Remember when you resolved back in January to reach a certain financial goal in 2024? Maybe you wanted more savings or to afford a few things on your wishlist. The ordeal of those resolutions often calls for patience.
However, summer can be a good time for a quick financial review, while there’s still time to make adjustments if you’re falling behind on your goal. Passive incomes, found mostly in the form of side hustles, offer a loophole to the challenging world of less income and hence, the slow journey to fulfilling your plans.
When I was first asked to explore the opportunities available for extra money, I was reminded of how challenging it can be to find honest work in Africa without a long-term commitment. Closer to home, we often rely on connections to get ahead. This, combined with a lower adoption of technology, can limit opportunities. However, side hustles offer a way to break through these barriers.
Unlike part-time jobs that involve lengthy application processes, side hustles emphasize flexibility and short-term commitments, making them ideal for supplementing your full-time income, if you have one. With the internet becoming an essential part of our lives, you can take advantage of global opportunities to make money on your terms. Who knows, it might even turn into your full-time career. Without further ado, here are a few options for extra money this summer, especially if you have extra time.
Survey-Taking
Survey-taking is a simple, low-stress route to earn extra money during your summer downtime, especially if you live in an area with limited opportunities. With a computer or smartphone, you can relax on your couch, log into survey sites like Surveys On The Go, InboxDollars, or Swagbucks, and start earning money to share your opinions. However, the ease of use comes with low earning potential. You may not qualify for every survey, and earnings are often in the form of points redeemable through PayPal or as gift car.
Online Freelancing
A more lucrative way to use your summer free time at home is through Amazon Mechanical Turk. This marketplace allows “requesters” to offer a set fee for tasks best completed by a human, ranging from data validation to audio transcription. While this requires more commitment than answering surveys, it has a higher earning potential, with tasks paying anywhere from less than $1 to $10, $20, or more. If you have a skillset you’d like to capitalize on or gain more experience in, consider signing up for an on-demand task service like Upwork or Fiverr. Users list tasks they are skilled in, such as graphic design, language translation, or programming. Fiverr focuses on quick turnaround jobs starting at $5. Although you won’t incur the costs of starting a freelance business from scratch, you will need to build your brand and portfolio to attract clients.
Become a Narrator
You might be thinking, “I need a good voice for this.” But you don’t. The uniqueness of your voice is what makes it special. If you enjoy reading aloud and can maintain a consistent tone or even voice multiple characters, this line of work is perfect for you. Visit websites like ACX or Voices.com, where thousands of books are added daily. You can apply to narrate the books that interest you. Some books pay $100 an hour and require 10 or more hours of recording. If you do the math, that’s $1,000 per book.
In addition to upfront payments, some books offer royalty payments – you earn a percentage of each audiobook sale. For instance, if a book costs $5 and your royalty rate is 10%, selling 2,000 copies would earn you $1,000. The best part about royalties is that they provide long-term income. As long as the book sells over the next 10–15 years, you’ll receive monthly royalty checks.
This can create a steady stream of passive income, making audiobook narration a rewarding side hustle.
Drop Shipping Business
Starting a drop shipping business can be a smart and profitable venture for anyone with determination and savvy. If you conduct thorough research, execute your plan wisely, prioritize customer satisfaction, and manage your finances responsibly, you could see substantial earnings within a few months. Imagine making a few thousand dollars in just a couple of months!
The global drop shipping market is valued at $301.11 billion in 2024, marking a 23.7% increase from the previous year. Experts predict an average annual growth rate of 24.39% for drop shipping between 2020 and 2026, with the industry expected to reach nearly $500 billion by 2026.
However, the rise in popularity of dropshipping has been partly fueled by online creators promoting “get rich quick” schemes. It’s important to remember that, like any other business, dropshipping requires time, effort, and investment for success. It is not an overnight venture.
For those unfamiliar with drop shipping, here’s a quick explanation: you resell another company’s products, such as earphones or electronics, to your customers under your brand name. This means your buyers may not even know where the product originated. You earn money from the difference between the wholesale price you pay the manufacturer and the retail price you set for your customers.
The best part is you don’t need to keep inventory or store products at your home. The manufacturer typically handles that. For example, you might purchase a bulk order of 100 sportswear items, which the manufacturer will store for you. You then find buyers through various means, such as friends, neighbors, online platforms like Amazon or eBay, or your own e-commerce website, reaching a global audience.
Once you have buyers, you instruct the manufacturer to ship the products directly to them, often right to their doorstep. If each sportswear item costs you $5 to buy and you sell it for $20, you’ll make $15 per item. You only need to sell a fraction of your inventory to break even. All of this can be done without leaving your computer. You connect buyers to the manufacturer, and since they go through you, you keep the profit. How does that sound?
Before starting, you’ll need to do some additional research. Ensure you have the time and commitment for this venture and find a reliable supplier — Alibaba is a great resource for inexpensive products from China. Verify the supplier’s credibility to avoid scams and ensure timely delivery of products in good condition with your brand and information displayed clearly.
Consider payment methods and other logistical details, and confirm there is market demand for your product and that you can sell enough to at least break even.
Review Websites and Apps for Cash
If you’re handy with a web browser, why not turn your skills into a paid, enjoyable job? Check out Clicks for Research and Checkealos, platforms that pay regular people to review various websites or apps. Each review takes about 30 minutes and earns you $10 via PayPal.
Simply sign up, complete a test review, and start receiving website review opportunities in your inbox.
Write and Publish a Kindle eBook
Students excel at researching and writing, so why not capitalize on those skills? With the Amazon Kindle store, anyone can publish an eBook and make money. The Kindle app is available on almost any device— laptops, iPads, smartphones, and of course, Kindles—giving you access to a vast global market.
Set the price of your book between $1 and $15, and you’ll earn 70% of each sale. Selling 100 copies at an average price of $10 would net you around $700. With Amazon’s vast reach and the continuous demand for new content, this is a fantastic opportunity.
The key to eBook success is offering valuable content and concentrating on non-fiction topics that meet genuine needs and interests. By bundling researched information on a common problem (e.g., secrets to fighting off anxiety) and presenting it in an easy-to-digest format, you justify the cost to the reader.
Moreover, if you’re a brilliant storyteller who can craft a viral narrative, you might land an official deal to publish more books. A great cover design is essential for standing out, and getting reviews is crucial for visibility in search results. Encourage readers to leave an honest review at the end of your book.
The best part about this venture is that once you’ve invested the time (around 20 hours), you can earn passive income for years. There are many other ways to make money during the summer break, however, geographic restrictions can limit some opportunities.
The crucial note is that you can still reach your dreams with these passive income gigs with good internet, time, and a side hustle that matches your skills. And remember, “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a lot of ice cream, which is pretty much the same thing during the summer!”
