Ballin On A Budget: De-Bunking Side Hustles

Whether you find yourself without a job or are just looking to bring in some extra income, there are multiple ways to make money with a side hustle.

Recently I’ve been looking for ways to make a few bucks outside of my 9-5 job. I’m not looking to replace my job, just trying to build up my savings up a little faster.

I’ve started offering a few services on Fiverr (a site where those in need of various services, find people willing to provide them), and have even started using apps like Google Opinion Rewards and Fetch Rewards to get some rewards for just doing my day-to-day shopping.

In today’s world, there are countless ways to make money outside of a traditional job. From applying to be a ride-share driver or delivering food orders. Or to provide various services for people online, it’s never been easier to bring in a few extra bucks here and there. Based on how committed you are to it, you might even be able to make a full-time job out of it.

We each have 168 hours in the week, 56 Hours spent on sleeping, 40 hours spent at work, that means 72 hours of leftover time to make an extra income.

Let’s take a look at a few different ways that you might choose to make some extra cash.

Gig Economy Jobs

Ride Sharing

Companies like Uber and Lyft are often used to get people around busy cities, providing a different option to a traditional taxi or having to drive a car. As these companies continue to get more and more popular, the need for drivers will continue to rise. Ride sharing drivers typically get to make their own schedule, allowing for increased flexibility.

For those of you with a car, it might be a great way to increase your bank account at your own pace. Typically all you need to get started is a drivers license, insurance, and a background check. However, you’ll want to check with the specific platform you intend to work for to check their requirements and application process.

Freelance Services

For those looking to take advantage of their specialized skills, platforms like Fiverr and UpWork allow users to buy and sell a variety of services ranging from website development, resume review, business logo design, and more. These types of services allow you to earn money without even having to leave the house.

Based on your skill set, you might find yourself working on several tasks at once, and have the flexibility to set your prices based on your skill level and offerings.

The barrier to entry for sites like these is typically pretty low. Once you create and verify an account, you can typically start offering your services right away. For me, it took about a week until I saw my first order. Depending on how you advertise and spread the word, you might see yours come in a lot faster.

Online Side Gigs

Streaming

As we find ourselves on our phones or computers more and more, some of us may want to take advantage of that attention by becoming a streamer or internet personality. Sites like Twitch, Youtube, and Mixer offer interactive live streams where streamers can capture themselves performing a range of activities.

While doing things like playing video games, playing an instrument, or vlogging are incredibly popular, recent trends like ASMR and Mukbang are pulling in millions of views every day.

Some of the most popular creators are streaming to over 100 thousand viewers. By providing enticing content, you might see viewers donating money, purchasing merchandise, and more. Most streaming sites are free to use and simply require a webcam and microphone to get started and can even be done right from your phone.

Podcasting

A great alternative/addition to streaming is starting a podcast. As we’re on our computers or phones more often, a great thing to do is listen to some music or podcast. Platforms like Anchor, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and Google or Apple Podcasts allow you to create and distribute your own podcasts. A good way to earn money from this is via advertisements. Based on the topic of your podcast, you can often find companies and brands looking to provide sponsorships in exchange for time on your show. This can take the form of a direct advertisement or just a discussion within the episode.

First, starting a podcast can be fairly easy once you find a topic to discuss as a lot of platforms are free to use and require little to start. Podcasts exist for any topic you can think of, ranging from TV shows and Movies to bug collecting and meteorology. As long as you enjoy what you’re talking about, listeners will come.

Subscription-Based Content

A recent trend to emerge over the past couple of years is content distributed via subscriptions services. These platforms allow subscribers to interact with influencers or celebrities and lets them receive exclusive content. This content could include anything from photos to one-on-one calls between the paid subscriber and the creator.

Depending on the platform, getting started should be fairly easy. First, you determine what type of content you’d like to provide, you simply need to start building your audience. An example of this would be Patreon.

Affiliate programs

Affiliate programs aren’t just for bloggers. You can get gift cards, free products, and commission. The easiest Affiliate programs to get involved with are the ones you already use. Often products you use, or apps you have, have built in affiliate programs.

For example, if you have a Starbucks card, and refer one of your friends to use the app as well you can get a reward for that. They change how many rewards you can get from month to month.

Rach’s favorite affiliate programs include Arbonne, Skyscanner, VRBO, and She.in (in order of biggest commission return) She is learning of new and programs daily.

App-Based Rewards

Shopping Surveys

An easy way to earn some smaller amounts of money is through app-based rewards. Something I was introduced to recently is earning rewards simply by shopping. Simply by shopping as you normally would, apps like Google Opinion Rewards and Fetch Rewards can reward you with money or points towards rewards like gift certificate just by answering a few questions or scanning your receipt.

Although, this isn’t the easiest way to make a large sum of money, it is definitely an easy way to earn some extra money without having to go out of your way or change your habits.

Next, Whatever avenue you choose, there are an ever-increasing number of non-traditional ways to earn some extra money. A key thing to remember with anyone you choose to do is, if you enjoy what you’re doing you’ll have better success.

Let us know how you’re earning some extra money in the comments down below and check out some of our other Ballin on a Budget articles for more financial tips and tricks.

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