What Are Some Low-Cost Side Hustles to Start While Working Full-Time?

I’m currently working full-time, but I’m looking for a side hustle to bring in some extra income. Since I have a limited budget, I hope to find something that doesn’t require a lot of upfront investment. I’d also like it to be flexible enough to fit around my work schedule. What are some side hustles you’ve tried that don’t require a big financial commitment to get started? Whether it’s online, freelance, or something local, I’d love to hear your experiences and any tips for getting started. Thanks in advance for the inspiration and advice!

Look into storage treasures. Can be low-cost, low-effort, and yield decent profits in resale. My first buy was about $1000 profit after giving $200 for my friend helping me. It took about 6 months to sell everything, but half the profits came in month 1.

Tips: Start super small, with cheap units and no blind auctions. With a $30 unit, you only need one good item to make a profit. Avoid furniture units or anything you need to rent a truck to remove. Be wary of mostly trash bag units; many places have mice, and items in bags might be ruined. Don’t be a scavenger and give up your cleaning deposit regularly, or you’ll get banned from the facilities.

Drawbacks include needing space to store items, auctions ending on weekdays requiring a 48-hour cleanout, needing a way to transport items, possibly taking months to resell, limited unit availability, and being prepared to sell on eBay or Craigslist.

You can totally buy units while working full-time; just be mindful of the cleaning timeline and storage capability.

@Denver
Ever find any comic books or sports cards worth any money? Been thinking of doing these auctions for a while now.

Colby said:
@Denver
Ever find any comic books or sports cards worth any money? Been thinking of doing these auctions for a while now.

I personally have not. Always something random, but I’ve sold mostly home products.

Pressure washing is a good start. Focus on small concrete jobs like driveways and sidewalks.

Juggling a full-time job and a side hustle is tricky, but doable if you find something low-maintenance. I offered writing services on freelance platforms; zero upfront investment was needed, just my dusty laptop and a caffeine boost. Proper time management is key, so blocking out specific hours each day keeps things organized.

Here’s a list of gig sites you might find helpful. Good luck!

Cary said:
Here’s a list of gig sites you might find helpful. Good luck!

Has anyone confirmed that this is legit? I’ve seen this comment multiple times on different posts.

Here’s a cheatsheet of survey/task sites that you can do on your own time. Let me know if you have any questions!

@Oli
Thanks for the list! How much personal information do these sites require?

Consider dog sitting; it could easily add up to $5K a year.

Print flyers that tell your story and pass them out to offer odd jobs like pet waste removal, painting, window cleaning, or lawn care. Find a need and offer to help. Elderly people especially need someone for small chores. Be professional, charge fair prices, and you’ll build a customer base quickly.

Many businesses need help with administrative tasks. As a virtual assistant, you could manage emails, handle customer support, scheduling, or data entry. Plus, it can be done remotely during evenings or weekends.

You can always make money doing things that others don’t want to do.

Go to estate sales on weekends and buy books, especially first edition hardcovers. You can often get a whole box for $5-$10 and sell them on ABEbooks.com. There are collectors willing to pay good money for rare finds.

Linden said:

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Consider being a repairman for small home tasks and services.

I self-publish books on Amazon and courses on Udemy, earning around $2K in passive royalties monthly. There’s little to no cost involved; just write on MS Word or record videos on your computer. Check out kdp.amazon.com to get started.

Consider using cashback apps for receipts on purchases. It’s low effort but can net you a couple of hundred bucks a year. I submit every receipt into about seven apps and make a minimum of $5 each month. Mystery shopping has earned me about $1-2K a year, and I’ve started making YouTube videos about my work as well.

Uber or DoorDash are easy options if you have a vehicle.