How To Make an Extra $2,000 a Month From Side Hustles

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So you want to make an extra $2,000 a month? Whether it’s to save, invest or get out of debt, there are many ways to do it, from freelancing to renting out space.

Keep in mind that making that much extra cash may not be easy, especially if you are only working in your free time. However, with hard work and dedication, you can achieve that goal. Keep reading for some tips.

Quick Ways To Make an Extra $2,000 a Month

• Freelancing: Pick up a gig or a task for extra cash.
• Online tutoring: Teach subjects you know well.
• Virtual assistant: Help someone with admin tasks remotely.
• Blogging: Be an affiliate or brand ambassador and earn money.
• Delivery driving: Drive a rideshare such as Uber or Lyft, or deliver food and groceries.
• Dog walking: Look after pets and walk dogs while owners are busy.
• Renting space: List your home or room on Airbnb to generate income.
• Photography: Sell stock photos or offer to pick up photography gigs, such as weddings or photo shoots.

How To Make $2,000 a Month: 8 Best Ways

Some of the best ways to make an extra $2,000 a month are through online side hustles. Many of these can eventually turn into your full-time gig, but you can work on them on the side initially.

1. Freelancing

• Expected earnings: $20 to $100 per hour; based on your skill, expertise and how established you are on the platform
• Startup costs: Low; requires a computer and an internet connection
• Pros:
  • You can choose when you’d like to work, so hours are flexible.
  • There is a growing demand, especially if you have a sought-after skill.
• Cons:
  • It can be difficult to find clients at first.
  • Income will fluctuate depending on the number of projects and gigs available.

One of the most popular ways to make extra money is by working as a freelancer. You might even be able to use the skills you already have to make some extra cash. For example, you can freelance as a writer, programmer, graphic designer, marketer or web designer. Generally, if you can do the work online, you can do it as a freelancer.

In the beginning, you can find work with platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. When you are more established, you can get work through referrals and with your marketing efforts.

2. Online Tutoring

• Expected earnings: $10 to $80 per hour, depending on expertise and subject
• Startup costs: Low; requires computer and internet, and possibly a webcam and microphone
• Pros:
  • Flexible schedule
  • Rewarding to see students achieve academic goals
• Cons:
  • Establishing yourself may take some time
  • Plenty of competition on tutoring platforms, so it may be difficult to stand out
  • Income will fluctuate depending on hours worked and client load

If you have a lot of knowledge in a particular topic, you can make money by tutoring. One way to do this is by offering services on sites like Chegg and TutorMe.

Depending on where your expertise lies, you can tutor in subjects like math, science and computer science. You can also become an English teacher to teach skills like reading, writing and grammar. English tutors typically make $8 to $20 per hour, meaning you may not make $2,000 a month initially. However, it’s possible to make that much with more experience.

3. Virtual Assistant

• Expected earnings: $10 to $50 per hour
• Startup costs: Low; requires a computer and internet, and possibly a headset
• Pros:
  • You can set your own working schedule
  • No overhead costs for the office, so the business can focus on paying for the tasks you complete or hours worked.
  • Working with multiple clients can lead to building a vast and diverse network
• Cons:
  • Income can fluctuate depending on clients and hours worked
  • You may need to juggle multiple clients, which can be difficult when schedules conflict or there are conflicting deadlines.
  • Benefits may be limited compared to traditional jobs.

Many businesses and self-employed people or freelancers must complete tasks, but don’t have time to do the work. As a result, they will often outsource certain tasks to virtual assistants. This could include social media management, invoicing, appointment scheduling and administrative tasks. Typically, they might be willing to outsource tasks not part of their core business.

4. Blogging and Affiliate Marketing

• Expected earnings: $20 to $100 per hour
• Startup costs: Low; requires a computer and internet
• Pros:
  • Passive income can be lucrative once affiliate links have been set up
  • There is an increasing need for affiliate marketing as more companies do their business online
• Cons:
  • It can be difficult to gain an audience, especially in saturated markets
  • Income will vary based on sales and traffic

Starting a blog can be a great way to make some extra money each month. By writing blog posts and adding affiliate links to your posts, you can generate some passive income for yourself.

However, keep in mind that this can be a very competitive space, especially if you rely on Google to bring traffic to your website. It’s best to find a highly specialized niche and, if possible, promote your blog on other channels like Pinterest or with Facebook ads.

5. Delivery Driving and Rideshares

• Expected earnings: As low as $13.70 and up to $100 per hour
• Startup costs: Moderate; requires a mobile device with cellular plan, a car, auto insurance, and fuel costs
• Pros:
  • You choose your own schedule.
  • Many delivery driver platforms offer quick payouts, so you can earn cash quickly.
• Cons:
  • It can be stressful being on the road due to traffic and potentially difficult passengers.
  • Wear and tear on your vehicle can add up in long-term costs

If you have a car and live in a major metro, you have an easy way to make some extra cash. One way to do this is by delivering food on an app like Uber Eats, Doordash or Grubhub. If your car meets the prerequisites, you can also try driving for a service like Uber or Lyft.

Again, making money this way can be a little less glamorous than it sounds at first. These apps and services don’t typically reimburse you for things like gas and maintenance, at least not directly. These costs can eat into your profits, so you’ll have to do some calculations to figure out if it’s worth it.

6. Dog Walking and Sitting

• Expected earnings: $15 to $50 per hour
• Startup costs: Low; requires a computer, internet and pet care supplies
• Pros:
  • Minimal investment, especially if you are already a dog owner
  • There is a need for dog walkers and sitters as more people become pet owners
• Cons:
  • Building an established side hustle can take time
  • Earnings will fluctuate, and you’ll need to be flexible with your time

If you love dogs, one of the best ways to make some extra cash is to offer your services on apps like Rover and Wag. If you are wondering how you can make $2,000 a month part-time, this might not be the best way, as the average part-time salary on Rover is $1,000 per month. Rover and Wag also deduct fees, so you will have to factor that into your calculation.

However, you might be able to combine this with another item on this list, like freelancing or virtual assistant work. Of course, that may not always work because some dogs need more attention than others. But if you have one that is low-maintenance, you could easily make $2,000 a month by combining this with another side hustle.

7. Rent Out Your Place

• Expected earnings: $100 per night
• Startup costs: Moderate; requires a computer, internet and continuous property maintenance
• Pros:
  • Passive income potential
  • Tax deductions may be available from property maintenance or mortgage interest.
• Cons:
  • You’ll need to share your space, which could be a concern for some over privacy.
  • Dealing with upkeep or managing tents can be stressful at times.

If you live in a popular vacation place, an easy way to make some extra money could be to rent out your apartment. Or, you can rent out spare bedrooms on Airbnb. For example, suppose you live on the beach or in another place that attracts tourists regularly. You can rent out your space for a few days at a time and charge a premium if the area is in demand.

Suppose you have a bedroom to rent and can fill it 20 nights per month. In this example, you would only have to charge $100 per night to make $2,000 a month. Your experience may vary, but this can be a great way to make some extra cash.

8. Photography

• Expected earnings: About $23 per hour
• Startup costs: Low to moderate; will require a computer and internet, along with a camera and photography supplies
• Pros:
  • Flexible hours and creative freedom
  • Unlimited potential to earn, based on the gigs
• Cons:
  • Earnings will fluctuate depending on availability
  • May be competitive

If you enjoy photos, you may not realize you can get paid for them. There are many ways to do this, but one of the most popular ways is by selling your photos to stock photography websites. Some sites to consider would be Shutterstock and iStock Photo. Again, this side hustle can sound easy at first, but it requires significant work to succeed. You must have a strong portfolio of high-quality images. Try to expand your portfolio to include photos of nature, portraits or landscapes.

Alternatively, you can offer photography services in your local area. People often need family photos, wedding photos and professional headshots. While it may be difficult to find clients at first, this route can be easier in the long run because there may be much less competition.

Bottom Line

Finding work is easier than ever, though it can take to establish yourself and stand out. You’ll need to be willing to put in the time and effort to be successful.

Making an extra $2,000 a month does take effort, but it’s completely doable with the right strategy. Pick a side hustle that fits your strengths, stay consistent and watch your income grow.

Information is accurate as of May 6, 2025. 

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