If you want to earn a little extra money, one of the best ways is to find an online job that can pay you by the task or hourly basis.

The internet, however, is full of “opportunities” that aren’t really opportunities. Some are scams. Some are a waste of time.

We sort through them to find the online jobs where you can potentially make $2500 or more if you put in the work.

These are not get-rich-quick opportunities. You will need to work but the potential is there. As an example, the second one on our list is freelance writing. If you’re a good writer, you can hit the ground running and earn hundreds of dollars to write once you find the right clients. If you’re not a good writer, you may get paid less as you get better and find more clients. The potential is there but so is the work.

Listen, while many people are using the web for shopping, surfing and chatting with friends, others are using it to make money!

Here are just a few ways you can take advantage:

⭐ KashKick is a rewards and loyalty platform where you can earn money doing various tasks, including playing games. Companies partner with KashKick to gain exposure to their massive userbase and some of these companies include games. You can earn money playing various games (many of which are not on the list below), all for free.

KashKick is free to join and an easy way to earn extra money (some can make $200+ within their first week doing a lot of activities) while playing games.

Our KashKick review explains more, or click below to sign up:

👉 Learn more about KashKick

1. Taking Online Surveys

Talk of earning money taking online surveys has become a staple of web-based income discussions.

Unfortunately, there are more than a few scams out there. Some services will compensate you with reward points, but there are some that pay cash.

Here are some of the best survey sites:

• SurveyJunkie [MOST POPULAR]
• Swagbucks (read our Swagbucks review)
• InboxDollars (read our Inbox Dollars review)
• MyPoints
• Pinecone Research

The surveys are usually fast and good for when you have some downtime, but you won’t be able to earn a living with them. They’re purely supplemental.

2. Answer Questions

Do you have expertise in a few professional areas? If so, you could earn a little extra money by answering questions online on platforms like JustAnswer.

If you’ve ever been working on a home repair job and ran into a specific problem, you’ve probably tried Googling it and reached a site like JustAnswer. You post your question, a professional responds, and you get your answer without having to search a million pages.

Well, in this case, you can be the expert. If you have expertise, and especially if you have the credentials to back it up, you can make quite a bit answering questions from home. For verified experts, like a car mechanic with an ASE Mechanic Certification or VoTech Certification and at least two years of relevant work experience, you can answer questions and get paid without having to go to a garage!

There are a lot of different areas of expertise, including things like parenting, etiquette, legal, wedding, and even help with homework. Check out our review of JustAnswer to learn more.

👉 Learn more about FlexJobs

3. Flexible Remote Jobs

FlexJobs is a remote, part-time to full-time, and freelance job board that has flexible work in 50 different career categories, from Account Management and Accounting to Writing and Web Design. These are not “gigs” in the sense that you’re working a few hours and then have to find another gig.

(if you want to learn web design, Udemy has a rich set of courses in web design)

This is a job board specifically for remote jobs similar to how sites like Indeed are for full-time employment. It’s a subscription service, so there is a cost if you sign up (but free to search) but you don’t get bombarded with advertisements.

All opportunities are hand-screened so you don’t have to worry about scams. This is huge because it can save you a ton of time because it weeds out all the commission-only, MLM, and other red herring jobs that you don’t want. It just makes your search easier.

As an added bonus, they also offer career coaching as well. It’s a 30-minute chat with an expert for just $64, half the normal price. Their coaches specialize in helping people navigate the unique job market for remote work, which can give you an advantage.

Use promocode FLEXLIFE for 30% off your subscription and you can read more about it in our full FlexJobs review.

👉 Learn more about FlexJobs

4. Freelance Writing

If you enjoy writing, you could earn six figures from the comfort of your home as a freelance writer. Freelance writing is like any other type of client-based creative work business. You need to develop your skills, build up a portfolio of your work, and find writing gigs. It can be lucrative but you won’t be making a full-time income immediately – that takes time but it’s certainly available.

We interviewed Holly, a freelance writer who is a mother of two and makes $200,000 a year. She recently took everything she knew about freelance writing and built a course, Earn More Writing, that will teach you so you don’t have to waste time discovering it yourself. It’s so worth the price of admission.

When it comes to online typing jobs, this one requires the most expertise.

5. Freelance Proofreader

Proofreading is a skill that anyone can develop. It’s also a job that can be done anywhere you have a computer, like the one you’re using now. That makes it ideal for a remote online job.

The challenge with proofreading, like with freelance writing, is that it’s not clear how to operate as a business, get new clients, develop systems, and become efficient so you’re spending more time earning and less time doing all the other things.

My friend Bobby at Millennial Money Man has a free 25-page eBook that explains how you can become a freelance proofreader. It’s completely free and will save you a ton of time “figuring things out” because he gives you the exact playbook.

👉 Get the free eBook for Proofreading Clarity

6. Freelance on Fiverr

Fiverr is a huge freelance services marketplace where you can offer practically any online service. It started with folks doing gigs for just $5, hence the name, but you are no longer restricted to charging just $5 per job. You start by listing your Gigs, which you fit into one of their many categories, and immediately can start selling. The categories include everything from Graphics & Design to Writing to Video to Music to Programming. It really spans the spectrum.

It’s hard to explain what types of services are available or what you should offer, but visit the site and do a search in areas you feel competent working in. Study what others are offering, see what you could offer, and build your freelancing services from there.

7. Online Jobs with Amazon

The place to start here is with Amazon Mechanical Turk. They have an incredible number of opportunities, so it’s very likely they’ll have work for you. You might be rating the search results for certain keywords, reworking an article, or translating something from one language to another.

You’ll be paid a few dollars for each assignment. The more you can do, the more you can earn. If you have the time and the motivation, you could easily make $100 a day, working on your own schedule.

8. Graphic Designer

Graphic design is an important skill, especially online, and you can learn a lot by taking a few classes on sites like Skillshare or Coursera. Then, use tools like PicMonkey and Canva to produce brilliant graphics for websites who may need them for blog posts, product pages, landing pages, etc.

9. Evaluate Websites

User Testing typically pays $10 for each video that you review. Since it takes about 20 minutes to review a video, you can do three in an hour and make $30. If you spend three hours per day, you can earn $2,700 per month.

10. Become a Virtual Assistant

One of the prime strategies in business today is to outsource work wherever possible. Many employers, particularly small ones, don’t have enough work to warrant a full-time job. But they may parcel that work out to virtual assistants. You can become a VA with just about any type of skill. Administrative skills are most in-demand, and usually involving working on very specific projects. Many times, those projects will be assigned because the business owner either lacks the time or the skills to perform them.

Sites like Upwork or Zirtual can keep you pretty busy. Compensation runs between $10 per hour to as much is $100, depending on the skill. More typical skills will be at the lower end of the pay scale, while specific marketing or web related skills will pay on the higher end.

11. Working on YouTube

Lots of people are creating videos on YouTube as a fun hobby. But some are earning money, and some are earning a lot of money. You can create videos yourself, promote them, and then monetize them through Google Adsense. You’ll get paid every time someone clicks on an ad on your video. The more clicks, the more you’ll make. If you get several videos going, you’ll be earning ad revenue from various sources.

There are different ways you can do this. Perhaps the most popular way is by promoting music videos. The revenue can be heavy with videos using popular music. But getting the licensing agreements from the artists is extremely difficult. A better route might be to promote local talent. These can be small artists who are looking to be promoted. If they have good music, and you can create compelling videos around their songs, you can earn a steady income.

Yet another way is to create educational videos. Pick a subject or skill you’re knowledgeable in, and create a “how to” video. You can also use this kind of video to promote a specific product or service that you offer.

All around, this is probably the most flexible and creative way to earn money online. YouTube even provides support to help you get started.

12. Online Data Entry

This actually is a real thing. Many large companies, particularly insurance companies and travel-related businesses, hire at-home workers to handle both customer service and online data entry. You can find these jobs on company websites by entering “work-at-home” in the search box of their employment pages.

You can also go through dedicated websites, such as Upwork. And sometimes online data entry jobs are available through Craigslist, or popular job boards like Monster.

13. Become an Online Translator

A website called Proz.com can help you get paid to translate documents and even conversations. You can choose a language you’re comfortable with. Some include Spanish, German, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, and Arabic. If you have the ability to translate technical documents, like legal and medical documents, you’ll command the highest pay.

14. Sell Your Computer Skills

Everybody’s looking for computer skills, but not every business can afford regular employees. If you have above-average computer and Internet skills, this can be an opportunity for you.

Experts Exchange has more than 500,000 experts who participate on the site. They offer assistance with web design and development, SEO and marketing, graphic design, and other technical skills. You could be one of them.

15. Read Books

Did you know there are sites that will pay you to read books and write reviews? The pay varies from site to site as well as the length of the review, but if you enjoy reading then you can turn that “hobby” into a little side hustle to earn a few bucks.

You have a little freedom in what you read, in that you can often select from a list, but you are still restricted in what you do ultimately read.

16. Buy and Sell Websites

You may have to release your inner entrepreneur to make this one happen, but it can be lucrative if you have an eye for an online bargain. Sites like Flippa.com list websites and domains for sale. You might be able to pick up a domain for $10 and sell it for $1,000. Or you might be able to buy an inactive website for $1,000, reactivate it, and sell it for $10,000.

17. Affiliate Marketing on Your Blog

Blogging is not your typical online job because you don’t work for someone else when you’re a blogger. You get the flexibility of working for yourself but you don’t get paid immediately. As you grow your traffic and your audience, you can earn money as an affiliate for other companies or advertising revenue.

If you’re interested, you can learn how to start your blog with our free guide. Eventually, you can even quit your job to blog full-time!

If you have a working blog or website, you can use affiliate marketing to increase your revenue. You can have ads or articles promoting various products and services. If you really want to learn the ins and outs of this, I recommend Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. Michelle routinely makes six figures each month from her blog.

Each time a visitor to your site signs up with one, you’ll be paid for providing the lead. With enough affiliate links, you can dramatically increase the income on your site. Naturally, it’s always best to have affiliate arrangements that are closely related to the basic subject and content of your website or blog.

Any of these arrangements can enable you to earn upwards of $2,500, and some have the potential to go much, much higher.

Which one will you try today?

The post 17 Best Work From Home Online Jobs (2024) appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

Companies like Netflix have helped pave the way for streaming movies and TV shows by streaming from your computer or through a game console, inspiring viewers to cut the cable cord and stream online.

But what if your TV doesn't have Wi-Fi?

To get those streaming options, you'll have to get a “streaming stick.”

What is the Amazon Fire TV Stick?

In case you haven't heard, streaming sticks such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick (also called the Amazon Firestick) allow viewers to transition their favorite shows and movies from a small screen such as a laptop to a larger device, such as a TV.

With the simple touch of a remote, the Fire TV Stick helps you quickly access Amazon's media store, which includes TV shows, music, and movies.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick is Amazon's most cost effective option for Amazon Fire TV. The Fire TV Stick lets you enjoy 1080p HD streaming in a compact HDMI stick the size of a USB flash drive. With the Fire TV Stick you get access to all of the same apps and channels available on Amazon Fire TV without the additional cost. Priced at less than forty bucks, which includes the Alexa Voice Remote, the Fire TV Stick is truly a bargain.

How It Works

The Amazon Fire TV Stick plugs into your TV's HDMI port to give you access to your favorite TV shows, movies, music, games, and subscription services. The Fire TV Stick is a portable option that conveniently stores your favorite content, so that you can enjoy your favorite media everywhere you go.

Key Features of the Fire TV Stick

Imagine being able to take your TV with you when you're on vacation or visiting family. No more fumbling through channels and looking for your favorite shows on other devices. Simply remove your device and take the Fire TV Stick with you. Plug the Fire TV Stick into any compatible TV, and now you've got access to all of your favorite movies and shows.

If you are an Amazon Prime member, your Fire TV Stick comes pre-registered to your account. This means that you will have immediate access to your Amazon Prime content once you plug your Fire TV Stick into your HDMI port. An added bonus of being an Amazon Prime member is getting access to Amazon Originals.

Your Fire TV Stick box will arrive with everything you need to get started. Amazon will send you your new Fire TV Stick, a remote, an HDMI extender, a USB cable and power adapter, a user manual, and even 2 AAA batteries so you can get started right away.

In terms of design, the Fire TV Stick is sleek and compact with an HDMI connection and the “Amazon” logo. The button configuration and the directional circle are simple and easy to navigate. The Bluetooth connection makes it easy to operate without having to aim at the stick to operate the device.

Each Fire TV Stick has the following features:

• 1 GB of memory
• 8 GB of internal storage
• Optional voice support
• Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi
• A dedicated VideoCore4 GPU
• The Fire TV Stick plugs into your HDMI TV via USB port, connects via Wi-Fi, and comes equipped with a Bluetooth remote.
• The Fire TV Stick comes with an app that turns your phone into a remote control and includes the additional voice search feature or you can use your smartphone keyboard (faster than individually selecting letters with the Fire TV Stick remote).
• Quickly cast a video from your mobile device apps (You Tube, Netflix, etc.) to your TV in no time.
• Smooth and visually appealing interface with a remote.
• The Fire TV Stick is compatible with the Amazon Fire controller if you need additional controller for gaming (most games work with the remote and don't require an additional controller).

How the Fire TV Stick works

How does the Amazon Fire TV Stick work? Simply plug your Fire TV Stick in and you will be directed through the setup process and prompted to sign into your Amazon account.

Once logged on, you will have access to shows, music, and movies purchased through your Amazon account. You will also have access to photos uploaded to your Amazon Cloud service.

Using the Fire TV Stick, you will be able to access to thousands of apps and games. Feel like catching up with your favorite vlogger? Open up You Tube and watch their recent uploads. For an additional fee, you can also access Netflix, HBO Now, ESPN and even Hulu. While it costs extra, you get the advantage of choosing preferred services instead of being bogged down by a cable package.

Why You Might Like it

It's super user friendly. This is a great option for those who don't want to be overwhelmed with technology. Google's Chromecast has more versatility with apps and features, but the learning curve is higher for those that are not as tech savvy.

Amazon's Fire TV Stick interface is very well organized and user friendly. The content is split into sub categories like “TV”, “Movies”, and “Recent”, and the titles are displayed in large font. When you boot up the Fire TV Stick, you will see what you've already watched, and Amazon's recommendations based on preference and history.

The Fire TV Stick also divides content between Amazon's Prime Instant Video, which works as a subscription-based video-on-demand service. You can buy content directly from the Amazon store.

For each title, you get a snippet of the movie or show, including an IMDB rating. You can also watch trailers for each title before you stream. The “X-Ray” feature gives you interesting facts and trivia about the actors, including which actors are in the current scene, as well as the artist and name of the song during music tracks.

You also get cool extras like games and apps (Youtube, Netflix, and Spotify, to name a few). The Fire TV Stick also gives you access to Amazon's cloud service where you can upload your personal pictures from your smartphone and videos and view them on your TV.

Why You Might NOT Like It

The Fire TV Stick only has 8 GB of internal storage and 1 GB of memory, so even if you have a 4k television set, you will only be able to stream 1080p content. There are limits to how much content you can download, and how many apps you can store without streaming. Further, it limits your ability to play some of the more graphically demanding games offered in the app store.

To play games, you'll need a controller, as the standard remote is not compatible with most titles. Amazon offers its own Bluetooth controller, and the device is compatible with most major third-party Bluetooth game controllers, including the PS4's DualShock 4 if you already have one of those.

Design-wise, it's a little klunky because the power cable sticks out of the top of the device, which means that it will get in the way of other cables sticking out of your TV if your HDMI connections are stacked vertically, although an HDMI extension cable will take care of this issue.

Related: Best Free Online Streaming Services

Do You Need Amazon Prime?

If you want to use the Fire TV Stick to its fullest potential, then the answer is yes.

That being said, the Fire TV Stick will give you access to other services such as Netflix and Spotify. With your Amazon Prime Instant video subscription, you will get access to thousands of TV shows and movies, including some exclusives like “Mozart in the Jungle”. While this is nice, Netflix's popular shows like Orange Is The New Black or House of Cards easily overshadow Amazon's original and exclusive content. With Amazon Prime, you get movies like “I Am Dragon” and TV shows like “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

But, if you want the newer titles and bigger blockbuster films/TV shows, you'll have to pay $2.99 per episode (or a season pass for slightly less than buying all episodes separately) and $4.99 per movie. Sometimes, it's hard to tell what content is included in the subscription, and what you have to pay extra for. Be careful of overlapping content, as you don't want to buy something on Amazon only to later find that it is free on Netflix.

Is It Worth It?

While Amazon's selection of movies and TV shows is impressive, Netflix offers a wider selection of recent movies and TV shows to choose from. In the end, you have access to many films and TV shows that you can access your favorite movies and shows anytime and anywhere through a functional portal. Ultimately, the Fire TV Stick is really a way to quickly get access to Amazon's services, such as Amazon Prime Instant video.

The remote, apps, paid-for library and IMDB integration make the entire experience a worthwhile purchase if you regularly rent films from Amazon, or if you enjoy Amazon's exclusives movies and shows.

Otherwise, it may be wise to save your money and stick with free or low-cost apps and subscription services.

Have you tried the Amazon Fire TV Stick?

The post Is the Amazon TV Firestick Worth It? appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.

What do you picture when you hear the word budget? Ramen and brown bag lunches? (mmmm, peanut butter sandwiches though)

You have probably heard about skipping the lattes and avocado toast so that you can buy a house.

Budgeting is often associated with sacrificing enjoyment but not all budgets are bad. If you’ve never learned how to budget, it can seem like a daunting task.

You can create a budget that works for you and allows you to live your life and enjoy the things you love. If you find yourself with an overdrawn bank account and maxed out credit cards, the stress you are experiencing will be enough to motivate you to make a change.

So what exactly is a budget? And how do you budget?

A budget is an estimate of your income and expenses over a period of time, except the expenses are broken into different categories. Think of a budget like a roadmap or a blueprint for how you will spend and save your money. Whether you’re an experienced budgeter or you’ve never created a budget in your life, follow these steps, and you’ll create a budget that will help you live the life you want, while also allowing you to live.

A budget isn’t supposed to restrict you, it will set you free.

Today, we will teach you exactly how to budget.

Track your Spending Effortlessly

You track the score on all of your favorite sports games, and you probably track how many reward points are left before you earn that free pizza or sandwich. We keep score to measure performance or figure out how long it will take to reach a goal. Why not track your spending to see exactly where it goes, and then make a plan for where you want it to go? Tracking your spending could mean more free pizzas and movie nights!

Before creating your budget, get an idea of how much you spend for one month. You can use a budgeting app like Mint.com, excel spreadsheets, or pen and paper. You might be surprised by how much you are spending, but don’t worry, and don’t beat yourself up! Remember, you’re only using this to help you create a budget that you can actually follow while living the life you want.

After a month of budgeting, you might discover you’re spending $100 a month on snacks and beer while watching the game, so you may have to cut back. Look for bars with happy hour specials to help cut costs instead of eliminating this expense altogether. On the flip side, you might be spending on unnecessary things, such as late fees and overdraft fees. The right plan (we’ll cover this in detail below) will help you pay your bills on time and eliminate this expense. Sound like a plan?

Start an Automated Savings Plan

If you have problems saving your money, you’re not alone.

According to a recent GOBankingRates survey, 57 percent of Americans have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts. How do you save money without feeling the pinch?

Easy!

Just automate your savings by setting up an automatic transfer to a savings account from your checking account. When you don’t see it, you will forget that its there.

How much should I save? A good rule of thumb is to save 20 percent of your income or take-home pay. It could be more or less, depending on your debt and financial situation. You may be worried about whether you will be able to make ends meet before you can save money. That’s okay; just plan it all out on paper. You can save money, even with a low paying job. The reason we harp on this is because you have to create good financial habits up front to set yourself up for the future.

As Mark Twain said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started,” save as much as you can when first starting out.

If you have a high income, leverage that to save more. Don’t look at your income as how much you can spend!

If it helps, join a savings challenge to make it fun. The Penny Challenge and 52-Week Challenge may not sound like a lot of money (or it sounds like a lot, it all depends on your income and expenses) but it can help if you make savings a game. Every little bit helps.

Identify Your Necessary Expenses

Some costs are inescapable. Other costs only seem necessary.

Now that you’ve put 20 percent towards your savings, you have 80 percent of your take-home pay to use for necessary expenses, and even few splurges.

Let’s tackle necessary living expenses first. This category includes rent/mortgage, transportation or vehicle expenses, groceries, and utilities. Separate the fixed expenses from your variable expenses because you have to treat them differently. Make sure that your housing arrangements are practical for your budget so that your entire paycheck doesn’t go towards living expenses.

Next, identify your debt, including the total balance owed, as well as the minimum monthly payment. If it’s a larger debt such as student loan debt or mortgage, be sure to include the minimum payment in your plan. With credit cards, treat the card like cash, and plan to pay off your credit card balances in full each month.

Ideally, use up to 30 percent towards discretionary spending (think dining out, movie nights, and concerts). These are expenses that you can cut back when you need to tighten the belt, such as leading up to pay day or after incurring emergency expenses. With the right budget, you may be able to spend more in this category!

Your budget will help you decide on how much of these extra items you can actually afford. You want the latest smartphone, but can you afford the monthly payments? Can you afford paying for it in a lump sum? Know your numbers before taking the plunge. You want to save, but you also have to enjoy your life!

Pay Expenses Based On Your Habits & Preferences

Decide up front how to pay each of your expenses and schedule your payments.

Will you be paying online, and if so, will you be paying on a website or using your bank’s Bill Pay feature? To really make good use of your money, use your credit and debit cards to your benefit. If you have a card that gives you rewards points for gas, be sure to use that card when you pull up to the gas station.

Certain cards offer cash back and rewards points for dining out, so when it’s time to go out for a fancy dinner, use the right card to boost your savings. A word of caution about credit cards: while it’s tempting to make minimum payments, try to pay off your balance in full each month.

Make A Debt Elimination Plan

Debt is a weight on your finances like no other. If nothing else this year, make debt elimination your number one goal.

When you created your budget, you listed out your monthly minimum debt payments and worked them into your budget. Aside from that, you also need to create an action plan to pay down your debt. Experts are conflicted about whether you should pay off high interest debt first, or pay off your lowest balance first. Whatever you decide, remember this- the more you can reduce the payments you need to make, the more you can use that money towards paying down your debt.

If you have multiple credit cards, consider transferring your balances to a balance transfer credit card to enjoy 0% interest for 12-21 months. You will be able to pay off one card faster, especially with low or no interest.

If you have more debt, reduce your discretionary spending and put the rest towards paying off your debt. Don’t stop living – just cut back temporarily so that you can live better.

Final Thoughts

Budgeting doesn’t have to give you a headache and creating a budget that doesn’t make you groan is totally possible. You can save money, pay off debt, and still enjoy the things you love to do.

Have you ever tried to create a budget and failed miserably?

Have you created a budget that helped you pay off your debt?

Good or bad, we want you to share your stories in the comments below!

The post 5 Easy Steps to Create a Fun & Stress-free Budget appeared first on Best Wallet Hacks.