Financially speaking, 2020 was tough. Millions of people worldwide were laid off in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and millions more struggled to make ends meet.
Whether you’re looking to subsidize your main source of income for an added layer of financial stability or you want to dip your toes into entrepreneurship, a side hustle is a great idea. Not only does it provide an additional income stream, but it allows you to turn your passion into a livelihood without sacrificing your day job.
Here are 10 lucrative side hustles that will help you bring in the dough in 2021.
1. Freelance Writer
If you’ve secretly been wanting to turn your love of the written word into a career since college, 2021 is definitely the year to monetize your passion for writing. Every business and person has a story to tell, so why not write it? There is no shortage of ways to make money from this side hustle! From blogs and website content to social media statuses and resumes, the ways to make money as a freelance writer are endless.
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Fiverr — On this website, you can get started right away and bid on work that fuels your passion.
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Upwork — Upwork is similar to Fiverr, but is more geared toward larger projects and projects that require specialty knowledge/skills.
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2. Virtual Tutor
Do you have a background in education or are well-versed in a specific subject matter? As a tutor, you can make between $45 and $100 an hour helping others who are struggling. Whether you want to help a student prep for their SATs or even help foreign students brush up on their English, a tutoring side hustle is both lucrative and fulfilling.
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Wyzant — Sign up on this app as a tutor to teach people from all over the world.
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VIPKid — This website allows you to teach Chinese students English online.
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3. Dog Walker
Now that COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed, many people may be heading back to the office during mid-2021. With puppers so used to their parents being home 24/7, the need for dog walkers will be higher than ever! Get paid to be outside, get exercise, and hang out with dogs! What could be better? You could even petsit a dog or cat in your home or the owner’s household.
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Rover — Sign up on this app to start petsitting right away.
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Wag — This app helps you to become a professional dog walker and build up a roster of clients in your area.
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4. Airbnb Host
Have a spare room in your house? Turn that unused space into cold, hard cash when you host on Airbnb! You’ll also get to meet cool people from all over the world.
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5. Caregiver
Did you babysit as a teenager? Revisit your old hustle and opt to be a part-time nanny. With so many parents still working from home, they may need an extra pair of hands to run the nest. For example, if they have a virtual meeting coming up, they could hire you to take their kids to the park for half a day. If babysitting isn’t your thing, you can also get paid to care for an elderly person.
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Care.com — Sign up on this site to be a caregiver for kids and seniors.
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UrbanSitter — If you live in the city, this app will connect you to nearby parents in need of a sitter.
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6. Sell Your Old Clothes
Do you love fashion? Have a closet full of unworn clothing? Consider launching an apparel store on Etsy to make fast cash on your old wardrobe. In fact, you could make an Etsy store for almost everything. From jewelry and candles to lifestyle products, the options are endless! You could also use:
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The Real Real — You can sell your gently used luxury items and make great money on this app.
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Poshmark — With this site, you can sell your used apparel, accessories, home decor, and more.
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7. Complete Tasks
Some people may not be inclined to put together a bed from IKEA. Others may not have time to go grocery shopping. If you like doing little tasks here and there, this could be a great side hustle for you!
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TaskRabbit — This app connects you with people seeking a person to perform a specific task or errand.
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PeoplePerHour — Much like TaskRabbit, this app helps you make money doing odd jobs.
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8. Clean Homes
Is your home neat and tidy? Do you love to organize? Put those skills to good use when you launch a profitable house cleaning side gig. You don’t have to limit yourself to just homes. Small businesses need cleaning too!
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Nextdoor — This app puts you in contact with folks in your community who may need your cleaning services.
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Handy — This app puts you in touch with folks looking for a cleaner, handyman, and more.
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9. Deliver Food
Want to make money by driving but don’t want to put up with passengers? Consider delivering food instead. Companies such as Uber Eats and DoorDash will pay you to deliver pizza, Chinese, and even desserts. You can also go grocery shopping for people to make fast cash.
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Instacart — This app enables you to go grocery shopping for people. Depending on the area you live in, it can actually be really lucrative — many shoppers average $18-$22/hour.
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DoorDash — Deliver food in a flash with this app.
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10. Flipping
Don’t worry, we’re not talking about houses. Flipping is basically buying an old item, sprucing it up, and selling it for a profit. You can flip electronics, furniture, décor, and more. You can even sell used books that you found at a thrift store on Amazon. To do this, simply look up the ISBN number on Amazon to get a feel for the price.
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Etsy — Sell flipped furniture, decor, and more on this craft site.
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UncommonGoods — This website caters to people trying to find unusual and rare items.
Try one of these awesome side hustles to start raking in the dough in 2021!
Are you side hustling? Let us know what your side gig is in the comments below!
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