What is a side hustle?

A side hustle is all about making a little extra money to help you reach your financial goals sooner. Rather than taking up another part-time job, it’s more about turning a hobby, passion or skill into something that can make money and be done in the evening or weekends outside of your 9-to-5.

Reasons to start a side hustle

It might come as a surprise, but there are a variety of different reasons why people choose to start a side hustle.

To pay off debt

Paying off a debt can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s a hefty one. Between HECS repayments, personal loans, chipping away at the mortgage and managing credit-card repayments, it can be difficult to make ends meet and still have cash left over for everything else. By starting a side hustle, you can ease the pressure by contributing extra earnings towards repayments.

To save for something special

Whatever you’ve got your sights set on, additional funds generated from a side hustle could help make those more indulgent spends far more doable and easier to justify.

To prepare for the unexpected

Car accidents. Broken washing machines. A freak injury at training. When something goes wrong, the last thing we need to worry about is how to cover the cost. A side hustle can bring in extra money you can bucket into an emergency expenses account so that when the unexpected happens, you’re prepared.

To feel empowered

Money aside, there’s the feeling of accomplishment for a job well done or starting a new small business that actually takes off! Using your skills to serve others – be it altering people’s garments or building websites for small business owners – can be both a personally rewarding and lucrative endeavour.

Our top 10 side hustle jobs to consider

Keen to start cashing in but not sure where to start? Here are a few popular side hustle ideas to get you started.

1. Video editing

If you’re a post-production whizz, the world’s your oyster. Whether you create your own YouTube channel or Instagram account to generate passive income from ads and sponsor deals, or edit content for other businesses, you could be in for quite the pay check.

2. Writing

Got a knack for the written word? Freelance writing could be your calling. There’s solid demand for writers to whip up social media content, SEO web copy, blogs and articles. Keep an eye on LinkedIn, opens in new window for opportunities.

3. Photography

Turn your hobby snapping photos into a profitable side gig. Make extra cash on weekends shooting weddings or sporting events, or by selling framed or canvas prints at community markets.

4. Tutoring

If you know the French Revolution like the back of your hand or can speak Italian with stunning fluency, perhaps you could help students study for exams as an after-hours tutor to earn some extra income.

5. Sell crafts on Etsy

When it comes to creative side hustles, there’s no looking past Esty, opens in new window. Whether you’re crocheting cute little critters to sell or custom-made ceramics, selling your works online could prove to be a great way to make money on the side.

6. Housekeeping/Organising

If you read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo and suddenly found the same passion for decluttering as the Japanese legend herself, consider offering your time to help people organise and clean their homes for a set fee.

7. Put your handyman skills to use

From fixing dripping taps to assembling flat-pack furniture, if you’ve got a handy skill, you should put it to use. Websites like Airtasker, opens in new window are the perfect place to score some cash helping people with odd jobs around the home.

8. Buy, fix and resell

Calling all carpenters, mechanics and builders! If you’re after a little more money on the side of your 9-to-5, flipping furniture, restoring cars or renovating property could be the ultimate side hustle for your skills.

9. Babysitting

New uni textbooks can cost a fortune. If you’re a student looking for some easy money to help make ends meet, consider babysitting for busy families on the odd Friday evening or working as a live-in nanny while you’re on semester break.

10. Dogsitting

Help pet owners ease their pup’s separation anxiety by dogsitting while they’re away. Not only do you get paid, you also get to play with a cute fluff ball for a few hours.

Starting a side hustle the right way

The important thing to keep in mind about making money on the side is that you need to set yourself up appropriately for the kind of jobs you’ll be doing. This could mean applying for an ABN, opens in new window or ensuring you have the right licence or permit to grow your side business, opens in new window.

If you’re ready to take the next step, take a look at our checklist for starting a new business.