Make money from your political opinions

Reading Time: 7 mins

Whether you are a big fan of politics or not, we all have our own opinions and beliefs.

Some people prefer to take a backseat, watching from afar and visiting the polling stations every few years to cast their votes. Other people, however, are pros in politics. It may be keeping up to date on all things political, becoming a member of your preferred party or attending rallies.

Whatever your level of interest or involvement in politics, you are able to earn money from your political opinions. From selling merchandise to completing surveys, there are plenty of ways to use your knowledge and political point of view.

• Start a blog and monetise it
• Sell political merchandise
• Complete surveys
• Become a political consultant
• Advise investors on market changes

 

Start a blog and monetise it

If you are a keen writer, or feel you have much to say about politics, writing a blog is an excellent way to make money from your political opinion.

You may be passionate about a particular party and want to advocate for them and their policies through writing. You may even wish to write in a journalistic style, keeping your readers up to date on the latest news.

On the other hand, you may have a general love for politics and use your platform as a central hub to inform. This could include updates, changes and news from parties and central government.

Nowadays, it is very easy to start your own blog. There are multiple free websites that allow you to set up and design your blog. WordPress is one of the most popular blogging websites, giving you all the tools you may need to create unique and engaging content.

Wix and Squarespace are also very useful sites. Wix provides stunning templates which allow you to create your own professional blog, as well as obtaining your own custom domain name. Squarespace also offers thousands of customisable templates for your blog, and provides expert tools to help you manage your website like a pro.

Firstly, choose a niche for your blog. What exactly are you going to focus on? Are you going to support and give updates on your preferred party? Are you going to focus on a particular topic, and the politics surrounding it? For example, you may choose to blog about something you feel passionately about, such as global warming, women’s rights or Brexit. From this, you could follow the movement and discuss the policies and political responses to these.

Often more controversial topics will get you the most engagement – people love to have their say! Develop your own voice and decide what kind of blog you’re going to be. Is your blog going to be satirical and snarky? Is it going to be in-depth, gentle and open to feedback? If readers like your style, they’ll keep coming back for more.

Once you’ve chosen your niche, it’s a good idea to name your blog. Something catchy or using play on words may help to encourage readers and generate traffic to your blog. Then, you can create and customise your blog, before beginning to write and publish your blog content.

Don’t forget to promote your blog. Social media allows for huge political discussions between thousands of people, and Twitter in particular has a huge audience for all things politics (for better or for worse!). If your friends and family have an interest in politics also, or have similar political views to you, share it with them to get the ball rolling.

When your blog begins to generate a strong readership, you can monetise it. You can sign up to sites such as Google Adsense, which target your site with relevant advertising. It’s also useful to get involved with affiliate marketing and sponsorships to generate revenue. Crowdfunding is also an option for your website, asking for donations for your readers to support your website.

You can read our tips on how to make money from blogging here.

 

Sell political merchandise

Whether it’s a march, demonstration or protest, some political events attract hundreds of thousands of attendees. Recently, the Freedom March, which happened at the end of June in Central London, attracted an estimated 1.7 million people. That’s a staggering number of potential customers!

There are endless items you can sell at protests and rallies. T-shirts, flags and whistles are popular, but any form of noisemakers, even smoke flares, are big sellers. Not forgetting bottles of water – a lot of people are bound to get thirsty whilst walking.

The t-shirts and flags you sell may have particular slogans or symbols on them relevant to the event. Do your research before the event to see popular sayings and logos that may be big sellers. Noisemakers, such as whistles or horns are popular too, and can generate a large profit.

It’s also a good idea to invest in a form of contactless payment, as people don’t always have cash on them nowadays.

We recently published an in-depth article on how to sell political merchandise, with all the information and tools you need to get started. You can read it here.

You could even incorporate this with setting up your own blog. Why not set-up an e-shop on your blog and sell merchandise through your site?

 

Complete surveys

There are survey websites out there that will pay you for your political views. The largest and most popular site of this kind is YouGov. YouGov is an international research and analytics group, with a mission to supply continuous and accurate data to governments and institutes.

YouGov sends paid surveys via email, which offer rewards of up to 50 points per survey. Occasionally, longer surveys may offer even more! Once you have reached 5,000 points, you can exchange them for £50 cash or a gift card. Although 5,000 points may seem like a large amount, YouGov send surveys so regularly that they tot up much faster than you think. Additionally, the surveys are interesting, and it is enjoyable to give your opinions on topics that truly matter.

Surveys take anywhere from two to 30 minutes to complete. You will be advised on how long the survey is likely to take before you do it.

There are hundreds of other survey sites which invite you to give your opinion on a multitude of topics, including politics. Here are some of our favourite survey sites:

• Branded Surveys
• Swagbucks
• Nielsen Online Panel
  
• InboxPounds
• Toluna
• The OpinionPanel Community

Read our article on how to make money from online surveys here.

 

Become a political consultant

If you really know your stuff, and have a real passion for politics, you may think about becoming a freelance political consultant.

Political consulting consists mainly of advising and assisting in political campaigns. Political consultants act as specialists in public relations. They use different forms of media, such as advertising and press releases, with the goal of making voters and the public aware of a party’s platform.

There are many freelance platforms you can use to promote your advisory skills. Upwork is a work marketplace where you can advertise your freelance services. Not only can people find you directly, but you can search job advertisements and offer your services to those wanting to hire someone with your skills.

Many consultants charge anywhere from £21.95 to a whopping £131 an hour. How much people are willing to pay for your services will depend on your experience and any relevant qualifications.

 

Advise Investors on market changes

You may also become a consultant who uses political views and knowledge to inform investors on steps to take depending on changes in the stock market. According to xtb.com, politics can influence the way people invest through changes to central bank policy and market stabilisations. Similarly, the result of a general election can drastically influence how people invest and what they choose to invest in.

Therefore, if you’re an expert in politics and keep up to date with the latest trends and changes, you are useful to investors everywhere. You will be able to give information on how changing policies may impact the market, and direct people to make choices that are likely to benefit them.

Again, you can advertise your services on various freelance work websites. People Per Hour matches you with potential clients within minutes. It allows you to build great relationships with your clients and network to expand your business. Similarly, Guru and Fiverr are popular sites to use. Prices people charge for their services are similar to political consultants, ranging from £20 to £150 an hour.

Just remember, the FCA are hot on exactly what constitutes investment ‘advice’ and ‘guidance’. If you’re giving out ‘advice’, which is a specific recommendation to buy or sell, for example, then you’ll need to be FCA regulated. If you’re just giving out ‘guidance’, which is generic information that gives people a clearer picture but isn’t specific to their circumstances, you won’t need to be FCA regulated. However, if you’re planning on making money this way it’s likely going to constitute ‘advice’, and even those offering ‘guidance’ can still be FCA regulated, which will help your credibility.

And even if you don’t want to try your hand at consulting, using your political knowledge in your own investing may come in very handy!

 

And there you have it, several ways you can make money from your political opinions. Let us know in the comments below how you get on.

 

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.

The post Make money from your political opinions appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Earn 10% for LIFE with Swagbucks!

Reading Time: 4 mins

Swagbucks is a popular and established website that gives you the chance to get free gift cards and cash. It’s a completely free service which rewards its members for doing certain things on the internet, including giving you the opportunity to make money with online surveys. These are things you’re likely already doing on a daily basis, such as shopping online and searching the web. They even reward members for playing games and watching videos.

They give you the rewards in the form of points, called SB points. 100 SB points is equivalent to $1 USD (£0.72 GBP). You can then redeem the points either as cash or gift cards. As of the time of writing this article, Swagbucks have paid their members £346,331,753 in rewards. Now that’s a staggering amount of cash.

They also give members 7,000 gift cards a day. You can choose from plenty of gift cards, such as Tesco, John Lewis and iTunes. You can also choose to donate your SB as charity donations if you wish, with many charities to choose from.

It’s extremely easy to sign up and start earning rewards, simply enter your email address and create a password to start making money. You can sign up here.

 

How can you earn 10% commission for life?

Once you have signed up for Swagbucks, you can start earning immediately. In order to earn 10% for life, you must invite your friends to join Swagbucks.

It’s simple. You will be given a personal referral code to share with others, and when they earn SB points, you will receive 10% of their earnings immediately. For example, if your friend signs up using your referral link and earns 600 SB in a day, you will then be sent 60 SB for free!

The more people who sign up using your referral code, the more money you earn. So, make sure to send your link to friends, family, colleagues, or even pop it on your social media for your followers to use and they can then make money from the online surveys and more!

Sounds like a no brainer to us.

 

Other ways you can earn with Swagbucks

When your friends have signed up to Swagbucks using your referral link, help them get started by sharing some easy ways for them to earn money. Remember, the more they earn, the more you earn, so there’s no harm in helping them use Swagbucks in the best way they can.

TAKING SURVEYS

Here at MoneyMagpie, we think there is real potential to make money through online surveys. Not only are they convenient, in that they can be completed anywhere you have an internet connection, but you’re aiding in market research that will benefit consumers in the long run. Surveys range roughly from 2 minutes to 25 minutes, however it’s entirely up to you how long the survey is you decide to take. The longer the survey, the more SB points you can earn.

PLAYING GAMES

you can earn thousands of SB by downloading and playing fun and addictive games. At the moment, there’s a fab offer on for you to earn a whopping 2,000 SB for downloading and playing Farmville 3. Getting paid to play games? Yes please.

ONLINE SHOPPING

Thinking of treating yourself to some new kicks? Had your eye on a pair of sunglasses for the summer months? Why not buy through Swagbucks and earn rewards for doing so? Not only do Swagbucks offer SB for shopping online, they also offer cashback from a range of great sites, including Boots, M&S, Argos and many more.

TRIAL AMAZON PRIME FOR 30 DAYS

There’s no hesitation from us when it comes to this one! Being able to watch your favourite box sets and films for free and then get rewarded for it afterwards? Sounds dreamy.

 

Why choose Swagbucks?

The real question is, why not? There are many reasons we could give for why Swagbucks is the go-to site for earning consumer rewards.

Firstly, it’s absolutely free. What’s not to love about free money and gift cards? Especially when you earn as a result of inviting your friends and family. You are literally getting rewarded for doing nothing. Sounds pretty cushty to us.

Secondly, it’s easy. You are getting paid to do things you likely do most of the time anyway – watching, scrolling, shopping and playing. Now you can do all these things whilst smug in the knowledge you’re earning rewards from it.

Finally, it’s fun! Earning with Swagbucks doesn’t feel like a chore and is an enjoyable way to make some extra cash day to day.

 

So, what are you waiting for?

 

SIGN UP TO SWAGBUCKS TODAY HERE AND START MAKING MONEY COMPLETING THE ONLINE ACTIVITIES AND INVITING YOUR FRIENDS. 

 

Let us know how you get on in the comments below. Are you able to make money with online surveys? Have you made money playing games? We want to hear all about your experience.

 

The post Earn 10% for LIFE with Swagbucks! appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Get paid £1,000 to eat ice cream!

Reading Time: 3 mins

Ice cream is a summer staple. The melody of an ice cream van driving down the road conjures up happy memories of being a child, running to the ice cream van and being handed a cone of whipped, soft, sweet goodness. Don’t forget the chocolate flake, carefully popped in the side.

When the sun is beating down on you on a hot summer’s day, there’s nothing better than tucking into cold, refreshing ice cream. Whether you’re a vanilla, raspberry ripple or mint choc chip fan, the right flavour can really hit the spot.

And now you can make money eating it…we’re not making this up!

• The opportunity
• Who are Wheyhey?
• Why sugar-free?
• How to apply

 

The Opportunity

If indulging in iced deserts is your idea of heaven, then we may just know the job of your dreams. July is National Ice Cream Month, and one lucky person with a sweet tooth is being offered an amazing £1,000 to eat ice cream.

Yes, you heard that correctly – you could get paid to eat ice cream.

Unfortunately, there is one catch. You must go sugar-free.

 

who are Wheyhey?

Wheyhey is a naturally sugar-free ice cream brand founded in 2013. Their mission is to make delicious and indulgent sugar-free ice cream, using sustainable and high-quality ingredients. There are currently eight mouth-watering flavours to choose from – salted caramel, chocolate and hazelnut and cinnamon danish have caught our eye.

Now, Wheyhey are on the hunt for one ice cream loving candidate to take part in a study which is focused on finding out whether sugar-addicts can achieve the same ‘snackisfaction’ levels by swapping out sugar-filled treats with delicious, sugar-free alternatives.

 

Why Sugar-free?

This comes after a poll of 2,000 adults revealed almost half of brits (49%) are addicted to sweet, sugary treats, and “can’t live without them”. Additionally, a whopping three-quarters of us have tried to give up sugary snacks altogether, however 30% admitted they could only manage three to five days before giving up and catering to their cravings.

The NHS recently came out with statistics suggesting the average British person eats a whopping 700g of sugar per week – that’s 140 teaspoons per person! Annually, this equates to a staggering 7,280 teaspoons. This means we are consuming 116,000 calories from our love of sugar alone (based on 16 calories per teaspoon).

Approximately only 3% of people in the poll managed to give up sugar for good. This is despite the well-known negative health implications when it comes to high-sugar diets.

In 2020, an extra 54 million litres of ice cream were consumed compared to previous years. Some ice cream brands have as much as 15.2g of sugar in a 100ml serving (based on a sample of vanilla ice cream).

This gives reasoning to the current study. Wheyhey want to investigate whether they can feasibly satisfy the nations love of sugary goodness, starting with what they know best – ice cream.

 

How To Apply

So, do you think you have what it takes?

To be eligible, you must be between the ages of 18 and 60, and you must not have any pre-existing health issues, including diabetes, obesity and hyperthyroidism. If you think you are the perfect fit for the role, head to LinkedIn, where the opportunity is currently being advertised.

The lucky candidate chosen will be given a variety of flavours to try from Wheyhey’s sugar-free range. They will then be asked to note their satisfaction levels throughout the process, and the results will be compared to satisfaction levels when consuming sugar-filled alternatives.

The founder of Wheyhey, Damien Kennedy says, “The main aim at Wheyhey is to show the community that you don’t have to compromise on taste when living a healthy lifestyle.” Damien is proud to offer sugar-free and high-protein alternatives that deliver wonderful taste and texture, to a UK that consumes far more sugar than it should. He continues, “It is important to us that the candidate we recruit for the case study is honest and informative, in order for us to continue producing the best tasting, sugar-free ice cream.”

Wheyhey are hoping both the study and their products will help thousands of Brits to reduce their sugar consumption.

If you think you are the right fit for this study and are ready to go sugar-free for this research, you can apply here.

Good luck, ice cream lovers!

The post Get paid £1,000 to eat ice cream! appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

How to make money as a dating app coach

Reading Time: 5 mins

Are you a smooth operator? Do you have an unfailing formula for charming potential partners online? If you answered yes, you could put your romantic talent to good use and make some extra money by becoming a dating app coach.

You might even help someone find the love of their life.

There’s no shortage of singletons looking to find love online. According to Online For Love, as of 2020 dating app Tinder had over 57 million users worldwide, and is available in 140 countries. So, you’re likely to find a handful of people who need your help in finding romance.

Here’s a little overview of what you can expect from being a dating app coach:

• What does a dating app coach do?
• What qualifications do I need?
• Where to offer my services?
• How much money can I make as a dating app coach?
• Real life dating coach

 

What does a dating app coach do?

As the job title suggests, a dating app coach helps those who feel insecure about their abilities to find a match on the likes of Tinder, Bumble and Grindr, improve their chances. They may even just require tips on how to start a conversation, get to know someone, or how to flirt.

Before starting sessions, it’s beneficial for the client to answer a few questions in order for a coach to determine what aspect of their dating game needs help, and how to go about this. Once these have been established, the client can decide whether they’d prefer to receive coaching online or in person.

 

What qualifications/skills do I need?

There’s no official training or qualifications needed for this job. You do, however, need to be able to prove that you’ve had at least 250 matches in the last 12 months, as well as conversation screenshots showing that you’ve been on no less than 10 dates.

Demonstrating these ‘skills’, as such, is advantageous. They show you are capable of helping others with online dating, and you’re able to prove it.

Compassion

Apart from this, you will also need to have some compassion for those you’re working with and the ability to understand their troubles, even if you’ve never experienced them yourself.

Studies have shown that compassion in any type of coaching relationship is effective in driving long-lasting change, as well as encouraging internal motivation.

Note-taking

In order to share your knowledge efficiently, you will need to present it in a way that can be clearly understood by your clients. A good way of doing this is to make notes of your own successes – good ice breakers to use, quick tips on bio writing or how to keep a conversation flowing.

You can add to this by keeping a log of the types of problems you clients approach you with, as similar issues might crop up time and again. Through a gradual understanding of the downfalls clients may be facing, you can start to create a more specific coaching style, tailored to your clients needs and what they specifically need to focus on.

 

Where CAN I offer my services as a dating app coach?

Although you can offer your services privately, you may want to gain some experience first by doing it through freelance websites such as BidVine.

Bidvine recently added the role of ‘Tinder Coach’ to their site, suggesting you can get paid for sharing your dating expertise and your tips to find romance. People who meet the criteria can start bidding to help others develop their online dating game. You’d be surprised at how many people are out there, searching for their one and only. There’s just one thing they’re missing – you!

Depending on the schedules of both yourself and your client, those on the quest for love will be able to opt for coaching sessions once a week, 2-3 times per week, or 47 times per week. BidVine recommends at least 3 sessions for clients to see the benefits of the coaching service.

 

How much can I make as a dating app coach?

As with all Bidvine.com services, how much you charge people for your time is up to you. However, the site estimates that prices tend to start from around £30 per hour, based on similar services.

This means if you do three sessions with a client you’ll earn a cool £90 for simply sharing your dating app knowledge.

The best part is, if you’re willing to help a small number of clients at one time, you could easily make more than £120 per week. Extra cash to put away for a rainy day or a lovely summer holiday doesn’t seem too bad.

BidVine does require a small fee for each successful bid, but it shouldn’t put you back too much.

Want to find out more? Visit the BidVine site.

 

Real life dating coach

Sarah Jones of Introverted Alpha

 

If you’d like some inspiration before starting your own dating app coaching business, look no further than Sarah Jones. In a 2015 Business Insider article, she reveals that she earns up to $20,000 a month through her date coaching business, Introverted Alpha.

Her coaching focuses on helping introverted men attract partners without having to change who they are. So far, Jones’ clients have all been heterosexual men in their late 20s looking to have relationships with women.

The secret to her success has been breaking down the ‘process’ of dating in a logical format. Because many of her clients are ‘wired’ to understand logic, this helps them find their problems and fix them.

Through providing free material through blogs, ebooks, email training, and coaching programs; Integrated Alpha help men attract women naturally. To do this, they aid men in using their power for good and help them see what is specifically attractive about them.

Introverted Alpha primarily offers two 12-week 1:1 coaching sessions. These aim to fill each individual’s dating funnel and developing social leadership. Similarly, they host events and offer self-study programmes.

While the scope of Jones’ work may exceed that of simply teaching someone how to swipe successfully, it’s a good example of what can happen if you stick to it and refine your art with each new client.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.

The post How to make money as a dating app coach appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Make and save money with a caravan

Reading Time: 7 mins

Caravan holidays offer a huge range of benefits. If you’ve ever used a caravan or mobile home, you will be aware of the enjoyment they can bring.

They’re undoubtedly more comfortable than a tent or shared hostel and far less restrictive than a hotel room or rented holiday home. Plus, campervan/caravan holidays are all the rage right now. Just search #vanlife on Instagram and you’ll find a plethora of people documenting their exciting caravanning adventures.

Of course, it’s also cheaper than a B&B or hotel. However, have you considered that owning a caravan can actually make you money, too?

Let’s take a look at the ways in which you can make and save money with a caravan:

• Save money on holidays
• List out caravan
• Turn your caravan into a food truck
• Become a #vanlife influencer

 

Save money on holidays

While the initial cost of buying a caravan may seem rather steep (usually between £6,000 and £14,000), it has the potential to save you up to £80k in the long run, according to Yours Magazine.

For this return on investment to happen, you would – of course – need to make use of your caravan on a regular basis. Instead of heading away on package holidays with your family (which could easily cost up to £1,000 per person), you would instead pack your caravan and hit the road.

Out And About Live has a handy guide to choosing and buying your first caravan. They offer advice on finance and payment options, things to remember when choosing a caravan and how to work out the best type of caravan. This is useful if you are a first time buyer, as it can be quite overwhelming knowing where to start.

 

List your caravan

 

It’s not to say investing in a caravan would be an absolute waste for the globetrotters amongst us.

If you fancy the idea of going on #vanlife type road trips once in a while, but also enjoy the prospect of jetting off overseas ever so often, you could always list your caravan for rent.

There are two main ways of going about this. The first step is to decide the type of caravan you want to purchase – static or mobile.

Static Caravan

As the name suggests, these caravans stay put on a single plot. Because of their stationary nature, these caravans can be kitted out to be as convenient as a bricks and mortar holiday home. You can even purchase static caravans which have running showers, can connect to wifi and kitted out kitchens.

Static caravans start at different prices, depending on their age, model and location. At Haven Holidays you can buy a used static caravan for around £13,495. You can pay over £100,000 for luxury models. Some of the luxury models are more spacious, with dining space, a master bedroom and even log fires. Their deposits are £3,000 or 20% (whichever is greater). You’ll also need to factor in your site fees. Site fees also depend on location.

So, when you rent it out, be sure that the price covers all your own costs and that you make a little profit out of it too.

Mobile

Up until recently, the rental of static caravans was far more common than mobile ones. However, with the rise of the sharing economy, people have realised that the caravan sitting pretty in the garage could actually make them some good money.

One way of doing this is to rent your caravan out privately. Advertise on websites such as Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace. You could even spread the word among friends and family and generate bookings via word of mouth.

Advertising can prove to be somewhat time-consuming, however, as there is admin that need to be sorted. This includes getting the right insurance to establishing the correct fees.

If this sounds like a bit of a mission, there’s a pretty great solution: Yescapa.

Caravan sharing economy

Built on the same principle as Airbnb, Yescapa is a platform that helps you rent out your caravan/campervan as simply and securely as possible.

Since its launch in 2012, Yescapa has generated €10 million (£8.8 million) in income for over 3,800 vehicle owners across Europe.

In a survey of its users, they also found that 38% of holidaymakers have the intention to buy their own motorhome or campervan in the future.

What’s more, 65% said they were willing to rent out their vehicle once they had acquired it, creating a virtuous circle for motorhome manufacturers, owners, renters and holidaymakers.

• What are the costs?

Joining the Yescapa community and placing an advertisement on the site is entirely free. The price of the insurance is included in the price the renter pays.

The only thing required by you is a clean vehicle that is in good working order, with all of your up to date documents.

So, how do they make money, you might wonder? Yescapa places a service fee of 10% – 15% on top of the fee you’re charging for your caravan (with a minimum of £30). Basically, you receive your payment in full.

• What is the average rental price on Yescapa?

If you’re looking to rent out a caravan, you can expect to pay anything between €20 and €80 per day.

Campervans, on the other hand, can reach up to €250 per day, depending on how kitted out it is, it’s condition, or how classic it is.

Currently, the most expensive rental on the site is a shiny yellow, 1964 split-window VW Combi.

 

Turn your caravan into a food truck

You may even feel like doing something a little more creative with your caravan. Perhaps you love cooking or baking, or may even fancy making a gradual career change. If that’s the case, why not consider turning your caravan into a food truck?

While you may have to spend some money on refitting it, your overhead costs after this will be relatively low – especially since you already own the vehicle and don’t need to buy one for the purpose. We’ve previously written an article on how to decorate your home on a budget, with tips that can easily be transferred to decorating your caravan or camper.

If you can’t afford to run a food truck full-time, you could always start off by doing it as a side hustle over weekends. You can sell food at:

• Music festivals
• Weekend and Evening Markets
• Special events (Weddings, etc)
• Birthday parties

A good way of advertising your services and spreading the word is to get people sharing pictures and writing reviews on social media. So, have your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram details displayed clearly for customers and even consider having a special hashtag they can use.

Remember, there are rules and regulations regarding business registration, health and safety that must be followed when running a food business.

Read all about them in our article about making money with a food truck.

 

Become a #vanlife influencer

If you’re free-spirited or highly entrepreneurial, you could convert your caravan into a comfortable semi-permanent home. You can save money on rent or mortgage payments, and become a #vanlife influencer.

If you’re interested in travel and the outdoors, you may have noticed a rise in the popularity of caravans and campers among millennials in recent years. This has seen an interesting change in in the target market from the more traditional family holidays or retired couples to younger folk.

If you search #vanlife on Instagram, millions of beautiful photos will pop up. From beautiful scenery and happy campers, to glorious woodlands with fairy lights strung between trees, you can find all the inspiration you need when buying your caravan.

Trend or truly cost-saving way of life?

Many have laughed it off as a passing trend. However, most people living this way say it’s a conscious pursuit of a more affordable and flexible life.

In an interview with The Debrief, vanlifer Abby shared her story. She said she saved £26,000 living in a van for 18 months.

Instead of spending extortionate amounts on rent, Abby opted to work remotely from her van. She lived on roughly £10 a day. Her biggest cost was paying £3,000 for the van itself, which she went on to sell 2 years later for around the same price.

As the article suggests, when you compare £3,000 to house prices, the volatile market, or the instability of everything post-Brexit, van life becomes much less of a ‘hippy-dippy’ dream and more an advantageous lifestyle choice.

Making money from #vanlife

More than just saving money, living in your caravan could also actually make you money. There are a huge number of young people tapping into this trend to become online travel influencers.

Although it may seem as easy as loading pictures onto Instagram, just be warned: it’s can be really hard work!

• What you need

Firstly, you’ll need to invest in a good quality camera and editing software. You can then publish high-quality, beautiful photos that easily compete with those of existing influencers.

Whilst photos may seem effortless sitting on your Instagram feed, stand-out photos take time. There can be lots of set-up, props and retakes. You’ll need patience!

It may also take some time to establish yourself before brands offer you opportunities to work together. Take your time and keep going. Once you’ve had your first opportunity to work with brands and fellow influencers, more will follow.

• How to start

To begin with, you may need to do remote work and post about your #vanlife as a hobby.

As soon as you’ve gained between 1,000 and 10,000 followers, you are considered a micro influencer. If your content is good, you can start reaching out to brands who you’d like to work with. You’ll be surprised how willing brands are to collaborate!

 

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.

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Top 4 Things To Sell To Make Money Quick

Reading Time: 3 mins

So, you’re in a bit of a financial crunch at the moment. You want to make money quickly, without too much hassle and fuss. But you don’t know what to sell to make a little extra cash to help you out.

Here are four things that you can sell to make money quickly and can help you out of your financial squeeze or even to just get rid of some of your clutter for money.

• Sell some of your old clothing
• Offer advertising space on social media
• Sell old tech
• Sell CDs, DVDs and games

 

#1 Sell some of your old clothing

You’ve probably seen the adverts for Depop and Vinted on YouTube, encouraging people to move away from fast fashion and trade what clothes they have with others and get money from them to help the environment. You can read more about this in this article by Greenpeace.

However, it can take them a little while to sell, so if you need a cash injection but have nothing you’re willing to sell, a short-term loan could help – sites like GrowingPower.co.uk will have more details on this. Do make sure you think seriously about your finances before taking out a loan though, and do shop around to find the best deal for you.

 

#2 Offer advertising and promotional space on social media accounts or your blog

If you own a blog or a popular social media, offering some space for companies to let and advertise on for a fixed sum might be a good idea to get some extra cash in the door. It’s also good for content and can help your page gain more interest. This is a great, no-hassle way of getting some money, whether it’s advertising brands, other accounts, or even just informative sites that want to get more traffic.

 

#3 Sell your old tech to collectors or services

Selling old mobile phones, tablets, and other devices can be a good way to earn some extra money without putting in much effort. This can be great if you need an extra couple of pounds. However, prices will vary on what you give and what condition it’s in, so you might not get as much as you were hoping for. This can be a quick and easy way to get cash.

 

#4 Sell old CDs, DVDs, and games 

These might have some interest in certain communities if they are rare, but the likelihood is, you are going to need to look up some similar services to what you may have considered for selling your old tech and devices. Prices can, again, vary depending on what you are selling to them, and that can mean that you might not get as much as you hoped. However, something is better than nothing, and it might help you clear some clutter too.

 

A few final thoughts

To conclude, it can be tricky to find cash. However, by selling the right things, you can make a little bit of extra money quickly. By selling old clothes, offering advertising or promotional spaces on your social accounts or blogs, or selling your old tech or DVDs, CDs and games, you can make a little extra money. This can be great if you are a student needing some quick cash, or you just need to clear up some of your clutter.

 

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.

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