The phrase ‘side hustle’ is thrown around a whole lot these days, almost to the point where it has lost all meaning.
It often pops up in dodgy Instagram DMs from long-forgotten acquaintances which begin with, “Hey, babe – you’re looking amazing," and end with a spiel about how the multi-level marketing plan they’re trying to drag you into is definitely NOT a scam, even though they’ve been paid in points that can only be used to purchase products from the company…
Well, the good news is, not all side hustles have to start or end like that. And before we go into some of the ones that are actually worth checking out, we’d also like to remind you that you absolutely don’t have to have a side hustle. It’s becoming easier and easier to burn out in today’s world, and while the promise of a little extra pocket money might be tempting, if you’re already feeling like you’ve got one too many things on your plate, it’s more than okay to leave these for someone else.
Paid surveys
These can be a really good option for those evenings where your brain is fried from study, but you’re not quite ready to start the nightly doomscroll (no judgement, we’re all there with you). Heaps of apps will quite literally pay you to answer questions. It’s not a lot (most apps tend to pay around 20c a survey to start with, but the more you do, the higher they pay, and you can earn up to $5-10 on some). It’s a pretty low-effort way to earn a few dollars to cover your weekly coffees, and you can do it while you watch Netflix.
Apps to try:
Selling your old stuff
This one does require a bit of effort to set up, but once you’ve taken photos and posted your listings, it’s mostly just responding to messages and popping to the post office every now and then. You could sell clothes you don’t wear, old textbooks from last semester and even random household items you don’t need anymore – someone probably wants them, and bonus, it helps you keep your place tidy, too.
Where to list your stuff:
Crochet
Okay, this one is a bit niche, but as far as textile-based skills go, crochet is one of the easiest to pick up, and it’s currently very trendy. If you’ve never tried it before, pick up a few balls of wool and a couple of different-sized crochet hooks and jump on Google or social media to find some beginner tutorials. There are only a few basic stitches to learn, and once you’ve mastered those, you can pretty much make anything you set your mind to.
@jaswebstar How to crochet!! Happy New Year and welcome back to crocheting 101 ✨ starting fresh for anyone who wants to learn my favorite hobby for 2026!! Comment any tips I missed! #crochettiktok #howtocrochet #crochettutorial #beginnercrochet #fyp ♬ 夏とブランチ (Acoustic) - ruuka
People go crazy for cute little keychains or pocket stuffies, and once you get used to it, you can easily put together a few in an evening. Even if you only sell a few to your friends or classmates, it’s a fun skill that will never go astray, plus it can’t be replicated by a machine, so it’s the one thing that there will always be a human market for! If you get really good, you can even start designing your own patterns and listing them for sale as downloadables!
Where to share your work:
- Etsy
- Social media (especially TikTok)
- Uni events
Transcription
If you’re in the mood to be somewhat productive, but not with your schoolwork, transcription can be a good way to scratch that itch. It usually involves listening to short audio clips and typing out what you hear, or sometimes correcting the AI-suggested transcriptions, depending on the service. The pay isn’t great, but it is usually paid by the hour of audio transcribed, so if you are a good listener and a fast typer, it might be worth it!
Where to find transcription work:
Creating and selling templates
If you’re someone who lives for a nice, clean study planner, budget tracker or even a cute shopping list, why not make one for yourself using something like Canva, and then list them for sale as downloadable templates? It’s creative, practical, and chances are there are plenty of other students looking for something similar.
Where to sell them:
- Etsy
- Gumroad
- Creative Market
- Uni Facebook groups (if allowed)
