Legit Ways To Make Side Money

Every item on this page was chosen by a Woman's Day editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

21 Brilliant Side Hustles to Make Money in Your Spare Time

Pocket some extra cash with one of these gigs.

side hustles

Westend61 Getty Images

If you're looking to earn a little extra spending money, we've got good news: These days, there are side hustles for every schedule and skill set. No matter your education level, location, or availability, there are great opportunities to make some extra cash from a side hustle. While some of them might not come as a surprise, like dog-sitting or freelancing, others, like proofreading and even recycling, might surprise you! Who knows? Maybe your hobby has the makings to be a huge money-maker.

One of the best parts? Many of them have opt-in and opt-out options, so you aren't committed for a long amount of time should you get too busy, and they offer flexible hours so you can make them work for your schedule. Whether you've got a full-time job or just time to spare, we've rounded up the best ways to make money on the side.

1 of 21

Become a proofreader

Got a good eye for grammar and punctuation? Proofreading is the perfect job for you. Check sites like Glassdoor to get paid to proofread things like student essays, court transcripts, menus, legal transcripts, and even user manuals.

2 of 21

Become a local tour guide

Who knows your local area better than you? Being a tour guide is the perfect job for people who love their community and enjoy being around others. Share the sites with visitors and make some money while you do it. Companies like ToursByLocals or Rent a Local Friend are perfect for those interested.

3 of 21

Join a focus group

Companies are always looking for feedback for their products and services from consumers. Sign up on Focusgroup.com and search by area to see available projects.

4 of 21

Manage social media for a local business

Many small town businesses want to use social media, but don't always have the big time funds to spare the way larger companies do. If you have a knack for Facebook, Instagram and the other platforms, offer to handle their social channels for a monthly fee. You'll be surprised by how many people take you up on your offer.

5 of 21

Recycle used smartphones

Some companies, like Gazelle, allow you to recycle and trade in your old phones for cash. Not only do you pocket some money, but you also are getting rid of old electronics in a safer way.

6 of 21

Deliver food

Apps like Postmates, Grubhub, and Uber Eats allow you to sign up to deliver food in your local area. Simply go to their websites, sign up, and you're good to go.

7 of 21

Rent out your space

Whether you've got a spare room, an in-law suite, or you travel all the time and are barely home, consider listing your space on Airbnb or VRBO.

8 of 21

Transcribe Interviews

If you can listen to audio files and type it out on a computer, you can work as a transcriber. Look for postings on freelance sites like TranscribeMe or Upwork.

9 of 21

Open an Etsy shop

Turn your crafting or design hobby into a legit way to make money with an Etsy shop. People go on this site for everything from beautiful bracelets to custom digital party invitations.

10 of 21

Walk dogs

If a morning or evening walk is already part of your routine, why not take a pup or two along with you? Sign up for Rover or Wag!, or or look for dog walking jobs on Care.com.

11 of 21

Pet sit from your home (or theirs)

Or, if you're willing to have a puppy sleepover, you can make serious cash caring for a pet overnight when their owners are out of town. (Some pet parents prefer to have a dog sitter stay at their house, too — it's like a mini staycation you're getting paid for.) Find gigs on Rover or Care.com.

12 of 21

Write and edit resumes

If you've got an eye for grammar and a knack for effective job hunting, share your insight by helping others with their resumes. Check out Upwork for jobs.

13 of 21

Drive for a rideshare app

Sign up to drive for Lyft or Uber on your own time — the ultra-flexible hours and tips from riders are major perks (and you may meet some interesting people, too).

14 of 21

Become an online tutor

Whether you were a star student in English, math, science, or history, tutoring online can be a great way to make extra money and help out struggling kids. There are plenty of online platforms to choose from, but TutorMe.com and Tutor.com are the most popular.

16 of 21

Sell other items on Ebay or Craigslist

For non-clothing items you're looking to offload, you can also list furniture, tech items, and more online. Craigslist is great if you don't want to ship anything, or you can sell smaller items on eBay.

17 of 21

Earn cash back when you shop

When you use apps like Ibotta or Ebates, you can earn money back on the things you already buy in-store or online (like groceries and clothing). (How does it work? Basically, they get a percentage of each purchase from the retailer, and part of their share goes back to you.)

18 of 21

Be a part-time caregiver

If you're great with kids or older adults, create a profile on Care.com or UrbanSitter to find part-time gigs, including school pick-ups and at-home entertainment. (Babysitting isn't just for teens in the neighborhood these days.)

19 of 21

Do household tasks or run errands

If you're flexible and able to do a wide variety of errands or household tasks, sign up to be a Tasker at TaskRabbit. It's a great way to make sure you're never bored.

20 of 21

Freelance in your field

If you work in a creative field, consider growing a freelance side hustle for design, video editing, writing, or marketing. You can look for opportunities on Upwork, reach out to businesses and publications, or let people know you're in the biz for word-of-mouth referrals. (You just might want to run this by your company first to make sure they're okay with it.)

21 of 21

Take quizzes for money

Share your opinions and feedback with companies for cash through sites like Swagbucks or InboxDollars.

Alexa Tucker Freelance Writer Alexa is a Denver-based writer and editor who covers all things health and wellness, lifestyle, travel, and beauty.

Annie O'Sullivan Editorial Assistant As a member of the Special Projects Team, Annie works with the GH Tested program writing up product reviews and roundups and helps plan and run annual expos and events like the GH Parenting Summit, Xmas in July Expo, Cleaning Summit, Winter Essentials Expo, and more.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io