The Side Hustles I've Tried: What Works And What Doesn't In 2025

After all, who doesn't want to earn some extra money?

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Published July 25, 2025
illustration of woman doing different side hustles
Casey Beifuss

Let’s face it, life is expensive. Between rising rent, $7 eggs and your daily Starbucks habit, our paychecks aren’t paychecking like they used to. Who couldn’t use a few extra bucks these days? Enter the side gig.

From selling clothes and furniture on Facebook Marketplace to creating an Etsy storefront, the possibilities are endless, which makes the idea of bringing in a few extra bucks kind of intimidating. Fear not, Girlfriends, because I have tried almost every side gig out there and I am spilling the truth about three that are actually flexible, lucrative (ish), and — guess what? — they don’t require you to sell your soul (or pictures of your feet).

Uber Eats

Download the app, fill out some simple details, upload your car insurance and wait for approval. I was approved to start delivering within 24 hours.

The app walks you through the delivery process one step at a time and provides the needed trip details: total miles, estimated payment and GPS navigation. It prompts you to confirm when the food has been picked up and dropped off and even offers the option to deliver two different orders at once (a task better suited to an experienced driver). On my first day, I brought my son “to work” with me, had a ton of laughs along the way, and made three local deliveries in about two hours, earning about $45 total. The best part? The money was immediately deposited into my bank account with a tap of a button.

I was initially a little embarrassed — what if I delivered to a friend or former coworker? What would they think of me delivering food for money? It required humility on my part, but after my first few deliveries, those thoughts quickly slipped away. It’s a great side gig for introverts, moms and/or anyone who wants (or needs) money now!

Substitute Teaching

Each state has different prerequisites, with some requiring only a high school diploma and others a bachelor’s degree. The process can be time-consuming: Most states require applicants to undergo thorough background checks, including fingerprinting, and many districts outsource hiring to staffing agencies, which may require additional interviews and virtual training. Check with your local school districts for details.

I was paid $115 per day as a daily substitute teacher, which is equivalent to Connecticut’s minimum wage ($16.35 an hour). There is typically an app or website that lists open jobs by date, school and grade/content. If you see one you like, simply hit the “accept” button and show up at the school ready to work on the assigned day. Lesson plans, seating charts and a daily schedule are provided.

Long-term positions covering maternity leaves, for example, pay significantly higher (up to $400/day), but will require a bachelor’s degree in the assigned subject matter, daily lesson planning and grading of all student work.

I am not going to sugarcoat it: substitute teaching is not for the thin-skinned. I was shocked at the lack of respect I received from students. Find the grade level or subject area that works for you, and (I hate to say this) lower your expectations. Keep the students safe, the classroom chaos-free and collect your paycheck. If you happen to connect with the kids, laugh in the classroom and make a difference, that’s icing on the cake. It’s a great gig for those who want the freedom to choose their schedule and enjoy variety in their work.

Freelance Writing

Write, write, write and write. Write something meaningful and from the heart. Take your time. Enlist the help of a professional writer to edit and perfect the piece. When you have a masterpiece in hand, find a home for it. Research publications, magazines and websites that publish similar content, search for the editor’s contact info and take a chance! Many publications have writers’ guidelines on their websites, and this is where you can find the best contact information and exactly how editors want to receive your writing and/or pitches. Send your piece of writing to the editor and ask if they want to publish it. You might hear back. You might not. In order to make it as a freelancer, some degree of hustle is required, so stay hungry, positive and eager. Handle rejection gracefully and don’t let it get you down.

Freelance work has been a stable and consistent source of money for me, and I am forever grateful that I get to do what I love and get paid for it. It does have downsides, though. The work is inconsistent: I either have a lot of work (money) or no work (money). Paydays are unreliable, which means I know I have $500 on its way to my bank account, but no idea when it will arrive. Tomorrow? One month from now? Every publication has different invoice and pay policies, and I have learned to say “no” if the contract details don’t meet my needs. If you have talent and passion, though, and you can find a way to get paid for it, it will never feel like work at all.

Online Tutoring

In addition to the above, online tutors and virtual course instructors are in high demand. You can usually find online teaching jobs via employment websites such as FlexJobs, Monster and Upwork. Here's more info on online tutoring as well as other ideas for side hustles.

If there’s a side gig out there you have been itching to try, this is your sign to go for it, because guess what? Most of them don’t require an awkward two-week notice or resignation letter, so really, what do you have to lose, Girlfriends?

Do any of YOU have a side hustle? Let us know in the comments below.

Suzanne E. Hayes is a freelance writer based in Simsbury, Connecticut, where she’s raising three children and finding plenty of real-life inspiration along the way. Her work explores family, identity, and the beautifully messy moments of modern womanhood. Suzanne’s writing has appeared in Working Mother, Woman’s World, Kveller, Guideposts, Under the Gum Tree Literary Magazine, and more. With honesty and heart, she brings stories to life that resonate long after the last line is read.