According to the Center for Financial Services Innovation, 57% of Americans are struggling financially, but between work, school, and other life obligations, it can be hard to find the time to supplement our existing incomes. Many of us are looking for smart but easy ways to relieve our financial burdens. Maybe you’re looking to expedite the saving process for a big investment like college tuition, a home mortgage, or a wedding. It could also be nice to treat yourself to a concert, wardrobe upgrade, or fancy dinner without feeling guilty. However you plan to save or spend it, we can all agree that extra money in your bank account is never a bad idea. Whether with physical goods or non-tangible skills, you likely have something to offer that you can in turn be compensated for. Sell your books, DVDs, and tech on Decluttr Decluttr is a free and easy way to sell your unwanted CDs, DVDs, games, Blu-Rays, books, LEGO, and tech. Its app turns your phone into a barcode scanner to make seeing the value of your items even more convenient. Shipping your box of unwanted stuff is free, and you’ll receive your payment quickly, on the next business day. Trade in your old electronics for cash and gift cards The following sites and retailers will buy back your old phones, tablets, laptops, game consoles and smart watches and give you either cash or a store gift card.
- Gazelle: Check, PayPal, or Amazon gift card
- Best Trade-in Program: Gift card
- HP Consumer Buyback Program: Check, gift card, or donation
- Target Trade-in Program: Gift card
- Walmart Gadgets to Gift Cards Program: Gift card
- Amazon Trade-in Program (includes books): Gift card
- Apple Trade-in Program: Gift card
- Stitch Fix: Give $20, get $25
- ThirdLove: Get $30
- True&Co: Give $15, get $15
- GREATS: Give $25, get $25
- Backcountry: Give $10, get $10
- Warp+Weft: Give $15, get $15
- AYR: Give $30, get $30
- Cotopaxi: Give $20, get $20
- EyeBuyDirect: Give $10, get $10
- MeUndies: Give 20% off, get $20
- Mahabis: Give 10% off, get 10% off
- Nisolo: Give $25, get $25
- Spring: Give $20, get $20
- BANDIER: Give $25, get $25
- Universal Standard: Get $25
- Leesa: Give $125, get $50
- The Bouqs Co.: Give $15, get $15
- Brooklinen: Give $25, get $25
- Snowe: Give $25, get $25
- Boxed: Give $15, get $15
- Jet: Get $10-$15
- Framebridge: Give $20, get $20
- Airbnb: Give $40, get $20 when they travel and $75 when they host
- Away: Give $20, get $20
- G-RO: Give $50, get $50
- Journy: Get one day fo travel planning
- Vinebox: Give $10, get $10
- Winc: Give $20, get up to $26
- Daily Harvest: Give 3 cups, get 3 cups
- Vitamin Packs: Give $20, get $20
- Scentbird: Give one month, get one month
- Skillshare: Give two months, get one month
- Wealthfront: Give $5,000 managed free, get $5,000 managed free
- Betterment: Give three months, get 30 days free (and an extra free year when your first three friends fund)
- Etsy: Join 1.8 million sellers in selling to nearly 30 million buyers worldwide. Etsy has a low transaction fee of 3.5% and your sales are deposited directly into your bank account. Jewelry, art prints, stationary, home goods, and craft supplies – anything is up for sale as long as it’s handmade or vintage.
- Society6: Selling on Society6 is as easy as uploading a high-res file, then setting your retail price and your profit for each art print type and size. The site will produce, package, and ship the product for you. You can also add a large variety of other products, including phone cases, clothing, home decor, and bed and bath products, which have pre-set royalty payouts.
- Minted: Creatives with a competitve side will like the community voting-based system of Minted. Submit your artwork to different challenges, and if you win, your design will be sold on Minted (they handle all production and shipping), and you’ll alos earn a Store where you can launch and sell designs using the Minted fulfillment platform.
- Skillshare: This site’s creative classes are especially robust. If you’re already in the creative business, teaching a class is an effective form of content marketing. Each month, between 30% and 50% of Skillshare’s Premium Membership revenue goes to a royalty pool for teachers, with top teachers making up to $40,000 a year.
- Udemy: Udemy is the world’s largest online learning marketplace and boasts a 24/7 Instructor Support Team. You can teach anything from software programs to novel writing. As long as you have the skills, you can teach them, while keeping up to 97% of revenue generated from your class.