Hey, babe!
If you’re looking to add some extra cash to your wallet, build your financial freedom, or just have more control over your own income — side hustles can absolutely help! I get it — life is busy, especially when you’re juggling work, home, and everything in between. That’s why I’m all about finding flexible ways to make money that fit into your real-life schedule.
But let’s be honest, you don’t want to waste time on side hustles that require a ton of upfront investment or that turn out to be total scams. No way! We’re talking real opportunities here — the kind that won’t break the bank to start, are totally legit, and are designed to help you get closer to your financial freedom.
And girl, I’ve been there. I’ve tried my hand at several of these side hustles myself. Some worked out great, others, not so much. But I’m here to share my personal experiences and lessons learned so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did. Let’s get into it!
1. Freelance Writing & Content Creation
I started my freelance writing journey when I realized I had a knack for creating content, but I needed a way to work from home while managing everything else. I started out writing blog posts and articles for small businesses. At first, it was slow — I wasn’t getting paid much — but as I continued to build my portfolio and pitch more clients, I began earning a more consistent income.
How to Start:
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Pick your niche: Think about the topics you’re passionate about. For me, it was all things finance and lifestyle. Once I focused on these topics, it made it easier to find clients who needed content in that area.
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Build a portfolio: Start by writing blog posts, articles, or even social media posts. You don’t need fancy samples at first. Write for your blog, or help a friend out, and build from there.
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Pitch your services: Once you have a portfolio, start pitching clients on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. I sent out tons of pitches before landing my first paid gig. Trust me, persistence pays off!
Why It Works:
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Low investment: All you need is a computer and internet connection.
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Flexibility: It’s perfect if you’re managing a busy life — you can work whenever you have time.
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Scalability: As you gain experience, you can increase your rates and scale your business.
Things To Think about:
Time investment: While this is flexible and you can squeeze in writing time, you still have to put in the time for research as needed, editing as requested and typically submitting a draft prior to continuing on with the final article.
Clients can be picky: This is not uncommon. Clients are paying for a service and want things one to their standards. You should make sure you fully understand what they are asking for before accepting the job. Ask questions and clarify anything you are not sure about. This also helps you decide if you want to accept the job.
2. Virtual Assistant (VA)
Being a Virtual Assistant (VA) was a game-changer for me. When I was first building my brand and running my first blog, I needed help with tasks like email management and social media. That’s when I realized there was a whole market for VAs. I decided to dive into it myself when I shut down the original blog, and it turned out to be a perfect match for my organizational skills.
How to Start:
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Get trained: You don’t need to go to school, but there are free and affordable online resources to get you started. I picked up a lot of useful skills through Udemy and free YouTube tutorials. This isn't required but it makes things so much easier when you're starting out!
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Identify your skills: Think about what you’re good at. Do you love organizing? Can you handle social media management or customer service? The more services you offer, the more clients you can attract, but don't forget that you should not offer anything and everything! This causes so many issues that would take a whole post in itself to get into.
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Sign up on platforms: Websites like Upwork and Freelancer are perfect for finding your first VA gigs.
Why It Works:
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Great pay: VAs can earn anywhere from $15-$50 per hour depending on your services and experience.
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Work from home: You get to help businesses run smoothly from the comfort of your own space — no more commuting!
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Grow your skills: You can expand your services over time and raise your rates.
Things To Think about:
Time investment: This is going to be something to think about for all of these side hustles. Like with anything, they require time, and you need to ensure you have the time to complete whatever task you have been given.
Clients tend to know what they want and how they want it: Clients are hiring you to do a job that they are capable of doing themselves and often have been. They know how they want things done and the end result they are looking for. Make sure you are fully aware of what they want and need and that you are able to deliver on this, it makes the process more enjoyable for both of you.
Helpful Links:
3. Social Media Manager
If you're always on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and have a knack for curating content, social media management might be your calling. I started managing social media accounts for small businesses a few years ago, and it allowed me to leverage my creative skills to make money. The best part? I was doing it all from home, on my own schedule!
How to Start:
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Learn the ropes: There are free resources on YouTube and Hootsuite Academy that can teach you the basics of social media marketing and content creation.
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Create a portfolio: Start by managing your own social media accounts or offering to manage a friend’s business account to build up your portfolio.
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Pitch your services: Once you’re ready, reach out to small businesses in your area or online to offer your social media management services.
Why It Works:
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Creative freedom: If you love creating content and being active on social media, this hustle lets you do what you love.
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In demand: Every small business needs an online presence, and they’re willing to pay for it.
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Scalable: As your client base grows, you can start charging more or even outsource work to other social media managers.
Things To Think about:
What type of social media are you good at: When you are deciding what services to offer, you should make sure you are comfortable working on that platform. If Facebook is your jam, but Instagram is a struggle for you, offer Facebook services and work to improve your Instagram skills.
Clients expect results: When a client is paying for a social medica manager, like with anything else, they expect a certain range of results. This can be anywhere from gaining more followers, booking more clients, etc. Again, this is an area you want to make sure you are very clear on so you can feel confident in your ability to deliver the results they are asking for.
Helpful Links:
4. Transcription Services
I’ve tried transcription in the past and it was not for me. I know people that have tried it and enjoyed it very much. It involves listening to audio and typing it out — simple, right? You can do it from anywhere, and there’s always a need for transcription, especially in the legal and medical fields.
How to Start:
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Take a course: I started with a basic course on Udemy to understand the tools and formats. There are tons of transcription courses that can get you started.
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Find work: Websites like Rev and Scribie offer transcription work, and you can get started pretty quickly.
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Practice: It can be challenging at first, but the more you practice, the faster and more accurate you’ll become.
Why It Works:
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Low cost to start: All you need is a computer, headphones, and a quiet space to work.
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Flexibility: You can work at your own pace and choose projects that fit your schedule.
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Great earning potential: Especially if you specialize in medical or legal transcription, the pay can be higher.
Things To Think about:
You must have a good ear: I found my biggest struggle with this side hustle was more than not, the audio recording had a good bit of background noise, or the recorders had heavy accents. This is not my strong suit, so it made this part difficult for me.
Talk to text myth: There are a lot of things going around on social media that show you how to transcribe on word document and such, this is not always accurate and can be more of a hassle than it is worth for a lot of the audio. Especially ones with heavy background noise.
Helpful Links:
5. Etsy Shop or Print on Demand (POD)
For a while, I ran a small Etsy shop, digital printables. If you're a creative type, this is one of the best side hustles out there because you get to make money doing something you love. I switched to Print on Demand (POD) when I started designing custom t-shirts and mugs, and the flexibility it offered was amazing.
How to Start:
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Create your designs: If you love crafting, this is a perfect way to sell your creations. If you're into graphic design, create digital files to sell.
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Set up your shop: Platforms like Etsy, Printify and Printful make it super easy to get started with minimal upfront costs.
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Market your products: Social media is a great way to showcase your products and bring in customers. Instagram and Pinterest are especially helpful.
Why It Works:
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Passive income: With POD, you don’t have to worry about holding inventory — you upload your designs, and the company handles production and shipping.
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Creative freedom: You’re in charge of what you make and sell, which gives you total creative control.
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Low startup costs: You don’t need to invest in inventory or expensive equipment.
Things To Think about:
This is not a fast way to make money: This is more of a business than a side hustle. This takes time and consistency as most things do before you see any real income.
Helpful Links:
6. Ridesharing: Uber, Lyft, & Delivery Services
When I needed extra cash, I tried driving for Uber and Lyft on the weekends. It was perfect for me because I could decide when I wanted to work — and those busy weekend nights were often filled with surge pricing, meaning I could make more per trip. I also found that working lunch times was pretty good as long as it was busy. DoorDash and Instacart were also great alternatives when I wanted to make money quickly without having to drive people around.
How to Start:
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Sign up for Uber or Lyft: The process is straightforward — you’ll need a car, a clean driving record, and a smartphone. Once approved, you can start driving immediately.
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Try delivery services: If driving people isn’t your thing, DoorDash and Instacart let you deliver food or groceries. I personally loved DoorDash for the flexibility, and Instacart is perfect if you like shopping.
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Maximize your earnings: Work during peak hours or during special promotions like surge pricing (for Uber/Lyft) or busy mealtimes (for DoorDash).
Why It Works:
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Flexibility: You choose when and how often you work.
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Low barrier to entry: No experience needed, just a car (or bike) and a smartphone.
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Quick payouts: Some platforms let you cash out your earnings daily.
Things To Think about:
Time investment: Again, time is a big one here. You have to have the time to run the entire busy time if you want to make decent money. There is an initial learning curve you'll have to get through, for me it was learning the areas and times I would make the best money in.
Helpful Links:
7. Affiliate Marketing
One hustle that’s been working great for me is affiliate marketing. I share products I love, whether it’s financial tools, fitness gear, or beauty products, and earn a commission whenever someone buys through my link. The best part? It’s passive income — I make money while I sleep!
How to Start:
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Pick your niche: Think about products or services you already use and love. I recommend starting with things you’re passionate about, as your enthusiasm will shine through.
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Find affiliate programs: Sites like Amazon Associates and Rakuten offer affiliate programs where you can sign up for free.
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Promote your links: Share them on your blog, social media, or YouTube. The more people who click and buy through your link, the more you’ll earn.
Things To Think about:
This can take a little time: While this is a good way to make money anytime, there are things that need to happen before you see good results. You need to get your links out there and in front of people. You will need to continuously update pins and posts to see the best results. People like to buy from others they trust, this takes a little time, but you can do it!
Why It Works:
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Passive income: Once your content is up, you can continue earning without much effort.
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Scalable: The more people you reach, the more potential for commissions.
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Low investment: You don’t need to create your own product.
Helpful Links:
Final Thoughts: Get Started and Go for It!
Side hustles are one of the best ways to boost your income, build financial freedom, and take control of your financial future. And the best part? You don’t need a ton of money to get started, and you can do them at your own pace.
So, what are you waiting for? Pick a hustle, dive in, and start working toward your goals. Every step you take toward financial independence is a step closer to living the life you’ve dreamed of.
Remember, you’re in control, and you’ve got this, girl!
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