Listen, unless you’re rich, I think we could all use a little extra cash to go around nowadays.
And working sucks, doesn’t it? But we’ve gotta do it. We’ve gotta do something that make that money. But you don’t have to do it all. And you don’t have to do the things that suck.
You may think you’ve tried everything. But we’ve got some new, fun and creative ideas that can maybe help you put a little extra cash in your pocket.
Fill Out Surveys For Money
Little known fact – most people don’t know about this one. And it’s one of the oldest side hustles around! People have been filling out surveys for money for decades. Heck, I think me and my roommates used to fill out hundreds and hundreds of surveys for a couple extra bucks. And during this time, it was all on paper! (Don’t judge us for how are we are lol)
Nowadays, skip the paper and do it all online. Even better, there’s mobile apps for just about every Survey company out there – both for iOS and Android.
We’ve got about a dozen more highly rated Survey companies & apps. But those are the ones we like best.
Play Games & Spend Time Inside Mobile Apps For Money
Seriously. You’d be amazed at how many companies that are out there that will pay you just for using their apps. They want to see and understand how you use their app so that they can make continuous improvements for their customers.
But that’s not all. There are a lot of companies with everyday, basic games that will pay you just to play their games. It’s not hard. You’re already familiar with a lot of these games. A lot of them are even knockoffs of some of today’s most popular games like Candy Crush, Solitaire, Subway Surfers, Dood Jump, etc.
We just can’t tell you what they are, because there are literally so many of them. And the list is forever changing. But trust us, this is one of the best kept secrets for making some serious side money. A lot times when people are on their phone, they’re not always on Dating apps or Instagram or TikTok. A lot of people are both actively and passively playing these easy, everyday, basic games because it’s super easy to win on and earn real rewards. And a lot of these companies are paying them just to play. No deposit or money required in order to play. It’s all free.
Make & Sell Crap, I Mean, Stuff On Etsy
There’s something satisfying about hobbies that make money. People who shop on Etsy love that kinds stuff.
It’s no surprise that many people who sell on Etsy begin successful small businesses out of a hobby they started doing in their spare time. If you enjoy doing the work, it doesn’t feel like work. Think of something you enjoy doing, even when no one’s paying you. Whether it’s carpentry, knitting, painting, or crafting, these hobbies can serve as the foundation for many unique side hustles.
Almost everyone has a hobby or creative outlet that they’re passionate about. You’re in an especially good position if yours involves making something with your hands. Although creating handmade products requires plenty of time spent learning a craft, it’s one of the best ways to stand out in a sea of commodity products. You can also sell handmade items on Etsy alongside your e-commerce store to connect with more potential customers.
Also, sourcing raw materials can put you in a unique position to ensure your manufacturing process aligns with your brand values. In fact, many business owners are using their values, such as creating products containing recyclable materials, as part of their sales pitch.
Buy & Sell Stuff on Ebay
Similar to Etsy, the Ebay hustle we’re talking about is from GaryVee. You go to garage sales and look for stuff that people are throwing out or selling for cheap. You look up what the current, actual market value is of that particular item. If the going price is higher than what you can buy it (I.e. don’t forget to estimate & calculate for potential shipping & handling), then you’re good to go. You should buy that item and sell it.
You can also do this at regular department stores or wherever you can also buy brand new retail goods (e.g Target, Walmart, Costco, the mall, etc.). If you can sell it for more than the price it costs to buy it, that’s how you can make some money. It’s not rocket science. But it’s somewhat of an art. You’ve gotta have an eye and a knack for being able to tell what can sell and what can’t.
We’ve got another article coming soon with being able to spot trends in the market & know what’s popular and what’s dead or dying. More to come later…
Create Your Own Designs & Sell Them on Stuff
We’re not just talking about being artsy. We’re talking about creating your own Print-On-Demand/Dropshipping business.
Print-on-demand businesses are fun, low-risk ventures if you’ve got a passion for design and are looking to dip your feet into the entrepreneurial waters. Shopify apps such as Printful and Printify allow you to easily upload custom designs onto items like t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, canvas bags, pillows, and more, so you can directly import new products into your Shopify or WordPress store.
When customers make a purchase, items are printed and shipped directly to them from your manufacturer. Print on demand offers one key advantage over manufacturing products in bulk: your supply of products can match and scale with demand without having to make large inventory purchases upfront. And you can still add your own flair and branding to products through your custom visual designs.
On top of this, since the grunt work of manufacturing and shipping are outsourced to a third party, you’ll have more time to work on designing and marketing your business.
If you like the automated aspects of print on demand but are more interested in marketing and operations over creating custom designs, consider starting a dropshipping business. Dropshipping is another online business model where a third party manufactures and ships existing products for you. All you have to do is set up your store, price your products, and market the business.
Dropshipping is also a low-risk opportunity because, again, products are only shipped when they’re purchased, which leaves plenty of room for profit, so long as your marketing expenses are reasonable. With a third party in charge of manufacturing and shipping, dropshipping frees up a lot of time. You can also dropship on marketplaces like Amazon and eBay to reach more customers.
The time you save dropshipping can be spent finding a niche to sell to, marketing your products, reaching new buyers, or helping your customers. With product development and design being noticeably absent from this equation, dropshipping is definitely a side hustle for those who want to flex their marketing muscles.
Drive Uber, Deliver Food & Packages
Here are some companies you may have heard of:
- Instacart
- Amazon Prime
- Doordash
- Uber & Uber eats
- Postmates
- GrubHub
- Lyft
If you haven’t, then welcome to Earth. They’re some of the most popular companies that you can sign up with and start earning money today. You can deliver packages, food and/or passengers.
If you enjoy driving but don’t always enjoy having strangers in your car, you can sign up to drive for delivery apps. With the pandemic still a concern, many people are opting to have groceries and food delivered to them rather than venturing out into crowds themselves. In fact, an IMARC Group study shows that the US food delivery industry made $26 billion in 2020 with 111 million users. And those numbers are projected only to grow higher.
There are a couple of things to consider before diving headfirst into rideshare driving. Where you’re based and what kind of car you drive will largely affect the money you can make. If you’re in a densely populated city like New York or Los Angeles, you can make upward of $1,000 per month. But that is offset by gas prices and whatever maintenance and cleaning your car needs. So make sure to consider all your costs.
And there you have it folks. Finding the right side hustle is far under-appreciated and often very much overlooked. If you’re resourceful and/or creative enough, you can find the perfect match for you.