Though chronic illness can affect each of us differently, dealing with it is never easy. For many, the unpredictability of symptoms causes great hardship and makes it nearly impossible to commit to a “9 to 5” sort of job.
Luckily, the internet has opened up a number of options for those of us who are struggling with a chronic illness. Though it’s true that there are a lot of work-at-home scams floating around on the web, there are plenty of legitimate opportunities to make money as well!
Here are 5 ways to earn some cash when you have a chronic illness.
- Freelance
There are a variety of freelancing gigs available online, some of which require minimal skills and little commitment. Many freelancing opportunities are very short-term, whereas others offer anywhere from a few months to a year or more of work.
Freelancing often requires you to do much of your work online or from a computer, making it ideal for those who can’t work away from home or in a workplace environment. There’s usually more flexibility with scheduling, allowing those with a chronic illness to work when they’re able to and take a break when necessary.
To get started on freelancing, browse a couple of the well-known freelance websites to get a better idea of the type of skills employers are searching for. Two of the best are Upwork.com and Guru.com. Though there are a lot of freelancers competing for gigs, new jobs pop up all the time and you’ll often have a better chance of getting hired if you apply quickly.
Keep an eye out for new listings on freelance sites and log in to the websites daily for the best results. Don’t forget to keep your profile updated as well, so employers can find you based on your skills and experience.
- Blog
It can take quite a while before blogging makes you any money, but it’s still a worthwhile venture. If you enjoy writing or sharing your experiences, blogging is a great hobby that can evolve into a money-maker. It takes persistence, as you’ll need to create blog posts on a regular basis, as well as spend some time learning about affiliate marketing and ways to build an audience.
Affiliate marketing is how most bloggers make money, but some also offer e-books and services related to the topic of their blog. Before starting a blog, it’s important to sit down and plan who your target audience will be and how affiliate marketing will tie into the topic of your blog. For example, a recipe blogger might share affiliate links to websites selling food they used for a dish.
If a reader clicks on the link and makes a purchase, the blogger may receive a percentage of the sale. This helps support the cost of running a blog (web hosting fees) and if they get enough followers who are purchasing through their links, it can become a decent source of income.
- Earn Cash-Back
Apps can help you earn some extra cash in a variety of ways. One of the easiest methods is to make money by earning cash back on your purchases. Cash back apps tend to work one of two ways: you scan your receipt from a recent shopping trip or you shop online through the app itself.
Here are a couple of my favorite cash back apps:
Ibotta is very simple to use and the cash back stacks up quickly. A lot of the offers are for in-store purchases of everyday items, most commonly groceries, but you can also earn cash back from online retailers through the app. To keep things interesting, there are usually limited time bonuses that allow you to earn even more.
You can earn cash back from shopping at 284 different stores and for in-store purchases you simply need to search for the store on the app, browse through the app to select a product you’ve purchased, and then scan your receipt. After you earn at least $20, you can convert your earnings into a gift card or transfer your cash to PayPal or Venmo.
Best of all, you can sign up here and receive a free signup bonus of $10.
Though Ebates has an app, you can also use Ebates on your web browser on your computer. There’s even an add-on button for your web browser, which is useful for those who use the computer more often than tablets or smartphones. Unlike Ibotta, Ebates is best used for earning cash back on online purchases.
In-store offers are available through Ebates but you have to add your credit card to your account to redeem them. Similar to Ibotta, Ebates has limited time offers (for example, double cash back). When a store has a promo code or sale going on, Ebates lists the promo codes so you’ll get some extra savings without having to clip coupons or spend time searching for a deal.
To receive cash back, all you have to do is select a store and then use the link through Ebates to shop. Shortly after you’re done, Ebates will add the cash back to your account and your balance will be sent out to you quarterly, either by mail or through PayPal.
Sign up here to earn a bonus of $10 on your first purchase.
- Use Other Apps
There are other apps that can help you earn money as well, most of which ask you to complete simple tasks like creating video reviews in a store. One example is ProductTube. With the ProductTube app, you’ll receive opportunities to participate in video reviews in exchange for Amazon gift cards.
First you’ll complete a short survey for qualification purposes and if approved for the task, you’ll be told where to go and/or what to review. Most need to be done in stores, but sometimes they’ll ask you to review a particular product if you own it (for example, a specific type of cellphone). For in-store tasks, you’re usually asked to provide your opinion on products or displays.
Once your video is approved, you’ll be sent an Amazon gift card via email. It’s as simple as that!
- Participate In Market Research
By using a website such as InspiredOpinions, you can earn some money by participating in market research surveys. After signing up on InspiredOpinions and completing your profile, you’ll be contacted via email as surveys become available. Some surveys pay between $100 and $300.
Most of the surveys are conducted over the phone but there are in person opportunities available as well, in certain areas. Each time you’re contacted about a survey, you’ll have to follow a link in the email to complete a qualification questionnaire. If eligible, you’ll be contacted within 48 hours to complete the survey.
Have you tried any of the above with good results or do you have any recommendations you’d like to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!
♡Sasprig♡ 