Let me start by saying this – I never thought I’d become someone who makes money from home.

When I went on maternity leave with my son, I was bored out of my mind sitting on the sofa while he napped. Don’t get me wrong, I loved every second with him, but my brain needed something to do. That’s when I started looking into ways to make money from home.

And honestly? It completely changed my life.

I started with matched betting (more on that later) and made about £1000 in my first few months. Then I started with surveys where I made money from my phone. While watching terrible daytime TV and holding a sleeping baby.

Since then, I’ve tried SO many different ways to make money from home. Some were brilliant. Some were a complete waste of time. And some I’m still doing now because they actually work.

So if you’re stuck at home – whether you’re a mum like me, looking for extra income, or just want to ditch the commute – this post is for you. I’m going to share every single method I know for making money from home in the UK, with realistic earnings and what actually works.

No fluff. No get-rich-quick nonsense. Just real ways to earn real money.

Part 1: Quick Money Methods (The Stuff Anyone Can Do)

These are the methods that need zero special skills. If you can use a phone or laptop, you can do these. They won’t make you rich, but they’re easy money while you’re watching TV or waiting for the kettle to boil.

1. Matched Betting – This One Actually Works (£500-£1000 in First Month)

I’m starting with this because it’s by far the best way to make quick money from home in the UK. And I’m not exaggerating. It’s the most profitable way to make money online!

Matched betting is basically using bookmaker promotions to make a guaranteed profit. It’s not gambling because you’re covering all outcomes. It’s just maths, really.

When I first started, I was sceptical. It sounded too good to be true. But I made £623 in my first three weeks.

I’ve written a whole guide on how to do matched betting, so I won’t go into massive detail here. But the basics are:

• You need about £50-100 to start (you get this back immediately)
• It takes 5-10 hours per week once you get the hang of it
• Most people make £500-1000 in their first month from welcome offers
• After that, you can make £200-500 per month doing reload offers

The downsides? Your accounts will eventually get restricted by the bookies. That’s normal and happens to everyone. But you’ll have made good money by then.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. This is the fastest way to make money from home with basically zero risk.

Time commitment: 5-10 hours per week
Earnings potential: £500-1000 first month, then £200-500 monthly
Difficulty: Easy once you learn the system

2. Online Surveys – Boring But Easy (£50-150 per Month)

Right, I’m going to be honest with you. Online surveys are dull as dishwater.

But they’re also really easy money. I do them while I’m watching Netflix or when I’m too tired to do anything that requires actual brain power.

Here’s the thing about surveys – you’re not going to get rich. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. But you CAN make £50-150 a month if you’re consistent and sign up to multiple sites.

The best UK survey sites I’ve actually used:

Prolific – This is my favourite. You get about £6-8 per hour, which is way better than most survey sites. The surveys are usually for academic research so they’re a bit more interesting than “what cereal do you buy?”

YouGov – Proper market research company. Points take a while to add up but it’s reliable. Each survey is about 50p-£1. Read my full post here about YouGov.

Swagbucks – Not just surveys, you can also get paid to play phone games (yes, really). The payout is in gift cards or PayPal cash. Read my full Swagbucks guide here.

OnePoll – Quick polls that take 2-3 minutes. The pay is rubbish (like 20p per poll) but they’re so fast you can do them while queuing at Tesco.

Top tips for surveys:

• Fill out your profile completely or you’ll get screened out constantly
• Check in the morning – the best surveys get snapped up quickly
• Don’t lie on screening questions – you’ll get booted and might lose your account
• Set up a separate email address because you’ll get A LOT of emails

Time commitment: 30-60 minutes per day
Earnings potential: £50-150 per month
Difficulty: Easy but mind-numbingly boring

3. Focus Groups – Better Pay for Your Opinions (£40-100 per Session)

This is surveys on steroids. Instead of filling out questionnaires online, you actually join a video call (or sometimes in-person session) to discuss products, services, or ideas.

The pay is SO much better than normal surveys. I’ve been paid £60 for an hour-long video call about nappies. Easiest money ever.

The catch? They’re harder to get into. You need to fit specific criteria and there’s usually a screening process.

Where to find them:

• Respondent – This is the best one I’ve found. Most pay £40-100 per session
• User Interviews – Similar to Respondent
• FindFocusGroups.co.uk – Lists UK focus groups
• Many survey sites also run focus groups, so keep an eye out

Time commitment: Varies – usually 30 minutes to 2 hours per session
Earnings potential: £40-100 per session
Difficulty: Need to qualify but very easy once you’re in

4. Cashback Apps – This Adds Up! (£200-400 per Year)

I’ve made over £800 this year using cashback apps and I honestly don’t understand why everyone isn’t doing this. The big money is when you renew insurance – ALWAYS CHECK for cashback offers!

You’re buying stuff anyway. Why not get money back?

I’ve written a massive post about the best cashback apps in the UK [link to your cashback apps post], but here’s the quick version:

For groceries:

• TopCashback and Quidco – Get cashback on nearly everything
• CheckoutSmart – Scan receipts for cashback on specific products
• GreenJinn – Similar to CheckoutSmart
• Shopmium – Often has full refunds on products (free stuff!)

For shopping:

• TopCashback/Quidco – Again, these are essential
• Airtime Rewards – Get cashback as mobile credit (I haven’t paid for my phone bill in months)

For eating out:

• Tastecard – Get discounts and cashback at restaurants

The trick is to stack these. Check TopCashback before buying anything online. Scan every receipt. It takes 30 seconds and you’ll make hundreds over the year.

Time commitment: 5-10 minutes per day
Earnings potential: £200-400 per year
Difficulty: Ridiculously easy

My guides on these apps:

• TopCashback
• CheckoutSmart
• GreenJinn
• Shopmium
• Airtime Rewards

5. User Testing Websites – Get Paid to Browse (£8-60 per Test)

Companies need to know if their websites actually work. That’s where you come in.

You basically visit a website, complete tasks while talking through what you’re doing, and get paid. Most tests take 10-20 minutes.

The main platforms:

• UserTesting – £8 per 20-minute test (the biggest and best)
• Userlytics – £8-15 per test
• TryMyUI – £8 per test
• PlaytestCloud – £7-9 for testing games and apps

The tests usually involve things like “Find the contact page and tell us what you think about the layout” or “Try to buy a product and describe any problems.”

You need to pass a qualification test first, and not everyone gets accepted. The demand for testers goes up and down, so some weeks you’ll get loads of tests and other weeks you’ll get none.

Time commitment: 10-20 minutes per test
Earnings potential: £50-200 per month (if you’re quick)
Difficulty: Easy – just need to speak clearly

6. Selling Your Stuff – Quick Cash from Your Clutter (£100-500)

This isn’t ongoing income, but it’s one of the fastest ways to make money from home right now.

I made about £300 selling baby clothes, toys, and random stuff I didn’t need anymore. It was all just sitting in cupboards doing nothing.

Best platforms for selling:

Vinted – My favourite for clothes. No selling fees! You just pay £1 postage protection. I’ve sold loads of baby clothes on here.

Facebook Marketplace – Great for furniture and local pickup. No fees, quick sales.

eBay – Good for electronics, collectables, and branded items. There are fees but you reach more buyers.

Depop – If you’ve got trendy clothes, especially vintage or Y2K stuff. Younger audience so great for fashion.

Music Magpie – Lazy option for books, CDs, DVDs. You scan the barcode and they give you a price. Not the best money but zero effort.

Tips for selling:

• Take good photos in natural light
• Be honest about condition (you’ll just get returns otherwise)
• Price slightly high – people love to haggle
• Bundle things together (baby clothes sell better in packs)
• List things on Sunday evening – that’s when most people browse

Time commitment: 1-2 hours per item
Earnings potential: £100-500 (one-off)
Difficulty: Easy but time-consuming

• Vinted Guide
• Vinted Scams to watch out for

Part 2: Skill-Based Online Work (Higher Pay, Need Some Skills)

Right, this is where the money gets better. You need some skills or experience for these, but nothing too fancy. If you’re good at writing, organising, or teaching, these could work for you.

7. Freelance Writing – Get Paid for Words (£15-50 per Hour)

I love freelance writing because you can literally start with zero portfolio.

Businesses need content. Blog posts, website copy, product descriptions, emails – all of it needs writing. And most business owners hate writing or don’t have time for it.

Where to find writing work:

• Upwork – Massive freelance platform. Lots of competition but lots of work too
• Fiverr – You set up “gigs” and clients find you
• People Per Hour – UK-based platform (easier to find UK clients)
• Contently – Higher quality work but harder to get into
• Problogger job board – Loads of blogging jobs posted here

Types of writing you can do:

• Blog posts (£50-200 per post)
• Website copy (£200-500 per website)
• Product descriptions (£5-20 per description)
• Social media posts (£50-150 per month per client)
• Email newsletters (£100-300 per email)

When I started, I had no portfolio, but I got a job for one article a month for £250.

The going rate is about £50-150 per 1000-word blog post. Once you’re established, you can charge more.

Time commitment: Flexible – as much as you want
Earnings potential: £15-50 per hour (£500-2000 per month part-time)
Difficulty: Medium – need decent writing skills

8. Virtual Assistant – Help Businesses Stay Organised (£10-25 per Hour)

Virtual assistants basically do admin work for businesses remotely. It’s stuff like:

• Managing emails
• Scheduling social media posts
• Data entry
• Customer service
• Booking appointments
• Research

You don’t need formal qualifications. You just need to be organised, good with tech, and reliable.

UK Virtual Assistant platforms:

• Time Etc – One of the biggest. You need 12+ years of EA/PA/office experience, though
• Virtalent – UK-based, looking for experienced VAs
• Fancy Hands – US-based but accepts UK VAs for some tasks
• Upwork/Fiverr – General freelance platforms

You can also find clients directly by reaching out to small business owners on LinkedIn or local Facebook groups. Lots of small businesses need help but can’t afford a full-time employee.

The starting rate is usually £10-15 per hour. Once you’re established with good clients, you can charge £20-25 per hour or more.

Time commitment: Flexible – usually 5-20 hours per week
Earnings potential: £500-2000 per month part-time
Difficulty: Medium – need organisation skills

9. Online Tutoring – Teach What You Know (£15-40 per Hour)

If you’re good at a subject, you can tutor online. And I don’t just mean traditional school subjects – people pay for tutors in all sorts of things.

UK tutoring platforms:

• MyTutor – Need to be in uni or have a degree. Pay is £20-30 per hour
• Tutorful – Similar to MyTutor
• First Tutors – You set your own rate
• Superprof – Can tutor basically anything, not just academic subjects

You’ll need a DBS check (about £40) and usually some proof of your qualifications. But once you’re set up, it’s good money.

The best subjects for demand are:

• Maths and English (always in demand)
• Sciences
• 11+ preparation
• GCSE and A-Level subjects
• English as a foreign language

You can also tutor music, languages, or even things like coding if that’s your thing.

Time commitment: Flexible – usually 5-15 hours per week
Earnings potential: £15-40 per hour
Difficulty: Medium – need subject knowledge and patience

10. Proofreading and Editing (£20-40 per Hour)

If you’re the type of person who spots typos in menus, this could be for you.

You don’t necessarily need formal qualifications, but it helps. The Publishing Training Centre and Chapterhouse offer courses if you want to go that route.

Where to find proofreading work:

• Upwork and Fiverr (again!)
• Reedsy – For book editing specifically
• Scribbr – Academic proofreading
• Reach out directly to authors, students, or businesses

You can proofread:

• Books and ebooks
• Student dissertations
• Business documents
• Website copy
• Blog posts

Rates vary massively. You might charge per word (1-2p per word) or per hour (£20-40). For a novel, you might charge £300-800 depending on length.

Time commitment: Flexible
Earnings potential: £20-40 per hour
Difficulty: Medium – need excellent grammar and attention to detail

11. Social Media Management – Post for Pay (£200-1000 per Month per Client)

Businesses need social media but most business owners either hate it or don’t have time for it. That’s where you come in.

You don’t need to be a social media guru. You just need to be consistent and understand the basics of each platform.

What you’d typically do:

• Create and schedule posts
• Respond to comments and messages
• Design simple graphics in Canva
• Come up with content ideas
• Maybe run basic ads

How to find clients:

• Local businesses (just message them!)
• Facebook groups for business owners
• LinkedIn outreach
• Upwork/Fiverr

Start by offering to manage one platform (usually Facebook or Instagram) for £200-300 per month. Once you’ve got some experience and testimonials, you can charge more and manage multiple platforms.

The brilliant thing about social media management is that you can batch-create content. I spend a few hours one day creating all the posts for the month, then just schedule them. Easy money.

Time commitment: 5-10 hours per month per client
Earnings potential: £200-1000 per client (3-5 clients = £1000-3000/month)
Difficulty: Medium – need to understand social media

12. Graphic Design (Even Basic Stuff) – £15-40 per Hour

You don’t need to be a Photoshop wizard. With Canva, literally anyone can create decent graphics these days.

Small businesses need:

• Social media graphics
• Flyers and posters
• Business cards
• Presentation slides
• Ebook covers
• Website headers

You can learn Canva in an afternoon. Watch some YouTube tutorials and start practising.

Where to sell designs:

• Fiverr – Set up gigs for specific design services
• 99designs – Design contests (competitive but good exposure)
• Etsy – Sell templates that people can customise
• Creative Market – Sell templates, fonts, graphics
• Direct to businesses via social media

You can charge per project (£20-100 depending on complexity) or create templates to sell repeatedly on Etsy (passive income!).

Time commitment: Flexible
Earnings potential: £15-40 per hour or passive income from templates
Difficulty: Easy-Medium with Canva, Hard with Adobe

Part 3: Building Long-Term Income (Slower Start, Better Long-Term)

These take time to build up. You won’t make money immediately. But if you stick with it, these can turn into proper income streams. Some can even become passive income eventually.

13. Starting a Blog – This Takes Time but Works (£0-£4000+ per Month)

I’m a blogger, so obviously I’m biased. But blogging genuinely changed my life.

Here’s the reality: You probably won’t make money for 6-12 months. That puts most people off. But if you stick with it, you can build a proper income.

I make money from my blog through:

• Affiliate marketing (recommending products and getting commission)
• Display ads (Google AdSense, Mediavine when you hit 50k views)
• Sponsored posts (brands pay you to write about their products)

The key is treating it like a business, not a hobby. That means:

• Doing proper keyword research (I use Keysearch for this)
• Writing content that ranks on Google
• Being consistent
• Building an email list from day one

Starting costs are low: £50-100 per year for hosting and domain. I use LyricalHost and I’ve never had issues.

Time commitment: 10-20 hours per week
Earnings potential: £0-4000+ per month (after 12+ months)
Difficulty: Medium-Hard – long game

14. YouTube Channel – Film Your Face or Just Your Voice (Monetisation After 1000 Subs)

YouTube is similar to blogging but for video. And before you say “I can’t film myself” – loads of successful YouTube channels never show the creator’s face.

You can make videos about:

• Tutorials and how-tos
• Product reviews
• Commentary on topics you’re interested in
• Screen recordings of you doing something (like gaming or design work)

To monetise, you need:

• 1,000 subscribers
• 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months

Once you hit that, you can earn from:

• Ad revenue (£1-5 per 1000 views typically in UK)
• Sponsorships
• Affiliate links in description

You can literally start with your phone. My first videos were filmed on an iPhone with the free iMovie editing software. Don’t overcomplicate it.

Time commitment: 10-20 hours per week
Earnings potential: £0-5000+ per month (after building audience)
Difficulty: Medium-Hard

15. Affiliate Marketing – Recommend Stuff, Earn Commission (£50-5000+ per Month)

Here’s how it works: You sign up to affiliate programs, get unique links, and when someone buys through your link, you get commission. Usually 5-20% of the sale.

Best UK affiliate programs:

• Amazon Associates – 1-10% commission on everything Amazon sells
• Awin – Loads of UK brands (ASOS, Boots, etc.)
• eBay Partner Network – Up to 70% commission on eBay purchases
• ShareASale – US-based but lots of UK-friendly programs

You need somewhere to share your links:

• A blog (best option)
• YouTube channel
• Instagram (though links are harder)
• Pinterest
• TikTok

The key is being genuine. Only recommend stuff you actually use or would use. People can tell when you’re just trying to make money.

I make affiliate income from matched betting services, cashback apps, and blogging tools I genuinely use. It’s not loads yet, but it’s growing every month. Every so often I’ll get a £10 payment for something I forgot I even promoted!

Time commitment: Ongoing – part of content creation
Earnings potential: £50-5000+ per month
Difficulty: Medium

16. Selling Digital Products – Create Once, Sell Forever (£100-3000+ per Month)

This is proper passive income. You create something once and sell it repeatedly.

Digital products you can sell:

Printables – Things people print at home like:

• Planners and calendars
• Wall art and quotes
• Party decorations
• Worksheets and trackers
• Budgeting templates

Sell these on Etsy or your own website. They’re usually £2-8 each. People make £500-2000 per month once they’ve got a good collection.

Online Courses – Teach something you know:

• Use Teachable or Thinkific to host
• Or sell on Udemy (they take a big cut but handle the marketing)
• Courses usually sell for £30-200

Ebooks – Write a book and sell on:

• Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
• Your own website
• Etsy

Templates – Business templates like:

• Canva templates
• Spreadsheets
• Website templates
• Social media templates

The brilliant thing is you do the work once. After that, it’s mostly passive. You just need to market it occasionally.

Time commitment: 20-100 hours upfront, then minimal
Earnings potential: £100-3000+ per month (once established)
Difficulty: Medium

17. Print on Demand – Sell Products Without Inventory (£100-2000+ per Month)

This is like having your own shop but without dealing with stock or postage.

You create designs and upload them to a print-on-demand platform. When someone orders, the platform prints it and posts it. You just get the profit.

UK Print on Demand platforms:

• Printful – Integrates with Etsy/Shopify
• Redbubble – You upload designs, they handle everything
• Teemill – UK-based, eco-friendly
• Society6 – Good for art prints

You can sell:

• T-shirts and hoodies
• Mugs
• Phone cases
• Tote bags
• Wall art
• Notebooks

The profit margins are small (£2-10 per item usually) but it’s fully passive once set up.

Time commitment: 10-20 hours to set up, then minimal
Earnings potential: £100-2000+ per month
Difficulty: Easy-Medium

Part 4: Product-Based Businesses from Home

These involve actually selling physical products. They take more work and usually some upfront investment, but the income potential is higher.

18. Reselling and Retail Arbitrage – Buy Low, Sell High (£500-3000+ per Month)

This is buying things cheap and selling them for more. Simple concept but it works.

Where to source:

• Clearance sections in supermarkets
• Charity shops (for branded items)
• Wholesale websites
• Car boot sales
• Facebook Marketplace (buy low, sell higher elsewhere)

Where to sell:

• Amazon FBA – You send stock to Amazon, they store and post it
• eBay – Good for one-off items
• Facebook Marketplace – Local sales
• Vinted

People make proper money doing this. The key is finding profitable items and buying them in bulk.

Popular items:

• Books (textbooks especially)
• Branded clothes from charity shops
• Toys and games
• Beauty products on clearance
• Electronics

You need some money to start (£100-500) for initial stock. And you need space to store things.

Time commitment: 10-30 hours per week
Earnings potential: £500-3000+ per month
Difficulty: Medium – need to learn what sells

19. Handmade Crafts – Make and Sell (Variable Income)

If you’re crafty, Etsy is brilliant for selling handmade items.

What sells well on Etsy:

• Jewellery
• Candles
• Art prints
• Personalised gifts
• Clothing and accessories
• Home décor
• Crochet

The profit depends entirely on what you make and your pricing. Some people make £200 per month as a side hustle. Others make £3000+ as their full-time income.

Things to know:

• You need to register as self-employed
• Factor in materials cost
• Shipping can be complicated
• You need good photos
• Etsy takes fees (around 6.5% total)

Time commitment: Variable – as much as you want
Earnings potential: £200-3000+ per month
Difficulty: Medium – depends on your craft

20. Dropshipping – Sell Products Without Touching Them (£500-5000+ per Month)

Dropshipping is where you sell products online but the supplier stores and ships them. You never touch the products.

Here’s how it works:

1. Customer orders from your online shop
2. You forward the order to your supplier
3. Supplier ships directly to customer
4. You keep the profit

UK Dropshipping suppliers:

• WholesaleDeals.co.uk
• Bigbuy (EU-based)
• Syncee

Platforms to sell on:

• Shopify (monthly fee but professional)
• eBay
• Amazon

The profit margins are small (10-30% usually) so you need volume. And the competition is massive.

It’s not passive – you need to handle customer service, marketing, and finding products.

Time commitment: 20-40 hours per week
Earnings potential: £500-5000+ per month
Difficulty: Hard – very competitive

Part 5: Other Ways to Make Money from Home

These didn’t fit in the other categories, but they’re still worth knowing about.

21. Remote Customer Service Jobs – Actual Employment (£9-12 per Hour)

These are properly employed positions, not self-employment. You’re on the payroll with set hours.

Companies hiring remote customer service:

• Amazon – They hire loads of remote workers
• Apple – At-home advisors (need to pass technical tests)
• AO.com – Customer service roles
• PlusNet – Customer support

The pay is usually £9-12 per hour. You get holiday pay and employee benefits. The hours are usually shift-based, including some evenings and weekends.

You need:

• Decent internet connection
• Quiet workspace
• Usually a headset
• Customer service experience (for most)

Time commitment: Part-time or full-time positions available
Earnings potential: £9-12 per hour
Difficulty: Easy-Medium

22. Transcription Work – Type Audio into Text (£5-15 per Hour)

Transcription is listening to audio and typing what’s said. It’s tedious but easy.

Transcription platforms:

• Rev – £0.30-1.10 per audio minute
• TranscribeMe – Around £15-22 per audio hour
• GoTranscript – £0.60 per audio minute

General transcription pays quite low (£5-8 per hour realistically). Medical or legal transcription pays more (£15-25 per hour) but needs qualifications.

You need to type fast. Like 60+ words per minute. And you need good headphones.

Time commitment: Flexible
Earnings potential: £5-15 per hour
Difficulty: Easy but boring

23. Data Entry – Simple but Low Pay (£8-12 per Hour)

Data entry is basically copying information from one place to another. It’s mind-numbing but easy.

Where to find legitimate data entry work:

• Upwork and Fiverr (yet again)
• FlexJobs (subscription site but filters out scams)
• Indeed (search “remote data entry UK”)

Be VERY careful with data entry. There are loads of scams. Never pay to access jobs.

The pay is usually £8-12 per hour. It’s not great money, but it’s easy and flexible.

Time commitment: Flexible
Earnings potential: £8-12 per hour
Difficulty: Very easy

24. Microtasks – Tiny Jobs for Tiny Pay (£2-5 per Hour)

These are tiny tasks that take seconds or minutes. Things like:

• Categorising images
• Tagging products
• Verifying information
• Transcribing short audio clips

Microtask platforms:

• Amazon MTurk (Mechanical Turk)
• Clickworker
• Appen

The pay is terrible. Like £2-5 per hour, terrible. But it’s completely flexible. You can do it while watching TV or waiting for dinner to cook.

I wouldn’t recommend this as your main income source. But if you want beer money and have time to kill, why not?

Time commitment: Whenever you want
Earnings potential: £2-5 per hour
Difficulty: Very easy

25. Mystery Shopping – Get Paid to Shop (£5-30 per Assignment)

Mystery shopping is going to shops or restaurants and reporting on the experience. Sometimes you get reimbursed for purchases too (free food!).

UK Mystery Shopping companies:

• Market Force – Biggest in UK
• Grass Roots – Retail and hospitality
• BestMark – International company

You usually fill out a detailed questionnaire after your visit. The pay is £5-30 depending on the assignment. Restaurant mystery shops often include a £30-50 food allowance.

It’s not loads of money, but it’s a nice way to get free stuff and a bit of cash for doing your normal shopping.

Time commitment: 1-2 hours per assignment
Earnings potential: £5-30 per assignment plus reimbursements
Difficulty: Easy

26. Rent Out Your Stuff – Make Money from What You Already Have

This isn’t work, but it’s income. And if you’ve got stuff sitting around unused, why not?

Things you can rent out:

Spare room – Airbnb or SpareRoom. Could be £200-800 per month, depending on location.

Parking space – JustPark or YourParkingSpace. If you live near a station or city centre, it could be £50-200 per month.

Equipment – Fat Llama lets you rent out anything. Cameras, tools, camping gear, whatever. Make £20-100 per rental.

Car – Turo if you’ve got a car sitting unused. Could make £200-500 per month.

This is proper passive income. You do nothing except hand over your stuff.

Time commitment: Minimal
Earnings potential: £50-1000+ per month, depending on what you rent
Difficulty: Very easy

The Boring But Important Stuff (Tax and Avoiding Scams)

Right, I know this bit isn’t exciting. But you need to know this stuff or you could end up in trouble with HMRC. And nobody wants that.

Tax – Yes, You Need to Think About This

Here’s the deal with tax in the UK:

The Trading Allowance

You can earn up to £1,000 per year from self-employment without paying tax or even telling HMRC. This is called the trading allowance.

So if you’re just doing surveys and matched betting and making £800 a year, you’re fine. No tax return needed.

But if you earn MORE than £1,000 per year from self-employment (which is freelancing, blogging, selling on Etsy, basically anything that’s not employed work), you need to:

1. Register as self-employed with HMRC
2. Do a Self Assessment tax return every year
3. Pay tax on profits over your personal allowance (£12,570 for 2024/25)

When to register:

You need to register by 5th October after the tax year you started. So if you started making money in June 2024, you need to register by 5th October 2025.

But honestly? Just register as soon as you start making money. It’s free and takes 10 minutes online.

What about National Insurance?

If your profits are over £12,570, you’ll pay Class 2 National Insurance (£3.45 per week for 2024/25). If your profits are over £50,270, you’ll also pay Class 4 NI (6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270).

Keeping records:

Keep records of EVERYTHING:

• All the money you earn
• All expenses (website costs, equipment, software subscriptions, etc.)
• Receipts and invoices

I use a simple spreadsheet. Nothing fancy. Just dates, amounts, and what it was for.

Getting help:

HMRC’s website actually has good info on self-employment. Or you can use accounting software like QuickBooks or FreeAgent (they do the calculations for you).

If you’re earning decent money, it might be worth paying an accountant. Mine costs £200 per year and saves me way more than that in time and stress.

Avoiding Scams – Don’t Get Ripped Off

There are SO many scams targeting people who want to work from home. Here’s how to spot them:

Red flags:

• Asking you to pay upfront – Legitimate work never asks you to pay to start. If they want £99 for “training materials” or to “unlock jobs”, it’s a scam.
• Promises of huge money for little work – “Make £5000 per month working 2 hours a day!” is rubbish. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
• Vague job descriptions – If they can’t clearly explain what the work is, that’s dodgy.
• Asking for bank details before hiring – You give bank details AFTER you’ve been hired and done work, not before.
• Unprofessional emails – Spelling mistakes, weird grammar, emails from Gmail instead of a company domain.
• Pressure to act now – “This opportunity closes in 24 hours!” is a classic manipulation tactic.

How to check if something’s legit:

• Google the company name + “scam” or “reviews”
• Check Companies House to see if they’re a registered company
• Look for reviews on Trustpilot Ask in Facebook groups about work-from-home opportunities
• If it’s a survey site, check it’s on a trusted list

Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.

Time Management – How to Actually Get Stuff Done

Right, this is something I really struggled with when I started.

When you work from home, especially with kids around, it’s chaos. Here’s what actually works for me:

Set actual work hours

Even if it’s just “9-11am while the baby naps”, treat it like proper work time. No scrolling Instagram. No cleaning the kitchen. Just work.

Batch your tasks

Do similar things together. I do all my survey sites in one go. All my matched betting in one session. All my writing in blocks.

It’s way more efficient than switching between different tasks.

Use nap time wisely

If you’ve got kids, nap time is GOLD. Don’t waste it on housework (I know, I know, easier said than done). Use it for the work that needs proper concentration.

Save the easy stuff (surveys, checking cashback apps) for when the kids are awake and you’re half-watching Bluey for the 47th time.

Set boundaries

Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you’re available for everyone else’s stuff. I had to train my family to understand that when I’m working, I’m working.

It took a while but now they get it.

Don’t try to do everything

When I started, I tried to do matched betting AND surveys AND freelance writing AND start a blog. It was too much.

Pick 1-3 things and focus on those. You can always add more later.

My Action Plan: Your First 30 Days

Okay, so you’ve read all this and you’re thinking “where do I even start?” Here’s exactly what I’d do if I was starting from scratch today:

Week 1: Quick Wins

Sign up for the fast money makers:

Day 1-2:

• Sign up to a matched betting service (Profit Accumulator or OddsMonkey)
• Start the welcome offers (you’ll make £200-400 this week alone)

Day 3-4:

• Sign up to 5 survey sites: Prolific, YouGov, Swagbucks, OnePoll, and one more
• Install cashback apps: TopCashback, Quidco, CheckoutSmart, Shopmium
• Set up accounts on selling apps: Vinted, Facebook Marketplace, eBay

Day 5-7:

• List 10-20 items to sell (baby clothes, books, anything you don’t need)
• Do matched betting offers (aim for 2-3 hours)
• Complete surveys when you have spare minutes

Week 1 earnings target: £300-500 (mostly from matched betting)

Week 2: Skill Assessment

Think about what skills you have:

Day 8-10:

• List your skills (even basic ones – organising, writing, social media, whatever)
• Research which work-from-home jobs match your skills
• Look at job boards (Upwork, Fiverr, People Per Hour)
• Read job descriptions to see what people are looking for

Day 11-14:

• Create profiles on 2-3 freelance platforms
• Write a simple profile highlighting your skills
• If you’re doing writing/design work, create 1-2 samples
• Apply for 5-10 jobs (even if you don’t think you’ll get them – it’s practice)
• Keep doing matched betting and surveys

Week 2 earnings target: £200-300

Week 3: Start Applying/Pitching

Day 15-17:

• Apply for 5 jobs per day on freelance platforms
• Or message 5 local businesses about services you could offer
• Follow up on your selling items
• Continue with matched betting reload offers

Day 18-21:

• Hopefully start getting responses by now
• Do any test jobs or interviews
• Keep applying for more work
• Research long-term income options (blogging, YouTube, digital products)

Week 3 earnings target: £200-400

Week 4: Track and Optimise

Day 22-25:

• Calculate your hourly rate for each method you’ve tried
• Work out what’s actually worth your time
• Double down on what’s working
• Drop anything that’s paying less than £5 per hour (unless you enjoy it)

Day 26-30:

• Set a monthly income goal for next month
• Make a plan for hitting that goal
• If you want long-term income, start researching blogging or other passive income
• Keep doing the stuff that’s working

Week 4 earnings target: £200-500

Total Month 1 target: £900-1700

That’s completely realistic if you put in 10-20 hours per week.

My Honest Recommendations

Right, I’ve thrown a LOT of information at you. Here’s what I actually recommend based on your situation:

If You Need Money NOW (This Week)

1. Matched betting – Start today, make money this week
2. Sell your stuff – List 20 items tonight
3. Sign up to Prolific – Best survey site for fast payment

If You Have 5-10 Hours Per Week

1. Matched betting – £200-500 per month
2. Freelance writing or VA work – £500-1000 per month once established
3. Surveys and cashback – Easy £50-100 per month

If You Want Long-Term Passive Income

1. Start a blog – Takes 6-12 months but can become proper income
2. Create digital products – Takes time upfront but then passive
3. Build a YouTube channel – Slow start but huge potential

If You’re Not Sure What You’re Good At

1. Start with matched betting – Everyone can do this
2. Try a few different freelance tasks – See what you enjoy
3. Do surveys and user testing – Easy way to make something while you figure it out

Final Thoughts (From Someone Who’s Been There)

When I started trying to make money from home, I was overwhelmed. There’s so much information out there, and half of it contradicts the other half.

So here’s my actual advice:

Just start somewhere. Pick ONE thing from this list and do it this week. Not next week. This week.

It doesn’t matter if it’s not the perfect choice. You’ll learn what you like and what you don’t. And you’ll make some money while you’re figuring it out.

I started with matched betting because it was the fastest money. Then I tried freelance writing. Then I started my blog. Now I do a mix of things and I’ve earned over £4000 this month from various sources.

Could I have done it faster if I’d made better choices from the start? Maybe. But I wouldn’t have learned what I know now.

Don’t expect to get rich quick. Anyone promising that is lying. But you CAN make decent money from home if you’re willing to put in the work.

Be patient with yourself. Some months will be better than others. Some things won’t work out. That’s normal.

And most importantly – you can actually do this. I’m not special. I don’t have fancy qualifications or loads of experience. I’m just a mum who wanted to make some money while her baby slept.

If I can do it, you can too.

Now stop reading and go sign up to something. Seriously. Pick one thing and start today.

You’ve got this.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I realistically earn working from home in the UK?

It depends on how much time you have and what you’re doing. With 5-10 hours per week doing matched betting and surveys, you could make £300-500 per month. With 20 hours per week doing freelance work, you could make £1000-2000 per month. With a blog or YouTube channel that’s established, you could make £500-5000+ per month, but that takes 6-12 months to build up.

Do I need to register as self-employed?

If you earn over £1,000 per year from self-employment, yes. Register with HMRC as soon as you start making money over the trading allowance. It’s free and takes 10 minutes online.

What’s the fastest way to make money from home in the UK?

Matched betting, hands down. You can make £200-400 in your first week. After that, selling stuff you don’t need is quick money. Surveys are easy but slower (£50-150 per month).

Can I do this while claiming benefits?

Yes, but you need to declare any income to the DWP. The rules vary depending on which benefits you’re claiming. Check with your work coach or the DWP to make sure you’re doing it properly. Don’t risk losing your benefits by not declaring income.

What equipment do I need to start working from home?

For most things, just a laptop or computer and an internet connection. Your phone works for surveys and matched betting. If you’re doing customer service or tutoring, you’ll need a headset. That’s it. Don’t let equipment be an excuse not to start.

How do I avoid work-from-home scams?

Never pay money to access jobs. Research companies before signing up (Google them + “scam”). Be suspicious of anything promising huge money for minimal work. Check reviews on Trustpilot. Trust your gut – if it feels dodgy, it probably is.

Can I make a full-time income working from home?

Yes, absolutely. I know people who make £2000-4000 per month working from home. But it takes time to build up. Start part-time, build your income gradually, and when you’re consistently making enough to live on, then you can go full-time. Don’t quit your job on day one.

What are the best work-from-home jobs with no experience?

Matched betting (you can learn in an hour), surveys, user testing, data entry, customer service roles, and selling items online. These all need minimal to no experience. For everything else (freelancing, VA work, tutoring), you need some skills or experience.

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Last updated: September 2025