You constantly hear about the benefits of a side gig — but in reality, fitting one into your schedule isn't easy. By the time you actually leave work, the last thing you want to do in your spare time is work some more. The trick is finding something that doesn't even feel like work.
Thankfully, there are easy ways to earn money on your phone doing things that you're probably already doing. There are apps that will pay you for visiting a store or restaurant (you don't even need to buy anything) and others that will give you money and gift cards for watching movie trailers. Replacing your Candy Crush habit with one of these apps could help you earn a little cash each day, rather than spending it on more lives.
Really? Really. Click through to check out eight apps that can help you earn everywhere from $5 to $500 in a matter of minutes.
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If you like to shop:Perk
No matter where you are in the country, you can sign into Perk and find hundreds of shops, from Gap and H&M to Starbucks, that you can check into from your phone. Doing so earns you Perk points, which you can redeem for cash and gift cards from places including Amazon, Target, and Starbucks. It's every window-shopper's dream: Get rewards just for visiting a store. If you use it on your daily commute, you'll start raking up extra dollars in no time.
Photo: Courtesy Perk.
If you're a regular reader:BookScouter
Chances are, you have some books on your shelves that aren't keepers, whether they were quick beach reads or old textbooks. Now, you can sell them from your phone. Just enter the ISBN to see how much the book is worth. Then, pick the best option from over 30 buy-back sites and use the provided shipping label to send yours in for free.
Photo: Courtesy BookScouter.
If you like taking surveys:Swagbucks
If you were the kind of college kid who always signed up to take science studies for money, Swagbacks is your post-college solution. Create a profile, then take surveys from your phone that can take as little as three minutes. Doing so will earn you points that you can redeem for gift cards to Target, Amazon, and PayPal.
Photo: Courtesy Swagbucks.
If you're always taking photos: Snapwire andFoap
If you've mastered the art of iPhone photography, it's time to make some money from your shots. On apps such as Snapwire and Foap, you can create a profile of images and sell your photos. Alternatively, you can submit your photos to challenges from businesses and brands. Doing so can earn you everywhere from $25 to $500 in cold, hard cash.
Photo: Courtesy Snapwire.
If you like to eat out:Mobee
Mobee makes "mystery shopping" easy and safe. Just go to one of the app's many stores and restaurants, which include spots such as Chipotle and Whole Foods. Once there, accept the "mission" to review the store and answer five to 10 questions. After you've completed your undercover mission, you'll get points that you can trade in for iTunes, Sephora, Whole Foods, and AMC Theaters gift cards.
Photo: Courtesy Mobee.
If you're always watching music videos:AppTrailers
Watch Taylor Swift and earn money? That's the premise behind AppTrailers, which rewards you for watching music videos and movie trailers. Redeem your points for scratch cards or money into your PayPal account as well as Amazon, Starbucks, and iTunes gift cards.
Photo: Courtesy AppTrailers.
If you're a movie buff:Perk TV
You're already watching TV and movie trailers on your own, so you might as well get paid for it. Perk TV will give you points and tokens that you can exchange for gift cards to Chipotle, CVS, and Nike (or cash). The only downside of this app is that it can quit on you unexpectedly, which can be frustrating when you're trying to earn points.
Photo: Courtesy Perk TV.
If you're a frequent Instagrammer:LIKEtoKNOW.it
Becoming a LIKEtoKNOW.it influencer isn't easy, but it's definitely worth it if you get accepted. Parent company RewardStyle helps top-tier influencers turn their style and beauty prowess into money.
If your application is accepted — the company advises that you keep improving your social accounts and reapplying, even if you're rejected multiple times — you can easily tag brands featured in your posts and use the hashtag #LIKEtoKNOWit. Then, anyone can easily shop what you've included and you can earn commission from anything that they buy.
Photo: Courtesy Instagram/@kailee_wright.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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