8 Ways I Actually Make Money Online

This is not a get-rich-quick post, because let’s be honest, that doesn’t really happen 99% of the time. It’s also not a “how-to make an extra $1,00 a month online” article. Have you ever read those? People claiming you can make lots of extra money through various sites by basically doing nothing? Yeah, I have, and there’s a catch. You would pretty much have to devote a full-time job doing “basically nothing” to get that kind of cash, or spend a lot of your other hard earned dollars to get “some” cash or rewards in turn. This post is not that. I will however show you ways I make money online.

These resources are great for mommas or anyone looking to bring in some cash for those “extras” in your life. The gymnastics or ballet lessons, hair salon or spa, birthday gifts, saving up for that special trip, or whatever your “extras” might be. Most of these suggestions are not meant to replace a full income. But, I can guarantee that I have personally made money from all of these options and continue to use them every day! I mean, why not make a little extra cash if you can?!

8 Ways I Make Money Online… and you can too!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase or sign up for an account. Thank you for supporting me! Click on each company/title to go directly to their website.

My Points

Do a lot of shopping online? Or maybe just a little? Either way, if you shop online at all, you should be using a website that gives back to you just for buying the things you were going to buy anyway! Mypoints.com is similar to Ebates or any rebate-type website. However, I have been using this site for several years now, and it has the highest return rate on my purchases that I have found. Now, I don’t get actual money in return for my purchases, but I do receive gift cards to my choice of multiple merchants, or I can choose a VISA gift card.

I have redeemed 150,000 points since I first joined! Often times I use a gift card as a birthday gift to one of my siblings (Free gifts? Yes, please!!!), or I get a card to a clothing store where I can get clothes for my kids. Two things that I’m always needing to do, but it doesn’t have to come out of my own pocket that has plenty of other places to go! AM I RIGHT?! You also get email advertisements from this company, and often times you can earn points just for clicking on the email and going to the merchant site. You can turn this feature off if you’d prefer, but getting a few extra points for 5 seconds of my time is worth it to me. There are surveys and a few other ways to get points, but I don’t got time for that!

Getting points when you shop through My Points is easy. All you do is go to the mypoints website first, find the store you want to shop, and click on the shopping link to that store. This allows mypoints to track your order and give you the points. An even easier option is to download their browser attachment that will tell you when you’re on a site that you can receive points. You just click the activate button right on the screen. Plus, it also provides you with coupons for that site!

Ibotta

If you haven’t given Ibotta a try, you absolutely need to! It’s like clipping coupons without actually clipping coupons. AND no digging through your purse to look for the coupons and make the cashier scan them at checkout. This is an app for your phone, and it’s super easy and convenient to use, plus you get real MONEY just for using it!!!

When you’re getting ready to go grocery shopping, take a look at the offers on Ibotta and using the little + sign, add any that you plan to purchase. Once you’re done shopping, open the app, click the redeem button, and follow the instructions. Usually this consists of simply taking a photo of your receipt; sometimes you do have to scan the barcode on the items you purchased. Once you redeem your offers, you will get the specified amount of money back as real MONEY. The easiest way to get your money is to connect a Paypal account, however there are other options if you do not have Paypal.

Ibotta has recently added some online merchants to their options, and similar to My Points, you can click on the merchant, it will take you to that website, and you will receive cash back when you make a purchase. However, as of the writing of this post, I think their cash back percents for these websites are pretty low, so I still prefer to use My Points as mentioned above.

Swagbucks

Similar to My Points and Ibotta, Swagbucks gives you points for shopping online, and in return, you can redeem these points for gift cards. However, Swagbucks has lots of other ways to earn points than just by shopping. I still think the points for shopping are best with My Points, so I don’t actually use Swagbucks very often when shopping online. I prefer to get points through other means on their site.

Most often, I watch videos on their site, and earn points watching the various videos. I don’t in fact actually watch the videos very often. I start the videos on a tab in my browser, and let them run in the background while I do other things on different tabs in my browser. They offer a Swag Code nearly every day that can earn you a few points, and they have lots of survey options that can earn you points if that’s your thing (it’s not mine). If you’re looking to sign up for a service like Hulu or Netflix, or you want to receive recipes in your email inbox, make sure to look up offers on Swagbucks first because you might be able to earn points from something you were already planning to do!

Poshmark

Poshmark is a website and app where you don’t have to spend money to make money. Although, you can also spend money if you’d like! 🙂 This site is a fun and simple way to buy and sell fashion. Looking for something brand name at a deal? Check out Poshmark! Have some items of your own that you’d like to sell? Sell them on Poshmark! Your items do not have to be high end to sell on this site. Anything you have will do, however, you will have better luck if your items are almost new or gently used

Using the app is super simple. To create your own listing, snap a few pics of your item, and follow the steps to list it! You can sell clothing, shoes, purses and other accessories on Poshmark. Since I started selling on this app, I have made $464!!! You can link your bank account and send that money straight to your bank, or you can leave it as credit on your account to purchase from other sellers. I have done both. If I have credit available and I need something specific like shoes for the kids, winter coats, or must-have kimonos for myself (I’m addicted), I check this app first.

It’s free to join Poshmark. If you decide to join, make sure you follow me. Also, make sure to use my invite code MAYESMOMMA when signing up and automatically get $5 in your account!

Receipt Hog

Not too much to say about this simple app. Download the app, snap a photo of any and all of your shopping receipts, and earn points! Points can be redeemed for cash or gift cards. That’s all there is to it!

Panel App

This is another super simple app. Use the link above to download the app. Allow the app to know your location, and that’s it! You will get daily points just for allowing the app to know your location. Every few days you may have a survey option that will earn you a few extra points. These surveys are often just 3-5 questions and only take moments of your time, so this is a survey I’m willing to take. The surveys will ask you to specify the locations/businesses you were at on a specific day and time.

Points can then be redeemed for gifts cards to Amazon, Walmart or a VISA gift card. You do have to be a little patient with this app, as the points don’t add up extremely fast. But, why not get a free gift card or two every year just for having an app on your phone?!

Thirty One Gifts

Thirty One Gifts is a direct sales company. If that is not your thing, no worries, move along. For me, being an independent consultant with Thirty One has brought me way more income than any of the above mentioned combined. And while it’s nice to get some free gift cards or cash back here and there, it is EXTREMELY rewarding to bring in some extra funds, above and beyond my 9-5 that actually makes a difference in my family.

Since I started with this company, I have been able to contribute personal funds to our adoption savings as well as help pay for my daughter’s gymnastics fees (which only seem to increase). AND, I have done this on a very part-time basis. So whether you have a full-time job and are looking for a little side gig, or you are a stay-at-home mom who could use a little extra cash or a little time away from the kiddos, I highly recommend at least considering a company like this.

Not only do I get an extra pay check and love the products, I also gained a sisterhood of women I didn’t even know I needed! Seriously, these ladies are so encouraging. Everyone should have people like this in their life. If you’re intrigued or would like to find out a little bit more about our company, the products, and what it would look like to join me, head on over to my business page to find out more or to contact me.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Marketing is one last way I make money online. This option lends more towards bloggers or those with your own website. Although there are some options to do affiliate marketing just with a social media account. Affiliate marketing basically means I have links throughout my blog that will take you to another website. If you make a purchase on that site, I may get a small commission for “referring” you to that site.

If you ever see any affiliate marketing links on my website, please know that these only come from people and companies that I personally love, use, and recommend. I mean, why not get a little something for recommending companies that I already love and am going to recommend to my friends?!

Some examples on my site are the Amazon banner you’ll find at the top of the page. If you shop Amazon, why not click through my link and support a sister? Another example is my Shop With Me page. This page features companies I personally love and shop with on a consistent basis. Like FREE Customization on ALL first time orders at eShakti.com. , my favorite place to shop for dresses. I’m always getting questions about where I purchase my dresses. Or, check out one of my favorite ladies to follow, Allie Casazza, over on this blog post. She helps moms take back control of their homes and their lives, and I’m a huge fan. She has a course which I LOVE that walks you step by step in how to take back control.

Conclusion – 8 Ways I Make Money Online and you can too

Many of these ways I make money online will not provide you with consistent income. However, it is nice to have that extra cash here and there to pay for a birthday gift, some new clothes for the kids, or that pedi you’ve been dying to get. If you’re looking for something a little more consistent, Thirty One Gifts has provided that for me. If you’d like to hear a little more information on any of these apps and companies, shoot me an email. I would love to hear from you and share my personal experience!