How to Side Hustle it Up in 2025
By Yana Kouretas
This is how it goes. You just accepted a new job, you’ve settled in this new life, and you’re earning what feels like a ‘grown up’ paycheck on a regular basis. But many of us come to a startling realization that we aren’t generating enough income at our 9-5 jobs to make us feel financially secure. You say yes to dinner and drinks on the weekend with friends, but when you have to go to the grocery store, you’re met with a smaller than desired number starting back at you in your bank account. At this point, you’re looking for any way to relieve the financial pressure. This scenario might look a little different for anyone, but the underlying premise is the same. You need more money to supplement your lifestyle than your everyday, 9-5 job gives you.
So, this begs the question: “Should you turn to a side hustle to make more money?”
In all reality, side hustles are not exclusively for those who ‘need’ to make more money. Some people simply enjoy the extra cushion of cash—which could be used as a backup plan in case of a job loss, to save for a big purchase, or as a welcome outcome of a beloved hobby or skill.
Loving your job is no longer a required criteria. In fact, it has become more rare to accept a job based on how much value it would add to your life. So, a side hustle offers an outlet to practice something you love or are good at, outside of the workplace, while making money while you're at it.
Side hustles have become more common, normalized, and more talked about. Like the job industry, it can feel like there's not enough to go around for everybody. But the truth is—if you have your sights set on an activity, skill, business, or interest—you can make it happen. But, we’re here to make it easier for you to get past the ‘how.’
A side hustle requires some grit, determination, patience, and time. You have to put in that part, but we have some ideas and places to look, to get started. While these are more tailored towards using established side hustle models, you can always start your own business or come up with a completely new idea.
*Courtesy of Pinterest
Mercari & Poshmak
It’s free to make an account, and you can sell clothes, furniture, accessories, etc.
Rev.com
Rev.com is centered around digital tasks like transcribing audio or video titles, or creating captions for content.
Earnings will vary based on the speed and complexity of the work you’re doing
There’s an approval process, such as some basic English and grammar tests
The more experience you have with the app, the more money they will pay you!
Rover - Get Paid to Play with Pets!
You can sign up for several different kinds of services, like dog walking, house sitting, drop-in visits, or dog boarding.
Upwork
UpWork is a popular online marketplace for freelancers, particularly those specializing in fields like writing, graphic design, marketing, etc.
The platform lets you practice your specific, professional skills, with real and reputable freelance gigs that you can add to your resume
Prolific
Prolific collects real-time human data, which is then widely used by AI developers, researchers, and other organizations to conduct market research and create products
You can choose available academic and research studies that interest you and work with your schedule
Each study will list an hourly rate
Some can be simple questionnaires, while others may be more complex tasks
Be an Online Tutor on OutSchool or Wyzant
You don’t need a formal teaching degree or credentials, but you do need to demonstrate experience and skill in a certain subject
Sign up to be a Weekend Babysitter at Care.com
Get Paid to Test Company Apps, Products, and Applications
Monetize a Youtube Chanel
Have an interest, skill, or hobby that you wouldn’t mind sharing with other people? Maybe you love clothes or makeup, and want to share your purchases with others? Or, do you like to make social media content, and you think you can turn your 9-5 ‘day in my life’s’ into longer-form videos?
Join the YouTube Partner Program
It’s not fast money, but if you take the time to build your audience, you can generate enough views to earn money from ads.
Start a Substack Blog
You don’t have to be a writer to start a blog
If you tailor your content to the skills you want to share with people, then the writing part will come easily!
Once you’ve nailed down your niche and you start to build an audience (which can take time), you can set up a paid subscription format
If You’re Crafty or Like to Make Things: The Homeland of Small Businesses, Esty
Set up your account, list your products, set prices, and choose billing and payment options