With the rising cost of living and wages lagging behind, many people are looking for ways to make ends meet.
Fortunately, with the technological advances we’ve seen in recent years, there are plenty of ways to make money other than working 9 to 5. In fact, some of them go very well with a full-time job.
Here are 10 money-making apps. All are available in Canada.
1. Airbnb
You’re probably already familiar with the famous Airbnb platform. Basically, it allows people to rent out an apartment, a house or a room. It’s very practical if you have an extra room where you can host an international student. It’s also an interesting option if you’re going on a trip for a few months and want to make the most of your home until you return.
If you don’t have space to rent but live in a tourist area, you can offer guided tours, such as excursions, city tours or personalized shopping sessions! In fact, Airbnb also provides a platform for offering activities for a fee that people pay through the platform. For example, you could offer a cooking class to show tourists in Quebec how to cook poutine or sucre à la crème!
2. Rakuten
This application lets you make money when you shop online. It offers cashback and discounts and is one of the most reputable applications of its kind.
To use it, all you have to do is create an account. Then, simply log into the application and click on the link to a participating merchant. Your purchases will be automatically recorded. They have over 2000 participating merchants, with discounts ranging from 1% to 40%. Discounts can be made via PayPal, a physical check or an Amazon gift card. So you can use the money as you see fit.
3. Swagbucks
Swagbucks also offers cash back, as well as money for taking surveys, browsing websites and playing games. There are also rewards for referring friends to the app. The application is, therefore, more varied and lets you make money without spending any.
4. Moka
Moka is an application that lets you invest! The app rounds up your bills and invests the difference. If you buy a book for $18, Moka will round up the expense to $20 and put $2 into an investment account. So you can make money in the long term. This can be a great solution if you’re having trouble saving! You can also use the money you save to pay your bills.
5. Uber Eats
If you have a car and like to drive but don’t have the social fibre to carry on conversations with passengers, Uber Eats can be a pleasant solution. As an Uber Eats driver, you deliver food to customers. Even if you don’t have a car, depending on where you live, you could be a bike delivery driver. You’d get some exercise at the same time! The Doordash app also makes it very easy to become a delivery driver.
6. Rover
Rover is a dream app for pet lovers! The app lets you connect with people who have pets and need help keeping or walking them.
If you dream of New York City’s famous dog-walkers, this app is for you. Payments are made via PayPal. It’s a great option if you love animals and can’t have your own or if you’re planning to adopt and want to get used to them gradually.
7. Upwork
It’s an application designed for freelancers, but there’s nothing to stop you from using it to earn extra money if you’re a salaried employee. You can offer specific services as a freelancer or take a look at the myriad of offers posted by potential customers.
You’ll find everything from copywriting and translation to design, programming, accounting and virtual assistance. While you may have to charge less at first to build up your clientele and credibility, you’ll soon be able to charge a standard fee for the tasks you perform.
8. Sweatcoin
With Sweatcoin, you earn money as you walk. As you accumulate steps, you can receive discounts or offers at participating merchants. You can also make donations to charities. There’s no real money in it, but it’s a great way to motivate yourself to get moving! It’s also a great app if you’re used to walking to work or shopping.
9. Swimply
The Swimply app lets you rent out your pool if you have one! When we were kids, friends with swimming pools were seen as millionaires when it came to the heatwave. Today, you can literally make money by renting out yours! Think about renting at a price that takes extra maintenance into account, and adjust your insurance if necessary.
10. Field Agent
Do you love to shop? Field Agent allows you to make the most of those hours spent in stores or online by completing tasks for companies. For example, you could act as a mystery shopper, take photos of in-store displays or answer surveys. You get paid in cash for all these tasks. So you’re not obliged to buy from the brands you complete tasks for.
Of course, with apps that essentially offer discounts and cashback, make sure you don’t end up spending more, as that would kind of negate the idea of earning more money. Go sparingly and stick to the products you need to buy anyway.
Also, make sure you keep everything in order because anything that can be considered income will have to be declared to the government at the end of the tax year. Depending on the total amount, you may have to pay taxes.