Trust me: I know the art of the side hustle. And if you really need the extra cash, read on.
I don’t think there has ever been a time in my adult life where I didn’t have at least two jobs. Most likely it was three. Sometimes it was out of need, other times it was a passion project, but whatever the reason, I did it, and I’m doing it, and I can teach you how to as well. Well, I can at least give you some ideas to get you started!
Here are a few side hustles (all that I’ve done in some capacity) that will make you some extra money -- and maybe even find you a new hobby.
Surveys
Now I can’t say that taking surveys online is going to make you rich. It most certainly won’t. But if you’re consistent about it and you diversify your portfolio, meaning you find a couple of different survey sites, you can make enough for a solid Amazon gift card or an extra $50 or so. Again, not a get-rich-quick plan, but something to look into if you just want some beer money.
Surveys are easy to complete and each one is paid out based on how long it takes. It's important to note that some sites won’t allow you to withdraw until you get to a certain amount, like $20, let’s say.
Here are a few survey sites to start with.
Courtesy of entrepreneursclass.com
Serving/Bartending/Hosting
I have literally done all three of these jobs, each for a number of years. If you don’t have the experience to bartend or serve, start hosting. That’s what I did, and I had no knowledge of the service industry before I started. Yes, it’s nights and weekends, but you make money and friends, and when you’re finally promoted to bartender and you start making some serious money, it’ll be worth it.
This one is a time commitment, but if you enjoy food, drinks, people, and staying out late, it might just be the perfect side hustle for you. My one advice here is to learn how to manage your time. If you’ve got to go to the office the next morning, maybe don’t go out with your fellow servers after you’re done with your shift at 11 p.m.
Courtesy of coolmaterial.com
Blogging
I have a blog, and while it’s not exactly profitable, it’s been a way for me to express and pursue my passion for fashion. And it can be your creative avenue as well. It does take some time to create the perfect website and grow your audience and social media, but if you love it, is it really even work? Once you have something running that you like, start reaching out to relevant brands, businesses, and people. Who knows? You might get a free product or two. It’s not money, but if you were going to buy it anyway, it kind of is. And if you keep at it and continue to improve, soon enough you’ll be getting paid for posts.
As I said, this is a long game approach. Make sure you pick a topic you’re passionate about and willing to put the work into.
Courtesy of searchenginejournal.com
Dog-Walking
Love dogs, but don’t have one of your own? Before I had a dog, I felt this way, and I realized that I could make some easy money dog-walking. And you don’t even have to befriend people with dogs and beg them to pay you to do it. There are plenty of apps, including ones like Rover, which is basically Uber for dogs (it was kind of the closest comparison I could come up with). You get hired and create a profile with the app, then app users will request a dog-walker. If you are available and in the area, you can pick up the walk.
It’s a pretty cool idea for both parties as the dog’s entire walk gets tracked on the app, so the owner will feel safe, and you’ll feel that you have accountability. Plus, you’ll get to spend time with dogs, and is there really a better way to make money?
Courtesy of dogtime.com
Write Content/Reviews for Companies
If you like testing new products or going to new places, and don’t mind writing a review afterward, well, you can actually get paid to do that. You can even get paid to write about Amazon, and if you’re anything like me, you already buy all your life’s essentials there.
Similar to surveys, it’s smart to have a couple different streams of content writing platforms. And it’s also not a get-rich-quick scheme. But if you write in the hours you would otherwise kill with TV or other mindless time-wasters, you could soon be cashing in a nice check.
Courtesy of letsintern.com
What do you think of these side hustles? Any of them appealing to you? Any you’ve tried? Any you recommend? Let me know in the comments!
