Although people over 65 were more likely to get sick from COVID-19, the virus’s economic impact mainly affected younger people. Sure, there have been tons of stories about millennials trading cramped apartments in densely packed cities for large starter homes in rural areas. Most kept their jobs, enjoying paychecks that stretched more than they ever had. Yet plenty of people under 40 lost their jobs, They either struggled in cities or moved back in with parents. If this is you, you’re not alone. The good news is you likely have skills to make extra money with work that for the most part doesn’t even require you to leave your home. So if you want to know how to make an extra $1000 a month, here are some suggestions.

Social Media Manager

Do you live on Instagram? Is TikTok your new jam? Trade the skills you’ve developed for pay. Pretty much every business needs a strong online presence and being active on the main social media platforms is one of the best ways to do it. Yet most companies don’t have the time or budget to do anything more than an occasional post. That’s where you come in. You’ll be posting new content regularly, using pics they send you or ones you do yourself. Because you won’t work a ton of time for a single company, you won’t have to charge a lot –– which means companies that didn’t think they could afford a social media manager will hire you. The best news is that as you build a file of satisfied clients, you’ll be able to transition to a full-time job if that’s your goal.

Graphic and Website Design

Even if you haven’t earned your degree yet, if you have technical skills you can hire them out. Start by creating a portfolio in Upwork, Fiverr, or any of the freelancing sites. If you’ve never worked before that first client may be tough to land. Still, by offering competitive rates there are so many things you can do. From small companies that need graphics to creating a professional website for an author, there’s plenty of ways to earn extra money. The experience you gain on freelance sites can be used to get higher-paying clients or even transition to a full-time job.

Writing and Editing

If words are more your speed, then consider all the people who need a writer. Companies with content do better on Search Engine Optimization but many have never considered a blog about their product or service. Writing an informative piece that touches on what the company does while not being a hard sales pitch will help the company get noticed. If you have friends or family members with a small business, offer to do a blog or two for free. Then use these samples to get work from a host of companies, including those who advertise on freelance sites. Craig’s List is a great source for finding aspiring authors who will pay you to proofread and edit their work. You may have to do a few sample pages. If you want to know how to make an extra $1000 a month, it’s by landing multiple clients who you can bill either per page or hourly.

Retail Arbitrage

Do you love to shop? Did you know that it’s completely legal to buy an item from a retailer and then post it online for a higher price? Why would someone pay more for a product? Well, if you live near a Trader Joe’s you could sell their cookies, breakfast items, and other easily shipped goodies to people without a TJ’s in their area. Some Targets and WalMarts in one state may have a ton of a certain item but be completely out in other places. Plus, with all the shortages of things like weight sets, paper towels, and ketchup, it can be easy to double your money if you discover hard-to-find goods.

Although many of us flirted with online shopping addiction last year, keep in mind that succeeding in retail arbitrage usually means going to physical locations. Some talented resellers earn six-figure incomes but at that point it’s definitely a fulltime job.

Teach

If you have your degree, then you can register with VIPkid or Qkids You don’t need a teaching certificate and it doesn’t matter what your degree is in. You don’t even need to speak another language because all of the classes are taught in English. You can also do online tutoring –– there are occasionally tutoring jobs in the “Gigs” section of Craig’s List.

One great thing about freelancing is that it often doesn’t just lead to more money, it leads to a career! After being your own boss with your side hustle, you may decide that you never want to work for someone else again.

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