You've been faithfully paying your apartment's rent and taking care of your bills every month for years, and the struggle is real to keep it that way. You have a decent job, but things can get tight, and you sometimes have to make sacrifices in order to remain on track. What if your apartment could work as a base of operations for a new side hustle that can provide financial freedom?
Most good side hustles take a little bit of time and a small investment to get off the ground, but if you're diligent about doing your research, making good choices, pursuing opportunities, and maintaining the side hustle on a daily basis, you can come out a winner on the other side. Here are six great side hustles that you can manage out of your own apartment in your free time to provide financial freedom
Start a Blog
You might think you have nothing valuable to offer online, but everyone is good at something. If you love cooking, traveling, home decorating, woodworking, car repair, kids' books, or just about anything that can grab the attention of a segment of the public, you can write a blog. Sure, it will take time to build an audience, but there are resources out there than can help you get started in a single day. The hurdles are smaller than you think, and it's your hesitation that's the biggest obstacle.
Sure, you have to learn how to write effectively, take decent photographs (your smartphone is way better than you are and will make things easier), and find a good blog design, but you also need to monetize your website with ads and even via e-commerce if things start to take off. Spend a month getting your blog together with a handful of good articles (always with photos), and you can launch almost immediately. Plus, you can do all of this in your apartment once the evening winds down. The best way to get started is to start with a book that covers it all.
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Create Items to Sell on Etsy
Etsy is one of the hottest online marketplaces. You don't have to be a true craft expert or artist in order to create items to sell on Etsy, and you can create a decent side gig without a huge spend.. You can copy others who have solid followings on YouTube and learn how to do it yourself in very little time. While we wouldn't recommend taking up glassblowing or welding out of your apartment, you can learn how to make your own jewelry, leather goods, or even 3D print goods for sale on Etsy. Who knows, you might even find your new passion.
Just make sure you find something that's both manageable for your apartment's space, and choose a craft that won't require a huge upfront investment for materials and equipment. Also, scour the pages of Etsy to find out what's popular and what's garnering solid sales figures. You also need to consider margin in terms of what it costs you to produce and how much time it takes versus the money you can reasonably charge. There are some great books for very little money that will help you get started if you have no ideas of your own.
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Take Online Surveys
You're not going to make a killing doing online surveys, but they might just be the easiest way to start making a little bit of extra income. Most opportunities arise when you register to be selected to participate. Usually, there's an initial screening for every opportunity that comes up so the survey company can vet you to see if you're a good candidate. Sites like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie will get you started immediately. While those sites are by no means the only ones out there, they are a good way to cut your teeth to see how much time you can commit to this side hustle.
If you find that it's a promising income stream for you, then by all means start expanding to other sites. Most online surveys pay around $3.00 per survey, so you're best served by registering on multiple sites and getting surveys done whenever you have a free moment. There's really no limit to how many you can do, and most of them take less time than you think. If you want to maximize your profitability, start with this great book for a mere $13.
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Flip Hot Products
This one might take a little bit of time to get off the ground because you have to do research and find out what's hot right now and what you can easily procure for less money. Flipping products can actually start with what you own and are willing to sell. If you have a pair of shoes you never wore and are just sitting in your closet, try posting it on eBay, OfferUp, LetGo, Facebook Marketplace, etc., and see what comes of it. Once you find that you've got a knack for it, and the process seems relatively easy, look at flea markets, estate sales, yard sales, thrift stores, and online for great deals. If your profit margin is at least 25%, it could be worth your while.
Products like limited-edition sneakers, cameras, tablets, apparel, sporting goods, power tools, vintage clothing, and jewelry do especially well. Keep tabs on what's relevant because things are constantly changing. If you're able to buy wholesale and sell at retail prices, you can also do well. Here's a great guide for $7 on how to get started.
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Rent Out Your Car
Tapping into the very hot sharing economy is a great way to make side money, and while you can't sublet out your apartment for short stints, you can use your wheels to earn you a decent supplemental income. Sites like Turo and GetAround provide you with everything you need to get started, including insurance coverage. If you have an EV, a commuter car, a pickup truck, or pretty much any vehicle in good condition and of a certain model year, you can rent it out.
If you pretty much come home after work and don't drive much at all, this could be an easy way to make money. You can choose how often and when to rent out your vehicle. Renters are responsible for replacing the gas that was originally in the car, and if it's an EV or a plug-in hybrid, they have to charge it back up before returning it. It's really a win-win situation. You can find a great guide to get started for less than $15.
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Do Freelance Jobs
The great thing about freelance work is that you can do it in your apartment, at the coffee shop, and even on vacation. All it takes is a decent laptop and a good internet connection. Freelance what, you ask? Well, you can take your current profession and perform the same task as a freelancer. Are you good with graphic design, editing, finance, web design, or social media? You can make extra money through sites like Fiverr, UpWork, and Freelancer. It's easy to sign up and you just need to put together a decent portfolio of examples.
Once you get started and you get satisfied customers, your reputation will grow and you'll find that you can build a solid base that generates money for you while you do what you're already really good at. Who knows, you might just find that your side gig is more satisfying than your actual job! This $10 e-book will get you started on the right path.
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