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I Tried Making $500/Day Using These 12 Side Hustles

Introduction

I recently came across a YouTube video by Joshua sharing some intriguing side hustles that claim you can make $ 500 a day using just your phone. Skeptical of the claims, I decided to put his methods to the test. In this article, I'll detail my journey trying to earn $ 500 in just 24 hours. If I succeed, I'll have to eat an onion and donate my earnings to a random commenter.

Side Hustle 1: Selling Stool to Human Microbes

The first side hustle I explored was selling stool samples to a company called Human Microbes. Yes, you read that right—they pay for your poop! However, this option was limited to residents of the USA and Canada, making it unavailable to me as a European. Total earnings so far: $ 0.

Side Hustle 2: Selling Stock Photography

Next, I ventured into the world of stock photography on iStock. The site features photos that can sell for upwards of $ 350 each. Given that I have traveled extensively and have a collection of great photos, I uploaded around 150 images. Unfortunately, I found out later that none had sold. While I did receive 17 likes and a new follower, it still amounted to zero dollars.

Side Hustle 3: Being a Virtual Friend

Then, I tried out Pawpaw, an app that connects you with people looking for virtual friends. That did not work for me either, as the app requires a US phone number.

Side Hustle 4: Cashback for Everyday Purchases

Next up was Upside, an app that offers cashback on everyday purchases like gas. Unfortunately, since I don't own a car, this option was useless for me.

Side Hustle 5: Field Agent

Field Agent is a crowd-sourcing app where users complete various tasks for businesses. In my case, I found a Dutch alternative called "Be My Eye." The first task involved conducting an audit of tomatoes in a nearby grocery store. With my phone battery about to die, I spent over 30 minutes snapping photos before getting approached by a store employee. Despite the awkwardness, I completed the task and earned my first $ 5 after submission.

Side Hustle 6: Selling Study Notes

Next, I explored Study Pool, where you can upload and sell your notes. However, since I'm no longer a student, this avenue was dead in the water.

Side Hustle 7: Outsourcing Thumbnail Design

While many YouTubers outsource thumbnail creation, I personally rely on a thumbnail expert, making this option impractical for me.

Side Hustle 8: Lime Scooters

Lime scooters are common in many cities, but unfortunately, they're banned in Amsterdam.

Earnings Update

After completing the tomato mission, I was still far from my $ 500 goal but managed to make my first $ 5. As expected, I had bought too many tomatoes with no clear purpose other than fulfilling the task and creating more commotion.

The Last Resort: Low Content Books

Finally, I looked into creating low-content books, like journals or coloring books. I didn't have time to create one from scratch, but I decided to promote my Notion templates. This required some cheating, as I'd count my Notion sales toward the $ 500 goal.

Final Thoughts: Searching for More Side Hustles

Determined to explore all options available, I conducted extensive research and scoured various online platforms for side hustles that could actually yield instant cash. I found several options:

  1. Toloka: Earn money by performing online micro-tasks. Although each task pays only a few cents, they can add up quickly.
  2. Google Opinion Rewards: This app rewards you for completing surveys, paying between $ 0.10-$ 0.50. However, earning potential is limited.
  3. Field Agent/Be My Eye again showed high earning potential of $ 10-$ 20 per hour, which was my best bet for reaching my monetary goal.

While I didn’t hit the $ 500 mark, I learned it is possible to earn around $ 180 in one day with consistent effort. Since I didn't eat that onion, I'm giving away $ 180 to a random commenter, so leave a nice comment below to enter!

Keywords

  • Joshua Mayo
  • Side Hustles
  • $ 500 a day
  • Human Microbes
  • Stock Photography
  • Virtual Friend
  • Cashback
  • Field Agent
  • Low Content Books
  • Toloka
  • Google Opinion Rewards

FAQ

Q: Did you earn $ 500 using the side hustles?
A: No, I earned around $ 180 but learned it is possible to earn money with the right side hustles.

Q: What was the easiest side hustle that worked for you?
A: The best-performing hustle was Be My Eye (or Field Agent) which had a decent earning potential.

Q: Are the side hustles recommended by Joshua Mayo legit?
A: Some of the side hustles worked, while others weren't applicable to my situation. It's important to research each opportunity.

Q: Can anyone participate in these side hustles?
A: Most of these side hustles have specific requirements, such as location or age. Always read the terms and conditions before signing up.

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