A new survey shows nearly half of all American workers make extra income from the gig economy.
Forty-five percent of respondents have a side hustle, according to a 2019 Bankrate survey, with three in 10 Americans stating they need it for living expenses. There are several factors leading people to explore alternative routes to earn extra cash. For example, maybe you reviewed your spending plan and already cut back everywhere you can in attempt to create breathing room in your budget – including no more lattes at the coffee shop, brown bag lunches and DIY nails over the salon. Perhaps you aren’t in a position to take on a full-time job because of limited childcare or few job prospects. Where else can you possibly find money to save? The answer lies in making a little extra income on the side.
In my time, I have tried it all: mystery shopping, focus group surveys and sold items on Ebay all in the pursuit of earning extra cash – and you can too.
Here are seven side hustles to help you make extra income this summer:
Hold a garage sale.
This is an oldie but goodie. Get all Marie Kondo and clean out your closets, then hold a yard sale. Think you can only make pennies this way? I’ve had two different friends make close to a thousand dollars. It wasn’t that they had several big-ticket items, instead they had many smaller items priced at a dollar or two each. One friend swore that it was her use of racks to hang clothes that did the trick.
Sell things you don’t need online.
There are plenty of sites out there that allow you to sell unwanted items via the web or an app on your phone. I have personally used Ebay and Poshmark, and have only ever mailed items to customers (rather than meet someone in person). There are other sites like Craigslist and Offer Up that let you sell to locals.
TIP: Always make sure you are making the sales transaction in a safe place – many local police departments have “safe zones” in the lobbies of their police departments – and bring along a friend if you can.
Look into legitimate work from home opportunities.
Remote work is a trending option right now and companies are embracing the option. In fact, two military spouses build an entire organization off the concept through Instant Teams, formerly known as MadSkills.
Depending on your skills, you could do things like work in customer service (at companies like Amazon or Capital One), teach (think Tutor.com, Kaplan and VipKid), or be a virtual assistant (check UpWork and Freelancer).
Be a task master.
If you don’t have the time or desire to commit to a structured job, you can score some cash to complete tasks both small and large on sites like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk or Fiverr.
Get creative.
If you’re a Pinterest queen or crafty mom, selling items on websites like Etsy, Redbubble or Shopify can be lucrative. Entrepreneurial artistic types even allow followers on social media to commission custom art works for a fee.
Let the dogs out.
Pet sitting isn’t just for kids. Care.com, the world’s largest online family care platform, compiled a list of state averages showing dog walkers can make between $15 to $18 per hour depending on location. If you live near a military installation, look for Facebook groups in your area to post services.
Shop til you drop.
Shipt, Instacart and Amazon hire folks to shop for and deliver groceries. Be aware that while there is an hourly wage, much of what you make will depend on tips and some sites require you to have a car and will not reimburse you for gas or wear and tear.
Earning extra income can give you flexibility in your budget. If you’re trying to increase your savings, though, it’s important to specifically set aside some of that income. Whether you are building an emergency fund or saving for vacation, side hustles are a great option for reaching your financial goals.
Need help saving? Take the Pledge and then visit MilitarySaves.org for tips, resources and inspiration to help you build wealth and reduce debt.
