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I’m so thankful to live in a time when it’s never been easier for autistic people to find alternative forms of employment and income. I’ve never had a ‘regular job’. I briefly worked two temporary retail jobs over the holidays – I hated them both and found them completely draining. I knew I’d never be happy with a typical office job. Tried cosmetology school for a bit, hated it, and had the chance to leave without suffering any financial loss – so I did.
I’ve searched high and low to find the kind of employment and opportunities that work for me. And after years of searching, I’ve finally found them.
How did I do this? I’ve spent the last few years scouring the internet searching for work from home opportunities.
In this blog post, I’m going to share all of the work from home opportunities I’ve tried in the last few years. Before I get into the post, let me say one thing – some of ideas you’ll find here will be nothing more than side income. Because, that’s what my income is currently made up of – a majority of different forms of side income.
Multiple of these opportunities could easily make up a full-time income, if that’s what you’re looking for. However, they will likely take you a bit of time to build. Also, because these opportunities are independent contractor based or entrepreneurial, you’ll be responsible for paying your own taxes.
Even if you have a job you’re happy with, but are just looking for some additional income, these opportunities could really make a difference for you. I’ll also be sharing my favorite work from home blogs I’ve learned a lot from over the years!
Search engine evaluator
This is my current job. I work part-time and typically earn $1,000 every month. I do my work anywhere, anytime I feel like it. I have zero complaints, and sometimes even truly enjoy the work I do. I’ve never spoken to a single human being from my company, aside from brief email communication. Still getting paid, but getting to avoid talking to people?! Hell, yes.
Search engine companies like Google, Bing, and Yahoo largely depend on algorithms to determine the kind of results their users see. But, those algorithms still get things wrong sometimes. For example – have you ever searched for something on Google, only to find completely unrelated and irrelevant results come up?
That’s why these companies need search engine evaluators – to fix the errors they don’t catch! That’s why these search engine companies rely on search engine evaulators. As a search engine evaluator, I quality check web pages, judge whether content is safe for children, report harmful content, and more.
I love this job, because it teaches me a lot about the world. I’ve learned interesting and hilarious things I never would’ve learned otherwise – I’ve also learned a lot of things I wish I’d never learned. I love the company I work for, and I love knowing that in a small way, I’m helping make the internet a safer, better place for everyone.
$700-$1000 a month seems to be the standard earnings for employees and contractors working for these companies. It will vary with each one. Sometimes there’s less work available, but personally, I haven’t experienced this problem often.
To get this job, you’ll need to pass a series of tests to prove that you’ll be able to do the job. These tests vary for each company, but basically, you’re tested on how much you know about the company’s guidelines for rating internet content. You’re given plenty of information about this during the hiring process, and the tests you’re given are generally all open book. But, if you fail one test, you don’t get another chance to take another test, and you have to pass all of your tests!
PROS:
- You set your own schedule and can generally work anywhere in your country.
- You learn a lot about the world.
- Most companies pay between $11-$15 an hour.
- You can work as little or as often as you’d like (but most companies want you to work at least 10).
- No phone work, and very minimal interactions with employers.
- Most companies pay through direct deposit.
CONS:
- The work isn’t always consistent (though from my experience, I’ve found it mostly consistent).
- Staring at a computer for extended periods of time can be very draining on the eyes (that’s why I have these blue light blocking glasses).
- Most companies prefer hiring independent contractors instead of employees.
- You view a lot of sensitive content that could potentially affect your mental health.
- You’re responsible for tracking and logging all of your hours.
- Search engine evaluator companies all have non-disclosure agreements you must sign, prohibiting you from working for more than one.
- Most companies only pay once a month or bi-monthly.
Where to find work like this:
Appen
LIonbridge
rater labs
Write articles for Textbroker
A few years ago, I was earning a couple hundred dollars every month ghost writing articles for Textbroker. Business owners and bloggers need content written for their websites, and a lot of them just don’t have the knack for writing. So, they’d rather pay someone who does to do it for them!
It’s so easy to sign up for Textbroker. Best of all, you don’t need to have any experience with freelance writing to take advantage of this opportunity! You just need to provide a short writing sample showcasing your work when you sign up. As long as you at least have decent writing skills, getting accepted shouldn’t be a problem.
Once you’ve been accepted, Textbroker ranks your writing skills. When I first started writing for them 4 years ago, I think I started out I was a two star writer. It’s been years since I’ve written anything for them, but I’m now a four star writer! I think it’s wonderful that they give their writers opportunity to improve and earn more per word.
On Textbroker, the work is organized in a forum-like setting, and authors can choose what pieces to work on, on a ‘first come first serve basis’. All of the articles are categorized by topic, and the variety of articles available to write about a certain topic is constantly changing. When I wrote a lot on Textbroker, I mostly wrote articles about fashion, health, DIY stuff, news, and entertainment. I’ve learned I just don’t have the focus in me to care enough to write articles about subjects I don’t truly about, so I don’t do that anymore.
I’m thankful to have this side income opportunity in my back pocket, especially if I ever needed to earn some extra m0ney fast – Textbroker pays once every week through PayPal!
Pros:
- Work as often or as little as you want.
- You get paid weekly through PayPal.
- No previous writing experience needed.
- You get the opportunity to improve your writing skills and gain access to higher paying articles.
- A great company for beginning writers looking to improve their skills.
- You can get repeat clients who want to work with you regularly.
- Textbroker has a very good reputation and always pays on time.
Cons:
- Some clients are pickier than others and may request revisions of your work.
- There’s often much less work available, which can make it harder to write about topics you aren’t familiar with.
FiverR Gigs
If you don’t know, Fiver is an online marketplace for freelancers where a variety of services can be found, starting at $5 each. This works out well for both freelancers and those working on Fiverr. However, for this gig to be worth your time, it’s important that you setup gigs that you’ll be able to complete in a short enough amount of time.
With Fiverr, you can set up just about any kind of gig you can think of. A few years ago, I was earning a couple hundred dollars every month just from writing fashion articles! The average freelancer on Fiverr can usually earn between $1000-$2000 every month. But again, this takes a decent amount of time to build!
fiverr gig categories:
- Graphics/Design
- Music & Audio
- Programming & Tech
- Digital Marketing
- Business
- Lifestyle
- Writing & Translation
- Video & Animation
a few popular fiverr gigs:
- Article writing
- Logo design
- Social media promotion
- Social media manager
- Virtual assistant services
- Instagram photo design
- Video introductions
- Audio editing
- Transcription
- Book cover design
- Proofreading
- Install Google Analytics
- Website setup
- Website design
These are only a few examples of the type of Fiverr gigs you can setup. Best of all, you can have as many different Fiver gigs as you want! This is an income stream that I’m going to be focusing a lot on building myself in the coming months. I’ll probably set up a couple of different writing gigs and website setup gigs as well!
pros:
- A wonderful opportunity to earn extra money doing just about anything.
- Work as little or as often as you’d like.
- Can be extra money or a great part-time income.
- Could potentially lead to more regular gigs in your industry of choice.
- A great way to showcase your work and still get paid if you’re just getting started in a particular industry.
Cons:
- You’re responsible for paying your own taxes.
- If you can’t find a skill to replicate in a short enough amount of time, Fiverr may not be worth it for you.
- You’ll sometimes have to spend extra time revising your work depending on your skill level and the clients you work with.
- Fiver does take a 20% commission from every gig.
Selling things online
I’ve had a decent amount of experience selling my stuff online in the last few years. I’ve only sold things on Facebook Marketplace, specific Facebook selling groups that I’m in, and Ebay.
If you decide you want to start selling, I recommend starting with what you have. Most of us have plenty of things lying around our homes never being used anyway!
For example, I really love vintage clothing and accessories. But, a few years ago, I realized I had way too much of them! So, I started selling a lot in vintage selling groups on Facebook. Today, I still have items I’m purging! But, I’m trying to earn a little more money for them, which is why I’m a lot more focused on selling on Ebay these days.
Selling on Ebay takes a lot more work, but it’s a great way to earn more money. First, you have to take photos of what you’re selling, and then list them. Then, you decide how you’re going to price and ship them. You have to include important item details and features, letting buyers know about any flaws. Then, of course there’s all the steps involved in shipping what you sell.
Shipping on Ebay has taken me a while to get the hang of, but I’ve learned a lot from it, and am pretty good at it today. If you have a lot of stuff to sell and need shipping supplies, you can order whatever you need for free from USPS.
Since I’m currently selling vintage clothing and accessories on Ebay, I decided to purchase these poly mailer bags for shipping instead. They save me a lot of space, and they’re large enough to fit almost everything I’m selling.
If you sell your items on Facebook groups, you’ll sell them faster, but earn less money. People in Facebook groups expect to find good deals! They also don’t care as much about fancy looking product photos. If you’re willing to wait a bit longer, you can sell things on Ebay and earn more money, depending on what you’re selling.
Once I finally get rid of all my unwanted vintage clothing and accessories, I don’t know if I’ll look for more to sell or not. But, I’m definitely waiting until I sell what I have before I acquire more things to sell! I recommend that you do the same, especially if you don’t have any experience selling online. Also, I recommend selling the type of things you know a lot about, and would have a good eye for noticing in thrift stores.
Pros:
- A great way to declutter and profit from items you no longer use.
- Can be extra money, a part-time income, or a full-time income.
Cons:
- If you sell on places like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, you’ll have to sometimes deal with buyers who bail or flake at the last minute.
- Shipping items can sometimes be a hassle.
- Ebay shipping may take some time for you to learn (this was the case for me).
- This opportunity requires a lot of different steps that you may find overwhelming to keep up with.
Best Places to sell your stuff online:
EBAY
facebook marketplace
craigslist
POShmark
Depop
mystery Shopping
Did you know it’s actually possible to get paid to judge people while also getting free groceries, meals, movie tickets, and more?!
Before you get too excited, let me first say that this is definitely not anything that will give you even a part-time income, most likely. Mystery shopping is a very occasional, sometimes fun way to earn extra money while getting free stuff.
Companies want to know how the quality of their customer service actually is, and they want to know how they can improve it. That’s why they work with market research companies and why those market research companies hire ‘secret shoppers’ to go to those businesses and pose as normal customers.
Before you start applying to mystery shopping jobs, let me share a few very important tips you need to know. First, never pay to mystery shop. If a company is offering you mystery shopping jobs for the exchange of some kind of payment, they’re more than likely trying to scam you. That being said, I only recommend doing shops for companies who are members of the MSPA, the organization that regulates mystery shopping companies.
For some who truly enjoy these kinds of jobs, it could earn at least a little extra additional income on a regular basis. Personally, I’ve found some of the mystery shops I’ve done very boring and not worth my time, such as cellphone shops for mobile phone carriers. My favorite mystery shopping jobs have been ones where I’ve gotten free meals, groceries, alcohol, and movie tickets. As someone who doesn’t care for a lot of extra paperwork, it’s worth it for me to find shops like that every once in a while. It’s also nice when you can find mystery shops available for car, home, and financial maintenance!
mystery shopping companies i’ve worked with:
Marketforce
Jancyn
Bestmark
intellishop
Pros:
- A great way to earn extra money while also receiving free products and services you already pay for anyway.
- You can work as little or as often as you want.
- You have an opportunity to provide feedback to companies and let them know how they can improve their customer service.
- This can be a great way to save on expenses while traveling.
Cons:
- Most jobs require at least a small amount of online paperwork to fill out – the amount varies for each company.
- You have to be able to keep track of specific questions you’re required to ask, photos you need to take, things you need to order, etc.
- If you have a lot of sensory sensitivities, you may these jobs too overwhelming and not worth the effort.
house sitting
In the last two years, I’ve gotten lots of opportunities to house sit.
If you want to start house sitting, but have no experience, I recommend offering to do a few small house sitting jobs for free to help you build references and testimonials for your services.
House sitting duties include caring for the homeowner’s pets and plants, occupying the home, keeping up with light housework, and being responsible for other things, like picking up mail, overseeing home repairs, etc.
One of the intentions I’ve set for 2020 is to get more house sitting clients, or at least more house sitting jobs through paid house sitting websites. I’ve been looking into more creative ways to advertise my house sitting experience. I currently have 5 regular house sitting clients, and already have 10 jobs booked for this next year.
Most of my house sitting clients all came to me because someone who originally found me on Rover recommended me to her friend, who then recommended me to a bunch of her friends. I’ve never signed up for any house sitting websites, but I’ve thoroughly researched all of the companies I’ve mentioned below, and am planning on using them myself this year. Once I do, I’ll report back and share my experiences!
If you don’t want to pay for house sitting membership websites, you can always get started with small house sitting jobs through websites like Rover and Care.
IDEAS to advertise your house sitting services:
- Become a member of as many local Facebook community groups as you can. Anytime you see someone inquiring for pet/house sitting services, comment as soon as you can.
- Join apps like Nextdoor to look out for anyone in your area needing a house sitter.
- Consider posting an ad in your local newspaper.
- Make business cards or posters and drop them off at local businesses.
Where to find Paid house sitting jobs:
care
Trusted house sitters
Luxury House sitting
Mind MY House
pet sitting and dog walking
If you love animals, this may be the perfect opportunity for you! Also, as I mentioned above, pet sitting could be a great way for you to find paid house sitting opportunities if you’re looking to do that.
My first pet sitting jobs I did as a teenager were for my neighbors, and I only did them every once in a while. Then, I signed up for Rover a few year ago, and have been using it ever since!
Pet owners are looking for responsible and reliable animal lovers to care for their animals while they’re away, make temporary or permanent drop-in visits for them, or walk their dogs. In some cases, pet owners may wish to drop their animals at your home while they’re away.
Pet sitting is such a great remote income opportunity, because you can do it from anywhere! Best of all, you have extremely minimal human interaction, which I personally love.
pros:
- Perfect for animal lovers.
- Extremely minimal human interaction.
- Can earn extra money, a part-time income, or a full-time income.
Cons:
- A lot of people need pet sitters during the busiest times of the year, like the holidays.
- Some people may cancel their plans or change them.
- You may have a few meetups with pet owners that don’t lead to actual jobs.
BEst websites to find pet sitting opportunities:
ROVER
wag
Sitter City
Fetch
Blogging
So far, I haven’t earned a cent from this blog. But, I have had past blogs that I was never passionate enough to stay consistent with. I set up a few ads and affiliate links on them a few years ago. I haven’t touched those blogs in years, and I barely put any work into them.
Today, I’ve made over $50 in affiliate commissions and over $2 in advertising fees. Imagine how much I could’ve made from those blogs by now if I’d been passionate enough to stay consistent with them!
Blogging is continually becoming a more popular industry. However, many people still have no idea just how profitable a blog can actually be! There are some bloggers who earn $20,000 a year, some earning upwards of six-figures, and many earning somewhere in between those numbers.
Based on my personal experiences with blogging and everything I’ve learned about it so far, you have to pick a topic you care enough about to write and talk about on a daily basis. I’ve always loved fashion, but was never passionate enough about it to take photos outfit photos and write about it every day. That’s why I was never able to stay consistent with the fashion blogs I started in the past! Last year, I thought I’d start a minimalist lifestyle blog where I’d also incorporate some elements of fashion into it.. but again, I couldn’t stay consistent with it, because I just didn’t care enough about it.
Whenever I wrote anything, I found myself constantly wanting to talk about neurodiversity, and how learning about my differences has led me to a lot of self-love and powerful mindset shifts. The only problem was that I was still self-diagnosed at this point – and I didn’t feel brave enough to publicly share the experiences I so badly wanted to write about it. When I realized that not having a professional diagnosis was leaving me stuck, I knew it was time to take action.
At first I thought I’d start a lifestyle blog, and only talk about neurodiversity sometimes. A few days after my diagnosis, that vision changed completely. I realized I wanted to talk about it all the time, and write the kind of blog posts that younger me would’ve loved and found very helpful when I first learned I was autistic.
It definitely took me a little time (and some trial and error) before I found the right niche for me. Sometimes, you have to try a few things before you find what works for you. But once you find something you care a lot about, it makes staying consistent with your blog so much easier.
Earning a regular income through blogging is not an overnight process by any means. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, passion, and commitment to make it happen. But, once you finally start earning income from it, it becomes another income stream that you can continue to build on.
I’m excited to make this happen in my own life, and will right more about my blogging journey as it progresses.
how can i actually make money through blogging?
There’s so many ways to earn a regular income through blogging. You can set up ads on your blog through companies like Google Adsense. You can set up affiliate links (though I only recommend promoting products and services you genuinely love). You can get sponsored posts. You can even create your own digital products to sell, such as courses, ebooks, guides, and more. If writing an actual book is one of your goals, why not start a blog so that you’ll already have an audience for it when you’re ready to release it?
A blogger I’m currently Learning from:
Ruth Soukup started her blog, Living Well Spending Less back in 2010 as a creative accountability method to help her get her home and budget under control. Her blog had very small beginnings, but it’s since become a multi-million dollar business! Since writing blog posts that help her readers live well on a budget, Ruth has gone on to create her own planner, and write her book, Do It Scared, which made her a New York Times bestselling author!
Ruth also has a paid course, Elite Blog Academy, that I’ve invested in and have been learning a lot from. I still have a long way to go before I’ll finish the course, but it’s already helped me become more clear on the blog and brand that I’m creating.
I love hearing successful stories from bloggers like Ruth who truly started nowhere and created amazing businesses for themselves from their blogs. I get so inspired, and their success reminds me that the same success is also possible for me – I just have to be consistent about putting in the effort to make it happen.
My Favorite work from home blogs
I spent a lot of time on the internet looking at all kinds of work from home opportunities a few years ago. Here are my favorite work from home blogs that have taught me the most. If none of options above are appealing to you, you may find some other opportunities and jobs from the sites below that are a better fit for you.
The Penny Hoarder
Real ways to earn money online
Work At Home Adventures
The Work at home Woman
conclusion
It might take you a little time to find the right work from home opportunities for you. But, it’s my hope that this post at least helped you narrow down a few of the best options! There are so many different work from home opportunities out there, but I only wanted to write about the ones that I’ve had personal experience with.
Every person on the spectrum is different. One job or income opportunity that works well for one may not work for another. Remember that, and remember that everything I’ve shared in this post may not be right for you – and that’s totally okay! There’s countless work from home jobs and side hustles available, and if that’s what you want, you can find the right one for you.
If you found this post helpful, it would mean so much to me if you shared it on Facebook and Pinterest. I want all neurodivergent adults to know that they don’t have to work a regular job to earn money! It isn’t easy, and it takes a little time, but the freedom that comes with it is absolutely worth it.
As I increase my income, I’m not only committed to increasing that level freedom in my life – I’m committed to helping other neurodivergent adults do the same.
