a website designed to promote a product to earn money

If you need extra money for something special, don't empty out the savings that you've hidden in your sock drawer just yet—these ideas may help you earn the extra money you need!

Jp Valery via Unsplash.com

Many people conclude that making extra money requires searching out and finding an extra job. While this is certainly one way to do it, there are multiple websites that provide a variety of opportunities for making money online and off. And no, these are not websites that require you to purchase something or scam your friends into purchasing something—the following list of money-making opportunities are completely legit.

The key to developing wealth is leveraging your time and assets efficiently. The following websites provide ways of doing just that. While reading through these websites, start thinking of what you can do to increase your wealth. Who knows, eventually you may come up with a brilliant idea of your own.

There are many ways of making money in your free time. Whether you just want a way to earn a little bit of extra income, or if you have graduated from college and can't find a job, these websites should be able to help you earn a little extra spending cash. Who knows, maybe your full-time employment can be discovered below!

A new concept with several competitors, Turo has taken the lead as the car crowd-rental website of choice. What exactly is Turo? It's a website where you can rent out your car by the hour, day, or week, to pre-approved renters and make extra income!

Think about this—you drive to work at 8 am and don't leave until 5 pm. For the 9 hours that you are at work, your car is sitting, useless. What if there happened to be a mother who lived close to your office who needed to run grab groceries at noon once a week. Now, you can rent out your car to her for $10/hour—helping you make some additional income while giving her the transportation that she needs.

Companies like Hertz and Avis make millions every year—learn from them and start making money with one of your most expensive assets—your car.

Is It Safe?

Of course, the big question is, what happens if this person runs your car into a light post and completely wrecks it. Fortunately, Turo has a $1 million insurance policy that covers anything that happens to your car while being rented out. Additionally, Turo verifies that renters have a license and do not have anything terrible on their record—helping you keep your car in one piece.

How Do You Make Money?

Well, you set the rental rate of your car on Turo, the renter then uses their credit card online to place the rental. You meet them briefly to give them the keys and verify that they are who they say they are. After that, they take your car, and you're good to go. Turo then pays you 60% of the rental rate (they keep 40% for insurance, technology, etc.).

While there are several inconveniences, such as not having your car around if you need it suddenly, the opportunity to make some extra money is very appealing. The site is new and does not have renters everywhere—so get on now, and you may be one of the first in your community.

Imagine leaving town for a week and making $200 off of your car being rented out. This is not a bad way to help reduce the expense of a little vacation.

From a renters point of view, next time you fly into a new city and might only need a vehicle for a couple of hours, consider using Turo as opposed to a larger service that will charge you more.

How Would You Rate Turo as a Money-Making Opportunity?

Although it takes some time to become an approved "TaskRabbit," the opportunity to make some extra cash makes it very appealing. If you have a skill that you would like to rent out, or even if you simply have a car that you can use to run errands, TaskRabbit may be for you.

This website is a place where customers can find local community members who have been pre-approved and had a background check to do virtually anything that they may need. From doing chores to handyman work to helping out in an office, there are a large number of tasks that TaskRabbit can be used to accomplish.

Many of the jobs that I've noticed deal with food. If you are capable of cooking, it looks as if you are set to make a decent side income from TaskRabbit. However, there are plenty of other tasks available as well.

3. Upwork (Formerly Odesk): Work Virtually

For those who have a minimal to a significant understanding of computers and the internet, a valuable way to start making extra income can be through the website Upwork.com.

Upwork is a website where people post jobs that they need done online, from programming a website to editing a video or writing an article to translating a document for them. Virtually anything that can be done virtually (yes, I tried to slightly pun) can be found on Upwork. If you are interested in becoming a virtual assistant, this may be for you.

I have tried to get my girlfriend to apply for several voice-over jobs posted on there because she does great accents and impressions (the number of voice jobs is increasing significantly—especially for English speakers). I've even spent $20 myself on Upwork to pay someone to enter sweepstakes for me. So yes, Upwork has a plethora of jobs available for those with a variety of talents and abilities—even skills as simple as data entry (though they may not pay much).

An Extra Secret

Two things I love doing are making money and helping others make money. Therefore, I have learned that outsourcing websites such as Upwork can provide a perfect opportunity for me to accomplish both of these objectives. If you end up finding clients elsewhere who would like a website, document translated, etc., you can contract the actual work out to other people for less. Therefore, you are organizing a large project, which saves your employer time, and you are saving yourself time while providing jobs to others!

4. Craigslist: The Classic Online Money Platform

At this point in history, nearly everyone is familiar with Craigslist—the original free classifieds where anything can be bought, sold, hired, or traded online.

After becoming familiar with how Craigslist works, consider posting your services online. There are many people who jump on Craigslist when looking for a photographer, guitar teacher, or other professional. It is also possible to find short-term jobs that may be a great way to improve your income without committing to long-term work.

Finally, Craigslist is a great place to sell used stuff. If you have things that you no longer need, consider posting them on Craigslist. Start with a higher price as everyone on Craigslist likes to haggle the price lower (it makes them feel like they got a great deal).

After selling some of your own possessions online and becoming familiar with how it works, you could even start selling other people's things on Craigslist and simply taking a commission for the ending sale price. Many people may be interested in clearing out the junk in their garage while making some extra cash.

Start Generating Wealth!

While the above-mentioned methods will probably not make you wealthy, they can help point you in that direction by helping you leverage your time and assets more efficiently.

By focusing on becoming wealthy rather than becoming rich, you can reach a point in your life where you are no longer working to survive, but capable of doing whatever you desire to make the world a better place. Make wealth, not riches, your financial goal, and you will quickly develop and maintain a financially secure, and overall enjoyable, lifestyle.

Have you discovered other methods of making a bit of extra income online and off? Share them below to help the rest of us in our journey to use our time more efficiently.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Patricia Bowskill on February 07, 2017:

Some Great ideas!

Jacobb9205 on February 16, 2015:

Great ways make money money online! I'm currently looking into TaskRabbit and oDesk as they intrigued me!

Coolpapa from Florida on October 10, 2014:

Great Ideas, Thanks!

Anita Adams from Tennessee on December 25, 2013:

These are very good ideas for earning extra money. I will try some of these.

Robert Erich (author) from California on November 29, 2012:

I am glad that you have stopped by Annette! Yes, it is amazing how many tools there are available for making some extra money in your free time. Though few of them will actually make you rich, it is certainly fun to check out in one's free time.

Annette R. Smith from Ocala, Florida on November 28, 2012:

Great ideas, Robert. I've heard about some of these money-making opportunties before but have only ever tried Craigslist. I use the classifieds to sell things and to promote some of my articles.

Robert Erich (author) from California on November 07, 2012:

I am glad that you enjoyed the article KoiHdez! It is very true, finding income around classes is not easy. I wish you the best as you continue studying and attempting to make a bit of a living around your studies. Good luck!

Koi from New Jersey on November 06, 2012:

"By focusing on becoming wealthy rather than becoming rich" I love what you said there, so true! Thank you for the information, as a college student, it's hard to find a job that can be flexible with my class schedules. These little tips and sites were very helpful. :)

Robert Erich (author) from California on November 01, 2012:

Thank you all for your comments. I am certainly glad that you have enjoyed this ideas. And hopefully they'll start offering bikes for your soon Brett!

Vidhya L from Chennai, India on November 01, 2012:

Useful! Nice list of sites.

Brett C from Asia on October 31, 2012:

Some great ideas there. Love the car rental idea, just a shame I have a motorbike lol. However, it was a useful reminder about Odesk.

Shared, up, useful, pinned and tweeted.

Robert Erich (author) from California on October 31, 2012:

Awesome! I wish you the best as you get started and good luck to you faithbuilder!

faithbuilder23 from Pennsylvania on October 31, 2012:

Great hub!!! I have just started to try to make money online in my free time. It is a lot of work, but one day I know I will strike it big!! I will check out those websites you suggested!!!

Robert Erich (author) from California on October 31, 2012:

You are correct, it is not always easy making money online. However, with a bit of hard work and dedication, it is certainly possible!

suziecat7 from Asheville, NC on October 31, 2012:

All good ideas though it's tough to make a living online. But extra money comes in handy too. Great Hub!

Robert Erich (author) from California on October 31, 2012:

Thank you. It's true, the job market is changing. However, if we get creative enough to change with it, we will certainly find other, and potentially more enjoyable ways of making a living than the traditional, 8-5 job.

Russ Moran - The Write Stuff from Long Island, New York on October 31, 2012:

Robert, this hub is a service to anyone out of work and in need of income. Unfortunately with our anemic jobs picture, many folks will have to be creative on ways to make an income. Your hub is a great assist in that direction.

Robert Erich (author) from California on October 30, 2012:

I am glad that you both enjoyed the article. It is amazing what random, useful ways there are out their for making a little extra income. I wish you both the best!

Richard Wayne Bobholz from Durham, North Carolina on October 30, 2012:

I didn't know about ODesk before, so that you! Hopefully I can put my spare time to use.

BigEd5857 on October 30, 2012:

Robert, thank you for a very helpful, informative Hub. Voted up and others.

Regards,