💰 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

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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

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?

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