by Turo
posted on August 14, 2019
It’s easier than you might think
Who couldn’t use a little more money?
While you could wait for your next raise or to win the lottery, you’re better off finding opportunities online to make extra cash without having to give up your social life.
So, what’s a side hustle anyways?
Defining the side hustle
Any way to make extra money outside of your job is considered a side hustle. And the best part about most side hustles? You can set your own schedule. Now, the 15 side hustles listed below will not make you an overnight millionaire, but, if you’re a committed go-getter, you’ll earn yourself a little wiggle room in your budget and a few dollars in your pocket.
15 ideas to make some extra cash
1. Share your car on Turo a couple days a week
Most car owners drive their cars just two hours a day. So why not put your vehicle to work for r a couple days a week by sharing it on Turo? The average Turo host makes about $1,000 per month. Sharing your car on Turo can help you offset the cost of owning your car, for your car payment, insurance costs, and maintenance — sometimes you could even make a little something extra to stash in savings.
2. Rent out your parking spot
Most drivers would pay good money to avoid circling a block five times to look for parking. If you own a parking space in an area notorious for finding parking, you have an opportunity to earn some extra money.
With parking reservation services like Spot Hero, you could start earning without doing anything but listing your parking space.
3. Participate in customer interviews
Marketers are always trying to learn more about their target audiences. To gain some insight, companies do market research and conduct interviews and surveys through services like Respondent. That’s where you could earn a little cash by becoming a participant and answering a few questions to lend your perspective.
4. Become a dog walker or dog sitter
Cozy up to your new best friend while earning some extra cash. Get some exercise, throw in some belly rubs, and earn a few dollars as a dog walker or dog sitter. The pet-sitting industry has been bringing in more money each year, which is why services like Wag or Rover are popular options to earn a few dollars for dog lovers.
5. Get a babysitting gig
Babysitting? Yes, babysitting isn’t just an opportunity for teens to make a little money these days. Actually, with a national hourly rate of almost $16.00, babysitting could earn well above the average national minimum wage.
Not a bad way to pad your income, right? You can sign up for different services like Care.com and Sittercity, or you can ask friends and family for references.
6. Leverage your photography skills
Small businesses always need professional photos for their website, social media accounts, and other marketing efforts. So if you’re a good photographer — even an Instagram photographer with a good eye — you could offer your services to fill that need.
Or maybe you already have a collection of awesome photos? Sell those photos to websites like iStock and earn cash that way. In short, if you’re passionate about taking pictures, then photography is a great way to make money on a flexible schedule.
7. Sell your old stuff online
Go through your clothes or your books or maybe even your growing collection of electronic gadgets, and you probably have a few items you could sell. Review the fees on the different platforms like eBay or Craigslist, as well as the prices of similar products when you’re determining how to price your items to make the most money.
8. Get creative, sell your crafts on Etsy
Perhaps selling your possessions is not an option, but you’re good at making crafts that people would buy. Etsy is the website for you.
Etsy has over 39.4 million buyers ready to purchase your homemade jewelry, bags, clothing, home decor, and furniture, toys, and art.
9. Rent your spare room on Airbnb or VRBO
Do you have an extra room or two in your house? Are you okay with opening your home to strangers?
List it on Airbnb or VRBO. You may need to buy new sheets, paint the walls, and hang up photographs to make the room a little cozier, but after that, you’re ready to supplement your income with little impact on your schedule.
10. Deliver food with Uber Eats, PostMates, or Doordash
People don’t want to waste their time driving anymore. Food delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats continue to grow in popularity, creating an opportunity for you to earn a few dollars in the gig economy.
11. Become a mystery shopper
Mystery shoppers provide feedback to companies by posing as regular customers shopping in their stores. As a mystery shopper, you could earn a few hundred dollars a month visiting some of your favorite stores.
12. Use your skills and pick up freelance work online
If you have experience writing, marketing, or providing virtual assistant services, consider signing up with freelance websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. You can set your rates and accept the jobs you want. Plus, you earn experience and money doing something you might already enjoy.
13. Deliver groceries
From WalMart and Target to independent companies like Instacart, it seems every store is trying to offer delivery services for groceries. That’s a plus for you because these companies have created an opportunity for you to make extra cash while shopping for someone else. This is an easy option for students with unusual schedules.
14. Start a blog
This one isn’t an overnight moneymaker, but starting a blog could result in a good source of extra income for you.
Writing blog posts takes time. But if you create content that is smart, engaging, and brings a lot of traffic, you’ll have an opportunity to earn extra cash through passive income streams like ads and affiliate marketing links. Cha-ching!
15. Offer your writing services
Maybe you don’t have a blog or website of your own, but you do have some writing skills? Find yourself some clients and start adding to your monthly income.
Business websites need always copy. Amazon sellers always need product descriptions. And local businesses need catchy copy for their social media posts. With a few steady clients and a strong, well written portfolio, you could have extra income coming in consistently each month.
Time is money
While you could use some extra cash in your pocket, the truth is you don’t always have the time to go earn it.
But now you don’t have to find 20 extra hours a week to make extra income. You could earn extra money simply by making your car available for guests to book on Turo. Insurance options are always included — up to $1 million in liability insurance from Liberty Mutual, so you can rest easy knowing you’re covered. Still on the fence? Here are five more reasons to share your car on Turo.
