Extra Income? These Side Hustle Might Help You

The ever-increasing cost of living requires us to be more proactive and creative in managing our finances.

As such, if your current income is still insufficient, even though you are already squeezing every penny of it, it may be time to consider starting a side hustle.

Many side hustles allow you to do it in your own free time, and the only thing that is most important is that you have the skill and interest to do it.

Some of you already have the skills, yet you may not realize they can bring in more money if you know how and where to utilize them.

In line with today's technological developments, some side hustles can be done right from home with just a mobile phone, laptop, and internet connection.

Freelancer

One of the most common side hustles is freelancers who offer services without being tied to any employer. They can choose any job according to their expertise, interests, and skills.

For example, if you have a knack for writing, you can apply to ghostwriting, content, or copywriting jobs. One of the many websites that offer various jobs for side hustles are Upwork and Freelancer.

Besides that, if you are more interested in a physical job, you can do so through GoGet or Swifty websites.

The concept of employment is the same; you can choose a job according to your interests and expertise, but you must be physically available to carry out the task. Examples include house cleaning jobs, selling at a temporary stall, and making product packaging.

Besides Freelancer, some of the side hustles that you can do to generate additional income are as follows:

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a job in which you only need to promote products or services online through a unique link provided, and you will receive a commission every time the link is clicked or generates a sale. The commission rate depends on the value of the item the seller sets.

If you have many social media followers, this job might suit you. The more followers you have, the better your opportunity to generate income.

Among the companies that offer affiliate marketing are Shopee, Lazada, JD Sprot, and Watson, which only require you to promote products online. Some have earned hundreds or even thousands of ringgit, depending on your crafts and marketing method.

If interested, you can visit the company website to learn about the requirements, terms, and conditions and register to start your hustle.

2. Selling Your Design Templates

If you have skills and an interest in graphic design or video editing, you can generate extra income by selling your work on websites like Canva, Etsy, and Fiverr, where you can earn up to RM150 for each Canva design purchased.

However, to ensure that your template design has the power to attract users, you will need to always be at the forefront of the latest trends and hype so that you can offer something that users need.

To start your adventure here, you'll need to visit a website such as Canva to understand the terms and conditions set by the websites, including how to sell, copyright, and payment.

As a beginner, it is advisable to start with a lower price to build your brand. When you're comfortable and have a lot of demand, you can then start offering your work at a higher price.

3. Selling Photos and Videos

Almost everyone loves to take pictures and videos, but only a few see the opportunity to earn extra income.

In fact, many skillful people overlook their talent and see it as a hobby, while some who know about the opportunity have already earned thousands of dollars from their work.

If you love to take pictures and videos and have a knack and deep interest in them, it is time to widen your horizons and take the opportunity to transform your hobby into income-generating activities.

Among an infamous platform is Shutterstock, the world's leading platform for buying and selling photos and videos.

If your photo or video meets Shutterstock's conditions, it will be promoted on Shutterstock's international marketplace, allowing you to sell it at a higher price.

The most exciting part is that Shutterstock does not specify any type of camera, as a picture taken by a mobile phone is also more than enough.

What is more important is that the image meets the specified conditions, such as size, focus, and brightness.

So what are you waiting for? Don't just save the photos or videos you've captured; register a Shutterstock account or any other photo website and start your hustle.

Shutterstock sets the price of the photos, which varies depending on their quality. The price is usually between RM0.23 and RM500 for each piece.

4. Delivery Service

P-hailing or e-hailing is one of the most popular services nowadays as consumers seek a more convenient way to make their lives easier.

As such, it created a demand for jobs such as delivering food and e-hailing, which Grab and many other service providers offer.

E-hailing is a passenger delivery service managed via apps such as GrabCar, Maxim, and AirAsia Ride. To register as a driver, you only need a well-maintained car and a driver's license.

P-hailing is a delivery service for goods such as food, drinks, and packages. Companies that offer this service are GrabFood, Food Panda, PosLaju, and J&T.

5. Dropship

Dropshipping is a method in which you promote products without keeping any stock, as the order will be fulfilled by the product owner.

Unlike affiliate marketing, in which the price is set by the owner, drop shippers can determine their own price according to their wishes.

As such, it is more convenient for many drop shippers to create their own websites and sell their products as if they were their own, even though they are not.

6. Answering Surveys

This is one of the easiest ways to earn extra income. You only need to answer an online survey, and it does not require any particular expertise.

Answer the questionnaire according to your views, and you will be rewarded after you complete all the questions. The payment ranges between RM1 and RM20, depending on the company, in which Triaba pays RM1.17 to RM20.53 per question answered.

The most common payment for each questionnaire is RM1 to RM5 only, but if you are lucky, you might get RM20 per questionnaire.

In addition to Tribia, the websites that offer the same job are Ysense, Toluna, and Surveoo. These websites pay RM4.69 per question answered.

Although the payment seems small, imagine the total income if you accumulated 100 questions per week or more.

7. Reviewing Books

If your hobby is reading, this side job might be perfect for you as you can generate income every time you read and give your review on the books.

Ensure you give a quality review, have a good writing style, know the book theme, and do your analysis beforehand. This job requires good language and analytical skills.

You can find an opportunity to review on websites such as Freelancers and Upwork. Your comments will be used as a review for the public, and you will be paid according to the comments you give.

Summary

There are many side hustles and opportunities for you to earn extra income to supplement your livelihood. However, you need to be extra careful so that you are not scammed or taken advantage of.

Living is hard, so make sure that every penny you earn helps you live more comfortably and builds your wealth.

Article Highlights

1. Choose a side hustle that aligns with your interest and availability of time

2. Balancing acts is important. Even though you need to work more, set aside some time for your family and to take care of your health

3. Ensure that the job is legit and you are not scammed