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How to Make $40 a Day (15+ Easy Ways in 2024)

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  September 19, 2022

While $40 a day may not sound like anything extraordinary, this amount of money can certainly have a strong impact on your finances.

Whether your goal is to reach financial freedom, or just keep your bills paid, it all starts with making $40 a day.

In this post, I'll explore how to make $40 a day, some tips to make money online, and much more. Let's get started.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Some of the best ways to make $40 a day include:
  • Blogging
  • Freelancing
  • Working as a virtual assistant
  • Proofreading

How Much is $40 a Day?

Making $40 a day is equivilent to earning $280 per week, $1,200 per month, or $14,400 per year.

While it's not quite enough to live off of, it's a significant amount of money that can help you pay off debt, save for an emergency fund, or invest for the future.

Best Ways to Make 40 Dollars a Day

Below are some of the best ways you can make $40 a day.

Blogging

Blogging is one of my favorite ways to earn money online without needing a ton of cash to get started.

The cost to start a blog is less than $200 per year, and you have the potential to earn thousands from your efforts.

To get started, you'll need to purchase a domain name and hosting.

I recommend purchasing your domain through Namecheap and hosting through SiteGround. These are some of the most affordable and top rated services on the market.

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Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Once you've secured your domain and hosting, you can install WordPress and start creating your blog.

Once your blog is up and running, you'll need to determine how you will gain traffic to your site.

There are many different traffic sources you can use but some of my favorites include:

  • Search engine optimization
  • Social media
  • Email marketing

Once you've formulated a plan to get traffic to your site, you'll want to think about how you will make money from your blog.

There are several different ways but some of my favorites include display ads, affiliate marketing, and selling digital products or online courses.

For example, one of my blogs is making over $5,000 a month in display ads alone!

Adthrive Earnings

In many cases, it will take 6 to 12 months before you start making money from your blog.

However, once you gain traffic your site can grow exponentially and become a very profitable business.

If you want to make $40 a day from your blog, be sure not to give up and keep pushing forward.

Blogging takes time! Don't expect to make $40 daily in just a week or two.

Freelance Writing

If you like to write, why not get paid to do it?

As a freelance writer, you can make great money and easily make $40 a day from your work.

There are many benefits of freelance writing including the ability to work from anywhere in the world, you can set your own rates and make as much as you want, and you can work the hours that you want.

It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?

It's not!

But how much can you make?

Ultimately it will depend on your skills, experience, and ability to negotiate rates – but many writers charge anywhere from $.10 to over $.50 per word.

This means a 1,000-word post could net you between $100 and $500!

According to ZipRecruiter, the average freelance writer earns around $32 per hour which is a decent income considering the benefits.

Freelance Writer Salary

I know many writers who make over $500 a day from their work so if you have a knack for writing, definitely consider this remote side hustle.

Work as a Virtual Assistant

Working as a virtual assistant is one of the best online jobs for people who don't necessarily have a ton of specialized skills.

They can complete a variety of tasks for businesses, such as updating content on a website, posting on social media, or even doing some basic customer service tasks.

And the pay can be extraordinary depending on your skills.

Those with more advanced skills like web design, development, or copywriting can charge upwards of $80 an hour while those with more entry-level skills can expect to make around $20 an hour.

Virtual Assistant Pay

If you want to make $40 a day from home, working as a virtual assistant is a perfect option you may want to consider.

To get started, you'll want to have a good understanding of what skills you offer and how you can help businesses.

For new virtual assistants, it's a good idea to niche down and offer several highly targeted services. It could be something like uploading content drafts to WordPress, or working as a Pinterest manager. This can help you to stand out from the rest and attract high-paying clients.

To find clients, you can start by searching freelance sites or reaching out to businesses directly.

If you're ready to become a virtual assistant but you aren't sure where to start, I recommend checking out Carrie's Virtual Assistant Accelerator course to learn everything you need to know!

Proofreading

Looking for an easy freelance job that pays well?

Proofreading could be a great option!

With this digital side hustle, you can make $40 a day (or more!) by simply reviewing and correcting errors in written content.

It's a relatively easy task that doesn't require any special skills or experience. All you need is a computer and internet connection to start.

Best of all, this is a high paying side hustle, with many positions offering over $20 per hour!

There are many online proofreading jobs available, and you can usually find work on freelance job boards like Upwork and Fiverr.

If you aren't sure where to start, I recommend checking out the Proofread Anywhere course to learn the ins and outs of getting started in the proofreading business.

Flipping

Making $40 a day by flipping is one of the most realistic ways to reach your goal.

There are thousands of different things you can flip but some of the most popular items include clothes, furniture, and electronics.

There are a few things you should keep in mind though:

  • It can be time-consuming – it takes time to find items to flip
  • You might not make a profit – there's always the chance you'll sell an item for less than you paid for it
  • You need to be patient – it can take some time to find the right buyer for your item

Despite the risks, flipping can be a great way to earn some extra cash.

One of the best techniques that I've found is browsing for free items on Facebook Marketplace and selling them for a 100% profit.

Many people will post their things they want to get rid of which is a great opportunity for you.

Flipping is all about effort. The more time you spend sourcing inventory and flipping items, the more money you can make.

Investing

Investing a critical step in your journey to financial freedom. If you want to become rich, retire early, or just make more money – you need to invest.

While some people may think investing is only for the rich, this couldn't be further from the truth.

With platforms like Fundrise and Acorns, you can start investing with as little as $10.

If you want to make passive income and earn money while you sleep, investing is essential.

While you won't make money fast, it's a great tool to build wealth over time.

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Delivering Food with Doordash

If you have a car or truck and want to make extra cash, delivering food with Doordash can be a great option.

With this delivery side hustle, you'll earn money by delivering food to people in your area.

The best part of this gig is that you can work whenever you want and make as much money as you want.

Doordash pays out weekly, so you can easily make $40 a day or more if you work during peak hours.

The average pay is around $16 per hour, but it's possible to earn more in some cities.

Average Doordash Pay

To get started, simply sign up for Doordash below and start taking orders in your area.

With Doordash you can set your own schedule and work when you want. Earn over $20 per hour today!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Instacart Shoppers App

Deliver Groceries with Instacart

Looking for another way to get paid to drive?

Consider delivering groceries with Instacart!

With Instacart you'll get paid to deliver groceries to people in your area.

However that's not the only way to make money.

If you don't have a vehicle, or you don't want to make deliveries, you can also work as an in-store shopper.

This gig involves going to the store and picking out groceries for customers.

It's a great way to make some extra money if you don't mind doing a little shopping.

To get started, simply sign up for Instacart below and start taking orders in your area.

With Instacart you can work your own hours and get paid to deliver groceries!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Start a YouTube Channel

If you have a passion for content creation, starting a YouTube channel is a perfect side hustle you can start without much money.

Similar to blogging, it can take some time for you to grow your channel and make money, but it is possible to make $40 a day once you get some traction.

You can create a YouTube channel about anything.

Check out Kevin's YouTube channel about gardening. He has over 1.9 million subscribers!

Epic Gardening YouTube Channel

However, it's important to choose a niche that you're passionate about so you can build a loyal following.

If you can grow your channel and start getting a consistent number of views, you can make money through YouTube ads and sponsorship deals.

Kevin recently raised over $17 million in financing from his portfolio of assets so if you're willing to put in the work, this can be one of the most lucrative money making ideas out there!

Check out the video below to learn how you can grow a YouTube channel!

Take Paid Surveys

While taking online surveys isn't going to make you rich by any means, it can be an excellent way to pad your income and easily make $10 a day online.

As a bonus, most sites will offer some free money just for joining (usually $5 – $10) so there's no reason not to give them a try.

Some of the highest paying survey sites include:

The key here is more about what you do with your money.

If you want to make $40 a day from your earnings, instead of spending it – you should invest it so you can earn even more money.

Another benefit of using survey sites is that they usually offer several different ways to earn money.

For example, with Swagbucks you can make money by playing games, shopping online, and more.

With SurveyJunkie, you can make money by participating in paid focus groups. With these, you can earn over $150 so it's worth trying.

Rent Out Space in Your Home

If you have some space in your home that you aren't using, consider renting it out on a platform like Neighbor.com to earn cash.

Neighbor lets you rent anything from garage space, to parking space, and even closet space to people in your area.

The amount you can earn will vary depending on the area and the type of space you're renting, but it's a great way to make some extra money if you have some extra space.

To get started, simply sign up for Neighbor.com here and list your space.

Complete Odd Jobs

Odd jobs can be a great source of income, and you can easily make $150 fast with just one gig.

To find work you can check out websites like Taskrabbit or the NextDoor app.

These platforms usually have a variety of odd jobs available, from yard work to dog walking.

If you have some free time and want to make more money, consider working odd jobs.

Pet Sitting

Pet sitting is a great passive income side hustle that can make you some extra cash on the side.

The pay can be great considering the work you have to do is extremely low. Most pet sitters can earn $50 a day or more! Talk about some easy money!

You can use an app like Rover to find jobs in your area or you can post your services on platforms like NextDoor or Craigslist.

Start Pet Sitting!

Work a Part Time Job

Working a part time job isn't the most fun way to make $40 a day, but it's one of the most reliable.

Finding a part time job is easy, and most pay over $15 per hour. This means you'll just need to work a little less than 3 hours to reach your goal.

Start a Business

Everyone dreams of becoming their own boss, and it's actually easier than you probably think!

There are many different businesses you can start with just a little cash that can easily earn you $40 a day or more.

For example, service based companies like a pressure washing business or a carpet cleaning business can be started for less than $1,000 and you can easily earn a few hundred dollars per project.

Now, starting and growing a business isn't easy by any means, but it can be a great way to earn an extra $40 a day (or much more).

Sell Stock Photos

If you have a passion for photography and love taking pictures, why not make passive income by selling them online through stock photo sites?

There are many different sites you can host your photos on, but the most popular ones are Shutterstock, iStockPhoto, and Getty Images.

The process is simple – just upload your photos and set a price. When someone purchases one of your photos you'll earn a commission.

For example, this Reddit user has made over $1000 a month from selling stock photography as a side hustle.

Selling Stock Photos Reddit

It's not uncommon to make over $100 per day from selling stock photos online.

You can find good photography equipment for relatively cheap these days, so you don't need to invest a lot of money to start making money with this method.

Final Thoughts on How to Make $40 a Day

Making $40 a day can have a huge impact on your finances, no matter what your goals are.

With 64% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, making an extra $40 a day can make all the difference.

If you're not sure where to get started, I recommend passive income ideas like blogging, investing, or affiliate marketing. These won't be the quickest methods, but they'll set you up for long term success.

If you need money faster, I recommend working odd jobs, picking up a part time job, or working as a freelancer to make money.

While it might seem difficult, making $40 daily is easier than you think. If you're willing to put in some work, you'll reach your goal in no time!

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
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