8 Side Hustles Anyone Can Do
Who wouldn’t love some extra pocket money? Some freelance jobs don’t require any experience and can be done by practically anyone. Plus, some of them might pay you for tasks you’re already doing! These eight easy side hustles can help you pad your purse.
1. Play with dogs
Why not earn some extra cash while watching some furry friends? When you offer your services as a dog walker or pet sitter, you can charge as much as $25 an hour, depending on the going rate in your area. To get the word out, you can hang up flyers to advertise your services or sign up with Rover, an Uber-like service that matches up pet owners and sitters for a small fee.
2. Social media guru
Yes, your Facebooking talents and clever tweets really are marketable skills. You can offer your services to local and remote businesses as their social media brand. Depending on your skill set, you can write the company blog posts, manage their Facebook page, post new pics on Instagram, and send out their tweets. You’ll need to get a feel for the company's core values and mission statement, but otherwise, it’s just doing what you love on your favorite social media platforms!
3. Yardwork
Do you wield real power with a weed-whacker? Are you an expert lawn mower? Get paid for tending to people’s yards. You can charge by the hour or per job. You may also want to do a survey of other local yard workers to get a good idea of fair asking prices.
4. Take online surveys for pay
Make the time you spend online count by taking surveys on sites like Survey Junkie, Inbox Dollars and Swagbucks. Most of these sites are easy to use and will pay you once you complete a survey. It’s a quick, easy way to pad your wallet with extra cash.
5. Turn trashed items into treasure
If you’re crafty and love working with your hands, this one’s for you!
Check Facebook Marketplace or take a spin around the neighborhood, scouring each block for curbside furniture in decent condition. Haul your finds home and get to work refinishing, painting, changing drawer pulls, and more to give the tossed piece of furniture new life. When you’ve finished glamming up your treasure, put it up for sale at a local flea market, sell it to a second-hand or consignment shop, or market it online through eBay or Craigslist. If you really work at it, you may be able to turn a trashed piece of furniture into several hundred dollars.
6. Work for Uber
The ride-sharing giant gives the term “flexible job” new meaning by allowing you to set your own schedule and decide just how many hours you want to drive passengers.
If you don’t like the idea of strangers riding in your car, you can work for Uber Eats instead. With this sister Uber service, you get paid to pick up fast-food meals and deliver them to customers. Uber Eats offers the same flexibility and great terms as the original Uber, and, in some locations, you can even deliver the food on a bike or scooter. It’s a fantastic way to boost your income without committing to long hours or hard work.
7. Handmade crafts and art
If you're crafty or artistic, turn your hobby into a side hustle. Create handmade crafts, jewelry, or artwork and sell them online through Etsy or local craft fairs.
8. Teach and tutor
Are you a geometry whiz or a genuine science buff? Offer your services as an individual tutor for school-aged children this summer, and you’ll have a meaningful way to earn extra money. You can help a struggling student work through summer homework or pass makeup exams so they earn their promotion to the next grade. You’ll be using your brains to make a difference in a child’s life while making good money on the side.
If you’ve got a spectacular talent outside the classroom, you can use it to make money this summer by teaching it to students who want to learn how to do it, too. Specialized instructors like guitar teachers or art coaches can charge a pretty penny per session.
While it sometimes helps, you don’t need special training or credentials to earn extra pocket money. Use this list to find the side hustle that works for you and boost your income.
Your Turn: Do you have a side job you love? Tell us about it in the comments.
And if you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of our MoneySmart Tips blog!