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- 💰 Side Hustles to Make Money Fast
💰 Side Hustles to Make Money Fast
And ones worth building for later
Hey — it’s Lee from Refresh.me.
I came across this video from creator Mckenzie Mack. She shared 3 side hustles for making a little money quick and 3 for making a lot of money slow.
I thought it was an interesting way to think about side hustles.
The ones that take little time to start will often pay you little. But if you’re willing to invest more time to build something, it could make you more in the long run.
Let’s break these down below. ⬇️
In today’s issue:
Side hustles for now and later
Moving in with in-laws (WWYD)
What’s happening with grocery prices
Create a Budget
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🔍 Deep Dive: Side Hustles On a Spectrum
Most side hustles that generate a significant amount of money take time to build. And most you can start earning from today…don’t.
Think about side hustles like this:

If you need quick cash, a low-effort, low time commitment side hustle makes sense. But if you want to earn a decent amount of money, it’s worth building something that’ll make you more.
Low Effort, Quick Start (<$500/month)
These options need minimal setup time and can generate income within days or weeks. That said, they typically don’t earn you much.
Delivery and Gig Work
Examples: DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Amazon Flex
Setup Time: Hours to days
Income Potential: $15-$25/hour
Cons: Vehicle wear, gas costs, inconsistent hours can make it an unreliable source of income
Best For: Immediate income, scheduling around main job
Here’s some advice for making more on DoorDash.
Selling Unused Items
Examples: Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Poshmark or Curtsy for clothing
Setup Time: Immediate
Income Potential: $100-$500 one time, depending on what you own
Cons: Limited to what you already own, can take time to sell things
Best For: Decluttering while making some cash, one-time income boost
Here’s how to write your listing descriptions to make more.
Pet Sitting
Examples: Rover, Wag!
Setup Time: Hours to days
Income Potential: $17/hour for walking, $35-$75/night for overnight boarding
Cons: Can take a bit to get your first client, platform takes commissions
Best For: Pet lovers who want a flexible side hustle
Here are some tips for getting started on Rover.
Moderate Effort, Skill Building (<$1,000/month)
You’ll need some skill and a decent amount of consistent effort to make money off these side hustles.
Content Creation
Examples: YouTube channels, TikTok Shop
Setup Time: 3-6 months to build an audience
Income Potential: $500-$2,000/month once established
Cons: Requires a smartphone with a good camera, consistent effort, and a desire to improve your content until it performs
Best For: People comfortable on camera who can commit to regular content creation
Here’s a tutorial for making money on TikTok Shop.
Etsy Templates or Designs
Examples: Print-on-demand t-shirts, digital posters, downloadable art
Setup Time: 1-2 months to build a store, 3-6 months to earn more
Income Potential: $2,000/month, depending on the product you sell
Cons: Requires an eye for design and knowledge of or the desire to learn SEO
Best For: Creative people who are open to learning SEO to make their shop searchable
Here’s a business owner making a full-time income from Etsy.
High Effort, High Skill ($5,000+/month)
These side hustles take a while to get up and running. But if you’re willing to put in the work, they can make you quite a bit of money.
Freelance Professional Services
Examples: Graphic design, copywriting, consulting, web development
Setup Time: 3-6 months to build a portfolio and client base
Income Potential: $30-$150/hour based on expertise and clients
Cons: Income can come and go quickly, you’ll need to keep hustling for clients, and you’ll have to handle all the business aspects (taxes, client management, etc.)
Best For: People who already have a skill they can offer clients and are willing to run a small business
Here’s a beginner’s guide to freelancing.
Course Creation and Digital Products
Examples: Online courses, e-books, membership communities
Setup Time: 6-12 months to create, launch, and market
Income Potential: $1,000-$10,000/month
Cons: Most digital products take significant expertise, marketing skills, and persistence.
Best For: Experts in specific fields who can teach a topic and market a product.
Here’s a beginner’s guide to selling digital products.
Real Estate Investing
Examples: Renting out a room in your house, house hacking a duplex, buying a property to rent out
Setup Time: 3-6 months to find, purchase, and rent out a property
Income Potential: $500-$10,000+/month
Cons: Takes significant research and being a landlord
Best For: People who are comfortable with a bit of risk and want to be a landlord
Here are 5 ways to dip your toes into real estate investing.
Put It Into Practice
Challenge a friend to see who can make more side cash this week. Use the strategies shared in this newsletter to give you a head start, and see how much you can earn by the end of the week.

💵 Budget Breakdown: Moving in with In-Laws
Sidney moved in with her in-laws to save money while her husband works and she finishes up her degree online. They hope to use the rent-free season to save money for their future home.
But she’s missing the privacy that comes with living…without your parents in close quarters. (Like being able to make a sandwich without unsolicited advice 😅)

Living with family can help save money, but is the lack of privacy worth it?
Would you move in with in-laws to save money? |

🔗 Quick Links
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💸 Expert’s top 3 tips for getting richer.
P.S. — Are you on X? If so, follow me on X/Twitter to catch my daily thoughts on personal finance and engage directly with me.
Every generation’s money trauma becomes their financial playbook:
Boomers: Post-war boom → “Work hard, save everything”
Millennials: 2008 crash → “The system is broken”
Gen Z: Everything unaffordable → “Why play by these rules?”
— Lee Schmidt (@leeschmidt123)
3:02 PM • Aug 8, 2025
What'd you think of this issue? |
