How to safely make money from home

Madeline Penzel, Asst. Editor

 In this time of un

Example of what a Depop account looks like from a seller’s perspective.
(Courtesy of Madeline Penzel)

certainty, money has been a big concern for many. With people losing their jobs or filing for unemployment, contributing to a recovering 6.3% unemployment rate due to the pandemic, it’s a scary time. But with the technology we have today, there are so many ways to make money at home you probably haven’t even thought of. From surveys to selling clothes, here are the best ways to make money from home:

     My personal favorite way to make money from home is with reselling apps. Apps like Depop and Poshmark allow you to sell your used clothing for a profit. This is a great option because you’re making money while also helping the environment. Thrifting helps keep clothes out of landfills and limits unnecessary resources used in production. Reselling apps are simple to use  safely from home. The only things you’ll need are items to sell and a bank account. Simply take pictures of what you want to sell, add a description and price, and list it on the app. Once your item sells, all you have to do is package it up and add the shipping label provided. USPS offers an at home pickup service so you can do everything safely at home. An even easier option is ThredUp, a website that allows you to ship your clothes to their facility and they handle everything for you, then you wait for the money to come in. I personally use Depop and I like using this method— except there’s one downside— the fees. When you sell an item, a portion of the money will go towards the company and shipping fees. Depop takes 10% of what you make on any item. This can be frustrating, but it’s still a good way to free up space in your closet and make some extra money. 

        A way similar to reselling is to start a small business. Etsy is a great website/app to use for this, but it’s definitely one of the more difficult options. Etsy can be financially rewarding if you have something you love to make that’s sellable, but the turn out isn’t always the best. You have to pay for listings on Etsy as well as making the products and shipping them out, so it’s definitely more of a long-term investment. You also need to be 18 or have a parents permission to set up a shop. However, if there’s something you enjoy doing like painting, jewelry making, or even writing and are interested in creating a small business, I would consider giving it a try. I have tried Etsy in the past and it can be hard to get your products to sell without paying for ads, so that’s something to keep in mind. I wouldn’t recommend Etsy unless you are financially available to invest in it. The previous option Depop, can be used as a small business app with fewer risks since you don’t have to pay for listings. Selling jewelry or handmade clothing on Depop is really common so it can be done. 

      Another way to make money from home is taking surveys. Surveys are one of the easiest ways to make a quick buck,, especially in times like this. However,surveys don’t produce a lot of income and can be time consuming. Survey websites like Swagbucks or Survey Junkie are the best for getting gift cards over getting money into your bank account. Survey websites can also have age requirements, so be aware of that. Setting up an account on one of these sites is simple, but you have to be dedicated to filling out the surveys to get profit. Another thing to keep in mind is some websites have certain amounts you have to earn before you can cash it in. For example, InboxDollars has a threshold of $30. This method is a good choice because it’s simple to do, but you have to be dedicated in order to get benefits from it. 

         The final way to make money from home is by reviewing music. MusicXray is a website that allows new artists to upload their music to be discovered and some feedback. All you have to do is listen to songs for at least 30 seconds and give feedback on lyrics, the beat etc. Each song you review is $0.10 but if you love listening to music you can get promoted to earn more. This is a really unique option that I have never used before, and it seems really fun to do. This option is similar to the surveys where you have to be dedicated to make money, but it’s also an easy option.   

      With the COVID-19 pandemic carrying on into 2021, times are tough. Money is a struggle for so many at any time of the year, but especially now. Hopefully this list helps you or someone you know get on the right track to start making money from home.