189 Side Hustle Ideas for Making Extra Money in Your Spare Time

Everyone can benefit from making more money.

Whether you’re paying off student loans, building your emergency savings fund, or saving for a down payment on a house, increasing your income can help you reach your goal faster.

More people are becoming savvy to this fact every year. In a recent DollarSprout survey, 57% of respondents stated that they have a side hustle.

About 73% of respondents reported earning $200 or less with their side hustle per month. However, almost one in six people earn at least $500 each month in addition to their primary source of income.

Imagine what an extra $500 per month could do for you. You could reach your goals months or even years sooner. But with so many side hustle options out there, how do you know where to begin?

This list includes some of the best side hustle ideas out there today. Each one is broken down into the level of difficulty, income potential, a description of how the side hustle works, the requirements, and how to get started.

Be sure to choose a side hustle that fits your goals and lifestyle. For example, if your goal is to make an extra $500 each month, then you shouldn’t choose something like taking surveys online. But if you just want to earn a free gift card here and there with little time and effort, then taking surveys may be a good option.

Easy Ways to Start Making Money

There’s something on this list for everyone, but I wanted to start things off with some of the most low-effort ways to make extra money. If you’re looking for ways to make money without investing a lot of time or effort, these are for you.

1. Test apps and websites

Companies want to know how easy their websites are to use and the information you give them about the process is extremely valuable. Specifically, website testers play a crucial role in ensuring a seamless user experience by identifying and resolving any issues or errors that may arise.

If you’re looking for one of the easiest ways to make extra money online, getting paid to test websites is it. Here are a few sites to check out:

• Freecash.com – App-focused; pay and length of time per test are variable (usually gaming app-oriented). 
• WhatUsersDo – Pay is $8 (or more) per test. Tests take around 15-20 minutes (you need a Mac or PC + mic).
• Enroll – Get paid to test websites before they are published. Earn cash rewards.
• Userfeel – This company pays around $10 per test.
• Analysia – Tests take around 15 minutes to complete. Pay is $10 per test.
• Trymata– Tests take around 15-20 minutes to complete. Pay is $10 per test.

2. Get a delivery gig

The food delivery trend has exploded in popularity over the past couple of years. Grocery shopping or picking up food at a local restaurant can be time-consuming. People who are pressed for time can pay you to deliver food to them so they don’t have to do it. You’ll go to the grocery store or restaurant, pick up their orders, and deliver it to their home or office. Some of the more popular delivery services include:

• DoorDash customers can place food orders from a long list of restaurants. If you deliver for DoorDash, you’ll know how much you’ll earn before you complete the job. Unlike other food delivery platforms, the app will show you a guaranteed amount based on order size, driving distance, traffic, and other factors.
• Uber Eats allows you to deliver food from local restaurants to customers using your car, bike, or scooter. It offers flexible hours, letting you work whenever it fits your schedule. As a delivery driver, you can explore your local area, earn tips from satisfied customers, and enjoy a straightforward way to make extra income.

Worth noting: you don’t actually have to own a vehicle to work for many of these delivery companies. Some allow you to deliver on foot, via bike, or even on scooter. Perhaps more bizarre is that there is actually a vehicle rental service aimed at providing prospective delivery drivers vehicles if they don’t have one. For example, HyreCare allows wannabe delivery drivers to rent vehicles on a daily basis just so they can work for the major food delivery services.

3. Complete online surveys

Brands and companies value the feedback of others as it helps them make informed decisions on current and future products and services. That’s why they’re willing to pay you for your thoughts by sending you surveys. While you won’t get rich taking paid online surveys, you can net a good bit of extra spending money to put towards a monthly utility bill or your daily coffee habit.

Furthermore, survey sites such as Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, and InboxDollars will additionally pay you to complete a variety of small tasks beyond just surveys — think participating in daily polls, watching videos, playing games, and shopping online — and they often offer sign-up or gift card bonuses in the $10 range just for joining. 

4. Get cash back when you shop

You can get cash back on almost anything you buy nowadays thanks to the uber-competitive online shopping world. If you aren’t taking advantage of cash back offers or think they are too small to even bother with, think again. Over time, we’ve seen some savvy readers accumulate hundreds (and sometimes even thousands) of dollars worth of cash back rewards.

One great way to do this is by using Capital One Shopping. This free tool automatically applies coupon codes and helps you earn rewards on your purchases, making it easier to save money effortlessly. 

5. Get paid for the data you already give away for free

Personal data is big business these days, and all of us are a part of that whether we realize it or not. If you own a smartphone or use any form of social media (which is basically all of us), you are most likely giving up some amount of information to the companies behind the apps. And in 99%+ of cases, you aren’t getting paid anything for that data. An app called Tapestri is looking to change that.

In some ways, the idea behind Tapestri is genius — the app is very transparent in telling you what data they collect (and it’s all anonymous and not tied directly to you), and they are also transparent in telling you that they sell this data. But instead of keeping all the profit for themselves, they share it with you, the user. By just having the app downloaded on your phone and you doing nothing, you can earn up to $25 per month. 

Related: 15 Legit Ways to Make Money From Your Phone

6. Sell your old smartphone

If you’re like me, you probably have at least one old smartphone lying around that you never got rid of. You can make extra money by selling all your old smartphones and technology online.

eBay is one option. But if you don’t want to create a listing, find a buyer, and ship it yourself, consider using a site like Decluttr. Use their free income estimator to see how much your device will sell for. Then ship it for free and Decluttr will handle the rest.

7. Open a high-interest savings account

One easy way to make money is to move your savings over to a bank account that actually pays you a decent interest rate. High-interest savings accounts like those found at Discover or CIT Bank offer up to 5-6x the national average interest rate. You’ll typically find these accounts at online banks. Without brick-and-mortar locations, they’re able to offer customers a better deal. You might not make much extra money with this method (depending on how much you have in savings), but it’s some additional income that you don’t have to think about once it’s set up.

8. Get a bank sign-up bonus

If you already have a decent amount of money sitting in a savings account (maybe you are saving up for a home purchase), cashing in on bank deposit bonuses is some of the easiest money you can make.

I recently got a $300 bonus for depositing $25,000 into a new bank account (the offer is no longer current so I won’t mention the bank here). Some banks offer even higher bonuses for bigger deposits.

Related: Best Online Savings Accounts for 2024

9. Become a rideshare driver

Trailblazers of the gig economy, Uber offers qualified drivers an opportunity to earn money when it’s most convenient for them. As a cleared independent driver, you’ll have 24/7 access to the Uber Driver app so you can accept ride requests whenever you have free time.

Accelerating your earnings via one of several potential in-app promotions including [but not limited to] Surge pricing, Boosts, and Quests.* 

To top it off, the perks of driving with Uber have expanded tremendously over the years. Uber now partners with several other businesses to offer healthcare, discounted gas and vehicle maintenance, discounted phone plans, and free music. If you value the ability to set your own hours, enjoy freedom of movement, and are within striking distance of one of the over 10,000 cities where Uber is currently available, now is the time to earn on your terms. 

Get started on the Uber app. 

* Surge pricing, Boosts, and Quests are not available in all areas at all times. Log into the Uber Driver app to see current promotional offers in real time. 

10. Cash in your unused credit card rewards

I currently have over $1,500 in unused credit card rewards on my account. I didn’t realize my rewards balance was so high until I thought about booking a vacation for next year and logged into my account to see if I had unused points.

If you have a cash-back credit card, don’t forget to check your balance for rewards. You may be able to use your rewards to pay for holiday gifts, groceries, or apply them to your outstanding credit card balance. That may not technically make you any extra money, but it can help you get ahead by using money you didn’t know you had.

11. Try real estate crowdfunding

If you want to start real estate investing but don’t have enough money for a large down payment on a rental property, crowdfunded real estate investing is a viable option. An online crowdfunding platform like Fundrise can help you get your foot in the door. It allows investors with smaller amounts of money to pool together their resources and buy shares of private real estate investment trusts (REITs).

For as little as $500, you can use Fundrise to buy into private residential and commercial properties. Once you’ve invested your money with Fundrise, its real estate professionals handle the details. You don’t need to do a thing.

*This is an endorsement made in partnership with Fundrise. While we do earn a commission from partner links on DollarSprout, our opinions and judgments are our own. 

12. Walk dogs in your neighborhood

When people with furry family members go out of town, they often hire dog sitters. If you love dogs and don’t mind taking care of them, dog sitting may be the perfect side hustle. You can dog sit in your own home or their home and make great money doing something you enjoy.

Rover is a website that can connect you to dog owners in your area who are in need of dog sitters. With Rover, you can set your own schedule and select the age and size of the dogs you’d like to care for. You can also take advantage of Rover’s free pet care education resources.

Rover dog sitters normally charge between $20 and $40 per overnight stay and $20 to $30 per walk. Rover collects a 20% service fee and you receive the remainder via PayPal or a mailed check.

13. Let someone negotiate your bills

Even though it’s not technically a side hustle, saved money is just as good as earned money. As the world becomes increasingly subscription-based, those recurring expenses can quickly add up. Most of us have at least one or two subscriptions that we pay for and don’t use.

There are several apps now that specialize in helping people cut back on their subscription spending and other bills. The most notable are Trim, Rocket Money, and Billshark. Their bill negotiation services seek to save you anywhere from $20 to $50 per month on common utility bills in exchange for a small percentage of the savings. 

14. Rent out your car

Do you own a car but stay at home to watch your kids, use public transportation, or travel without it often? If the answer is yes, you may be able to rent out your car to others and make money while you’re not using it.

Known as the world’s largest peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace, Turo can connect you to people who are looking for a vehicle to rent. There are over 10 million members and more than 350,000 vehicles listed. Whether you have an economy sedan, pickup truck, or luxury SUV, you can list your car on Turo.

15. Let apps save you money

Dosh gives members cash back on things they do every day. Whenever you shop at a Dosh partner location using a card connected to your account, you receive cash deposited straight to your Dosh Wallet.

Cashing out is easy, too. Transfer your earnings to a bank account, PayPal, or donate to your favorite charity from within the app.

16. Make sure your credit isn’t costing you

Bad credit could be costing you hundreds of dollars per year. The lower your credit score, the higher the interest rate you’ll have to pay for car loans, credit cards, and other debts. You can make that money back by staying on top of your credit score.

For day-to-day credit monitoring, I like to use Credit Karma. The Credit Karma app provides a snapshot of your credit situation all in one place. It also gives you personalized savings advice in areas where you could be overpaying, such as car and student loans.

17. Invest in the stock market

Investing your money in the stock market can give you a higher earning potential than just stashing it away in a savings account. You can invest your money in accounts like employer-sponsored 401(k) plans or a brokerage account.

Keep in mind that when you invest in the stock market, there are no guarantees. This means that you may lose money if there’s a recession or stock market crash. Before you invest, it’s a good idea to have paid off your high-interest debt and have an emergency fund in place. Once you’re ready to invest, consider your long-term financial goals.

18. Invest online with a robo-advisor

Robo-advisors use technology to efficiently manage your portfolio. That means fewer fees and no hidden costs, so you get to keep more of what your investments earn. There’s no minimum deposit required to start investing with Betterment, a top-rated online investing platform.

Already have a portfolio? Consider using a service like Personal Capital to see how well your investments are performing and where they could improve. Their free Investment Checkup tool compares your current portfolio allocation to the ideal allocation needed to fund your goals.

19. Get interviewed 1-on-1 by brands

Online surveys are great for making a little bit of extra money, but for some research projects, companies want to go even deeper. Sites like Respondent.io cater to these one-on-one interview opportunities.

Since an interview is more involved than your typical survey, the compensation is usually much higher — and qualifying for interviews is more difficult. For the ones you do qualify for, though, you will often find opportunities to earn upwards of $200 or more for an hour of your time.

Ways to Make Extra Money Using Your Smartphone

If you only have a few minutes here and there, you can still use that free time to make extra money right from your smartphone. Here are some free apps that pay you just for using them.

20. Get paid to watch online videos

Sites like Swagbucks offer ways to make extra money beyond just taking paid surveys. Companies need to test video ads and that’s where you come in. Watch short videos on the app and earn points that you can redeem for cash. They even give you $10 just for signing up.

21. Install certain apps on your phone

Nielsen Digital Voice gauges how people spend their time using technology. When you install the Nielsen app, you earn points for every hour you spend using your smartphone. You’ll also get entries into their monthly $10,000 sweepstakes.

22. Sell your old textbooks

Textbooks are notoriously expensive, and no one likes paying full price for them if they don’t have to. If you are a student or have graduated recently, you can easily sell most of your old textbooks online through sites like BookScouter or Buyback Boss.

Of course, you won’t get the full amount that you originally paid, but something is better than nothing. And what you get from these sites is almost always better than what your university bookstore will offer.

23. Let an app track your data usage

MobileXpression is an app that tracks internet usage on your smartphone or tablet. Once you’ve been an active member for a week, you’ll be rewarded with your first gift card. Each week you keep the app on your phone, you’re eligible for additional credits you can exchange for more gift cards.

After 90 days, MobileXpression will donate a tree to Trees for the Future in recognition of your participation, and an additional tree for each month you remain an active member. So not only are you contributing to the future of the internet, you’re also contributing to the future of the planet.

24. Scan in-store items with your smartphone

With Shopkick, there’s no purchase necessary to earn cashback. In order to make extra money with Shopkick, all you have to do is download the app, enable your location services, and start earning kicks.

You’ll earn points just by walking into a store, and even more points for scanning items or making a purchase. Payout comes in the form of gift cards to your favorite stores, including Walmart, Target, Sephora, and Starbucks, to name a few.

25. Sell your old electronics

Do you have an old iPad sitting in your drawer, or maybe a stack of DVDs that you haven’t watched in years? Instead of letting them collect dust, look for places to sell your electronics before they lose any more value.

Brand new phones usually cost a fortune, which means that there is an ever-growing demand for people selling used phones. Most people just don’t want to drop a grand or more on a new iPhone when they can pick up a 2- to 4-year-old model for a fraction of the price.

26. Invest in cryptocurrencies or refer your friends

Cryptocurrencies aren’t going away anytime soon. You can now use Bitcoin to buy pizza, pay for your travels, and shop online. Why not take advantage of this new form of currency to make some extra cash for yourself?

When you try out something like Coinbase and buy $100 worth of Bitcoin, you get an extra $10 bonus. For every person you refer to the app, you’ll earn another $10.

27. Get cash back on groceries

The Ibotta app gives you cash back on the groceries you already buy. Some deals are brand-specific, while others give you cash just for purchasing a certain type of item, like a loaf of bread from any brand. Choose your deals before you check out, then submit a picture of your receipt and get paid via Venmo, PayPal, or redeem your earnings for gift cards. 

Online Side Hustles 

All you need is a computer and an internet connection for these money-making ideas.

28. Start a blog

Blogging is a perfect side hustle because you can take virtually any hobby or interest you have – and create a blog around that topic. Bloggers who are able to build an audience will have many opportunities to turn their influence into income.

Some of the most popular ways that bloggers make money:

• Putting banner ads on their website
• Promoting affiliates and getting paid a commission
• Selling an online course in their topic area
• Becoming a 1-on-1 coach for readers who want more guidance

29. Teach English as a second language

In China, there is an extraordinary demand for remote teachers who can teach English as a second language. Parents want their children to be as competitive as possible in the job marketplace, and for many Chinese students, learning English can set them apart.

There are many private companies that specialize in remotely teaching English to Chinese students, but one of the most prominent is VIPKid. Depending on your experience and how many classes you can teach, most teachers can expect to earn anywhere between $15-22 per hour. 

30. Sell handmade items

Etsy is a website that connects shoppers to creators and artists who sell handmade or vintage items online. From paper and party supplies to art and collectibles, you can find a variety of items on this platform.

If you’re crafty and can make something unique you think others would love, an Etsy shop could be the perfect way to earn some income with your skills. Need some more guidance? Sign up for Turn Your Etsy Shop into a Sales Machine, created by Lisa Jacobs, who turned $100 of supplies into thousands of dollars on Etsy. This course will teach you how to avoid common Etsy mistakes, refine your storefront, and convert visitors into paying customers.

31. Sell custom-designed T-shirts

I recently stumbled upon a really neat website, Teespring.com, where you can design t-shirts and sell them online. If you can come up with some cool designs and use Facebook ads to target potential buyers, you can definitely make extra money with this entrepreneurial side hustle.

32. Switch up your search engine and get paid

Another great way to passively earn through Swagbucks is to take advantage of their search tool. Swagbucks will pay you micro amounts for eligible searches you complete using their search engine. There’s a daily cap on earnings, and they don’t fully disclose what constitutes an eligible search (to prevent abuse), but it’s an easy way to make a few extra dollars a month without much effort.

33. Resell gift cards that have a balance

Some gift cards seem to sit in the drawer for ages. I once got a gift card for the Cheesecake Factory for Christmas, even though the nearest one to my house was 50 miles away. Instead of letting your gift card go to waste, sell it on one of several popular gift card exchanges. On sites like Raise.com, you won’t get the full value, but turning a $100 gift card that you’ll never use into $85 cash is better than nothing.

34. Automate your savings

The hardest part about saving money is actually transferring the funds out of your checking account and into a savings or emergency fund. No one wants to see their savings account drop without an immediate benefit. But with automatic savings apps like Qapital, you can save money without thinking about it. Just set a savings goal and a date, and Qapital will do the rest.

If your checking account dips below a certain limit, Qapital will notify you and put your savings on hold. That way you never have to worry about overdrafts. 

35. Manage social media for businesses

Business owners have a lot of balls to juggle in the day-to-day course of business, and being active on social media sometimes becomes an afterthought. Keeping up on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social platforms is a chore, and it’s something that many business owners would gladly pay someone to handle for them.

Here’s how to become a social media manager and earn great money by managing the accounts of various businesses.

36. Rent out your belongings

Got a DSLR just sitting in your closet collecting dust? Rent it out for a few days with Fat Llama. Have a 500-watt sound system you think someone may need for a wedding party? You can rent those out, too.

It’s worry-free (they have comprehensive insurance that covers your item) and it’s an amazing way to have someone else pay for your belongings. Take this Londoner for example — he made over $30,000 renting out his camera equipment and ended up buying his mom a house with it.

Better yet, they’ll pay you $20 just for signing up and they award you an additional $10 for each member you refer that successfully completes the rental process.

37. Be a search engine evaluator

Sites like Leapforce are always looking for people for this work-at-home role. Their Search Engine Evaluators “conduct research, evaluation, and feedback on search engine results by measuring the relevance and usefulness of web pages.” So your job would be to decide whether or not search results match up with search terms. This helps search engines improve their algorithms and makes for a better experience for their users.

38. Offer consulting services

Unlike selling your services, consultants get paid to share their expertise. If you’re really good at sales and marketing, building businesses, managing projects or employees, or another in-demand skill, then you can earn extra income by showing others how to do what you do.

Many consultants earn upwards of $100 per hour. One way to increase your earnings is to charge per consulting package rather than a set hourly rate. Check out this guide on how to become an independent consultant.

39. Become a freelance writer

Top-notch writing skills are always in high demand. As a freelance writer, you can get paid to write many types of content, including blog posts, news articles, product sales pages, and more.

Most freelance writers are paid on either a per-project or per-word basis. If you’re brand new to freelance writing, reach out to publications you’d like to write for and ask if they’re looking for writers. You may need to set your rates low at first so that you can build your portfolio and get some published articles under your belt. Once you have a portfolio, however, you can slowly increase your rates and start earning more money.

40. Refer customers to new products

Affiliate marketing means selling products created by other people or companies in exchange for a commission. When you read an article online with links to Amazon products, chances are those are affiliate links. When you click one and make a purchase on Amazon, that site owner receives a small payment. Affiliate marketing is a simple way to make passive income online, and it’s one of the most common ways to make money blogging.

41. Write an eBook and sell it on Amazon

eBooks are books that can be delivered or downloaded electronically or online. Anyone can write an eBook about virtually any topic and sell it to earn money.

You can create a website with a shopping cart or PayPal link and manage the entire process yourself. Alternatively, you can work with a third-party site like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and pay them a commission every time you make a sale.

42. Create an online course

If you consider yourself an expert at something, you can use your knowledge to make extra income by creating and selling an online course. Use a platform like Teachable, Udemy, or Outschool to host and sell your course.

Course topics are endless. If you know how to do anything well — play the guitar, build a website, manage social media accounts, or knit a blanket — you can create a course around it. Courses are only one option for selling your knowledge. There are lots of other digital products you can sell if a course isn’t a good fit.

43. Write or edit resumes

Many people struggle with writing a resume that best showcases their experiences and skills. If you have a talent for turning bland resumes into compelling marketing copy, then you could earn extra money, or even a full-time income, writing or editing resumes.

Freelance sites like Fiverr are a good place to start if you don’t have experience or testimonials yet. You can also offer free consultations to friends and family to build your portfolio.

44. Write copy for businesses or websites

If you can persuade people to act on something via the written word, you can make really good money. Copywriting is a skill that takes time and effort to perfect, but once you get the hang of it, you become very valuable to your clients. Here are 10 Ways to Find Your First Copywriting Clients, courtesy of Make a Living Writing.

45. Build websites

With the tools available today, it’s possible to get a new website up and running in a matter of hours. However, not everyone has the time or wants to learn how to build their own website.

You don’t necessarily need coding knowledge to make money as a web designer. If you’re familiar with WordPress, Squarespace, or other website-building platforms, then you can make a side income by building and maintaining websites. Of course, the more you know, the more bells and whistles you can offer and the more money you can earn.

One way to find clients is to search for professionals in your area that don’t have a website. For example, you could Google “accountant in [your city].”

Browse the Google search results to see if any of them don’t list a website. Make a list of the ones you find, then reach out with an email or phone call to see if they’d be interested in having a website built. Once the website is finished, it needs to be maintained. You can offer to keep the site secure and update content as needed.

46. Develop an app

You don’t have to be an app developer, or even know how to code at all, in order to build a profitable app. If you have an idea for an app but don’t know how to build it, you can patent and sell the idea to someone else. Another option is to put together the details of your app and hire someone to build it for you. There are hundreds of app developers on freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr that you can hire for an affordable rate. But before you go spending money on your app idea, make sure to research the market so you’re confident you can turn a profit.

47. Buy and sell domain names

Jeremy Green registered ClintonKaine [dot] com in 2011. When Hillary announced that Tim Kaine would be her running mate in 2016, all of a sudden that domain name became pretty valuable. This is the reason I like to buy domain names when I think of something that could be worth something one day. This year I purchased a domain for $20 on GoDaddy and sold it a couple of months later for $1,200. If you’re good at finding decent domain names, this could be an easy way to make extra money.

48. Become a virtual assistant

Virtual assistants (VAs) help businesses with a variety of administrative tasks like scheduling appointments, managing email, and even basic bookkeeping. You can also offer more creative services like planning events or managing social media. Your efforts save business owners time so they can focus on other work.

Virtual assistants often have several clients that they work for, so you may find it helpful to focus on serving a specific type of business, i.e. real estate agents, law firms, e-commerce stores, etc. 

Most interested in becoming a VA start by taking a comprehensive course that teaches them advanced skills in managing a VA business and finding lucrative clients. VA Foundations is one such popular course. 

49. Advertise on your social media

Do you have a ton of followers on your personal Instagram, Twitter, or any other social media? You can leverage that to make money as a social media influencer. Influencers get paid for sharing new brands and products with their audience. “Influencer Marketing” is becoming really popular these days as brands are looking for more authentic and personal ways to connect with their target audience. If you have experience in social media or can build a decent following, you could make hundreds or thousands of dollars per month working with your favorite brands.

50. Store people’s stuff at your house

If you have any extra space in your home — a garage, basement, attic, driveway, or even a closet — you can make extra money by renting it out on Neighbor.com.

The app connects you with people in your area. You can chat with people interested in your space to get more information before approving them. Once approved, you’ll meet your new tenant, store their stuff, and get paid for every month they rent with you. Try Neighbor’s income estimator to see how much you could earn.

Related: 7 Ways You Can Make Money Renting Out Your Extra Space

51. Help Google improve

If you don’t care about letting Google know what you do on a daily basis, you can get free money. They use the information they gather to help them market and increase the functionality of their advertising programs when targeting users who are similar to you. Join the Google Opinion Rewards program to get started.

52. Become an interpreter

Many global companies hire full-time and contract translators. If you’re bilingual, this could be a great option to cash in on that knowledge. Freelance site Upwork has open gigs for translators. However, your best option might be to work with a company that specializes in translation services, such as Acclaro. At the time of this writing, they have freelance opportunities available for Chinese, French, German, and Japanese linguists.

53. Launch your own YouTube channel

It’s no secret that YouTube is a great money-making side hustle for a lot of content creators. The best part is, all you need to get started is a camera (the one on your phone is good enough).

YouTubers monetize their videos in several different ways: pre-roll ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, or sometimes even asking for fan support. It can take time to build and monetize a YouTube channel, but if you have an interesting angle or topic, you can build a fan base and start monetizing your videos in a matter of months.

Don’t worry too much about quality in the beginning. When it comes to creating content, the most important thing is to start. You can adapt and refine your content as you learn what your audience wants and get better at creating quality videos.

54. Edit podcasts

Podcasters like recording podcasts. Editing them can be a pain, though. As a podcast editor, you can make a podcaster’s life much easier — and get paid well for it. For more guidance, here’s an article on how to become a podcast producer.

55. Offer graphic design services

Graphic designers create eye-catching visuals that can be used for brochures, posters, packaging, logos, and other marketing materials. Many freelance designers work with advertising or marketing agencies or directly with business owners. Here’s how to get started with a graphic design side hustle.

56. Become a bookkeeper

Bookkeeping is a tedious and time-consuming task that many business owners would rather outsource. If a business owner hires you to provide bookkeeping services, you’ll reconcile bank accounts, create income statements and balance sheets, and clean up general ledgers or transaction records.

You don’t need prior experience, and taking a bookkeeping class online is sufficient for learning the trade. 

Start by making a list of your favorite local businesses or places you visit regularly. Then reach out and see if they’d like help managing their books.

You can also attend networking events in your area to connect with potential clients. Groups like BNI (Business Network International) can be a good place to connect with local entrepreneurs and small business owners. These types of organizations usually allow you to attend a meeting or two for free, but you’ll need to pay a member fee after that.

57. Work in data entry

If you’re detail-oriented, have strong keyboarding skills, and don’t mind lots of typing, data entry may be a good fit. If you’d like to make money doing data entry jobs, look on reputable websites like FlexJobs or Microworkers.

Apply to several positions. Don’t give up as it may take some time, especially if you’re new to this type of job. Luka Arezina started taking on data entry jobs on Upwork as a college student. He continued to take on jobs after graduating to supplement his full-time income. He worked around 15 hours a week and made $600 per month with his data entry side hustle.

58. Complete micro tasks

Micro tasks are one-time gigs that are intended to be completed quickly.

You may find yourself doing a variety of things including packing, moving, assembling furniture, mounting a television or mirror, shopping for a party, or fixing a leaky toilet. They are often tasks that someone else can’t do on their own or doesn’t have time for. Sign up for a few micro jobs websites to find gigs in your area.

59. Host a webinar

You can teach almost anything online. With Zoom becoming so popular, there are almost no barriers to getting started. If there is a topic you are passionate about (i.e., diet planning, PowerPoint, budgeting, etc.), create a presentation, find a few people willing to pay, and try it out. ClickMeeting offers a helpful guide on how to make money with webinars.

60. Make a profile on Upwork

One of the easiest ways to make extra money is to offer freelance services doing something you already know how to do. For example, if you work full-time as a graphic designer, you could offer to create Pinterest pins and other social media graphics for small business owners on the side.

Sites like Upwork can help you get started. Categories include marketing, accounting, and writing to name a few. If you already have a certification, relevant education, or a portfolio of work you can share, you can offer your services at a higher rate. Otherwise, you can use Upwork to build your portfolio and then increase your rates and look for clients outside of the platform.

61. Test out video games or apps

As a video game tester, your job is to play games and report any bugs or errors you come across. When you find a glitch, you’ll write up a bug report and submit it to the game developer so they can fix it.

While video game testing can be a full-time job, the most common scenario is to work as an independent contractor. Depending on the sites you work for, you could earn upwards of $10 per hour in this role. Check out other ways you can make money playing video games.

62. Put up an extra shift on Instawork

Instawork is a gig platform that connects businesses with service workers in their area. Some of the available positions include custodial, janitorial, waiting tables, and making deliveries.

Through the app, you can select gigs that fit your schedule and search by time, location, and length of the shift. Workers are paid each week via direct deposit. You can work as little or as much as you want, making it a flexible way to earn extra money.

63. Offer SEO consulting

Search engine optimization is the process of improving or tweaking a website or piece of content in order to rank in search engines like Yahoo or Google. This is a great side hustle for anyone who has experience in SEO or digital marketing. However, prior experience isn’t necessary.

You can learn on-page SEO through free resources like Moz’s Beginner’s Guide to SEO or Backlinko’s blog. Moz also has a guide on how to make money with SEO. The more you learn through study and experience, the more you can charge for your services.

64. Write email marketing campaigns

Email marketers help companies build email lists, write emails, and nurture subscribers through automated email sequences. This is another area where some experience in digital marketing may help, but it isn’t required.

HubSpot offers a free email marketing certification for beginners. In it, you’ll learn the basics of email marketing, including how to create and segment an email list, write high-performing emails, and analyze your email performance. With a certification under your belt, you can begin reaching out to business owners or create listings on a few freelance sites like Fiverr or Upwork to find your first clients.

65. Narrate audiobooks

Audiobooks have become wildly popular over the last few years, increasing the demand for talented narrators. As a beginner, you can earn up to $100 per recorded audio hour. More experienced narrators can upwards of $500 per audio hour, netting thousands of dollars per job.

Industry-specific sites like Voices.com, Voicebunny.com, and ACX.com are good options for finding gigs in this arena.

66. Lend money to your peers 

Peer-to-peer lending connects borrowers directly to individual lenders (normal everyday people) who fund their loans in small amounts. If you become a lender on a peer-to-peer lending platform, you can fund a portion of one loan or multiple loans individually. You’ll make money on the interest your borrowers pay.

Before you jump into peer-to-peer lending, set your goals and find a platform you like — Lending Club, Prosper, and Upstart are all popular. Determine how much money you’d like to invest each month and what your monthly income goal is. Once you set up an account, you can automate your investments based on a pre-set strategy or browse loans and manually purchase small increments.

67. Work as a wellness coach

Having a degree in health or nutrition can help you get started as a wellness coach, but it isn’t necessary. You can always get a certification from an accredited institution if you decide to do coaching long-term.

Wellness coaches work with clients one-on-one, in a group setting, or through classes and workshops. Your job as a wellness coach is to provide clients with the tips and tools they need to create healthier habits and lifestyles. Income varies based on your level of training, but the average income for coaches in North America is around $61,000. Here are six ways you can make money as a wellness coach.

68. Work as a meal planner or prepper

This is another area where a background in nutrition can help but isn’t required. You can sell custom meal plans for people with dietary restrictions or preferences or create broad meal plans that anyone can buy.

Erin Chase built a successful business around this called $5 Meal Plan, which offers various types of meal plans on a monthly subscription basis. If you can find a few long-term clients, you’ll build a consistent monthly income stream without having to continually market your services. See how Andi Blackwell makes money writing meal plans.

69. Create a custom Chrome extension or plugin

Building and selling a Chrome extension is similar to creating and selling an app. You don’t have to be a developer for either. You can follow in the footsteps of Spencer Haws from Niche Pursuits. Spencer came up with an idea for an extension, hired a developer to build it, and made over $4,000 in the first 7 days of selling it. Granted, he already had an audience for the product. However, you could do something similar if you find an idea for an extension that people will actually pay for.

70. Help people prepare for interviews

The interview is probably the most important part of the job application process. Many good candidates miss out on opportunities because they don’t know how to interview well. If interviewing is a skill you’ve mastered, you can earn extra money by helping others navigate the interview process. You could even expand on your services by offering resume and cover letter reviews or teaching people how to negotiate their salary and benefits once they’ve landed the job. Here are 10 ways to make money helping others prepare for job interviews.

71. Sell your gently used clothes

Take that old box of clothes sitting in your closet and cash them in for some extra income. There are lots of places you can sell your clothes online. If you don’t want to sell each piece individually, order a clean-out bag from ThredUp. They’ll send you a bag, and you pack up your clothes and send them off. You can also use an app like Mercari or Poshmark to sell your clothes locally. You’ll need to create individual listings for each piece. This requires more time than ThredUp, but you’ll earn more since you’re not dealing with a third-party seller. If you want to turn this into a sustainable side hustle, consider visiting thrift stores and flea markets to find good deals, then selling them for a higher price online.

72. Create lesson plans

Teachers Pay Teachers is an online marketplace where educators can sell their original lesson plans, activities, and projects to other teachers. If you’re a teacher with an abundance or resources you’ve created throughout your career, you could unknowingly be sitting on a pile of extra income. It’s free to create a basic seller account, but the site will withhold a percentage of each sale as their payment.

73. Find a new home for your wedding dress (or suit)

It can be hard to part with an item as personal as your wedding dress. But if it’s just sitting in your closet taking up space, consider selling it to another soon-to-be bride. Sites like Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed, and Once Wed specializes in secondhand wedding items. You can sell your wedding dress, accessories, bridesmaid dresses, and other items you no longer need.

74. Sell B-roll footage

With video content becoming increasingly popular, the demand for high-quality B-roll footage is increasing. If you’re not a videographer, B-roll is supplemental footage that video creators cut into the main shot. In a video about yoga, for example, the main shot might be a teacher talking about a pose with some B-roll of someone doing the pose layered in. You can make hundreds or thousands of dollars in extra income by uploading your 5- to 60-second clips to a site like Blackbox. Blackbox then distributes your B-roll footage to sites like Shutterstock that sell it to the end user. If you film often and have extra footage lying around, this is a good way to put it to use.

75. Become a genealogy researcher

Genealogists perform historical research, often for families and historical societies. It doesn’t cost much to get started, but you’ll need access to online databases and family tree software. This is a great way to make extra money for anyone who loves research and has an interest in history and people. You can start it as a side hustle working with private clients. If you enjoy the work and want to increase your prices, consider taking an online course through The National Genealogical Society for less than $100 or getting certified through the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

76. Try your hand at dropshipping

Dropshipping is when you sell things online without buying or storing any inventory yourself. When a customer orders a product from your online store (and pays the full retail price), you send their order to the supplier and pay the supplier the wholesale price. If you can sell a product for more than you paid for it, all the profit is yours to keep.

Once you know what kind of product you would like to sell online, find a supplier with a good reputation. Your supplier is the one who ships products directly to your customers, so find one you trust who produces high-quality products.

To get started with dropshipping, you’ll need to set up your own online storefront. You can sell dropshipping products on Amazon, eBay, Shopify, or your own website.

Related:

• How One Recent Grad Started a $2,000 a Month Shopify Side Gig
• How Shaff Qureshi Built a $1 Million Amazon FBA Business 

77. Learn how to code

Learning how to code opens many avenues for extra income. You need some knowledge of popular programming languages like Java, JavaScript, and Python, but you don’t have to be an expert to get started. Decide which area of programming you want to focus on (front-end development, back-end development, mobile, etc.). From there, start learning languages and practicing on your own projects.

Once you have two or three items in your portfolio, offer your services in relevant Facebook groups and post on your social media and LinkedIn. All it takes is a handful of clients to start building a consistent income. Hacker Earth also has a free guide on how to monetize your programming skills as a beginner.

78. Sell stock photographs

Stock photography is one of several ways you can get paid to take pictures. Even if you’re a photography enthusiast but don’t consider yourself a professional, you can still make money with your hobby. Create profiles on Adobe Stock and Shutterstock and upload your photo backlog. Landscapes, office spaces, and people working on laptops or phones are some of the most popular types of stock images. Stock photo sites typically pay for each download of your image. If you can build a portfolio of popular images, you could bring in consistent extra income each month.

Related: How One Photographer’s Side Hustle Became a $330K a Year Business

79. Flip blogs

Many bloggers get into the space expecting to make thousands of dollars a month in under a year. Some figure it out, but many fail and decide to sell their blog. Underperforming blogs often sell for just a few hundred or thousand dollars depending on the site’s current revenue. You can find blogs to purchase on Flippa or Empire Flippers.

As the buyer, your goal is to get the site at a good deal, increase its quality and revenue through affiliate marketing, ads, products, and whatever means you choose, then keep it as a source of extra income or sell it for a profit. This side hustle is best suited for those with experience in blogging or digital marketing. You can still succeed with no experience as long as you’re willing to learn. Jenn Leach wrote about how she’s made over $30,0000 with this side hustle.

80. Sell planners

Even though there are hundreds of planner options available, there’s always opportunity for a new perspective. Jess Yasuda started selling planner inserts in 2015 and has since grown it to a $12,000 per month operation. She found an area of the market that was underserved — quality planner inserts — and sold it to a willing audience that she refers to as “planner addicts.” Jess got started by creating her designs in Microsoft Publisher and selling them on Etsy, which goes to show that you don’t need a large upfront investment or expensive software to get your planner business up and running.

81. Work as an online business coach

Business coaching is a broad term that covers everything from marketing and branding to creating systems and an overall business strategy. If you have experience building businesses, launching marketing campaigns, or working with startups, then you have the business acumen that others would pay for. Choosing a specialty, like a specific type of business or an area within a business, will help you stand out in a crowded market. For more tips, check out this guide to becoming a successful business coach.

82. Sell your shoes online

Selling your shoes online is a great way to make extra cash and clear up space in your closet. For non-designer shoes, consignment sites like ThredUp or Poshmark work well. Luxury sites like BuyMyHeels, Tradesy, and TheRealReal are a better option for high-end shoe brands. Since these sites cater to designer fashion, you’re more likely to find willing buyers.

83. Offload your used furniture

If you’re looking to make a furniture upgrade, downgrade, or just a change, don’t send that couch to the landfill. There’s almost always someone who’ll buy your used furniture, even if you see it as trash. Facebook Marketplace, Letgo, and OfferUp are great sites to sell your furniture locally. 

84. Get paid to tweet

Becoming an influencer isn’t the only way to get paid to tweet. If you can build a brand and a loyal following, you can use Twitter as a marketing tool to point users to your blog and paid products. If you don’t have products of your own, then you can refer your followers to products you like using affiliate links and get paid for each person who signs up or makes a purchase.

85. Write reviews

If you place a purchase online, some businesses will send you a follow-up email offering to pay you for leaving an honest review on Trustpilot or another site. Once you do, you may have to send proof of your review to receive payment. Other companies, such as Influencer Central, will pay you to write reviews on various music, books, and everyday products. These sites typically have criteria for what information you need to include or how detailed your reviews should be, but it’s generally an easy way to make extra money.

86. Sell commercial-use music

Similar to stock photography, you can make extra income passively by selling stock music online. Stock music is used in YouTube videos, commercials, podcast intros, and many other places. You can figure out what’s trendy by listening to what types of instruments and beats popular commercials and videos use. After you create your jingles, you can list them on Pond5 and AudioJungle.net. You’ll earn royalties every time someone purchases your song.

Related: How One Lawyer Made $10,000 Selling Stock Music as a Side Hustle 

87. Proofread for writers

Bloggers, authors, and even court reporters hire proofreaders to ensure their articles and other written documents are ready for publication or distribution. You can proofread for all types of clients or choose a niche like education, law, or finance.

If you have experience in a certain industry like law or education, you may want to get in touch with law firms or universities and promote your proofreading services. Specializing can help get your feet in the door and land your first clients. You can always diversify as you gain more experience.

88. Watch ads for money

Some companies will pay you to watch ads for money through their app or online portal. You won’t make a ton of extra income this way, but you could earn a few dollars a month in cash and gift cards. Videos are typically short — around 30 seconds to a couple of minutes — and pay varies depending on the app.

89. Work for a call center

This is more of a part-time job than a side hustle. But if you’re looking for a structured way to make extra income, you could pick up shifts in the evening after your full-time job. Companies like Amazon, Apple, and American Express hire home-based customer service representatives.

90. Work as a chat operator

If you’d prefer offering support via text rather than over the phone, online chat jobs might be more up your alley. Depending on the company, you might work as a contractor or part-time employee. Some companies pay $15 per hour or more and offer reimbursement for internet costs, as well as other berks.

91. Offer beauty advice online

Turn your passion for skincare into a source of extra income by sharing your favorite skincare routines, beauty products, and brands online. Instagram and YouTube are the two most popular platforms for beauty influencers. It can take some time to learn the landscape and build a following, but once you do, you could earn thousands to work with brands and even develop your own line of products.

92. Sell pre-sets for Lightroom or Photoshop

Selling Lightroom and Photoshop presets is a great way for graphic designers to make extra money. These presets help other users save time in editing photos and create a consistent brand image. Create several similar presets and sell them as a single pack so users don’t have to manually edit a single preset. You can sell your preset packages online with Sellfy, Etsy, or on your own personal website. 

93. Create a membership website

Membership websites are where users pay a monthly fee for access to the information and resources on the site. Resources could involve video lessons, monthly printables, and coaching, among others. Membership sites exist in nearly every niche — art, life coaching, budgeting. I’ve even personally signed up for a membership site that’s all about how to find and use hashtags on Instagram.

Setting up a membership site isn’t as technically involved as you may think. You can use a platform like Teachable or Kajabi to get your membership site up and running in less than a week.

94. Proctor tests online

An online test proctor verifies students, gives the exam, and helps troubleshoot any technical difficulties that occur during the exam. Depending on the type of exam, the proctor may connect to the test taker’s computer and watch their screen to make sure no cheating occurs. Online test proctor jobs typically pay between $10 and $25 per hour. 

95. Get paid for your data

Data collection apps are a simple concept. You download them onto your phone or computer, let them run in the background, and earn rewards for sharing your search data with the company. Some apps won’t work if you have a similar app installed, so be sure to look into several options and choose the ones that work for you. Sharing your data is an easy way to earn $20 or more in extra income each month, depending on the apps you use.

96. Start a Facebook Ad side hustle

Most people think of Facebook as a massive time suck, but for the right person, it can be a great way to make money on the side. Most local businesses (think coffee shops, gyms, mom-and-pop diners, etc.) are not advertising on Facebook, which is a pain point that you can solve for them.

By learning how to utilize the Facebook ad system and creating persuasive promotions, you can set up and manage profitable campaigns to help business owners capture leads and grow their businesses.

97. Build a CD ladder

Rather than leaving your money sitting in your checking or savings account, you can earn a higher interest rate by putting into certificates of deposit, or CDs. CDs are like savings accounts, but with higher interest rates and more restrictions. These accounts come with term requirements, so you can’t withdraw your money for a certain period of time, like 6 or 12 months, without incurring a fee.

The CD “matures” at the end of the term, when you can either withdraw your money or renew the CD for another term. By staggering several CDs at different intervals, you’ll always have access to your money in case you need it, but you can earn more interest than with a regular checking account.

98. Sell printables

From meal plan worksheets to budget templates to inspirational quotes, you can make money selling almost any type of printable. If you’ve created a resource for yourself that you love to use, like a debt payoff tracker or save-the-date cards, you can make extra income by sharing your creations online. There are entire courses that teach you how to make money selling printables on Etsy. Successful creators make thousands of dollars per month selling printables for just a few dollars each.

In-Person (Offline) Side Hustles

So far we’ve covered ways to make extra money online, using your phone, and with little to no effort at all. But sometimes it’s nice to take a break from technology, especially if you’re on a computer all day for work. Here are some ways to make extra money that don’t involve staying glued to a screen.

99. Bet on your own weight loss

Losing weight is hard. Most people lose their motivation too early in the process and end up reverting back to their old habits, and the weight never goes away. One company came up with a clever idea to change that: let people bet on their own weight loss goals.

HealthyWage is one of several apps that pay you to lose weight. The idea behind it is simple. If you have a weight loss goal in mind, you can place a wager on the site that takes into account your current body metrics, your timeline, and other factors. If you meet your goal, you’ll win your predetermined payout. Miss your goal, and you’ll forfeit your bet.

100. Babysit

Parents often need someone to watch their children while they’re at work, enjoying a date night, or running errands. If you enjoy working with kids, you can help these parents out and earn good money in the process by offering babysitting services at their home or yours.

Danielle Kittleberger, a mom of four, started babysitting to stay busy and productive. She’s been babysitting since she was 11 and now watches three kids in her home making anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 per month. Danielle works four days a week for about 9 hours a day.

101. List a room in your house

Have a spare room in your house that you’re not using? You could be missing out on extra money by listing it on Vrbo. On game weekends where I live, homeowners can make several thousand dollars just by turning their house over to eager game-goers for a few days.

I’ve even known people to stay with friends for the weekend and split the rental profit. Check out Vrbo’s calculator to see how much you could make.

102. Donate plasma

Selling your plasma won’t make you a millionaire, but it’s an easy way to make extra money in a pinch. You can typically earn between $20 and $50 per visit, but the FDA limits visits to two per week and at least two days apart.

A quick Google search will show plasma donation centers in your area. Some offer bonuses for new donors, so be sure to look for that information at each location. If you plan to donate regularly, you’ll also want to keep an eye on your health. If your iron levels drop too low, you’ll no longer be able to donate.

103. Start personal training

If you’ve never offered personal training or group fitness services before, you’ll need to earn a certification from an organization like ACE, AFAA, or NASM. Once you’re certified, find a few gyms or fitness centers near your home or full-time jobs that hire personal trainers and group fitness instructors.

When you find a few you like, you can fill out an application and meet with the owner or manager to explain what you can bring to the table. If you don’t want to offer your services through a gym or fitness center, you can always serve clients in your home gym or in community-based locations like recreation centers or churches. If you’re already a personal trainer, here are some ways you can increase your personal training income.

104. Become a notary

If you’ve ever had to get a document notarized, that means you needed it to be signed by a notary public. A notary public is a state official whose job it is to witness the signing of important documents such as mortgage loans, health directives, and beneficiary documents. It’s usually less than a hundred dollars to get registered as a notary public. Most states regulate how much you can charge for your services as a notary, but you’re also allowed to bill for your travel or other job-specific expenses.

105. Car washing and detailing

Everyone enjoys having a clean car, but almost no one wants to clean their vehicle themselves. I’ve personally been hyping myself up to clean my car for the past six months and still haven’t gotten around to it. With a car washing and detailing side hustle, you can make extra money from people like me who talk about cleaning their cars but then never do.

Start by detailing cars for friends and family to see if it’s a side hustle you enjoy. If you’re interested in growing it as an income stream, consider specializing in luxury or antique cars. Car enthusiasts will often pay a premium for good work. This guide to starting a detailing business will help you decide if it’s a good side hustle for you.

106. Become an event planner

If you love to plan parties, becoming an event planner may be the way to go. You can plan birthday parties, weddings, anniversary celebrations, corporate meetings, and other special events.

JulieAnne Cross learned how to plan events while working her full-time non-profit job in the early 2000s. In 2012, she picked up a freelance gig planning a fundraising event, Wilmington (DE) Burger Battle, with a partner and now leads it solo with a group of volunteers. She’s also a freelance event planner for the AIDS Walk Delaware-Rehoboth. Entrepreneur offers a step-by-step guide on how to become an event planner.

107. Become a photographer

Photography can give you the opportunity to express your creative side while providing your clients with photographs they’ll cherish for years. You can specialize in a niche such as personal branding, family photos, pet photos, maternity, boudoir, weddings, or offer a range of services.

Due to the expensive equipment it can require, a photography side hustle might come with some hefty start-up costs. However, you can start your home-based photography business with cheaper equipment and upgrade as you grow your business.

After you figure out your startup costs, start building a professional portfolio so that you have work samples to show prospective clients. To collect these samples, you can ask to photograph your friends and family for free. Building a portfolio may take some time, but it’s essential for proving your skill and landing your first few clients.

108. Help people makeover their homes

Have a knack for making a room “pop?” You can start a local interior design side hustle, create an Instagram following, and grow your audience and clientele online. That’s exactly what Galey of Galey Alix Design did. Her passion for interior design stemmed from putting together her own home. She worked in finance and had no background or experience in professional design. By sharing her personal home makeover online, she grew a following and now has a successful business with clients waiting months, sometimes up to a year, to work with her.

109. Edit college admissions essays

If you have a penchant for words and know how to write a compelling essay, then this could be an extra income source for you. Most high schoolers won’t pay to have someone read their essay. However, many parents are more than willing to pay for this type of service if it means increasing the odds of getting their kid into a good school.

110. Flip anything on Craigslist

If you know a good deal when you see one, flipping might be your next big thing. Flipping is all about finding great deals on clothing, accessories, electronics, furniture, and other goods so you can sell them to someone else and make a profit.

You may find these goods at outlet and discount stores, garage sales, consignment shops, and clearance sales, then sell them through platforms like eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. If you’re not interested in flipping, you can simply sell the items you already have lying around your home.

111. Sell your recycling

You can make easy extra money selling aluminum cans and other recyclable items. Used glass bottles go for a few cents each in many places. That can add up quickly, especially if you find a way to scale up your efforts by collecting recycling from friends, family, or neighbors. Here’s a list of things you can sell at a recycling center.

112. Work for an event staffing agency

Event staffing is a good option to make extra money during the holidays. For this part-time role, you’ll work under an event manager who’s responsible for organizing the event. Event staff responsibilities include things like unloading and setting up equipment, cleaning, operating cash registers, welcoming and answering questions from guests, and others depending on the type of event. You can do a Google search for “event staffing jobs near me” to find gigs in your area.

113. Offer snow removal services

This isn’t the most reliable source of extra income, but it’s fairly easy to get started as long as you have a snow shovel and time. Instead of just knocking on doors once the snow falls, try to get a few “clients” to reserve your services before the winter weather gets here. If there’s a storm coming, make a Facebook status and tag everyone in your neighborhood. 

114. Place ads on your car

Believe it or not, there are companies out there that will pay to essentially use your car as a billboard. These companies place removable ads on your car and pay based on how much you drive. Campaigns usually last between one and three months, so you don’t have to make any long-term commitments. Getting paid to advertise your car is an easy way to make extra income fairly passively, and the ads won’t damage your vehicle. Here are some companies that will pay to advertise on your car.

115. Deliver newspapers

It sounds old-fashioned, but delivering newspapers is a great way to get a little exercise in while earning some extra cash. These gigs are typically for contractors and pay between $10 and $30 per hour depending on where you live. Pick up the phone, call your local paper, and see if they have any openings. You can also find local newspaper delivery jobs by doing a search on Glassdoor or Indeed.

116. Sell some of your hair

Hair buyers typically want healthy, undamaged hair that’s at least 10 inches long and hasn’t been bleached, dyed, or permed. If your hair falls into this category, you could make extra money and get a fresh look at the same time. The longer your hair is, the more you can make. Check out HairSellon’s Hair Price Calculator to see what your locks are worth.

117. Trade baseball or Pokémon cards

Pokémon cards have seen a huge uptick in value recently. If you’re into any type of collectible cards and do enough research, you can make thousands per month buying and reselling popular cards. The goal is to figure out what people are willing to pay for a card or set of cards, find it for a better deal, and then sell it at a higher rate. It sounds simple, but a fair amount of research is involved. If you already know the market, then this would be an easy side hustle to pick up.

Related: I Spent $100,000 Flipping Pokémon Cards During the Pandemic. Here’s What I Learned

118. Become a brand ambassador

A brand ambassador gets paid to increase brand awareness and represent a company in a way that aligns with their corporate identity and values. In other words, you embody the brand. This is a popular way to make money in college. I had two friends in college who were brand ambassadors for a liquor company. They got paid to stand outside liquor stores, in bars, or at grocery stores handing out samples and trying to get people to purchase their product. Clothing companies, textbook websites, and restaurants all hire these types of roles. As a brand ambassador, you could earn $10 to $25 per hour in addition to free products.

119. Join a focus group

This is similar to taking online surveys, but instead of providing feedback through a form online, you’ll do it through an interview with a group. You’ll often watch a video or test a product and then have a group discussion on what you liked and didn’t like. Your feedback helps companies improve their products. Use FocusGroup and FindFocusGroups to look for opportunities in your area.

120. Maintain lawns in your neighborhood

An old classic. If you want to start a summer side hustle that is designed perfectly for getting repeat customers, start mowing lawns. During the busy summer months, most homeowners who hire someone to mow their grass have them come out once a week.

Challenge yourself to find just five clients. If you can get five people to pay you to mow their lawn four times a month, that’s twenty lawns per month. Let’s say you charge $35 per yard. That’s $700 a month from just five customers.

121. Become a tutor

The first step to becoming a paid tutor is figuring out what subject you’d like to teach. If you’re a kindergarten teacher and an expert in math, you may want to become a math tutor for elementary-aged students. On the other hand, if you’re a law student who scored exceptionally well on the LSAT, you could provide LSAT tutoring services to college students. You may offer tutoring services to young children, teenagers, college students, or even adults. Depending on the age and location of your students, you can meet at their homes, coffee shops, local libraries, or virtually.

Kristine Thorndyke, founder of Test Prep Nerds, started her tutoring side hustle as a way to use her relevant teaching experience to make additional income and help students who are struggling in the classroom. She’s been tutoring for over four years on the side of her full-time job as a teacher and typically earns $1,000 per month.

122. Start a podcast

Podcasting has exploded in popularity in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down. If you’re passionate about something and like to talk about it, starting a podcast can be a great side hustle.

If you can manage to build a decent-sized audience that enjoys your content, the opportunities to make money from your podcast are almost unlimited. Similar to blogging, you can make money from sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or pitching listeners to your own products or services. If you don’t know where to start, consider taking a course like Power-Up Podcasting by award-winning podcast host Pat Flynn.

123. Refurbish antiques

If you love poking around in antique shops, why not try buying a few things, refurbishing them, and selling them online? Mid-century modern furniture is very trendy right now. You can find gently-used pieces at flea markets, estate sales, or on Facebook Marketplace. This side hustle involves more hands-on work than flipping other types of items like clothes or sports cards, but it often comes with higher profit margins as well.

124. DJ weddings or other events

There are many events that need DJs: weddings, corporate outings, college parties, etc. If you have a big selection of music and can mold it to your crowd, DJing might be a fun side business to get into. If you’d rather work for a company than strike out on your own, consider working for a wedding entertainment company. They book the events so you don’t have to do your own marketing. These gigs can pay $30 or more per hour. 

125. Train dogs

As I’m writing this article, I have two bad dogs sitting right next to me. (Annie and Sydney, if you’re reading this, I really do love you.) I would definitely pay someone to train these two rascals. If you have experience working with animals, or even if you’ve just trained your own dog, you could make some money on the side helping pet owners who are low on time (or patience). Local dog parks are a great way to meet potential customers.

126. Groom pets

Keeping pets clean takes time, energy, and patience that many pet owners don’t have. That’s where a pet grooming side gig comes in. Pet owners can hire you to wash, trim, and brush their dogs and pets.

You’ll need to find a space such as a basement to offer your pet grooming services and invest in things like large tubs, soap for various skin types, and sprayers. You can also offer mobile pet grooming services where you groom pets in the homes of your customers.

If you’ve never groomed a pet before, you may want to start by becoming a National Certified Master Groomer. It’s not a requirement, but having a certification can help you stand out in a competitive market, especially if you plan on grooming dogs.

127. Referee rec. league sports

Local rec. leagues, whether it’s softball, flag football, soccer, etc., need people to officiate games. Working a game or two each weekend is a great way to make some extra money and get involved in your community.

128. Provide in-home help for individuals with disabilities

Home health aides help patients with dressing, bathing, basic hygiene, and other basic tasks. Patients may also request that you run errands or do some light housekeeping work. Some states allow aides to administer medication, but the medical duties of an aide are fewer than those of a nurse or other healthcare provider.

Your primary job is to help your patients get where they need to go, maintain good hygiene, and make sure they’re comfortable. You can get certified by the National Association of Home Health and Hospice or complete a program through a local community college. You need maximum levels of patience and compassion for this one, but the rewards go far beyond just the extra cash.

129. Participate in clinical trials

Clinical trials are used to test new drugs and medical procedures. This can be a good way to make extra money, but consider the risks before signing up. These trials are used to work out any kinks before treatments are released on a larger scale, so side effects are possible, even likely, and can range from mild to life-threatening. Check out ClinicalTrials.gov to find trials in your area.

130. Host estate sales

Estate sale companies help the loved ones of the recently deceased sell their leftover belongings. The business model is usually commission-based. Your goal is to get the best price possible for any valuables and sell as much as you can. The more you make from the sale, the more money both you and the client receive. You can also offer add-on services such as clean-up after a sale. Estate sale services can provide significant relief for grieving families, and it’s a good way to make extra money while helping others. Robert Farrington wrote about how he’s brought in up to $2,000 in a weekend with one estate sale.

131. Repair electronics

Tech repair services are in high demand. I have a friend who picked this up as a side hustle and easily charges hundreds of dollars for services like data backups and recoveries, hard drive repairs, and network configurations.

Find whatever area most interests you and fits your skill set. If you’re great with physical repairs and know the ins and outs of tech hardware, then stick with that. You can buy a basic electronics repair kit for less than $40 and watch free YouTube videos to learn new skills.

132. Teach others what you know

Do you have a hobby that others may want to learn about? If you play the guitar, for example, you can teach beginners how to play. If you’re an outstanding home cook, you can show others how to cook basic meals. Pretty much any area you excel in can translate into a teaching side hustle.

After you’ve nailed down what you want to teach, create a website and some social media accounts to start advertising yourself and your services. Once you’ve found a few clients, and if you do a good job, your clients are likely to refer you to their friends and family. Word-of-mouth advertising is one of the most effective ways to grow this type of side hustle.

133. Clean windows

Pretty much all brick-and-mortar businesses need their windows cleaned. You can purchase the equipment you need to start this side hustle for less than $500. Window cleaners average between $50 and $70 per hour, so with a couple of jobs, you could earn back your initial investment in a month or less. Advertise your services with local businesses. Even if they have a window cleaner, hand out your information. That way if their company stops showing up for some reason (which is often the case with contractors of all types), they can call you. 

134. Mentor others

If you have experience in a certain area, you might be able to provide your guidance and expertise to others as a mentor. Areas of focus are virtually unlimited — nutrition, business, happiness, relationships, and everything in between. Search for mentor sites in your field. For example, Code Mentor is a good resource for anyone who wants to mentor others in software development.

135. Fill in for teachers

I was surprised to find out how minimal the requirements are for many substitute teaching gigs. You need a four-year degree. Other requirements vary between states and school districts. You’ll likely have to pass a skills proficiency exam, which includes basic math, reading, and writing. The hours are flexible, although shifts can often pop up at the last minute if a teacher calls in sick. Substitutes can expect to make between $80 to $150 per day. Even teaching just a few classes each month can some significant extra income. 

136. Become a wedding officiant

If this side hustle interests you, do some research on the laws in your state. If your state allows you to get ordained online, there are a number of websites you can visit to go through the process, like Universal Life Church and the American Marriage Ministries.

On the other hand, if you live in a state that has stricter rules, such as Tennessee, you may have to get ordained in person and meet additional requirements.

137. Start a home bakery

Courtney Holman was inspired to start a home bakery after seeing her friend’s beautifully decorated cookies.

She launched Cookies by Courtney in Los Angeles about three years ago and makes customized sugar cookies for birthdays, corporate events, weddings, baby showers, and holidays. Her pricing varies by design, and she is usually booked solid every week.

You may need to obtain a business license and a food license as well as a permit to sell your baked goods. Invest in some baking equipment and ingredients so you can create your first batch of baked goods. Then, find an event or farmers market where you can test how well they sell.

138. Organize other people’s homes

Do you love making spaces clean and tidy? Home organizers help people sort through their clutter and create clean, organized spaces they’re proud to call their own. As a home organizer, you’ll visit your client’s home and evaluate their organizational needs.

Kathy Boyd of Declutterfly Professional Organizing grew up in a home of hoarders. As an adult, she decided to ensure her home was clean and organized, and now she helps others do the same. She makes anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per month with this side hustle.

139. Work as a tour guide

If you’re a people person and don’t mind being on your feet, you can make extra income as a tour guide. Being a tour guide is a great way to show off your city and give visitors a unique experience and insight they might not receive from a traditional tour.

Research what’s already available in your area, and consider reaching out to other local tour guides and companies. Get to know people who work in the industry to build rapport in the community. They can be great resources for growing your side hustle.

When you’re ready for your first clients, create a Groupon and a profile on TripAdvisor to attract people visiting your area. Ask customers to leave you reviews on TripAdvisor or your Google Business profile to give your side hustle business more credibility and exposure.

140. Clean houses or office spaces

Most people prefer coming home to a clean and organized house, but they don’t always have the time to keep up with regular chores. If you don’t mind the work, you can offer house cleaning services in your area. While some clients may ask you to clean their entire home, others may only want certain areas cleaned.

Just like residential homes, office spaces need to be cleaned on a regular basis to maintain a pleasant environment for employees, clients, and guests. Businesses can pay you to vacuum carpets, mop floors, dust, take out the trash, and perform other office cleaning tasks that they don’t have the time or desire to complete.

141. Work as a personal shopper

A personal shopper is someone who helps others shop by giving advice and making suggestions. If you love to shop and are always giving others fashion tips, you can earn an extra income working as a personal shopper.

Before you start marketing your personal shopper services, get clear on who your clients are and the value you can offer them. Maybe you’ll be a personal shopper for seniors in your area who can’t get around well on their own. Or maybe you’ll focus on high-end clients like executives and entrepreneurs.

142. Offer freelance hairstyling and makeup

If you work as a freelance hairstylist or makeup artist, you’ll help your clients look their best before a special event like a wedding or photoshoot. You’ll likely visit their home, hotel, or another location, bring all of your makeup or hair items, and help them achieve a beautiful look.

If your friends and family members are often asking you to do their hair or makeup, this may be a great side gig for you. Instagram and Facebook are good places to market your services as a freelance makeup artist or hairstylist.

143. Buy your first rental property

If you want a more hands-on approach to real estate investing, you can buy a property and rent it out to make some extra income. Let’s say you buy a house for $200,000 and rent it out for $2,000 per month. Depending on variables like interest rate and how much you put down on the home, you may owe only about $990 per month.

This leaves you with $1,010 after mortgage payments and before any other necessary expenses. If you’re handy and don’t mind dealing with tenants, this could be a wise investment.

144. Cater small events

First, check the Cottage Food Laws for any permits or licenses required in your area.

Once you’re squared away legally, do some research in your local market to decide what niche you want to cater to. For example, you could exclusively cater cocktail parties, corporate events, or weddings.

Next, you’ll need to create a menu and find your first few clients. Attend networking events in your area and partner with other professionals in your space. For example, if you decide to cater weddings, then wedding photographers could be a great referral partner.

Word-of-mouth marketing can be powerful for this type of business, so attend as many in-person networking events as possible. These are often the best places to make connections. 

145. Test products at home

Creating a new product — especially a physical product — is a more complicated undertaking than most customers would expect. Before a company commits to spending money to mass-produce a product, they need to make sure that what they’re making is exactly what their customers want. And they need to make sure there aren’t any unforeseen design flaws that are impossible to fix once a product has hit the shelves.

Once a product is past its initial prototyping stage, it needs to be tested by real people. You can get paid to test products through sites that specialize in matching companies up with people in their target market for a particular product. Reimbursement is usually in the form of free products, but some offers also include a cash payout.

146. Pressure wash houses

Aside from pressure washing being one of the most satisfying things to watch, it’s also a great way to make extra money if you have your own machine. You can find a decent machine for under $200 and easily make your investment back after just a few projects.

Related: How This College Student Built a $500K Vending Machine Business

147. Clean carpets

The special vacuums that do deep carpet cleaning can be fairly expensive, which means there are lots of people who will want to hire someone to just do the project for them. If you are willing to invest in the equipment (or if you already have it), this is a low-effort way to make money. For consistent income, look for apartment complexes or office buildings that want the service done on a regular basis.

148. Become a research subject

If you live near a college or university, check their website to see if they’re looking for any participants for research projects. Many departments do research, but medical research is one of the highest-paying and most popular gigs out there. While I was an undergraduate in college, I got paid $500 to participate in a 6-week dietary study. The study provided all my meals and paid me, but I had to eat a 5,000-calorie diet of 50% fat for 6 weeks. Plus, I had multiple muscle biopsies, urine, and blood testing. Depending on the time and level of commitment, this could be a worthwhile side hustle.

149. Sell old gold or jewelry

Pawnshops used to be the go-to for selling old jewelry and valuables. But nowadays, there are websites solely dedicated to selling your jewelry online.

You can earn the most if you have documentation or can verify the jewelry’s authenticity. Selling items individually usually results in the highest payout. If you don’t want to go through the listing and selling process with each piece, sites like Worthy and Things We Buy will appraise and purchase your jewelry in bulk.

150. Work for Amazon Flex

With Amazon Flex, you use your own car to deliver packages for Amazon. You have to be 21 and live in a city where Amazon Flex is offered.

Once you download the app and create an account, you can sign up for deliveries that fit your schedule. On the day of the delivery, you’ll head to your local Amazon pick-up location and take the package to its destination. Drivers are paid twice per week via direct deposit. According to the site, most drivers earn between $18 and $25 per hour.

151. Record drone footage for real estate agents

The first time I heard of this as a side hustle to make extra money was from a barista at my favorite coffee shop. He and his brother had just started a business creating drone footage and virtual 3D tours for real estate agents.

If you have a decent camera, drone, and a willingness to teach yourself videography, then you have everything you need for this side hustle. Start networking with real estate agents and photographers in your area to get the word out. You can even offer to create a couple of free videos to build your portfolio and get some good reviews.

152. Charge scooters

The first time I rode a communal scooter was on a trip to D.C. When my scooter died in the middle of my ride, I thought, “Where am I supposed to charge this thing?”

It turns out, charging scooters for Bird or Lime is a side hustle option for city dwellers. The gig is simple. You use the app to find and pick up dead scooters, take them home to charge, and drop them off the next morning. Depending on the day of the week and where you live, you could earn $5 to $10 or more per scooter.

153. Work as an insurance billing specialist

This side hustle requires a certificate in medical insurance billing or an Associate’s degree in a related field. As an insurance billing specialist, you’ll process claims for healthcare institutions.

Your role helps speed up the medical billing process. You’ll work with insurance companies on behalf of the medical institution, so you’ll need to be proficient in medical terminology and insurance codes. This is a great way for nurses or other medical professionals to make extra money or start a new career.

154. Host an Airbnb Experience

Airbnb Experiences are designed to give travelers an authentic local experience. If your area is a popular tourist destination, you can make money by showing travelers a unique, off-the-beaten-path experience only a local could give.

Before you can host an Experience, you’ll need to meet Airbnb’s guidelines. They prefer activities where the guests get to participate hands-on, so large group activities like tours might not make the cut. A service, like providing transportation to or from a location, also won’t qualify.

Once you’re familiar with the guidelines, the next step is to create your experience. If it’s approved, you can add your availability and start hosting.

155. Plan vacations for travelers

Despite the fact that booking flights and hotels has never been easier or more accessible, many people still prefer to hire travel agents to help plan their vacations. Travel agents are still commonly used to book corporate, luxury, and group excursions. In fact, 43% of travelers prefer to use an agent when booking flights.

A travel agent is responsible for booking airfare, hotels, excursions, and making sure their client’s vacation aligns with their travel style and interests. They can also offer advice on destinations and ensure clients get the best deals available. If you’re well-traveled or enjoy planning vacations, then working as a travel agent could be a fitting way to make extra money.

156. Create custom gifts

If you have a talent for design, you can make extra money by creating custom gifts. There are all kinds of items you can personalize and sell for profit, including jewelry, clothing, magnets, mugs, and keychains.

You may need some special equipment to get started. A computerized sewing machine can help with personalizing fabric items like clothing, and engraving machines work great for metal and wood creations. Before you invest in your new tools, create a few mockups of your designs, post them on Facebook Marketplace or Etsy, and see if there’s enough demand to make it a worthwhile pursuit.

157. Sell your quilted creations

Have you ever given a quilted gift that resulted in requests for orders? If so, maybe it’s time to turn your passion for quilting into a money-making hobby. In addition to creating the actual quilted products yourself, you can earn money as a quilter by selling patterns, designing fabrics, or teaching others how to quilt.

Start by sharing your designs with friends and family. If any of them are interested in your work, you can offer to create a few pieces for free (asking that they pay for the cost of materials). In exchange, ask them to give you a review and share your work with friends and on social media.

158. Work valet for special events

People and companies alike hire valet drivers for special events such as conferences, weddings, and charity galas. As a valet driver, you’ll be responsible for greeting guests, parking vehicles when guests arrive, and retrieving vehicles when they leave.

Use Indeed to find special event valet positions in your area. They’ll typically be listed as part-time or temporary positions. In most cases, you’ll need to be able to drive a manual vehicle to qualify.

159. Run errands for others

An easy way to make extra money quickly is to run errands for elderly or busy people. That could include picking up groceries, dropping off dry cleaning, and taking the kids to school.

TaskRabbit can help you find errand gigs in your area. Ask a Tasker, you have the opportunity to do more than run errands. You can pick up jobs doing yard work, basic home repairs, or moving furniture. You set your own rates on TaskRabbit and keep 100% of your earnings.

160. Teach sports skills

Every sport requires specific skills, like dribbling a basketball, batting in softball, or kicking in soccer. Sports skills coaches teach athletes drills and techniques to master the most important skills in their sport.

This is a great way for athletes or former athletes to make extra money. However, just because you’ve mastered a skill yourself doesn’t mean you’re good at teaching it to others. If you decide to pursue this side hustle, consider taking a short course on how to effectively teach sports skills.

161. Repair appliances

Recently, my brand-new $200 vacuum cleaner broke. I didn’t want to throw it out since it was less than three months old, so I did some research, watched a few YouTube videos, and four hours later, I took my entire vacuum cleaner apart and put it back together. And it worked. I’ve also used YouTube to troubleshoot issues with my washing machine and microwave. Even if you don’t know how to fix everything, you can earn money by offering appliance repair services to others. Just don’t tell them that YouTube is your mentor.

162. Tailor clothing

Most people don’t realize that clothes aren’t meant to fit perfectly off the rack, and they usually don’t. In order to get the perfect fit, a tailor can make slight adjustments like shortening the length or taking in a waist. Tailors can also create entirely new garments. Sewing is an increasingly rare skill. If you can do it well, you can earn extra income as a tailor.

163. Become a home energy auditor

Energy auditors inspect buildings to determine how much energy they use and provide recommendations on how to make it more efficient, such as adding insulation, installing solar panels, or replacing windows. You don’t need a four-year degree to become an energy auditor, but you will need some training. The International Association of Home Inspectors offers free energy audit training to members. Membership costs $49 per month.

164. Rent out your RV

Mike Braeuer makes $1,500 a month in extra income with this side hustle. If you own an RV that you don’t use as much as you’d like, you can register with RVShare and rent it out to travelers. It’s free to list your RV on the site, you set the prices and date range your vehicle is available, and they provide up to $1,000,000 in insurance coverage and 24/7 roadside assistance.

165. Create branding for small businesses

Whereas graphic designers create images that are consistent with a company’s brand, branding specialists help create that brand. This could include logos, fonts, voice, and an overall brand image that will attract a company’s ideal client. You can sell one-on-one services or put together self-branding kits with a package of designs for users to choose from where they can mix and match their own brand assets.

166. Consign clothes for friends and family

If you run out of your own items to sell online, you can continue this side gig by selling clothes for friends and family. As a consigner, you would take a portion of the money from each item sold. It provides a more convenient option for your customers since they don’t have to sell anything themselves, and you can control your profit margins by only accepting items you’re confident will sell for a good price. As you build your side business, you can hire an assistant on Upwork to create your listings and turn this into a fairly passive source of additional income.

167. Create a subscription box

From dog toys to makeup to ready-to-make meals, there’s a subscription box for nearly everything. You can sell your own subscription box idea using Cratejoy. Cratejoy helps with marketing and selling your product for a percentage of each sale you make. You’ll still need to source the products you use for your box, but they also provide a step-by-step launch checklist, as well as articles and videos to help get your subscription box business off the ground.

168. Get a part-time job

Sometimes it’s hard to make extra money with an already busy schedule. If you need structured hours for your side hustle, consider getting a part-time job. Working as a barista, retail associate, server, or any other in-person side gig could give you the opportunity to meet new people, grow your network, and make consistent extra income with little stress.

Creative or Unusual Side Hustles

For the more unconventional, here are some uncommon and creative ways to make extra cash in your spare time.

169. Become a fine art investor 

Fortunes can be won and lost in the world of fine art investing. If your appetite for risk is high and you want the opportunity to make money outside of traditional investing, it’s worth checking out a company called Masterworks. 

Instead of shelling out $3 million dollars for an Andy Warhol painting yourself (because who has that kind of money just lying around?!), Masterworks lets you invest in shares of a painting — similarly to buying shares of a company. When Masterworks sells a painting down the road, the shareholders (aka investors) will receive a share of the proceeds. 

Related: How This Artist Earns $5K+ a Month Licensing Her Artwork

170. Play poker online

If this is the first time you are hearing about this, then we actually do not recommend trying it. The average skill level of players on the internet has improved so much over the past few years that it’s virtually guaranteed that a new player will lose money in the long run. But hey, Ben, one of DollarSprout’s co-founders, made upwards of 6 figures playing online poker in college, so we had to list it.

171. Become a mystery shopper

Mystery shopping means getting paid by a company to pretend like you’re a regular customer at a store, restaurant, or another establishment.

You provide feedback on things like how clean the store was or how well the employees interacted with you. 

You’ll likely be asked to make a purchase, which most mystery shopping companies will reimburse you for.

172. Transcribe audio into writing

Legal, medical, and business are the most lucrative fields for transcriptionists. Transcribers listen to audio recordings and convert them to text files. Types of recordings can range from court proceedings to podcasts to business presentations.

Transcriptionists who specialize in a specific field, such as legal or medical, typically earn higher rates than general transcriptionists. On average, you can expect to earn $15 to $30 per hour as a self-employed transcriber. Transcription jobs tend to pay by the audio hour, so earnings depend on how efficiently you work.

173. Sell roses for Valentine’s Day

If you start growing them in mid to late December, they should be ready by February 14th. Set up shop outside of a Starbucks, or a romantic restaurant the week of, and make some quick cash.

174. Be an online juror

Attorneys use mock juries to test out their evidence and arguments before presenting them in court. Once you hear the case, you’ll meet with the other members of the mock jury to discuss the evidence and decide on a verdict. The lawyers will observe discussions from a distance and may ask questions about your decision. You can sign up to become a mock juror through sites like eJury and OnlineVerdict.

175. Housesit

Consider joining local or regional Facebook groups for busy professionals who often travel for work; these groups might have plenty of house-sitting opportunities.

People who leave for a warmer destination during the winter may also benefit from house-sitting services. Ask around, tell your friends and family about your services, and begin making connections with people in your area.

Care.com is another option for finding homeowners who need someone to watch their homes while they’re gone. Sign up for Care.com and create a profile that outlines your house-sitting experience. You can also detail the types of additional tasks you’re willing to perform.

176. Invest in dividend-paying stocks

Some companies pay out a portion of their profit to shareholders in the form of dividends. One way to make extra money passively is to invest in companies with dividend-paying stock. Dividends are usually paid every three months, but they vary depending on the company. This isn’t a get-rich-quick method. you need money to start investing in the first place, and you’ll get the most from your dividends if you reinvest them rather than cashing them out.

177. Be an extra in a movie

While you probably won’t have any lines as a movie or TV extra, you’ll get the chance to gain some experience on a movie set, make valuable connections, watch experienced actors perform, and make some money.

If you live in the New York City or Los Angeles metro areas, you’re more likely to find movie extra gigs than if you live in a rural town, but that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to find. Check newspaper ads, your state’s tourism site, local casting agencies, and websites like Backstage.com to find out if there are any movies looking for extras near you. 

178. Sell art in cafes or restaurants

Most artists don’t have their own galleries where customers can walk in and buy their work. They’re expensive to maintain and require a steady flow of foot traffic.

Instead, many artists will have their work put on display in cafes or restaurants, where there are lots of people coming in and out every day. You would typically pay the cafe or restaurant owner a small commission on each piece of work that sells.

179. Help people decorate for the holidays

Another seasonal side hustle, helping people decorate for the holidays is a great way to make extra money during the winter season. Some people don’t enjoy decorating for the holidays, while others would like to but either don’t have the time or physical ability to do it themselves. You can help with a range of services, from full-house decorating and design to hanging string lights outside. 

180. Paint pet portraits

Pets are an important part of many people’s lives. That’s why they like to invest in keepsake items such as pet portraits that will allow them to remember their pets forever. If you’re a good painter and love animals, you can make some great money painting pet portraits. Reader Martina Allen has a successful pet portrait side hustle. Her income varies, but she’s earned as much as $4,000 in one month.

Ways to Earn More at Your Current Job

What better place to look for extra money than the job that’s already paying you?

181. Get a promotion

For the vast majority of us, our day jobs are our biggest source of income, by far. If you currently make $40,000 per year at your job and you know that by moving one rung up the ladder you can make around $45,000 per year, that’s a big payoff that may be worth pursuing.

Talk to your boss, let them know you are interested in a promotion, and ask what specific goals you would need to meet in order to be considered. Then ask if you can check in again in three to six months to review your performance and talk about a promotion.

182. Ask for a raise

If you are underpaid compared to others in your industry with your qualifications, and you can back up your claims, it’s a difficult conversation worth having with your boss.

If your request for a raise isn’t successful, it may be time to start looking for another job. Most substantial pay raises happen when someone changes employers. Otherwise, most companies are only willing to give small incremental raises to their existing employees.

183. Work overtime

I’m not a huge fan of directly trading your time for money, but sometimes the offer of working overtime is too good to pass up. Ask your boss if you can pick up some extra hours each week.

184. Refer new employees to your company

Some employers offer rewards to employees for referring new candidates to the company. This is typically more common with larger companies.

If your company offers an employee referral program, and if you love working there, then keep an eye out for job openings. Whenever you see a position become available, send it out to your network or anyone you know who would be a good fit. Depending on your company and the role filled, you could earn between $1,000 and $5,000 for each successful referral. Check with your company’s HR department to see what your company offers.

185. Get your 401(k) match

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan, meaning you sign up through your employer. If your company offers a match, then you could earn additional money for your retirement. For example, if your employer offers a 1-for-1 match at 4%, that means when you contribute 4% of your paycheck, they contribute another 4% of the company’s money.

Ask for your company’s vesting schedule. This will tell you how much of the company’s contribution you have access to over what time period. Some companies offer 100% vesting upfront. Others offer it over three or four years, meaning if you leave the company during that time, you only get a portion of what they invested in your 401(k). If your employer offers a match at all, that’s a 100% return on your investment, which is a great way to make extra money for your retirement.

Ways to Make Extra Money in College

If you’re in college, don’t overlook the money-making opportunities available to you right on campus.

186. Work as a camp counselor

Working as a camp counselor may just be the most fun and rewarding way to make extra money as a college student. If you want it to have some relevance to your degree, look for camps within your field of study, like STEM camps if you’re an engineering major, health if your degree is in nutrition and exercise science, or camps for children with learning disabilities if you want to work in special education.

187. Become a resident advisor

Resident advisors, or RAs, live in dorms and act as a resource for other students. RAs typically get discounted or free room and board as well as a regular stipend. One tradeoff is that you have to live on campus. However, you’ll also meet lots of people, get to plan activities for your residents, and serve as a role model for younger students. That, in addition to having your own room, could make it a worthwhile college gig.

188. Work as a teacher’s assistant

Teachers’ assistants, or TAs, help professors with grading papers, projects, and tests. You may also work directly with students or even teach your own class. Requirements vary depending on your school and department. You can find the criteria for TA jobs on your university’s website.

189. Get a job at a dining hall

Working in a dining hall isn’t glamorous, but it’s an easy way to make extra money in college. At my university, there were almost always dining hall jobs open. You may come home smelling like Chinese food or mac and cheese, but it’s a job that you don’t have to think about after you clock out.

A Parting Suggestion

Do something that you enjoy that aligns with your goals.

If you’re putting in hours to make extra money in addition to your full-time (or another part-time) job, then find something that you actually like doing. I can’t say it won’t still feel like work, but it won’t be as bad as doing something you hate.

And look for a side hustle that aligns not just with where you are, but with where you want to be. Is your goal to leave your full-time job? Then choose something that you can build and scale to a full-time income. Are you just looking to make a few extra dollars each month in your spare time? Then walking dogs or delivering groceries might be a good option.

When you’re intentional with choosing your side hustle, it can not only help you make extra money; it can up-level your finances, career, and life in the process.