more, starting a baking business could be your path to success.
You could bake things like cookies, cakes, bread, and more.
Before selling, make sure you understand the legal requirements, such as if you need a permit or license.
A proofreader is someone who reads through written stuff like articles, books, or ads to find and fix any mistakes. Your job is to make sure everything’s correct before people see it.
If you love reading and often spot mistakes in written content, you might want to explore becoming a proofreader.
Freelance proofreading is a flexible and detail-oriented job that only requires a laptop or tablet, an internet connection, grammar skills, and a good eye for finding mistakes.
If you want to find online proofreading jobs, I recommend watching this free 76-minute workshop all about how to get started proofreading.
Recommended reading: 20 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners (Earn $40,000+ A Year).
Reselling items online on platforms like Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace can be a great way to run your own business and make extra money.
Plus, it’s something that anyone can start because many of us own things that we could probably sell.
And, there are always things you can buy for a low price and potentially resell for a profit. You might even find free items that people are throwing away and sell those too.
There is a helpful free webinar that I recommend – Turn Your Passion For Visiting Thrift Stores, Yard Sales & Flea Markets Into A Profitable Reselling Business In As Little As 14 Days.
Okay, so this isn’t a business, but it is a way to make money online.
Taking surveys won’t make you rich, but it can help you earn a bit of extra money during your spare minutes throughout the day.
Companies pay you to take surveys because they want to know what people think about their product and their company. They want real opinions from real people.
Here are some of the survey companies that are open to teenagers (along with their minimum age requirements):
As a teen wanting to start a business, it’s important to think about things like balancing schoolwork, managing finances, and making sure that you are staying safe.
Your school schedule is a priority, and finding a balance between it and your new business venture is important, so it’s important to plan out your week.
I recommend creating a visual where you can see your school time, study hours, and time for your business.
Example of a weekly schedule:
Day | School Hours | Study Time | Business Hours | Free Time |
Monday | 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | 4 – 6 p.m. | 7 – 9 p.m. | Remaining |
Tuesday | 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. | 4 – 6 p.m. | 7 – 9 p.m. | Remaining |
… | … | … | … | … |
Sunday | None | Optional | Flexible | Flexible |
It’s important to understand the basics of financial planning when it comes to your business so that you can make sure you are making money and not wasting money.
So, I recommend listing the resources and materials you’ll need along with their costs. This also includes keeping track of all your expenses and income using a spreadsheet or even just writing your expenses down.
You should always be safe, and make sure not to fall for any scams or fall into business with someone that you do not want to. Keep parents up-to-date on what is going on in your business and make sure to meet strangers in public/safe places.
Below are answers to common questions about starting a business as a teen.
If you’re in high school and want to start a business, you can sell services like lawn care, dog walking, or car washing. These types of businesses require minimal money from you to get started and can be managed around your school schedule.
For online business ideas for teens, there are many things you could do such as selling printables, starting a blog, online tutoring, selling handmade crafts on Etsy, and more.
The top business ideas for young adults include babysitting, car washing, lawn mowing, online tutoring, and starting a YouTube channel.
Teens between 13 and 17 can look into babysitting, pet sitting, tutoring, or crafting and selling homemade goods.
I hope you enjoyed this article on the best business ideas for teens.
Starting a business when you’re a teenager can be fun and help you make some extra money. This can help you to save money for college, buy things that you want, hang out with your friends, buy clothing, and more.
Plus, it’s a chance to learn important skills and a good work ethic.
You can do different things to earn cash, like doing chores at home or trying out creative online projects. If you enjoy outdoor work, you can wash cars or take care of lawns. If you’re into technology, you might want to start a blog or a YouTube channel.
There are lots of options depending on what you like and what you’re good at!
What other business ideas for teens would you add to this list?
Recommended reading:
Source: makingsenseofcents.com
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, aka Bennifer, have finally found their perfect love nest — one that’s modeled after a famous queen’s lavish chateau.
It may have taken them two years and three failed escrows but the wait paid off because this mansion is the ultimate luxury home for the power couple.
Many were confused over the stars’ indecision to commit to buying a property. With an unlimited budget at their disposal, it was a little out of the ordinary that these A-listers kept changing their minds.
According to reports, the two looked at mansions in the range of $35 to as high as $85 million in the most exclusive neighborhoods. But none of them quite passed the mark, leading people to believe that there was trouble in paradise. Or are they just really picky?
All doubts were cast aside when the lovebirds set their eyes on this mansion. They instantly fell in love with the property! They paid $61 million in cold cash and the deal took just one week to close, per TMZ.
What’s not to love? This stunning mansion is inspired by one of the most iconic chateaus in history.
Dubbed the Wallingford Estate, the Beverly Hills abode features French-style architecture that was originally modeled after Marie Antoinette’s private chateau, Le Petit Trianon.
The queen’s manor, located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, was a gift from her husband, King Louis XVI.
Known for her love for all things opulent, Marie Antoinette adored her private estate. It served as a place of refuge, where the queen staged operas, productions, and lavish parties.
See also: 24 celebrities who live in Beverly Hills & their million-dollar homes
The Wallingford’s exterior features stately columns, large windows, and a rectangular shape that echoes the iconic design of Le Petit Trianon.
While the interiors have been modernized with state-of-the-art technology and contemporary furniture, it still retains its French Neoclassic ambiance.
Situated on a 5.2-acre lot, the megamansion boasts a total of 12 bedrooms and 24 bathrooms across an impressive 38,000 square feet of indoor living space — providing plenty of living space for Ben and Jen’s blended family.
You can take a closer look inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s new mansion here (swipe to see the revamped interiors):
The couple are co-parenting peacefully with their exes (Jennifer Gardner and Marc Anthony) and share five children between them.
There won’t be any shortage of space for their big family in this huge mansion!
Like its sprawling grounds, everything about this house is grand. The double-door entryway opens to an expansive living room with double-height ceilings and large skylights that make the space even more massive.
White walls with frame molding display sophistication, while large windows allow plenty of natural light to brighten up every corner of the open floor space.
JLo previously shared a glimpse of the mansion’s downstairs area on Instagram while celebrating the success of Mother with her friends. Walking from the stairs to the bar, fans got a view of the gorgeous interiors of the ground floor.
Another highlight of this property is its secured grounds — a top requirement among high-profile celebrities. The mansion is surrounded by tall hedges and comes fully fenced with secured entrance and exit gates from two different private streets.
This design layout safeguards the often-photographed couple from prying eyes and paparazzi. And we know all too well how much Ben Affleck ‘loves’ paparazzi, don’t we?
Recreational amenities include a 155-foot-long infinity pool, a home theater, spa areas, a full-service salon, and a sports complex complete with a basketball court, a pickleball court, a fully equipped gym, and a boxing ring.
Visitors can also enjoy a slice of luxury living in the 5,000-square-foot guest penthouse. This structure also houses the garage area, which is large enough to fit 90 cars!
Fitting for one of Hollywood’s most famous couples, Ben and Jennifer’s new house is one of the city’s most impressive mansions and was once one of L.A.’s priciest listings.
Sitting mere minutes away from the Beverly Hills Hotel in the gated Wallingford Estates community. It had previously been owned by healthcare entrepreneur Jeoung Lee before real estate mogul Gala Asher picked it up for $22 million back in 2016.
What followed was an extensive renovation that brought the sprawling mansion into the 21st century. Asher then sought to capitalize on his big investments in the property by listing it for a whopping $135 million in 2018.
With no takers, a series of price adjustments followed, until the famous couple finally took it off the market in 2023. The final sale price was $60,850,000 — which amounts to $1,601/sqft.
The moral of Ben and Jen’s house-hunting saga? Patience pays off. By holding off on their purchase, they were able to find a perfect palace to call their home. A happily-ever-after ending for a Hollywood royal couple.
More stories
Where does Adele live? A look at the $58M ‘house that Rocky built’
See Lady Gaga’s house in Malibu, which she calls her ‘Gypsy Palace’
Are houses Blake Shelton’s love language?
Source: fancypantshomes.com
Refinancing your mortgage, or replacing your existing home loan with a new one, can lower your interest rate and monthly payments or even get you extra cash from the equity in your home.
Not all homeowners are approved for refinancing, though. With home prices and interest rates still high, lenders are careful about who they approve. The rejection rate on mortgage refinance applications increased to 15.5% in 2023 from 9.9% in 2022, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
If you’ve been turned down, you still have options for refinancing — and ways to improve your chances next time.
Lenders rely on federal underwriting guidelines from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac when deciding whether to approve a refinancing application. Some issues are easier for borrowers to address than others.
How much of your money is tied up in paying off debts is a major factor in getting approved for refinancing. Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is determined by dividing your total monthly debts (including your current mortgage) by your gross monthly income.
A DTI of 35% or less is ideal, according to Experian, although lenders typically will consider a ratio up to 43% for refinancing a conventional mortgage, depending on how strong the rest of their application is.
A credit score of at least 620 is usually needed to secure refinancing, although you may be able to get FHA cash-out refinancing with a score in the 500s.
An appraisal of your home’s fair market value ensures it hasn’t significantly depreciated, especially to the point that it’s worth less than what you owe (known as an “underwater mortgage”).
If the appraisal indicates your home is in poor condition or has renovations that are not up to code, it could also lead to being turned down.
The amount of your home that you own outright is known as home equity. If you put 5% of the cost of the property as a down payment, you’re starting with 5% home equity. That amount increases as you make mortgage payments and as the home’s value increases. You typically need to own at least 20% of your home outright to refinance your mortgage.
According to Fannie Mae’s underwriting guidelines, lenders look at an applicant’s career history and income over several years. Ideally, they want to see at least two years at your current job, but you probably won’t have to worry about a promotion or a better-paying job in the same industry. A consistent income is the key.
Taking a lesser role or lower-paying job and lengthy gaps in employment are more serious red flags, as is changing jobs in the middle of the application process. However, you can always try to explain your circumstances to your lender.
Lenders are legally required to explain why you’ve been turned down. Find out the reason (or reasons) and if possible, make any necessary changes so you’ll be approved next time.
You may need a lender that is willing to accept a lower credit score. Rocket Mortgage works with applicants with scores as low as 580, rather than the 620 required by most lenders.
Apply online for personalized rates
Conventional loans, FHA loans, VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) and jumbo loans
8 – 29 years
Not disclosed
580 if opting for FHA loan refinance or VA IRRRL; 620 for a conventional loan refinance
Already have a mortgage through Rocket Mortgage or looking to start one? Check out the Rocket Visa Signature Card to learn how you can earn rewards
Ally Bank offers cash-out refinances for conventional and jumbo loans, allowing homeowners to convert their home equity into cash and take out a loan that’s larger than their current mortgage. Ally doesn’t charge application, origination or processing fees and its website has a refinance calculator that provides customized rates without affecting your credit score.
Apply online for personalized rates; fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages included
Fixed-rate, adjustable-rate and jumbo loans available
15 – 30 years
5/6 ARM, 7/6 ARM, 10/6 ARM
Not disclosed
Terms apply.
If you didn’t put 20% down when you bought your home, you may need to pay off another chunk of your mortgage before you’re able to secure refinancing.
If your credit is the problem, take some time off to raise your score. Focus on making on-time bill payments and lowering your credit utilization ratio, or the amount of available credit you’re using. Avoid opening or closing any lines of credit and check your credit reports for any errors.
Experian Boost™ is a free way to improve your credit score. It links utility, phone and streaming service payments to your Experian credit report and uses the You’ll get an updated FICO® score delivered to you in real-time.
On Experian’s secure site
13 points, though results vary
Experian®
FICO® Score
Results will vary. See website for details.
Technically, you can reapply right away, but each application requires a hard credit check, which temporarily lowers your FICO score. So, consider why you were rejected first — if your credit score was too low or you don’t have enough home equity, address the issue before applying again.
If you were turned down because of a recent job change, you may have to wait up to two years to reapply.
Whether it’s because you’ve been denied or the rates are still too high, refinancing might not be an option. Fortunately, there are ways you can lower your mortgage payment without refinancing.
If you have a conventional mortgage, your lender will automatically cancel PMI when you reach 22% equity. You might be able to request cancelation once your equity reaches 20%.
Some lenders will allow you to make a large lump-sum payment toward your principal balance and then re-amortize your loan. The terms remain the same when you recast your mortgage, but the lower balance means smaller monthly payments and an overall decrease in the amount you’ll pay in interest.
If you’re facing financial hardship, you can ask to change the terms of your mortgage permanently to help you avoid foreclosure. You can also request a forbearance to temporarily reduce or pause your mortgage, but you’ll eventually have to repay the late or suspended payments.
Subscribe to the CNBC Select Newsletter!
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
Refinancing your mortgage is when you replace your existing home loan with a new one, typically to get a lower interest rate.
Depending on the lender, there are several fees associated with refinancing, usually 3% to 6% of the loan. Freddie Mac suggests putting aside $5,000 for refinancing closing costs
An applicant can be denied refinancing for various reasons, from a low credit score to a new job. If you know why you were turned down, you can work on the problem and reapply.
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every mortgage article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
*Results will vary. Not all payments are boost-eligible. Some users may not receive an improved score or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost™. Learn more.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
Source: cnbc.com
Wondering how to stay at hotels for free? I have stayed in many hotel rooms for free over the years by using many of these same strategies below. Finding ways to get free hotel stays is a great way to travel on a budget or simply just save money on hotels. This can allow you…
Wondering how to stay at hotels for free? I have stayed in many hotel rooms for free over the years by using many of these same strategies below.
Finding ways to get free hotel stays is a great way to travel on a budget or simply just save money on hotels. This can allow you to go on more vacations and use your money for other things in life.
Whether it’s a fancy resort or a specific hotel brand, the trick is to know where to find these opportunities and make the most of them.
Below are ways to get free hotel stays.
You can get free gift cards by answering paid online surveys, and you can use these gift cards to help you get a free hotel stay.
So, this would work like this – you could get free gift cards to places like Hotels.com, Marriott Hotels, Holiday Inn, or even a Visa gift card (that you can use anywhere) as a reward for answering online surveys. You then collect gift cards until you reach the amount that you need to book the hotel that you want.
To get started, you’ll want to find a survey site that you trust. Some of my favorites are:
I recommend signing up for all of them so that you can get the most surveys possible to answer, which will then pay you with more gift cards.
There are also other apps that you can use as well to get free gift cards, such as Fetch Rewards and Ibotta.
I get free gift cards all the time, and recently, I logged into several of the accounts that I am signed up for and turned in my points. This led to me getting $275 in free gift cards. I personally like to wait until I have a lot of gift cards that I can redeem all at once.
Now, this would take a decent amount of time. You won’t get a free hotel stay in one day. But if you keep doing surveys, your gift cards will add up.
Recommended reading: 16 Real Ways To Earn Free Gift Cards (Amazon, Target, Visa)
As a blogger and social media influencer, I have received many hotel stays for free over the years. From luxury hotels and all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean to RV campgrounds and more, I have partnered with many different types of accommodations over the years.
And, I know of many other people who have received free hotel rooms through this as well.
Getting free hotel stays as an influencer means partnering with hotels and showing them why you’re valuable to their brand.
This may include sharing your hotel stay on your blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, or somewhere else that you have followers and readers.
Here’s a quick guide on how to stay at hotels for free as a social media influencer or blogger:
You can learn how to start a blog by taking my free How To Start A Blog Course. You can join over 80,000 people who have already taken the course. In this free course, I show you how to create a blog, from the technical side to earning your first income and attracting readers.
If you want to learn how to stay at hotels for free, this is one of the top ways.
I have earned several free hotel stays over the years by using the rewards points I have earned from my credit cards toward my hotel room. I’ve been using rewards credit cards for years, and they are pretty much all that I use now. It helps me save money on travel, earn cash back, and more.
A rewards credit card lets you earn points, miles, or cash back that you can use for almost free travel. These cards usually give you points that you can use for things like airline miles, booking hotels, gift cards, or cash back. You earn these rewards just by using your credit card for everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and shopping. But remember, it’s important to pay off your full balance each month to make sure the rewards are worth it and avoid paying extra for interest charges.
Here’s a quick summary to help you understand how rewards credit cards work:
You can learn more about my favorite cards at Best Rewards Credit Cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (Chase Ultimate Rewards Points are the best!), Chase Sapphire Reserve, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, and others.
I also recommend reading How To Take A 10 Day Trip To Hawaii For $22.40 – Flights & Accommodations Included.
Note: Credit card rewards and even the best travel credit cards are not worth it if you go into debt. Remember to pay off your monthly bill in time (and the full amount) before interest charges accrue. Also, many of the good rewards credit cards have an annual fee each year on your card anniversary, so take that into account as well. So, you should always be careful!
Hotel rewards programs are your way to get free stays and room upgrades. When you join these programs, you can earn points for a free night’s stay, and as you climb the levels, you can get additional benefits such as getting your resort fees waived.
Programs like Marriott Hotels, IHG Rewards Club, and Hilton Honors are free to join and sometimes give you a free night after a certain number of stays or points earned.
Some examples of hotel rewards programs include:
Many travel booking sites also have rewards programs, such as Expedia even. These programs give valuable benefits like this to get you to book through them as much as possible so that they can make more money.
You can earn points in several ways beyond just booking hotel rooms:
Your accumulated points can be redeemed for free hotel nights, among other rewards. The number of points needed for a free night certificate varies by hotel brand, location, and the room’s price.
Mystery shop companies sometimes need secret shoppers to evaluate a hotel for them. I have seen these types of jobs pop up several times, and I have personally done a few as well.
These are typically just one or two-night stays in your local area, but it can make for a fun and free staycation.
This can be a great way to vacation on a budget.
If you often travel with groups, becoming a travel agent can be a smart choice. As a travel agent, you get industry discounts and may earn commissions on your bookings. To become one, you need accreditation, usually from a trusted program that teaches you important industry knowledge.
Here’s how you can benefit:
Though this role comes with perks, it also means handling travel details professionally and responsibly for others. It’s not just about getting free stays; it’s also about making sure that your group has great travel experiences.
Working at a hotel can be a way to get free accommodation. As an employee, you can usually get discounts or even stay for free, depending on your job and the hotel’s policy.
This may include jobs such as working the front desk, being in management, and more.
Policies vary, so it’s important to know what’s available to you and to ask about the hotel’s policy on employee stays. For example, some hotels have a set number of free nights as part of the employment package. Plus, discounts on rooms can sometimes extend to family and friends.
Going to a timeshare presentation can lead to complimentary hotel stays.
These can sometimes be brutal, though, so if you think that you may end up buying a timeshare that you don’t need – then DO NOT DO THIS! Timeshares can be quite expensive and they are lifelong with annual costs.
But, if you think you can withstand the temptation, plenty of people sign up for these in order to get a free hotel stay all the time.
Here’s how this works:
You can stretch your travel budget by taking advantage of different hotel promotions and deals to get the best room rates. Whether you travel often or are planning a one-time trip, there are several strategies you can use to get free hotel stays.
When you sign up for newsletters from your favorite hotel chains, you’ll receive emails on new promotions and deals (such as for seasonal sales on room rates) directly to your inbox. Some hotels might even offer a reward night, room upgrades, or welcome points just for joining at check-in.
Using grocery receipt scanning apps can be an easy way to earn free hotel stay rewards.
As you do your regular grocery shopping at grocery stores, these apps turn your grocery receipts into points, which can be exchanged for gift cards that can be used at different hotels.
Here’s how you can get started:
While it will take some time to earn enough points, it can be a way to save some money on a hotel reservation.
Below are answers to common questions about how to stay at hotels for free.
Yes, you may be able to get a free night at a hotel through loyalty programs, which reward you with points for free night awards that can be redeemed for free nights. Additionally, some programs may give a free night after a certain number of paid stays or as a sign-up bonus.
You may get a free hotel room through loyalty programs, credit card rewards, by earning free hotel gift cards, and more.
You can earn points by joining market research and filling out surveys on specific websites. These points might be traded for hotel rewards points, allowing you to book hotel stays for free.
Yes, contests and sweepstakes run by hotels, travel bloggers, or travel websites tend to have hotel stays as prizes. You can start by possibly searching related hashtags on social media, such as #giveaway.
Traveling in luxury for free can be done by maximizing credit card sign-up bonuses and rewards, leveraging elite status with hotel loyalty programs for upgrades, and possibly collaborating with luxury hotels as an influencer if you have a strong online following.
If you honestly had a bad stay at a hotel, you may be able to talk to management. Sometimes, they will give you a free hotel stay to make up for the bad review. But, you should never lie about a stay just to get a free room, as you can cost someone their job.
I hope you enjoyed this article on how to stay at hotels for free.
There are many ways to get free hotel stays, as you learned above.
Joining hotel loyalty programs at major hotel chains is a simple way to get free night rewards. These programs give you points for staying often, and you can use these points for free hotel nights.
Travel credit cards and hotel credit cards also give rewards that can be used for hotel stays.
If you’re an influencer or booking for a group, this may result in you getting a hotel stay for free. Other ways, like joining hotel promotions, being a mystery shopper, or attending timeshare presentations, can also get you free or cheaper stays at different places.
I have personally done many of the ways listed above to get free hotel stays at places in many states and countries. The stays have been great and have allowed me to save so much money over the years!
Have you ever stayed at a hotel for free?
Recommended reading:
Source: makingsenseofcents.com
Inside: Learn how to land lucrative paid house sitting gigs. From crafting a standout application to negotiating pay, our guide covers everything you need for success as a house and pet sitter. Get your first housesitting job now.
For those seeking a unique way to trim their living expenses and swell their savings account—or perhaps even add a fresh stream of income—the fascinating world of house sitting beckons.
Imagine the possibilities of a life where you not only dodge the relentless outpour of cash for rent but also have the potential to get paid for simply residing in and caring for someone else’s home. House sitting has forged a pathway for individuals from all walks of life to dramatically cut their cost of living while introducing opportunities for financial gain, tailored to a lifestyle that champions both mobility and flexibility.
This is something I cannot wait to start doing myself as an early retiree!
In the era of remote work and digital nomadism, the housesitting lifestyle dovetails perfectly with the capacity to earn money from anywhere.
Rather than a stint of In a world where the cost of living is perpetually rising, this is a simple solution. Plus it is an increasingly popular reality for savvy individuals looking to slash their living expenses and enhance their income streams.
Now, let’s dig into how to get paid to house sit.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
House sitting for income can be a practical way to earn extra money by caring for someone’s home while they’re away.
This is a simple way to make money.
This will vary from person to person.
Typically, if you have a love for adventure and live a simplistic life, this could be the perfect side hustle for you.
You can make money while not paying to travel the world and not pay rent. Plus you can work another side hustle or full time job at the same time.
Can you picture yourself waking up to a sunrise over the Tuscan hills, or enjoying a peaceful afternoon in a cozy cottage in the Cotswolds, all without the cost of accommodation eating into your budget?
This fantasy can be your reality through a unique travel approach: house sitting while exploring the globe.
House sitting opens doors to experiences far beyond those of a typical tourist. When stepping into the life of a local, you not only enjoy the comforts of a home but also immerse yourself in the local culture, customs, and way of life—something you can’t put a price tag on.
Yes, please. Sign me up!
House Sit Match
A trusted network for house sitters, pet sitters, house owners, and pet owners.
Our dedicated Free live-in house sitters ensure pets stay safe and happy at home, granting owners peace of mind while they travel.
Check It Out
Becoming a professional house sitter starts with the right mindset and preparation. To embark on this exciting venture, follow a systematic approach to gain trust, experience, and create opportunities that could lead to paid gigs.
Here’s a quick guide to set you on your path:
By taking these steps, you’re well on your way to securing your first gig as a house sitter and potentially turning it into a rewarding path to see the world.
Embarking on a journey in house sitting may feel like a daunting task at first, especially when experience seems like a prerequisite to getting started. Yet, remember every expert was once a beginner.
Follow these tips to gain experience and build a rock-solid credibility:
Remember, each home cared for and each pet pampered brings you one step closer to becoming a seasoned and sought-after house sitter.
First impressions count tremendously, and in the world of house sitting, your profile is your digital handshake.
A stellar profile not only introduces you to potential clients, but it also demonstrates your professionalism and suitability for house sitting opportunities.
House sitting as a full-time lifestyle
Whether you’re a digital nomad, in between jobs or studies, retired, or simply looking for a break from the norm, long stay house sitting could be for you.
Make money and travel the world. Sounds like a good deal, right?
Get Started
Exploring specialized housesitting directories can be your gateway to a myriad of housesitting opportunities. Here’s how you can make these directories work for you:
Build a robust profile on these directories, illustrating your experience, skills, and even why homeowners should trust you with their precious homes and pets.
House Sit Match
A trusted network for house sitters, pet sitters, house owners, and pet owners.
Our dedicated Free live-in house sitters ensure pets stay safe and happy at home, granting owners peace of mind while they travel.
Check It Out
Social media and networking are vital cogs in the wheel of modern housesitting success. Make sure to have a solid strategy in place to enhance your visibility and connect you with the right opportunities.
Remember to be genuine and helpful online. Consistency and kindness tend to yield more benefits than aggressive self-promotion.
When it comes to landing that house sitting gig, the application you submit is your golden ticket. Crafting a pitch-perfect application can set you apart from the crowd. Here’s how you can ensure your application shines:
Above all, remember that your application is a reflection of you. Make every word count, and let your dedication to being an exceptional house sitter be evident.
Negotiating payment is a nuanced art, especially in house sitting where assignments can vary widely. Here’s a cheat sheet to navigate the payment conversation gracefully and effectively:
Most importantly, remember that your time and services are valuable. A fair agreement is one where both parties feel respected and satisfied. Don’t forget you will be earning 1099 income, so account for taxes!
Embracing the role of a house sitter means stepping into a realm of varied and significant responsibilities. You’re not just occupying a space; you’re safeguarding a home and all it encompasses. Here’s what’s typically expected:
Understanding these duties is the cornerstone of professional house sitting, ensuring peace of mind for homeowners and a reputable standing for you.
Exceeding a homeowner’s expectations isn’t just about fulfilling a checklist; it’s about delivering comfort and trust through your service. Here’s how to excel in managing client expectations and providing a level of service that gets you invited back time and time again:
By managing expectations and delivering exceptional service, you build a reputation that enhances your portfolio and opens doors to new opportunities.
Determining your pay preferences and setting your rates calls for a strategic blend of self-awareness and market understanding. Here’s how to set intelligent rates that reflect your value:
Smartly set preferences and rates not only attract serious inquiries but also ensure you are adequately compensated for your commitment and services.
When stepping into someone’s home as a professional house sitter, it’s crucial to consider the layers of protection both for yourself and the property you’re responsible for.
Here’s what to keep in mind regarding insurance, professional coverage, and house sitting agreement:
Having the right cover is an investment in your business—it not only gives peace of mind but also enhances trust between you and your clients.
Every house sitting assignment is a classroom of its own. From bespoke routines to diverse pet personalities, each gig is an opportunity to grow professionally.
By treating each assignment as a learning experience, you not only become more adept at house sitting but also signal to potential clients that you’re committed to excellence.
The house sitting industry is alive with evolution, influenced by changing homeowner preferences, technological advancements, and a shifting global landscape. Staying ahead means being both informed and adaptable. Here’s how you can keep pace with the industry trends:
By embracing a commitment to continuous learning and flexibility, you position yourself at the forefront of the house sitting industry.
In conclusion, venturing into the world of house sitting can be an exceptionally rewarding endeavor, offering you the unparalleled opportunity to explore new places while ensuring homeowners’ peace of mind.
House sitting is more than just a job; it’s a lifestyle that allows for flexibility, adventure, and personal growth.
By signing up with TrustedHousesitters, you’re not only stepping into a hub of global house-sitting opportunities. You’re also choosing a platform renowned for its extensive listings and high trust level among the community.
Recognized as the world’s largest site for house sitting, TrustedHousesitters connects you with a wide array of homeowners across the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia, broadening your horizons and making the small annual membership fee a worthwhile investment in your new house-sitting career.
With your enthusiasm, thoughtful profile, and personalized approach to each application, you are setting yourself up for success. Your open availability is a prime time to make money.
So why wait? Sign up, create your profile, and get ready to embark on your house-sitting journey with TrustedHousesitters today!
House sitting as a full-time lifestyle
Whether you’re a digital nomad, in between jobs or studies, retired, or simply looking for a break from the norm, long stay house sitting could be for you.
Make money and travel the world. Sounds like a good deal, right?
Get Started
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Source: moneybliss.org
WEISSPORT, Pa. – A new destination for hand-crafted baskets, pillows, framed artwork, seasonal accents and other home furnishings is set to open this weekend in Carbon County.
Simple Home Pennsylvania, a store offering unique home decor and gifts, including many items made in the United States by artisans and crafters, will hold a grand opening at 11 a.m. March 2 at 500A Bridge St. in Weissport.
The business will operate near The Gorge Eatery in a renovated portion of the Hofford Mill, a late 19th century building that originally operated as a lumber mill.
Simple Home Pennsylvania owner Sarah Kuhn, of Lehighton, labels her new venture a “passion project” and hopes it will help to reinvigorate Weissport’s business scene.
Unlike many of the antique and consignment shops in the area, Simple Home Pennsylvania will carry “more modern and contemporary products,” Kuhn said.
“I’m really excited,” Kuhn said. “There’s not a lot of opportunity for people in Weissport and the surrounding area to shop this kind of way without having to go to Allentown or other places that are a half hour-plus away. The Gorge Eatery has had a lot to do with Weissport’s rebirth, and we’re hoping to help complement that.”
The store will feature a wide array of home decor items, including dried and artificial florals, vases and planters, wreaths and garland, and serving boards and trays.
Customers also will be able to shop throw blankets and pillows; scented items such as soaps, candles and diffusers; and kitchen products such as mugs, cannisters, dish towels, dinner napkins, oven gloves and natural acacia wood cooking utensils.
“We’ll also have some customized items that are local to the area, including pieces featuring Mauch Chunk Lake and Beltzville Lake,” Kuhn said.
With the help of her father, Kuhn renovated the roughly 1,000-square-foot space to include new flooring, counters, wall paint and more.
“My father has flipped a couple of houses in the past, and I’ve helped stage them and given him design ideas on how to remodel them,” Kuhn said. “He’s retired now and spent countless hours helping me remodel the space – making a custom fireplace, adding new flooring, everything.”
Customers also will be able to shop books, including cookbooks and selections in other genres such as how-to, self-help and decorating inspiration, along with “Support Local Farmers” and “Support American Farmers” sweatshirts.
“We’ve gotten a lot of interaction on our Facebook page regarding our support for local farmers and our clothing displaying those messages,” Huhn said. “There’s a lot of excitement for that.”
To celebrate its grand opening, Simple Home Pennsylvania will offer a door prize along with discount coupons (valid on March 2 only).
Going forward, store hours will be 5-8 p.m. Thursdays, 5-9 p.m. Fridays, noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Customers also can shop online at simplehomepa.com and place orders for pickup or delivery within 10 miles of the store.
For the latest Simple Home Pennsylvania updates, follow the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Source: wfmz.com
Do you want to make money from your phone? I have been making money from my phone for many years now, and it’s a great way to make extra income or even a full-time income! Your phone can help you make money in many ways too. You can sell things you don’t need or use…
Do you want to make money from your phone?
I have been making money from my phone for many years now, and it’s a great way to make extra income or even a full-time income!
Your phone can help you make money in many ways too. You can sell things you don’t need or use your skills on freelance platforms. Answering surveys, selling photos, or being a virtual friend can also make you money, all from wherever you are comfortable.
Below are the best ways to make money from your phone.
You can earn money with your phone by answering surveys. Companies pay for your opinion, and you can do this whenever you have free time, such as when you’re just sitting on the couch watching TV with your phone in your hand.
Surveys are like a bunch of questions that companies ask to find out what you like or what you think about something. They might ask about the food you eat, the games you play, or even about your shopping habits.
You answer these questions, and in return, they give you money, points, or free gift cards (such as free Amazon gift cards) as a way to thank you for your time.
Some of the paid online survey companies I recommend are:
Here are 11 Paid Online Survey Sites if you want to learn more.
I have done many paid surveys over the years, and I love how I can answer them right from my phone and whenever I want. I can answer them while watching a video, during a lunch break, before or after work, and more.
You can use your phone to take pictures and make money. Selling stock photos is a fun way to make money through passive income without actively working for it.
Not all photographers need a fancy camera to start. Your phone can work perfectly and the newest smartphones can take great, high-quality photos. My phone can take great pictures and it wasn’t super expensive – it’s just a normal Android phone.
With stock photography, you can upload pictures you’ve taken with your camera or phone to a platform like Depositphotos. When someone buys one of your photos, you earn a commission.
Websites, companies, and blogs use stock photos for many reasons. Businesses use them to improve their content, websites, or overall appearance when they might not have the time to take all the photos they need.
I personally often use stock photos in my blog posts, and I know many others who do too. The pictures throughout this article (yes, the one that you are reading) are all stock photos.
Stock photography includes pictures of things such as:
Recommended reading: 18 Ways You Can Get Paid To Take Pictures
Making money through your phone is possible with grocery and food delivery apps like Instacart. As an Instacart Shopper, you get paid to shop for groceries and deliver them to people who order online.
Getting groceries delivered is a service that lots of people are using more and more. I’ve used it a few times when I didn’t have time to go shopping or didn’t have a car.
With this job, you have the freedom to make your own schedule, and you can get paid pretty fast – sometimes the same day.
Delivering groceries is a popular side job, and all you need is a valid driver’s license, a car, and your cell phone.
You earn money for each delivery and get to keep all your tips. Platforms like Instacart and Shipt can help you make around $15 to $20 per hour.
Learn more at Instacart Shopper Review: How much do Instacart Shoppers earn?
JustAnswer is a site where you can make money by using your phone to help others. If you have skills or knowledge in a particular area, you can answer questions and earn cash.
JustAnswer states that you can make $2,000 to $7,000 a month as an expert answering questions online on their site.
People ask questions, and the site matches them with an expert who can answer. For example, someone might ask how to change their oil or why their cat is sick. As an expert, you’ll be answering questions and giving personalized help through text chat.
There are experts in fields like mechanics, doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, home experts, appraisers, computer and tech experts, and more.
You can work whenever you want from your computer or cell phone, and you get to choose which questions you want to answer.
To get started, apply online on JustAnswer. They’ll verify your credentials (every expert on this platform is verified by a third party and needs to have licenses, education, or employment in their field of expertise). Once approved, you’ll have a quick meeting with the JustAnswer team to learn how to use the platform.
It takes about one week to become verified, and you can receive payments through direct deposit, PayPal, or Venmo.
Recommended reading: 28 Ways To Get Paid To Text
When you want to make money with your phone, DoorDash is one way you can do that. DoorDash is a gig app where you deliver food to people.
Working with DoorDash means you’re part of the gig economy, delivering restaurant meals to customers. You have the flexibility to pick your hours and decide when and where you want to work.
Depending on your location, you can deliver food with a car or by bike.
The app is your main tool for the job, and it shows you your orders, where to go, and how to get there.
Your earnings depend on each delivery. You can make $2 to $10 or more, plus tips.
Please click here to sign up for DoorDash.
Fiverr is a way to make money from your phone as it’s an online platform where people do all sorts of online work, like writing, designing, or making videos.
Some services you can sell to make money from your phone include:
When someone buys your service from your listing, they pay Fiverr. Fiverr takes 20%, and you receive 80% of the funds after a 14-day pending period.
Another popular platform somewhat similar to Fiverr for freelancers is Upwork.
If you’re looking to make money from your phone, RentAFriend could be an interesting choice. This platform allows you to get paid for being a friend.
As a RentAFriend, you might respond to text messages and have phone conversations with the person. You can be a friend in person, over video chat, or through text messages, depending on your preference.
With RentAFriend, you set your own hours and the price for your time. Earnings can range from $10 to $50 per hour, depending on what you decide.
Here’s how it works:
People join this site to find a friend and someone to talk to, and that’s where you come in.
Papa is a website where you can chat with older adults, help them around their house and with shopping, and more.
You’re simply giving them some extra support with their day-to-day tasks, and you can earn money right from your phone for some of these tasks.
As a Papa Pal, you get to set your own schedule. The amount you can earn per hour varies depending on your location.
If you’re a licensed therapist, you might like making money using your phone with BetterHelp. BetterHelp is an online platform where therapists help people.
You can work with clients by chatting, phone calls, or video calls. You’ll need good internet and a private place to talk.
As a therapist on BetterHelp, estimated earnings are around $100,000 per year for working 40 hours per week. You can also work part-time at around 5 to 15 hours per week and earn around $8,000 to $27,000 each year.
To join, they require at least 3 years of experience in therapy for adults, couples, or teens.
There are many money making apps where you can get paid to play games on your phone.
Game apps pay real money rewards because they earn money through ads and in-app purchases. To motivate you to keep playing their games, they share a portion of their earnings with you.
Here’s a quick list of the top game apps that pay real cash:
When selecting gaming apps to make money, it’s important to check reviews and understand how you receive your earnings. Be cautious with apps that require payment to play or promise rewards that seem too good to be true. Also, keep track of the time you spend playing games to make sure it is worth it.
Recommended reading: 23 Best Game Apps To Win Real Money
UserTesting is a way you can make money by trying out websites and apps. Companies will pay you for your honest thoughts on how easy they are to use.
To participate in tests, you’ll need a computer or a smartphone, an internet connection, and a microphone. Some tests may also require a webcam.
When you test websites, you look out for things that don’t work well or can be confusing. Your feedback helps companies improve as they want real opinions, not just quick answers.
Here’s how it works:
Payments are usually made through online services like PayPal.
I have personally paid someone to do a UserTesting review on this site, Making Sense of Cents. It’s a great way to see what a stranger thinks of your website and they gave me tons of helpful tips and let me know what changes I should make to make my website better for readers.
If you have stuff you don’t use anymore, selling it online can be a smart way to make some money. Your old phones, clothes, games, and books could be worth something to someone else.
And, you can do all of this right from your cell phone!
Whether you have old things around your home that you want to sell or if you want to start a reselling business, there are many apps that make it easy to sell stuff right from your phone.
Some of the best selling apps are Poshmark for clothing, Worthy for jewelry, Facebook Marketplace for local sales, and Decluttr for electronics.
I have personally sold many items over the years on various sites to make extra income. At one point, I even had a small reselling business. So, I understand firsthand how helpful these sites and apps can be!
You can earn money from your phone by selling your data through apps. These apps pay you for the data you don’t use. You might be concerned about safety, but in most cases, it is safe.
These apps usually operate in the background, helping companies understand how people use the internet. Data apps aren’t full-time jobs and you won’t get rich from them, but they can be easy side gigs.
Honeygain is one app where you can earn cash, and you get paid for data you’re not using. You just install the app, and it runs without you doing anything extra.
You receive payment based on the amount of traffic passing through your connection, with Honeygain paying $1 for every 10 GB of traffic.
If you love sharing photos and videos, Instagram can be a great way for you to make some extra money with your social media accounts.
I have made income from Instagram over the years, and while it’s not my full-time income, it is a fun way to make money from my phone.
This is because you can start an Instagram on whatever niche you want, such as fitness, travel, fashion, family, and more. So, you may be able to have a lot of fun managing and growing your social media account.
Then, you’ll want to make sure you regularly share high-quality content, use relevant tags, post reels, and interact with your audience to steadily increase your follower count.
You can actually make money just by walking! There are apps that track your steps and reward you for staying active. You can download these to your phone, start walking, and watch your steps turn into rewards.
Sweatcoin is one app you might like. If you’re over 13 and have a smartphone, you can join. It changes your walking into points that you can use. You can get stuff like gift cards or even support charities.
Getting paid is easy:
Some apps might hook up to a fitness tracker. This way, if your phone isn’t with you, you won’t miss out on any steps.
Below are answers to common questions about how to make money from your phone.
You can make money on your phone by selling things you no longer need on apps like Decluttr or through your own store on platforms like Shopify. You could also complete online surveys, sign up for market research, or perform tasks on gig economy apps.
One way to make passive income from your phone is to sell stock photography. You could take pictures from your phone, and then sell them over and over again online!
Teenagers can earn money from their phones in their spare time by taking online surveys, performing tasks, selling products online, or using apps that reward users for maintaining good habits, like staying active.
There are many ways to make $100 a day from your phone, such as selling items online and signing up for gig jobs like Instacart.
The fastest ways to make money with your phone include taking surveys, using cash back shopping apps (because you may shop online a lot already!), playing games that have real rewards, and delivering groceries or meals with gig apps.
There are many ways to make money from your phone for free, such as answering surveys, selling items that you already own (such as old clothing that you no longer wear, CDs, DVDs, or old devices that you don’t use anymore), driving for Uber, delivering groceries with Instacart, and more.
Apps like Instacart, Papa, and Uber are all good ways to make side hustle money with your phone. There are many other ways that I didn’t mention above that are good options, such as Fetch Rewards (scan your receipt from grocery shopping), Acorns (micro-investing app for your spare change), Ibotta (a grocery shopping app), Neighbor (rent out your storage), Lyft (drive others around), TaskRabbit (sell your handyperson services, such as building furniture), OfferUp (selling stuff that you no longer need), and Rakuten (get cash back on your online shopping).
These apps are available on both Google Play stores and the iOS app store.
I hope you enjoyed this article on the many ways to make money from your phone.
As you can see from the above, there are many ways to make extra cash from your phone, from part-time gigs to full-time income. Whether you have an Android or Apple phone, there are many ways on the list above that you may want to try out.
What do you think is the best way to make money with a phone?
Source: makingsenseofcents.com
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
We’re in the final hours of Cyber Monday, but you can still deck your halls for the holidays with deals on home decor. Modern wall art or a patterned throw blanket can transform your living room just by adding some texture and color.
You can add wintry flair with a white pampas grass wreath that’s currently 63% off at CB2. Or get creative with your mood lighting and try the hexagonal Nanoleaf shapes: save $50 at Best Buy. For Christmas decorating ideas, we rounded up the best Christmas tree and holiday decor deals. You can also check out the best Cyber Monday furniture deals we’ve found across the internet.
There are still sales on tech, style, kitchen, and more, so we’re keeping our list of the best Cyber Monday deals updated through the end of the sale event.
Up to 50% off sitewide, plus an extra 50% on sale items
Etsy: Save up to 60% decor from small businesses and makers
H&M Home: 30% off everything
Jonathan Adler: Up to 40% off sitewide
Nordstrom: Up to 60% off throws, candles, bedding and more
One Kings Lane: Up to 50% off plus an extra 15% off orders over $700 with 15CYBER
Society6: Up to 70% of posters, minis and framed prints
Target: Up to 40% off various home decor
Urban Outfitters: 40% off sitewide
Wayfair: Up to 60% off seasonal decor
West Elm: Up to 70% off decor and furniture
World Market: Save up to 30% on furniture and decor
Anthropologie Rosalita Switch Plate
Anthropologie has some of the most detailed and lovely little switch plates, like these that add whimsy and cottage core vibes to even the simplest rental space. During Cyber Monday, you can take 30% off whether you need a single toggle switch or an outlet cover.
USTIDE Sunflower Rug Mat
A bold area rug adds color and warms up any room. This polyester microfiber rug comes with a non-slip backing. Get the all-time-low price on yellow, pink, and teal patterns.
The White Company Midnight Large Candle
This three-week candle has scent layers of vetivert, cardamom, and amber. The minimalist design and warming aromas will fit in with any decor. If the regular price seems steep for a candle, the current discount of over half off makes it more reasonable.
Frontgate Luxury Faux Fur Throw
Luscious and realistic-looking, the Frontgate Luxury Faux Fur Throws are a mix of modacrylic and polyester with a velvet polyester back. Varieties include Arctic hare, coyote, chinchilla, timberwolf, and lynx. The 50 by 70-inch blanket is $60 for Cyber Monday.
CB2 36-Inch Faux Ivory Pampas Grass Wreath
This fluffy, white wreath isn’t just for the holidays. The elegant pampas grass lends a winter accent to any room of the house. During Cyber Monday, you can get it for over half off.
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic™ Stripe Throw Blanket
Barefoot Dream’s CozyChic throws are a well-documented celebrity favorite. These soft and timeless blankets cozy up any corner. At over 65% off, this is a savings you’re not going to find anywhere else.
Capri Blue Blue Jean Faceted Jar
This candle combines citrus, white musk, and patchouli for a relaxing fragrance. The faceted lavender glass holder will add a hint of color to white bathrooms. The current 20% off is a deal we see often, but still a good one.
Nanoleaf Shapes (Hexagon)
Featuring a modular design, vibrant colors, and easy smart-home integration, the Nanoleaf Shapes system is fun and functional decor. Best Buy is offering 25% off during Cyber Monday: let this sale (and system) light up your home.
Pottery Barn Curtain Rain String Lights
Available in gold or silver, this curtain rain string light spans 72 inches wide and 72 inches long. Use it to add sparkle indoor or outdoor; just make sure to avoid contact with water. Take 25% off the usual price right now.
The Sill ZZ plant
The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamifolia) is one of the toughest indoor houseplants and can survive even the most difficult situations, such as long periods without water. It’s just $51 during The Sill’s Cyber Monday sale event.
Lumens Adesso Lighting Bowery Arc Floor Lamp
If you’re looking to light a small nook or corner in your home the Bowery Arc Floor Lamp provides a warm, focused layer of lighting. The curved design of the lamp, as well as its marble base, adds a simple touch of decor. Save 20% on all colors: brushed steel, antique brass, and black.
Pottery Barn Linden Shelf
This modern, arched shelf has a tray base that can display several bathroom accessories and decorative objects. It can even be a convenient place to hold your phone while you shower. The antique bronze model is 30% off.
Ohad Modular Wood Wall Art
Not your average wall art. This modular piece is both cozy and contemporary, and it’s currently 30% off.
H&M Metal Candelabra
This gold candelabra makes for a gorgeous centerpiece, and it’s 70% off. Top with your favorite taper candles.
Korniful Tabletop Fire Pit
Bring holiday cheer indoors with this tabletop fireplace perfect for roasting chestnuts on an open fire (roasting sticks included). You can buy fuel separately to create a smokeless and odorless flame that adds instant ambiance.
Source: businessinsider.com
A dog owner has come up with an ingenious way to make an essential piece of dog care equipment blend into her home decor, and in half a day.
Anja recognized the necessity for a crate to give Cookie the Australian Labradoodle her own safe space. But the pet owner, who lives in Belgium with her husband and their dog, was dissatisfied with the crate’s appearance in her living room.
“I hated the ‘black cage’ in our living room, but Cookie really needs this as it is her own safe space to rest, ever since she was a puppy. So, my husband came up with the idea to cover it up,” she told Newsweek.
And with a bit of time and some DIY skills, the owners managed to upcycle the imposing item of dog equipment into a stylish piece of furniture.
Dog crates serve multiple purposes, giving dogs a secure environment for rest, training, and transportation. However, they have been subject to controversy, with critics raising concerns about prolonged confinement and potential misuse. Despite that, many dogs, like Cookie, find their crate to be a place of comfort.
Earlier this month a Shih-Poo called Cheddar melted hearts with the way he took himself back to his crate when he was done socializing.
Anja’s project involved using strips of birch plywood, attaching it to the edges of the crate, to give it a chic Scandi-style appearance alongside the couple’s couch.
“We don’t really know [the cost] actually since we used a lot of materials we already had,” Anja said, but she added that the entire transformation only took around 12 hours.
“It really blends in now; it doesn’t bother me anymore. And it’s a fun and not-so-difficult project to do yourself,” Anja said, encouraging others to give the dog crate DIY a try.
The couple aren’t the first owners to do custom DIY for their pet, like the Montana-based dog owner who made a custom tennis-ball catapult for his dog Olive to play fetch with. Some dogs have even been caught on camera helping out their humans with a bit of DIY.
Anja shared the project on her Instagram page @cookie_the_doodle_ where people have been left impressed with the idea.
“Looks so nice!” said one user. “Amazingly beautiful.”
While another viewer wrote: “Ooh it does match better in the interior.”
“Omg how did you do this?” said another. “Our crate is such an eye sore in our living room I would love to do that.”
Do you have impressive and inspiring DIY projects you’d like to share? We’re looking for the most creative and ingenious ones! Send them in to [email protected] and they could be featured on our site.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Source: newsweek.com
Hey, I’ve just been featured on CNBC and I want to say hello to all of my new readers. You can read the CNBC article here – 34-year-old mom dropped $50,000 to cruise the world with her family: ‘It was some of the best money I ever spent’ If you are a new visitor –…
Hey,
I’ve just been featured on CNBC and I want to say hello to all of my new readers.
You can read the CNBC article here – 34-year-old mom dropped $50,000 to cruise the world with her family: ‘It was some of the best money I ever spent’
If you are a new visitor – welcome to Making Sense of Cents!
I have received many emails about how I was able to afford this trip. I have a free How To Start A Blog course that you can sign up for here. I also talk about this below and how I’ve been able to earn over $5,000,000 blogging over the years.
If you want to read more about my world cruise trip, I recommend reading Around-The-World Cruise With A Kid (25+ Countries In 4 Months!).
Here are some blog posts that you may find helpful and enjoy:
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or send me an email.
Thanks for stopping by.
-Michelle Schroeder-Gardner
—-
In addition to reading the CNBC article linked above, I also want to talk about how I grew a blog that has earned me over $5,000,000. I know I will get a lot of questions, so I figured it’s best to lay it all out right here 🙂
What started as just a hobby turned into one of the most life-changing things I’ve ever done – that’s starting my blog, and learning how to make money with it.
Since learning how to monetize a blog over 10 years ago, I have now earned over $5,000,000 from my site. This is still hard for me to believe, and I’m the one who’s lived it!
In the beginning, all I was doing was tracking my own personal finance progress as I finished school and started paying off my student loans. Blogging was a very new concept to me at the time – I heard about it from a magazine – and people were just learning how to monetize blogs back in 2011.
Most bloggers started back then with display ads and sponsored posts, but the options have only increased.
Because of all of the new ways to make money blogging, like affiliate income and selling your own products, you can make somewhat passive income as a blogger.
Passive income is my favorite way to make money because it makes blogging even more flexible and something I can do as I work from home, travel, and work whenever I want.
Blogging has changed my life for the better, and I’m now earning thousands of dollars a month doing something I love.
Learning how to monetize a blog takes work and time, but it’s 100% possible to do. I started earning money after just six months of blogging, and I didn’t even set out to make money when I created Making Sense of Cents. Just think of the potential if you start out knowing that making money blogging is possible!
Starting my blog is one of the best things I’ve ever done for my work, personal, and financial life. And, I urge anyone who is interested to start a blog and learn how to monetize it.
Many of my readers have heard this story, but I love sharing it because I started out like many of you, except I had no idea that blogs could make money. When I started Making Sense in August of 2011, I simply wanted a way to keep track of my financial progress and meet others who had similar goals.
As I started getting to know other bloggers in the community, a blogger friend of mine connected me with an advertiser who was willing to pay me $100 for an advertisement.
I couldn’t believe someone would pay me $100 to advertise on my site!
While it wasn’t a lot of money, especially considering the amount of time and work I put towards my blog in those 6 months, it was very motivating to see that something I loved doing could actually make money.
After that first $100, I started doing a lot of research on how to monetize a blog, and my blogging income quickly grew from there.
One year after I started my blog, I was earning around $1,000 a month, and I was making around $10,000 monthly two years after I started Making Sense of Cents.
My income only continued to grow, and I am still earning a healthy income from this website today.
If you want to learn how to monetize a blog and you haven’t started your blog, then I recommend starting with my free blogging course How To Start A Blog FREE Course.
Here’s a quick outline of what you will learn in this free course:
This is delivered directly to your email inbox, and you will learn how to grow a blog from scratch.
Sure, you can start on a whim, and that’s kind of what I did, haha.
But, I do think that creating a plan is a good idea if you want to learn how to monetize a blog. This can help you get an organized start, identify your blog’s niche, decide on your blogging goals, find opportunities for blogging income, and more.
It wasn’t until 2015 that I finally created a blogging plan (that’s 4 years after I started!), and my blog income grew significantly after that.
I credit that growth to creating a plan!
Having a plan would have been a huge help in the beginning, and I wish I would have started with one. I probably missed some income opportunities because I had no real plan or direction in the first couple of years.
Since creating a blogging plan, I became more focused on goals and motivated toward improving and building Making Sense of Cents.
Here are some questions that you may want to ask yourself when creating a plan for your blog:
Thinking about, researching, and answering these questions will help guide you on your journey and help you decide what to do next.
Your blog’s content is extremely important. This will be what attracts your readers, has them coming back for more, earns you blogging income, and more.
Now, you don’t need to be an expert or need a degree to start talking about a subject, but you do need to be knowledgeable or interested in what you are talking about. And, always be truthful! This will show in your writing and actually help your readers.
To write high-quality content on your blog, here are some tips:
If you want to learn how to monetize a blog, then networking can be extremely helpful.
Networking can mean:
Some bloggers don’t do any of these things and purely see other bloggers as competition. I don’t believe this is the correct way to approach blogging because you will hold yourself back immensely!
Networking is important because it can help you enjoy blogging (friends are nice to have, right?!), teach you new ideas (such as how to make money blogging or how to grow a blog), make valuable connections, and more.
Keep in mind that networking is even how I earned my very first $100 blogging. My blogging friend connected me with an advertiser, which helped changed my blogging journey.
I have learned a lot about blogging from the blogging community, and the people I’ve connected with have been a tremendous support as I’ve grown my blog.
Starting a blog is relatively easy. But, growing and learning how to monetize a blog takes a lot of work.
You’ll have to:
Even when I was just a new blogger and had no plans of making money blogging, I was still spending well over 10 hours a week on Making Sense of Cents.
When I was working my full-time day job and earning an income from my blog, I was working around 40-50 hours a week on my blog on top of my day job!
Now that I blog full-time, my hours vary. Some months I hardly work, and there are other months that I may work 100 hours a week.
It’s not easy, and there’s always something that needs to be done.
But, I absolutely love blogging, which makes the hard work a little less tough.
There are many different ways you can monetize your blog, including:
You could choose to monetize your blog using all of these methods, or even just one. It’s just a personal decision.
For me, I like to be diversified and monetize in many ways, so I do them all.
Below, I am going to dive a little deeper into each way to make money blogging.
Affiliate marketing can be a great way to make money blogging because if there is a product or company that you enjoy, all you have to do is review the product and share a unique affiliate link where your readers can sign up or make a purchase.
In fact, this is my favorite way to monetize a blog. I enjoy it because it can be quite passive – I can create just one blog post and potentially earn an income from it years later. This is because even though a blog post may be older, I am still constantly driving traffic to it and readers are still purchasing through my affiliate links.
Affiliate marketing is a blog monetization method where you share a link to a product or company with your readers in an attempt to make an income from followers purchasing the product through your link.
Here are some quick tips so that you can make affiliate income on your blog:
You can learn more about affiliate marketing strategies in my course Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing.
Advertising on a blog is one of the first ways that bloggers learn how to monetize a blog. In fact, it’s exactly how I started!
This form of blogging income is when you directly partner with a company and advertise for them on your website or social media accounts.
You may be writing a review for them, a tutorial, talking about their product or company, taking pictures, and so on.
If you want to learn how to increase your advertising-income, I recommend taking my Making Sense of Sponsored Posts course.
Display advertising is one of the easiest ways to make money blogging, but it most likely won’t earn you the most, especially in the beginning.
I’m sure you’ve seen display ads before. They may be on the sidebar, at the top of a post, within a blog post, and so on.
The ads are automatically added when you join an advertising network, and you do not need to manually add these ads to your blog.
Your display advertising income increases or decreases almost entirely based on your page views, and once you place the advertisement, there’s no direct work to be done.
If you want to learn how to monetize a blog through display advertising, then some popular networks include Adsense, MediaVine, and AdThrive.
Personally, I use AdThrive for my display advertising network. I don’t have many display advertisements on my blog, but it is easy income.
Another popular way to monetize a blog is to create a sell your own products.
This could be an online product, something that you ship, and so on, such as:
And the list goes on and on. I have seen bloggers be very successful in selling all kinds of things on their blogs.
What’s great about selling your own product is that you are in complete control of what you are selling, and your income is virtually unlimited in many cases.
I launched my first product about 5 years after I created Making Sense of Cents, which was a blogging course called Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. I regret not creating something sooner because this has been an excellent source of income and has helped many people along the way.
If you really want to learn how to monetize a blog, I recommend that you start an email list from the very beginning.
I waited several years to start my email list, and that was a huge mistake!
Here’s why you need an email list right away:
As a new blogger, you’ll want to find ways to attract a readership to your blog and your article.
No, you don’t need millions and millions of page views to earn a good living from blogging. In fact, I know some bloggers who receive 1,000,000 page views yet make less money than those with 100,000 monthly page views.
Every website is different, but once you learn what your audience wants, you can start to really make money blogging, regardless of how many page views you receive.
Having a successful blog is all about having a loyal audience and helping them with your content.
Even with all of that being said, if you want to learn how to monetize a blog, learning how to improve your traffic is valuable. The more loyal and engaged followers you have, the more money you may be able to make through your blog.
There are many ways to grow your readership, such as:
Now, I also want to talk about helpful resources, courses, and more that can help you to learn how to grow your page views on your blog.
Below are some of my favorite blogging resources to help you improve your traffic:
SEO (search engine optimization) is how you get organic search traffic to your blog.
When you search a phrase on Google, you’ll see a bunch of different websites as the results. This is the result of these websites applying SEO strategies to their blog.
This is a great way for readers to find your blog, and SEO is important to pay attention to as you learn how to monetize a blog!
Below are some of my favorite SEO resources:
Below, I’m going to answer some questions I’ve received about how to start a blog such as:
The amount of page views needed to make money blogging varies, and there is no magic number that you should be aiming for.
This is because it depends on so many factors, such as how you will monetize your blog, your niche, the number of email subscribers you have, the quality of your website, and more.
You may see success with 10,000 page views a month, or you may see success with over 100,000 page views a month. It simply depends on the factors above.
Beginner bloggers can make money in many different ways, such as display advertising, affiliate marketing, creating their own products, and sponsorships.
You can start any of these right from the very beginning.
Display advertising is usually the easiest way to begin monetizing a blog, but the payoff is not very high, especially in the beginning when your page views are not high.
I recommend just launching your blog as soon as you have one blog post and a design. Building a huge backlog of blog posts isn’t usually needed, and it can prevent you from ever getting started!
The more blog posts you have, then the more traffic you may get. That’s because it’s more opportunities to show up in Google searches or share your posts on social media.
I recommend publishing a new blog post at least once a week. Anything less isn’t advised.
Publishing blog posts consistently is smart because readers know to expect regular content from you.
Bloggers fail for many different reasons. These reasons may include:
And much more. Blogging is like any business – there are things to learn, things to improve on, and more.
If you have any other questions related to starting a blog, I recommend checking out What Is A Blog, How Do Blogs Make Money, & More. In this article, I answer more questions related to blogging such as:
And more.
Please leave a comment if you have any questions.
Thanks for reading!
Source: makingsenseofcents.com