25 Great Ways to Earn Money on the Side

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Almost everyone is looking to make extra money, whether they’re working full-time, part-time or are retired. More than half (55 percent) of people age 55 and older have a side hustle,

according to survey results published in January 2025 by Resume Builder.

With the variety of ways people can earn money on the side, it makes sense that many are giving it a go. But be alert when pursuing some of these intriguing side hustles: Scams are rampant.

Bad actors use postings on social media sites, job boards, text messages and emails to trick you into giving up your personal information they can then use to steal your identity and money.

Make sure to vet the job posting or person you are doing business with to ensure everything is legitimate.

That’s not to say real opportunities aren’t out there, though. Here are 25 great ways to shore up some extra cash. ​​

Companies will pay you to take online surveys about your shopping habits, household spending or preferences. In exchange, you’ll be paid a nominal fee. KashKick, Survey Junkie and 

Swagbucks are examples of companies that will pay you to take surveys.

Who should skip this? If you are worried about sharing personal information, this gig probably isn’t for you. ​

Some companies pay you to shop, eat out or try new products and services, making you a “mystery shopper” who provides feedback on how the business might improve. But beware when looking for

 mystery shopper jobs: Scams designed to steal your cash are common. With a legit company, you’ll get reimbursed for the money you spend as well as a small fee. You can find legitimate

mystery shopper gigs through the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (MSPA Americas). The trade association has a list of companies that have gone through a vetting process and

adhere to an international code of ethics. You should never pay to become a mystery shopper, the MSPA warns.

Who should skip this? If you are looking for serious cash or don’t like leaving the house, this job probably isn’t for you.  

If you have unused space in your home, garage, parking space, pool or backyard, you can earn extra cash renting it out. You can search for renters through word-of-mouth referrals, posting

announcements at your local library or community center, or placing ads in your local paper or online. If you don’t mind giving up a cut of the rent, you can use a third-party service like 

Airbnb, RVshare or Swimply to rent out your space. Carve out time to properly vet potential tenants. Also, check with your insurance provider; you may need additional coverage to protect

yourself.

Who should skip this? If the idea of letting a stranger into your home makes you uneasy, this isn’t for you. And there is always a risk that your property could get damaged by a tenant, or

a renter could get injured on the premises and file a lawsuit against you. Weigh those risks with the income you’ll bring in. 

Regardless of what you spend money on, you can get cash back if you use a cash-back credit card.  Some cards give extra cash back in certain categories like travel or groceries, while others

rotate it quarterly or offer a flat rate across all purchases. 

Who should skip this? If you are the pay-cash-only type, this option probably isn’t for you. ​

Sam Island 5. Become a writer, proofreader or copy editor

If you have a knack for writing and/or editing, there are plenty of jobs available that you can do from the comfort of your home. Your experience and the scope of the work will determine how

much you’ll get paid. FlexJobs, Upwork and other job boards often have postings for freelance work for writers and editors.   

Who should skip this? If writing or editing isn’t your strength, or you are looking for a less effort-intensive side hustle, this may not be for you. Often, you must bid on projects, which

means providing work samples and/or taking tests — time that could be wasted if you ultimately don’t land the gig.​

If you are a TV or movie buff, you can get paid for watching your favorite shows. Some require you to write or answer questions about what you viewed, while others just want to track your

viewing habits. It’s important to work with a reputable company, as scams are commonplace. The amount you can earn depends on the site, the length of the videos and other factors. One site,

Swagbucks, says users earn about $5 per day. Other companies that pay for watching videos include KashKick and Nielsen.  

Who should skip this? If you are time-strapped or don’t want a company tracking what you watch, you may want to skip this opportunity. The videos can be long and may require you to provide a

summary or answer questions at the end. Plus, you’ll have to offer basic information, such as age and geographic area about yourself and other viewers in your household. 

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Waiting in line to buy concert tickets or purchase the latest smartphone can be frustrating, which is why some people pay others to wait for them. That is where a line stander comes in. To

become one, you can sign up with a company such as TaskRabbit, InLine4You or Spotblaze, which will match you with line-stander jobs in your area.

Who should skip this? This job requires you to stand on your feet for an extended period, which can be tiring. Hard surfaces, like concrete, and bad weather could also make the task

uncomfortable. ​

Online tutors and virtual course instructors are in demand these days. You can take the knowledge gleaned from years in your career and earn money sharing that expertise. You can find online

teaching jobs via employment websites such as FlexJobs, Monster and Upwork. “Jobs that offer flexibility and freedom for older workers can be found in areas such as administration and

consulting, data entry, education and training,” says Toni Frana, a lead career expert at FlexJobs.