We live in a day and age when it has become almost impossible for many people to have the ends meet without a second or even a third job. Out of 160 million people in the United States workforce, about 36% have side gigs. That is more than 1/3 or working Americans who are forced to take up a side hustle in order to survive the month. If current trends continue, that number will reach 50% by 2027. Fortunately, the advent of the Internet and technology has made it somewhat easier for all those people to find side hustles that can provide them with some extra cash. Here are our recommendations.
Dog Walking and Dog Sitting
If you enjoy spending time with dogs (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t) you can earn some money by dog walking and dog sitting. There are several apps that will help you find client, like Wag, Rover, and Swifto. All of these require a vetting process and dog owners can ultimately refuse a match. They work similarly, by matching pet owners and walkers and sitters from the same area. Some prior experience with dogs is a must, unfortunately, but no one is going to trust their pet to a person who had never had a dog in their life, which is understandable.
Freelance Writer
This is probably among the most popular side hustles you can find today. Freelance writers perform all sort of writing tasks, from supplying copies to creating web content and ghostwriting. If you are good at it, you can even write for some established publications and have articles published under your name, but not many freelance writers reach that level. Most of them are uncredited, but the job gives them an opportunity to make some money and they get to set their own working hours, which for most people looking for a side gig is crucial.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing can be a risky proposal, in a sense that it can make you a ton of money or prove as a complete waste of your time. The good news is that the result depends on you and your efforts and skills and the potential for serious earning is real. Some of the best online slots sites will pay handsomely their affiliate partners who bring them new players. E-sales will earn you a commission on each product sold through your network. The possibilities for a smart affiliate marketer are endless. The best part is that you don’t have to limit yourself to just one partner and can work with several networks simultaneously.
Online Tutoring
This is one of the best side gigs for college students in need of some extra cash. The best thing about it is that you can set your own hours and make sure that it doesn’t interfere with your studies. Depending on your students, the job will probably be easy, but it does require a lot of patience. Not all kids learn at the same pace and some of them will need plenty of attention in order to make progress. On the other hand, you can always turn down the most difficult cases and concentrate on the ones you can handle.
Driving
This one is reserved for people who own a car. If you do, you can become a driver for Uber or Lyft or both. There are plenty of people who have discovered that this gig is earning them more money than their day job, so they decided to become full-time drivers. If you live in a big city, it can be a real game changer, especially if you can be available for rides during Surge pricing (Uber) or Prime Time (Lyft). Ridesharing has become so popular that there are even online courses you can take that will help you better understand all the ins and outs of the job and increase your earnings.
Vlad Vaida 