The cost of living is increasing, making house prices, taxes, and retail costs added stress to your wallet. With budgets tightening, many of the population has taken on a side hustle, other job or passion project to make a few more dollars. Below are ideas on how to add more width to your wallet by taking on additional work.
Look Into Freelance Work
Freelance work is an expansive field where the possibilities are endless. This kind of work can play to your strengths with a variety of options. This job can take the form of writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry, or even being a virtual assistant. There are websites such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com that can make it easy and help you find your groove. It may take a while to get your first gig, but if you play to your strengths, put yourself out there, and keep grinding, you’ll start to find work.
Etsy
Do you have a flair for crafts or artistic talent? Etsy can be a great creative outlet while also acting as a way to make some extra money. Woodworking, jewelry-making, embroidery, or all manner of arts are popular on Etsy. In 2020, Etsy had almost 82 million active buyers and grossed over 10 billion in merchandise sales. While it may take a while to gain traction, this can become a wonderful steady money stream.
Consider Content Creation
If you have a specific skill or just like being a personality on an outward-facing platform, this is a great option. You can make extra funds by monetizing a Twitch account, starting a Patreon for a youtube channel or a podcast, or even look into becoming an influencer on Instagram. This is personal preference as it involves a lot of work, time, and creativity. It’s worth looking into if you are looking for a way to creatively express yourself and make some extra money while doing something that makes you happy!
Consider becoming a Dog Walker or Pet Sitter
Are you an animal lover? You can make a great side income by walking dogs or becoming a pet sitter. This takes time since you will need to figure out what will work best for your schedule. You can use apps such as Wag or Rover to get started!
Pick up a Babysitting Job
Do you like being around kids? If so, babysitting is a fantastic way to help others while making a great hourly rate. You can put yourself out there on Care.com or SitterCity. You might want to consider getting CPR certified to up your chances of being hired.
Housesitting
Many people need care of their homes while they are on vacation or away for an extended period of time. Things such as watering the plants, feeding any pets, and keeping the house clean and safe are included with this job. You can check out the website HouseSitter.com to get started!
Become an Airbnb Host
If you have an extra room or space in your home to host a guest, this is a great way to make some extra cash! This will require some funds to go towards taking care of the room or property and keeping up with service fees, but if you make it a desirable location and stay, you can financially benefit! Make sure that you have a tight rental agreement before getting started to avoid any issues.
Sell Your Clothes
Need to clean out your closet? Selling your clothes that are in good condition is a great way to make some money while also being environmentally friendly. Sites like ThredUp and Poshmark are great places to get started. You can also look into your local consignment stores to see if they are accepting clothes for payment.
Trade-in Old Electronics for Cash
If you have any old tech lying around, this could be worth some money. You can sell it online at sites such as Swappa or Gazelle. Amazon also has a nice trade-in program, which pays in Amazon gift cards. Additionally, you can try to sell personally on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
TaskRabbit
There are many things that people don’t want to do. Think of moving, putting together furniture; you get a general idea. If you don’t mind doing these sorts of things, TaskRabbit is a way to help out people in these situations. Additionally, there are virtual tasks such as research projects or data entry that you can assist with!
Make Deliveries for Amazon and UberEats
Delivery has always been convenient, but in this day and age, it’s downright trendy. Services such as Instacart, UberEats, Postmates, DoorDash, and Amazon Flex are great ways to make money on the side. You get paid per delivery and can even make tips. A car isn’t always required, but it will just depend on your location. You have to submit a background check, but after that, it’s easy to get started!
Tutoring
Were you good at a specific subject in school? If so, you can use that to your advantage and tutor in math, science, language, or any other subject. This is a lucrative side gig and is quite flexible. You can choose your own hours, do it online or in person, and charge depending on your experience. You can get started by looking on Tutor.com or Care.com. Don’t be afraid to reach out to local schools and community centers to see if they have any need for a tutor.
Become an Uber or Lyft Driver
This is a fairly easy way to make money and start quickly. You will need to have an eligible car that is in good condition. To become a driver you’ll need to consent to a background check and allow access to your driving history. Keep in mind, you will have to pay for gas and maintenance costs.
The first step in moving forward with ideas for a side hustle is to play to your strengths. Think about what skills you have and how you could apply them to another job. Don’t be overwhelmed and give yourself patience throughout the process. You’ll be surprised that once you start putting yourself out there how fruitful a second job can become!