Summary

The author shares their personal experiences with six different methods of making money from home, including selling on Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace, participating in an MLM, freelancing on platforms like UpWork and Fiverr, using Swagbucks, and writing on Medium, providing insights into the effectiveness and potential drawbacks of each.

Abstract

The article titled "6 Ways I Have Tried To Make Money At Home (Which Worked and Which Sucked)" is a candid account of the author's journey to earn extra income. The author begins by acknowledging the universal desire for easy money-making methods and then delves into a detailed review of six ventures they have personally explored. These include selling items on Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace, engaging in multi-level marketing (MLM), freelancing via UpWork, Fiverr, and Freelancer, earning through Swagbucks, and writing on Medium. The author reflects on the success and challenges of each method, offering a verdict on whether they would recommend it to others. While some methods like Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace are recommended for their effectiveness in generating quick cash, others like Swagbucks are deemed not worth the time due to the slow accumulation of rewards. The author also shares their mixed experiences with an MLM and freelancing platforms, emphasizing the importance of having specialized skills for the latter. Writing on Medium stands out as the most enjoyable and fulfilling method, despite not being the most lucrative. The article concludes by encouraging readers to experiment with different money-making strategies to find what works best for them.

Opinions

Poshmark: Recommended for quick cash, especially if you have many items to sell, but not a sustainable long-term income source unless you transition into buying inventory to resell.
Facebook Marketplace: A good option for selling locally, particularly for in-demand items like furniture, name-brand clothing, electronics, and baby gear.
MLM: Not generally recommended due to the common pitfall of spending more on inventory than what is earned in commissions. However, the author found it enjoyable and made some profit due to not needing to hold inventory and already using the products.
UpWork/Fiverr/Freelancer: The author expresses frustration with the platforms due to spam and low-paying job offers, but acknowledges that those with specialized skills might find more legitimate opportunities.
Swagbucks: Considered not recommended because earning enough points for gift cards is time-consuming, and it's not a source of cash income.
Medium: Highly recommended for those who enjoy writing, as it provides a supportive community and the potential to earn money, though it may not be substantial.

6 Ways I Have Tried To Make Money At Home (Which Worked and Which Sucked)

I’m not a millionaire yet, but…

Get rich quick!

(Well, not exactly.)

Let’s be real: most of us would love an easy way to make some extra money.

I know I would!

The problem is, earning cash is rarely easy.

Of course, that hasn’t stopped me from trying to find the path of least resistance — or rather, the least difficult way to earn money at home.

I posted before about my experience with selling online:

8 Things I Did When I (Successfully) Started Selling Online

It went better than expected.

medium.com

That story mostly contained information regarding my experience with Poshmark. Today, I would like to review that, plus five other endeavours I have tried.

Get ready for the good, the bad, and the ugly — and why I would or would not recommend each one!

Poshmark

You can read more about my experience with Poshmark at the link above, but let me recap quickly: I signed up for the website and app, listed my own gently-used items (mostly clothing), and made around $400 my first month. I continue to sell items there from time to time.

Verdict: Recommended for a temporary boost in cash, if you have enough items to get rid of. However, you will eventually run out of things to sell, unless you begin “sourcing” from discount stores and garage sales (in which case, it’s now a business. Time to pay taxes!)

Facebook Marketplace

One man’s junk is another (local) man’s treasure!

Marketplace can be a great way to unload your extra clutter…if you know which items are in demand.

A quick Google search will give you an idea of top sellers, including:

Furniture (even older items that can be revamped or restored) Clothing (name-brand items in particular) Electronics Pet Supplies (I sold two crates in two days!) Baby Gear Children’s Toys Sports Equipment

Verdict: Recommended in a pinch. Not a long-term commitment, so a good way to test the waters if “selling” holds your interest.

An MLM

Yeah, yeah. I know. Stereotypical housewife here, right?

In my defense…I signed up because I already used and loved the product in question, and because I was not required to keep any inventory on hand.

This differs from many MLMs, where the “stylist” or “consultant” has to purchase stock themselves to sell off. It is a big reason why people warn you against MLMs — they will often cost you more than you make.

For myself, for the first year, I kept a strict spreadsheet of expenses vs commissions, to ensure I didn’t fall into that trap.

I still belong to the MLM, but it isn’t a huge money-maker for me. I made about $2,000 in 2022, and only $900 in all of 2023. But it’s fun.

Verdict: Not recommended, despite my relatively good experience. The exception would be if you already use the products involved and would benefit from the discount.

UpWork/Fiverr/Freelancer

I joined these sites just over three weeks ago, and I am already annoyed.

O-M-G, is there so much SPAM on there! And people want to pay pennies on the dollar for your work!

I have completed one small job and earned about $11.00.

I have also received about 70 spam messages in my various inboxes.

No thank you.

Verdict: Meh? If you have unique, specialized skills, I have heard that you are more likely to get legitimate offers. Otherwise, I would steer clear.

Swagbucks

This one is in the process of messing with my sanity.

Unless you regularly shop with one of their affiliates, it takes so long to earn enough points for any of their gift card options. (Yes, they pay in gift cards, not cash).

Verdict: Not recommended. If you like to play games online for way too long, it might be a different story.

(Ask me how I know this)

And that brings us to here…

Medium.

This has certainly been the most enjoyable way that I have attempted to make extra cash, if not the most lucrative.

I have earned over $45 in 15 days, which is honestly more than I expected. And I love the support of the community, and the value that others’ work has brought to my life.

It isn’t just about the money here.

Verdict: Obviously recommended, if you love writing and have the time to commit to it!

Conclusion:

There are many ways to earn extra money at home and online — some are just better than others.

While I have made suggestions based on my experiences, the best way to figure out what works for you is to simply try.

You won’t know what you can do until you put in some effort!

Have you tried to make money at home? What ways have you tried? Did it work for you?