What’s wrong with making extra money? Ummm, nothing!
Even if you’ve already got a full-time job, a few extra hundred (or even thousand) dollars a month can mean a vacation at the end of the year, money for college or a new car.
Extra cash can make the difference between living paycheck to paycheck and having some financial wiggle room.
Fifteen people who have side hustles of their own told us what they do to put a few extra bucks in their pockets. One of these side hustle ideas might be the perfect gig for you!
15 Everyday Side Hustle ideas
1. Become a freelance writer
“I pitched an idea for a column to my local newspaper. After a few negotiations, I landed a weekly column at $50 a pop. It only took me an hour or so to write the column each week.” Bill, 23
2. Mow grass
There’s nothing wrong with this classic. “I borrowed a friend’s push mower to do my neighbor’s yard. Within two weeks, I was mowing grass for six people on the same street. It’s a seasonal job, but it put $240 extra in my pocket each weekend for the summer.” Daniel, 19
3. Repaint parking curbstones
“Buy a paint brush, a small paint roller, a paint tray and a bucket of outdoor-grade white or yellow paint. Visit nearby businesses and offer to repaint their parking curb stops. I charged $20 each.” Zane, 28
4. Open a cleaning service
Service businesses have low overhead, take little start-up cash and rely on word-of-mouth advertising. An easy-to-start side hustle idea is to open a cleaning service.
“I advertised on Facebook and told all of my friends. Pretty soon, I was cleaning for three different families during the week after my day job. It brought in an extra $150 a week.” Susan, 24
5. Buy and sell
“A friend of mine and I would hit garage sales on the weekends and buy whatever we thought we could resell. Then we’d set up a table at the local flea market. We almost always made a profit, plus it was fun to meet new people.” Wendy, 30
6. Refinish old furniture
“I started with a couple of tables I owned that I was about to throw out. I sanded them down, painted them and added new hardware. After I sold them, I started buying used furniture I’d find online for cheap or even free.” Randolph, 33
7. Create YouTube videos
“I post about six videos a month on nail art. They always get several hundred new views each week, which nets me about $80 to $200 each month.” Veronica, 23
8. Sell on eBay and Amazon
“My wife raids the clearance racks in lingerie and bathing suit departments and resells them online. She does particularly well with plus-sized garments.” Adam, 42
9. Tutor students
“I tutor three middle-school students after classes during the week. I charge $50 an hour.” Chin-Lee, 20
10. Dumpster dive between semesters
“I hit up the dumpsters when the summer semester starts and students are leaving their dorms. You’d be amazed how much valuable stuff they’ll throw out. I resell everything online or at flea markets.” John, 27
11. Dog walk
“I make $250 a month walking one dog, one hour a day, five days a week. It’s in my neighborhood, so I’m not even investing gas.” Richard, 32
12. Indulge your creativity
“I love to paint pictures of the outdoors. I used to do it for my own amusement, but when my mom suggested I sell one, I did. I made $250. Since then, I make time to paint two or three a month to sell. If I accumulate enough, I set up at outdoor art walks.” Aimee, 26
13. Make jewelry
“I started making earrings by buying the raw materials at Hobby Lobby. After I started selling, I switched to buying materials from wholesalers. You can take jewelry-making classes just about anywhere, too, so you can start making more elaborate pieces. I easily make $500 a month extra.” Mariella, 33
14. Drop ship
“Open a website devoted to selling certain items, like camping gear or women’s clothing. When customers place an order, you turn around and order the item from a wholesaler and pocket the difference in price. The more websites you manage, the more money you can make.” Devonte, 29
15. Self-publish through Amazon
“Publishing through Amazon is virtually free unless you pay for upgraded services like a professional cover and outside editing. Romances, self-help and erotica sell well. Write until you have a decent inventory of work for sale. I clear $400 a month every month with my werewolf romance stories.” Alex, 40
Making money on the side is a good way to pad your bank account and give you a little extra security.
Any of these side hustle ideas can net money, whether you’re already employed or just a student looking to make extra income between exams.
Give them a try and start adding some extra money to your bank account, too!
Like writing? Learn how to start your won blog side hustle today!
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