It is only the very privileged few among us who are able to say that they are happy with their income. For most of us, we can be happy enough – but that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t accept an additional boost or two if it were to come along. As a result, the industry for providing people with a means of making money “in their spare time” is a booming one. It always has been, to an extent, with catalog sales and the ability to sell products to friends and family. However, there is no doubt that this is an industry that has found its home amidst the wild west of the internet.

Have a quick browse for money making ideas online and your first impression will probably be sheer horror. How can you possibly figure out which one of these is going to work for you? If you’re a keen gamer, you may be interested in sites and apps that allow you to play games for real money so that you will know you will be having fun with your time, as well as boosting your finances. However, while there are plenty of sites offering various methods to make money online, many of the options are versions of the same thing. Sites offer points for simple tasks such as completing surveys or watching videos. When these points (different sites may call their ‘points’ different names) accrue to a certain level, then you can redeem them for either gift card vouchers or money.

Upon viewing the sums available, a lot of people will wonder if it’s worth it. So maybe it’s time to examine this closer and see if it’s a viable way of bringing in extra cash for you – by examining the pros and cons. Because who doesn’t love a good pros and cons list?!

PRO: You Can Do It When You Want, For As Long As You Want

There’s no boss, there’s no management, there’s no scheduled hours that you have to be present for. You have got complete control of what you do and when you do it. If you don’t need as much extra cash one month, you can give yourself the month off. If you need more, then you can knuckle down that little bit harder. The flexibility makes these sites incredibly attractive.

CON: You Have To Control Your Expectations

The key to making money from these sites is, according to this review, managing your expectations. Don’t think that you’re going to be able to quit your job and work from home in your pajamas all day – it’s not going to happen. You have to have a robust grip on what’s happening and how much money you’re going to earn, or you could find yourself bitterly disappointed. Super bitterly disappointed. Ugh, I love that word.

PRO: You Don’t Have To Qualify

If you wanted to, you could head on over to your computer and start working right now. There’s no interview, no qualification process, nothing of that nature at all. In fact, just being you is all that’s required, especially when it comes to filling out surveys about your opinions.

Taking a survey, perhaps?

CON: The Returns May Not Be Worth It

If you calculate the amount of time you spend on these sites and then factor in your hourly rate, it might not be pleasant reading…Seriously, I have spent a half hour doing a survey that claims to take ten minutes and received a meager fifty cents from it. It was a BITTER disappointment!!

PRO: It’s (Almost) Passive Income

However, you can keep in mind that these tasks can be done while you’re occupied with something else. For sites that allow you to earn points from watching videos, you can just play the videos in the background while you are making your evening meal. The surveys may take more attention, but you can do them from your phone while you’re waiting for the bus. Being able to pick and choose when you participate can be really helpful.

CON: Sites Can Shut Down Unexpectedly

Let’s say you join a site and accrue a huge amount of points. You’re waiting to reach a certain cash out threshold, which will allow you to obtain a voucher to a certain financial value. This is a dangerous way of doing it. These sites don’t owe you anything; if they suddenly fold or go offline, then all of your hard-earned points are going to vanish with them. There’s not a chance that you’ll get them back.

So, be safe and smart with how you use your points. Cash out as soon as you meet the minimum payment threshold, even if you’d get more for your points by hanging on to reach a higher voucher target. It’s better to actually have the money in your hand than relying on the site to keep it safe for you!

PRO: The “Big” Sites Are Well Established, With Users You Can Talk To

If you’re confused about anything that you find regarding the website, you can talk to other users. Most sites will have some kind of forum system or their social media pages will allow users to connect with one another. And, more often than not, there will be someone to explain things further on any questions that you might have.

So online money making websites might not be the best way to earn some extra cash BUT if you control your expectations and manage your time wisely, you could end up with some gift cards and money for the movies in your pocket!

Featured Image By: Pexels