Who couldn’t use an extra couple of bucks before payday? We’ve all been there: you want to hit a movie with your pals but you’re short the cash. Or, you see a new outfit or video game that you really wish you could squeeze into the budget, but you’ve got to pay rent this pay period. If you know that feeling, you could use a side hustle!
Whether you’re just starting out at your job and trying to make ends meet or you’re just trying to some extra scratch for a fun expense, there are a number of options to fatten your wallet a bit. Most importantly, creativity and a can-do attitude are a great help for anyone looking to make some extra dough.
Important Notes
Before you start a side hustle, make sure it doesn’t include any conflict of interest with your day job. This goes double if your day job pays the bills and your side job is just for spending money. For instance, make sure that your side hustle isn’t directly competing with your day job, or is something that is causing you to prevent your employer from getting business.
On that same note, make sure you don’t spend too much time or energy on your side hustle. You want to make sure that you’re devoting your all to your day job when it’s what keeps food on your table. Unless you’re making enough from your side hustle to convert it into full-time work, you’ll want to keep your day job!
Freelance Writing
If you have a knack for the written word but your day job doesn’t involve writing, you could turn your skills into a lucrative side hustle. Freelance writing lets you trade in some of your free time for extra cash. If you draw up a contract with your clients, you can accurately predict how much your side hustle will make you.
Writers can make around $500 to $3000 extra per month, depending on the contract, how many articles they’re writing and what their limit is. Typically, you can find work as a freelance writer through sites like Craigslist, Upwork and Fiverr.
Creative Freelance
You can extend this to most creative fields, beyond just writing. For instance, if you’re a great painter, illustrator or designer, these are also fields you can freelance in to make some side money. Creative freelancers can set their own hours, work from home, and can use their passions to shore up some extra cash.
Common ways for creative freelancers to find work is through sites like Patreon, DeviantArt, Tumblr and the like. Commissions for their work can vary dramatically in price, though it pays to do some research and ensure your rate is competitive with others in the field.
Gig Work
Gig work is a mixed bag. Some people have noted that gig work isn’t great as full-time employment, though many enjoy it as a way to make some side money. While it likely won’t be replacing your main job, it’s a great way to turn your free time into some extra cash. For instance, if you find it difficult to hit bills some months, you might want to drive for Lyft or Uber a few nights and make some extra money.
There are a number of apps you can use to work as a gig worker. Examples like Uber and Lyft are common, as are delivery apps like GrubHub and DoorDash. Postmates is another common delivery app, though there are many others in this same vein. You’ll often find that working with gig apps is a bit taxing, so make sure you don’t burn yourself out so much that you’re tired at your day job.