It is a new year and with it, you may be thinking of ways to increase your income, so you can reach your financial goals. Having a new side hustle or two is a great way to make extra money without having to quit your regular job. These side hustle ideas are perfect for the new year and for helping you to reach those financial goals you have set for yourself.
Over the years I have had many side hustles which have been profitable or has saved me money. I enjoy working on side hustles and they often provide fun and creative activities that you can fit in around your primary income. My blogs started out as side hustles until they took over teaching and I decided that blogging was something that I wanted to continue to develop. However, blogging is not for everyone as it is very time-consuming, therefore, I have looked at other side hustles that may help you save money in 2020.
Making extra money is a huge passion of mine and I love to be able to share the ways that I have achieved this. This extra income is what I use to pay for holidays and family treats. In 2016 I went to Disneyworld Florida and this was all paid for from side hustles which shows that if you are determined then most things are possible.
Mystery Shopping – This was one of my first side hustles and I really enjoyed doing mystery shops. We often ate out for free, had a few hotel stays and regularly reported on a number of retail shops. Usually, you pay for the meal, go home and complete an online questionnaire about your experience and are then refunded plus given a small fee for your time. I would often eat out a few times a month and it saved me paying for nights out. There are a number of companies that you can sign up with and all are free, never pay to join up! Check out Debunking the Mystery in Mystery Shopping for more information.
Mowing Grass – You may not realise it but lawn care as a side hustle can be a profitable side job. You won’t need much equipment to get started; just a shovel, lawn mower, and weed killer. Advertise well and charge your new customers by the garden size and you’ll be making extra money in no time. Be vigilant about using safe products that can cause cancer, and be aware of recent developments such as the roundup weed killer lawsuit.
Babysitting – Not just for teenagers as many prefer to use babysitters that are older with their own parenting experience.
Personal Shopper – For busy mums or business people, having someone to run errands or go shopping for them can be incredibly valuable. How you charge is up to you, but doing things such as running errands, shopping, picking up or dropping off packages, and other “mundane” tasks are all great services to offer. Be sure to include any petrol costs in your charges so you aren’t losing money.
Entering Quiz shows, being on a TV show was on my bucket list and the opportunity to win lots of money was also appealing! You can read about my experience of being on Tipping Point with Ben Sheppard in this post. It certainly makes for a fun side hustle and gives you plenty to talk about!
Survey companies – Survey companies are a great side hustle idea because you can do them from home in your spare time. Make certain that you only do surveys for reputable companies that have a good reputation for paying on time. A few of my favourites are:
- If you like academic research this one will suit you >> Prolific <<. They pay a couple of pound for many surveys and are generally quite interesting.
- Swagbucks can be a great earner, you fill in surveys, watch ads, play games or answer questions and get points which are converted into gift cards. I tend to sit and do these surveys etc in the evening with the laptop on whilst watching TV and relaxing. It is a super way to top up my income. I have made £50 in a week before and there are also plenty of ways to earn on this site. Sign up by clicking this link.
- By far the best paying survey site I have used is Respondent who pay up to $100 a survey, UK people are catered for as many survery are from the UK and the money is converted easily by Paypal.
Reselling – Your home is very likely full of clutter which means that reselling that clutter or reselling great deals you find is a great side hustle for the new year. To avoid selling fees, try selling locally when you can and use Ebay as an option only when an item won’t sell locally. I have much more success on Facebook selling sites as there is no commission, you keep all your fee plus you don’t have the postage costs or have to spend time queuing in post offices. For me selling the children’s lightly used clothes and toys is both economical and responsible.
Finally not a side hustle as such but I start the New Year by reviewing direct debits and standing orders to make sure that I have not forgotten any regular outgoings. The New Year is a good time to review your outgoings, do you really need that magazine subscription still?
This post is a paid partnership with Experian. Their #ExperianMoneyDiaries campaign is designed to help individuals take more control of their personal finances and I am really pleased to be collaborating with them this year. Did you know that through Experian you can meet your Data Self and be ready for the next step so whether that’s budgeting for your big day, driving off in shiny new wheels, or wonderful but unexpected surprises, like a new addition (that burps and giggles) by knowing your credit score you will be placing yourself in a more knowledgeable position that can help you action plan for the year ahead. I’d love to know what you would use income from side hustles to achieve. Drop me a comment and let’s make those dreams become realities in 2019.
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