If you’re looking to earn more cash on the side to help with expenses including the food shop and fuel, Soph has all the information you need to boost your bank balance
Looking to earn a bit of extra cash on top your regular 9-5 day job? Self-declared ‘Savvy Soph’ has come up with three “side hustles” to boost your income amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
“In January through to March [2024] I was unemployed and these things saved my life,” she admitted in a TikTok video. “I’ve carried on doing these things now that I have a proper job and it’s just a great way of earning that bit of extra income.”
With gas and electricty bills set to rise once more today (January 1) there’s no better time to take heed of Soph’s advice and getting acquainted with her top tips to earn more money.
Surveys
“The first one is probably the easiest and that’s surveys,” Soph explained. “Surveys are such an easy way to just get a little bit of extra money. Off the top of my head, my favourite survey apps are AttaPoll, Swagbucks, Qmee.”
Soph added that surveying is “ideal on commutes” or in the evening at home. “I get around 10p to 50p per survey,” she said. “It’s quite tedious, but so easy – you just answer questions and the money adds up. Even if it’s just an extra £30 to £40, that’s like a food shop or a bit of petrol.”
Mystery shopping
Soph described this process as “more fun” but at the same time “more time-consuming” than surveys, but added that an extra bonus is you tend to get “something for nothing”. She then highlighted websites, Serve Frist and Proinsight as sources of work.
“I did one for Victoria’s Secret where I got paid and I got a free bra,” she enthused. “I did one for NARS [Cosmetics] where I got paid and I also received a free foundation. Pay can go from £10 to £30, but you get that freebie as well.”
She added: “I’ve seen ones for petrol, restaurants… I’ve seen gyms – you can go to the gym for free.” Soph explained that the sign-up process is simple, just requiring a short form.
UGC [User-generated content]
“You’re proabbly going to roll your eyes, but UGC is simple,” Soph said, revealing her final recommendation. “If you don’t know what this is, it’s user-generated content, where you make videos for brands to post.”
Soph revealed that you don’t need a following or a social platform – you just need to be able to “shoot nice videos” and the brand will tell you exactly what they require. She closed: “Whether they want you in or out of the video – or they just want you taking pictures of their product, I just started by searching on TikTok how to start UGC and went from there. I made a portfolio, I filmed some random videos of products I already had at home.”
Scores of Soph’s followers were keen to ask for information, whilst others revealed how they’d made extra money themselves in similar ways. “If you aren’t signed up to it, I would recommend Amazon Preview as well!” one person exclaimed. “[You] get Amazon vouchers for reviewing new shows coming out!”
“I see so much on UGC but don’t know where to start!” added a second. “I’ll get doing some research! Thanks for the tips.” Whilst a third asked Soph for further information: “For the surveys apps, how do you get the money into your account? Is it legit? I’m always very sceptical? What sort of surveys are they?”
She responded: “You just withdraw it into your account/Paypal! All the ones in my bio I’ve used for years and are of course legit.”
