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Ah, money. No matter how much of it we have it never quite seems to be enough. In an era of wage repression where our employers keep our wages down to supplement their own profit margins yet the cost of living continues to escalate, many an ambitious professional finds themselves a “temporarily embarrassed millionaire”. Whether you have your eyes set on a big promotion, a lateral move, taking your career to new heights with a new employer or starting your own business, it helps to have money behind you. Healthy finances are a big part of our hierarchy of needs, and when they stall they can impinge on our confidence and feelings of self worth (not to mention our ability to wear nice sharp suits). Rectifying your finances can help you take the next bold step in your career with confidence.

But who has the time for a side hustle or endless hours of overtime which the tax collectors will benefit more from than you? Here are some simple yet effective ways in which you can grow your money in your downtime…

Try your hand at trading

Trading isn’t just for city types with braces yelling profanities into the phone. Anyone can do it, and by investing small and getting a feel for the markets, you can develop the necessary skills to go incrementally bigger and grow your wealth in your lunch breaks. You can start trading in IRESS, Forex or a wealth of other commodities from the comfort of your smartphone. AT the very least, the experience can teach you the knowledge and skills you need for investment to be a viable option to supplement your savings. 

Get paid to work out

Struggling with those ambitious New Year’s Resolutions you set for yourself? Struggling to find the motivation to get the gains you dream of? Like everything in the 21st century… there’s an app for that. Numerous apps, in fact. Yes, that’s right. There are apps that will actually pay you to work out. Not megabucks, granted. But by earning a little something every time you hit the gym, you may be surprised at how readily the motivation comes. 

Take online surveys

Your opinions are worth paying for. Especially to marketing companies who want to know more about what makes you tick as a consumer. Again, taking online surveys won’t make you a millionaire overnight. Nonetheless, they’re a fun and easy way to make a little extra moolah on your coffee break with zero stress and no boss breathing down your neck. Different surveys pay different amounts and you can usually expect to earn between $0.50 and $5 USD per survey. But given that each only takes a few minutes, doing a couple every day can really add up.

Perform simple tasks online

Finally, machines are getting smarter, but there are still things human beings can do better. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk allows you to make money by performing simple Human Intelligence Tests that a machine can’t do. Spend half an hour every day doing these and you could find yourself with an extra $100 every month.