10 surprising side hustles to make some extra cash
“Kim, how can I make money from home?” I’ve been getting this one for years and years. And guess what? Between new apps and the rise of the gig economy, it’s never been easier to make an extra buck.
Entrepreneur (paywall link) gathered some weird and wonderful side hustles, plus real examples of regular folks who make a pretty penny. Don’t worry, no Uber on this list — but I did include an option for those who love to drive.
Without further ado, here are surprising ways to stack some cash on the side.
Paved paradise
Turn your unused space into a rentable parking space to rake in some serious dough. The Neighbor app allows users to rent garages and parking spots to drivers. It also lets you rent out attics and basements for personal storage space.
Investor Justin Cambra makes over $1,300 monthly, renting out a paved lot on his property. He’s close to an airport and his lot is a bargain compared to the competition. Justin also has long-term parkers who take extended trips, which helps him bring in even more cash.
Armchair expert
Know a lot about a niche topic? Post that long-winded lecture on the web! JustAnswer is a site that pays experts a dollar for every question they answer. The average expert makes between $2,000 and $7,000 per month.
Jennifer Sheffer is an antiques dealer in New England who’s been working on JustAnswer since 2012. She works around 40 hours per week and brings in as much as $20,000 a month.
Drive in style
If driving is your thing but you’d prefer something a little classier than Uber or Lyft, try a high-end car service instead. Alto is a high-end ride-sharing app that makes its drivers actual employees, complete with hourly pay and training. It also hooks drivers up with an all-white Buick Enclave. Nice!
Printing money…
Literally. Craft lovers and creatives can make a killing selling printable templates online. People are always looking for new word games, meal planners and hobby how-tos. Have a sewing pattern you love? Turn it into a printable PDF and sell it on Etsy! Voila — you’ve got a passive income stream.
Former teacher Lisa Fink makes a whopping $65,000 a month selling printables through Etsy and her personal website. She started making five figures a month in her first six months of sales. Not too shabby. Btw, you can pick up official Komando merch at my Etsy store.
Turn trash into treasure
Try your hand at flipping old furniture. Snag the rough stuff for the best chance of turning it into gold. This is for the handy among us.
Lily Skjoldahl bought a $50 nightstand, hoping to use it to pay a hefty dentist bill. She flipped it for $195. The rest is history and now she earns $19,000 per month.
Are you smarter than a fifth grader?
Try tutoring one! Whether you’re a retired teacher or just love working with kids, you can make good money tutoring. Today, you don’t even have to leave your house. Platforms like Outschool offer live classes online on everything from core subjects to extra-curricular fun.
During the pandemic, elementary school teacher Tara Laczynski was laid off. She started teaching math classes on Outschool, and the rest is history. She works about 32 hours a week and earns an impressive $12,600 a month.
Be the host with the most
Prefer to share your expertise with a group? Take the leap and host a local class or event! Platforms like Eventbrite make it simple to sell tickets and promote the event to interested attendees. Or go digital with Teachable and LinkedIn Learning. Retiree Bill Reichman teaches adults how to bake and makes $250 per class.
“Thanks, it’s an original”
Savvy thrifters with an eye for design, listen up. If you have an eye for spotting hidden gems in the Goodwill racks and some basic sewing skills, “upcycling” may be for you. Maddy Clements, a fashion design student, made $50,000 in one year upcycling. She sells her fashions on social media. Within three months, she banked $10,000.
$plish $plash
Have a pool and are cool with others enjoying it? Renting it out might be a golden opportunity. Through Swimply, homeowners can rent out their pool, tennis courts, and more by the hour.
In Portland, Oregon, resident Stuart Doty and his wife make $84,000 annually through Swimply. The best part? Their pool is indoors, meaning they can bring in cash all year round.
Howdy, partner(ship)
Affiliate partnerships may be calling your name if you love to write — especially if you like reviewing products. Amazon Associates and networks like Skimlinks and ShareASale let you earn a commission when someone makes a purchase by clicking on your link. Retiree Chanda Torrey started a blog about unique gifts and brings in $1,500 per week.
Speaking of writing, I recently wrote about whether the Amazon influencer program is actually worth it. Spoiler: This is one side hustle you might want to skip. Check it out here!
🍞😂 My friend just started a bakery. Now he’s making a little extra dough on the side!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
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