Are you a student struggling to pay tuition? Is your 9 to 5 job just not enough to cover your financial needs? If your answer is “yes” to any of these questions, then you’re in the right place. The internet is saturated with side hustle content, but no one really talks about how not all side hustles work, how side hustles should work with a busy schedule, and not feel like a job. Here are unique side hustles that could leverage your skills and interests.
These aren’t the typical Uber (NYSE: UBER) driving and retail jobs. They are flexible online side hustles that you can do between classes or on your days off, high-paying tests you can take for cash, and other outside-the-box ideas to line your wallet.
Online Tutoring
This side hustle works whether you’re a student, or a graduate, as long as you have really good knowledge about one subject, and you can use that expertise to tutor others. There are many pros to this side hustle, and one of them is the flexibility to create your own schedule and operate from any internet-connected location. Additionally, if you’re a student, tutoring others can even give you a boost in your own studies, as teaching others can help you master a subject yourself.
You can tutor students that you know face-to-face, or even advertise for your services online on Facebook or Google Ads, but that could take you some time before you find someone. This is why online tutoring is better, because you can tutor students through different platforms online and make things easier for you. These platforms include tutor.com, which connects tutors to students from all over the world directly, and another common name is Chegg Tutors. With this side hustle, you could earn around $20 to $40 per hour, so it’s an attractive one to go for.
Keep in mind that in order to become a tutor on one of these websites, you might have to complete a rigorous application process, which includes extensive qualification tests, mock sessions, and complete background checks.
Online Surveys
Many companies actually pay people to get reviews for their products, so paid online surveys are considered a very convenient side hustle. The amount of money people make by participating in online surveys varies depending on the survey itself, but on average, you can earn an extra $1 to $5 per day doing online surveys.
You can participate in paid online surveys through different platforms online, and two of the common names that offer this are Survey Junkie and Swagbucks, and you can make anything between $1 to $20 per survey using them.
Audio Transcription
If you are looking for a flexible side hustle, and you also have really good typing skills, then this one is the perfect fit for you. As a transcriptionist, you will be converting audio and video recordings into written documents, and this service is actually in high demand across various industries.
These industries include the financial services industry, as many banks, accounting firms, and insurance companies hire online transcriptionists to transcribe financial reports, client meetings, and claims investigations. You can make a minimum of $20 per hour transcribing audio, potentially earning even more with specialized knowledge in legal, financial or medical fields.
There are various platforms online that you could leverage to get started. The first one is TranscribeMe which provides opportunities to monetize this skill and offers flexibility in the amount of work one takes on. Another platform is Speakwrite, on which top performers make around $3,000 per month on average and as a fast-typer yourself, you can leverage that to earn even more.
Delivery
If you have a car but you’re not keen on the idea of interacting with people, you can become a delivery driver and deliver food, groceries, or everyday items. If you do not have a car, don’t worry about it, as you can still do this side hustle as you will still be able to do deliveries on a motorcycle or a bicycle. You can consider using platforms like InstaCart (NASDAQ: CART) or Uber Eats, as business is always booming for them, especially in areas like college towns. Also, here is a bonus tip for you, efficient route planning and quick service can boost your earnings through tips and save you some fuel, so make sure you know your area well before you decide to become a delivery driver.
Website Testing
This side hustle offers valuable experience in user experience evaluation and software testing. The 18 to 25 year olds demographic is a huge consumer market, especially when it comes to websites and apps, so business owners and web developers need feedback from people like you to improve their digital offerings. Hence why you should share your thoughts and become a website or app tester. Also, no experience is required as you just have to use the product, then provide your thoughts about it via an online form.
There are plenty of online platforms that you can get paid for testing websites on, and they include testingtime.com and usertesting.com. On average, people earn $17 to $26 per hour doing this side hustle, but these websites offer higher rates if you give them high-quality recordings and real-time feedback. Therefore, you will be making a decent amount of cash in the long run if you decide to go for it. However, keep in mind that you might have to complete a sample assignment before getting paid assignments.
Video Game Testing
If testing websites isn’t your thing, you can always test video games. You might be surprised to know that many game designers are more than willing to pay you for your thoughts on the games they’re developing, and you can earn anything from $10 and up to $100 per hour doing this. You can get connected with game designers through websites like Gigworker, Player Research, and Playtestcloud. However, there are plenty of other options that you can try out.
Graphic Design
If you have an eye for graphic design or are an arts student, you can pursue this side hustle. However, you might need a portfolio to show potential employers. Therefore, it is best if you start early and build up your portfolio to earn some cash on the side. However, if you have no knowledge about graphic design, you shouldn’t get too discouraged, as you can always learn using tons of free resources online. In fact, you could find thousands of Photoshop or Canva tutorials on YouTube alone.
What makes this one unique is that you can earn up to $50 per design if you’re really good, and as you grow your portfolio, you can even start a career as a graphic designer. To jumpstart your journey as a graphic designer, you can start with platforms like Upwork, PeoplePerHour, Fiverr, where you can showcase your portfolio and get hired fairly quickly.
The Bottom Line
There are many creative and flexible side hustles options for people who want to earn extra income. From tutoring and participating in surveys to testing websites and graphic design, you can pick anything that fits your skills and interests. The key is finding one of the many side hustles that is on-demand and works with your schedule. Also, you can start slow by dedicating just a few hours a week to your choice of the many side hustles, so it doesn’t distract you from your work or studies.
If you remain consistent, these side hustles can add up to a nice amount of cash to cover your expenses, however, be careful about balancing the time you spend doing your side hustle with everything else in your life. You can also approach these side hustles as a way to gain valuable skills for the future, not just short-term money. If you stay focused and energetic, these jobs can relieve the financial situation and set you up for continued success.
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