I’ve been working at home for over 7 years now and it’s still crazy looking back at the day I decided to try my first side hustle.
Side hustles are amazing because:
- Backup income in case you lose a job
- Potentially start an entirely new career
- Learn new skills to put on your resume
Here’s a list of side hustles I’ve done that have earned me over $250,000.
#1 Start a niche blog
I created this blog and made over $80,000 in my senior year of college (that’s me in my first major feature by Forbes!).
I even started a second blog in the niche houseplants.
If you’re wondering how I make money on this blog, it comes from:
- Affiliate marketing (someone clicks on my affiliate link and I get a commission)
- Sponsored posts
- Advertising
- Selling my own products (like my online course)
If you want to start a website but have questions like:
- What should my blog be about?
- How do I know what to write about?
- How soon can I start making money?
Take a free training on building a new PROFITABLE blog.
This free training teaches you how to create an income-producing website. You also learn the key mistakes to avoid if you’re a beginner.
#2 Virtual Assistant
Being a virtual assistant is great consistent income that I use to help pay off student loan debt.
Some my virtual assistant tasks include:
- managing social media platforms
- create Pinterest graphics
- write blog posts using SEO best practices
#3 Freelance writer
If you enjoy writing or it sounds like something you want to get into, consider freelance writing as a side gig.
This is something I’ve been doing for over 10 years now and I really like it. I get paid around $250/article and it’s relatively easy work.
Benefits of freelance writing:
- Work from home
- Take on as little or as many articles as you want
- As you gain experience, you can charge more
- Set your own hours and be your own boss
#4 Sell courses
One of my newest side hustles has been creating courses.
If you are an expert in a particular field or have something to share that you know other people will be interested in, a course is a great way to make money from your expertise.
If you’re a blogger, selling courses is another great side hustle to take advantage of.
If you’re a blogger, YouTuber, or Instagrammer, my course Making Sense of Sponsored Posts is a great way to learn how to make money by working with brands.
#5 Investing apps
Though I definitely don’t rely on investing apps for my retirement, I find them entertaining. I use Robinhood and invest very small amounts in individual stocks.
And since I’m a Robinhood user, I have a referral link for others in case anyone is interested in trying Robinhood.
How to get started with investing apps
You can get a free stock here. I also invest a little bit in the WeBull app. Get 2 free stocks today when you join WeBull.
Side hustles I’ve done in the past
#6 Rover dog walker
Dog walking on Rover has to be one of my favorite side hustles because I never felt like I was working. I got to hangout with dogs and go for a walk, which are both of my favorite things.
It helps to have references and a background check.
How to sign up as a Rover dog walker
Sign up as a Rover dog walker and start your rates out low.
This gets more people hiring you as a dog walker, which means more reviews you’ll receive. People love reviews and want to hire a dog walker that they can trust.
#7 Babysitter
Babysitting is one of the easiest ways to make money.
I had a Care.com profile that gave me date night jobs and even a full-time nannying job. To make your profile standout, get a background check from Care.com and references.
#8 Resell items online
I sold a few items on Craigslist that we no longer used around the house.
This is a great way to declutter your house and make extra money. You’d be really surprised at what people are willing to buy, even if you think no one would buy it.
How to start reselling items
If you want to learn how to buy and resell items for profit, sign up for a free training called Flipper University training.
This training teaches you how to turn your passion for thrift stores into a profitable reselling business.
Other side hustles to start
#9 Sell printables
Selling printables on Etsy is one of best side hustles out there because of how easy it is to get started.
People are earning between $100-$1000+ a month selling printables online (see their success stories here).
Benefits of selling printables:
- Don’t need previous experience
- Can turn into passive income
- Work from home + work as little or as many hours as you want
In this free training you’ll learn:
- Ideas for printables to make
- What you need to start an Etsy shop
- How to make sure you get sales on Etsy
As you can see below, making printables is a profitable side hustle! Julie earned over $20,000 in her spare time.
#10 Pinterest Virtual Assistant
A Pinterest Virtual Assistant is someone who manages a business’s profile on Pinterest.
Pinterest VA’s are in charge of tasks like creating new pins, scheduling pins, creating descriptions for pins, etc.
Benefits of being a Pinterest VA:
- Work from anywhere
- Set your own schedule
- Can make $500-$5,000+ a month
- Ability to quit your day job and do this full-time
Check out this free training here on how to become a Pinterest Virtual Assistant.
In the free training, you’ll learn:
- How to get started as a Pinterest VA right away
- Steps to take to start this business
- How to create a business plan based on how much you want to make
#11 Facebook Ad Manager
Did you know you can become a Facebook Ad Manager for businesses and make an extra $1,000+ a month with just 1 client?
You’ve likely seen Facebook ads before and you may have even purchased something from a Facebook ad.
Facebook Ad Managers are in charge of running ads for businesses to increase their customer base and income.
Get a free training here and learn how to become a Facebook Ad Manager.
- How this proven side hustle earns people $2,000/month with only 2-3 hours per week
#12 Surveys
Surveys are a great way to make extra money when you need extra cash for groceries or gas.
To make money with surveys, all you do is:
- Fill out a quick profile sharing a little about you
- Start answering questions and giving your opinions
You can also earn money on survey sites by:
- Playing games
- Watching ads
The top survey sites are:
#13 Proofreader
Proofreaders work online and have the ability to work from anywhere in the world.
The average hourly rate is between $14-$31 an hour depending on your experience, which clients you’re working for, and the type of project.
To become a proofreader it’s important that you:
- Own a computer
- Reliable internet access
This job is done on your own schedule because you need to have the work done BY a certain time, not at a certain time.
In this free training you’ll learn:
- 5 signs proofreading is right for you
- How to attract proofreading clients
#14 Bookkeeper
A bookkeeper is in charge of filing receipts, recording sales, organizing expenses, and more.
Bookkeepers earn up to $30 an hour and can earn much more depending on experience and qualifications.
Here is a free training for people who are interested in this career path: Start A Successful Bookkeeping Business.
In this free training you’ll learn:
Final Thoughts
I believe there’s a side hustle for everyone. So whether you want to make extra money, quit your day job, or simply want to start new something, there’s a side hustle out there waiting for you to start it.
Alexis Schroeder is the CEO and founder of FITnancials.
With budgeting and side hustles, Alexis paid off over $40,000 of debt and made over $100,000 in side hustles in college.
Since starting this website over 10 years ago, Fitnancials has reached over 3,000,000 readers. We’ve been featured on sites like Forbes, Yahoo, Side Hustle School, GOBankingRates, Mint, and many more.
If you want to contact Alexis, please send an email to alexis@fitnancials.com.