21 Surprisingly Easy Ways to Make an Extra $500 a Month

The truth is that most of us would like to make extra money each month.

Living paycheck to paycheck is a real bummer and having additional ways to bring in extra income can keep us afloat.

If you find yourself making too little or spending too much, then you may appreciate these 21 surprisingly easy ways to make $500 a month.

Easy ways to make extra money each month

If you haven’t already, go to my post on 5 Easy Ways to Make $100 or More a Month. I show you ways you can literally make money sitting on your butt.

Making an extra $500 a month or more can be life-changing, and that’s why I encourage people to find easy ways to bring in additional income.

Not only can these moneymakers help to make ends meet, but they can keep you from having to get another job.

Surveys

I have signed up with several survey companies and never was consistent in completing them. However, when I realized how easily and quickly I could earn cash completing surveys, I set some time each day to complete them.

With one company, in particular, I’m able to earn around $100 to $150 a month or more. If you diversify your efforts among several companies, making an extra $500 should be pretty easy.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is still my favorite when completing surveys. Even though they have many opportunities to earn Swagbucks to redeem later for gift cards, completing their surveys is where I focus most of my time and attention.

I like to go for the surveys worth a lot of points because even though they may take 30 or more minutes to complete, you’ll know almost immediately if you don’t qualify or if they’re not accepting any more people.

Other Survey Companies to consider signing up for:

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15 Best Survey Sites to Make $1000 + a Month

Mystery Shopping

Like to shop? If so, you may be interested in mystery shopping.

Years ago when I was in-between jobs, I would spend a lot of time completing shops for several companies.

Mystery shopping involves accepting a shop and completing it as specified. You are usually reimbursed for your purchase and/or given a fee for the shop.

Your job is to see if employees know their stuff and rate their customer service skills. So if you’re someone who loves completing Yelp reviews, you will love going mystery shopping.

You can make more money if you sign up for several companies and is very organized and detailed in submitting reports. I also recommend only accepting shops in your local area. It doesn’t make sense to

I also recommend only accepting shops in your local area. It doesn’t make sense to waste your money on gas because this will not likely be reimbursed.

In addition, consider the amount of money you’re willing to spend upfront.

Though you are often reimbursed, there’s a limit and you may have to wait a while to get your money back. This is a good side gig, so don’t depend on it to take the place of your income.

Some Mystery Shopping companies I recommend:

BestMark

Sinclair Customer Metrics

Market Force

Intellishop

Start a Blog

If you’re looking to make some side money or replace your full-time income, blogging can be an easy way to bring in $500 or more each month.

Many small and mid-size blogs are easily bringing in hundreds and thousands each month, so the possibilities are there. If you have an interest in a great niche, you can make money blogging.

Consider, however, that making money from blogging is not immediate and will take some consistency on your part, so don’t create one on a topic you’re not passionate about.

Some bloggers I know are profitable in the first six months of starting a blog, so if you have something to share with the world, start blogging. If you haven’t already, go over and read my post on How to Start a Blog.

Sell Products on Amazon

Not interested in writing and selling Kindle books on Amazon? Then you don’t have to.

There are so many ways to make money on Amazon including selling products.

Most people know about selling on eBay, but Amazon is a great way to sell products through their Fulfilled by Amazon program.

You can also list products on Amazon and deliver them yourself. Selling on Amazon is great if you can find a niche product that will sell well and allow for a pretty decent profit margin.

This 23-year old makes over $40,000 a month selling products on Amazon. Watch her tell her story below.

Plan Parties

Now I’m not talking about a wedding or event planner in the traditional sense. Instead of planning parties for other people, you can make money planning and hosting parties.

You will secure a place to have the event and you will sell tickets to the event. Depending on the type of party, you can make hundreds and thousands every month.

It’s a moneymaker that has helped to raise thousands of dollars for our family reunion. Consider planning a party if you’re looking to make some extra money.

A fun and simple side hustle to start.

Become a Virtual Assistant

If you have a skill that would benefit small business owners, try your hand at becoming a virtual assistant. If you’re pretty techy when it comes to WordPress or graphic design, you can work for bloggers to help them with their business.

Making money as a blogger is a slow process, but in the meantime, you can be a virtual assistant to someone who runs a more established blog.

You can start off with websites such as Fiverr or Indeed to look for virtual assistant jobs.

The following companies help you to find legitimate virtual assistant work, but there are usually costs associated:

More Great Ways to Make Extra Money Each Month

Join Ebates. This is one of my favorite reward companies out there. I do most of my shopping through Ebates and earn cashback on all of my purchases. It doesn’t take much for me to earn $100+ each month. Sign up with my link and get $10 added to your account.
Host and Plan Parties. If you love to entertain, then consider making a business out of it. Planning parties is not only fun but can be lucrative as well. See how I’ve made thousands planning parties with my family and friends.
Share your thoughts and opinions. Make your voice count and join a focus group. Find opportunities in your area and earn $75 to $150 for completed surveys.
Sign up to GrabPoints. I recently found this program and have fallen in love with it. Another way to earn gift cards by completing offers, watching videos, refer friends, and much more. Sign up through your computer or download the app for your phone.

Driving People Around

If you have time during the day and have a fairly recent 4-door car, you can make money by driving other people around.

Sign up for companies such as Uber or Lyft and make hundreds (even thousands) every month. Check out my post How to Make Money with Uber – The Ultimate Side Gig.

You’ll get out of it what you put in it, so your pay will vary. However, as an independent contractor, you’re your own boss and can set up your own hours.

My Uber driver today told me that he doesn’t go home until he meets his daily earnings goal of $150, which is a good side income (or full-time for some).

Making money online is not as difficult as it might seem. If you are looking to make a few extra hundred each month, then I highly recommend that you try the money-making endeavors on this list.

But don’t quit your day job just yet.

As with most money-making opportunities, the amount you make may be minimal. You’ll make more money if you’re consistent and if you pair them up with different opportunities.

Don’t want to drive people around in your car? Consider becoming a delivery driver and deliver groceries and food orders to people in your neighborhood. For more information, check out my post 11 of the Best Delivery Driver Apps to Make Extra Money

21 Surprisingly Easy Ways to Make an Extra $500 a Month