Is your regular day job just not cutting it?
Maybe you are just barely scraping up enough money to pay the bills, or simply want some side cash to do what you love.
No matter the circumstance, everyone loves a little more financial freedom to loosen the purse strings.
Before you quit your 9-5, you may want to consider taking on a side gig to earn you some extra money. Side gigs are great because they can typically work around your current schedule, don’t include much experience, and can earn you money quickly – often online.
You may have heard of some of the regular “side jobs” such as bartending or mowing lawns, but a lot of those are tapped out (or boring)! Below we list some of the best, yet underrated side gigs to have you earning extra money in no time!
1) Photography
Got a camera and a creative eye? By honing in on your photography skills, you can make money online by selling photography – even without all of the fancy equipment!
Bloggers, businesses, and website developers are always looking for fresh photos to use for their designs and on social media. By marketing yourself as a stock photographer, you can make at least $5 per photo without an expensive camera or editing software.
You can utilize sites such as Shutterstock or Getty Images to sell your photos online, or start a blog to build up your portfolio and find customers organically.
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2) Sell Items on Etsy
Etsy is the best site for selling your own custom products online. If have a knack for design or arts and crafts, you can sell your unique items to people all over the world.
The possibilities are truly endless! Take some time to check out the existing products on Etsy and figure out what you can offer that potential customers would want to buy. Custom-designed T-shirts? Painted sneakers? Knitted crop-tops? Find something you are passionate about, get your materials, and get sellin’!
3) Freelance Writing
We often talk about the benefits of being a freelance writer on Young Adult Money, but you don’t need to launch a writing career in order to make some extra money as a writer. Even the one-off writing gigs can earn you some fast cash – as long as you have access to the internet!
Of course, good writing skills are necessary to land well-paying writing jobs, but don’t be afraid to start where you are and work your way up. The best way to start is to start a blog to showcase some writing samples, and then market it on social media or reach out to other bloggers in your niche directly.
4) Online Test Tutor
Did you ace your SAT in high school? Or may you got amazing scores on AP tests? Students all of the country (and even world) are looking for people just like you to teach them the ins and outs of test-taking. And, you don’t even have to leave your house!
With a bit of organization, you can create lesson plans to help students master the SAT, AP test, ACT, college exams, and more. With sites like Chegg and TutorMe.com, it’s easy to sign up for online tutoring jobs. Or, create your own profile online and market yourself via social media. You can set your own rates and work from anywhere that has a wifi connection!
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5) Pet Sitter
It’s well-known that millennials are having less children, or delaying having children. Another trend that coincides with this is millennials having pets, and many are willing to spend money on their pets.
One side gig that is benefiting from this is dog-walking and house sitting for pet owners. Companies like Rover.com make it easy to sign up and start taking on pet-sitting and dog-walking jobs on the side. If you love pets this could be a solid extra stream of income for you on top of your 9-5.
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6) Virtual Receptionist
Much like a regular receptionist, a virtual receptionist manages the administrative work of businesses, but works remotely. Such tasks may include answering phone calls, responding to emails, setting appointments, or following up with clients/customers. If you are well-organized and professional, this may be for you!
Many online job boards, such as Monster.com, have postings for virtual receptionist jobs, but you could become a freelancer as well. Sign up with Fiverr or Upwork online to create your own profile, reach out to business owners, and land virtual receptionist gigs all over the world. These positions can be quite lucrative, but tend to have flexible hours – which is great if you already have a regular job!
7) Uber Driver
Become an Uber driver and you make money while you drive! With flexible hours and competitive rates, driving for Uber can be a perfect side gig. It’s quite easy to sign up, and you don’t have to worry about the bookkeeping yourself. If you have a clean driving record and a safe vehicle, this may be the side gig for you!
Visit Uber.com tosign up as a driver and get started making extra money today!
8) Craigslist Flipping
This side gig idea is perfect for those with a DIY side. With a bit of starting cash, it can be a great way to 2x your money, or more!
The concept is fairly easy, but you can scale up as much as you want. By purchasing items online, fixing them up, and reselling them, you can get quite a bit of bang for your buck. First, you buy items on Craigslist that look like a good opportunity to resell, make them look better, and then sell them for profit.
Some tips for successful Craigslist flipping include:
- Repaint/re-stain wooden furniture to spruce them up
- Take high quality images of new items to use in posts
- Pick up high-value items in the Free section and sell for profit
- Write interesting descriptions to entice buyers
With a bit of creativity, you can make a little money (or even no money) go a long way!
9) Childcare
Do you love kids and want to make some money on the side? Consider becoming a babysitter or part-time nanny. There are tons of families looking for childcare that may work around your otherwise busy schedule.
At Care.com, you can create a profile for families to see in your local area, and get hired for date night care, weekends, mornings, and more. You can specify what your availability is, what age group you are comfortable with, and how much experience you have. Most families pay in cash or check, so it can be a great way to get fast cash in a pinch!
10) Amazon Drop-shipping
“Dropshipping” – what is that? In a nutshell, drop-shipping allows you to resell products online without the hassle of having to hold inventory or design a product yourself. And, with recent policy changes from Amazon, it is easier than ever before.
As a drop-shipper, you can set your own prices, and choose from a wide range of products to sell. The product manufacturer is then responsible for making the product and shipping the goods to the customer.
Getting started is relatively easy. First, sign up with Shopify’s Oberlo app and choose products to sell (from AliExpress or Orberlo Supply). Within a day, you can have your online store set up and make your first sale. You don’t even have to wait to receive inventory or take photos!
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Have another side gig to add to this list? Drop your suggestion in the comments below!
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great tips for who is looking nice side hustle to earn extra income or in some cases change job!
Those are some solid side hustles. I’ve don e a couple of them before. The amount of income that you can make depends on how you work.