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How To Start A Realistic Side Hustle To Get Vacation Money


I'm sure every blog post most of us have seen has shown us "side hustles" to help add a little extra money and pay the bills. But let’s be honest, most of us don’t want to spend hours doing surveys just to make a few bucks.


Many Americans have said they are living paycheck to paycheck so cutting down on cost may not work for everyone to get that dream vacation They may need to get some extra income.


So here are some side hustles I have personally used or seen others use that actually work to get some extra cash in your pocket.


  1. On Demand Work


    A woman cleaning a window


This is how I personally make my extra income. I work at Target as an on demand worker which means I am able to make my own schedule and pick up shifts. Even though I do this through Target, there's a lot of websites and apps that allow you to do this kind of gig.


Other On-Demand Apps


Aside from retail gigs, there are several apps where you can find on-demand jobs that pay quickly:


TaskRabbit: Great for those who enjoy helping others with tasks like furniture assembly, cleaning, or running errands. You can set your own rates and choose the jobs you want to take on.


GigSmart: This app connects you with local businesses that need temporary workers for shifts. It’s perfect if you want a quick cash job without a long-term commitment.


Instawork: Perfect for those interested in flexible part-time jobs in the hospitality industry. You can pick up shifts at events, restaurants, or catering gigs.


Tip: Start by taking a few smaller gigs to build your reputation on these platforms. Good reviews can help you secure higher-paying jobs in the future.


Pros and Cons


Pros

  • Flexible hours: Set your own schedule and pick up shifts when it suits you.

  • Variety of jobs: Choose tasks that match your skills and interests, from retail to manual labor.

  • Quick payment: Many gigs pay within days or even instantly.

  • Easy to start: Most platforms have simple sign-ups and low entry requirements.


Cons


  • Unpredictable income: Work availability can vary, leading to inconsistent earnings.

  • Physically demanding: Some tasks, like heavy lifting or long shifts, can be exhausting.

  • Platform fees: Apps often take a cut of your pay, reducing your earnings.

  • Competitive market: High worker availability can make landing gigs harder.


  1. Upwork



    A woman smiling at the camera with her computer


I have a love/hate relationship with Upwork. There are pros and cons to using Upwork to make passive income HOWEVER buyer beware. If you don't have a lot of things on your resume it can be a little hard to get established. You also cannot just take a break or your "score" will go down.


I found this out the hard way and went from a 100% rating to a 67% because I did not take clients for a month because I did not need the income. You also have to invest some of your own money to get a job but if you play your cards right and pick the right jobs you shouldn't lose any money. From my time on Upwork I made about 150 dollars and was on there a little less than 2 months.


Other Freelance Websites


People Per Hour - You still need credits to apply to jobs but like Upwork, People Per Hour gives you free credits at the beginning. Personally I found it easier to get a job on there than on Upwork.


IWriter- IWriter is a pretty easy application. You fill out your resume and take a grammar test and you're a freelancer! If you want to start freelanacing, do not have a lot of money to invest and do not have a large portfolio I Writer might be good for you.


Freelancer.com - Freelancer.com is a little oversaturated but it still has some great entry level job postings.


Tip: Start doing "entry" jobs even if they don't peak your interest to get testimonials on your profile so you can work your way up to getting paid more on these sites.


Pros and Cons


Pros:


  • You can find a variety of freelance jobs, from writing and graphic design to programming and customer service.

  • It can be a good way to build your freelance business if you’re just starting out.


Cons:


  • The platform can be saturated, especially for beginners. SO you will have to invest time to find jobs.

  • You need to invest in "Connects" (tokens) to apply for jobs, which means spending a bit of your own money upfront.

  • Your job "score" matters—a lot. If you take a break and don’t accept new clients for a while, your score may drop, making it harder to get hired again.




  1. Dog Walking/House Sitting



    a dog with a leash in its mouth


This in my opinion is probably the easiest and best way to get passive income. I've seen people get over over $100 from housesitting for a night.


Now most people are not going to pay that much but house sitting and dog walking can still make you a lot of money. Apps like Rover have made it where you can walk dogs or house sit in your spare time and get paid. For sitting in someone's house...


The only reason I haven't used this app is that at the moment I don't drive so it would be a little hard to go back and forth but once I do I plan on getting this app.


If you do not like animals or feel a little weird staying at a strangers house this probably isn't the best side hustle for you.


Dog Walking/House Sitting Apps


Rover - A leading platform for both dog walking and pet sitting.

Set your own rates and choose services like dog walking, boarding, or daycare.


Wag! -Specializes in dog walking and drop-in visits.

Includes options for short walks and on-demand services.


Pawshake -Available globally and offers dog walking, pet sitting, and home visits.

Focuses on personalized care with no app service fees for pet owners.


Fetch! Pet Care - A nationwide service offering dog walking and pet sitting jobs.

Ideal for building long-term relationships with clients.


HouseSitter.com - Focused on house sitting gigs, often including pet care duties.

Users create profiles and connect directly with homeowners.


Nomador -A platform for house sitting jobs worldwide, including pet care.

Offers a mix of paid gigs and free accommodations.


MindMyHouse - A budget-friendly house-sitting platform with annual membership fees.

Includes both short- and long-term sitting opportunities.


PetBacker -Offers pet sitting, house sitting, and dog walking opportunities.

Allows sitters to list their services and negotiate fees directly with pet owners.


Pros and Cons


Pros


  • Flexible Schedule: Choose jobs that fit your availability, making it easy to work around other commitments.

  • Good Pay for Minimal Work: A lot of gigs pay well, especially overnight house-sitting jobs, with rates often exceeding $50-$100 per night.

  • Enjoyable for Animal Lovers: If you love pets, it doesn’t feel like work! Spending time with animals can be therapeutic and fun. I mean you get to play with animals and get paid for it!

  • Local Opportunities: Apps like Rover and Wag! connect you with nearby clients, cutting down on travel time.

  • Low Startup Costs: All you need is a reliable app profile, some experience with pets, and maybe a few basic supplies like leashes or treats. Most side hustles on this list require you to have a skill or be willing to learn one except this. Most people can walk a dog, water some plants while someone is out of town, and scoop pet food into a bowl. You can set your rate and according to Glassdoor the average Rover worker makes $17 /hr which isn't bad considering alot of us do this for free!


Cons


  • Driving Required: If you don’t have a car, it can be challenging to reach homes or multiple gigs in one day. This is the reason I don't do this gig. Most likely, you will need a car for this gig so if you do not have one this probably isn't for you.

  • Unpredictable Income: Jobs may be inconsistent, especially during off-peak times when people aren’t traveling. This side gig may make a lot during holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.) but not a lot during the off season. If you're saving up for a vacation you might want to figure out when the "busy" season is so you can plan to hustle then and put that money in a separate savings account.

  • Responsibility Risks: Caring for someone else’s pet or home can be stressful, especially if something unexpected happens (e.g., a sick pet).

  • App Fees: Platforms like Rover often take a percentage of your earnings, so what your getting paid isn't really how much you're making.

  • Client Trust Issues: Building trust with new clients can take time. Would you feel comfortable wit a stranger watching your pet or staying in your house?


Side Hustles That Are Overrated


You can't mention the best hustles without mentioning the worst ones. So here are my least favorite side hustles that are not worth the hype.


  1. Freelance Writing



    A notebook with a sticky note on it that says get paid to write


I know ironic the writer is saying freelance writing is a bad side hustle. But let me explain. Freelance writing has become oversaturated and to even get a freelance job that will pay you to write or even get an interview nowadays you need a portfolio and even then you're competing with 100s if not 1000s of other applicants to start a freelance side hustle.


If you do want to go into freelance writing I recommend cold emailing. A lot. I emailed about 40 local publications that I love and got crickets from most of them until 1 accepted me as a freelancer! And that was after months of applying on writer job boards, LinkedIn, Upwork, etc. To put it into perspective I probably spent about 4 hours each day the past 3 months applying to freelance writer jobs, I have a 2 year long portfolio of written work published professionally and just got accepted. So getting a job without one isn't impossible but it's not easy.


If you want to do this side hustle it's basically going to be a second job and you need to love it!


  1. Tutor



    A woman tutoring a young girl


Alright this one isn't impossible if anything if you can find a tutor job you should get one! It helps you keep your mind sharp on certain material AND you're helping someone else learn. But a lot of people are fighting to get that same job. If you do have a background in education or you're a professor this isn't really for you. This is for the broke college student trying to online tutor for a couple hours.


My issue with this one is too its a lot of work while only getting paid for the hours you are with the student. A lot of tutor programs when being interviewed expect you to make a lesson plan, stay up to date with the student, and have messaging throughout the week. If this is something you love it probably wont feel like work but if you're just looking to make a quick buck, this probably isn't for you.


  1. Surveys



    A hologram survey


The dreaded surveys told to bring in a bunch of disposable income. Surveys can bring in some extra money depending on what platforms you use and how often you use them but not as much as you'd need to treat yourself to that little vacation.


The most I've made off of surveys doing it consistently is 100 in a month but I was doing probably 15 a day if not more. And eventually you get a little tired of giving your opinion over and over. It also doesn't help that in order to do 15 surveys you usually have to get rejected from 30 so it takes a little bit. In my opinion it's better to get a job you know you'll get an income from



  1. Virtual Assistant



    A man doing online work on a zoom call


Everyone now wants to work from home so this field is so saturated. It's still worth a shot but from what I've seen on websites like Upwork and contract websites, most Virtual Assistants are asked to work around 25 hours now so its not really a 'side hustle' but if you do want to travel while working it is a good job! But it's also not as easy of a job to get anymore.



Side Hustles That Might Be Worth A Shot


These side hustles could work but a lot of them are not easy money. It takes a little bit to get the ball rolling but if you're willing to commit, it could be a way to get extra income.



Selling Products on Etsy or Shopify



Woman making handmade bracelets


If you love knitting your friends sweaters, making friendships bracelets, or love painting, selling products on Etsy or Shopify can be a good side hustle. Whether it’s handmade crafts, vintage finds, or digital products like pintables, there’s a market for almost everything.


If you want to sell products online though it is a little more work than posting your product and waiting for the sells to flock in, but selling on Etsy doesn’t have to be complicated if you approach it the right way.


Start by finding a niche—something specific that speaks to a certain group of people. Instead of generic t-shirts or jewelry, think about creating t-shirts for expecting parents or custom charm bracelets with a personal touch.


Great photos are a must since they’re what people use to decide if your product is worth buying. If you’re not a photography pro, use tools like Creative Fabrica or Place It for mockups that look amazing and follow Etsy’s rules. Etsy has very specific mockup rules so I would be sure to read them before posting pictures of whatever product you are selling so your account does not get suspended.


Next, make sure your listings are optimized with the right keywords so people can actually find your shop. It doesn't matter if you're making great things if no one can find them. Everbee is a great tool to help you see what’s working for competitors and use those insights to your advantage. Don't reinvent the wheel, use what's working so you can get to the first page too!


Don’t forget social media! Instagram and TikTok is free promotion and with features like TikTok Shop and Instagram Shop, you can even sell directly on those platforms while growing your audience. Even if you get one sale from posting from social media it's still a sale!


Selling Digital Products



People altering photographs


Creating digital products like e-books, online courses, or printables is an excellent way to make passive income. Once you’ve created the product, it can be sold repeatedly with little additional effort.


If you’re thinking about creating digital products, there are so many options to explore. Printables are always a hit—think planners, checklists, or even coloring pages. You can easily design them on platforms like Canva or Adobe, but try to niche down to stand out. Instead of a planner, create a floral planner or instead of a checklist create a checklist for teachers. It’s easier to stand out in a market with 10,000 sellers than in one with millions competing for attention.


E-books are another great option if you’ve got expertise in something you love. Self-publishing is easier than ever in 2024 with tools like Kittl and Canva for cover art, and you can use voice-to-text to make writing feel like you’re chatting with a friend. Just don’t expect it to be a best seller without promoting it. Use social media to promote your book so you can get sales. You could even create a social media page just for your book!


Lastly, if you’re skilled in something others want to learn, why not teach it? Platforms like Udemy or Teachable make it simple to create online courses on anything from spicing up resumes to using GarageBand or building better relationships. You’d be surprised how much knowledge you have to share!


Rideshare or Delivery Apps



Women driving a car with man in backseat


Apps like Uber and Door Dash have made it easier than ever to get side money. But there are some slight issues that made me hesitate to put it in the realistic category.


Since a lot of people are now using rideshare and delivery apps for a side hustle, they may be oversaturated in your area and you may not be able to apply depending on where you live. You may also not make a lot of money depending on where you live and what time of day you do this.


If you have the time to do this on a weekends from 7pm-3am near a town when people are starting to go out with their friends you may get a lot of tips. But if you can only work 2pm-6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and you do not live near a lot of restaurants or local nightlife, the money you put in your gas tank might outweigh the amount of tips you are getting.


Like dog walking this is probably one of the easier side hustles and depending on where you live you could get a lot of money. My recommendation is to keep track of how much it cost to fill up your gas tank when you ride share or do food delivery and how much you receive in tips. If you are wasting gas, this might not be the right side hustle for you.


Pick The Side Gig For You!



Picture that says go for it


Finding the right side hustle comes down to your skills, lifestyle, and goals. Whether you’re looking to make a little extra cash or fund a big dream like traveling, there are plenty of options to explore.


Start with something that feels doable and aligns with your interests—whether that’s dog walking, selling crafts, or diving into freelancing. Remember, no side hustle is one-size-fits-all, so don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you. Most importantly, treat it like a journey. Every small win adds up, and before you know it, you’ll be closer to reaching your goals!



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