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Need a little extra cash? Don’t go looking for a new job just yet. Chances are, there are several items in your house that you can sell to make money fast.

We put together a list of items you can offload to make some extra cash, including:

Best things to sell for cash
Household items
Things you can sell online
Tips on where to sell them
FAQs

Quick take: What can I sell to make money? Your stuff!

Americans have way too much crap, but also tend to be broke, with little cash savings despite garages, closets and basements full of unused clutter. 

If you’re broke, take a hard look at things you don’t use or like, and sell them for cash. In my research, the items that fetch the most cash quickly include jewelry, silver and gold, electronics, sports equipment and vehicles. 

So, if you are wondering what can I sell to make money, look around you for the answer.

Best things to sell

All of the items on these lists can be sold on popular selling platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay — or at an old-fashioned garage sale.

We also list for each one item-specific places you can sell your stuff to make money:

1. Cars

Sell your car using an online classifieds site like Craigslist, or keep things simple and park the vehicle in your front yard with a large “FOR SALE” sign on top. You can also get cash for junk cars through sites like Peddle, Autotrader and Carvana. Plus, you can get cash for your junk car. 

Where to sell:

• Peddle
• Autotrader
• Vroom
• Carvana
• CarMax
• eBay Motors

Or, you can get cash out of your car — or lower monthly payments — by refinancing your auto loan. Bonus: you could skip payments for up to 90 days.

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• Vehicle Criteria: Under 10 Years/150K Miles

Get a refi quote from Auto Credit Express in 30 seconds >>

Need a ride you can afford, read out post on 6 ways to get a free or low-cost car.

Where can I sell my car for the most money?

2. Jewelry

If you’re hoping to resell jewelry online, you can expect to earn back around 30% of the original purchase price — more for fine jewelry (like Van Cleef, Tiffany's, Cartier, Harry Winston, and David Yurman) in good condition. 

If you have the creative gene, look for custom charms manufacturers like Monterey Custom Charms for super unique enamel charms for bracelets and necklaces. Awesome quality, easy to resell, and build your side hustle.

Costume jewelry has virtually no value. However, sterling silver jewelry, gold jewelry, and diamond jewelry — including diamond tennis bracelets, gold chains, watches, necklaces and earrings — may fetch you some cash.

Where to sell:

• CashforGoldUSA.com or CashforSilverUSA.com
• The Real Real 
• Jewelry auctions
• Local jewelers 
• Pawnbrokers

When it comes to selling jewelry online, our No. 1 choice is CashforGoldUSA.com and its sister site CashforSilverUSA.com, for a few reasons: 

• Better Business Bureau A+ rating
• Payouts within 24 hours
• 10% bonus if you ship within 7 days
• Price match guarantee
• Free return guarantee
• Insured up to $150,000 by Lloyds of London while held (plus up to $5,000 through Jewelers Mutual Insurance while in transit)

Read our CashforGoldUSA review and get a quote with CashforGoldUSA now >>

CashforGoldUSA buys diamond engagement rings and antique and estate jewelry.

Don't want to sell your jewelry? You could also get a loan on jewelry. Diamond Banc lends up to $500,000 on jewelry, including watches. Read our Diamond Banc review and get a quote now from Diamond Banc >>

3. Gold

Gold jewelry and gold coins are good things to sell to make money online — and you can also sell gold bullion, gold scrap, and raw gold. 

Austin Coin Buyers is a trusted option for people looking to sell gold coins and other precious metals in the Austin area.

Learn more about how gold is valued and the best way to sell it.

Where to sell:

• Online buyer CashforGoldUSA.com
• Pawn shops 
• Local jewelry stores

15 coins worth money: Do you have any at your house?

4. Silver

There are likely more silver pieces hiding in your home than you might think — including items such as silver flatware, silver jewelry, medals, pins, and U.S. silver coins minted before the 1960s. 

As of , the silver resale value in the United States was at per ounce, or  per gram.

Where to sell:

• CashforSilverUSA.com
• Pawn shops 
• Auction houses 

Coin machines and more: 9 ways to cash in coins

5. Watches

Before you list your old watch online or sell your Rolex to a pawn shop, do your research. Look online to see how much similar watches recently sold for on eBay or another resale site. You can also sell an old Apple Watch, or trade it in at the Apple store or Best Buy.

Where to sell:

• CashforGoldUSA.com
• Worthy
• myGemma
• Pawn shops 
• Auction houses 

6. Your wedding dress

If your wedding gown is in good condition and isn’t more than a couple of years old, you should be able to earn back a good percentage of its retail price — especially for dresses from top-name designers like Vera Wang and Monique Lhullier. 

Gown reseller Still White estimates the resale value of a $5,000 2019 Vera Wang wedding dress at $2,760. For a lower-end designer such as Maggie Sottero, you’ll likely be able to earn around $560 for a dress originally priced at $1,200. Consider having the gown professionally cleaned before you list it.

Where to sell:

• Nearly Newlywed
• Tradesy 
• Still White 
• Vinted 
• Local and online consignment shops

7. Books

You can sell all genres of books online, everything from textbooks to children’s books. Clear out your bookshelves and offload old books onto a digital selling platform or bring them into a local used bookstore.

Where to sell:

• Thriftbooks
• Amazon
• BookScouter 
• Local used bookstores 

8. Bikes

Whether you have a colorful children’s bike or a professional road bike, chances are there’s someone out there who would love to purchase your bicycle. Grab any set of wheels that’s collecting dust in the garage and list it online. 

Where to sell:

• Bike Exchange 
• OfferUp
• PinkBike Marketplace
• The Pro’s Closet

9. Tools

For tools that are in good condition, you may be able to get as much as 80-90% of the original price. Drills and saws seem to be in especially high demand. 

Where to sell:

• SawMillCreek
• Ruby Lane (for antique tools)
• OfferUp
• Pawn shops 
• Auction houses 

10. Clothes you no longer wear

Is your closet overflowing with clothes? Clear out any old clothes you haven’t worn in six months or longer. 

One easy way to keep track is to hang up your clothes with the hanger hook facing toward you. When you wear something, put it back with the hanger facing away. Anything left facing toward you at the end of a year (or any time period you set) can be sold. 

Where to sell:

• Poshmark
• ThredUp
• Mercari
• Vinted
• Plato’s Closet 
• Search for local consignment shops “near me”

Household items to sell for quick cash

11. Baby items

Strollers, pack n plays, clothes, toys, high chairs, baby gates, baby swings, cribs… It’s no secret that babies come with a long list of accessories and equipment. Make money online by reselling the items you’re finished using.

Where to sell:

• Once Upon A Child
• Kid to Kid 
• Plato's Closet 
• WeePea

12. Children’s clothes and toys

Children’s clothes are an easy thing to sell — and since kids typically outgrow things fast, your child’s closet is likely full of items that could pick up a few bucks each.

Where to sell:

• Once Upon A Child
• Kid to Kid 
• Plato's Closet 
• WeePea

13. Furniture

Big-ticket furniture items like an old couch, dresser, or kitchen table and chairs will move quickly online if they’re in good condition.

Where to sell:

• OfferUp
• Chairish
• Sotheby’s Home 
• Route 66 Furniture
• Remoov 
• Recycler 

Learn more about how to sell used furniture and furniture donation.

14. Kitchen gadgets and appliances

You’ll probably need to keep your refrigerator and stove (unless you want to replace them). But smaller appliances can fetch a nice chunk of cash on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. Think about items you don’t use on a regular basis, such as a juicer, coffee maker, toaster, blender, or air fryer.

Where to sell:

• 5Miles
• OfferUp
• Shpock 

Learn more about selling appliances.

15. Fitness equipment

If you’re asking yourself, “What can I sell to make money?” — and a lot of it — pieces of fitness equipment are great high-value items to sell. The bigger the piece, the more money you’re likely to make — a nice treadmill could get $300-500 online. 

Where to sell:

• OfferUp
• Bonanza
• WeBuyGymEquipment

16. Lawn and garden equipment

Lawn mowers, leaf blowers, rakes, and smaller items like gloves and hand trowels can all be resold online.

Where to sell:

• OfferUp
• Bonanza
• Tradyo 

17. Old cellphones

Your old cellphone might be worth some money. Even a broken phone can be sold or traded in for cash. Some phone plans will buy back your phone or let you exchange it for a discounted new one.

Where you could sell:

• Amazon
• OfferUp
• uSell
• ecoATM
• Best Buy

SellCell guarantees the best price for your phone. See what your old phone is worth now >>

18. Old computers, tablets and ebook readers

If you have additional electronics lying around, these are fair game, too. Think about any computers (desktop or laptop), tablets and ebook readers (such as Amazon Kindles) you may own. Don’t forget their accessories, too — like an external computer keyboard or mouse.

Where to sell:

• Amazon
• OfferUp
• Gazelle
• NextWorth 

19 easy and legit ways to get free gift cards

19. Video game consoles and games

If your kids have outgrown their video games, sell the equipment to make some extra cash. While most video games aren’t worth much, some can command thousands of dollars — and you never know what’s hiding in your spare room.

Where to sell:

• Amazon
• OfferUp
• Gameflip 
• The Old School Game Vault

20. Sell scrap for cash

Pieces of scrap metal (think aluminum, brass, or steel) can be sold for cash. Some of the most common scrap metal items you might find around the house include aluminum cans, car batteries, and cast iron. You can also go metal detecting.

Where to sell:

• CashforGoldUSA
• Liberty Gold and Silver
• JM Bullion
• OfferUp

Where to find a “scrap yard near me” to sell scrap metal

Things to sell to make money online

21. Purses and accessories

Ladies, clean out those purses you never use and list them online or at a local consignment store. Accessories like scarves and sunglasses can also make you some money.

Where to sell:

• Plato's Closet 
• Poshmark
• ThredUp
• Vinted
• Style Encore

22. Sneakers/running shoes

One of the best things to sell to make quick cash: your shoes! If you have a pair of running shoes from a well-known brand that are in good condition, you can sell these online.

Where to sell:

• Poshmark
• ThredUp
• Vinted
• Plato's Closet 

23. Sports equipment

Parents, kids, and athletes of all ages are always looking for used sports equipment they can buy to cut down on costs for the season. Both large items such as a pitchback net and smaller items like a baseball glove will sell. Don’t overlook that bucket of golf balls — it will sell, too.

Where to sell:

• Play It Again Sports
• SidelineSwap
• OfferUp

24. Backpacks and hiking gear

You might be able to earn back about half the retail value of the hiking gear you recently bought for one trip. Old backpacks are good things to sell, too.

Where to sell:

• Vinted
• GearTrade
• OfferUp

25. Musical items

You can sell instruments, sheet music, and other gear (like guitar pedals or amps) online. Make sure any old band instruments are clean and in good condition.

Where to sell:

• Music Go Round
• Reverb
• Estate sales
• Flea markets

26. Collectibles

A collectible is any item that’s worth much more than it was initially sold for (typically because it’s rare and/or popular). Vinyl records, comic books, and stamps are examples of common collectibles. 

Where to sell:

• CashforGoldUSA (if the item contains gold, silver, or platinum)
• Etsy
• Estate sales
• Flea markets

27. Home decor

Your home decor items (things like paintings, rugs, and other decorative items) can be resold online if they’re in good condition. 

Where to sell:

• Chairish
• Poshmark
• OfferUp

28. Holiday decorations

Christmas, Easter, Halloween, even Valentine’s Day — the holiday decorations you stuff in your attic and use once a year could bring in some cash online.

Where to sell:

• Chairish
• OfferUp
• Poshmark

29. Printables

If you’re looking for easy things to sell, printables might be the perfect fit. Use a free design tool like Canva to design and create printables such as planners, trackers, journal pages, coloring sheets, or stationery. Then sell them online.

Where to sell:

• Teachers Pay Teachers
• Etsy
• Amazon

30. ebooks

If you have a talent for writing, write a short ebook and sell it online. Pick a topic you’re interested in — something you can talk about with expertise and that a certain audience will enjoy.

Where to sell:

• Etsy
• PayHip
• Blurb
• Teachers Pay Teachers
• Amazon
• Google Play

31. Your spare room

Do you have an extra bedroom or a furnished basement? Set up a profile with AirBnB or VRBO to offer your spare room as a short-term rental for travelers passing through.

Where to sell:

• AirBnB
• 5Miles
• OfferUp

Home Exchange review: How does house swapping work?

32. Your services

The things you can sell don’t necessarily have to be material things. Think about your talents and how you can monetize them. Are you a great artist or graphic designer? Can you build custom furniture pieces? You can also do freelance work as a virtual assistant, proofreader, or bookkeeper. 

Where to sell:

• 5Miles
• Upwork
• Steady
• Fiverr

You can also consider donating blood plasma for money.

Also check out our post on the best side hustles.

What are the best items to resell?

Reselling is a great way to earn extra income. As a reseller, you’ll buy an item upfront for a reasonable price, then markup the price and sell it yourself. The markups may be small or significant, depending on what you’re selling. 

Here are the best items to resell:

33. Jewelry

Many people have unwanted or broken gold, silver, platinum, and other fine jewelry that is worth its scrap metal value. Likewise, if you have designer jewelry, you can sell or auction it for a potentially significant payout. 

Even costume jewelry can turn a profit if you have enough of it. Check estate sales, wholesale suppliers, and even family and friends to source your jewelry.

Where to resell:

• CashforGoldUSA
• CashforSilverUSA
• DiamondsUSA
• TheRealReal
• Ebay
• Vestiaire Collective
• Jewelry store

34. Vintage jewelry

You can find antique and vintage jewelry such as earrings, brooches, necklaces, cameo pendants, and rings at yard sales, estate sales, antique shops, and online sites like ebay. 

Where to resell:

• Etsy
• Ruby Lane
• Vestiaire Collective

35. Engagement rings

If you have gotten divorced and no longer want your engagement ring, you can sell it for cash. 

Where to resell:

• DiamondsUSA
• TheRealReal
• Vestiaire Collective
• Etsy

36. Antiques

According to IBIS World, a provider of research data across multiple industries, the antique market size is on a steady incline. It’s grown over 13% between 2018 and 2023 and is a $2.8 billion industry. You can source antiques from garage sales, antique dealers, and online sites like ebay.

Where to resell:

• Ebay
• Consignment shops
• Flea markets
• Auctions

37. Household furniture

You can get used or like-new furniture from places like overstock warehouses, Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore. If you don’t have a truck to pick up the furniture, you’ll have to rent one. You’ll also need a place to store them until they sell.

Where to resell:

• Chairish
• Craigslist
• Facebook Marketplace
• OfferUp

38. Clearance items

Go to the clearance section of any store (in-person and online) to get steep discounts on all types of merchandise. Seasonal items are often 50% off or more once the season has passed, and you can clean up on items and resell them next year when they are in demand.

Where to resell:

• Amazon
• Ebay
• Facebook Marketplace

What are the best resell sites?

• Amazon — As the world’s largest online retailer, this platform is ideal for selling merchandise of all kinds, but it’s best for selling home and kitchen goods, beauty/personal care items, clothing, accessories, toys, and electronics. 
• ebay — ebay is both an auction website and marketplace for small and large goods. Registered users can sell just about anything, from earbuds to motorcycles. It’s a great site for selling electronics, smartphone accessories, toys, collectibles, jewelry, clothing, and furniture.
• Poshmark — Poshmark is a social marketplace for selling secondhand or like-new clothing, home goods, electronics, beauty items, and pet accessories.
• Facebook Marketplace — This is Facebook’s ecommerce platform where you can sell items locally or ship them. It’s a good place to sell vehicles, electronics, clothing, and home goods like furniture and kitchen appliances.
• Etsy — Etsy is a global online marketplace focused on supporting small businesses. While Etsy sellers tend to offer custom, handcrafted, and homemade goods, it’s also a place to sell vintage items, jewelry, furniture, and decorative pieces for the home.
• Mercari — An online marketplace that allows you to sell easily from an app on your smartphone or through a web browser. It’s a great site to sell items locally or via shipping. Popular items to sell include electronics, clothing, handbags, vintage items, home goods, smartphones, and video games.
• thredUP — An online consignment shop, thredUP allows you to sell clothing and handbags of all kinds, from vintage to luxury.
• The RealReal — A luxury consignment marketplace where you can resell items from brands like Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. It’s a good place to sell jewelry, clothing, and watches.
• Craigslist —A classifieds website where people can advertise items for sale. It’s an option for selling vehicles, furniture, jewelry and more. Be aware that people using Craigslist are often looking for a steep bargain, so it might not be the right place for reselling high-end items. 

39. Sell internet data

If you’re looking for modern ways to earn extra cash online, you can also sell internet data and earn money by sharing your unused bandwidth through trusted apps and platforms. Many people have internet capacity they don’t fully use, and certain services allow you to securely share a portion of that connection in exchange for rewards or payments. While it won’t replace a full-time income, it can be an easy passive way to generate a little extra money each month.

Where to sell:

• Peer-to-peer bandwidth sharing apps
• Data monetization platforms
• Passive income apps that reward internet sharing

Want to sell stuff right from your smartphone and get paid quickly? Check out 21 apps for selling stuff online or “near me”

FAQs

What can I sell to make money in one day?

You can sell clothing, jewelry, purses, electronics, bicycles, and other things around your house through platforms where you can meet up with a buyer the same day like Craigslist, ebay, and Facebook marketplace.

Designer clothing and accessories will fetch a higher profit, but there is also a great demand for baby clothing (it’s a multi-billion-dollar business).

What can I sell to make money fast?

You can sell gold, silver, diamonds, and other fine jewelry quickly at a local jewelry store, pawn shop, or through an online cash for gold buyer. CashforGoldUSA is our top choice for selling precious metals online.

What are the easiest things to flip for profit?

The easiest things to flip for profit are clearance items. Since you can buy them at a hefty discount, you increase your potential to make money if you price them just right and sell at the right time. You can post the items on a resale app like Mercari or ebay and ship them (or deliver them in person). 

Bottom line: If you need cash, there are lots of things to sell for cash that are in your house right now.

If you're like us, you probably have lots of stuff around your house that you rarely (or never) use. Those things could be turned into cash, especially if you need to make money quickly.

If you love reading but hate seeing errors in writing, then a career as a proofreader could be a great fit for you. 

Proofreading is an incredibly flexible work-at-home job for moms. You can work full time, part time, and also as a freelance proofreader, and earn $20 to $60 per hour.

But what do proofreaders really do and how do you get proofreader jobs online?

After reading this article, you’ll know exactly what proofreading is, how you can learn to do it, and what you need to do to find proofreader jobs.

Keep reading for specifics:

How to become a proofreader

1. Learn on the job
2. Teach yourself
3. Take an online course to learn to proofread

Do you need a degree to be a proofreader?

What do proofreaders do?

Are proofreaders in demand?

• Court transcript proofreader
• Print media proofreading
• Academic proofreading

How much do proofreaders earn?

How to become a proofreader and find work

How to get proofreading jobs

• Proofreading Services
• CACTUS
• UPWORK
• FLEXJOBS
• FREELANCER
• FIVERR

Starting a proofreading business as a freelancer

• Services your proofreading business could offer
• How to get clients for your proofreading business

Bottom line: How do I start a career as a proofreader?

How to become a proofreader

There are many potential paths that you can take to become a proofreader. Some are faster than others, but all of them can work. Below are three of the most common routes: learn on the job, teach yourself, or take an online proofreading course.

1. Learn on the job

This is a great option for anyone who already works at a company that produces content of any type, whether digital or print. Next time a piece of content is being finalized, volunteer to act as a proofreader, even if the project is outside of your department or outside your normal realm of duties.

So don’t be afraid to volunteer! It’s a great way to build up the experience and skills you’ll need if you want to turn proofreading into a career.

2. Teach yourself

This is probably the hardest route to take, simply because it depends on your own personal motivation and accountability, but just like any other skill, it’s totally possible to teach yourself to become a proofreader.

If you want to go this route, you should first make sure that you understand the various proofreader’s marks that you’ll need to use in marking up your pages—there are a lot of them! 

Beyond that, you should familiarize yourself with the various “styles” or “handbooks” that your employers or clients would expect you to know. These books outline specific rules of spelling and grammar, and truly form the bedrock of a proofreader’s expertise. The most widely used are:

• Chicago Manual of Style
• Associated Press Stylebook (AP Style) 
• Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook
• American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual
• American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style
• Strunk & White’s Manual of Style

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3. Take an online course to learn to proofread

While learning on the job and teaching yourself can work, by far the quickest route to becoming a freelance proofreader is to take an online course from someone with personal success in the industry — who can teach you the skills you need, and how to land gigs and build a business.

While there are many potential courses to choose from, my favorite is Proofread Anywhere, which was recently acquired by Onfolio Holdings Inc.¹

Read our complete review of Proofread Anywhere.

Do you need a degree to become a proofreader?

The good news is you don’t need a degree or even special training to be a proofreader. And you don’t need years of experience. All you need is a pair of eagle eyes, excellent attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines, and good communication skills. 

If you’re the kind of person who spots errors on restaurant menus, social media, and billboards from a mile off, then proofreading could be the perfect work-from-home opportunity for you.

In the United States, there is currently no official proofreading certification. That said, it’s hugely important that you make sure you know how to do the job before you start looking for clients.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you’re an excellent proofreader just because you were good at English in school. Language changes over time, and it’s easy to pick up bad grammar habits, especially considering how much time we spend on social media these days. 

You only get one opportunity to impress a client. For obvious reasons, clients expect a high level of accuracy from a proofreader, so taking on clients before you’ve verified your skills is a huge risk.

There are training courses like Proofread Anywhere you can take that will teach you how to proofread properly and how to find the most common mistakes in writing. This way you get lots of practice and you can hone your skills without risking your reputation.  

What do proofreaders do?

Proofreaders are the final set of eyes on a piece of written content. After content has been written and edited, a proofreader will look over the piece and fix any remaining errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar and style. A proofreader makes sure the copy aligns with the publication's style.

It’s perfect for anyone who wants to:

• Earn money doing something they love — reading and finding grammar and style errors.
• Proofreaders tend to passionately love the hunt of finding errors and mistakes
• Work from home
• Stay home with their kids while earning a living
• Do interesting work
• Start a low-cost business from home 

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Are proofreaders in demand?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, editor jobs, including proofreading, are expected to grow 5% between 2020 and 2030.

Given the rise of self-publishing, anyone can write a book. They don’t need to wait until they get picked up by a book agent and have their book sold to a publishing house. They can publish their own book on Amazon or on their own website. 

But that also means they have to look after every aspect of the book publishing process themselves — everything from proofreading and editing to cover design and marketing. 

Now, since they’re not likely to be professional proofreaders themselves, they need to hire a professional. 

There is also a huge amount of content being published online every day. Every single second, in fact! Bloggers and other content creators also hire proofreaders, as do marketing and advertising agencies that publish content on businesses and publications' websites. Academic publications, book publishers and corporate communications also require proofreading.

Court transcript proofreader

Legal proceedings require an exact transcription of what was said and what happened in court, which is written out by court reporters.

Court transcript proofreaders handle proofreading for court reporters, ensuring that what was typed is accurate, grammatically correct, and free of spelling and other errors.

Court transcript proofreaders make an average of $42,636 per year, according to Ziprecruiter.

There are also other types of transcription proofreaders, including those that work for online transcription companies like Rev.com, podcasts, and television networks.

Proofread Anywhere offers a course on transcript proofreading, which covers:

• Proofreading skills
• Spelling, punctuation, and grammar
• Business setup
• Where to find clients
• How to secure clients

Print media proofreading

Newspapers, magazines, books, brochures, printed labels, greeting cards — anything that's printed and distributed often needs to be proofread.

According to Ziprecruiter, magazine proofreaders make an average $49,365 per year.

Academic proofreading

Academic proofreaders read through research papers and textbooks to ensure there are no typos or spelling and grammatical errors.

They make an average $54,316 per year.

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How do I get paid to proofread? How much could I make?

As a general proofreader, you can work with a wide variety of clients and earn $20 to $50+, depending on the project.

Reputation is everything. A proofreader can save an author or business a lot of embarrassment and negative reviews by ensuring that their content is error-free. 

The types of clients you can work with include self-publishing authors, publishing houses, businesses, government organizations, bloggers, course creators, marketing and advertising agencies.

How much you can earn as a proofreader depends on your experience level and how long it takes you to proofread a document. As you gain more experience, you will be able to charge more for your services and increase your hourly rate by becoming more efficient.

It also depends on how proactive you are in marketing your business. 

It’s possible to make a very good living as a proofreader.

It’s possible to make a very good living as a proofreader. According to ZipRecruiter, as of June 2o23, freelance proofreaders earn an average of $53,733 a year in the United States or an average of $25/hour (and upwards of $87,500 per year).

That’s not bad considering you’re making money reading and doing something you love!

To give you a real-life example, Caitlin Pyle made $43,000 a year proofreading part-time — working 20–25 hours a week. Now she runs her own company from home teaching people just like you how to become proofreaders.

Stay to the end of the free workshop, and get $100 off the course!

Proofreading can be very flexible — you can work as a full-time proofreader or just keep it as a side hustle. You can increase your working hours if you want to earn more money, or you can work part-time hours if you just want a little extra money to cover bills or something fun!

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How do I become a proofreader with no experience?

If you have no experience as a proofreader, we recommend starting with a course like Proofread Anywhere’s General Proofreading course, where you’ll learn proofreading skills, and earn certificate of completion to show potential clients and add to your resume.

A solid resume, highlighting the right skills, is essential for standing out to employers. Once you learn the skills you need to proofread, start by picking up freelance gigs through sites like Upwork and Fiverr, and ask people in your sphere of influence for recommendations. You can even use a free resume template to help create a professional resume that reflects your new qualifications and experience.

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How to get proofreading jobs

Proofreaders are tasked with the final edit of a piece of content — a website, book, magazine, newspaper, marketing materials, or even a menu — to ensure that the grammar, spelling layout and other details of the copy are correct, as well as within the style of the publisher. 

In the world of book publishing, a proofreader is someone who “proofs” a book, by comparing the final version against prior rounds of edits. Their job is to ensure that all edits have been put in place as indicated in the prior rounds. 

If you’re looking for proofreading jobs, it helps to know that many companies also use slightly different terminology and titles to describe the same exact thing. Other titles you should keep an eye out for include:

• Edit/editor
• Copyedit/copyeditor
• Cold read/cold reader
• Line editor  

If you’re looking for proofreading jobs online, then online jobs boards are a good place to start, but don’t rely on these alone. Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder, and LinkedIn allow you to search through thousands of job postings by specific keywords, making it really easy to find a job that appeals to you. 

So how do you find online proofreading jobs?

One of my favorite online job boards in general is ZipRecruiter:

That being said, there are lots of companies hiring freelance proofreaders. Each company will have different requirements and offer different levels of pay. Below is a list of some of the most popular.

PROOFREADING SERVICES

This company advertises full- and part-time remote proofreading positions. You’ll need to complete an application form and a timed quiz before they will hire you. 

CACTUS

Cactus hires proofreaders who specialize in the academic and medical fields, so you’ll need a graduate degree in a specialized area to be hired. 

You can also set up profiles on some freelancer websites like the ones below to find freelance proofreading jobs. 

UPWORK

Prospective clients will post an ad detailing what they need, and you pitch for the job, telling them exactly why you’re the best candidate for the job.

FLEXJOBS

This paid job board is exclusively filled with career-level postings for jobs that allow moms to work from home, telecommute, work part-time, or otherwise flexible positions.

FREELANCER

This is very similar to Upwork in that clients will post an ad, and you pitch to them. It’s important to fill out your profile properly so that these sites match you to proofreader jobs that you’re suitable for. 

FIVERR

Fiverr is a little different. You create “gigs” for different price points depending on how long the document is, the turnaround time, and the level of editing you will provide, for example. Clients will search through these gigs and choose the freelance proofreader that they feel will do the best job. 

Starting a proofreading business as a freelancer

Not interested in finding a job? You could set up a business on the side.

Services your proofreading business could offer

• Proofreading advertising and marketing copy 
• Proofreading emails 
• Proofreading website copy 
• Proofreading grant proposals 
• Proofreading academic papers 
• Proofreading and fact-checking op-eds 
• Proofreading and researching blog posts 
• Proofreading business plans 
• Proofreading speeches and presentations 
• Proofreading press releases

How to get clients for your proofreading business

You can also attract clients by being active on social media. Posting on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and engaging with potential clients in a natural, helpful way is a great way to attract clients. 

Take advantage of any opportunities to be included on online directories, such as Self-Publishing School’s Preferred Outsourcer Rolodex. (Listing on this rolodex is an exclusive benefit of the Proofread Anywhere training course I talk about below.)

As I mentioned above though, make sure you know what you’re doing before you take on clients!

Bottom line: How do I start a career as a proofreader?

If you want to start a career as a proofreader, consider enrolling in a comprehensive proofreading course, including those offered online.

ywhere’s FREE Intro to Proofreading Workshop and qualify for $100 off >>

Plus, if proofreading isn't for you, check out our list of other high-paying, work-from-home careers:

• Grant writing
• Bookkeeping (plus check out our review of Bookkeeper Launch and learn how to find a bookkeeping job)
• Coding
• Medical billing and coding
• Dog grooming

Related: Find even more work-at-home careers

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SOURCES

1. Onfolio Holdings Inc. Provides Corporate Updates and Reports Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results, Nov. 14, 2022 globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/11/14/2555401/0/en/Onfolio-Holdings-Inc-Provides-Corporate-Updates-and-Reports-Third-Quarter-2022-Financial-Results.html

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 70% of people age 65 and older will require some form of long-term care in their lifetime.

The burden of caring for aging individuals often falls on their children, who in most cases are vastly unprepared for the financial and emotional burdens of being a caregiver.

A survey conducted by AgingCare.com, a forum to connect people with senior care and resources, found that 63% of caregivers have no plan to financially cover their parents’ care over the next five years.

When taking care of elderly parents — no matter how vibrant or disabled your mother or father is — there are many tasks that you must consider:

• Estate planning — including will, living trust, power of attorney and beneficiary designations.
• Long-term care insurance (if any)
• Medicare, medicaid and any supplemental health and prescription insurance coverage
• Finances: Retirement, brokerage, checking, savings accounts, life insurance, real estate, business holdings and any other assets.
• Personal possessions. As you manage your parent’s later years, there will likely be questions about what will happen to their possessions, whether those of value, or heirlooms, including furniture and household furnishings, estate jewelry and watches.

If you're currently managing your aging parents' care or planning to care for elderly parents in the future, we put together some helpful advice and resources to help you through the process.

Keep reading for specifics:

5 tips for managing your aging parents care

1. Get on the same page as the other loved ones in the person’s life.
2. Caretaking for elderly parents creates friction in families — what to do when siblings don’t help.
3. Never sacrifice your own financial stability when you take care of your parents.
4. Involve your children in caring for their grandparents.
5. Seek out emotional support for yourself as a caregiver.

Taking care of elderly parents: Finding home care

• Pros of hiring an in-home senior care placement agency
• Cons of hiring through an in-home senior care placement agency
• Pros of directly hiring a private in-home senior care help
• Cons of directly hiring a private in-home senior care help

Taking care of elderly parents: Costs

• How to pay for senior home care
• Other options for financing in-home senior care

Taking care of elderly parents and managing the guilt and stress

FAQs about taking care of elderly parents

What this single mom learned from caring for her dying parents

• To this day, I harbor the guilt of not being there in her last days
• If he was ornery and spiteful, I kept my laughter to myself, knowing that one day I would miss his crotchety old ass.
• Alone might be where I’m at, but I can always depend on myself, and I won’t ever let me down.
• We no longer have problems, but challenges.

Bottom line: Come up with a plan for taking care of elderly parents sooner rather than later

5 tips for managing your aging parents care: 

We reached out to real moms navigating their own aging loved ones’ care. This is their advice:

“Self care is key. Find something that is just for you. My grandmother is in a board and care with dementia, and I take care of all her stuff while caring for my 6-month-old and building a business. It's a lot, but that's what I have learned. Lean on your support system and find something just for you.” — Shennel

“I have learned to be more tolerant due to my fathers Alzheimer's. At the beginning, dealing with his symptoms was nerve wracking, but I learned that if I want to deal with this challenge and stay sane for the family, I needed to reset my mindset — tolerance to the moon and back. I started to teach my 4-year-old son that his granddaddy needs a little help. He tricks him into eating with eating contests, and he repeats all of the things my father must do if he forgets. We are facing a lot of challenges, but we take it step by step.” — Betka

My mother is currently navigating taking care of her mother who has dementia. She and her sisters rotate days staying overnight with my grandma and monitor cameras in her home when they can't be there. Unfortunately, my grandma is stubborn and doesn't realize how much help she needs and how much she forgets (including the last time she ate or showered), so they are navigating how to eventually get her into assisted living care. My advice would be to discuss elder care with your loved ones before you have to make difficult decisions they won't necessarily agree with.” — Leighann

Keep reading for five more tips for managing your aging parents' care:

1. Get on the same page as the other loved ones in the person’s life.

Whether it is your parent’s romantic partner, your siblings, your parent’s siblings or others who care most about your mom or dad, involve them in the process as much as makes sense. This takes the burden off of you both logistically and emotionally. Create a team on which you can rely for physical help, as well as to turn to when things get stressful or emotional.

Securing the right customized primary care for seniors ensures your loved one receives consistent medical attention tailored to their specific health needs. This personalised care approach promotes overall well-being and helps manage chronic conditions more effectively.

What single moms need to know about estate planning for their own kids

2. Caretaking for elderly parents creates friction in families — what to do when siblings don’t help.

Be proactive in seeking outside support to work through these differences when it comes to taking care of elderly parents. This might be a neutral, respected family friend, clergy person, or professional who specializes in senior care, who is familiar with this brand of family conflict.

Have an open conversation with your brother, sister or your parent’s spouse or significant other about the tasks that need to be done, the realities of the finances, as well as the limits of what you are willing to take on.

Be flexible about the tasks that each person is willing to contribute. For example, one child may feel comfortable with the hands-on caregiving, while another may be OK with running errands and assisting with appointments, while another may prefer to manage estate and financial matters. Accept that these are all important and valuable contributions.

If siblings and other family members are not as helpful as you’d hope they would be, find ways to let that anger go. Control what you can, which may be only the only productive reaction.

3. Never sacrifice your own financial stability when you take care of your parents.

The best gift you can give your children is financial security — both now and in your own later years. It helps no one to compromise your career, savings, investments or other assets when you take care of your parents in their old age.

Boundaries in all parts of your life are critical to caregiving — including understanding that each adult is responsible for their own financial wellbeing. In other words: If your parent does not have assets to afford the level of care that you would like to see them have, and you are not able to provide that kind of care without compromising your own financial future, then you must accept that.

7 ways single moms can get their financial act together — now and forever!

4. Involve your children in caring for their grandparents.

It can be easy to feel like you are compromising your kids’ care for the sake of your parent. This can be true, but it doesn’t always have to be. Let your children see you caring for their grandparent. Let that be an example to teach them about family, serving those who need it, being loving and caring.

Even very young children can help their elders, through spending time with them, and household chores. Older children can sit with the older relative, run errands, and teenagers can drive them to appointments.

You can also hire a housekeeper.

5. Seek out emotional support for yourself as a caregiver.

Group therapy with others in similar situations can be life-saving. If you have close friends nearby, make regular dates with them — even if you don’t discuss your family situation. Girls nights are therapy!

Take care of your own physical and mental health first. Many caregivers also explore wellness options like a NAC supplement to help support their body's resilience against the oxidative stress that often comes with prolonged caregiving demands. Caretaking for elderly parents is important, but you cannot be of service to others when your own cup is empty.

Taking care of elderly parents: Finding home care

There are two ways to hire a home care aide or care provider:

1. Hire home care aid through an agency
2. Hire home care directly.

Pros of hiring an in-home senior care placement agency

• They do the work. The agency will screen candidates, do the paperwork, some basic training and cast a wide net to find qualified candidates.
• If one hire falls through, or cannot make their shift, the agency will have backups.

Navigating the complexities of elder care is much easier when you have a dedicated team to help, and finding a supportive home for our beloved seniors Belle Isle can provide the professional assistance and peace of mind your family needs during this transition.

Cons of hiring through an in-home senior care placement agency

• More expensive
• Can feel impersonal, since they select a handful of candidates for you to consider.
• Can be inconsistent, as agencies sometimes rotate in aides, which can make it hard to maintain the quality of care and bond with the caregiver.
• Not all rural areas are served by agencies.

The other option is to hire in-home senior care directly. Some people find home care aides and providers through recommendations from friends. A popular way to search for help is using Care.com, the largest online marketplace for finding and managing care. Care.com has thousands of caregiver profiles in the United States, and around the world. You can also read our Care.com review.

Pros of directly hiring a private in-home senior care help

• Less expensive.
• You are in control by taking a third-party out of the equation
• Ability to interview candidates directly, to see if there is a personal connection or preference

Cons of directly hiring a private in-home senior care help

• Some people find it to be more work to find, vet and hire a care worker
• No real recourse if someone doesn’t show up for work.

How to become a home health aide: 5 HHA training classes to get certified

Taking care of elderly parents: Costs

How much does senior care cost? Depends on where you live, and the type of care your loved one receives. According to the most recent Genworth Cost of Care Survey:

Type of elder care	Median monthly cost
In-home assistance	$5,148
Assisted living	$4,500
Nursing care with semi-private room	$7,908
Nursing care with a private room	$9,034

The national median rate for in-home care is about $27 per hour, or a median of $5,148 per month.

The average cost of living in a private, one-bedroom assisted living facility is $4,500 per month. In addition to long-term care expenses, families should also consider end-of-life costs. Funeral insurance can help cover funeral and burial expenses, reducing the financial pressure on loved ones during an already emotional time.

How to pay for senior home care

Depending on your income, there may be local services that can offer some of these services, and sometimes Medicaid covers the cost.  Here is a state-by-state guide to Medicaid home care benefits.

Most states have non-Medicaid programs to help seniors living at home.

Here is a state-by-state guide to home care financial assistance programs.

Reach out to specialized organizations, such as your local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, your parent’s medical providers or local social services agencies to see about area resources.

The Department of Veteran Affairs has services for seniors, including help paying for and providing in-home care.

Here is a list of VA services for the elderly.

Other options for financing in-home senior care include:

• Reverse mortgage
• Life insurance conversions
• Sell personal items at pawn shops, consignment or estate stores, including jewelry and watches, silverware and china, furniture, gold or coin collections.

How to sell your antique and estate jewelry

Taking care of elderly parents and managing the guilt and stress

Caring for an unwell loved one is a very stressful and emotionally complex time for anyone. You’ll be full of a lot of seemingly contradicting emotions throughout the process: love, guilt, anger, and confusion. The key is to accept all of your feelings as normal, human, and complicated. Just remember to breathe.

This post on Psychology Today gives a great script for children caring for their aging parents, who become so overwhelmed by the stress, guilt and dismay of being responsible for a toxic parents, they obsess over their wish the parent would die. This feeling is 100% normal, and OK.

The therapist in the post advises you tell your parent:

“You’re my mother and I’m always going to love you, for as long as you live and beyond, but if you continue to act as negatively as you are, I’m not going to like you. And if I don’t like you, I’m going to visit you less often and shorten the amount of time I spend with you at each visit.

What I will not do is let myself become so angry and so dislike you that I stop visiting all together. Before I do that I will shorten contact to minutes per week and check in more with the staff about you than visit with you.

I am asking for your help in making the best of the situation — being respectful and kindly toward others and showing the dignity that I know you are capable of.”

FAQs about taking care of elderly parents

These are some common questions about taking care of elderly parents:

What if your parents are stubborn or otherwise difficult?

If your parent is refusing help — whether from you, or professional care from a home aide or a live-in facility, try these approaches.

• Don’t expect immediate results. If the first conversation about assisted living is rejected, plan to revisit the topic over several weeks or months, multiple times.
• Recruit other activists. Maybe you are not the person to get through to your aging mom or dad. Another loved one, family friend, their physician, clergy leader or a professional like a home aide representative may be better at explaining the benefits of help.
• Take a small first step. For example, even if you believe that full-time residential care is in order, a stubborn parent may be receptive to help in their own home several times per week. Once they see the benefits of accepting some care, they may be open to accepting more.
• Be honest about how the situation affects you. Share how stressful, expensive and time consuming helping your parent is. Show that is is affecting your relationships, or financial security. Say: “I love you and worry about you so much, as does the rest of the family. Accepting help is really helping all of us.”
• Know you are not alone. Caring for an aging loved one ranks as one of the most stressful, and common life experiences. Manage your own guilt by reaching out to others in similar situations, and speaking honestly about your own struggles with trusted friends and, if needed, a therapist. (Learn more about online therapy with licensed counselors — typically much more affordable than in-person, and very convenient with text, phone and video sessions.)

What to do when YOUR parents die?

Depending on what you, your child’s other parent, and your extended family decide, you may agree that your parents — your children’s grandparents — will assume guardianship in the event that you pass.

But, what happen in the even that your child’s grandmother and/or grandfather pass away? This can affect your own will and estate planning, but also brings up an overwhelming list of tasks you must take care of to manage their estate.

Here are some things to tackle if and when your own mother or father passes away:

1. Talk about it. Have those difficult conversations with your child’s other parent or involve loved ones about guardianship plans.
2. Update your own estate plan, including your will, guardianship planning for your children, and life insurance policies.
3. Take care of yourself. Grief is real, normal — and potentially debilitating. Spend time with positive, understanding people, care for your physical health, seek support from a religious or spiritual leader, and don’t be afraid to invest in therapy. Online therapy sites like BetterHelp, with unlimited messaging and weekly live sessions starting at $65/week.
4. Liquidate the estate. Perhaps you were left specific heirlooms like antique jewelry, gold coins, silver flatware or coins, furniture, dishes or real estate. More likely, you were left with a household full of items you do not want or need. Research your options for household items on EstateSales.net. You may decide that to hold a garage sale, haul everything to an auction house, or dump it at a local charity.
5. Sell the jewelry. If you were left antique or vintage diamond engagement rings, gold wedding rings, tennis bracelets, earrings, necklaces, watches or other fine gemstones, you can sell it yourself online for a fair price, quickly.
6. Invest an inheritance. If you or your child inherited any money from the estate, or any estate liquidation, be sure to invest that cash to build wealth — not just park it in a savings account.
7. Plan for your own future. Chances are, your parent did not take all the necessary steps for making their passing, and post-passing as conflict- and hassle-free for their loved ones. Take steps now to create your own up-to-date estate plan, and research long-term-care insurance and planning.

What this single mom learned from caring for her dying parents

This is a guest post (edited for length) by single mom Cassi Upshaw, who lives in Gulf Shores, Ala., with her son:

I cared for my mom for roughly seven years. She was on disability, from a kidney disease that was incurable. Over the years, it quickly went from her helping care for my son and helping me out as a single mom, to me caring for her, to my son even helping pick up the slack.

The biggest challenges were co-parenting while our roles were being reversed and I was more the parent, and she was more the child. Having to take her keys from her and set down ground rules was a very difficult task, as the illness progressed. I also had the challenge of being recently single, wanting to have a dating life, but moving back in with her because she had a larger house and financially it just made sense. The lines were blurred for a while about who was helping who. My desire to have my own life, but not to abandon her either, was a really hard thing to balance. As selfish as that sounds, a social life was something that I needed then more than ever.

For the last 10 months of my mom’s life, my dad stepped in and helped out, moving her into his home. While they were still married and had a perfectly fine relationship, they lived separately most of my adult life, and my mom always followed my son and me wherever we moved.

To this day, I harbor the guilt of not being there in her last days

The last few months of her life were the hardest. Not being there daily, but knowing I had to be here for my son was a difficult thing to balance. To this day, I harbor the guilt of not being there in her last days, as she quickly progressed into the latter stages of life. Ultimately I know I made the right decision, I took care of her for as long as I possibly could, I asked for, and accepted help when it was available. At the end of the day, my responsibility was to take care of my son, and my dad was capable of taking care of my mother.

After her passing, my dad didn’t get sick, but he definitely began to show his age. For nearly the next year and a half, he became my person. My person to grieve with, complain with, and laugh with. He visited me at least one week every two months — sometimes one week every month. Our relationship had never been closer. For once, he was truly alone, and I tried to suffice as a companion in his life. He went through a rebellious stage, where he began drinking again and gambling, kind of like a young college kid trying to find his way through the ins and outs of the world.

If he was ornery and spiteful, I kept my laughter to myself, knowing that one day I would miss his crotchety old ass.

As the weeks went on, he made comments about not feeling well, looking back on it, I overlooked all the signs, and ultimately, I’m really glad I did. Rather than worrying every single day about his well-being, I learned to appreciate him for what he was that day. If he was ornery and spiteful, I kept my laughter to myself, knowing that one day I would look back on that, and miss his crotchety old ass… and if he was light on his feet, carefree, and almost irresponsible in a sense, I ate it up. I made him feel like there was no reason to think anything less. He opened up to me about not ever wanting another woman to marry, but having one to snuggle up to you every now and then wouldn’t be so bad.

The facade that I had grown up thinking he was so strong always, all disappeared. He became real to me. He became relatable. The last time he called was in the wee hours of the morning; he was at the casino, had entered some crazy drawing and was playing Texas hold’em. He left me a message, telling me that he had met up with some girls, the same ones he had spent the previous weekend getting to know and that he was having a great time. He went to bed at night and never woke up.

Alone might be where I’m at, but I can always depend on myself, and I won’t ever let me down.

The challenges I now face are not having someone to call when I have a question about parenting. No longer feeling like I have someone on my side, no matter what might happen. I realized, alone might be where I’m at, but I know I can always depend on myself, and I won’t ever let me down. 

I realized, despite being scared for 29 years, everyone still dies. My dad always used to say, “no one gets out of here alive.” There’s really no truer statement… So rather than being scared, now I’m living. At 30 years old, I’m living. I’m living my life the best that I can every single day. I’m being the best mom, the best employee, the best woman, the best everything I can.

We no longer have problems, but challenges.

We no longer have problems, but challenges, and it takes as much energy to bitch about one as it does to find a solution and pursue it. We will be here, and our parents won’t. So find your strength now. Love them for where they are in their life, wherever that might be at the moment. And learn to push forward, for your parents may have left you, but there is still a little someone looking up, depending on you to be the parent to them.

Bottom line: Come up with a plan for taking care of elderly parents sooner rather than later

If you delay or fail to make a plan for taking care of your elderly parents, you could be stuck making a quick decision that compromises their safety and wellbeing. 

According to the National Council on Aging, as many as 5 million older Americans are abused every year, and losses suffered by victims of financial abuse are estimated to be at least $36.5 billion annually. 

A considerable chunk of severe neglect cases have to do with untreated pressure ulcers, where victims and their families managed to get justice because of the availability of a free consultation for stage 4 bedsore victims offered by law firms that deal in such cases regularly.