Some online “opportunities” are not worth the hassle.
John Loo/Flickr
Making money online sounds appealing but it’s not always worth the effort.
Online surveys are only worth it if you have a lot of time on your hands.
If an offer to make money online sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
The idea of
making money online
without having to leave your couch is appealing. But while the internet is a great place to do business, it’s teeming with “opportunities” that aren’t worth your while. In extreme cases, they can take more than they give.
I asked three people to share their worst experiences trying to make money on the internet and what they’d recommend instead.
1. Online surveys
Surveys are a ubiquitous way to earn money online, and many personal finance websites recommend them. But unless you have a lot of time on your hands and no other options, they likely won’t be worth the effort.
“They take up so much time, and you literally only earn pennies [per survey],” said Jennifer Jackson, a
Millennial transition coach
. “I earned a whopping $5 after three hours of work.”
That’s a dismal $1.66 per hour, which is better than another Student Loan Hero writer did when
testing online survey websites
; she earned just $1.18 per hour. Jackson recommended looking for online and in-person focus groups instead.