by Kimberly Solis
You can make extra money with a side hustle
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Nowadays, just about everyone has a side hustle or is looking for one. There are so many people out there that need extra money to pay off those student loans, pay the rent, buy clothes for the kids and just about anything else you can think of.
Times can be tough. Prices keep going up but paychecks just can’t seem to keep pace. For that reason, lots of people look for ways to help them bring more cash to their coffers…without picking up a second job at the local McDonald’s. If you need to bring in some more money, read about 10 side hustles that just might be the key to changing your finances.
1. Sell Pictures to Stock Photo Sites
Do you have a knack for photography? Consider selling your pictures to stock photo sites. Submit your images to one of these sites, and you can earn money while you sleep. Now that’s a pretty cool side hustle! People who need photos for their blogs or websites will purchase your images, providing you with some amazing passive income. The more high-quality photos you submit, the greater the chance of selling some of them. Sites like Foap, Shutterstock, Dreamstime and Adobe Stock will pay you for your photos. Do a google search to find other stock photo sites that will pay you for your work. Who knows. Your photography side hustle could eventually bring in some serious cash!
2. Clean Up and Get Paid
Cleaning houses and offices can be a great side hustle.
Do you love to clean? Do you love to put everything in its place? Maybe you enjoy washing dishes. (Hey! I admire people like you.) Start your own cleaning business. Whether it’s cleaning homes or offices, you can earn some extra cash by tidying up someone else’s mess. You can even sell yourself as someone who cleans out apartments after tenants move out. Advertise your services on craigslist or Housekeeper.com. Distribute flyers at the local grocery store or community center. Promote your business on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
3. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is a side hustle that can help you earn some extra cash.
If you can write using proper spelling, grammar and punctuation, you can be a freelance writer. There are always companies that need someone to write web content, blog posts, press releases, newsletters, whitepapers, ebooks and a host of other marketing materials. You can be the person to provide that service if you use your writing skills.
Some web content writers started out as writers for content mills, companies that hire contract workers to write for clients, but you should avoid these types of companies if you can. They don’t pay well, and you’ll find yourself slaving away for mere pennies a word. Some popular content mills include Textbroker and Crowd Content. Check out the company Contently, a content company that offers much higher rates to its writers.
With that being said, it’s better to find your own clients by reaching out through cold emails and cold calls. Get some writing samples together and put together an online portfolio so potential clients can see your work. Set up a LinkedIn profile so you can network and put yourself out there. Companies frequently look on LinkedIn to find freelance writers.
You can also scour freelance writing job boards like Freelance Writing Jobs or Problogger.com. Just remember that there’s a lot of competition for jobs listed on these sites, so don’t feel bummed out if you don’t get a response from your applications. It’s not a reflection of your writing abilities. You’re better off finding your own clients.
4. Become a Blogger
Blogging can be a lucrative side hustle if you stick with it.
Some bloggers are making 6 figures a month on their blogs. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. They do this through affiliate marketing, Google Adsense, offering paid courses and sponsorships. But all this success doesn’t happen overnight. You have to get traffic to your blog. No sponsors or companies are going to pay you huge amounts of cash if your blog is like a ghost town (complete with tumbleweeds rolling down the dirt road).
In order to build traffic, you need to create quality content that people want to read. You have to provide readers with valuable information they want to learn. SEO (Search Engine Optimization), guest blogging and promoting your blog through social media are all key to building an audience for your blog. Online side hustles like blogging provide the ultimate in passive income. Consider signing up with ShareASale to help you monetize your blog. It takes time to build an audience, but it’s worth the work involved.
By the way, I like the information Elna Cain gives people on her wildly successful blog. She has a ton of useful resources to get you started on building a blog and monetizing it. And she offers courses on how to be a successful blogger too. You should definitely check her blog out.
5. Deliver Food to Hungry Customers
Companies like DoorDash, Postmates and Uber Eats pay people to deliver food from local restaurants. Your schedule is completely flexible, which means no time commitments. You download the app and apply. Whether you have a bike or a car, you can quickly get started once approved. Then get ready to earn some fast cash.
Lots of food delivery companies like Uber Eats, Postmates and DoorDash will pay you to deliver food to hungry customers.
6. Teach English as a Second Language
If you have a Bachelor’s degree, you are qualified to teach English as a Second Language to young students who live in non-English speaking countries. Online tutoring companies like VIPKid, Qkids and EF Teach Online will pay you to teach from the comfort of your own home. Work with kids, learn about new cultures and make money. You’ll need high-speed internet, a noise-canceling headset and a love for teaching to get a job like this.
Don’t have a bachelor’s degree but still want to teach ESL? Apply at the websites Cambly and SkimaTalk.
7. Sell Stuff on Amazon
Some people have been successful selling stuff on Amazon using the Fulfillment by Amazon (Amazon FBA program). Find your inventory at local stores (at a discounted price, of course) then resell them on Amazon. With the FBA program, Amazon picks, packs and ships your products. They take care of all the customer service too.
8. Sell Stuff on Etsy
Are you crafty? Sell your handmade crafts on Etsy. It’s an online global marketplace where you can buy and sell handcrafted goods. Sell baked goods, one-of-a-kind clothing, artwork, toys and just about anything else you can imagine.
9. Do Odd Jobs
Sign up with a company called Task Rabbit, and do all kinds of odd jobs and errands for people in your city. Some of the jobs you can end up doing are personal shopping, helping people move to a new home, waiting in line for someone, working as a personal assistant, yard work, assembling furniture and about a million other things. So if you fancy yourself a jack-of-all-trades, this just might be the side hustle for you.
Doing odd jobs by signing up with a company like Task Rabbit can help you earn extra cash.
10. Sell Your Artwork on Society6
Sell your artwork through the site Society6. It’s a wonderful way to earn money through your creativity.
If you’re a fine artist, photographer, graphic designer or typographer, use Society6 to upload your artwork. Customers can purchase your artwork on furniture, pillows, clothing, wall art, towels, tote bags and just about anything else you can slap a design on.
Find a Side Hustle
So there you have it–ten side hustles that can help you pay the rent, your student loans, buy groceries or put some gas in your car. Maybe you want to save up for that dream vacation or finance an upcoming wedding. Fortunately, the internet has made it possible for everyone to find side hustles to help make ends meet or buy that special something.
Of course, these side hustle ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. With a bit of online research, you can unearth a lot more money-making opportunities. So if you want to get your hands on some extra cash, consider one of these side hustles or invent your own.
Do you have an interesting side hustle that helps you make ends meet? Share your thoughts by commenting below.