Passive income, side hustle, hobbies and additional earnings concept. Vector illustration.
The increasing cost of living in the UK at the moment is causing more individuals to find additional sources of income. You are not the only one when it comes to your monthly budget being pinched. The current technology and websites have made it easier than ever to work at home.
The majority of these side hustles do not require much or any capital to open. This ensures that they are ideal for a small budget. These jobs allow you to work around your regular working hours or with your family and have full control over them.
16 Ideas to Make Extra Money
1. Rent Out a Spare Room
You can earn up to £7,500 tax-free per year through the Rent a Room Scheme. It’s simple to get started with Airbnb or SpareRoom today. Most rooms in the area fetch between £50 and £80 per night on Airbnb.
The long-term lodgers offer steadier money if you prefer stability. You don’t need landlord permission if you own your home. You are required to inform HMRC when you realise a higher income exceeding the £7,500 threshold.
2. Sell Handmade Crafts on Etsy
It is especially candles, jewellery, and knitwear that the sellers do well. When you make a sale, you will only pay 16p per item to list and a fee of 6.5% commission. The average Etsy seller makes an income ranging between £200 and £1,000 (a month) after getting established.
You can use only £50-100 as initial investments on basic supplies and expand. Your craft hobby can quickly become a profitable side business with the right products.
3. Become an Online Tutor
You can charge £20-£50 per hour as a tutor sharing your knowledge from home. There is a high demand for maths, English, sciences, and 11+ exam prep. Many platforms like Tutorful, MyTutor, and Superprof make finding students easy.
Most sites don’t require a teaching degree, just expertise in your subject. There is a high demand for GCSE and A-Level tutors, particularly when exam seasons are underway.
4. Start a Print on Demand Shop
You can relate with Printful, Printify, or Redbubble to produce. Sell your designs in t-shirts, mugs, totes, packs, and posters. The sale brings £3-£15 profit straight to your pocket without upfront costs.
You can link your designs to an Etsy or Shopify store for maximum reach. You can literally start this side hustle today with zero money down. Your creative ideas transform into products without you handling shipping or production.
5. Freelance Writing or Copywriting
The freelance writers earn £20-£100 per hour based on experience and niche. You can find your first clients through Fiverr, Upwork, or PeoplePerHour today. Many specialist topics like finance, tech, and health pay significantly more than general content.
Your clients care about your portfolio and reliability instead. The new writers often start at £50-£100 per 1,000-word article. You can raise rates to £300+ for the same work.
6. Sell Stock Photos and Videos
Many platforms pay 15-45% royalties per download of your images. The sites now accept quality phone photos, making entry easier than ever. Once uploaded, your content can earn money for years without extra work. The top stock contributors make £500-£2,000 monthly from their image libraries.
7. Become a Virtual Assistant
The virtual assistants cost between £12 and £30 per hour to do single-handed tasks. You will handle emails, calendar, social media, and administration for busy people. The first clients can be garnered from Fiverr, Time Etc., or via LinkedIn.
Many VAs work for multiple clients to boost their income. You set your own hours. This makes it perfect for fitting around family or other commitments.
8. Flip Furniture for Profit
You can purchase low-priced items on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree and make them entirely different. The upcycling of simple stuff through adding paint, new handles, or simple repairs brings value. The sellers get 2-5 times their purchase price after makeovers.
Most pieces bring £50-£200 profit for just a few hours’ work. You don’t need special skills.
9. Offer Social Media Management
Good social media assistance to small businesses costs between £200 and £500 per month. You’ll create and schedule content for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or LinkedIn. The free plans from Buffer or Later help you manage posts.
You don’t need formal qualifications. You can start by creating mock accounts to show potential clients what you can do. This flexible work fits perfectly around other commitments.
10. Do Voiceover Work from Home
The voiceover artists earn £100-£500 per completed job. Many platforms like Fiverr and Voices.com connect you with clients worldwide. The audiobooks fetch attractive amounts of 50-400 pounds/ hours of audio recordings.
To start with, you will require a silent place and a good USB mic (£50+). The British accents are also in high demand, whether RP or regional. You can set up a basic home studio. These costs are under £200 only.
11. Test Websites and Apps
Many sites pay you to review online experiences. The prices of these tests range between £8- 50, with a time of 10-30. You provide fair feedback regarding the usability and design as you browse. All one needs are a computer, a microphone, and a good internet connection. You get payment through PayPal.
12. Resell on Vinted, Depop, or eBay
Vinted offers zero seller fees and maximises your profit margins. Depop attracts buyers looking for vintage and streetwear items specifically. eBay takes 12.8% but reaches millions of potential buyers.
You can source your stock cheaply from charity shops and car boot sales. The resellers earn £200-£800 monthly once established.
13. Offer Pet Sitting or Dog Walking
The dog walkers charge £10-£15 per walk and can take multiple dogs simultaneously. Pet sitters make £20-£40 nightly looking after animals in their owners’ homes.
You can join platforms like Rover, Tailster, or Pawshake to find your first clients. The local repeat clients become the backbone of your business.
14. Create and Sell Online Courses
Many platforms host your knowledge for thousands to buy. The popular topics include crafts, fitness, coding, and marketing tips. The Udemy instructors earn £1,000-£5,000 yearly from established courses.
You create content once, then earn repeatedly as new students enrol. You can use Canva for slides and your phone for recording quality videos. Your expertise becomes passive income.
15. Transcribe Audio and Video
The transcribers earn £10-£25 per audio hour. Many sites like Rev, GoTranscript, and TranscribeMe offer regular work. Fast typing (60+ WPM) helps you earn more by finishing jobs quickly.
Legal and medical transcription pays higher rates but requires special training. You need no money to start, just a computer and good headphones.
16. Start a Niche Blog
The bloggers sell by using advertisements, affiliate links, and sponsored treatment. Money, parenting, travelling, and food are the most profitable niches. You will need 6-12 months to experience substantial income due to the increase in your audience.
The setup costs run £50-£100 for hosting and a domain name. WordPress makes creating your site easy with free themes available.
Conclusion
Most of these ideas can be used with what you already have at home, and you may make a start today. Their additional employment is even more enjoyable than their regular jobs to such an extent that some side-hustlers turn their extra jobs into full-time companies. You may require assistance to start up your side hustle endeavours.
A loan on benefits from a direct lender if you’re on benefits and need start-up funds. These are the loans that provide fast funds without brokers. They also have same-day approval and versatile conditions according to your benefit payment schedule. With this money, you are able to purchase equipment or supplies for your new source of income.
You just need to choose one of the concepts that aligns with your abilities and interests.
