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These days, many people struggle to stretch their paychecks from a full-time job to cover all their expenses. As a result, they're seeking ways to make a second income. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 8.9 million Americans (roughly 5.4% of the workforce) held at least two jobs as of March 2025. Maybe you're looking to add your name to that list.
Below, I'll explore several options to add a second income that you can do in the evenings or on weekends, or whenever else you find yourself with free time, while keeping your current job.
Many of these options only require a computer and skills you already have to get started, such as freelancing, becoming a transcriber, or tutoring. Others require even less experience, such as working for a rideshare company or pet sitting.
Become a freelancer
Freelancing is a popular side gig for many since it lets you leverage skills you already have. You can freelance in almost any industry, but some in-demand fields include marketing, graphic and digital design, software programming, and business administration or customer support.
You can contract with clients directly if you have an established network. But if you're just starting, I recommend Upwork and Fiverr. These platforms help you find jobs and provide assistance with payment processing and the administrative side of starting a freelance business (which, take it from me, can be pretty complicated).
Creating a profile and browsing jobs on either site is free. However, I've found that there is a lot of competition on the most popular freelancing platforms, and I often have to pay to get my profile in front of the most clients. You'll also likely pay a fee for work you accept through each platform and have to withhold self-employed taxes as a freelancer.
Sell items you've made or rescued
If you have a good eye and enjoy rummaging through yard sales and second-hand shops, reselling items can be a lucrative side hustle, especially if you have restoration or repair skills.
Online community boards, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay can help you sell items you've rescued and find new items to repair or repurpose.
Alternatively, you can sell goods you've made yourself. Sites like Etsy and Squarespace are excellent platforms for crafters and creators. With a low barrier to entry, starting an Etsy shop makes it relatively easy to sell digital items, such as spreadsheet templates, AI prompts, calendars, art, or even courses that help people learn a new skill.
However, be aware of the various fees charged by selling and reselling platforms. For example, Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee and a $0.20 listing fee on each item. Squarespace charges a monthly subscription fee as well as fees for online store purchases and credit card transactions, depending on your subscription plan.
Offer tutoring or teach a course
Online tutoring or teaching might be a natural fit for educators. If you have a background in a particular topic and are good at communicating, tutoring children and adults is a legit, and easy, online job for sharing your passion and earning extra income.
VIPKid, for example, offers English classes for children aged four to 15. You don't need a teaching degree to sign up, but you must have at least a bachelor's degree, an ESL Teaching Certificate, and be authorized to work in the U.S. or Canada. You must also meet all the technology requirements, like having a supported device and operating system as well as a reliable internet connection.
Self-publish a book
If you like to write or have always wanted to publish a book, consider self-publishing to supplement your income.
Sites like Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or Barnes and Noble Press make it easy to upload your manuscript without having to shop it around to agents and editors. You can choose your publishing rights and list price as well as whether you would like to offer your book as an e-book or physical copy.
KDP also supports publishing children's books, comic books, and more.
Pet sit or babysit
If you're an animal lover, Rover can help you find pet sitting, dog walking, or other pet service gigs.
You can set your own schedule and choose the types of animals you work with. Rover provides up to $25,000 in vet care reimbursement if there's an accident while an animal is in your care.
To get started, you'll need to pass a background check and pay a 20% booking fee for every job you accept.
Care.com can also help you find pet-sitting clients plus babysitting or elder care jobs. Care.com lets you set your own rates, and you can handle payments directly with the client.
Become a delivery or rideshare driver
Becoming a rideshare driver is often considered one of the best side hustles because using delivery apps to make money is a flexible, steady side hustle that requires no experience.
If you like driving and people, becoming a rideshare driver for Uber or Lyft can help you earn a second income without much effort. Similarly, driving for sites like Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub can help you earn more but without small talk.
You'll typically earn a base pay rate with these sites plus tips and incentives, and you can accept gigs whenever you want. However, remember that you're usually responsible for expenses such as gas, insurance, and vehicle maintenance. You also need to pass a background check, have a valid driver's license, and provide proof of car insurance for most delivery apps.
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Rent your home
If you have the space, Airbnb or VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) is a great way to earn extra income with less commitment than other hustles on this list. However, more work can go into preparing and maintaining your home for paying guests than you might assume. You may also need to get extra insurance to protect your home from damage caused by guests.
If you aren't comfortable having people stay in your home, consider a site like Neighbor to rent extra space on your property, such as a garage, driveway, shed, or storage area (to hold RVs, boats, ATVs, or trucks, to name a few). Neighbor handles payment and administrative details, and it even offers liability coverage for hosts.
Rent unused equipment or household items
A site like Yoodilize can help you earn money by renting items you aren't using to people who prefer renting over buying. Some of the things I've seen listed on Yoodillize include tools, sports gear, skis, surfing or camping equipment, kids' toys (including bounce houses), and trailers.
Each listing is covered by up to $2,000 in insurance, and Yoodlize verifies all renters and handles payment processing. I really like the idea of Yoodilize, but you may not receive many rental requests (it depends on the items you have to list), so it might not be enough for a second income on its own.
Invest
Investing is the ultimate form of earning passive income, and an investing app, such as Robinhood, can help you build a portfolio without a huge initial investment.
You can start with Robinhood for just $1 and access a range of assets, including stocks, ETFs, Options, and even some cryptocurrencies.1 <p>All investments involve risk including loss of principal. Interest is earned on uninvested cash swept from your brokerage account to program banks. Robinhood is not a bank. For margin enabled customers, to earn interest through the cash sweep program, a cash balance is needed. If you have a margin balance, there is no cash balance to earn interest.</p> It's free to create an account and doesn't charge commissions.2 <p>Other fees may apply.</p> However, it passes along any fees associated with trading stocks, so be sure to understand what an investment will cost before hitting submit. You can also set up automatic investing to grow your money over time.
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Create digital content
Do you have digital content creation chops? Photographers and videographers can sell their original content to sites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock. I like Shutterstock because they also let you sell original music clips for background or sound effects in addition to still and video clips.
If you like creating videos, building a YouTube channel can help satisfy your creative urges while also generating income through ads or other revenue streams. To increase your chances of making money, build a subscriber base by creating high-quality content. Once you have at least 500 active subscribers, you can start exploring potential advertising partnerships.
Affiliate marketing
Some brands will pay you a percentage of every sale you generate if you promote their products or services to your social media followers through their affiliate marketing programs. Affiliate marketing can be another excellent way to earn passive income, especially if you've already done the work of building a social media following.
Look for available opportunities or brands seeking connections on sites like Awin (formerly ShareASale) or Impact. You can also work with a brand or company by pitching it directly. Just be sure to follow all the rules laid out by the FTC for affiliate marketers, such as disclosures and properly notating links.
Become a transcriber
If you type quickly, transcription jobs can be a fun way to make money online. Check out sites like TranscribeMe, Rev, and Daily Transcription to get started. You'll probably have an easier time passing entrance exams if you've done transcription in the past, but experience isn't required to get started.
While the amount you earn varies by the length of the recording and the type of transcription (e.g., legal or medical), you'll generally receive a per-audio-hour rate. If you qualify to do medical transcription, you could be eligible for a higher rate.
Be a mystery shopper
If you love to shop, getting paid to shop by becoming a mystery shopper is just one legitimate way to make money doing something you love.
Several sites can connect you with mystery shopper opportunities, including Mystery Shopping Service. After you sign up, you'll have access to a variety of assignments, including assessing the sales process, customer service, product quality, or store presentation. You can choose whether or not to accept an assignment, but you must complete any you take.
Other tips to earn extra money now
While using these side hustles around your full-time job can help you earn income on top of your paycheck, it can take a while to build up steady earnings.
If you need cash now, try some of these faster methods (which typically pay less than the options above).
- Take surveys: Use sites like Survey Junkie or Testerup to earn cash or gift cards by completing surveys.
- Play games: Sites like Freecash and Cash Giraffe will pay you to download and play games on your phone or desktop. The amount you earn depends on the games you download and the amount of time you spend playing.
- Donate plasma: If you are generally healthy, consider donating plasma. Companies like CSL Plasma or BioLife Plasma will pay you to donate, and in doing so, you may help save a life.
- Use cashback extensions: Download browser plugins like Capital One Shopping or Rakuten to earn cashback or find coupons on your online purchases.
- Try cash back apps: Cash back apps like Receipt Hog, Ibotta, or Fetch will pay you money for scanning your physical and digital receipts for qualifying purchases.
Bottom line
Working your way up to making a second income may not be fast or easy, but it can be worthwhile.
As you think about ways to earn more, consider what you like to do enough to give up your spare time, and look for ways to create a sustainable hustle or business with minimal upfront costs. While it may take some time to earn $3,000 a month, it is possible and can significantly improve your life.
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