6. I sold unused frequent flyer miles
With the right credit card, you can earn between 1% and 5% cash back on most purchases and-even better-you get the peace of mind from knowing there is a buffer between you and a hacker who might get ahold of your card.
Yes, you typically are not liable for fraudulent purchases even with a debit card, but theres a difference: If someone puts charges on your debit card, that money comes right out of your bank account, and it may take several days for your bank to return the cash. In the meantime, you may be stuck unable to pay bills or, worse, charged overdraft fees for pre-scheduled withdrawals. (Youd likely be able to request these be refunded due to the fraud but, still, having a debit card compromised is a much bigger hassle than if it were a credit card.)
On a related note, if youve collected a substantial amount of frequent flyer miles, there are websites that will buy them from you. Like anytime you sell something to a third-party broker, you get far less than the miles are worth, but if you’re in debt, cash is far more important than a few frequent flyer miles.
I will say that this is a somewhat sketchy move, as the airlines prohibit it. I didn’t actually sell my miles; rather, I exchanged them for points that could be used for gift cards at places like Amazon. This site describes how selling frequent flyer miles works (and the risks).
7. I got freelancing gigs online
If you know your way around a computer, chances are you can earn a few extra bucks providing a service online. At the most tedious level, services like Amazons Mechanical Turk will pay you (mostly pennies) for transcribing audio, categorizing images, and other mundane tasks. Read more about 6. I sold unused frequent flyer miles …