This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
An extra $500 a month changes things. It can cover the grocery bill that keeps creeping up, pay down a credit card, or mean Christmas doesn’t go on buy now, pay later. You don’t need a second full-time job to get there. You need one or two earners that fit around your life, and a plan to stick with them.
Here’s how I’d go about it if I were starting from zero today.
What $500 a month looks like
Break it down and it gets a lot less scary. $500 a month is about $125 a week, or roughly $18 a day. If a side hustle pays $20 an hour, that’s around six hours a week. If it pays $15 an hour, it’s closer to eight.
Most people get there by combining a skill they can sell by the hour with a few small earners they do in spare minutes. The four options below are the ones I see work most often for people working from home.
1. Sell a skill by the hour
This is the quickest route to a real $500. Hourly work pays more than surveys or apps, and once you have a couple of regular clients the money becomes predictable.
- Proofreading. If you’re the person who spots every typo on a menu, this is worth a look. Bloggers, authors and court reporters all pay proofreaders. The free Proofread Anywhere workshop walks you through how it works.
- Transcription. Good for fast typists who like working with headphones on. General transcription is easier to start, and medical work pays more once you’re trained. Try the free Transcribe Anywhere mini course, then see our list of medical transcription jobs from home.
- Virtual assistant work. Small business owners need help with email, scheduling and social media. If you’ve worked in an office, you already have most of the skills. The Virtual Savvy shows you how to find your first clients.
- Freelance writing. Plenty of sites hire beginners. Our list of freelance writing jobs for beginners is a good place to start.
2. Stack a few small earners
Surveys, reward sites and cashback apps won’t get you to $500 on their own, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. What they will do is fill the gaps. Ten minutes on the couch at night or while dinner’s in the oven adds up over a month.
- Survey Junkie for straightforward paid surveys.
- Swagbucks for surveys, videos and cashback in one place.
- InboxDollars (US only) for small tasks and offers.
Want more options? Our beginner survey site list compares the ones worth your time.
3. Turn a hobby into sales
If you already knit, paint, bake, take photos or make things for fun, you may be sitting on a side income. Selling online takes a bit of setup, but each piece you make can keep earning. Have a look at our money making hobbies and our guide to selling photos online for ideas.
4. Pick up flexible local gigs
Not every side hustle has to be online. Pet sitting, tutoring and food delivery can all be done on your own schedule, and they suit people who would rather get out of the house for a few hours. Many of the apps that run these gigs pay weekly.
Three sample plans to reach $500
The busy mum. Five or six hours of proofreading or VA work during school hours, plus surveys in the evening. See our list of stay at home mom jobs for more ideas that fit around kids.
The night owl. Transcription a few nights a week once the house is quiet. Faster typing means more money per hour, so this one gets better the longer you stick with it.
The creative. A small online shop for your crafts or photos, topped up with a couple of reward apps while you build up your listings.
Mistakes that slow people down
- Paying to join a “job”. Legit work pays you. Training courses are different, but start with the free versions first.
- Signing up for ten sites at once. Pick one main earner and one or two small ones, then add more once they’re working.
- Not tracking what you earn. A simple note on your phone each week shows you what’s worth your time and what isn’t.
Your first step this week
Choose the option that sounds most like you and do one thing today. Sign up for one survey site, or start one free course. If you’re not sure where you fit, browse our online jobs for beginners and see what jumps out. $500 a month starts with the first $5.
