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In today’s economy, everything seems to go up except paychecks. Many people are feeling the financial pinch and looking for ways to make a little extra money. In fact, 53% of people polled by the American Staffing Association and Harris Poll said their paychecks weren’t keeping up with inflation. Exploring legit side hustles can be a great way to supplement your income and ease financial stress.
Whether you’re feeling a financial pinch, want to save for a big purchase or vacation, or just have a creative passion you want to monetize, starting a side hustle is a great way to earn some extra money. It’s also an excellent way to determine whether working for yourself full-time is something you’d like to do.
I have worked from home in various capacities for the past 16 years, so I have a good understanding of what works and what doesn’t. While I choose to do this full-time, there are plenty of side hustle opportunities you can work around your full-time job.
Starting a side hustle is easy. All you need is a good idea and support from family, friends, and like-minded individuals. For inspiration, we’ve put together a list of some profitable side hustles that can bring you an extra $2K or more per month.
Freelancing
This is how I make a full-time income and support my family, and it is one of the best ways to make at least $2K a month part-time. I’ve always firmly believed that if you have a skill, you can sell it online as a freelancer.
I earn my living writing, editing, doing project and account management for a few clients. However, there are freelancing gigs available for almost any skill. Some of the most popular include graphics design, coding, social media management, digital marketing, tutoring, and SEO.
Deliver Groceries or Food
The only thing you need to start this side hustle is a vehicle. Even a bicycle works if you live in the city. It’s easy to fit this in with your regular job, as you can create a schedule that suits your availability.
Plenty of delivery services are available, like Grubhub, Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Postmates. You can sign up for more than one if they service your local area. With most services, you need to go through a screening process, but once completed, you can start accepting delivery requests.
Offer Bookkeeping Services
If you’re detail-oriented, like crunching numbers, or have experience in accounting, offering a bookkeeping service might be a great option for you.
Recording sales, reconciling receipts, preparing financial statements, and sending out invoices are all tasks that a bookkeeper would handle. If you’re experienced and have certifications, it’s a great way to earn some extra money.
Monetize a YouTube Channel
According to Demandsage.com, there are over 2.70 billion users on YouTube, and literally billions of hours of YouTube videos watched daily. There are several ways to make money on YouTube, but for most, you’ll need to join their Partner Program. Once joined, you can earn money from ads that show when someone watches one of your videos.
It takes some time to attract viewers, so many YouTubers also find other ways to monetize their content, like brand sponsorships, selling merchandise, and affiliate programs. But if you enjoy making videos and shorts, making money on YouTube might be your perfect side hustle.
Become a Virtual Assistant
If you are detail-oriented and organized, becoming a virtual assistant may be the perfect side hustle for you. As a personal assistant, you’d provide services like scheduling appointments and meetings, doing paperwork and research, and booking things like flights and accommodation.
There are websites like Upwork where you can find people looking for personal assistants. You can also pitch directly to business owners via social media platforms and email.
Create Facebook Ads
Businesses use Facebook ads to generate leads that can turn into customers and increase sales. A Facebook ads manager helps businesses create engaging ads that target these potential customers.
You need to know how to use Facebook’s advertising platform to reach the target audience, but you can find plenty of videos and tutorials that can teach you how to use the platform to its full potential.
Make and Sell Crafts
If you enjoy crafting, you can make money selling your crafts. You can sell online on sites like Etsy, locally at markets and events, or both.
You can sell almost any type of craft, but some of the more popular options include handmade jewelry, clothing, and home decor. Other things to consider include candles and bath bombs.
Rent Things You Aren’t Using
Almost everyone has something lying around they don’t use regularly. So, why not rent them out to make a little extra money? You’ll be surprised at what you can actually rent out.
If you have a spare room, there’s Airbnb. If you have a car you’re not using, rent it out on HyreCar. Got a bicycle or two gathering dust in the garage? Check out Spinlister. You can even rent out your designer wardrobe at places like Social Closet.
Become an Online Tutor
You don’t need a teaching degree to become an online tutor. This side hustle involves providing educational instructions and support to students via online platforms and video calls. It’s a great side hustle for educators and anyone with expertise in a field that people will pay to learn.
Online tutoring is flexible, and you can do it from anywhere. You can build up a client base independently or use a service like iTalki and Preply to advertise your services. However, if you use a platform, be aware that they take a percentage of your earnings as a commission.
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If you’re looking for a little more flexibility in your career or wondering what it might be like to work from home, this article is for you. We will break down 16 remote jobs to show that opportunities are available for more than just freelancers and entrepreneurs. From creative roles to dynamic customer service positions, you can pursue many engaging and fulfilling jobs right from the comfort of your living room.
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United States workers are experiencing record levels of workplace stress, and the American Institute of Stress (AIS) outlines the impact on workers’ wellness in a recent ComPsych survey. The outlook isn’t good — 62% of workers cited tensions due to a lack of autonomy or extreme tiredness. Moreover, work priorities are taking over citizens’ lives, with the sources of anxiety stemming from workload, coworkers, and performance improvements.
