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Key Takeaways
- A side hustle that works for someone else might be a dud for you – keep trying until you find your fit
- Facebook Marketplace and eBay offer the largest audiences for selling items online
- Apps like Swimply let you rent your pool for $25-$40/hour; Neighbor lets you rent driveway space
- Fiverr works for entry-level skills while Upwork attracts advanced professionals
- Handy app pays up to $62/hour for lawn care and $45/hour for handyman work
- Focus groups pay around $75/hour just for sharing your opinion
- Gig economy work is contractor income – you must manage taxes and understand no work means no pay
Full Transcript
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Introduction: Finding the Right Side Hustle for You
Steve Rhode: Today Damon and I are going to be talking about side hustles and ways to make extra money. Starting a side hustle or gig where you make money, it’s not a swing and home run affair. It is often a lot of ideas or trying different things to find what works best for you.
A side hustle that works best for someone else, hey, it just might be a dud for you. That doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. It really just means it’s not right for you. Don’t quit. Don’t get discouraged. Just keep searching for what fits your abilities, personality, available working times, and your mental motivation.
Every weekday I read the enforcement actions, filings and fine print the outlets skip, and turn them into the one or two moves that actually improve your position — a rate worth moving for, a fee you can refuse, a deadline to beat before it costs you.
In the latest issue (Oct 6): When fear picks your debt plan
I write Your Money Actually most weekdays — actionable money information you will not find anywhere else, and the small decisions that compound. It is free, I sell nothing, and I take no money from any company I write about.
The Crappy Side Hustles to Avoid
Steve Rhode: Most of the guest posts that I get where people want to share “I got this incredible idea for you to make money” – the ideas just really suck. Let me give you an example: Wrap your car in ads to make extra money. Charge e-scooters.
Damon Day: Those “lime juicers” – that came and went. They had issues where people could get beat up or robbed. Criminals would take the scooter down an alley and then ambush the person coming to pick it up. That’s not worth $5.
Selling Online: What Actually Works
Damon Day: I’m really liking Facebook Marketplace lately. You can click on their profile and kind of see who they are, where do they live. When you click on a profile and there’s like two friends and one picture that looks like a model – just go ahead and delete that one.
I still use Craigslist. I’ve tried Mercari and OfferUp – OfferUp just doesn’t seem to have the audience. If they’re not a popular app, it’s almost like a waste of your time.
Steve Rhode: The one I predominantly use is eBay. I just sold a $1,400 airplane part on eBay. I’ve sold motorcycles, I sold my truck on eBay. It really exposes you to a large audience.
Apps for Everything: Rent Your Pool, Driveway, Trailer
Damon Day: There’s this app called Swimply where you can literally rent out your pool. For people that don’t mind randos in their backyard – they charge $25, $30, $40 bucks an hour. People have birthday parties in their backyard and make $100 for renting out their backyard.
There’s apps called Neighbor and Stoic that let you rent out extra space like a garage or even a driveway. In my gated community, you cannot park on the street overnight. There are probably 50-100 families that would love to borrow a neighbor’s driveway to park a car. Somebody could charge $100 a month to let a teenager park in their driveway.
Fiverr and Upwork for Skills
Steve Rhode: I really like Fiverr. I have done so many things – whether it’s recording the cheesy intro song or something else. That is one of the places I found a mechanical engineer that I work with on design projects.
Upwork is another one – I tend to find people that have more advanced skills. I just hired a structural engineer to spec out some beams. He’s an architect, I got a stamped copy of the drawings, and it only cost me $120. You can have skills that people need all over the world.
Handyman and Local Service Apps
Damon Day: Have you heard of Handy? If you’ve got some skills and you’re handy, this app connects people that are handy with people that aren’t. Make up to $22 an hour as a cleaner, $45 an hour as a handyman, or up to $62 an hour as a lawn care pro. The access that we have now as a society – stuff that was not even a thought 15 years ago is just mind boggling.
Gig Economy Reality Check
Steve Rhode: You can do Uber or Lyft. I have met people who are new to it doing it part time, and I’ve also met people who have 10,000 rides under their belt. If you are not used to being your own employer, you’re a contractor. You better be prepared to manage money to pay your taxes and know that when you’re not working, you’re not earning.
Damon Day: What’s so great about a lot of these things is the flexibility. People can trade their time for money while they build up to eventually starting their own real business. Sometimes these things like Uber and Uber Eats and Amazon can just be a means to an end for somebody.
More Options: Rover, Task Rabbit, Focus Groups
Steve Rhode: You can join apps like Rover if you love dogs – you could be a dog sitter. You can be a secret shopper. There’s Task Rabbit for odd jobs like furniture assembly.
In major metropolitan areas, you can join focus groups – where an advertiser wants to pitch some new idea and get feedback. The average pay has been like $75 an hour. Search for focus groups in your area and register.
Final Thoughts
Damon Day: There’s something for everybody out there. Try something – if you don’t like it, do something else. There’s lots of opportunity out there.
Steve Rhode: If anybody does any of this stuff, please let us know by going to GetOutOfDebt.org/message and leave us a voice message about your experience in the gig economy world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best apps for selling items online?
Facebook Marketplace and eBay have the largest audiences. Craigslist still works. OfferUp and Mercari have smaller reach so may not be worth your time depending on your location.
Can I make money renting out my pool or driveway?
Yes. Swimply lets you rent your pool for $25-$40/hour for birthday parties and gatherings. Apps like Neighbor and Stoic let you rent driveway or garage space – useful in areas with strict HOA parking rules. People charge $100/month for driveway parking.
How much can you make on Fiverr or Upwork?
Rates vary by skill level. Fiverr works well for entry-level services. Steve found a mechanical engineer on Fiverr and got stamped structural drawings from an Upwork architect for just $120. Skilled professionals can earn significant income.
How much do gig economy jobs like Uber actually pay?
After expenses, serious Uber drivers can clear around $2,000/month. The Handy app advertises up to $62/hour for lawn care pros, $45/hour for handymen, and $22/hour for house cleaners.
What are focus groups and how do I join one?
Focus groups are paid sessions where companies get consumer feedback on products or ads. They typically pay around $75/hour. Search for focus group companies in your area and register – they'll contact you when something matches your profile.
What side hustles should I avoid?
Be cautious of car wrap advertising schemes, e-scooter charging (lime juicing) which has safety issues, and anything that sounds too good to be true. Many advertised 'opportunities' are just scams or pay very little for the effort.
When does the Get Out of Debt Guy Show release new episodes?
The Get Out of Debt Guy Show releases new episodes every Thursday. Steve Rhode and Damon Day discuss debt solutions, side hustles, and personal finance without shame-based advice.
