Whether you are looking into making extra cash for a trip, a down payment on a house, or paying off some bills, some of the best ways to earn extra money are side hustles.
Most of us have a full-time job that doesn't entirely give us the financial freedom we crave, so we need to develop creative ways to earn more money while still accommodating our day job, and it is entirely doable.
What is a Side Hustle?
A side hustle is a job you can do in addition to your regular or full-time job to earn extra money. Everyone has a different reason for looking into an additional side gig, but whatever that reason is, you need to make sure it is something that will make you happy.
If you are committed, a side hustle can make you a good deal of money and even make you independently wealthy, depending on how much time and effort you put into it.
With so many side jobs available, it’s virtually impossible to list them all. But here are some of the best side hustle jobs today.
1. Editing or Proofreading
Ebooks and other online publications, including blogs, are a growing commodity today. Writers are looking for people to proofread their work and are willing to pay well for it. If you are an avid reader, have a keen eye for detail, and love editing, then editing or proofreading may be one of the best side hustle jobs for you.
It's not just magazine and blog publications that need proofreaders, but websites of all kinds that need someone to go over their content carefully to weed out any errors. Editing or proofreading can be a highly lucrative job and never runs the risk of becoming boring, as no two jobs will ever be the same.
You may need to show some credentials for either of these positions, so you are all set if you already have the skills. The money that can be made from editing and proofreading is substantial, so investing some time and a bit of cash into gaining these literary skills may be well worth your while.
2. Become a Blogger
Believe it or not, blogging is one of the best side hustle jobs based on the amount of money you can make, literally in your spare time. While research and fact-based writing are best, the wonderful thing about a blog is that you can write it about whatever you want, including:
- Traveling
- Food
- Wine
- Parenting
- Mental health
- Education
- Politics
- Video games
- Relationship
- Real estate
The list of topics is unlimited when you are creating a blog, and the more people who visit your site, the more earning potential you have.
A blog may take up to a few years to gain a real following and help you earn top dollar, but if you have a writing talent and are good at getting your opinion or point out there, the money can and will flow.
3. Virtual Assistant
If you have excellent communication skills, are highly organized, and love to organize other people's lives, being a virtual assistant may be your calling.
Any number of people could be looking for a reliable assistant to manage their website, social media accounts, make appointments, book appearances, and more.
Depending on the industry that a person works for, their virtual assistant may be responsible for:
- Website management
- Tracking appointments
- Researching topics
- Event management and organization
- Uploading content to blogs or websites
- Bookkeeping
- Answering emails
- Research
Being a virtual assistant is an excellent opportunity to earn some extra cash from the comfort of your own home.
4. Become a Dog Walker
If you are a dog lover, then this is the ultimate gig for you. This one will require you to be available throughout the day, most likely, the dogs' owners are at work, and they need someone to walk their dog.
You can look into joining a pre-existing company that offers dog walking services, or you can create a network of clients in your neighborhood. Suppose you truly understand the commitment and responsibility behind dog walking. In that case, nothing is going to fill you up quite like spending your time with loveable pooches and getting a ton of exercise.
5. Work for a Ridesharing App
There are well-known ridesharing apps, like Uber and Lyft, that allow you to sign on with their company and accept fares from people who would otherwise take a taxi. While the money isn't overly lucrative, it is a way to put extra cash in your pocket.
This job type is excellent for someone who lives near a large city with many office buildings or where tourists rely on car services to get to and from the airport or around the city.
6. Sell Products on Etsy
Etsy has become a leader in websites that allow creative individuals to sell their products, from jewelry to paintings to wedding favors; you will find it all. Set your prices and post your creations, products, or items for resale, and watch the orders come in.
The best part about selling on Etsy is that you make your product once, whatever it is, and reproduce only once the order has been placed. Of course, you have the option of listing pre-made products at once, but by choosing to make one sample, you are saving an incredible amount on overhead.
7. Freelance Writer
If you have a passion or knack for writing, there are several jobs available for remote work. Many magazines and online publications hire freelance writers to work on various topics, from parenting to movies to video game reviews.
There are deadlines you need to work within, but the work is extremely flexible when you can get your writing done. If you have a full-time job during the day, do your writing in the evening.
8. Deliver Groceries
One of the largest growing industries today has to do with food delivery services. Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes, and various grocery stores offer delivery of items so that you don't have to leave the comfort of your home; unless you are one of the delivery drivers, of course.
Today, more than ever, people are looking for a convenient way to get their food without going into heavily populated areas. If you have a reliable vehicle and some spare time, sign up with one of the several food delivery companies and add to your earning potential.
9. Start a Podcast
Hosting a podcast can be extremely rewarding. If you are passionate about something; animals, traveling, politics, etc., then starting your podcast would be a great way to get your knowledge and perspective out there. Some various podcast topics include the following:
- Food
- Travel
- Make-up
- Fashion
- Video games
- Philosophy
- Conspiracy theories
- Positivity
Hosting a podcast has low start-up costs, but you need to remember that you may not be making any money for the first few months, even if your content is good. You will have to build up a following before you begin to make money off your podcast, either through listeners or selling products.
10. Be an Influencer
Surprisingly, one of the best ways to earn extra money is to be an influencer. The younger generation seems to have this one in the bag, with some older generations catching on as well. Social media platforms have opened up a whole world of opportunities for people with a passion for sharing their talents and interests.
The topics that you can delve into to become an influencer are limited to your imagination. It takes a while to build a fan base, but once the numbers reach the 100,000 and more mark, you can start to earn some serious money.
11. Airbnb
Hosting an Airbnb is a great way to make extra money to help pay your mortgage, bills, and even save up. Airbnb's are incredibly lucrative if they are in a city where rental units are hard to come by, or a high number of travelers want a place to stay for the night.
You are at liberty to rent your accommodations out whenever you choose or rent a room in your home to someone for an indefinite amount of time. The options are vast, and the potential is extraordinary.
12. SEO Content
Working as an SEO content writer will help companies increase the amount of traffic they see on their websites, and you could get paid a great deal for helping to make that happen. SEO is all about optimizing website traffic using keywords and can be the best side hustle job for someone who loves to create this type of content.
If you are good at writing content that will drive viewers toward a website and increase views, an SEO content provider might be an excellent job for you.
13. Childcare
There are many opportunities to make money in the childcare industry, whether you work for a daycare, babysitting in the evenings or on the weekend, are a nanny, or open your own daycare (special licensing required).
If you are a caring person who puts children's well-being above all else, you could have the potential to make a lot of money. Parents are willing to spend a great deal on qualified and trustworthy people to keep their kids safe.
Look into a website that offers a complete background check and vetting of a child care worker so that your clients can look you up and know you are a safe option.
14. Join TaskRabbit
If you have some skills that you feel people would be willing to pay good money for, join TaskRabbit, a site that posts one-time jobs requiring someone to complete. Doing various tasks is a great way to earn extra money and offers a low level of commitment, as you only choose the job you want.
Some of the tasks listed on TaskRabbit are:
- Mounting a TV
- Mowing a lawn
- Housecleaning
- Moving furniture
- Picking up an item
- Fixing a cupboard
- painting
The best part of TaskRabbit is that you can do as many or as few jobs as you need, depending on whether you want reliable extra cash flow or just a bit here and there. You work the jobs you want without committing to further jobs posted.
15. Sell Items on eBay
If you have something that you think is unique or know someone else will love, put it up for sale on eBay. The potential of what you can earn on eBay is literally up to you and can be done entirely at your own pace and on your own time by listing as much as you want, as often as you please.
With a shopping network that spans the world, eBay is a great place to put up for sale, virtually anything you can think of, including:
- Records
- Clothes
- Videos
- Instruments
- Household items
- Jewelry
- Accessories
- Make-up
- Collector's items
There is no risk of losing money on your item, as sellers have the option of adding a reserve price on their auction that must be reached before the item can be sold. You determine your item's value and wait for the bidding to end; it's as easy as that.
You can add items to eBay whenever you want, adding a description and photo of the item and then adding a minimum bid or a ‘buy it now' option.
16. Teach Music
You don't need a degree in music to teach with passion and to make a pretty decent amount of money at it. If you have a love for teaching and are skilled in the instrument that you play, be it guitar, piano, violin, or other, one of the best ways to earn extra money is by teaching music.
Teaching music is ideal for students, stay-at-home parents, or anyone who wants to make extra money doing what they love. Providing lessons pays well and can be done in the comfort of your own home or even your client's home.
If you have a degree in music or some experience of notable proportions, be sure to add it to use it in your self-promotion.
17. Housekeeping
One of the best side hustle jobs is housekeeping because it is something that requires no training. If you have a passion for cleanliness and have a habit of wanting to tidy other people's houses, then the cleaning game may be right where you belong.
You can join a pre-existing cleaning company or begin your own for minimal start-up costs. House Cleaning is a flexible job, as many clients allow you to tell them when you are available to come to their home. You may also look into cleaning office or apartment buildings that would enable you to clean in the evening.
18. Fitness Instructor
If you have a passion for fitness and want to make a difference in other people's lives, becoming a fitness instructor is a great choice to earn some extra cash. Not only will teaching fitness keep you in great shape, but it also pays very well, especially if you start your own small business. You may opt to teach outdoors at a local park which makes your start-up costs virtually nonexistent.
Of course, you will need to become certified to be a fitness instructor to ensure your clients' safety; if you work at a gym currently, they may offer to train you on the job, which will likely cost you nothing. If you opt to complete a fitness or personal training course, several can be done easily online and in person.
19. Be a Tutor
This side hustle is terrific for people of all ages, from teens to adults; being a tutor can be fit into any schedule and can be very financially viable. Whether you are a teacher looking to fill in the earning gap, or a student who wants to share their knowledge, or just someone good at a subject, tutoring can be a great side-hustle job for you.
Several tutoring companies offer after-school and summer programs to help students reach their full learning potential or fill in learning gaps. You can go solo on your endeavor and reach out to schools or the local library to get the word out that you are qualified and ready to teach.
20. Resell Clothes
There is a huge market for vintage clothes today, so if you have any from the ’80s or ’90s, pull them out of your closet and sell them on a Facebook page, Craigslist, or through other means.
Many people, including young people, have realized that old clothing plays a huge part in destroying the Earth; this has caused a massive increase in thrifting and buying used clothes. If you have clothes in good condition, put them on the web and watch your bank account grow.
21. Refurbishing Furniture
There is a great deal of money to be made from buying old furniture, refurbishing it, and selling it for a profit. Refinishing furniture is particularly popular among wood furniture items that can be sanded and refinished with a new look.
If you have the time and knack for turning refinishing wood or reupholstering, then you have enormous potential to make a lot of money. Post the finished product on whichever selling platform you choose and earn good money for your hard work.
22. Transcribing
Working as a transcriber is something that you can easily do from home. Your job would be to listen to a file recording, type out what you hear, and edit it for accuracy and grammar. You will need to be well-versed in literary skills as accuracy is the top priority for this job.
Transcribing jobs can be for any number of positions, from radio shows to blogs, the most common is for medical and legal transcription, which you may need prior experience.
23. Party Planning
If you have a flair for the frilly, flowery, or keen eye and a knowledge of what makes a good party or wedding, you may want to start offering your series as a party planner. Several industries require someone to lend a hand and their expertise on planning large or special events, including:
- Weddings
- Showers
- Tournaments
- Fundraisers
- Auctions
Being a party planner is a job that requires a bit of flexible time, but only when you need to meet with the client initially and then for the final product. You are free to shop and prepare, for the most part, in your own time.
24. Yard Maintenance
Yard maintenance is hard work, but it is well worth it for the final result, especially if you have a green thumb. You will get to spend your time outdoors while offering services such as:
- Lawn mowing
- Leaf removable
- Weeding
- Weatherproofing plants and trees
- Planting bulbs
- Gutter cleaning
- Snow removal
There are many jobs that you can do as far as lawn maintenance goes without having to spend a fortune on start-up costs.
25. Complete Surveys
Taking surveys isn't going to make you rich, but if you love answering questions about products and companies and you have a lot of spare time, then this may be one of the best side hustle jobs for you.
One of the most notable survey companies is Survey Junkie because it's free to join, and it has loads of short surveys for you to complete. How it works is you will fill out your information, and Survey Junkie will send you surveys that are in line with your demographic information.
You will be asked to fill out surveys based on shopping habits, products, etc., and then get paid via PayPal, online gift cards, or bank transfers. It's only dollars per survey, but if you're not doing anything anyway, you might as well make a little extra cash while you're doing it.
Final Word
If you are determined to make extra money, there is a side-hustle for you. Please do your research and decide which one is best suited to your skills and the time you have to invest in it and go from there.
There is no limit to the number of side hustles you can have on the go. It all depends on how much you are willing to do. And remember: not all jobs are created equal. You may find that one isn't all it's cracked up to be. But that's okay — there is another job at the tip of your fingers.
Whether you want to make thousands, hundreds, or just a bit here and there, you can find your perfect side hustle in one of the options on this list.
