23+ Low Cost Side Hustles to Start Now

Sarah, a fifth-grade teacher from Ohio, spent her evenings last year doing something unusual: melting soy wax and experimenting with lavender essential oils at her kitchen table. By December, her $20 candle-making kit from Michaels had turned into a $1,200/month side hustle, all without quitting her day job or dipping into her savings.

“I didn’t want a second job,” she told me, “just something to offset student loans. Turns out, you don’t need a fancy studio or a business degree to make it work.”

Sound familiar?

Let’s face it: Rent’s up, groceries cost more, job security is not there and “just budgeting harder” isn’t cutting it.

But what if you could pad your bank account without pivoting to a full-on Etsy-core lifestyle, driving Uber until 2 a.m., or worst of all, taking out a loan?

The secret isn’t working more, it’s working differently.

Below, low cost side hustles that fit around your 9-to-5, sorted by your vibe. No MLMs, no vague “monetize your passion” nonsense, and zero upfront costs for most. Let’s dive in.

A: Click-and-Earn Online Gigs (No Tech Genius Required)

1. Be the Grammar Police (But Get Paid for It)

Freelance proofreading isn’t just for English majors. Small businesses, authors, and even busy moms will pay to have menus, resumes, or that cringey dating app bio cleaned up. 

Why it works: Everyone writes; few write well. Demand spikes during tax season (resumes) and wedding season (invitations). 

Getting started: Offer to edit LinkedIn bios for $10–$20 apiece in local Facebook groups. Use free tools like Grammarly or Hemingway App to catch errors fast. 

Earnings: $25–$75/hour. 

Pro tip: Specialize in a niche like romance novel blurbs or food truck menus, you’ll charge more for expertise. 

For example: A bartender can make $300/month proofreading craft brewery websites. You can start with a free Fiverr account.

2. Sell Digital Art (Without Being Picasso)

Create Canva templates for Etsy (think social media quote graphics or wedding invitation suites). 

Why it works: Small businesses want polished content but hate design work. Bonus: Digital products require no inventory. 

Getting started: Repurpose old projects (your cousin’s baby shower invite? Gold!). Use free design tools like Canva or Photopea (a free Photoshop alternative) or remove image backgrounds with Remove.bg. 

Earnings: $5–$50 per template. 

Pro tip: Bundle seasonal packs (Halloween, Christmas) for lazy marketers.

3. Voiceover Work for AI Training (Yes, They Need Your Accent)

Companies like Verbit pay for recordings of you reading phrases to train voice recognition tech. 

Why it works: They need diverse dialects and accents, no experience required. 

Getting started: Audition on platforms like Neevo or Appen. All you need is a smartphone’s voice memo app and a quiet closet. 

Earnings: $10–$30/hour. 

4. Resell Thrifted Jeans (No, They Don’t Need to Be Vintage Levi’s)

Snag high-waisted mom jeans or band tees from Goodwill, then flip them on Poshmark. 

Why it works: Fast fashion fatigue is real, but buyers still crave specific brands like J.Crew or Madewell. 

Getting started: Hunt for tags, not trends. Use your phone’s camera to snap well-lit photos on a white bedsheet. 

Earnings: $20–$100/item. 

Pro tip: Model the clothes yourself; buyers trust “real people” over stock photos. 

5. Teach English to Kids…While They’re in Pajamas

Platforms like VIPKid connect you with Chinese students learning English. Early morning or weekend hours only. 

Why it works: You’re already fluent, and parents pay premium rates for native speakers. 

Getting started: Use props like stuffed animals or flashlights to keep 6-year-olds engaged. No teaching cert required. 

Earnings: $14–$22/hour. 

Pro tip: Sing “Baby Shark” without shame, it’s currency in this world.

B: Your Neighborhood Is Your ATM

6. Dog Walking: Cardio for You, Cash for Your Wallet

Apps like Rover let you book walks during lunch breaks or after work. 

Why it works: Pandemic pups exist, and their owners are back at offices. Charge extra for “pupdates” (photos + silly captions). 

Getting started: Post flyers at dog parks or vet offices. 

Earnings: $15–$30 per walk. 

Pro tip: Target high-rise apartments, dense demand, minimal driving. 

7. Rent Your Parking Spot (Cha-Ching for Doing Nothing)

Live near a stadium, downtown, or hospital? Your driveway could be a cash cow. 

Why it works: Parking pain points are universal. 

Getting started: List on Neighbor or Craigslist. Snap a photo and set your price, no permits needed. 

Earnings: $50–$300/month. 

Pro tip: Offer event-day parking for concerts or sports games (charge 3x normal rates).

8. “I Fix Stuff” (The Handyman Side Hustle)

Replace iPhone screens, rewire lamps, or assemble IKEA furniture for the mechanically challenged. 

Why it works: People hate reading manuals. 

Getting started: Post on Nextdoor with before/after pics of your fixes. Buy tools at Dollar Tree first, upgrade only if the gig sticks. 

Earnings: $20–$150/job. 

Pro tip: Film short “how-to” TikToks to attract local clients. 

9. Houseplant Sitting (Keep Things Alive, Get Paid)

Water succulents for vacationing neighbors or rehab sad office plants. 

Why it works: Plant parents are obsessive. 

Getting started: Leave “hydration reports” with photos. Partner with a local plant shop to offer sitting as an add-on. 

Earnings: $15–$50 per visit. 

Pro tip: Charge extra for “plant ICU” services (pest removal, repotting). 

10. Host “Mini Storage” in Your Closet (Yes, Really!)

Rent out spare closets, garages, or attics to store seasonal gear or inventory. 

Why it works: Traditional storage units are pricey and impersonal. 

Getting started: List on Neighbor.com with dimensions and a quirky title (“Cozy Nook for Your Ski Gear!”). 

Earnings: $40–$200/month. 

Pro tip: Offer to accept deliveries for small biz owners (another upsell!).

C: Creativity Pays (But Keep Your Day Job)

11. Custom Pet Portraits (Even If You’re No Bob Ross)

Paint dogs in space helmets or cats as royalty using digital tools like Procreate. 

Why it works: Pet people love their fur babies. 

Getting started: Trace photos for accuracy, then add whimsy. Use free trials of Procreate or Krita. 

Earnings:$30–$150 per piece. 

Pro tip: Run a “BOGO” sale around Mother’s Day.

12. Write Jingles for Small Businesses

Local bakeries or hair salens need catchy radio spots or TikTok songs. 

Why it works: Most can’t afford ad agencies. 

Getting started: Use GarageBand (free on Mac) and a $20 USB mic. 

Earnings: $100–$500 per jingle. 

Pro tip: Repurpose one melody for multiple clients (change lyrics, obviously). 

13. Bake “Almost Legal” Edibles (Sell the Dough, Not the High)

Make CBD-infused cookies or adaptogen-packed energy bites. 

Why it works: Wellness is a $1.5 trillion industry. 

Getting started: Sell at farmers’ markets (check local laws!). Use free online labels templates. 

Earnings: $5–$10 per treat. 

Pro tip: Partner with coffee shops for a “stress-relief combo.” 

14. Rent Your Wedding Decor (Let Your Taste Make Money)

Loan out your leftover centerpieces, arches, or neon signs. 

Why it works: Brides want Pinterest weddings without the price tag. 

Getting started: Photograph items in natural light (free!). List on Weddingbee or Facebook Marketplace. 

Earnings: $50–$300 per rental. 

Pro tip: Offer setup/teardown for an extra fee.

15. Teach a Skill You’ve Forgotten Is Valuable

Tutoring, knitting, Excel shortcuts, TikTok dances, if you know it, someone will pay. 

Why it works: Curiosity > credentials. 

Getting started: Run a free webinar on Zoom to gauge interest. 

Earnings: $20–$100/hour. 

D: Side Hustles for Introverts (Minimal Human Interaction)

16. Transcribe Videos or Meetings (Zen Mode: On)

Sites like Rev pay you to convert audio to text. 

Why it works: AI still messes up accents and jargon. 

Getting started: Practice with free YouTube videos first. Use Otter.ai’s free tier to speed up work. 

Earnings: $0.25–$1.50 per audio minute. 

Pro tip: Specialize in medical or legal terms for higher rates.

17. Test Websites in Your Pajamas (Literally)

UserTesting pays $10–$30 to click through sites and share feedback. 

Why it works: Companies crave real-user insights. 

Getting started: Speak your thoughts aloud (“This button color is ugly”). No tech skills needed. 

Earnings:$10–$50 per test. 

Pro tip: Do 1–2 tests daily during lunch. 

18. License Your Photos (Even from Your iPhone)

Upload travel pics or quirky street scenes to Adobe Stock. 

Why it works: Blogs and small biz need affordable visuals. 

Getting started: Shoot “niche” content (e.g., gluten-free food or remote workers). Use free editing apps like Snapseed. 

Earnings: $0.25–$4 per download. 

Pro tip: Recycle old vacation shots, retro vibes sell. 

19. Rent Out Your Gear (Let Your Dusty Guitar Earn Its Keep)

List musical instruments, camera gear, or power tools on Fat Llama. 

Why it works: People want to try before they buy. 

Getting started: Insure items through the platform (free peace of mind). 

Earnings: Varies (e.g., $20–$100/day for a DSLR). 

Pro tip: Bundle items (e.g., camera + tripod). 

20. Review Music Before It Goes Viral (Seriously)

Slicethepie pays you to critique unreleased tracks. 

Why it works: Labels want honest feedback. 

Getting started: Rate production quality, not your personal taste. Use headphones you already own. 

Earnings: $0.10–$0.50 per review. 

E: Oddball Opportunities (Because Normal Is Boring)

21. Professional Line Stander (Get Paid to Wait)

Hold spots for concerts, product launches, or sold-out restaurants via TaskRabbit. 

Why it works: Rich people hate queues. 

Getting started: Bring a foldable stool ($12 on Amazon) and charger. 

Earnings: $20–$50/hour. 

Pro tip: Upsell with coffee runs. 

22. Sell Air…Well, Interesting Air

Market “vibe in a jar” with branded puns (e.g., “New York Hustle” or “Campfire Zen”). 

Why it works: Novelty sells. 

Getting started: Use essential oils + mason jars from Dollar Tree. 

Earnings: $15–$30 per jar. 

Pro tip: Partner with candle makers for cross-promotions. 

Real example: A Reddit user made $3k selling “Breath of Forest” during the pandemic. Total costs: $40 for supplies.

23. Rent Yourself Out as a Fake Date (No, Not That Kind)

Accompany someone to weddings or events to avoid family drama. 

Why it works: Social pressure is real. 

Getting started: Set clear boundaries upfront. Use free apps like Bark to list services. Earnings: $50–$200/event. 

Pro tip: Offer “character packages” (e.g., silent artist cousin vs. chatty lawyer). 

24. Voice Clone for Memes (Your Voice, Their Jokes)

Sites like Voicery let creators license your voice for viral content. 

Why it works: Everyone wants a Morgan Freeman-esque narrator. 

Getting started: Record a demo reel showcasing range (use your phone!). 

Earnings: $100–$500 per project. 

Pro tip: Mimic cartoon characters for niche appeal. 

25. Sell Your Old Playlists (Yes, People Buy These)

Curate mood-based Spotify lists for niche audiences (e.g., “ADHD Focus” or “Breakup Revenge”). 

Why it works: Music supervisors and podcasters need fresh tracks. 

Getting started: Use Chartmetric’s free tier to find trending indie artists. 

Earnings: $50–$200 per playlist. 

Pro tip: Pitch to local businesses as ambiance soundtracks. 

“But What If I Fail?”

Here’s the truth: My first side hustle, was laughable. Indeed, first bunch, all was failure. But those awkward gigs taught me what didn’t work, so I could pivot to what did.

You don’t need a viral TikTok or a $5k course. Start small: Pick one idea that doesn’t make you cringe. Test it for 2 hours this weekend. If it flops? Great, now you know.

Sarah’s candle hustle began with a $20 kit from Michaels. Your version might be renting that bike you never ride or transcribing podcasts while watching Netflix. The goal isn’t to replace your income overnight, it’s to build a buffer between you and life’s chaos.

None of these require more than $50 to start. Use what you have, barter skills (e.g., trade proofreading for logo design), and reinvest profits.

Ready to turn your couch time into cash time? Grab free tools like Canva, Google Docs, or Fiverr. Then text a friend: “Wanna hear my weird side hustle idea?” Because accountability and a little laughter makes the hustle feel less lonely.