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51 Ways to Side Hustle and Make More Money

August 25, 2015 by Mrs. MoneyJar Leave a Comment

Our last step in the 5 Steps to Get Out of Financial Purgatory blog series is making more money. Although I believe everyone can save money, no matter how much or how little they make, an exception to this would be for those who feel better about having separation between what you live on and what your brain considers to be “extra”. In other words, some may adapt better to saving with a little psychological trickery. Enter the side hustle.

The side hustle is just a cooler, GenX way of saying side job. And, all that means is that you’re adding to your current income by doing something temporary, or when you need to. Honestly, though, it can be anything you want it to be – a one time gig, weekly part-time job, or an odd job you do every now and again, seasonally, or when you have the time. That’s the beauty of the side hustle – it’s what you make it.

I will not be discussing jobs that require significant investment, certifications/licensing, are overly complicated, require degrees, or in-depth training. No accountants, photographers, notary publics (states limit what you can charge), or substitute teachers will be listed here.

Before this crazy eruption of side hustle ideas, I tried a few of the most common ideas myself last year:

My Worst Side Hustles

Transcription: You must follow different grammatical “rules” for every transcription, learn how to use specialized software for speed/efficiency (plus have good headphones), time is lost in repeated playback for difficult transcriptions (interviews, interruptions, etc), and you get paid pennies for each job – and even less if you’re slow. There also may be tedious tests to take to even qualify for many of these side jobs.
Mystery Shopping: Some people are able to turn this into a decent paying side hustle, but I live in a small town and I found that there weren’t many jobs available, and the paperwork could be very time consuming. The most lucrative jobs were probably the inventory jobs, but they were a full days work, in most cases, and almost an hour out of my way. Not worth it for me, but if you live in a large city, it could definitely be a great side hustle! Pay varies per job, I saw $8-$85 per “shop” to start.
Surveys & Paid Searches: Sites like Swagbucks are known for paying you (in gift cards) to take surveys, watch videos, and use their search bars, etc. Honestly, this isn’t a bad idea, I just couldn’t make it a habit and it takes a significant amount of time to build up Swagbucks to redeem.

My Favorite Side Jobs

Blogging: Blogging doesn’t make money, per se, but if it’s a good blog with good traffic, it gives you an avenue for advertising, which does make money. Google Adsense is an obvious choice for most bloggers, but there are other ways to advertise too. You can sell ad spots directly to companies or become a product affiliate for Amazon or another company that fits in well with your blog. You can also do sponsored reviews (paid up front or for free products) by just emailing and asking.
Network Marketing: This can be hit or miss, but I’ve had success with it in the past. I would recommend it to those who can market online, over the phone, and/or have great people skills. I would also be sure you choose a company that you truly believe in, with a product you care about. There’s everything from health to travel opportunities, but to each his or her own.
YouTube Ads: YouTube is different, even though it still falls into the advertising category. The major difference is that it’s not on a blog. If you have a video camera, basic editing skills, know your way around YouTube, and have something to share, you should consider it. It takes time to build a following, but once you do, the money starts trickling in.

Sell Stuff: Old, Found, or Handmade

Yard/Garage Sale: Good for the junk that you don’t want or don’t use, but customers expect to get stuff on the cheap, so unless you’re doing fundraising, save your good stuff for online sales.
Ebay or Craigslist: For the good stuff, use Ebay – you’ll get a better return. I’ve been with them for years, usually when I need some cash fast. You’ll find that you can sell with a basic listing, and keep more of your money. Also, keep your seller rating up – people tend to buy from those they can trust.
Consignment: When you put things on consignment, you may get paid up front (probably for less money) or they may tag your items and see what they can get for them, leaving you to get paid later, IF they sell at all. I used to do this with some of my girls’ clothing and made a few bucks – nothing to write home about. My best return came from letting go of a painting on consignment with an art gallery.
Farmer’s Market: My local farmer’s market takes 8% of sales – not too bad. If you make jam, baked goods, crafts, soap, jewelry, birdhouses, have fresh eggs, grow vegetables, etc., your local farmer’s market is probably nearby and the customers are already waiting for you, so go get ’em!
Creatives: For the artisans and crafty folks, there is a wealth of opportunity online to sell your handcrafted goods. Local craft fairs are also easy to get into. I sold on Etsy and ArtFire for awhile, and found it profitable, but there’s a lot to factor in…taxes, shipping, materials, etc. It’s hard to make a killing, but it’s an easy way to turn a small profit on your hobbies.

Skills You can Easily Exploit

For freelance work, or to list your skills, check Fiverr and Upwork (oDesk and Elance are now part of Upwork) and connect with people you know online and offline to let them know what you’re doing.

Identify any special skills you have. These are the things that your friends and family call you about, when they need help. They have already recognized these in you. For example, I get called on for graphics, blogs, and computer help, even though I’m not a graphic designer or coder. I’ve just been on the internet too damned long.

Computer/Internet: If you’re self-taught on the computer, then chances are you can charge people a small fee to help them with small projects like WordPress or blog help, creating an ad or logo, doing voiceovers, making flyers, or setting up social network accounts for them.
Freelancing: If you’re a decent writer, consider freelancing on the side for some extra cash. You can make good money for a couple hours of work on articles, blog posts, print material, or copywriting. Pay can vary dramatically, so know how to optimize your rate.
Kindle Publishing: And, if you want to take your writing to the next level, try Kindle Publishing – it could turn into passive income later, with royalties. I’m going to start this very soon – sounds promising. My daughter actually turned me on to this!
Sharing: Got followers? Get paid to share videos on your social networks.
Assistant: Good at multi-tasking, communication, scheduling, or research? You can be a virtual assistant or personal assistant locally. Life is busy, and people need help with the details. Check out FancyHands to get started.
Ghost Writing: Some people have a great story to tell, but can’t write. I’ll let you do the math.
Resumes: Resumes can be tricky if you’ve never done them before. There’s formatting, what information to include, cover letters, etc. If you’re good at this sort of thing, it would be easy to charge a small fee for this service.

Pick Up the Odds and Ends

Check care.com, taskrabbit.com, and handy.com for listings. Or, just market your skills in a local online directory or newspaper.

Child Care: You can pick-up and drop-off kids to school, babysit them on the weekends, or just be on call. Don’t take on more kids than you can handle and you should probably know first aid and CPR. $10-15/hour.
Pet Care: Dog walking, pet sitting, washing and grooming, cleaning litter boxes, and feeding and watering them. If you can do that all with love, you’re golden. $10-25/hour.
Cleaning: If you’re good at details, or a little obsessed when it comes to cleaning, this might be just the thing for you. Chances are you have all the cleaning essentials you need for this side hustle right in your kitchen or laundry room. $10-15/hour.
Cooking: Some people are so busy, they don’t have time to cook homemade meals. This is where you come in. If you’re an awesome home cook, you can play chef or prepare the meals at home and drop them off for warming up later.
Errands: It’s probably the same type of stuff you do every day anyway….mail, dry cleaning, groceries, picking up stuff, and then dropping off something else. You just need a driver’s license and a little time.
Shopper: If you like clothing and have good fashion sense, then maybe being someone’s personal shopper is just what the doctor ordered.
Sewing: I have to pay for alterations and it’s not cheap. If you can do alterations as a service, for less, I think you found yourself a side job.
Organization: You can help people organize their garage, closets, and home.
Party Planning: You can put this skill to work planning parties. I have a friend who side hustles as a wedding planner. You just have to network with the local caterers, florists, and performers, and have an eye for the details.
Home Staging: That eye for detail would also be great for home staging houses for sale or vacation homes for rent. I had an realty agent offer me this job just based on my decor in my home.
Housesitting: This one is for those who can be away from home for days at a time, but it’s a great way to make money on the side, if you have a flexible schedule. $25-50/day.
Fixer: Chances are you already have the tools, so market your skills locally and see who needs some help around the house. Come to my place – the disposal is sketchy and there’s a questionable washing machine.
Yard Care: Landscaping is expensive, so finding someone local to do some yard work is a service most people would love to find. Weeding, planting flowers, clean-up, trimming bushes are all relatively simple tasks.
Hauling: Got a truck? Well, not everyone does, so offer to pick up junk and haul it away for a small fee (don’t forget to include the dump fee, if there is one).
Heavy Lifting: This can be anything from helping someone move furniture around to helping them move altogether, so if you got some muscle, use it and pocket the cash.
Painting: I have painted a lot of rooms. If you know your way around a paint brush and a ladder, this is a great way to make some extra money on painting rooms or old furniture.
Gutters: Yeah, it’s a little gross, but it doesn’t take much time and nobody wants clogged gutters, so help out a neighbor for some cash!
Teaching: If you have a special skill like a second language, you’re especially good at English or math, you know how to play an instrument, or can teach someone how to use a specific software program, you can charge for lessons.
Wash Cars: You can wash and detail cars in your driveway for a fee. You probably already have everything you need in your garage.
Umpire: Some will eventually coach Little League, but it’s a volunteer position. You can get paid about $30/game to umpire.
Winter Work: Snow shoveling, putting up Christmas lights, chopping firewood, and weatherizing homes. Not everyone is up to these tasks, so get out your shovel, ladder, axe, and faucet covers.

Side Hustlin’ off the Beaten Track

They are on the side, but not all of them are necessarily common or for everyone, but they DO have the potential to make money on the side, so they’re still worth a look.

Clinical Studies: I’m not ok using my body as a medical experiment, but if you have medical issues, it might be something you’re interested in. The time, pay, and eligibility can vary greatly between research studies, so do your homework.
Plasma: Plasma takes some time, and you have to be ok with needles, but you can donate twice a week and make $20-30 per visit, so up to $200/month. There’s a screening process, but it’s simple. I did this years ago and it was pretty painless.
Street Performer: So, I was walking down the street two days ago and a teenager was playing her fiddle downtown with the case open for tips. Her mother was sitting on a bench nearby, knitting away. If you have talent, book a local gig or just perform. People will show their appreciation. I promise.
Focus Groups: You can participate in focus groups in person, online, or by phone. 20/20 Panel is a bit different in that it takes it’s focus group online in a discussion setting and pays $50-150 for your opinion.
Web Tester: Test and/or review websites for $10-12 per session at UserTesting or IntelliZoom.
Car Wrap: You can get paid up to $400/month if are willing to drive your daily routine with your car wrapped in advertising. You must be 18 years old with a clean car, good driving record, insurance, a clean background check, and able to drive daily.
Hair Donor: Depending on the length and health of your hair (virgin hair is in demand), you could make anywhere from $200 to $1,000 or more selling your hair. The good news? It grows back.
Recycling: If you have, or are willing to collect old cell phones, tablets, or Apple devices, Gazelle pays well. I’ve sold multiple iPhones to them for over $100 each. I love Gazelle because they make it easy!
Sperm and Eggs: Guys, you’re going to do this anyway, so you may as well be paid for it, because it could help someone have a baby who otherwise couldn’t. You must be between 18 and 35 years old, 5’10”, medium-build, have a post-secondary education, and commit to “donating” on a regular basis, but you could make up to $1,000/month (2-3 donations per week) for a set number of months. Girls, you can help others have babies, too, but it’s a lot more complicated. You can make several thousands donating your eggs, but it’s not without discomfort, a great deal of time, and health risks. Please do your research!
Driving: Use your own car and taxi people around in it through Uber or Lyft. I know this is becoming popular, but I still find the idea of driving strangers around in my car a little weird.
Rent Space: Rent out an extra room or space on a regular basis or rent it as a vacation space (trailer, an extra room, cottage, MIL apartment, yurt, rv space, etc) on airbnb.com.
Rent Your Car: RelayRides is a great place to list your 2005-or-newer car for rent (preferably under 100k miles). If you have an extra car or work from home, this is an easy way to pocket some extra $$$. I’m totally considering this right this minute.

That’s all I have for now. I’d like to do another post on side hustles that require more of an investment of money and/or equipment too, like photographers and start-ups, but that’s for another day. I think you will find something in this list that will help you get ahead financially. And, remember, just as you prioritize your regular income, it’s equally important to prioritize this “extra” income – for debt, savings, or whatever goal you have set for yourself or for your family.

Although not a side job, you can also “make money” by saving money too, so please consider cutting down some of your monthly expenses and other ways to start saving. After all, every dollar counts! If you have more ideas for side hustles you have done well with in the past, please comment below. I’d love to add more jobs to the list!

Disclaimer: Payments for jobs will vary. Any amounts listed were from local companies or websites. Things may differ in your state, and for odd jobs, you can barter for your pay, time, and experience. No guarantees implied.

Can Work At Home MLM and Network Marketing Provide Full Time Income?

June 15, 2015 by Michael Bovee Leave a Comment

I spend much of my time helping people figure out how they can get through a tough financial situation that often peaks with the inability to pay bills. This means I am most often speaking to people for the first time when they have debt emergencies and late stage debt collection issues. This is not a great time to bring up the topic of making more money, whether from a work at home opportunity like an MLM program, network marketing, a second part-time job, or other types of additional income, as a means to deal with debt. The time to talk about increasing your income to pay off debt is often earlier than people contact me, reach my website, or would be better suited for discussion when the debt emergency is resolved.

Often times, the answer to resolving not just debt, but accomplishing other financial goals (college tuition, buying a home, improving your retirement prospects) can be reduced to spending less than you earn, and increasing your income.

I want to share some perspective and experiences about increasing your income with a home based business like an MLM or network marketing program. For some back ground, I can attribute my start in the debt relief industry, at least from a professional and full time perspective, to my prior experience with MLM and network marketing. I also started CRN in my basement in 2004, and even now work from home more often than not, which became more normal for me after transitioning CRN into publishing efforts more than direct debt relief services.

Are work at home opportunities available and viable?

Back in the 90’s, work at home opportunities predominately consisted of MLM, Network Marketing, and some direct sales. With the internet, came increased connectivity and communications, the landscape for working at home full time, with all of the flexibilities and benefits that brings (for individuals and companies), the viability is now unquestioned. Telling a friend you have the ability to work from home now gets more of a “you are so lucky to be able to do that” response rather than the “that can’t be a good career path… is there something wrong with you” looks and questions.

Anyone trading hours in their car commuting to work, for a walk down the hallway to their home office, knows they have it good. If you miss the office environment, just call up a friend during rush hour traffic. They may appreciate the hands free distraction while trapped in their car, or they may just want to cut the conversation short (or you might want to), because they are not at their best right then.

I live in a cul-de-sac with 9 homes. One home is vacant and for sale. Of the 8 families here, 4 of us are self employed and have home offices. Two of the four of us can be considered to be working from home full time. My immediate neighbor is a computer programmer whose HQ is in California. He travels there once in a while, or to a customers job site as needed. I go to the CRN office very little, which is true of other experts in the network (one likes the office more than working from home, but still works at home on Wednesdays).

Having a home office where you work full time hours is more viable and popular than ever. Whether you work full time for a company, or are self employed with your home as your office, the opportunities to work at home are many.

The list of benefits that come with working from home is long and easy to make. Finding the job or opportunity that allows you this freedom and flexibility may not be, depending on your skill set and the job market you are in. This is perhaps why MLM and network marketing programs have the appeal that they do.

Multilevel Marketing (MLM) and other home based businesses.

My first job was a home based business (on a bicycle) by way of a paper route I inherited from my brother and sister at age 11.5. The papers I needed to deliver to my customers were dropped at my front door by 4 a.m. 7 days a week.

My next opportunity to work at home came with a network marketing program that was accented by 2 different MLM companies many years later.

The primary product in the networking program was education and was considered high ticket with a $1,2500.00 price point. The two MLM programs that accented the network marketing program were for leads and low cost long distance minutes (both a requirement for anyone dialing for dollars). Anyone I introduced to the marketing opportunities of my primary program would often enroll in my down line for leads and lower cost long distance.

I made money in all three programs. And not just cover your costs money. I earned full time – support a family of 4 by working at home – type of money.

The last time I worked for someone else was in the 90’s as a deck hand on the Wizard (yes, that boat from the show Deadliest Catch, Keith was my skipper then too).

How does a paperboy, gone jack of this and that trade, become a recognized debt relief expert?

MLM = Many Losing Money.

There is no shortage of people who would like to be their own boss and work from home. Many people possess an entrepreneurial spirit strong enough to drive them to succeed in their own business. But there are also that many more people (and then some) that like the idea of working from home, but are not suited to it, committed to success, or who worked/are working the wrong MLM or networking program.

The MLM drop out dynamic is not so different than the fact that most traditional businesses fail in the first 5 years. The drop out rate for home based businesses is accelerated though, and for good reasons.

It is because of the mismatch of people and programs that MLM is often jokingly referred to as an acronym for many-losing-money rather than multi-level-marketing.

All manner of things can conspire to work against a business owner, whether a traditional brick and mortar storefront, or someone working an MLM from their home office. It is this fact that contributed to me becoming a debt relief expert.

While I was focused building my customer base in what later came to be another network marketing high-ticket/4-tiered type of program, and still working the one MLM lead generating program (no MLM survived deregulation and business realities in the long distance telephone service market), many around me were building debt instead. And because people in my up-line and down-line knew I had started to geek out on debt and credit consumer protections, and strategies to negotiate and settle debts, my phone began to ring. But now the phone calls were more from people unable to pay their credit card bills due to marketing and business costs from whatever MLM program they were currently in, or had tried before.

I later helped build a network marketing and direct sales company that promoted debt relief. Some of the most successful home based marketers of that program were once it’s customers.

The low barrier to entry with MLM and Network Marketing.

People poke fun at MLM dropouts and their old school garage full of products (now replaced by technology and drop shipping). But the success traits of people working an MLM from home is likely not all that different than any other business in the traditional sense. What will often be stark differences are the costs, risks, and time associated with starting a traditional business vs an MLM program or networking opportunity.

You can start a home based MLM business in an afternoon, and with little comparative cost outlay. Opening a store front or traditional business will require much more planning, far more expense, and way more time. The risks with traditional businesses are often far greater than what home based networkers and entrepreneurs will experience.

This low barrier to entry will attract virtually anyone with an entrepreneurial spark, which is a ton of people. The ease and speed with which you can start a home based business is also likely some of why the MLM drop out rate is what it is. If you do not see or feel success in your business in 90 days, you can walk, and with little pain in making that decision. This is all the more likely if you align your efforts with a fad type of product that captured only a fleeting interest from you or your prospects. Once your enthusiasm for the product or service is gone, and if you never touch the potential in the compensation plan, you could find yourself burnt out from the idea of a home based business, or will have moved on to the next MLM… and possibly wash, rinse, repeat (many will float from program to program never stopping to fully focus on the three attributes I list below with absolute honesty).

The problems with MLM and networking programs are not just in the way the businesses are designed. I would suggest the problems are the same as they are in traditional businesses, which can often boil down to:

Not enough planning went into choosing the right business, product or service, location, partners, etc.
Under capitalized or unrealistic expectations about costs and profitability.
Not understanding customers needs and other fickleness.
Lack of support systems, or failure to tap into existing support infrastructure.
Not suited to be a business owner (not personable, cannot manage people, not all-in committed).

MLM and network marketing programs do work.

Just like any business can grow and thrive, an MLM or networking program can too. I know many successful marketers. Some of the things they bring to their home based business are the same things any business owner brings to theirs. Three key attributes of any successful MLM-ers that I know:

Matched with a product or service that they identify with.
Unwavering commitment, and not just to their own success, but to building success in others (team building).
Able to manage their own time (there are no short cuts, and no get rich quick loop holes, just hard work).

My own experience, and that of all of the successful marketers I have ever known, suggest all three of those elements exist in force from the outset and carry through with longevity.

I will be covering the 3 above attributes for work at home success (and several others), in much more detail.

If you have questions about work at home opportunities, MLM programs, network marketing, or feedback about how to succeed as an entrepreneur, you are welcome to post in the comments below.