Top 10 Side Gigs for Extra Cash

Like most people, you may be looking for extra cash to have for some fun money. Whatever you may need extra cash for, we have the scoop on how to make some without too much hassle.

*For most of these side gigs, you will need to be at least 18 years old with a checking account.

1. Deliver food for Postmates or UberEats

These two deliveries services are pretty popular in bigger cities like Kansas City and Chicago. For Postmates, you only need to be 18 with a form of transportation like a car or scooter. These are great side gigs for college students who may have sporadic free time to work. All you have to do is go online and wait for an order, it’s that easy!

For these two services, you connect your bank account and build on your tab through the week. At the end of each week, your tab automatically deposits into your connected account. You can make at least $15/hour for working for either of these services.

2. Drive for Uber

This service in particular can be a side gig or a main one. In cities that aren’t large, it’s best to only use it as a side gig. But, for larger cities with bad traffic, like Las Vegas or Las Angeles, this can easily be your main source of income. I interacted with several Uber drivers in Las Vegas that did this and made nearly 100k annually. Uber requires that you are 21 years old, with a clean driving record, insurance, and a car no older than 10 years old. Having a car with great gas mileage can be perfect for this. You can also make a little extra money if you have a vehicle that seats more than four people.  

3. Take surveys

Again, these side gigs should be just that; it’s a great way to earn extra cash, especially for college students. For students, you can take a survey during your study break and relax while making some money for your necessary daily coffee.

Websites like InboxDollars or SwagBucks, are legit services that are easy to sign up. SwagBucks only provides gift cards that you take surveys to earn. InboxDollars allows you to take surveys and accumulate money and then cash it out to use. When you cash out, you can either cash it out for gift cards, prepaid Visa card, or a check that you would receive in the mail. So, sign up today and start earning extra cash instantly!

4. Be a mystery shopper

Many companies employ mystery shoppers, including QuikTrip and Walmart. This is only to make sure their employees are doing everything required. Though it may seem daunting to be a mystery shopper, it’s very easy, a great way to get free items and a good way to get a little extra cash in your pocket.

Usually, you are given a few key things to do, maybe a few things to ask. You will usually need to remember the worker you interacted with. For most shops, you will do them alone and probably purchase food, clothes, etc. You are reimbursed for your purchases by the company. Once you finish your shop you will need to fill out a survey about it and fill in a few comments if necessary. It’s as easy as that.

5. Sell your belongings

Selling your belongings can range from your clothes, your furniture, or even your unused kitchenware. I like to sell my unwanted clothes on a phone app called “Depop.” There are a variety of styles of clothes sold on here. You connect a paypal account to the app and whenever you make a transaction, any fees automatically come out and the remaining balance gets put into your paypal.

You can either choose to pay for the shipping for the buyer or have them pay for it. All you have to do is upload a few pictures of the item and a short description. With aesthetic enough pictures and a great description, you’ll be earning extra cash and cleaning out your closet in no time.

6. Care for dogs on Rover

Rover is another mobile app and website that is insanely easy to get started and operate. It is a service where you can do a variety of services for dog owners: dog boarding, walking, house sitting, drop in visits, or doggy daycare. All you have to do is create a profile, go through a background check and then you can begin accepting requests. You can fill in a calendar with your availability to be able to do things for Rover. It’s recommended to have experience dealing with dogs of all sizes and to have a yard or easy access to a dog park. This is another side gig that works great at your convenience and you’d get to play with dogs, could this get any better?

7. Rent out your extra room on AirBnB

This side gig requires a bit more trust in others and the ability to be comfortable around someone you don’t know in your home. For AirBnB, you can either rent out your entire residence or maybe only a room or two.e. You have the opportunity to set the price of the room or residence to what you see fit, as well as include a cleaning and maintenance fee. Similar to Rover, you fill in a calendar with your availability. This side gig can be a great way to meet new people and learn of other cultures. I’ve stayed in my fair share of AirBnB’s and I never fear for my safety, nor the safety of my belongings. It’s important to make your guests feel comfortable and welcome. This side gig requires more of a commitment than some of the others, but the return can be well worth it.  

8. Tutor online/teach English online

These side gigs can be the most nerve racking for many people but it can be quite simple to get started and customize to your schedule. The majority of the programs, such as QKids and Brainfuse, require that you either have a Bachelor’s Degree or you’re working towards one. Some of these programs are in various subjects that you can assist students online. Then there are some programs where you are teaching English to people from around the world. These type of tutoring job often don’t require any prior experience, just fluency in English. One can make between $10 and $20/hour for this type of service so they can be great for college students and those you enjoy working from home.

9. Become a brand ambassador

These days, many companies try to find the easiest way to advertise their products without hiring models and advertisers. They can easily do this by hiring interested social media influencers to post and rave about their products. You can be a brand ambassador on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. Some companies will give you free products, but most only give discounts to be able to buy their products. Once you have the products, you will post on your social media sites, discussing what you like about the products. Brand ambassadors use a provided code to share along with their photos. Everytime someone buys from that brand using that code, the brand ambassador gets a portion of the proceeds. It’s that easy, so go ahead and try it out.

10. Donate your plasma

This side gig is surely not for the faint of heart. It requires being at least tolerable of needles and being alright in a medical building. Plasma is actually used to create medications for those who have grave diseases. The process involves removing your blood, separating the plasma from the red blood cells, and then returning the red blood cells to your body. To begin the process of donating plasma, you will have to spend upwards of 3 hours in the clinic. This is consists of filling out questionnaires, having a physical done, and having tests done. This long and tedious process can be worth it, though, as you can earn about $300/month. So, if you’d like to help people suffering from diseases and need extra cash, check out this side gig.

This list involves quite a variety of side gigs that anyone can do based on your interests. Some have a larger reward than others, but all of them can be great for making extra money. Check out some of these side gigs the next time you’re digging through your couch cushions for spare change.

Check out this post if you’re interested in making money while spending it.