You might think you have no time for another job, but the best side hustles out there were designed with your time in mind.
Obviously, family obligations, unexpected events, and “life as we know it” can make it hard to find any extra space in our schedules. But as Maya Angelou once said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” And it might be time to shift your perspective.
Look around and look within. There are likely tons of opportunities in front of you, no matter how busy you might be. You just need to figure out which side hustle best suits the time you have, the talents you have, and how much extra money you need and want to make. Plus, mixing things up will keep your work-life fresh.
And remember, working from home is now the norm for many, so you don’t have to over-extend yourself. When you’re home and you have a little downtime, why not make use of it in the most lucrative of ways?
Freelance Writer
Would you consider yourself a wordsmith? Do you enjoy writing in your spare time? Perhaps it’s time to turn that talent or hobby into a money-making opportunity.
Freelance writing is a great side hustle for a variety of reasons. For starters, your schedule will be flexible, leaving you time to pursue other things. Also, it’s easy to get into, you’ll be able to work from home, and it’s wonderful exercise for your brain.
Typically, you don’t need any formal training. You just need to show your clients you’ve got what it takes to get the job done well. And if you’re interested in working on your own time from just about anywhere, this might be the perfect side gig for you.
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are always in high demand. But what exactly do they do? As an assistant, you’re basically someone’s go-to gal for whatever they may need, often helping manage online businesses or simply getting their lives in order.
But since you’ll primarily be working in a virtual setting, most everything you’ll be required to do can be accomplished from the comfort of your home, which will help free you up to focus on whatever else you have on your plate.
Common tasks for virtual assistants include data entry, managing websites and social media accounts, arranging travel itineraries, scheduling meetings, communicating with clients via phone calls or email, and preparing documents or presentations as needed.
You don’t need a lengthy resume to land a side gig like this one. But you will need a strong work ethic, solid communication skills, and your own computer with reliable internet.
Personal Shopper
Not all women love to shop, but for those that do, there’s a rather lucrative gig out there you might be overlooking.
Do you enjoy shopping ’til you drop? How about helping others? Would you say you have a keen eye for the shopping scene? Would you enjoy offering advice on what others should buy? If you answered yes to these questions, becoming a personal shopper is definitely worth your consideration.
Personal shoppers often provide their services to busy professionals who lack the time or energy to shop for themselves but still take pride in their appearances. For the most part, you’ll work with clients via email, phone, or video chat. Occasionally, you’ll visit stores and help clients choose the clothes that are best for them. You may be asked to deliver purchases directly to their home. But the best part is, you’ll be your own boss.
According to Glassdoor, personal shoppers bring in an average of $30,000/year on a 25-30 hours per week schedule. So if you’re interested in making around $1,000 extra per month, look into it.
Professional Organizer
Organizing isn’t for everybody, but we all have to do it. Those who need help sifting through their cluttered lives tend to hire professional organizers. Once one client sings your praises, others will come with organization-related requests. And if the only thing you love more than harmonizing your own environment is decluttering other people’s spaces, this might be your dream job.
As a professional organizer, you’d generally work from clients’ homes throughout the day, so you’d need flexibility in regular business hours for this one.
If you’re not sure where to start, look into the National Association of Professional Organizers or NAPO. You’ll find a collective community of people who professionally organize, take courses to sharpen your skills, and begin building your portfolio.
Online Tutor
If you’ve ever wanted to get into teaching, start with online tutoring and see what you think. There’s no degree required and for those who are passionate about helping others learn, it’s an incredibly easy way to earn extra income.
The work is flexible and the more of a positive impact you have on a student’s life, the more called upon you will likely be when it’s time to prepare for a test. Also, most online tutoring services allow you to choose the subjects and age groups you would like to work with, but almost all companies take a hefty percentage, at least until you’re more established.
Rates will vary based upon experience, but you can make anywhere from $10/hour to $60/hour or more. So stick with it. As someone who worked as a private tutor for many years, my best advice is to start with a company that seems the most reputable and gradually branch out and work for yourself.
If you do a quick online search, you’ll find plenty of students seeking online tutors all over the world. And if there’s one subject you’re particularly good at, make it your selling point, but don’t rule out the others. Tutoring/teaching can be a great way to learn as well.
Airbnb Host
If you have a property that you’re able to Airbnb, consider yourself very lucky. It’s one of the best side hustles in existence right now. It’s particularly easy to make extra money if you live in a popular tourist city. So if you have some spare rooms, make an Airbnb host account and you’re good to go.
Per CNBC, the average Airbnb host makes about $1K/month. However, host earnings vary greatly depending on location, the time of year, and what you’re putting up for rent.
With Airbnb, you’ll be able to set your own rate. And do your research. If you have a top-notch listing with modern appliances and furniture, how much you can make significantly increases. The trick to making the most as a host is knowing how much your pad is worth before you set the price, and then collecting glowing reviews.
Drop-Shipping Entrepreneur
If you’re looking for more than a side hustle and maybe even something you can build into a real business, starting your own drop-shipping business isn’t a bad idea.
While you don’t need an MBA to start, having an entrepreneurial spirit is important. And if you feel a little shaky about your skills, look into the countless online courses that cover the basics of drop shipping.
Drop-shipping allows you to put products in front of your customers without having the product on hand. Typically, you purchase goods from third-party vendors and those goods are then shipped directly to buyers.
Drop-shipping is cash flow positive: you sell something before buying it. In turn, you bypass most of the liquidity issues small businesses owners often run into.
Look into Shopify and Oberlo to get your footing in the e-commerce game.
Selling Clothes Straight From Your Closet
If you’ve never thought of selling second-hand clothes as a business, think again. If you put in the time, you can make a killing.
In fact, I know plenty of women who started selling clothing items online as a side hustle, and now, it’s practically their main source of income. Here are the 6 best sites to sell clothes online, compliments of Nerd Wallet.
Food Delivery Driver
If you want a side hustle where you control your hours but you’re constantly busy when you’re working, you might want to look into becoming a food delivery driver on weekends or evenings.
Of all the side hustles on the list, it’s perhaps the easiest to get into, as long as you have a car. If you join a company like UberEats, you’ll be able to earn an extra $8 to $12/hour. Those who work for DoorDash are said to earn between $11 and $15 hourly. Grubhub pays drivers $12 an hour, plus tips.
Grocery shopping for others is also becoming a sought-after service these days. It’s similar to being a personal shopper, but you’ll only be shopping ’til you drop in the grocery store, picking out the very best items for clients. Look into services like Instacart to get started.
So if you devote five hours a week to delivering food, you’d make about upward of $1K/month, and potentially way more if you take weekend shifts. And once again, you’ll be your own boss with this one.
Personal Chef
Are you passionate about food? Do you love to cook? Why not get paid for something you’d gladly do for free? As a personal chef, you’ll take turn those formerly unused evenings into a hefty chunk of change.
If there are no millionaires hiring personal chefs nearby, don’t fret. Offer your services as a freelance chef on a website or through social media. People are always hiring personal chefs for events. Undoubtedly, someone will be seeking someone to cook for a special dinner party or gathering, and you’ll be doing them a very big favor by removing that stressor.
Crafter
Do you have a hobby or talent that you turn to in your spare time? Are you into woodworking, or pottery, or sewing, or knitting? Well, listen up. All of your “just for fun” craft-making could very well become a lucrative trade if you put it to good use.
One of the best places to get your special creations on the market is through Etsy. They boast over 30 million monthly visitors from all over the world, all looking to buy something truly unique. For the right price, someone will always want what you’re making. And as noted by The Penny Hoarder, over 80% of Etsy sellers are women.
Stock Market Investor
Investing in the stock market is a great way to pull in some extra income once you learn the playing field. Once you feel comfortable with the basics, you may start making the big bucks soon after.
Currently, tons of women are making thousands of dollars every month from their investments. With that said, don’t jump in blindly. First things first, subscribe to a Stock Market newsletter and join the conversation. Then, start looking into brokers. Also, apps like Stash can help you invest your money wisely. Some apps charge a commission, but they make up for it with a wide array of benefits.
Investing in the stock market will always come with risk. You might make money, but you might lose some, too. With this in mind, start small and see how you feel. Once you have a better understanding of what’s worth what to you, you can start taking bigger, but more informed, risks.
Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer
For years, this was another of my side hustles. It’s some of the best money I’ve ever made. When things go well with one client, others will follow. And when it comes to your financial and overall health, getting paid to workout is a win-win. If you want to become a personal trainer, look into online certification.
You’ll be able to control when you work, who you work with, your rate, and how you want to expand your business. It’s also one of those side gigs that you can come back to again and again for extra cash flow, with lengthy breaks in between if need be. You’ll just need to make sure your certification is up to date.
Gyms often hire personal trainers to work with members. You’ll also meet people who want to work with you on a one-on-one basis, beyond the gym. And since you’ll be a free agent, you won’t be bound to one fitness center or routine. Once you’re certified, do some networking with gyms in your general vicinity. Chances are, you’ll have a packed schedule in no time.
A great time to start is at the start of the year when people are ready to hit the ground running with their New Year’s Resolutions.
Online Course Designer
As someone who is always looking for side hustles and enjoys all kinds of teaching, I’ve worked as an online course designer as well. And if you also love to teach but don’t want to tutor, this one might be right for you.
With online course designing, the money can be great, but the hours can be grueling. My advice: work with a company that really values what you’re capable of or sell online courses in a freelance capacity.
“Interactive learning” is in high demand right now. And so, if you create solid video courses, companies will be lining up to buy them from you. Get online and start browsing the endless platforms available for marketing courses. The payment methods will vary dramatically, so pay close attention to the fine print.
Movie “Reviewer”
Who wouldn’t want to make money simply by watching a movie? Since so many do, there are tons of side hustlers already doing this low fuss, low pay gig already. But that doesn’t mean it should be dismissed.
If you’re looking to make a little extra money and you don’t need the extra income to get by, it might be worth it to you.
There are tons of paid survey sites out there. The Penny Hoarder claims two of the absolute best sites are InboxDollars and Swagbucks, both garnering an A rating from the Better Business Bureau.
On average, you may only make $2 per survey, but with enough movie watching, it’s not hard to reach the average $100 per month. That’s not to say you can’t make $1000 monthly, but you’d have to put in real work. Real movie watching work, that is.
