Whether you're looking to buy that Lynx Professional 30-inch propane gas grill or you're just trying to get enough money to pay the mortgage each month, everyone wants a little more cash. The good news is that 2024 is the best time for making spare change. Today, there are thousands of ways for you to earn a little extra spending money, and it's easier than you'd think.
Ready to pad that wallet? Here are 10 of the best side hustles you can use to start earning extra moola for whatever you'd like to spend it on and give yourself the financial freedom you’ve been looking for.
Side Hustle #1: Do What You Do Best (Or Like)...For a Fee
While your day job might not be everything you dreamed it could be, there are probably countless things you enjoy doing. So, why not make some money doing what you love? Whether it’s hanging out with animals, drawing, or making music videos, everyone has a hidden talent or passion that they can use to make some money on the side. With freelancing sites a dime a dozen these days, there’s no end to the opportunities available to you.
Side Hustle #2: Blog About It
Got an opinion? Blog about it! We live in an age where people thirst for knowledge. If you have information to share, why not do it? Write up a blog post about positive parenting skills, the best way to skin a fish, or how to shop for the holidays on a budget. Whatever your field of expertise, there are people out there curious and ready to hear what you have to say.
Side Hustle #3: Create a YouTube Channel
Even more popular than blogs are vlogs. With the average attention span shrinking down to nothingness, videos are a great way to get someone’s attention long enough to say something they might want to hear. So, if you have a talent, pearls of wisdom, or even just the patience to explain how to do something, create a video about it, and put it up on YouTube. Create enough of these, and you’ll build yourself an active following that can actually earn you a lucrative salary.
Side Hustle #4: Put Your Car to Work
Cars are parked for a shocking 95% of the time. That's ludicrous! Instead of letting your car just sit there, put it to work for you. There are many things you can do with a car to turn it into a money-maker. Join ridesharing sites like Uber or Lyft to get your car earning cash while you work, sleep, or are out with friends. You can also join delivery services like UberEats or PostMates to earn some money while you are actually in the car. Either way, it's easy money with no investment.
Side Hustle #5: Rent out a Room in Your House
If you have a house, garage, or even an extra couch, you might consider renting it out to augment your income. People are always in need of a place to stay, whether it's permanent or temporary, and that's a great way for your extra space can be put to good use. Sign up for Airbnb, post on social media sites, or spread the word through friends that your space is available. You'd be surprised at how much you can earn this way.
Side Hustle #6: House Sit or House Care
Neighbors going on vacation? Co-workers going out of town for a conference? Whatever their reasons, people go out of town. And that's when burglaries happen the most. The best way to avoid this unpleasantry is to have someone stay in the house while they're away. And that someone may as well be you! House sitting is a popular side hustle that is super easy and doesn't cost you a thing.
House cleaning, on the other hand, is a lot more work. But if you don’t mind the elbow grease, you can charge people for scrubbing, dusting, and polishing their homes.
Side Hustle #7: Sell Some of Your Stuff
Who doesn’t have a drawer, closet, or garage full of stuff they never use? Most people have a collection of items that have fallen out of use but are still worth some money. An easy way to earn money is to open up that closet and have a yard sale. Sell off your unused things, and enjoy the profits.
Alternatively, you can create things to sell. If you’re handy, you can make jewelry, baked goods, or home decor items to sell on Etsy, eBay, and other open markets. People love the artisan crafts, and you’ll enjoy making them. So, it’s a win-win.
Side Hustle #8: Tutor Someone
Tutoring is a fantastic way to put your knowledge to good use. Maybe you're a history buff or a math wiz. Whatever subject you excelled at in school might just come in handy as an adult, too. You can tutor kids online with services like ViPKid or gogoKid, or you can simply tutor kids around your neighborhood, from your children's schools, or from your religious affiliation.
You can take tutoring one step further and join a big brother/sister program. These help out underprivileged kids by partnering them up with supportive, caring adults who show them that there are people who care and that they can become anything they want to be. This way, you’d be making money and really making a difference in someone’s life.
Side Hustle #9: Take Online Surveys
Online surveys are a hit or miss. Some people make loads of cash this way, while others just end up wasting a lot of time. But since so many people do make money taking online surveys, it's definitely worth a try. You can sign up for services like Swagbucks or MyPoints. Then you take surveys, play games, watch videos, and participate in other online activities in order to rack up points. Points get converted into cash when you have enough of them. This is a great side hustle if you have a lot of spare time, lulls in work, or have a job that doesn't require you to be paying attention all the time.
Side Hustle #10: Child or Pet Care
People will pay a lot of money to have you take care of those that they love the most. And that is readily apparent by the booming pet and childcare industries around today. Babysitting is a great way to earn extra cash. After all, you're literally getting paid to sit around and do nothing! You can watch a movie, chat with a friend, or get some other work done while you watch kids who are sleeping. Kids, not your thing? That's ok. Why not try out pet sitting or dog walking? You might even enjoy a brisk walk with a friendly four-legged friend after a long day at the office.
Show Me the Money!
Want more ideas? Rent out your RV, do easy jobs for other people, become a focus group participant, become an amateur photographer. The list goes on! Making money is easier than ever, and you don’t even have to quit your day job to do it. In fact, experts advise that when starting a side hustle, only take on as much work as you can handle without letting your real job suffer. Make a strict side-hustle schedule, don’t go into debt for your side hustle, and never push off real work for a side job. Stick to these rules, and you’ll be side hustle golden!
