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The best side hustles to start in 2023

Whether you’re saving for a big holiday or need some extra cash to make both ends meet, here are some side hustle ideas to help you make more money.

Written by Rachael Nichol
Published 24.01.2023

A side hustle can increase your monthly income significantly by only just putting in a few hours a week.

So, it’s no wonder around 35% of Brits currently have a side hustle and, according to Simply Business, many earn up to £5,000 extra a year.

We’ve rounded up some of the top side hustle ideas that will make you money in 2023.

PARTICIPATE IN PAID SURVEYS

Countless companies and market researchers want to know what people think of their products and services. Get paid to take part in surveys on websites such as Branded SurveysSwagbucks and Survey Junkie.

The majority of sites pay between 10p – £3 for each survey, lasting between 1 minute to 30 minutes. So, although these won’t pay your bills, they’re great if you have a small amount of spare time while watching tv and will fund your weekend spending.

START A DROPSHIPPING BUSINESS

Dropshipping is a profitable side hustle that involves you not having to do a lot. All you have to do is find new products and list them for sale on sites like eBay and Amazon. The trick is to know what is trending at the moment (i.e. what people are buying) – for example in lockdown face masks were flying off the shelves.

When a customer buys your product, they’re directly sent to the wholesaler, so you hardly have to get involved. This means you don’t have to worry about stocking products as you would running your own store.

WORKING FREELANCE

Freelance work is a great side hustle, and companies are almost always looking for skilled labour to help them get things done. From writing articles, social media posts, newsletters, and/or blogs to managing social media accounts, data entry, digital marketing, and/or being a virtual assistant, there are plenty of opportunities out there.

Depending on the employer, you’re often paid per hour, per word or per article. The best part about this is you can work in the comfort of your own home and at a time that is convenient for you (unless your employer gives a specific working schedule). Check out Fiverr, Upwork and Peopleperhour.

DELIVERY DRIVER

If you enjoy driving but don’t always enjoy having strangers in your car, you can sign up to drive for food and parcel delivery apps. If you have free time and access to your own vehicle, why not give parcel delivery a try? Amazon Flex, Yodel and Evri have available at a local warehouse near you.

Or if you live close to Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland why not apply for Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Just Eat? You’ll complete all your training online and you don’t even need to own a car as you can deliver on your bike. Plus, there’s a high chance that you’ll receive tips on each delivery, too.

HLN TOP TIP: The only thing is you have to take into account the price of petrol but if you have an economical car there’s no need to worry.

 

TRANSCRIBING 

If you’re a good listener and have strong knowledge of the English language, then transcribing could be for you. You’ll receive audio or video files from clients and type up what you hear.

This has the potential to become a good earner, but you need concentration skills and accuracy skills. You can earn between £8 to £24 per hour depending on your skills. Check out freelancer sites like RevTranscribeMe, and GoTranscript.

SELL YOUR OLD ITEMS 

We all have those items in our house that are just collecting dust. Whether that be a designer dress you’ve only worn once, toys the little ones in your life have grown out of or a home décor that just doesn’t match your colour scheme any more. 

Why not make some cash out of your pre-loved items? The easiest option is to sell online. eBay does have a listing charge, so we recommend selling items on Facebook Market Place and Gumtree. If you need a wardrobe detox, sell your stuff on Vinted rather than Depop as Depop takes a percentage of your sale.

 

RENT OUT YOUR GARAGE OR DRIVEWAY 

If you own your home and you’re not making use of your outside area, why not rent it out? As parking space is at a premium in the UK, many people are looking for somewhere safe to park their cars or store their items. And according to Stashbee, customers make £1,940 from renting out spare space.

If you live in a city or major town, then workers and visitors will be willing to give you a good price for your driveway, because it’s often far cheaper than using a local car park. If you live near a major sports stadium or music venue, then you can charge even more for just a couple of hours of parking. Check out Your Parking Space and JustPark.

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