The Side Hustle Revolution: Cheap Ways to Start Earning Extra Today

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It seems as if everyone has a side hustle these days, and one reason they're so appealing is that many of them offer the potential to boost your income without having to spend a lot on a business credit card to get started.

I've had a few side hustles myself, and while they're not always easy to keep going while balancing your regular job, they can certainly be profitable.

Here are just a few that won't cost you much to launch and could potentially start earning you cash right away.

1. Use your existing skills to start a side gig

For years, my day job was managing the online content for a couple of national organizations. But on the weekends, I was a freelance writer, interviewing experts in the automotive industry and writing how-to articles for global media companies.

My side hustle gig has ebbed and flowed over the years, but I've appreciated the ability to use a skill I have to boost my income. It might not be writing for you, but if you've been in the workforce for a few years, you probably have at least one skill you could use to sell services.

The great thing about doing this is that it probably won't cost you any money. I've found writing clients on job boards, through friends, and freelancing platforms like Fiverr.

2. Start selling your extra stuff

A few years ago, I sold my house and went on a cross-country adventure with my family. Before we left, we gave away many of our belongings. One night, when getting a pizza delivered for dinner, I gave away our TV and some lamps to the delivery driver, who had just moved to America. I still remember him excitedly calling his friend on the phone as we loaded up his car with new-to-him stuff for his apartment!

As fun as that was, I've also sold stuff I'm not using to generate a little cash. My kids are really good at this and have listed many of their old Lego sets on eBay.

While selling a few extra items from around your home isn't a sustainable side hustle, you could certainly turn it into one. Some people buy auctioned storage units and then resell what's inside them, and I know people who sometimes find valuable furniture put on the curb in Brooklyn, spruce it up, and then sell it online.

3. Teach others online

There's a lot of demand for self-improvement content and educational help online these days. I have a subscription to MasterClass and love watching experts share their insights via video.

Creating an online course of your own is easier than ever, with ubiquitous audio and video recording options built right into computers and smartphones. Platforms like Udemy and Skillshare allow you to create and sell your courses, and it won't cost you a dime to start doing it.

But you don't need to launch your own course to make money from teaching online. My wife used to work as an online English tutor for Chinese kids, using her love of education and kids to make a little money. Whether you launch your own course or find tutoring jobs online, it's likely you have skills or knowledge you can teach to others -- and make money from it.

4. Turn your passion into profits

I recently bought a kit that taught me some of the basics of leatherworking, including how to make a simple leather bag for my wife. I'm excited to try my hand at a few more leather projects, and as I'm learning, I've encountered many small business owners selling their products online .

I don't have any plans right now to turn this new hobby into a business, but many people have successfully turned their hobbies into side hustles. Some may be more costly than others (leather crafting tools and supplies aren't exactly cheap!), but you might have a skill that could easily transfer into a side hustle.

For example, a woman who lives near me trains dogs. She meets clients at the park after she trained their dogs and then teaches the owners how to instruct their pets. A side hustle like that could have easily begun as a passion for her dog and a knack for getting her pet to listen.

The benefit of turning a hobby into a side hustle is that you might already have the skills and necessary equipment or tools to get started. Not only could you get paid for what you love, but it might not cost much to get started.

These are just a handful of side hustle examples you can launch for cheap. The great thing about side hustles is that they can be incredibly specific to your experience and skills. If you have a general idea of what you want to do, a quick Google search will likely help you find others who've done something similar and can help you get started.

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