How Can You Make Money from Home

Going back to college this fall? Need some extra money? Most students could take all the money they can get. Maybe you can make more money by opening up a savings account or helping out your neighborhood this summer.

There are plenty of ways to earn a little bit of money. Some of the easiest ways involve searching for money while others take a little more time and effort. Here are nine ways to make money from home.

1. Search for Missing Money

One of the best ways to quickly make money is to search for missing money. This can involve looking through the cracks and spaces in your home. Money can also be found in your bank accounts, insurance claims, pension plans, safe deposit box, and tax refunds. You may look through your mail and notice that you could receive money back from a class-action lawsuit.

There are several other ways that you can search for missing money. There are legitimate websites such as MissingMoney.com and Unclaimed.org that help you find money and property in certain states.

If you need to find out if you're receiving money through a class-action lawsuit, go to ClassActionInc.com. There are other government sites such as the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the IRS to find out if someone owes you money.

2. Sell Your College Textbooks

The second fastest way to earn money is to sell textbooks. What college student doesn't want to get rid of their textbooks? You'll find that getting rid of your new or used books can bring in extra cash. While you can sell them on Craigslist or Facebook, the best place to sell textbooks is Booksrun.

It's likely that most of your books cost $10 or more. The more books you own, the quicker it adds up. All you need to do is price your books through the ISBN numbers, ship them out with a pre-paid label and get paid within four business days. If you're trying to sell more books, then join local selling groups if you're not comfortable with using Craigslist.

3. Rent Out a Spare Bedroom

Maybe you live alone in an apartment and have the space to rent out a spare bedroom. Renting out a spare room makes your apartment more affordable to live in. You can even earn tax credit if you split the income with someone else. Of course, each state has its own laws, so it's best to find out more information through your state.

4. Get a Sign-Up Bonus

Do you have a great credit score? If so, then you could get sign-up bonuses in the mail for getting a new credit card. There's a lot of work involved, but it's not too complicated. For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers a $150 sign-up bonus if you spend $500 within the first three months. That shouldn't be so difficult when you're shopping for college.

Another easy way to earn a sign-up bonus is to open a new bank account. This is the perfect time to switch banks, especially if you're moving to a new state or city. TD Bank offers a $300 sign-up bonus to those who receive $2,500 of direct deposits within the first two months.

But you should make sure that the bank account is the one you need before signing up. Some major banks come with maintenance and service fees.

5. Offer to Babysit or Pet Sit

Are you a big fan of kids? Babysitting isn't something that high school students do. There are plenty of college students that still babysit. Every family wants to find a trustworthy person who can look after their children. You can make a little money while helping families out.

Or, if you love animals, then offer to watch their pets instead. This involves feeding them, having them stay at your house, and walking them. Let your family, friends, and neighbors know that you can babysit or pet sit. You can also post online ads on local bulletin boards.

6. Use Airbnb

Airbnb isn't just for people who are looking for a place to stay. You can also lend out a room or the entire place to a stranger for a few nights. If you choose this avenue, then you'll need to speak with an attorney and a tax advisor. You want to ensure this tax situation won't affect your property.

7. Earn Cash Back for Shopping

Another way to earn money is to earn cashback while you shop. If you're getting ready for college, chances are you're going to need stuff. There are plenty of apps and shopping rewards programs that allow you to earn cashback for the things you need, in-store and online. Some of the most popular rewards programs include Ebates, Ibotta, Shopkick, and Swagbucks.

8. Offer to Mow or Shovel

Maybe it's summer or winter in your neck of the woods. This is the perfect time to offer to mow someone's lawn or shovel someone's driveway. Ask your family, friends, and neighbors if they know of anyone who could use some help. You can even offer other jobs such as gardening or yard work.

9. Get Paid for Your Opinion

Companies always want to know what customers think of their products or services. So, they're willing to pay you for this information. One way to get paid for sharing your opinion is with online surveys. Some of the most popular survey sites include E-Poll Surveys, InboxDollars, MyPoints, OneOpinion, and Survey Junkie.

However, keep in mind that most of these survey sites don't pay much. But they're a great way to earn cash while you're bored. You can also join focus groups and product tests in exchange for a larger payout. You can find opportunities through American Consumer Panels, FocusGroup.com, and Product Testing USA.

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