As parents, we wear a lot of hats—caregiver, chef, chauffeur, tutor… and the list goes on. But what if you could add “extra income earner” to that list, without piling on more stress or needing extra skills? Whether you’re saving for your child’s next birthday party, tackling rising grocery bills, or just want a little extra breathing room in the family budget, finding ways to make some extra cash from home can be a game-changer.
This guide is designed for busy moms and dads who don’t have hours to spare but could really use an extra few hundred dollars a month. Inside, you’ll find 7 simple, beginner-friendly methods to potentially earn $20 to $40 a day—no special training or experience required. These flexible options are perfect for working around naptimes, school pickups, or even late-night hustle sessions after the kids are in bed.
Because let’s be honest: parenting is hard enough. But knowing how to make extra money online shouldn’t be. Here are 7 easy and legit methods that I think are worth a try.
Why This Works
- No upfront investment is needed
- Works worldwide (availability may vary)
- Flexible – work in your free time
- Small daily earnings add up over time
1. Get Paid to Play Games
If you love mobile or computer games, certain platforms pay you in cash or gift cards for trying out games.
Best Platforms for Gaming Rewards
- Mistplay – Earn points for playing mobile games, redeemable for gift cards.
- InboxDollars – Play free games and earn cash.
- Swagbucks Live – Play trivia games and earn rewards.
How Much Can You Earn?
- Mistplay: Earn $5–$10 gift cards per day (varies by playtime).
- InboxDollars: Earn $5 for 30 minutes of gameplay.
- Combine platforms to reach $10–$20 daily.
Tips for Maximizing Earnings
- Play consistently to accumulate points
- Look for bonus games with double points
- Combine gaming with surveys for faster payouts
2. Earn Money Completing Small Gigs on Reddit
Certain Reddit communities offer quick jobs that pay $10–$20 per gig.
Best Subreddits for Online Gigs
- r/ForHire – Find online gigs like writing, design, and data entry.
- r/SlaveLabour – Offers quick, small-paying tasks.
Example of Earnings
- $20 for a quick graphic design gig (use Canva or AI tools)
- $10 for proofreading 500 words (use ChatGPT for editing)
- $30 in 1.5 hours with two simple tasks
Tips for Faster Earnings
- Respond quickly to job posts (first come, first serve)
- Build relationships with gig posters for repeat work
- Use PayPal for easy payments
3. Get Paid to Test Websites & Apps
Companies pay for user feedback on websites, apps, and software.
Best Platforms for Website Testing
- UserTesting – Earn $10 for 20-minute tests, paid via PayPal.
- PlaytestCloud – Test mobile games, earn $9 per test.
- Userlytics – Pays $5–$50 per test (depends on complexity).
Example of Earnings
- 1 UserTesting session (20 min) → $10
- 1 PlaytestCloud game review (20 min) → $9
- Total: $19 in 40 minutes
Tips
- Sign up on multiple platforms to increase test availability
- Set email alerts for new test opportunities
- Follow instructions carefully to qualify for more tests
4. Earn by Watching Videos & Ads
This is one of the easiest ways to earn extra cash. Certain sites pay users to watch short videos and ads.
Best Platforms for Watching Videos
- Swagbucks – Watch ads and earn 1–2 SB points per video.
- InboxDollars – Earn cash for watching sponsored content.
- MyPoints – Get paid for video ads and surveys.
Example of Earnings
- 10 videos per day = 10 SB points (~$1–$2 per 10 videos)
- Watching ads while completing other tasks = Faster $10/day
Tips
- Watch videos on multiple platforms simultaneously
- Complete surveys while watching to earn faster
- Check for higher-paying “bonus” videos
5. Earn with Online Surveys
Paid survey sites reward users for sharing their opinions.
Best Survey Platforms
- Survey Junkie – Pays $0.50–$3 per survey.
- Branded Surveys – Earn cash and gift cards.
- Pinecone Research – Pays $3 per survey.
Example of Earnings
- 4 surveys on Survey Junkie = $2 each = $8
- 1 Branded Survey (15 min) = $2
- Total: $10 in 1 hour
Tips
- Sign up for multiple survey sites
- Complete demographic surveys for higher-paying surveys
- Be honest – some surveys track consistency
6. Get Paid for Microtasks
Microtasking sites pay users for simple tasks like data entry, image tagging, and transcription.
Best Microtask Websites
- Clickworker – Earn $2–$5 per hour.
- Amazon MTurk – Earn $5 per hour (AI training, data entry).
Example of Earnings
- 2 hours on Clickworker = $5/hour = $10
- 1 hour on Amazon MTurk = $5
- Total: $15 in 3 hours
Tips
- Choose higher-paying tasks like transcription
- Sign up for multiple microtask platforms
- Increase speed with practice for higher earnings
7. Earn Big with Online Focus Groups
Focus groups pay users higher rates for opinions on products or services.
Best Platforms for Focus Groups
- User Interviews – Pays $20–$100 per session.
- Respondent – Pays $5–$300 per study.
- FocusGroup.com – Offers high-paying consumer studies.
Example of Earnings
- 1 User Interview session (20 min) → $15
- 1 Respondent interview (30 min) → $25
- Total: $40 in under an hour
Time to get to work
Remember, the key to boosting your daily earnings is flexibility and consistency. Don’t be afraid to combine multiple methods to maximize your income—what works during nap time might be different from what fits into a lunch break.
Signing up for several platforms gives you more opportunities to land quick and easy tasks, and setting up email alerts means you’ll be first in line for the higher-paying gigs (we all know how fast those can go!). The best part? You can start today.
Please take these services with a grain of salt. While they all offer what they say, it’s far from instant. I have tried most of the sites listed above and had some success. But for the most part, it can take weeks or even months to build up $20. But if you have several of these streams going it can help out with soccer fees, a family pizza night, or just easing the monthly budget crunch. Every little bit counts, especially these days.
Enjoyed this post, here are a few others you can check out:
Best Productivity Tools for Dads
Empowering Parents: Top Websites for Remote Job Opportunities
