What you will learn: How I started making money on the side with no special skills, the four side hustles I tried (and which ones actually paid), and how to avoid wasting time on low-paying gigs.
I Needed an Extra $500 a Month
When I decided to pay off my credit card debt, I realized cutting expenses alone wouldn’t be enough. I needed more income. My day job paid $45,000. I couldn’t get a raise overnight. But I could start a side hustle.
I tried four different side hustles over six months. Some were complete flops. One changed my financial life. Here is what happened.
The Failures
Uber Eats delivery: I signed up, did 12 deliveries over two weeks, and made $187. After gas and car depreciation, I probably netted around $100. The constant driving was exhausting and the pay barely felt worth it.
Online surveys: I spent three evenings filling out surveys for “rewards.” I made $34 in gift cards. The hourly rate worked out to roughly $2.50. Complete waste of time.
The Winner: Pet Sitting
A friend mentioned she was making $600/month watching dogs on Rover. I was skeptical, but I created a profile, got my first client (a friend’s golden retriever), and within two months had five regular clients.
The numbers: I charged $35/night for overnight sitting and $20 for a 30-minute walk. With an average of three overnight bookings and four walks per week, I was making $780/month. The best part? I could do it while working from home. The dogs slept, I worked my day job, and got paid for both.
What I Learned
Side hustles are not created equal. The key is finding something that leverages your existing time and skills. For me, pet sitting worked because I already work from home, love animals, and didn’t need special training.
After I paid off my debt, I kept the pet sitting business. The extra $800/month goes directly into my investment account. In a year, that’s nearly $10,000, just from watching dogs while I do my regular job.