As COVID-19 continues to drastically change our lifestyles, many adults and teens have taken a financial hit either through layoffs or pay cuts. As the financial health of the country is in peril, the individual family is facing the brunt of an economy that is entering what is called bear-market territory.

And while safety, not making money is the top priority in the current climate, should you find yourself looking for methods to make a little extra cash right now, here are a few ideas.

Keep the following types of no-contact money transfers in mind as you peruse through these ideas:

• Venmo, the app 
• Apple Pay
• Through your bank account

Tutoring 

With AP exams and finals coming up, many students could use some peer-tutoring. If you have any old prep books or material to help students study, use those to your advantage. If you are going to tutor for AP exams, make sure you are working off of the College Board’s standards and working with your peers based on official materials. 

For finals, make a summarization of the year’s curriculum and deliver it unit by unit to refresh whoever your tutoring’s memory. For an hour, try $15, and multiply it as you increase the hours. 

Sell your old things online

I know for a fact that many of us have cleaned out our room purely out of boredom. Should you find anything you consider to be trash, but others may find useful, sell it online. eBay is your friend, or maybe you prefer dePOP or Poshmark. Just make sure to disinfect the object you’re selling and its packaging before you ship it. 

Ideas for items to sell include: 

• Old test prep books
• Clothing
• Office supplies
• Furniture
• Technology
• Art supplies
• Books

Sign up with DoorDash or Postmates

Should you and your guardians believe this to be a safe option, any 18-year-old driver can sign up with both these companies and make money based on deliveries. 

With take-out being the only available option for restaurants, most people are relying on food delivery from DoorDash and Postmates. As a result, they are overwhelmed with orders and need help. Those who sign up can make over $12 an hour, and that’s excluding tips. Also, if you are doing this as a way to make extra money, make sure to wear the proper personal protection equipment to keep you and the delivery clients safe. 

Run an online fitness class

For the athletes and gym-addicts in quarantine, this might be a great idea for you. I know I am personally guilty of indulging midnight cravings a little more than usual. Even my TikTok-derived mantra of, “You’re not hungry, you’re just bored,” no longer seems to be working. Those experiencing a similar struggle would really benefit from a weekly dance class, weight-lifting class, yoga class, etc. 

Share your athleticism and experience with your peers, and make some money in the meantime. 

Work on some DIY projects, and then sell them

For the artsy folks out there, this idea might work for you. While you’re sitting at home bored, maybe try painting shoes, jeans, or plant pots, making a dreamcatcher, creating digital birthday and anniversary cards, knitting a scarf, etc. Should you be the type to have lots of creative energy, this activity might be a good outlet. Create and sell. You might even begin to see how your products make another person smile during these tough times. Etsy, Ebay — these are all good outlets to use.

Make podcasts based on paid requests

Those of you who are technology gurus can whip up a podcast on your computer at home. Ask your friends and family if they have a request for you, and you can produce a personal podcast based on their idea for a certain price. Just make sure you credit them for their ideas. That’s what DJ Jess McGuire did, and so far, she’s been pretty successful. 

Stand-up comedy live-streams

I’ve heard the line, “I’d be a great stand-up comedian” from people all the time. Let’s see if anybody actually meant it. If you have a funny bone, pick up a pencil and paper, put together a routine and live stream it on social media. Maybe charge $2 – $5 per person, and see how much you make. If you’re really funny, you might be able to do this more than once. 

Calling all my makeup kings and queens

Let’s face facts, there are three types of people in this world: makeup masters, mediocre artists, and the ignorant. Personally, I am a mediocre artist, and would love a guiding hand to show me the way. Makeup masters, you have an opportunity to educate the uncultured masses on how to create a look that doesn’t make your contouring look like you got some cheap plastic surgery. 

College consultations

Seniors, congratulations: you’ve made it through the hell of college applications. With our newly acquired knowledge of the collegiate process, we can help our blissfully ignorant juniors with how to present yourself as professionally as possible. 

From essays to resumes to portfolios, anything juniors can do now to build their application will only help them their senior year. Take the time to work with your junior friends interested in getting started with the process now, and charge them a fee while you’re at it. 

These are just some ideas for anybody looking to make a quick buck. Just remember to be safe, legal, and aware of your mental health. And for anyone who is able to do these tasks for free, you would be providing your community with some much-needed comedy and compassion.