It is approximated that around 37% of Americans work side gigs. While some of these individuals pick up side hustles to increase their disposable income, many pick up these gigs so that they can pay for their rent and other monthly expenses.
Are you in need of extra money? Wondering how to make money on the side? There are more than a few side gigs available to you.
Below, we’re going to review some of the most common ways to make side money. Let’s get into it!
Side Gigs to Make Extra Money
The side gigs reviewed below are not necessarily appropriate for everyone. After all, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. However, there are bound to be at least a few which are appropriate for you.
Drive for a Delivery Service or Rideshare
Our first side hustle recommendation is to drive for a rideshare or delivery service. Companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Uber Eats allow their drivers to work their own hours, allowing for as much freedom as possible.
If you have a solid vehicle and live in a busy enough area, you could make some decent money as a driver. In fact, some individuals work as rideshare drivers on a full-time basis. Whether you just want to drive on weekends or try to make a go of it every day of the week, you could find this gig very rewarding.
Walk Dogs
Do you like animals, and dogs, in particular? If so, you might be pleased to hear that you can be paid money to walk them. As more and more people are seeing their dogs as legitimate members of their family, more and more people are becoming interested in dog sitting and dog walking services.
To break into a gig such as this, you should try finding out if any close friends or family members need help with their dogs. If not, you should try your luck on relevant listing sites such as Rover, Wag, and DogVacay.
Guide a Local Tour
Do you live in an interesting area? Does this area see a lot of tourism? If so, you might consider starting your own sightseeing tour.
You can create your own route, make up your own themes, and charge tourists money for the privilege of taking in your local knowledge and expertise. To get started on the cheap, you should consider a walking tour. If it works out, you can expand to something bigger later on.
While you’re advised to advertise yourself, you should also consider signing up for tourist/tour guide connection sites.
Do Some Handywork
Perhaps you’re a capable plumber? Maybe you know your way around a hammer? If so, you could try offering your services as a handyman or handywoman.
Getting started in this side gig is a little more intensive than getting started in others, and might even necessitate that you obtain a license. However, if you’re willing to put the work in, you can be awarded substantially in the form of cold, hard cash.
Help Strangers Move
If you don’t mind physical work, you might consider becoming something of a professional mover. This doesn’t mean becoming employed by a moving company. It just means offering your services through a moving app like Dolly.
Those who own pickup trucks can make over $30 per hour on Dolly. Those without pickup trucks can still make over $15 per hour. If physical exertion doesn’t bother you, this could be a great side gig.
Join a Focus Group
Another option to consider is joining a focus group. This is a simple gig which essentially just involves signing up on a few different sites. Popular sites include Brand Institute, Probe Market Research, and Mindswarms, to name just a few.
If you get accepted into a group, you can end up making anything from $50 to $500. The only way to know for sure is by giving it an honest shot.
Tutor Kids
One of the most rewarding sides hustles out there is to tutor kids. You can either do this in person or online at sites such as tutor.com. If you find yourself to be good at teaching kids, you can actually make a fairly substantial amount of money.
To get started, you might consider asking around to different schools in your area. Inquire as to whether or not they could use additional tutors. Even if they themselves do not, they might still be able to provide you with leads.
Take Up Freelance Writing
Do you know how to string together a sentence or two? Are you good at researching new topics? If so, freelance writing might be just the gig for you.
You can find freelance writing work through a number of different avenues. Beginners often get their start through online marketplaces such as Fiver and Upwork. However, as time passes and you build up more of a writing resume, you can advertise yourself directly and command much higher rates.
Become a Virtual Assistant
Big businesses use secretaries. However, small businesses can’t always afford secretaries. So, instead, they used virtual assistants.
Virtual assistants perform small, but important tasks for small business owners and busy individuals. Those who get into this gig often start on a part-time basis, but also often end up going full-time after a few months.
To get started, we recommend offering your services on job boards. However, if you want to start making more money, you would be wise to advertise yourself independently as well.
Start Mystery Shopping
Another one of many quick cash gigs is mystery shopping. Mystery shopping is a process in which you go to a restaurant or store, try out or buy a specific product, and give it a review. It’s an extremely simple gig which can be performed as much or as little as available work allows.
A few solid mystery shopping sites to try out include Market Force, Best Mark, and Experience Exchange. However, there are all types of mystery shopping sites out there. You must simply search for them.
Take a Chance and Gamble Online
Believe it or not, some individuals actually make a living online through gambling and playing games in online casinos. Sites such as NOWBET allow you to put up money with just the click of a mouse, giving you the potential to bet on a wide variety of sports.
While this gig is, obviously, risky, it can help determined and lucky individuals to make some decent money. If you have any disposable income, it might be worth a shot.
Stream Your Gaming
If you’re into gaming, you could consider streaming your gaming efforts on Twitch. While this method doesn’t reap financial rewards for everyone who tries it, for serious gamers, it’s definitely worth a shot.
All you have to do is sign up and stream. Advertising yourself and streaming on a consistent basis is the best way to gain a following. In other words, if you’re going to make money from this, you’re going to have to take it seriously.
Become a Transcriber
Do you have a good ear and a sharp mind? Are you an exceptionally fast typer? If so, you could give transcribing a try.
There are quite a few transcribing sites available for you to sign up for online. Some of the more popular sites include TranscribeMe, Rev, and Transcribe Anywhere. They don’t pay ridiculously great money, but they are useful for helping you to get experience.
Rent Out Your Extra Room
Perhaps you have a summer house on the lake? Maybe you have a spare room in your two-bedroom apartment? If so, you should definitely think about renting it out to travelers and tourists.
If you live in a particularly popular area, you can make a substantial amount of money on sites such as Airbnb. Just sign up, take some photos of your rental property, and reap the financial rewards. Room sharing is one of the best ways to make passive income.
Shed Some Pounds
Did you know that you can actually make money by losing weight? It seems too good to be true, but it is, indeed, a reality. All you have to do is place a bet on the app HealthyWage, and you could stand to make anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars within a few months.
Note, though, that if you don’t meet your weight loss goals, you could actually end up losing money. In other words, you should only pursue this gig if you’re confident in your ability to get the job done.
But, hey, what greater motivator for losing weight is there than making (or losing) money?
Looking for More Financial Advice?
There are thousands upon thousands of ways to make extra money. The side gigs reviewed above are all solid options but are only a small sample of what’s available out there. Our advice is to focus on your strengths and find ways to turn those strengths into added income.
Looking for more financial advice? If so, you can find it right here at Let’s Be Game Changers. Our site has information on everything from investing to saving to making money and more.
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