7 Side Hustles That You Can Start Now From Home
With so many ways to earn extra money, deciding which one is right for you can be tough. Let’s explore seven side hustles you can kick off right now!
Try Freelancing
Another cool way to make extra money today is by freelancing. When you’re a freelancer, you’re your own boss and usually work with different clients, doing various kinds of jobs. There are lots of things you can do as a freelancer, like:
- Virtual Assistant
- Social Media Management
- Bookkeeping
- Content Writing
- Proofreading/Editing
- Data Entry
- Graphic Design
If you’ve done any of these before, that’s a great place to start.
Being a freelancer gives you the freedom to choose when you work and lets you do the kind of work you enjoy and are good at. It’s an easy side gig because you decide how many jobs to take on. You can fit it in around another job or do it on weekends when you’ve got some extra time.
It can be just a side thing, but it could also become a full-time job. It depends on how much work you want and how much you want to get paid.
Where to Find Freelance Jobs
If freelancing sounds interesting, there are a few places to find jobs, and a good one is Upwork. It’s a spot where freelancers and businesses connect for quality work, and there are lots of opportunities.
Getting started on Upwork is pretty simple. Create a profile on the kind of work you want to do and get approved. If there are a lot of others applying for the same work, your profile might get rejected, but that’s okay. There are ways to get approved again, so don’t let it stop you!
The only downside to Upwork is the fee it takes from your earnings. But I think it’s worth it to find those first jobs. Once you build relationships with clients, you can work with them outside Upwork and skip the fees.
Make Stuff with Your Hands
Crafting your own things is a cool way to make extra cash or even turn it into a full-time job. It’s super flexible and doable for moms at home or anyone wanting to work from home. Plus, it’s getting more and more popular.
If you’re already making something for yourself or your friends, that’s a good starting point. But think about what you’re good at! Are you good with digital designs? Those are big online, although it’s a bit crowded. Into painting or making T-shirts? There’s a whole bunch of stuff you can create and sell. Just find what suits you and what people actually want.
You don’t have to stick to just physical stuff or just digital items. You can do both if you want! You can even do things from totally different categories—it might even help your shop.
Where to Sell Your Handmade Stuff
Etsy is the go-to spot for selling handmade things. It’s easy for buyers to find hand-crafted items, show off popular items, and all that. It’s user-friendly and comes with lots of perks.
But Etsy‘s been changing things up, so while it’s a good start, it’s smart to spread out to other places. This way, you control your business, and you’ve got more than one way to make money.
Teachers Pay Teachers is a marketplace geared towards educators PreK-12. The secret? You don’t HAVE to be a teacher to sell on this platform. If you’re a homeschooler or SAHM, you can absolutely apply! If you have a passion for creating learning material, flashcards, posters, and worksheets, this could be a sweet side hustle. They also have freelance content writer positions available!
If you want to create and run your own shop, Shopify is another good choice. It’s easy to use and set up. There’s also Squarespace and a few other sites that work well. Just make sure you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket!
Cash in on Your Clutter
A quick side gig is selling stuff you don’t need anymore. Got things lying around your house that could find a new home? Or maybe you love hunting for deals at thrift stores? Selling these items could be a smart move!
It works even better if you have things people really want or if you picked up items for free. That way, you make more money. Plus, it helps free up some space in your house!
Where to Sell Your Stuff
One way to do this is through local sites like Craigslist, NextDoor, and Facebook Marketplace. There are also sites like Offerup. You either have people come to your place or meet them in public. So, you need to be cool with that. It’s easier because you don’t have to worry about shipping, and you can sell big things like furniture (cue the cash register sound). I’ve made over $500 in a weekend with a tag sale to unload unwanted items.
eBay is another good choice. It’s easy to set up, and lots of people use it. Electronics sell really well on eBay. If you’ve got some, you might do great. You do have to ship items, but if you already have boxes from Amazon, you’re good to go!
Launch a YouTube Channel
For those who enjoy making videos, starting a YouTube channel is a fantastic side hustle!
While it takes a bit to grow your audience and watch hours (you need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time for ad monetization), there are lots of perks to launching a YouTube channel.
You don’t need much to start – just a smartphone with a camera, an online editing app, the internet, and some creative ideas. Plus, you can choose any interest you love, whether it’s cooking, music, beauty, DIY crafts, fixing things, and more!
If you dream of making this your full-time gig, it’s doable. Many creators earn big bucks, with some raking in six or even seven figures, like Judy Travis. Check out her interview—she makes millions from makeup and parenting videos on YouTube.
Being a YouTube creator also comes with various ways to make money, like video ads, affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, selling products, Patreon memberships, and more!
Sell Your Photos Online
I’ve got more than 2,000 pics on my iPhone. What in the world am I snapping pics of so much? Oh, that’s right, the kiddos. But there are others on there too! Places we’ve been, artistic pics, and random snapshots of things I thought were interesting.
If you’re like me and enjoy snapping pics of everything, this side hustle is for you.
Companies like Shutterstock, Dreamstime, and others want to buy your photos and videos. And the best part? You don’t have to be a pro photographer!
As long as your pics are top-notch with good lighting and composition, you can earn money selling them online. There is no need for a fancy website either!
Pick a rainy afternoon to make some photo seller accounts and get to uploading!
Teach English
Being a stay-at-home mom can get lonely, and sometimes, you just need a grown-up chat. What if you could earn money while talking to adults from all over the world?
Well, you can with Cambly! It’s an online platform where you teach and chat with people learning English. It’s a cool way to make connections and some extra cash.
Another great option is Preply, which boasts quick and secure payments and “no fuss” scheduling!
Launch Your Blog
If you love writing about your passions and don’t mind the journey of learning about SEO, driving traffic, and social media engagement, starting a blog is a fantastic way to step into the world of making a consistent revenue stream once established.
Setting up your blog is quick, and over time, you can turn it into a moneymaker! Whether by offering sponsored posts, or becoming an affiliate for brands your recommend, you can turn your passion into profit with a bit of research, so it helps to write about something you enjoy!
Summary
Having a side hustle is a cool way to make some extra money for savings, fun spending, or trying to add a bit of income to help pay for those looming grocery bills! Pick the side gigs you really like so you stay motivated and excited to keep going!
