I’ve posted about this before, but I wanted to make an updated post with the most popular and lucrative ways I make money outside of a 9-5 schedule job.

First up, and my favorite way to earn cash: Surveys. For me, these fall into two categories: Research Studies and App Surveys.

• Research studies are generally conducted by companies like Taylor Research, PRC, Q-Insights, or AO Opinions.  They are either performed at the research study facility (Taylor Research is in Mission Valley), or online via a Zoom meeting on an old-fashioned Bulletin Board System. In person, it can range from 30 minutes to 8 hours and payments range from $25 all the way up to $1000. Online studies are usually between 45 minutes-3 hours and pay $50-$700. Most pay via check or a gift card. If you are doing a research study survey for a brand, they sometimes offer you a gift card for their brand website. I generally don’t accept those studies/surveys. I try to post about opportunities each company has as they email them out.  I try to do 1-2 studies a month. This helps me save up for family fun during the summer. 
• App Surveys are conducted via apps specifically for surveys. My two favorites are PaidViewPoint and Pinecone Research.  They both have a website if you don’t want to download their apps. There are other survey companies as well, I have a list of some here. I’ve used most of those to varying degrees of success, but PVP and PR are my favs, their surveys are short, and reaching the minimum to cash out with both is simple and doesn’t take long.  I usually take the Paypal or Venmo cash option for both.

Another site for Research Studies is Digsite. I don’t remember how I discovered DigSite (I think it was a targeted Facebook Ad). I have done surveys and research studies with them for about a year, and they generally pay between $25 and $200. over the past two weeks, I have done two research studies with them, it’s about 5 to 10 minutes each day for three or four days. They ask your opinions about a specific topic, sometimes you have to take a picture, or do a little bit of homework, but, overall it’s fun. Dig site pays in Amazon gift cards. They email you when they have studies that fit your demographic.

If you like to do hustles that take you outside the house,  try Field Agent!– I make money by incorporating Field Agent jobs into my already-needed errands. Quick, easy money. Audits, secret shops, and trying new products are just a few ways you can earn money with Field Agent.  They have Costco missions frequently- take pics of displays, review sample folks. The $3, $5, and $7 tasks add up quickly! Field Agent pays out via Bank Transfer. 

If you want to get into secret shopping, Amusement Advantage has a lot of opportunities in the Southern California area. You have to be a good writer, have good attention to detail, and take decent photos (from your phone). Most of their shops/adventures are very specific and detailed. You can learn more about it here.

isecretshop.com is another secret shopping website that has a variety of opportunities. Before I had kids I used to do TONS of secret shops on weekends and after work. You have to be a good writer, have good attention to detail, and take decent photos (from your phone). Most of their shops/adventures are very specific and detailed.

The next three are SUPER PASSIVE, meaning you aren’t going to get rich doing these, but they are easy to do and require minimum effort.

This passive side hustle I enjoy and that I’ve been doing for 11 years. Turn your Junk Mail into Cash! I’ve been doing this for YEARS, and I love it. You can learn all about Small Business Knowledge Center here.

Evidation: This is a super passive hustle, but it’s super fun- all you need is a smart watch or a fitness tracker.  Here is the article I wrote with all the information about how it works.

I also do simple tasks with Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. I transfer the earnings to my Amazon.com account. You sign up and do tasks for small amounts of money, but the money adds up fast.  The tasks are quick and simple (transcription, surveys, flagging inappropriate photos).   If you want cold hard cash instead of Amazon.com credit there is an option to have money transferred to a bank account.  Mechanical Turk does ask for your SSN when you sign up- you will receive a 1099- MISC at the end of the year, regardless of which option you select.

This next category isn’t a “hustle” per se, but they are all great ways to get cashback or save on groceries and other shopping trips. I use a lot of cash-back/rebate apps. You can see my complete list here. 

My friend Amy uses a local company Genalyte to earn money. They offer you a “courtesy” for blood and plasma. They are in the Sorrento Valley area. You can learn more on their Facebook page.  I personally have never done it- I have very tiny veins and have a hard time doing a blood draw at the doctor’s office.

So there you have it. No Uber, Lyft, Instacart. No MLMs or crazy pyramid schemes. Nothing untested or clickbait-worthy. Want the truth behind those clickbait articles: “5 CrAzY WaYs To MaKe MoNeY?!!“ Check out my post here.