15 Side Hustles to Start Saving More

Most of us could use some extra dollars, whether it's to get all our bills paid or to be able to invest in stocks for retirement. It may be easier than you think to generate a little extra income -- and it can be a less painful or unappealing a prospect, too.

Here's a look at 15 side hustles that can create valuable income streams for you. See which ones would work best for you.

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This is the most obvious option: Look around at businesses near you, and there's a good chance you'll spy a help wanted sign. Or check part-time job listings. Or simply inquire about openings at establishments you wouldn't mind working at. You might, for example, be a cashier at a store or a server at a restaurant, and if you can work 10 hours a week and earn $13 per hour, that's $130 per week, $563 per month, or $6,760 per year, pre-tax.

ALSO READ: 10 Companies Still Hiring Amid Coronavirus

Tutoring is another option, and it's one you can do from the comfort (and safety) of your own home, as there are many online tutoring businesses. For example, look into Wyzant.com, Tutor.com, Chegg.com, and VarsityTutors.com, among others. This is ideal for current and former teachers, but anyone with a solid skill -- in a language, math, science, or other subject -- may be able to make $25 to $75 or more per hour. Tutoring for 10 hours per week and earning, say, $40 per hour, you can generate more than $1,700 per month -- more than $20,000 annually (pre-tax).

There are various websites that connect those who need odd jobs done with those willing to do them. Check out sites such as TaskRabbit.com, Fiverr.com, GigWalk.com, App.Spare5.com, EasyShiftApp.com, among others, and you may soon find yourself making a little money on the side by shopping for someone, emptying out an attic, walking a dog, assembling furniture, or hanging pictures. You can also advertise what you can do for people on some of these sites, along with what you charge. Browsing through them can give you lots of money-making ideas.

If you have extra space in your home that's suitable for travelers, you might rent it out to others on a short-term basis via businesses such as Airbnb.com, VRBO.com, or FlipKey.com. You might even rent out your entire house or apartment for a few days or weeks or months at a time. Rates vary widely, but if you're in a location that's desirable for vacations or business trips, you may be able to rake on more than $200 per night. Just 10 nights per year at $200 per night will generate an extra $2,000 annually.

ALSO READ: Rental Property Investing Basics

Just as you may be in need of more money, many businesses and nonprofits are in need of more money, too -- and they often try to be awarded grants for that funding. Therefore, they need grant writers. If that's a skill you have or could develop, it could make you some significant money on the side, and might possibly even become a primary money-making occupation, now or later. If you don't have grant-writing skills yet, read up on how it's done, and perhaps offer your services for free to get a little experience and success under your belt.

5 Winning Stocks Under $49
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by the Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true. And while Amazon and Netflix have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Simply click here to learn how to get your copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

Few executives are dictating letters these days, but that doesn't mean that transcription is obsolete. There remain lots of transcription opportunities, especially in the medical arena, where you might make extra money by listening to reports by healthcare providers and typing them out. You might, alternatively, transcribe the conference calls that many companies hold each quarter or type up transcripts of legal proceedings. Two businesses that can get you working are TranscribeAnywhere.com and TranscribeMe.com.

Many people make money on the side by serving as freelancers or contractors, and there are a host of services you can provide in that capacity -- such as writing, editing, and/or proofreading. The amount you might earn will vary widely depending on the kind of work and your skills and experience. Check out possibilities at sites such as Upwork.com and Freelancer.com.

ALSO READ: How to Find Your First Freelancing Gig

Another option is one that you'll have to dress down for: hauling people's junk away. Lots of people -- and businesses -- occasionally need someone to show up with a truck and remove various things from the premises. Try advertising your services locally and online. You'll likely be able to resell some of the items you remove, too.

If you spend a little time and money becoming a notary public, you can make money on the side simply by signing your name on documents for other people. Each state has its own rules and requirements, so look up what's needed where you live. You may only earn $10 for notarizing a simple document, but many notaries earn $100 to $250 or so if they notarize documents for a real estate closing. Learn more via the National Notary Association.

If you're a handy sort, able to replace a faucet, install a ceiling light, and patch a hole in the wall, you can make good money on the side helping the households nearby. Once you have a happy customer or two, that can quickly lead to more. You might focus on tasks you do best or enjoy the most, such as painting or hanging wallpaper.

5 Winning Stocks Under $49
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by the Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true. And while Amazon and Netflix have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Simply click here to learn how to get your copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

If you enjoy driving, you might make money on the side by driving for services such as Uber (NYSE: UBER) or Lyft (Nasdaq: LYFT). You'll have to drive a lot to make a lot of money, but even driving for 10 or so hours per week might generate enough to cover groceries or some other expense. In many cities, drivers earn more than $10 per hour, on average, and often more than $12, per the folks at HyreCar.com.

ALSO READ: Driving for Dollars Explained: What It Is and How It Works

If you're a musical sort, you might generate an income stream for yourself by teaching others to play an instrument or to sing better. Piano teachers generally earn between $20 and $60 per hour, per Payscale.com, while voice instructors average between about $20 and $90 per hour. The average rate for both is roughly $35 per hour.

You might also make some money on the side by doing some consulting, if you have a skill that's in demand. Think about what your marketable skills are and about what companies might hire you for. If you've got a good record as a fundraiser, you might offer your services to businesses near you that would welcome that. If you've worked at a bunch of companies in your career, a former employer might have some contract work for you to do. Try doing some online research about what consulting work entails and how you might go about starting such a business.

If you enjoy working with your hands and creating things, you may be able to make significant cash on the side by making and selling things -- either at local markets or online, at sites such as Etsy.com (Nasdaq: ETSY) and perhaps eBay.com (NYSE: EBAY). What kinds of crafts? Well, anything from knitting to woodworking, printmaking, painting, jewelry making, soap making, perfume making, candle making, sewing, leatherworking, ceramics, and more. A little online research might turn up an opportunity you hadn't even thought of -- for example, lots of people are making and selling hand-cut jigsaw puzzles, for example.

ALSO READ: A Deep Dive Into Etsy

Finally, you might make extra money helping new people coming into this world -- by getting trained in childbirth services and offering your skills to expectant parents. Midwives receive medical training, while doulas don't -- they are trained to focus on the mother and her physical and emotional needs during (and, often, before and after) the birth. You can expect to earn somewhere in the range of $600 to $2,000 per birth, depending on whether you're in a big city or small town, per the International Doula Institute.

5 Winning Stocks Under $49
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by the Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true. And while Amazon and Netflix have had a good run, we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Simply click here to learn how to get your copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

The 15 ideas above are just a start. If you could use more income, spend a little time thinking about all the things you're good at and what you enjoy doing. See if you can create an income stream on the side that's enjoyable.

Or settle for a boring part-time job just for the money -- that can work well, too. We all need a well-stocked emergency fund, and beyond that, we should be saving and investing for retirement. If your financial ducks aren't in a row, consider getting a side hustle, at least for a while.

Selena Maranjian has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Etsy. The Motley Fool recommends eBay and Uber Technologies and recommends the following options: long January 2021 $18 calls on eBay and short January 2021 $37 calls on eBay. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.