If there’s a way to make extra money, you’d better believe that someone’s trying it.
Here are all the posts from our Side Hustle Series over the past 10+ years!
Everything from worm counting to taste testing, skydiving, craps dealing, mystery shopping, bartending, and one of the most popular of all hustles ever listed here: being a “phone actress” (aka phone sex operator, lol…). And there will be more juicy ones to come ;)
Hope this sparks something for you!
If you’ve got an interesting side gig of your own, let us know! Or even one you’ve done in the past – we love hearing about interesting jobs out there ;)
80+ Real-life Side Hustle Ideas:
Alright, without further ado… Here’s our side hustle series of all the stories we’ve shared on this site over the past 15 years. Enjoy!
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Hustle #85: Going after uncollected judgment money (50% of collected money)
You know when people win settlement cases and are then owed money? Well, unfortunately many times the money is never actually *collected* (either ‘cuz the company hides the money or ran out of money or enter any other sneaky ways to avoid paying you here), so this guy featured in the article chases it down on behalf of his clients and then splits any of the collected amounts with them. No work/hassle needed on your behalf, he does all the leg work to help you get back what you’re rightfully owed! A great hustle idea for anyone with the right set of skills and personality. (And our investor friend here is also willing to hear out your case too if you happen to be someone needing help collecting judgment money of your own…)
Hustle #84.5: Doing surveys for money/rewards! ($1.00 – $100.00+/hr)
This wasn’t a full on “side hustle post”, but I’m slipping it in here because it’s a pretty popular way to make some extra money on the side (even if it’s sooooo sloooooow sometimes), and I’ve personally taken the plunge into it. And been thoroughly enjoying it!! Check out the post to learn more and what survey sites I’m currently participating in…
Hustle #84: Going after illegal robocallers!($1,000-$3,000 per settlement)
Meet Steve, who’s made over $40,000 so far going after robo callers by meticulous documenting and research to better end this illegal practice. He shares the tools and his process for going after them in this fascinating post!
Hustle #83: Food Delivery With Postmates, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub (~$40/hr – without a car!)
Meet a full-time lawyer who regularly picks up $40/hr making food deliveries — on his bike — as he commutes home from work.
Hustle #82: Start a Food Blog ($1,000-3,000/mo, after a few years of work!)
Are you a foodie who wants to blog about it? This hustler shares what it’s really like running a food blog on the side, annual revenue numbers, ups and downs, and advice on starting this type of business if it’s something you’d like to try.
Hustle #81: Productize Your Knowledge! ($50/hr, turned into passive income!)
There are only so many hours in the day, so if you’re trading your time for money, there’s an upper limit on how much money you can make. But if you have specialized knowledge that you can turn into an online product — such as a webinar, book, or online course — then you can start earning money from your product even when you sleep! As an example, a woman who lives in a camper sells books and online courses about tiny living. She’s taken her expert knowledge on minimalist living and found a way to share it with others via an online product. The best part: There’s no upper limit on your passive income opportunity here.
This is a great side hustle if you want to build something once and keep the cash coming in over and over and over …
Hustle #80: Cleaning Up Poop! ($60-$80/hr)
You can get paid to be a professional pooper scooper. (Sometimes money is dirty, right?) Turns out there are plenty of dog owners who’d like to have a tidy yard and are willing to pay someone else to do the tidying. If you like pets and being outside (and setting your own schedule), this is an easy side hustle to get started thanks to the low startup costs and big base of potential customers.
Hustle #79: Flipping Guitars! ($10,000/year)
If you’re an instrument collector or guitar geek, then you know a great price when you see one. One couple made almost $10k/year by buying and reselling guitars at a profit. Because guitars are high-price items, it’s easier to make a bigger profit off them than reselling things like clothes. If you love instruments and don’t mind shipping bulky items, then flipping guitars could be music to your ears. Heads up that it will take some cash to build your inventory at first — try stalking eBay and specialty music stores like Reverb and Sweetwater to get started!
- Pro tip: You can apply this flipping strategy to anything you want to sell.
Hustle #78: Being a TV/Film “Extra” ($200+/day)
Casting call! You can get paid for being an extra on a TV show or movie. You’ll need to get an agent and have some professional-looking headshots … but no acting experience is required. There can be a lot of downtime on the set — which you can use to get other freelance work done. Win-win! Plus, the catered lunches are the same as the stars’, so you know the free food will be good.
Hustle #77: Online Proofreading/Editing ($1,600/mo)
Hey, word nerds — this one’s for you. If you flinch every time you see a typo on the Internet, you can become part of the solution by parlaying your grammar skills into an editing gig. You’ll have to meet deadlines and juggle your clients’ various style requirements, but you’ll be learning something new with each piece you read — and you get to pick your clients.
Hustle #76: Selling “Printables” on Etsy ($250+/mo)
Etsy is a great platform for getting your craft on. But when you make a sale, you have to pack it up and ship it — effectively trading your time for money. What if you could make your buyers deal with the receiving end of things? You can, my side-hustle friend! Just create a digital file of your design/product on your computer, upload it to Etsy, and let customers buy and download it … with no more work on your part. Printables/digital downloads are a great way to make passive income.
Hustle #75: Being a Lice Picker! ($25-$30/hr)
So … lice technicians are a thing. It takes a long time to de-louse someone’s head, and plenty of frazzled parents are willing to call in the calvary if their munchkins have a lice infestation. This is a good part-time side hustle for a stay-at-home parent who’s great with detail.
Hustle #74: Tutoring People on Standardized Tests ($100-$160/hr)
You don’t have to work with kids to be a tutor: Plenty of grad-school hopefuls need help preparing for exams like the LSAT and GRE. And when you’re working with adults, they’re usually spending their own money, which means your incentives are more aligned (so it doesn’t feel like babysitting). Pro tip: Find your niche. If you’re tutoring “GMAT math” as opposed to just “math,” you can charge a much higher rate to students who need the more specific help.
Hustle #73: Selling Crickets Online! ($1,200/mo)
Here’s a real-life example of setting up a business simply because it has very little online competition. Find a product or topic niche that no one else is really talking about, optimize your online content like hell, and watch your hard work pay off after a few years. As our favorite cricket seller, Jeff of TheCritterDepot.com, can attest, “Although [search engine optimization] is a grind, fighting through it can reap many rewards as long as that foundation is properly built with a popular topic and low competition.”
Hustle #72: Finding Hidden Money as a Forensic Accountant ($300/hr)
If you enjoy research, you can make decent coin by locating other people’s lost investments or bank accounts — like when a relative dies and you want to find all the assets she squirreled away. Most sleuths charge by the hour, and a typical search can bring you a few thousand dollars. If you have more accounting experience and other training, you can even help small businesses uncover embezzlement schemes!
Hustle #71: Picking Up Trash in Parking Lots ($30-$50/hr)
This side hustle is as easy as taking a walk outside (with a broom and trash collection bag, of course). You can get paid to handle the daily litter removal for almost any kind of office or retail building — although commercial real estate companies will be your best source of business. This gig lets you spend time outdoors, doesn’t require special skills or training, and helps the environment. It’s also easy to fit around your full-time job.
UPDATE: We caught up with Brian 5 years after he shared his story with us here, and all these years later he’s still at it and still very successful! Check out my one-on-one with him where he shares more tips and tricks on how to ramp up your own trash picking up side business –> “I Make $650,000/year Cleaning Up Trash”
Hustle #70: Making Rings and Jewelry From Coins! ($20-$100+ an hour)
It takes money (OK, pocket change) to make money when you’re creating handmade jewelry from coins. But for one artist, the nominal start-up costs were worth it. After teaching himself how to make a ring out of a penny, he was able to quit his job within a year and now has his own jewelry line. You can try the same with any of your artistic creations and sell them wholesale or at craft fairs.
Hustle #69: Making Frozen Meals ($10/meal profit)
If you’re already making meals for yourself, why not do a double- or triple-batch and sell some to your friends? This side hustle doesn’t require much extra time beyond your own food prep and has the added benefit of getting a good casserole to a good home. :)
Hustle #68: Running a Christmas Tree Stand! ($7,500/season (5 weeks))
If can you rustle up some muscle, a vacant lot, and some evergreens, you could become an independent Christmas tree stand for the season. You’ll have to invest in some supplies and work long, cold hours — but the money’s not bad for a month’s worth of work.
Hustle #67: Craigslist “Gigs” ($18+/hour on avg)
Accepting Craigslist jobs for manual labor can be a great, low-commitment side hustle. In this real-life story, the hustler’s gigs during one month included yardwork like mowing and mulching, demolishing furniture, and helping take down an art display. He earned more than double the minimum wage for his efforts — with no long-term strings attached.
Hustle #66: Amish Taxi Driver ($0.60/mile + $10/hour waiting time)
Yep, this is like Uber for Amish people, but it’s a little more low-tech. Amish people don’t own vehicles, so when they need to get somewhere farther away than their feet or horse can carry them, they call an Amish Taxi Driver and ask to go to a specific spot and be picked up at a specific time. You get paid by the mile and for waiting time, too. The best part: Getting a front-seat glimpse into another culture. Downsides: Insurance and gas add up.
Hustle #65: Mechanical Turk Worker ($150-300/week)
Amazon-owned “mTurk” calls itself a “marketplace for work.” Businesses can post tasks they want done for a specific price, and side hustlers can check out the available opportunities and claim the ones they want. This could be something like categorizing items in a spreadsheet or transcribing handwritten notes — but all the tasks require a human to think through it (the tasks are called “human intelligence tasks.”) All the tasks can be completed online and typically don’t take much time, so this is one way to earn pocket money during your downtime. It’s easy to get started, but be aware that mTurk’s typically low pay isn’t gonna help you quit your main job.
Hustle #64: Freelance Bartender! ($25-$50/hr)
If you know how to mix drinks — or are willing to go to bartending school — then you have everything you need to start your own freelance bartending business for private events. By cutting out the middleman of an agency or caterer (where you can also get bartender gigs), you keep more of your hard-earned money. This is a fun hustle if you like meeting new people and attending sweet events!
Hustle #63: Animal Poop Professional (aka Pet Sitter) ($15-$85/visit)
When it comes to keeping their fur babies safe and happy, there’s nothing most pet owners won’t shell out for — so pet-sitting can be a lucrative job for animal lovers. The work is easy enough — taking dogs for potty breaks, making sure everyone has food and water, cleaning litter boxes, etc. — but we’re not gonna lie, there is a lot of poop involved. If that doesn’t bother you, launching an in-home pet-care business could be just the thing.
Hustle #62: Brand Ambassador ($15-$50/hr + free swag)
Hey, extroverts! You can get paid to hang out with other fun people at big events as a brand ambassador. Brand ambassadors are freelance contractors who help companies with in-person marketing — stuff like wearing branded shirts and giving out free samples in places with a lot of foot traffic. To break into the promotional marketing biz, you’ll need a resume tailored to ambassador gigs, and it’s helpful to get extra certifications like for food handling and the TIPS alcohol certificate (these will help you stand out in the competition). If you love being in the mix at big events like sports games and music festivals, this side hustle could literally be your ticket in the door.
Hustle #61: Patent Researcher ($100-$1,000+ each)
Did you know there’s a whole kinda sleazy industry calling “patent trolling” where people exclusively make money by suing others? Patent trolls try to sue companies for infringing on their patents (which they usually obtain rather dubiously), so the companies try to combat this by proving that they didn’t. If you’re into researching, especially in niche topics like technology, you can help the companies shut down the patent troll’s claims and save the day. No legal background required.
Hustle #60: Voiceover Acting! ($300-$400/pop/avg) (*Bonus* Bad Voiceover Acting ;) ($5.00/pop))
You know those voices on TV, the radio, and podcasts that are trying to sell you something? Or the voice warning you that the subway door is closing? That voice could be yours when you’re getting paid just for speaking. There’s a lot of competition in the voiceover acting industry, but the work is flexible and can be very lucrative. If this sounds fun, you should think about speaking up!
Hustle #59: Working NFL Stadiums ($100’ish/game)
You don’t have to have the physique of a bouncer to snag a job working security at Sunday’s big game — and there are plenty of other jobs at the stadium, too, like usher and ticket-taker. This can be great weekend work (but not every weekend, which is a plus for your social life) that pays you while you root for the home team. And stadium work isn’t limited to football season; you can get in on gigging for concerts, trade shows, and conferences.
Hustle #58: Skydiving Drop Zone Worker (min wage + $ per chute packed)
Ever thought about the logistics of skydiving? Like how the parachutes magically fit into those backpacks and how there’s always someone there to meet you on the ground after you jump? You can make money and meet some fantastic people by working at a drop zone — repacking parachutes and shuttling jumpers to and fro. You won’t get rich at it, but the atmosphere is full of positivity and you get to spend your workday in the great outdoors.
Hustle #57: Production Fit Modeling ($150-$250/hr)
If you’re into fashion and are one of those lucky people who always stays the same weight and size, you could have a modeling career! Production fit models are like real-life mannequins for clothing designers. You just need to have the proportions that match industry standards. For work, you go to a designer’s workspace and try on their new clothing design ideas — moving around in them to see how they fit and feel. Production fit models get paid very well to try on clothes, but you have to remain the exact same size, which can be a challenge.
Hustle #56: Emptying Septic Tanks ($12/hr)
Was your childhood dream to be the guy who gets to ride on the back of the garbage truck? A side hustle pumping septic tanks is kinda close. As one expert puts it, “I truly think that waste removal is the backbone of society. … Wait for your septic to backup and let me know what the most important job in the world is lol!” This is a good side hustle if you enjoy helping people, like being outside, and have free time in the summer, which is the high season for portable toilet and septic tank pumping.
Hustle #55: Playing Santa Claus ($1,000-$2,000/season)
Yes, Virginia, you can make real cash playing Santa Claus. If you like kids and have that holiday spirit, this can be a fun side hustle that can help cover your Christmas expenses. Invest in a quality Santa suit (or elf outfit!) and start ho-ho-ing at private family Christmas parties, company events, and church activities. You can charge big-time extra bucks for visits on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day — some families like to have Santa personally deliver their presents. Not bad money for an hour’s work!
Hustle #54: Selling Junk Mail ($14+/coupon)
The coupons in your junk mail may be worthless to you — but someone else might be willing to buy them. Try posting your unwanted coupons for sale on eBay or Craigslist and see if you get any bites. One hustler got $14.51 just for selling a single coupon she didn’t want!
Hustle #53: Children’s Book Author ($1,000/mo)
Once upon a time, a guy turned his passion for bilingual learning into a profitable side hustle creating dual-language children’s books. Wanna try, too? Can’t draw? No problem. Hire a freelance illustrator. Don’t speak another language? Hire a translator. You can self-publish and start selling on Amazon in a matter of months. Tim’s making about a thousand dollars a month now without doing any more work. (We love a happy ending!)
Hustle #52: Lyft and Uber Driver ($20-$40/hr)
You know you’ve thought about this one! You directly control how much money you make by deciding how long you want to drive, and the flexibility you have over your work hours is awesome. Another nice benefit is that you can drive for both Uber and Lyft to try to snag as many riders as you can. Be aware that you need a clean driving record and a newer car that will have to be checked out by a mechanic.
Hustle #51: Sim Card Mogul ($10,000 profit)
Sometimes you can find a great deal in bulk pricing (think: 700 SIM cards for cellphones) and then turn a big profit selling the items individually. This hustler ran his business selling SIM cards out of a shoebox and made 600% profit! Try applying his methods (he learned a lot and made improvements as time went on) to other products and see what you can do.
Hustle #50: Teleprompter Operator ($20/hr)
Here’s one way to make the news: You can actually help … make the news. A teleprompter operator uses a machine to scroll through the script that news anchors read when they’re on the air. Pro: It’s great supplemental income. Con: Most stations are using newer technologies now, so these jobs are harder to come by than they used to be.
Hustle #49: Virtual Assistant ($8-$100/hr)
This popular side gig involves doing work for companies/people who don’t have the time or talent to do it themselves. The variety of tasks is huge (this hustler ended up typing an erotic novel that a 70-year-old had written by hand) but they can be anything that allow you to work remotely using just your computer or phone. Being a virtual assistant is a steller side hustle for people who want to work from wherever. As long as you have connectivity, you can be in business!
Hustle #48: Playing in a Band (% of bar tab)
Bar managers love it when bands bring in extra customers, so if you’ve got a groovy thing going, see if you can turn your musical hobby into a paying gig at a local watering hole. Hit up bartenders and managers and let them know you can pack the house … and ask if you can play for a percentage of the bar tab. Be sure to tell all your friends to come hear you play. ;-)
Hustle #47: Bakery Cake Decorator ($12/hr)
Morning person? Consider getting a part-time job at a bakery as a decorator. It’s physically demanding work but a good creative outlet, and the pastry perks are sweet.
Hustle #46: Photo Booth Operator ($100/hr)
Everyone loves a good photo booth at a party. They’re a tidy little rental business, too. If you can afford a few thousand dollars in start-up costs and don’t mind working weekend nights during the wedding season, you can snap up some serious cash with your photography hobby.
Hustle #45: Public Speaker ($750- $6,500/gig)
We’ve all been to a conference where the speakers were less than inspiring. Bet you could do them one better? Do you have personal experiences you can draw on to tell a relatable story? Are you cool with public speaking? You can get paid serious cash to fill a speaker slot at a meeting or conference. Look up associations, colleges, and businesses in your area and see if there are opportunities to be a paid speaker for them. Many will pay speaker fees, so dust off your fantasy TED Talk and hit that conference ballroom.
Hustle #44: Women’s Handkerchiefs Dealer ($100,000+/year)
This hustlin’ couple went into the business of selling handkerchiefs for happy-weepy brides after trying to find one for their own wedding. So they opened an online store selling them. Turns out they weren’t the only people searching for wedding hankies. It’s a classic example of making money by providing a product that everyone else has overlooked.
Hustle #43: Money Planner Maker/Seller ($200/mo)
This hustler created digital workbooks that help people focus on their financial goals, like affording a baby or starting a business. Selling these digital downloads on Etsy brings in passive income each month — not enough to replace an income, but enough to provide some nice padding.
Hustle #42: Taste Tester/Focus Group Participant ($30-$200/gig)
It’s legit possible to get paid to eat French fries … if you’re part of a taste test focus group. See if there are any market research companies in your area and ask if you can join their database of testers — check out GreenBook.org to search in your region.
Hustle #41: Chick-fil-A Cow Mascot ($20-$30/gig)
Being a mascot won’t let you quit your day job, but it’s a fun way to interact with people and earn a little extra money. You can usually apply through a regular job application at a restaurant, sports stadium, or any other business that has a mascot. Fair warning that it’s great exercise but also realllllly hot inside those suits!
Hustle #40: Group Cruise Planner (15% -18% commission and/or free cruise)
If you’re always the friend who organizes your crew’s outings, you can turn that skill into a side hustle by becoming a group cruise planner. You can score a free cruise or a commission by organizing a group trip. You can plan the logistics yourself (a ton of work), or you can also partner with a travel agent and simply deliver the guests while the agent does the planning. Most agents are happy to pay you a portion of the passengers’ fare if you bring them people ready to set sail.
Hustle #39: Referee ($30+/game)
You’re gonna get yelled at. But if you can handle that (it’s great for beefing up your conflict-management skills), being a referee is a fun way to earn extra money while staying in shape and participating in a sport you love. Expect to take classes and clinics to qualify, and you’ll probably have to buy a uniform and gear. The start-up costs can be worth it if you’re going to spend the weekend watching sports anyway … why not get paid to do it?
Hustle #38: Substitute Teacher ($80/day)
Subbing doesn’t pay a ton, but it’s super flexible: You get to decide where and when you’re willing to work. It can be a good option if you have days free and don’t want to give up your nights for a side hustle.
Hustle #37: Car Washer ($8-$55/car)
Hand-washing cars can be a lucrative and fun side gig if you’re into automobiles and are a stickler for detail. The start-up costs are low: You just need a bucket, a sponge, some water, and car soap. Clients love it because you can provide a better wash than the drive-throughs for less money. And you can charge more if you get into detailing and waxing.
Hustle #36: Human Guinea Pig ($40/hr)
Places like hospitals and universities are always conducting clinical research, and they need subjects. You can get paid to participate in these clinical trials (even if you don’t want to test medications — there are lots of other types of studies)! You’ll probably need to have appointments at the institution during the workday, so this is a good hustle only if your workweek hours are flexible.
Hustle #35: Estate Sale Host (20%-50% commission on sales)
You can get paid to help other people sell stuff they don’t want anymore. This side hustler started his own estate sale company that let him get first crack at the best items (and a cut of their resale profit) while also helping his clients make a profit off the whole inventory.
Hustle #34: Classic Video Game Flipper (3x profit (on avg) per game)
Hey gamers, all those years you spent staring at the screen just might pay off. Tons of people are getting rid of old-school video games, and most of them don’t have any idea what they’re worth. If you have a good grasp on how much a classic video game is worth, you can probably flip it for a tidy profit. Power up!
Hustle #33: Collectible Sneaker Reseller ($50-$300/shoe)
Shoe dogs can clean our their closets and clean up, too. Special edition or limited release sneakers can have high demand, especially if you never wear them and have the original packaging. The older and rarer, the better.
Hustle #32: Frequent Flyer Mile Specialist ($80-$150/itinerary)
Lots of people have airline points racked up and are eager to do some travel hacking but aren’t sure where to start. You can make extra cash by helping people figure out how to maximize their frequent flyer miles. Bonus: All the warm fuzzies you get from clients who have awesome trips because of you.
Hustle #31: Watch Dealer ($2,000-$7,000/watch)
Certain super-high-end watches can be impossible to find, even if you can afford them. But if you have an in with a retailer, you can buy rare watches even when the general public can’t — and then resell them for a handsome profit.
Hustle #30: Freelance Copywriter ($500-$1,500/mo)
Marketing copywriters can charge a pretty penny for content that helps a client win more sales. If you get a rush from converting prospects to customers, then freelance copywriting can be a lucrative side hustle for you. One downside (as with all freelance writing) is that the work may come in waves, so you never really know when you’ll have assignments.
Hustle #29: Building Websites About Graphic Design ($20,000 profit)
Rather than continuing to build websites for other people, this entrepreneur with design skills turned his know-how into his own business: creating websites geared toward graphic design professionals. Proof that if you’re a subject matter expert, you can profit from it.
Hustle #28: Running Coach ($85/mo per client)
Seasoned runners are often asked for advice about how to get started or how to get faster. If you’ve been running for a long time, answering these questions is easy because you intuitively know how to help. So if you’ve been around the block a few times, why not get paid as a running coach? You can take on clients from anywhere if you limit your services to creating training plans and occasional phone calls (no in-person meet-ups on the track). One downside: You know exactly how needy some runners can be.
Hustle #27: Air Force Reservist ($259.56/weekend + benefits (“Active” = $1946.70/mo + benefits)
This side hustle is actually like having a second career while keeping your first one going. Take it from Erin, a high school teacher who’s also in the Air Force Reserve — enjoying amazing benefits while working only one weekend a month (plus 15 days a year) in the Reserves. If you keep at it for 20 years, you even get retirement benefits.
Hustle #26: IT Freelancer ($50-$100/hr, up to $800/mo retainer)
If you’re good with computers, you already know that everyone around you will ask for help, so you probably won’t need much marketing for your IT side hustle. Remote connection software makes it easy for you to work from anywhere and still be able to tap into your client’s machine.
Hustle #25: Online e-Commerce Store Owner ($810/day *revenue* (later shut down))
Tools like Shopify make it much simpler to set up your own online store and sell whatever you want. Read how this hustler opened an online shop for luxury women’s clothing.
Hustle #24: Yoga Instructor ($15-$40/hr class, $60+ private)
If you’ve fallen hard for yoga (or spin, or Pilates, or any other studio fitness class), you’ve probably dreamed of becoming an instructor and earning money by teaching rather than spending it to take a class. You’ll need to get certified to become a yoga instructor, and this can be expensive and time-consuming, but it’s easy to make the money back, and the fitness industry just keeps on growing.
Hustle #23: Standardized Test Question Writer ($20-$30/question)
We all love to hate standardized tests, but they’re not so bad if you’re the one writing the questions. If you know your stuff in a specialized field, like Chinese language or chemistry, you can get paid to help test others’ knowledge of it. You usually get paid per question and have a few weeks to complete your assignment.
Hustle #22: Food Truck Worker ($8-$10/hr + tips)
If you’re really into a certain truck’s food, try befriending the staff and asking if they need help. Food trucks almost always do, from taking orders to working the grill to picking up supplies at the grocery store. You can learn all kinds of new job skills depending on what role you end up playing that day, and you’ll save money on your own food costs by eating your favorite stuff off the menu for free.
Hustle #21: Bouncer ($50-$90/night)
It helps if you look the part here because you’re probably gonna need that muscle on the job, at least eventually. As a bouncer for a club or a bar, you’ll also need the abilities to read people, stay super sharp and observant, and to say no. If you can do all that, you have a ton of earning potential (it’s easy to pick up extra shifts) and can end up meeting some cool people in your side hustle as a bouncer.
Hustle #20: Starbucks Barista ($400-$700/mo)
Working at Starbucks is a tempting side gig thanks to the generous benefits — health care, stock and savings options, paid time off, and free tuition to Arizona State University — that you just don’t find with other side hustles. The pay’s not great but the benefits make up for it.
Hustle #19: Sample Passer-Outer ($54-$75/demo)
Those mini chicken tacos don’t sell themselves … they’re pushed by independent contractors for in-store marketing companies. If you’re friendly and can be on your feet for many hours at a time, try becoming a product demonstrator. The work is flexible; if you’re offered a job on a date that doesn’t work for you, you don’t have to take it.
Hustle #18: “Phone Actress” (AKA Phone Sex Operator) (25¢-30¢/minute of *live* talk time)
How’s this for a $exy side hustle?!! As one actress puts it: “It doesn’t matter if you are old or young, black or white, or heavy or skinny; it is the voice that counts the most.” If a recruiter likes the sound of your voice and you pass a background check, you’ve got yourself a job! And a flexible, at-home one with good job security — because this industry doesn’t experience recessions.
Hustle #17: Dog Walker ($16-$24/hr)
Talk about grateful clients! You’re always greeted by a furry friend who can’t wait to get outside for a walk. Other job perks: fresh air, exercise, and adorable customers. The hours are short, too, so this is a good side hustle if you don’t want a huge time commitment.
Hustle #16: Worm Counter (8¢ per dozen night crawlers)
As long as there are fishermen, they will need bait. And someone needs to package it up to be sold. If you’re a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-dirty sort of hustler, sifting through the dirt to count worms could be just your thing. You get to wear gloves and the work is literally as easy as counting 1-2-3.
Hustle #15: Book Seller (a few thousand a year)
Selling second-hand books can be a fun way for readers to flip a profit. You can build up an inventory by shopping at used bookstores, garage sales, and even sometimes the library and then re-sell your books on book sites, eBay, or private Facebook groups. It’s an easy way to make some spare change and you can even read the books before shipping them off to a buyer.
Hustle #14: Tutor ($10-$200/hr)
If you love to teach and have special knowledge in a field, you can make extra money while you help someone out — a win-win! Post an ad on Craigslist or use the site UniversityTutor.com to find students. Word of mouth and social media advertising work great, too. This side hustle has no start-up costs and tons of flexibility, as you choose when and how often you want to work.
Hustle #13: USA Triathlon Official ($90/event + mileage)
If you or someone you love is into tris and you enjoy the culture and hanging out on the scene, why not get paid for it as a race official? After some training, you’re eligible to be paid for your help during races. The work can mean getting up very early on the weekends, but you’re usually done around 11 a.m. or noon and have the rest of the day ahead of you … with some more money in your pocket.
Hustle #12: Lifeguard (minimum wage?)
Not just for high schoolers in the summer! Pools are open year-round and you can cash in on that. This hustler picks up early morning shifts to watch people swim laps before heading into her primary job. The biggest perk? Free gym membership, which is a huge savings.
Hustle #11: High-Fashion eBay Reseller ($7,000 profit)
Have an eye for fashion (and a cheap-ish way to score designer brands)? You can make extra money flipping high-fashion clothes and handbags. This side hustler lives in an affluent area and discovered she could buy name-brand cast-offs at local thrift stores — many just one season old — and re-sell them on eBay for a nice profit. She says the trick is to find trendy cuts by popular designers, so if you know what those are, maybe you can hustle your way toward affording those yourself. :)
Hustle #10: Mystery Shopper ($200-$500/mo)
Hey, shopaholics, you can get paid to shop: Companies hire anonymous shoppers to shop in their stores. This helps them better understand their customers’ experiences. You have to take lots of notes and deal with your taxes, and it’s very low pay at first … but this hustler shares some tricks on increasing your income. Sign up at MysteryShop.org.
Hustle #9: Etsy Seller ($50-$100/mo)
So many crafters have turned their hobby into an extra income stream by selling their projects on Etsy. This entrepreneur shares how she got started selling jewelry on Etsy and what to expect when you’re just starting out (it’s slow going but worth it if you love crafting).
Hustle #8: Meal Plan Helper ($5-$8/mo per client)
This entrepreneur found a way to make extra money from a task her family was already doing: creating healthy meal plans. Once she realized that meal-planning isn’t something everyone has time to do for themselves, she built an online business around it!
Hustle #7: Gun Permit Instructor (“decent chunk”)
Here’s another (very different) example of turning a hobby into a business. After this hustler and his friend took training to get a permit to carry a pistol, they figured they could provide a better training experience. After getting several teaching certifications, they launched their own in-person business that teaches people what they need to know about legally carrying a gun.
Hustle #6: House Cleaner ($1,000/mo)
Okay, scrubbing toilets will never be sexy, but the extra money you can get from it is very $exy. Here’s how one self-starter went into the cleaning business for herself and makes about a grand a month (and gets exercise while she works). This side hustle has low start-up costs, and unlike some other gigs, there’s no downtime that you end up not getting paid for.
Hustle #5: Craps Dealer (“good”)
Dealing craps at corporate events or holiday parties is a fun side hustle that works well if you have a regular 9-to-5 job. Most of this event-based work comes in December, so it’s not a good option if you need additional income year-round — although you can also work at casinos during the rest of the year. Watch for ads from event companies saying they’ll train you at craps (or blackjack or roulette!).
Hustle #4: Babysitter ($30-$45/sitting)
For the young at heart who like kiddos, playtime, and toddler snacks, consider providing childcare to a local family. Get the word out about your babysitting availability on Craigslist or Sittercity and at places of worship. Getting a background check can help you stand out from the crowd and put potential clients’ minds at ease. Bonus: You can learn a lot of life lessons from little people.
Hustle #3: Live-In Landlord (free graduate school!)
This hustler rented out two spare bedrooms in his home, and the income allowed him to pay for graduate school without taking out any student loans. As he put it, “this really isn’t a skill, it’s more like an asset that is not being utilized to its fullest potential.” So if you’ve ever thought about — and hesitated — renting your space on Airbnb, here’s a story about the power of using all your available assets.
Hustle #2: Restaurant Server ($100/shift)
Hustling as a waiter or waitress can really pad your budget and has the added benefit of free exercise — this waitress walks at least 5 miles on a busy night. You can also get good at reading people’s moods, which is an awesome life skill.
Hustle #1: Chicken Farmer ($89 1st test + free food!)
Most people who raise chickens use them for the eggs. Here’s the story of a side hustler who tried raising them not only for the eggs but also their meat.
Side Hustle Fails
Although we love to highlight gigs that WORK OUT and help earn you money, we have also featured some stories that didn’t go so well (to help keep things in perspective since not everything can obviously be rainbows and lollypops ;) )
- I failed at being a sperm donor (-$127.00)
- I couldn’t part with my art ($0.00)
- I hated working a phonathon (minimum wage)
- I failed at buying a rental property ($0.00)
Hey, no one ever said making money on the side was easy! And then here’s something to keep in mind too: When to Quit a Side Hustle
Other Interesting (Full-Time) Jobs
Side hustles aren’t the only ways to be creative in your employment. Check out these unusual jobs people have done full-time for a living:
- I used to work in the Circus! ($38,000/year + benefits)
- I used to work (and live) on a Cruise Ship ($90/day-$126/day + travel)
- We are House Sitters (free rent!)
- I work in Guantanamo Bay (tons of benefits!)
- I’m a Mortician ($60,000/year)
- Confession of a Professional Poker Player (part 1) | (part 2) (Crazy fluctuations)
- One-on-One with Hip-Hop’s Financial Advisor (A lot)
Other Job-Related Resources
- Why You Need a Side Hustle
- The Best, Worst, and Craziest Jobs
- The Jobs That Get You The Biggest Tips
- 10 Jobs That Make at Least $100 an Hour
- How To Pay Rent By Volunteering For Science Experiments
- Awesome Compilation of the Weirdest & Craziest Jobs E-V-E-R
Gigs for Goals
Before we go, just wanted to share a great mindset to help motivate your side hustlin’ even more. We call it the “Gigs For Goals” mindset and the idea behind it is that you attach all gigs of yours to a specific bill or a future want/need. If you can match them up to break even, you’re golden! If you fall short, you need to re-arrange your wants and/or start bringing in higher income streams to match ’em. It looks like this:
Something to keep in mind, anyway :)
We’ll keep adding to our side hustle series over time, but as you can see there are a TON of different ways to make money on the side during your free time. And hey, you never know – it could always turn into a full-time job too if you get lucky! (That is, if you WANT it to, haha.. some of these are purely for the extra cash, as you can probably tell ;)).
If you have any interesting jobs yourself you’d like to share, hit us up here.
Keep on hustlin’!
PS: If you’re interested in learning which of these hustles are the most popular, and other fun comparisons, check out this post I wrote up on it: Side Hustle Nation, Represent!
Such an awesome list. You could spend days in this rabbit hole! Keep up the great work :)
It’s been a fun journey since starting this series :) I’m just glad people still enjoy it!
Great list! I just started my financial website (still not live yet), and one of my side hustles is working for a company that hires teachers to teach English via Skype. 10-15 hours per week, making $10 a lesson. It’s great, since my mortgage was so cheap, that side hustle alone pays it off each month! Other side hustles include: adjunct professor for community colleges and a freelance writer.
Very nice! I’m digging the site name “budget nerds” too ;)
Whoa. Epic list! I love the Chick-fil-a cow mascot :) Makes me think of all the side hustles I’ve had… my favorite was when I used to introduce myself as a commissioned painter and ended up closing a few deals that way. When I got to the point where I was painting portraits of people’s dogs that had passed away, I realized that I no longer enjoyed what I did :P
OMG haha…. now THAT is funny.
Bummer, not sure I have enough time to become a mortician right now, but it’s a great option should the whole graduate school thing not work out ;)
Love all these side hustles! Thanks for an awesome post,
Sam
Don’t worry, you’ll be around morticians later on in life ;) As will the rest of us!
Awesome! Some of these side hustles sound super fun regardless of how much extra money they generate.
That’s the best of both worlds :)
I think this site is awesome! You really do motivate people and give them good advice on how to make money. I appreciate a great mind its really sexy;) Keep doin what you do, you have alot of positivity and loyal followers. On my way to setting some goals i feel very motivated. <3TheVoice
Rock on man, thanks so much for stopping by and sharing – really appreciate that :)
I love seeing all this info in one place! I’m not sure about being a worm counter though…lol! Yesterday I did a side hustle helping out at a corporate team building event. $25/hour for six hours. Luckily I got to do it with friends and for a friend, so it was a pretty fun day, but lots of manual labor upfront so I’m sore!
A free workout! :)
What a brilliant list of fun and interesting hustles! Not been through them all yet so not entirely sure there’s one in there I could try, although since you intend to add to the list, there could be a chance I’ll find one! Keep up the great work!
Indeed – be sure to check back often :) Or if you’re lazy, just sign up to get new posts sent to you! https://budgetsaresexy.com/subscribe/
J$, you’ve built a very valuable resource here for your readers. The motivation alone from seeing that other people are making money on the side is just the tip of the iceberg… not to mention the tips and tricks that can be picked up from all of these posts. Thanks!
Haha… like the new moniker. Yours seems to be one of the favorites of the bunch too! Right under Phone Sex operator ;)
Great way to pimp out the hustles.
WooHoo! Glad I could round out the bottom of this list and be in the failures column! Just keeping it real, like you said, not everything can be put into the win column
But it looks like I’m with good company with Mrs. BudgetsAreSexy and Jeff Rose!
(and probably many others too!)
Great list…a few are a bit humorous. Nevertheless, side money is still side money. An I am a firm believer that everyone should have something they do on the side. From my own personal experience, having something on the side helps takes the pressure of the main income source (both mentally and financially). If all you have is a single source of income, and if for whatever reason that source of income is threatened, the news is almost always devastating and life changing.
AFFJ
YEP! Preach on!
SO glad I found this website! I’ve been struggling to come up with ways to start chipping away at my credit card debt. Some of these sound fun!
I’m glad to hear! Thanks so much for stopping by and dropping a note – feel free to say hi anytime, new friend :)
I love this list!!! Definitely going to share, the options are limitless!
Glad you like! It’s been a blast putting these all together and working with the different hustlers on this site :)
This is a really great list J Money, I’ve started looking into the USA Triathlon coaching as well as freelance writing as well. There are so many options and this list is great for anyone in graduate school looking to make some cash on the side.
It’s good for people in any stage of life really :)
Can’t knock the hustle!!! Great post!
Thanks Lisa! You’re a master of them yourself I hear ;)
All these “hustles” require $$$$ I don’t have $700 laying around to buy sum cards etc …..any articles on no cost hustling
Umm…. did you read *any* others listed? Like, just one other? 99% of them don’t require anything but hard (and often times fun) work.
Love all these suggestions. I’ll add Swim Coach here. As a person who has just taken up triathlons and is slightly tired of swallowing a lot of pool water, there’s definitely money to be made before and after your 9-5 job.
Haha… there you go :)
I just discovered this list earlier this week, and I’m having an awesome time reading through the ideas here! My own side hustle is small, but fun. I sell economics mysteries for kids :)
Thanks for compiling these. It lit the fire under me again with a few new marketing ideas.
Cool! Mysteries that make you learn – even better ;)
Glad you’re having fun here – we’ll be adding a new one to the list soon, keep your eyes open!
Cool list! I might try one of the side hustles here.
For now I’m content in helping my mom with her side hustle – cooking and delivering home-cooked food to our loyal customers. She’s been telling them they should know how to cook for themselves too ‘coz she’s not getting any yougner. hehehehe
We’ve created a blog for her recipes, so we (me and my sis) have something to share with our friends and relatives who don’t live her in the Philippines. =)
Aww great idea! on both the hustle and the blog :)
Hi J.Money,
Woah! Thanks for the reply. And so sorry it took me almost 3 years to come back here and check your response.
We’re still hustling sir – me, my mom and my sis. We still cook for order on the side, but me and my sis have day jobs. =)
I’ve tried the Craigslist gig (freelance writing and blogging for clients) as well as Freelance Writing on the side occasionally. They help augment income and when there’s a steady flow of clients, even just 3-5 clients, it truly helps.
I hope others will try and improve their income too. Your list helps tremendously especially in giving readers a means of trying opportunities they think they are good at.
Thank you and my apologies once again for the super duper late reply.
Cheers!
Nice!!! Never too late to say hello – welcome back :)
We actually just ran a new side hustle on preparing meals for people for $$$. Maybe you can relate/add something helpful you’ve learned along the way with y’all’s hustling?
https://budgetsaresexy.com/2017/03/accidental-side-hustle-making-frozen-meals/
I think I finally figured out what I love so much about the Side Hustle series. I honestly LOVE asking people about their jobs. It seems like endless possibilities to me.
Agreed! And people have all kinds of fascinating ones too, huh? Well, fascinating and straight up WEIRD at times, haha… but it takes all kinds to run this world, right?
Glad you’re enjoying the series :)
Just added a link to this great list on my latest blog post!
I was trying to think of simply ways to make only $1,000 in 10 minutes.
You left us hanging! Now I want to know what your 6 ideas were to make that $1,000! And so “easily” as you say, haha….
Hey, J, my husband does voice over work as a side, hustle. He made $1000 last month doing 2 jobs. He’s an entertainer/went to school for broadcast, but anyone w a great speaking voice can do it. Voice123.com. Get hustlin’
Love it! I’ve been trying to get one of my friends’ wife to share her story with voice overs so far (she only started a few months ago and has already made a few thousand) but if she bails I’ll be hitting you/your husband up to write it instead :) It’s a fascinating hustle!
I’ve worked on political campaigns doing phone banking.You can also do canvassing for a politician or put up signs for them.The pay is usually $10 or more.
Yeah! I literally JUST got an email from someone on this actually… He’s in the process of writing up some info on it for me to pass around – good one :) I always thought it was a volunteer job for some reason?
Thank you for all your info that you share. J Money I’m looking for a work from home job or business. Do to health issues. Please do give advice on how to get started
You’re already started – you’re on finance blogs learning how to make extra money!
Only advice I can give is to keep doing that and start trying out the routes you find to be best according to your goals/lifestyle/etc :) The “taking action” part is key.
An ACTUALLY useful list! Hallelujah! Thanks, J. Money!
Hah! Meaning my other articles aren’t useful, or just in general? ;)
Glad you liked it. Let me know if you ever take any of them on! Or come up with your own rockin’ gigs…
Hi J. Money. I graduated from college about a year ago. I am work as a sales man in a pharmacy store. I am passionate about getting credible information about managing my finances.I just stumbled on your site. I observed that you respond to comments from each one of your readers. I confident you site will be enriching. Let me mention that I am Nigerian, and resident in Nigeria.
Nice to meet you Ofem :) Poke around and see if you get motivated here! The nice thing about $$$ is that it works the same here in the US as it does all over the world once you get the hang of it. Just have to make it a priority to get things rockin’. Good luck!
I do a lot of babysitting as a side hustle. Would find that I wasted a lot of time just watching TV while the kids were asleep so now I’ve started knitting and crocheting and selling my projects online :)
BOOM! Love that efficiency… making money while making money! :)
J. Money,
Great list of different ways to make some extra money! Thanks for sharing.
Glad you approve, sir!
I don’t see where to subscribe
You can get these posts in your inbox here if that’s what you’re looking for:
https://budgetsaresexy.com/go/newsletter
We’re also on Feedly/RSS and social media too:
https://budgetsaresexy.com/subscribe
Thanks for being interested :)
This is a great list; I have worked as a professional organizer. The work entails creating structure and routine in people’s homes; this would include organizing closets, pantries, etc. I have being paid between $10-20 per hour. I get great referrals; the work is rewarding and my clients are happy.
That’s kinda neat!
J. Money I loved that you mentioned mystery shopping it is one of the best ways to earn extra money very easy. Your list has many ideas I have never considered. thanks
glad you approve, good sir :)
I love this post!
Back in the day I was a true hustler because I got laid off from my job unexpectedly. I was the mystery shopping queen and even did focus groups and offline opinion surveys just to survive.
These days I make my money in various business ventures online.
This list will no doubt help anyone make money. It does takes some effort to get the ball rolling but once you get in motion it’s easy to stay in motion.
Keep writing these great posts J Money!
Cool!! Congrats on turning a scary experience into an awesome one! Funny how things work out :)
How do I find where list for men phone sex
Not sure, but probably easy to find Googling a bit… Maybe hit up the companies in the side hustle post too my friend did on being a phone sex operator? I’d imagine it’s for both men and women…
https://budgetsaresexy.com/2011/10/how-to-be-phone-sex-operator/
Hi I’m from Ireland your site is great keep up the good work I’m 62 after raising 9kids and keeping my eye out for a side job your list is a inspiration.
9 kids – wow! You’re a hustler already! :)
So cool you’re popping over from Ireland too – want to check it out so badly. On my top 3 lists of places to visit!
Thanks JMoney, love that this list has been written from the preverbial ‘horses mouth’ which is encouraging and such great details as to how to get started. I have been looking into voice work and chat line work as made quite a bit of money on fiverr recording simple narration/voicemail greetings/poetry and property details.
This site is interesting and genuinely helpful – thanks :)
Glad you’re finding helpful! That voice one was one of my all-time faves so far… Such a cool way to make money!
Might I add water aerobics or fitness instructor? $15-25 per class. I made about $500 per month before and after work doing what I loved for over 12 years. Free workouts too!
Beautiful! You most def. may add that ;)
Love these ideas, add me to your mailing list. Currently in a wheelchair, but can still work from home.
You’re on it! You can hustle hard online! :)
Wow, what an impressive list of side hustles! Must have taken ages to write something for everything on the list. Thanks for pouring so much into this!
Well, I cheated and had others write about it who’ve actually *experienced* each of the gigs.. I’m not that much of a hustler! :)
This is an awesome post bro!! I’ve now read most of these articles. The phone sex one was crazy!!! I didn’t see social media marketing for businesses. I started it as a side biz and now it’s my main income. Great post and blog! I’ve read a lot of your stuff now. Thank you for sharing all the amazing info!
Nice! Way to transition out like that – a dream! :)
Great ideas!!! I’ve been thinking lately about doing a children’s book. What a coincidence that it’s on your list. I have a couple in my head already that I haven’t gotten around to writing yet, I guess I should get on it pretty soon.
it’s a sign! do it!! :)
Well JMoney, I’m convinced that if everyone had access to your words of wisdom and an ounce of motivation. The nation’s unemployment rate would plummet. Eventually, becoming a non-existent figment of our imaginations!
Anyways, what an epic list of ideas to make some extra $$$$, and really simple tool to put them “extra” $$$, back to work for you. (Paying bills, living expenses, etc.) Rather than thinking of it as “extra” $$$, and blowing it on “Pop Rocks” and “Red Bulls” putit towards your debts, towards your principal, it’s amazing what even $20 extra a month can do to a loan. Besides, we all know that such a thing like “extra” $$ doesn’t even exist!
I like to seek out opportunities for residual income. The best example I heard quoted about residual income, “Don’t sell your land so they can build a bridge over it, even if they offer you more than it’s worth. Tell them, they can build the bridge across the land for free and they will pay you 10¢ for every car that drives over that bridge.”
Ok, that’s enough, some side hustles I enjoy, invested in another house fixer upper rented now by the same awesome tenants for 3 years(got lucky). $600.00 month.
24/7 fitness club owner, $400.00 month, basically cleaning and complete insurance paperwork, no employees needed.
In home pc repair $1000+ yearly.
Instruct a Therapeutic Interventions and Personal Safety Techniques class for people working with the developmentally delayed population $450.00 class, 4 times a year.
And of course my newest addiction thanks to JMoney, silver hunting, so far, $75.00 profit 3 weeks.
Keep up the stellar work bro. Thanks for all the free words to financial bliss. God Bless!
Brett
Work it!
Love hearing about all he different ways people are making that $$$… especially the recurring types :) You’re beating me in the silver hunting department too – still haven’t found the secret sauce!
Thanks for stopping by, brother… so glad you’re enjoying the site.
Great list. Always looking for extra $$$
Very cool thanks!
I stumbled along this site from afford anything. I’ve been in a huge rut as far as making extra money. Reading just this article alone has lit a fire under me to pursue a “side hustle”. I didn’t even know any of this even existed until about a week ago. Thank you J Money for posting all these different ways to earn income!
Rock on!! You’ll have to let me know if any of them really work out for you :) Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Great list! Another good one is selling yours and your children’s old clothing/shoes/accessories etc. on apps like Mercari and poshmark. When I was really into it, I made about $2,000 in 3-4 months.
Nice! Haven’t heard of either of those sites, so appreciate you sharing them. We literally have 8 bins full of old kids clothes we need to go through this year, so this makes it a bit more exciting to start! :)
Hi, am from Kenya and I love this article. Most of those in the list may not be available here. What online side job would you recommend?
Thanks
Probably those you can do online? Freelance writing, anything in social media, virtual assistance, etc… Check out Pat’s blog for a ton of ideas involving making money online: http://smartpassiveincome.com
Hi J. Money,
You’re doing a good here! I have ideas, but i need a good web developer to help me buid my websites. The challenge is that I don’t have fund to build even one. I tried Bluehost but cann’t afford the $2.96/months for 36months=$106 cost. I can afford a per month billing or better still a patnership with the developer. Could you please give me a lead to a good web developer that I can work with? I’m in Nigeria.
Thanks for the great job.
Time to get scrappy! Start building it all out yourself with WordPress or any other free software out there until you can get going and hire/partner with someone. Then you’ll not only have something to SHOW these guys, but it’ll also show *them* that you’re doing what it takes to make this vision of yours a reality and that you’re super passionate about it. Everyone has a million ideas out there and it would be awesome to have partners right fromt he start who believe in it and willing to jump in to build it for free/peanuts, but sadly it doesn’t usually work out that way. Gotta just get out there and start DOING IT and hack it together as you go… If it’s a good idea (and you’re truly passionate about it), you’ll find a way to make it work :)
Hey J Money,
Long time fan, first time poster. Interesting list, it is only missing one thing….
Where is “personal finance blogger”? I’d love to see the numbers on that ;)
Hah! Guess I should add that one to the list at some point, eh? :) In all honesty though, there are farrrr easier (and faster) ways to make money than w/ blogging, haha.. though it is fun and can open the doors to so many more things career-wise! (And life-wise too for that matter… all of my best friends came from the internet – hah!)
This was quite interesting to read. I had a great time clicking on a lot of the sites with links and reading about the information on how to begin and how to continue. I laughed at quite a few of the side hustles. Yet, they all seemed amazing.
Glad you approve, Keezy 4 Sheezy.
– J. Jeezy
This is by far the most comprehensive list of side hustles I’ve come across so far! Thank you for posting all of these ideas (and stories that go with them!). My mind is definitely racing with side hustles that will fit my schedule to help pay down my debt even faster!
Let us know if you ever try any of them out! :)
Here’s one – buy stuff from the dollar store and sell on Amazon or ebay.
Yup! I think they call that “arbitrage.” I used to do it with yard sale and thrift store finds and then I had kids :)
I tried uber with no luck. I think uber is good if you live close to Internation Airport.
Any thoughts?
That prob helps, yeah :) Also if you hustle hard during holidays and weekends and rush hours, at least from what I’ve read… I’ve never tried it as I’m always glued to my online hustles, but if you could actually do both at the same time that would be even better! Haha… Just bring a laptop and wifi hotspot with you while you’re waiting around town :)
Hi J. Money! Any thoughts or experience with renting your own personal paid-off car with Zipcar or Turo ? I’ve started using public transportation exclusively and would like to have my car put to use since it is now just sitting in the driveway. There is a lot of negative feedback out there regarding these type of companies, was hoping to hear from some first hand experience!
Oh man, I haven’t experimented with those myself, but I’m all about trying out new things! I feel like you really have to just give these things a shot to really find out if it’s something worthwhile or not, as too many people have skewed opinions and situations. Worse case you can always just stop and/or sell your car, right? So I say give it a shot for a month and then report back your findings ;)
I love this list! As the threat of recession looms, I’m looking to get involved in a number of side hustles myself. I’ve gotten started on a blog and part time real estate, but I’m definitely thinking of other time efficient ways in which I can supplement my primary source of income. Thanks for the suggestions and keep up everything that you do! I’m a huge fan.
Rock on – glad you’re finding the blog helpful!
I’m a face painter on the side and I make an average of $75/hour depending on if I work for myself or for a company.
Oooh that’s cool!! How did you end up coming across that?
My kid was in love with it and I wanted to bring that level of joy myself. So I went to a meetup in my area and learned a ton from high level professionals including that people are paid really well for it. I practiced a lot and I hustle hard to get the higher paying gigs. When I’m on my own I make a good $100/hour. But my floor is $50/hour. My costs are maybe $10-$20 per event. Now it’s my post FI plan.
Brilliant!! Way to make it happen!
Such a wonderful list JM – a seriously useful you’ve put together. Kudos.
Cheers. It’s still growing!! :)
This is such an informative and exhaustive list of side hustles anyone can do! There are so many money-making opportunities these days that one can no longer come up with excuses not to earn extra income. Thanks for sharing!
Extensive list! I actually tried out the sneaker flipping as a side hustle but there are too many people doing it these days.
Brilliant side hustle ideas! For a more convenient and easy experience in rentng out your items, there are sites like Naborlee to help you list your items for rent.
Thanks Will! I’ve been looking for an Aussie based renting site like this to recommend! I’ll add it to my master list of “rent your stuff out” sites!
Yeah sure. I would appreciate it. This is the site for your reference – http://www.naborlee.com.au. I hope this will help many of your Aussie readers.
The estate sale host idea is a great one. Considering the aging population in the US and how the boomers control most of the money, methinks there are going to be some opportunities to manage estate sales for big money in the near future.
I actually started a moving box rental business a week ago and already got 3 customers want to rent them boxes out for moving. I have a part time as independent contractor along with moving box rental business on the side. I wont be surprised if i make more money from box rental business eventually soon.
well that’s a hustle you don’t hear about every day! i like it! you’ll have to keep us posted with how it goes over time and maybe we’ll feature you here when you’ve hit your first Million ;)