Want to make money without leaving home during the coronavirus pandemic? Or do you want to figure out ways to make money online so that you can fund your travels when coronavirus subsides?

International Living—a website dedicated to helping people live and travel abroad—has issued an insightful report on 50 ways to make money in retirement.

The report is aimed at retirees who want to fund their lives overseas, but here’s the secret gem: Hidden between the advice on opening a gallery, becoming a tour guide or joining the craft beer revolution, you’ll find smart advice that anyone can use to make money online. “No matter your skill set, no matter what you do now or did in the past, there is an option that will align with your own skills and passions,” the InternationalLiving.com editors explain.

According to Jennifer Stevens, executive editor at International Living, the list is vast, but it isn’t comprehensive. “We created it to give people a sense for the scope of opportunity out there,” says Stevens. “We’ve written lots about the different ways expats abroad fund their lives. Sometimes it’s with online work—like writing or drop-shipping. Sometimes it’s in-person services they provide, from running a consignment store to wedding planning.

Certainly, the online opportunities provide great flexibility and portability. But it’s worth pointing out that business owners in many places tell us that it’s much easier to start a business abroad because it’s often less expensive and less bureaucratic than it is at home.”

Though it might seem like an unusual time to start a new career, Jeff Opdyke—the Prague-based editor of The Savvy Retiree and contributor to International Living—says that “it’s up to us to learn how to take back control of our own lives, of our lifestyles and our personal happiness.”

Opdyke also points out that for all the damage coronavirus has wrought and all the damage still to come, it might have some positive outcomes when it comes to the work world. “What this crisis is demonstrating is the capacity for so many workers to untether themselves from cubicles and work from home—or wherever,” he says.

“In the cold, corporate calculus of a post-corona world, I think we’re going to see an increasing number of visionary companies realize that there are vast cost savings to be had in letting workers work from wherever. There’s no need to pay the costs of running a cubicle farm when workers already have places they can work—their home, a coffee shop, wherever. And I think we will see increased productivity from this because workers will be motivated.”

So the lesson here is that while you might be working from home now, this might eventually translate into living and working abroad—and living the dream.

Opdyke’s advice? “Be as productive as you possibly can. Be over-productive. Step up your game so that when all of this over, you have some potential leverage to talk to your bosses about trying a work-at-home life. That’s assuming, of course, you like your work-at-home life. Not everyone will. But if you feel the freedom those of us working remotely feel, then now, amid this crisis, is a great opportunity for you to shine so that bosses take note.”

So whether you’re looking to live in a foreign country some day, just want to work from home in the current coronavirus environment or want to restructure your career to be able to work remotely forever, read on for 17 ways you can make money online. It’s valuable information to have during this current economic crisis—and beyond.

After that, we’ve got three creative money-making ideas from the International Living list that we dream about doing when the world gets back to normal.

1. Sell Your Photos

Do you have photo skills or live in an area where images are in demand? “Stock photography websites are huge repositories of photographs, covering almost every possible subject you could imagine,” advises International Living. So how does it work?

Photographers can upload their images to any one of a number of huge databases, allowing magazine editors, designers or any organization with a website to buy them. And the beauty of stock websites: Photos can be sold any number of times—so you can continue to make money without any effort. Photography sites to check out include Shutterstock and Getty Images.

2. Create How-To Videos

“In recent years, YouTube has grown into the go-to source for all manner of video courses and guides,” says International Living. “Instructors can monetize their videos by charging a subscription fee or password protecting content for paying customers only.” This article shares some tips from one real estate agent who made $100,000 in one month on YouTube.

Another piece of advice from International Living: Get to know the phrases that people search for. To find potential search phrases, start typing “how to [your topic]” into YouTube’s search bar and notice what phrases are generated in the auto-fill dropdown. Make sure to use the same keywords when you write your video title, description, and tags.

3. Become a Copywriter

Want to earn a great income no matter where you live—a house by the sea in Latin America, an historic European city or even on a Greek island? Copywriting could be ideal for you. According to International Living, “copywriting is a mega-industry, ripe with opportunity. And yearning for people who can fuel it with fresh marketing messages and one of the best benefits of the freelance copywriter’s lifestyle is that you can get paid in U.S. dollars…yet live virtually anywhere in the world.” Express Writers has tips on how to become a copywriter and is also a resource for jobs.

4. Teach English

“If you’re a native English speaker, you may not realize it, but you already have the number one qualification you need for a fun, portable income that can hand you a steady paycheck from anywhere in the world,” says International Living. Some resources include GoOverseas.com, TeachAway (teach English online to Chinese students), iTutorGroup (teach English online to Taiwanese children and adults) and English Hunt (teach English on the phone to adult students in Korea)

5. Turn Your Interests Into a Podcast That Pays

“Podcasting doesn’t have to be complicated,” says International Living. With a microphone, laptop and free recording software, you’ll be up and running. Plus, podcasts don’t need to run every day (once a week is best) and are better when they’re short. There are a number of ways to make money from a podcast. The most obvious is commercial sponsorship, but you can also use it as a platform to advertise your own products or services. NPR has a great guide to launching a podcast here.

6. Set up a Content and Web Development Business

Do you know how to do web and content development? You can offer these services to anyone via online tools that make developing beautiful websites a snap. Some resources include WordPress, Weebly and Joomla.

7. Become a Translator and Interpreter

Do you speak another language? Anywhere you find expat communities—and where English is not the first language—you’ll find a need for interpreting and translation services. You can also do translation and interpretation online. You’ll find a number of resources for being a translator or an interpreter here; one of the best is Welocalize, which ranked at the top of this list of the top 20 companies for remote jobs in 2020.

8. Try Drop-shipping

Have you heard of drop-shipping? It’s a method of retail where the seller doesn’t actually have a physical inventory. Instead, when a customer makes an order, you purchase the item from a third party, and they ship it directly to the customer. “This means you’ll never have to fork over a single dime to store your products or maintain your inventory,” advises International Living. “And you’ll never have to buy products in bulk, hoping to sell enough to recoup your investment.”

This method can be done with online selling platforms like eBay or Amazon. You can find out more about drop-shipping in this helpful article from Shopify.

9. Tutor

“Establishing your own tutoring service can be a lucrative business that provides you with a comfortable and flexible lifestyle,” advises International Living. “The best part of all, you can set up a tutoring business in almost any country in the world.”

A tip: Offer discounts to clients who promote your business. “Word-of-mouth marketing is still one of the most valuable marketing tools you can have when starting out,” advises International Living. The site Tutors.com has a list of the best online tutoring jobs, and you can also apply to be a tutor at Tutorme.com.

10. Become a Freelance Proofreader

Proofreading is another lucrative online career. “Most agencies will pay around 25% of the price of a translated document to a proofreader,” advises International Living. “Agencies charge about $75 for the translation of a five-page standard business document. So proofing the same document—which takes about an hour—pays out about $18 to $20.” You can work full time, part-time or around-the-clock. Mediabistro—a site that offers resources for media professionals—has tips on how to become a proofreader.

11. Type for Cash

Are you a fast typist? Transcribing is simple: Listen to an audio file through headphones and type it out. “As a transcriber, your pay is directly related to how fast you type,” advises International Living. “Transcription jobs are paid by the audio hour (the length of the audio file), rather than by the hour worked.

The time spent on a transcript is influenced by the audio quality, background noise, the accent of the speaker and the speed at which people speak.” The average transcriber—typing between 75 and 100 words per minute—will complete one audio hour in four hours worked. Consider the company Rev.com, which hires freelance transcribers.

12. Create a Money-Making Blog

Do you have an area of expertise? Share your advice on a blog. If travel is your area of expertise, think about what you have to offer: Are you an expert in luxury travel or budget travel? Can you share advice about certain activities like hiking or shopping? “The more specific you get, the easier it’ll be to attract an engaged audience and to earn money with your site,” advises International Living. The sites Squarespace and Wix have tips on how to create blogs and can also host them.

13. Tap Into the E-Book Business

The e-book business is a great way to earn money. You can create your own (Kindle has a guide for how to do it). Or find a book that’s already been published in print and license it to publish online. You can pay the author 8-15% royalties based on net sales or a one-time payment for the online publishing rights.

14. Set up an Online Course

Or go beyond writing an e-book and create a whole online course with tutorials, PDF downloads and videos. It’s a great way to create passive income because people will pay for the info and can go at their own pace or post questions related to the course in a dedicated group. Here’s one resource for creating and selling online courses: LearnWorlds, which makes it possible for anyone to profit from their knowledge and experience by creating an online program.

15. Become a Life Coach (or Even a Travel Coach)

“Life coaching is a thought-provoking and creative process that helps people focus on both personal and professional goals,” advises International Living. “People use life coaching to overcome fears, boost their self-confidence, create goals and instill success-oriented habits.” You can find thousands of online training programs on how to be a life coach, and many certification programs offer an entire website setup once training is completed.

If travel is your area of expertise, you can even become a travel coach. Read this story about a travel writer who became a travel coach.

16. Become an Audiobook Narrator

“Audiobooks are an increasingly popular form of entertainment. The convenience factor of smartphones has led to an industry boom,” advises International Living. “That’s creating a demand for freelance narrators.” This site has advice on learning how to become an audiobook narrator.

17. Internet Research and Surveys

Another way to make good money is by surfing the Internet in your spare time or filling out online surveys. “If you’re looking for a way to make an extra $1,000, $2,000 a month part-time—then Internet research is for you,” advises International Living.

Add the site Qmee to your browser, and if you click on a search result, you’ll earn money. You can also earn cash for taking Qmee surveys and sharing your opinions on brands. Other survey sites include SurveyBods, Survey Junkie and Valued Opinions. Another way to make a series of small cash rewards while on the go? With the new app Current, travelers can make up to an extra $600 a year by simply listening to music and performing various tasks.

Plus: 3 Travel Jobs that We Dream About

1. Farming and Living Off the Land

“Farming can be one of the most fulfilling lifestyles you can embark on,” advises International Living. “But many might dismiss it as too much hard work, or too expensive to get started.” That may be true in the US, but overseas there are opportunities that will make it easier than you think to live off the land—and you can make money while you’re at it.

It could be as simple as creating a veggie patch to feed the family and bring in a little extra cash at the local farmers’ market. Or you could oversee a large acreage of land that turns out big profits.

2. Run an Ecolodge

“In countries all around the world, expats have discovered the joys—and profit—of running an ecolodge,” advises International Living. “They’re taking advantage of a growing trend in ecotourism to fund their peaceful, nature-filled lives overseas—and they’ve discovered some of the most affordable, breathtaking destinations to do it.

Ecolodges are usually located in destinations that cater to tourists looking for nature-focused vacations and can be set up anywhere that is reachable by transport.

3. Try Cheesemaking

Who doesn’t love cheese? “Cheesemaking can be a satisfying and fun hobby, but beyond that, it can provide an income as well,” advises International Living. “In certain expat havens in Latin America, good cheese is in high demand.”

How to make money online: With the economy in turmoil and layoffs making headlines, it’s a question many people are asking right now, as they seek out new income streams. But the smartest people know that making money online is a great way to release you from the 9-to-5 and give you the freedom to travel the world or live anywhere you like

Take Rita Ting-Hopper, an immigrant from Hong Kong who was the first in her family to go to college. The former lawyer is the founder of Festi, a new consumer tech startup that helps people share and monetize their talents—from yoga and dance instructors hosting classes on Zoom while they are traveling to stay-at-home moms offering backyard yoga classes to celebrity chefs creating unique culinary experiences.

According to Ting-Hopper, the ideas are endless and some users have made over $30,000. “We’ve learned that following your passion can lead to self-employment instead of unemployment,” she says.

So read on to learn about a number of exciting new solutions for making money online—whether you want to make money from home or find ways to earn money and travel the world.

1. Convert your passion into money

A tool to help support the creator economy and the gig economy, Festi is an easy, fast and free way to earn money. Using Festi’s payment platform, creators can charge for online classes from anywhere at any time. “For example, if you are a fitness instructor and realize you have an hour to work out at the end of the day (or the next morning), you can post a pop-up workout (in person or on Zoom) and charge people to join you,” says founder Rita Ting-Hopper.

Two of the top users are Bolivian sisters Jaz and Gabriela, who post high-intensity dance fitness classes. “With Festi, you can turn any idea into a business by posting your offer in literally minutes,” says Ting-Hopper. “There is no need to create a website, figure out a payment system or chase down Venmos to get paid.”

 

2. Make music

Have some musical talent? Check out Songfinch, which makes it possible for anyone to earn money by writing and producing music. Founded in 2016, Songfinch is backed by big industry names including The Weeknd, Quincy Jones and Doja Cat. Here’s how it works: People can order a personalized one-of-a-kind song from a Songfinch artist, from birthday jingles to holiday tunes to anniversary odes. The songwriters work on their own timeline and retain the full rights to everything they create. Some Songfinch artists have been able to earn up to $80,000 in one year.

3. Become a virtual assistant

As a virtual assistant, you can offer administrative, technical or creative services to clients from the comfort of your own home. And guess what—it pays well. You can find virtual assistant job opportunities through websites like Flexjobs, 24/7 Virtual Assistants and Fancy Hands.

4. Write a book

Whether you’re burning to pen the next great American novel or just have an idea for an e-book that will teach someone how to do something, it’s easier to write a book than you think. Gone are the days of agents and book publishers.

These days, self-publishing has become simple and profitable, thanks to sites like Barnes & Noble Press (a free service that lets you sell print or ebooks to millions of readers), Blurb (which helps you create, print and sell professional-quality photo books) and Lulu (a print-on-demand platform with free tools to help create, publish and sell your story).

 

5. Offer freelance services

Writing, editing, graphic design, coding, digital marketing, admin work—whatever skill you have, the options are endless when it comes to freelancing. But how to get the word out there? You can easily offer services to clients around the world via a number of websites that allow users to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of finding freelance work from anywhere across the globe to grow your brand—and your dreams. Some of the best online talent solutions for connecting businesses with freelancers include Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer and Working Not Working.

6. Market your skills

Or perhaps your skills are more hands-on, from handyman work to cleaning to moving to home remodeling to something as simple as waiting in line. TaskRabbit is a platform that connects people with skilled professionals who can complete various tasks, while Airtasker is a company that acts as a marketplace for services providers. Unlike the traditional gig economy, Airtasker uses a flex economy model, with its “Taskers” working wherever and whenever they want and determining how much they want to get paid.

 

7. Share your internet bandwidth

Here’s an interesting way to earn passive income: Honeygain, an app that allows you to make money online by sharing your Internet connection. How does it work? Install the application and make sure that it’s running in the background; the app will do the work for you. The shared connection is used for various business cases, including ad verification, price comparison and brand protection.

According to Honeygain, the company takes privacy seriously and uses various encryption technologies to ensure that the data being transmitted through the platform is safe and protected. Users can increase their earnings by adding more devices and connecting them to different IP addresses, adding referrals, opening a “lucky pot” every day and participating in social media contests.

 

8. Get paid for your daily habits

The Mode Earn App enables people to earn passive income via their daily habits, such as listening to music, playing games, reading the news, shopping or watching videos, just to name a few. You just use your phone as normal and can earn $600 per year—or more—in supplemental income. There are 16 modes by which people can get paid.

 

9. Take surveys

These days, companies not only want to hear what you have to say—they want to pay you for sharing your thoughts on services, products and more. All you need to do is complete an online survey to get paid. Some of the best survey companies include Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Qmee and Cash Karma.

 

10. Take part in a focus group

Taking the survey concept to the next level, online focus groups are a great way to make money from home or while traveling. Check out some of the more lucrative opportunities through companies like Respondent and User Interviews, both of which screen applicants to make sure that they have some kind of an in-demand expertise.

11. Take care of animals

The number of pet owners exploded during the pandemic, opening up a wealth of opportunities for people who are good with animals and want to earn some quick cash by cuddling and walking other people’s pets. Rover is an app that connects pet owners with sitters or walkers for part-time gigs. You can set your own schedule, set preferences for pets you’re comfortable playing with and arrange hassle-free payments.

 

12. Sell handmade products

Artisanship is bigger than ever, so if you have a talent for crafting and making handmade products (jewelry, home decor, you name it), there are a number of ways to sell it online and reach a global audience. Etsy is a well-known marketplace for creatives looking to sell products they’ve made, as well as vintage goods. Some other similar but lesser-recognized platforms for makers include Uncommon Goods and Aftcra.

 

13. Sell textile designs

Then there’s Spoonflower, a global marketplace that’s revolutionizing the textile industry with on-demand digital printing technology, allowing makers and independent artists across the world to market their designs via online wallpaper, home decor, fabric and more.

 

14. Market your design work

Do you have a talent for creating fonts, graphics or illustrations? Check out Creative Market, an online marketplace for community-generated design assets. You can sell your designs and reach millions of buyers or promote other artists and earn cash.

 

15. Take your designs to the next level

If you have a gift for design or illustration, you can make money online by using sites that will put your work on products and sell them for you on demand. For instance, with CafePress and Zazzle, you can upload your own graphic designs or text to wall art, T-shirts, stationery, mugs, totes, stickers and more and earn a percentage of the sales.

 

16. Create and sell an app

If you have a great idea for an app, you can develop it yourself without having to hire a programmer or agency by using a site like Appy Pie, which helps anyone create applications, websites, chatbots and more on any internet-connected device. Once the app is finished, you can sell it on the App Store or Google Play Store. If the app is a hit, it can be a lucrative way to earn passive income.

17. Do online tutoring

If you have a teaching background or expertise in a particular subject, you can offer online tutoring services. A huge perk: You can work from anywhere and set your own schedule. Check out websites like Tutor.com, Preply and Cambly.

 

18. Offer consulting services

It’s not just students that need help. If you have expertise in a particular area—business, nutrition, fitness, life—it’s easy to offer one-on-one coaching or consulting services to individuals or businesses. In the old days, this would be done through Skype or other video conferencing platforms, but that meant a lot of coordinating and marketing. New online platforms like Kajabi make everything easier by helping entrepreneurs create and host coaching programs.

 

19. Create and sell a course

Why not take your expertise and convert it into passive income by creating an e-course? This way, you only have to do the work once and anyone can take—and pay for—your class on their own time. You can create and sell courses on platforms like Gumroad, Udemy and Teachable.

 

20. Check out your digital subscriptions

With Rocket Money, you’ll be saving money—which can add up to making real money online. This site shows all your subscriptions and can save users hundreds of dollars every year, just by finding and cancelling subscriptions that aren’t being used.

21. Become a (mock) juror

Talk about jury duty 2.0—now you can make money by being an online juror. A mock juror, that is. Here’s how it works: Attorneys hire mock juries to create an online focus group and see if their case will hold up in court. The place to find out about opportunities: OnlineVerdict or eJury.com.

 

22. Start a blog

If you have a passion for writing and there’s a particular topic that you’re knowledgeable about, starting a blog can be a great way to earn money online. By creating quality content and building up a large audience, you can monetize your blog through advertising, sponsorships and affiliate marketing. A few of the best blogging platforms include GoDaddy, SquareSpace and Wix.

 

23. Start vlogging

If you’re more into creating videos and vlogging than blogging, you could start a YouTube channel, which is a great way to earn money online. By creating quality content and building up a large subscriber base, you can monetize your channel through advertising and sponsorships. Some other good vlogging platforms: Twitch and Filmless.

 

24. Sell photos and videos online

If you have a talent for photography or videography, you can sell your work online through websites like Shutterstock, iStock or Adobe Stock. These platforms allow you to upload your photos and videos and earn a percentage of the sales.

 

25. Offer translation services

If you are fluent in multiple languages, offering translation services is a no-brainier. The best websites for finding translation gigs include Unbabel and Gengo.

26. Sell stuff

You’d be surprised by how much stuff hanging around your house you can sell online, from books and electronics to clothing and home goods. It’s easy to reach a wide audience by setting up a seller account on eBay. Facebook Marketplace allows users to buy and sell items in their local community.

And a lesser-known app, OfferUp, has modernized the Craigslist concept by allowing anyone to sell new or used items through its easy-to-use marketplace app. The streamlined process allows users to list an item on their phone in as little as 30 seconds. Although OfferUp gives users the choice to sell locally or nationwide, it mainly facilitates local transactions and sellers are normally paid in cash.

 

27. Start a dropshipping business

A dropshipping business allows you to sell products online without having to hold any inventory. You can set up a website and partner with suppliers who will handle the fulfillment of orders. A major clearinghouse for dropshipping is Shopify, which offers a one-stop solution.

 

28. Offer transcription services

If you have excellent typing skills and attention to detail, transcription is a great idea to consider. Sites like Rev and TranscribeMe hire freelancers to transcribe audio and video files into written documents, and—best of all—it can be done on your own time.

 

29. Offer proofreading and editing services

Are you a self-professed grammar geek or a former spelling bee champ? You can offer proofreading and editing services like reviewing written documents for errors and making necessary corrections. Find freelance opportunities on websites like ProofreadingPal and Gramlee.

30. Become a mystery shopper

Yes, it’s a thing. Sign up with Gigwalk, a mobile app that allows you to find quick jobs in your area posted by consumer brands and retailers looking for on-the-ground visibility into the conditions of their products or events. Most gigs require you to document your work and the product or event compliance (or noncompliance) through geo-tagged photos. A gig can take anywhere from five minutes to a few hours to complete, paying anywhere from $3 to $100.

 

31. Offer virtual event planning services

With the rise of remote work, many businesses and organizations are also creating virtual events. If you have experience with event planning, you can offer your services as a virtual event planner and help clients plan and execute successful online events.

 

32. Share your social media skills

Do you love TikTok and Instagram? Your social media skills might be marketable. There are not only businesses—but also individuals—looking for social media help.

 

33. Store stuff

If you’ve got an extra area that you’re not using like a garage or a basement, you can rent out the space through Neighbor and let people store their car or their junk. Then just watch the passive income roll in.