20 Easy Side Hustles That Can Make You $500 a Month

The cost of living gets expensive these days, so having a side hustle can be helpful. Earn more with a second income through these 20 side hustles.

  • Cyra Sanchez
  • 5 min read
20 Easy Side Hustles That Can Make You $500 a Month
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Freelancing, pet sitting, online tutoring, and other types of side hustles offer opportunities to earn money at flexible times. Many of them have little to no startup cost for anyone looking to bring their earnings. With consistency and smart marketing, these gigs can become reliable sources of income.

1. Freelance Writing

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Got a knack for words? You can do freelance writing, which could be anything like writing an article, a blog post, or marketing materials. It’s flexible, and you can do it from anywhere, making it easy to slot into your current routine.

2. Online Tutoring

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Can you carry on a conversation about any topic? For instance, online tutoring lets you teach students subjects such as math and languages over the internet. As remote education becomes even more popular, it’s a convenient way to exchange knowledge and make a little extra cash.

3. Virtual Assistant

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Are your organizational skills on point? As a virtual assistant, you remotely assist businesses or entrepreneurs by managing email and scheduling tasks. This is why this role gives you flexibility and helps you gain experience with various clients.

4. Social Media Management

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Are you always on social media? Social media managers create and manage content for businesses’ social media profiles to engage customers and help build brand presence. It is a creative outlet that you can control alongside your everyday life.

5. Graphic Design

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Got an eye for design? Graphic designers work as freelancers to develop visuals for clients with social media graphics, logos, brochures, etc. You can work on projects that interest you on your own time as long as you have the skills and tools necessary.

6. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking

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Love animals? You can take care of pets when their owners are away or busy. It’s a fulfilling way to spend time with animals and earn some money, usually requiring only a few hours of the day.

7. Rideshare Driving

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Do you enjoy driving? Rideshare drivers use their vehicles to drive customers using services like Uber or Lyft. You work flexible hours, and it is a good way to make money on the side.

8. Delivery Services

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Do you have a few hours and a car? Delivery services include delivering food, groceries, or packages to customers. As more people turn to online shopping to satisfy their retail delivery cravings or rely on food delivery apps, delivery drivers are constantly needed.

9. House Cleaning

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Don’t mind tidying up? House cleaners visit homeowners’ homes to clean dust, vacuum, and mop. It’s a physically demanding job with flexible hours, so it’s easy to drop in and out if you have time.

10. Handyman Services

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Are you good with tools? A handyman service is a business that deals with minor repairs, upkeep, and other maintenance tasks for clients. If you have plumbing, carpentry, or electrical work skills, this could be a quick way to make some money on the side.

11. Lawn Care

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Do you have a green thumb? Lawn care specialists are responsible for the upkeep and aesthetic enhancement of outdoor environments and perform tasks such as mowing, weeding, and planting. It’s a seasonal job that provides flexibility and benefits from being outside.

12. Selling Handmade Crafts

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Are you crafty and creative? Make handmade crafts such as jewelry, candles, or artwork and sell them online or at local markets. It’s a rewarding way to make income from your hobbies.

13. Photography

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Do you have a talent for capturing moments? Photographers take photographs for events, portraits, or products. With proper gear and skill, you can accept shoots when you have free time.

14. Renting Out a Room

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Have extra space at home? You can rent your room to guests on platforms like Airbnb. It’s a way to use underutilized space and connect with new people, with the option to decide when to host.

15. Participating in Online Surveys

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Do you have some spare minutes? Online surveys are those where you give feedback to the companies and get rewarded for your efforts. It’s an easy way to make extra money that doesn’t require a lot of your time.

16. Selling Unused Items

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Decluttering your space? Selling unused items means listing things you no longer use on sites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. It’s an easy way to make extra cash while decluttering your home.

17. Affiliate Marketing

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Do you like to promote products you love? You can do this by undertaking affiliate marketing, where you earn a commission by promoting the products or services of other businesses. You can also start making passive income on affiliate marketing if you share your affiliate link with the strong online presence that you create.

18. Content Creation on YouTube

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Comfortable being in front of a camera? By creating content on YouTube, you can post videos discussing whatever you’re interested in and get paid to do it through ads and sponsorships. It’s a niche that could have a massive audience and income.

19. Proofreading and Editing

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Do you have an eagle eye for errors? Proofreading or editing can be a fulfilling job. This remote-friendly role combines flexibility with the satisfaction of polishing text.

20. Transcription Services

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Are you a fast and accurate typist? Transcriptionists turn audio files into written documents. This role can be performed remotely and generally gives you the freedom to choose your hours, so it’s a pretty flexible side hustle.

Written by: Cyra Sanchez

Cyra, known as Cy, discovered her love for writing as a teenager, crafting fanfics on Wattpad inspired by her favorite anime. In 2019, she changed career paths to follow her passion for art and storytelling, and she’s been a content writer for global clients ever since. In her free time, Cy works on a dark fantasy novel she hopes to self-publish, writes poetry, plays video games, and brings her characters to life through digital painting. A fan of Game of Thrones and anime, she’s always inspired by rich, imaginative worlds.

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