Do you have a side gig to supplement your income? According to a recent Bankrate survey, 37% of Americans have a side job.
We went in search of some ideas for side hustles.
Snowplowing
You could go the entrepreneurial route, like David Holston. Holston was visiting his mom in Seattle during those big snow storms in February when he decided to see if he could make extra money plowing. He placed an ad on Craigslist, and it paid off. He made around $35,000 and used some of it to start his own landscaping and snow removal company in Idaho.
Cuddling
You could also go the unique route. Meet Anna Joy Reedy, who is a professional cuddler working between five and 15 hours a week. She makes $90 an hour doing it and has been cuddling since 2015. She uses the site Cuddlist to book clients.
Reedy says the biggest benefit to cuddling is fulfilling the need for touch and also working on boundaries.
“For this you want to have the passion," Reedy said. "It’s not about the money. Money is a side benefit that helps you keep doing it, but don’t do it for money.”
As for safety, Reedy says she's "felt no less safe than any massage therapist or psychotherapist.” She also has a really thorough screening process.
Sessions typically last 90 minutes to three hours. Cuddlist also has new cuddlers undergo a training process.
Dog walking
You could also go the traditional route, like dog walking. There are a lot of apps for that, such as Seattle-based Rover. Rover says they have over 300,000 dog walkers nationwide, and a third of those are in the Seattle area. To sign-up, download the app and undergo a background check and approval process. Rover says they manually review each application before approving them.
Dog walkers on Rover can earn $1,000 or more per month. Each person has the freedom to choose their own services and create their own schedule and rates. Some people have even been able to turn this side hustle into a full-time gig.
Professional friend
Rent yourself out as someone’s friend using sites like Rent-A-Friend. You can make anywhere from $20 to $50 an hour. You can rent yourself out to give advice, do a fun activity, or even travel.
Jury duty
Become an online juror. Sites like OnlineVerdict and eJury let you be an online juror for mock trials and lawyers prepare their arguments. You can make $20 to $60 a case.
Mobile advertiser
Turn your car into a billboard. Companies like Carvertise and Wrapify will put a wrap on your car with an ad. You can make $100 to $460 a month based on how much you drive.
Sell your hair
Believe it or not, you can make money off your hair if you have at least six inches to spare. HairSellon will pay you different amounts based on the length, thickness, hair color, and if your hair has been dyed before.
The bottom line? Almost anything can be turned into a side hustle if you have some creativity.