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Do you hate your job? Are you stuck in a dead-end career with no hope of advancement? If so, it’s time to start thinking about ways to escape. A great way to do this is by starting a side hustle. It can be anything from freelancing work to starting your own business. This article will discuss the best side hustle ideas to help you escape your 9-5.
The Downsides of a 9 to 5
Nine to fives can be a bummer. For one, you are stuck working a full time job that you may not be happy with. Having to work full time all the time can make it challenging to balance work and your personal life.
Additionally, you are likely not paid what you’re worth. According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, workers in the United States have seen their wages stagnate for decades. In fact, adjusted for inflation, the average worker is making less money now than they did 40 years ago!
Finally, most jobs offer little room for growth or advancement. If you’re unhappy with your career prospects, it can be tough to stay motivated at work.
Side Hustles to the Rescue
Luckily, there is a solution to the nine-to-five doldrums: side hustles! A side hustle is a job or project that you do in addition to your regular job.
There are many benefits of having a side hustle. For one, it can help you make extra money. Having extra money can be helpful if you’re trying to pay off debt, save for a down payment on a house, or have some extra cash for spending money.
Additionally, side hustles can give you a sense of purpose and satisfaction that may be lacking in your regular job.
Finally, working on a side hustle can help you develop new skills and knowledge. Developing new skills can be helpful if you’re looking to change careers or start your own business in the future.
1. Online Coach or Consultant
You can start working as an online coach or consultant if you have a skill set that others need. Coaching could include anything from social media marketing to relationship advice. You can use many platforms to find clients, such as Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.
2. Invest in Real Estate
Investing in real estate is a great way to make passive income. Having investments in real estate means that you can make money without having to work for it.
You can also start a side hustle by becoming a landlord. This will require work, but it can be a great way to make extra monthly money.
If you’re interested in real estate but don’t have the money to invest, you can also become a property manager. This will involve managing other people’s properties, such as apartments and houses.
3. Start a YouTube Channel
YouTube is an excellent platform for making passive income. If you stay consistent and rack up enough subscribers, you can start making money based on how many views you get.
To be successful on YouTube, you must create content that people are interested in watching. Your content could include anything from vlogs to how-to videos. Once you have a following, you can start monetizing your channel with ads.
You can also make money on YouTube by selling products or services. For example, if you have a blog or website, you can link it in the description of your videos. Promoting your blog or website will allow viewers to find your site and purchase products or services from you.
4. Become an Etsy Seller
Etsy is an excellent platform for selling handmade goods, vintage items, and craft supplies. If you’re creative and have a knack for making things, Etsy is a great side hustle.
To succeed on Etsy, you must create unique and high-quality products. You should also take time to write good descriptions and take quality photos.
Additionally, it’s essential to promote your shop. You can share your products on social media and participate in Etsy groups.
Finally, it’s essential to offer good customer service. Good customer service includes responding quickly to questions and concerns from buyers.
5. Do Freelance Work Online
If you’re looking for a flexible side hustle, freelancing is a great option. You can work as much or as little as you want, and you can do it anywhere in the world.
There are many different platforms you can use to find freelance work, such as Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer. You can also search for projects on job boards like Indeed and Craigslist.
When applying for jobs, send a well-written cover letter and resume. You should also include samples of your previous work.
Once you start working with clients, deliver quality work on time. This will help you build a good reputation and get more repeat customers.
6. Start a Blog
Blogging is a great way to make money online. You can start a blog about any topic you want, and there are many ways to monetize it.
For example, you can sell products or services through your blog. You can also use affiliate marketing, which means you earn a commission on products or services that you promote on your blog.
Additionally, you can place ads on your blog to generate income. Google Adsense is a popular option for this.
To be successful with blogging, you need to produce high-quality content that people are interested in reading. You should also promote your blog through social media and other channels.
7. Become a Reseller
Reselling is a great way to make money online. You can buy products at wholesale prices and then sell them on platforms like eBay and Amazon.
To be successful as a reseller, you need to find good products that you can sell for a higher price. You should also take time to take quality photos and write good descriptions.
Additionally, it’s essential to provide good customer service. Customer service includes responding quickly to questions and concerns from buyers.
Finally, it’s essential to ship orders promptly. This will help you build a good reputation and get more repeat customers.
You can resell many different things, such as clothes, electronics, and furniture.
8. Online Tutoring
If you’re a teacher or have knowledge in a particular subject, you can make money by tutoring students online.
You can use many different platforms to find students, such as Tutor.com and Chegg. You can also search for students on job boards like Indeed and Craigslist.
9. Rent Out a Spare Room
If you have an extra bedroom in your house, you can make money by renting it out on Airbnb.
To be successful with this side hustle, you need to take time to clean and decorate your space. You should also take quality photos and write a good description.
It’s essential to have a strong lease agreement, roommate agreement, and ad.
Here are some great resources if you’re interested in this side hustle.
10. Do Makeup for Events
If you’re a makeup artist, you can make money by doing makeup for events.
To be successful with this side hustle, you need to build a strong portfolio. A strong portfolio includes pictures of your previous work and client testimonials.
You should also have a professional website where people can learn more about your services.
It’s essential to promote your business through social media and other channels. You can also get booked for gigs by networking with event planners and vendors in your area.
11. Start an Event Planning Business
If you love planning parties and events, then starting your own event planning business could be the perfect side hustle for you. You can work with clients to design everything from weddings and birthday parties to corporate events and more.
12. Drive for Uber or Lyft
If you’re looking for a side hustle that you can do on your own schedule, then driving for Uber or Lyft might be a good option for you. You can work as little or as much as you want and make some extra cash by giving people rides around town.
13. Rent Extra Space or Property on Airbnb
If you have an extra room or property you’re not using, why not rent it out on Airbnb? You can earn some extra cash by renting out your space to travelers from all over the world.
14. Manage Social Media Accounts for Small Businesses
If you’re good at social media, you can make some extra cash by managing social media accounts for small businesses. You can help them to grow their online presence and reach new customers.
15. Create an Online Course
If you’re an expert on a particular topic, you can create an online course and sell it to people who want to learn more about it. An online course is a great way to earn extra cash while helping others learn new things.
16. Write an Ebook
If you’re a good writer, you can write an ebook and sell it online. Writing an ebook is a great way to share your knowledge with the world and make some extra cash at the same time.
17. Start a Catering Business
If you love to cook, then starting a catering business could be the perfect side hustle for you. You can work with clients to cater events of all kinds, from small parties to large corporate functions.
18. Design Logos for Small Businesses
If you’re a graphic designer, you can help small businesses by designing logos. Creating and posting your logos is a great way to get your name out there and earn some extra cash.
19. Design Cover Art for Authors
If you’re a graphic designer or artist, you can help authors design cover art for their books. Creating cover art and promoting it is a great way to get your work noticed and earn some extra cash.
20. Open Your Own Food Truck
Why not start your own food truck if you love to cook? You can serve up your delicious food to people all over the city and make a great living doing it.
21. Become a Personal Trainer
If you’re passionate about fitness, becoming a personal trainer could be your perfect side hustle. You can work with clients to help them reach their fitness goals, and you can make some great money doing it.
22. Help Small Businesses With Email Marketing
If you’re good at email marketing, you can help small businesses grow their customer base by working with them on their email marketing campaigns. Making email marketing campaigns is a great way to earn some extra cash and learn more about digital marketing.
23. Start a Podcast
If you’re passionate about a particular topic, you can start your own podcast and share your knowledge with the world. A podcast is a great way to build an audience and earn some extra cash.
24. Interior Decorator
If you love interior design, becoming an interior decorator could be your perfect side hustle. You can work with clients to help them decorate the ideal space for their needs.
The difference between interior decorating and interior design is that you do not need to have an interior design degree to do interior decorating.
25. Run Social Media Ads for Other Businesses
If you’re good at social media, you can help other businesses run their social media ads. Running social media ads is a great way to earn extra cash and learn more about digital marketing.
26. Sell NFTs
If you’re a graphic designer or artist, then you can sell your work as NFTs. Creating NFTs and promoting them on social media is a great way to get your work noticed and earn some extra cash.
27. Create and Sell Stock Photos
You can create and sell stock photos if you’re a good photographer. Selling stock photos is a great way to make money from your hobby.
28. Start a Wedding Planning Business
If you love weddings, then starting your own wedding planning business could be the perfect side hustle. You can work with clients to help them plan the perfect day, and you can make a great living doing it.
29. Make Tye-Dye Merch
If you’re creative, making tye-dye merch could be the perfect side hustle for you. You can sell your creations online or at local markets and fairs.
30. Participate at the Local Farmer’s Market
Selling products at the local farmer’s market is a great side hustle. You can sell homegrown produce or products you’ve made from scratch.
Final Thoughts
There are so many great side hustles out there that it can be tough to choose just one. But with a bit of research, you’re sure to find the perfect side hustle for you. And who knows, you may even be able to scale your side hustle into a full-time business.
Claire is a student turned financial enthusiast who has a passion for helping others. Her goal is to help as many people reach financial independence and early retirement as possible. When Claire isn't working on her blog, you can find her buried in a good book, testing recipes in the kitchen, or outside playing with her ducks.