Are you looking for an effective way to boost your income with a side job? There are many opportunities for millions of hard-working adults who want to bring in additional cash by working between two and twenty additional hours per week. With inflation reaching all-time highs, many are scrambling to make up for paychecks that lose a little bit of buying power with each passing day. What are the most reliable ways to increase income without having to take on another full-time job?
The answer to the dilemma and a way to reduce stress is finding a side hustle, which can mean anything from a formal part-time position at a local company to an online gig helping people raise money through crowdfunding campaigns. A side hustle is whatever you want it to be. The only requirement is that you get paid for the work. Consider the following popular positions currently at or near the top of everyone's list. Remember, don't quit your day job. A side gig works best when you don't rely on it to pay the bills. Even so, a few of the hustles listed below could easily turn into full-time jobs with the right amount of patience and hard work.
Tech Product Reviewer
The hottest consumer goods sector online and off is tech. High-end, low-end, complete systems, or peripherals, it doesn't matter. For more than a decade, technology goods have ruled the roost in the retail markets. For working adults in search of a solid side hustle, the popularity of tech-related products can mean high income from just a few hours of work per week. There are various ways to get in on the frenzy, but one of the easiest and most effective methods is creating a product review blog in the niche.
Choose one or more products you're interested in and know a lot about. Laptops, peripheral equipment, monitors, and ergonomic computer stands are currently among the most popular because of their earning potential. If you choose this approach, be sure to embed links in each review so you'll get a commission for all the buyers who visit seller sites directly from your pages.
Affiliate Trader
One of the more potent affiliate plays is driving clients to brokerage firms' websites. You can sign up with the AvaPartner blog and earn cash. Affiliates get a commission for every new customer who signs up for a trading account. Referring new business as an affiliate partner with a major broker has the potential to generate a significant amount of income. The online investing niche is huge and growing faster than ever. A combination of a weak economy and the recent pandemic drove prospective securities traders to seek alternate ways of investing their money. The 2020s are already the busiest decade for online brokers, which means affiliates can benefit from the overall popularity of the niche by earning for every referral.
Tax Return Preparer
The old saying about death and taxes being the only two certainties in life are no joke. The good news is that you don't need to be a financial wizard or a CPA (certified public accountant) to set up a profitable tax prep business. Despite what politicians keep saying, the tax code does not get less complex each year. Quite the contrary, it becomes more intricate and requires taxpayers to fill out more forms just to report regular wages and maybe an investment or two. If you want a 100% online gig that requires minimal up-front costs, preparing individual income tax returns can provide an excellent income for at least four months every year. Many retired people perform the job full-time from January through April and bank their earnings until the next cycle begins. Be ready to purchase a comprehensive software package that does the math and invest in a few online ads to bring in your first few customers. Getting the word out is the main factor in succeeding as an independent preparer.
Crowdfunding Assistant
If you know your way around the crowdfunding sites or are willing to learn, consider working as a part-time assistant for people who want to create their own donation and fund-raising pages. Offer your services on one of the several gig platforms and keep fees low until you build up a long list of satisfied clients and multiple reviews. The potential client base is huge because the vast majority of people who attempt to raise money through crowdfunding have zero experience setting up the pages or attracting attention to their causes. Invest in a picture-perfect ad page on your favorite gig platforms and ask every customer for feedback.