22 Ways to Make Money on the Side in 2022

How to Make Money in 2022

The past 2 years have changed everything!

What a rollercoaster.

You might be feeling drained and as if there is no way you can make money in 2022.

We are fortunate that with such a shift in work, there are loads of ways to make money on the side.

Be sure to check legalities in your area. With the world how it is, those can change in a second!

I have tried all of the below and only recommend things I have done.

Also read how I made $33,277 on the side in 12 months or check out 99 Side Hustles for Aussies (which can mostly be done by any nationality, not just Aussies).

This post may contain affiliate links to the products and services I personally use.

Check out the full disclosure here if you want.

1. Invest

Even if you only have $5 to start, you can invest and grow your money.

The sooner you start investing, the better it is and the harder your money will work for you.

Now, it is easier than ever to invest small amounts so you can grow your wealth without needing thousands to invest.

With investing, there is a risk so you need to weigh up your options and get professional advice.

It is also typically something you do long-term to make money, not if you need cash immediately.

2. Bank Bonuses

So many banks offer sign up bonuses now from $5 instantly or larger amounts such as $50 to $300 but you have to do a bunch of things for the larger ones.

ING offers $100 when you join and complete a few steps.

Most small bank offers you will get simply for signing up.

Larger amounts require you to use the card, make deposits and sometimes open up savings accounts too.

With these bonuses, I am talking about bank accounts, not credit cards.

Opening or applying for credit cards goes on your credit history and will impact your borrowing power for loans, mortgages etc.

3. Online Surveys

Time wasted sitting and waiting for something e.g. the doctors or school pick up can now make you money.

They won’t make your rich but can be a way to make money in otherwise wasted time.

Here are my favourites:

Octopus Group: Pays $16.28hr

I’ve been doing surveys with Octopus Group for a few years. Octopus Group are the highest paying in Australia and there are lots of surveys available in my experience.

Read the full review of Octopus Group for more information.

Swagbucks: More Than Just Surveys

The first online survey site I ever tried over a decade ago has so many ways to earn Swagbucks.

Online surveys, daily polls, watching videos, shopping and activating the cashback option, using it as a Google search instead of Google.

The list of ways to earn is long.

PrizeRebel

Paying in USD, PrizeRebel converts well for Aussies.

I don’t get as many surveys from them but it stills does well.

4. Buy Things to Resell

I used to do this heaps and at one point was making over $10,000 a month from it.

I did best with rockabilly clothing, travel and camping gear, photography items and a couple of cars.

Reselling has been a fun way for my daughters and me to generate money when we feel like it in more recent times too.

Find tips on how to do it here or I have a full eBook including everything here.

Over on Aspiring Millionaire, reselling is one of the ways they’re turning $2 into $1,000,000.

5. Blogging

One of my favourite side gigs which turned into full time income for me is blogging.

I’ve been blogging for years, have bought and sold sites as well as founded others.

The Thrifty Issue has been by far my favourite.

To make money from blogging you need good content, an engaged community then use methods such as ads, sponsored posts, affiliate links and your own products.

Check out this post on how to set up a blog and make money blogging.

6. Market Research

$100 per hour is the typical rate for market research I’ve done.

It’s not consistent but I get offers most weeks for a market research gig and the ones I have done were great.

Read how to make $100hr with market research for tips on how to do it and what is involved.

7. Freelance Writing

Another one of my favourites, I have done writing on the side for years.

Initially, I started with financial writing but in the last few years, I did more travel writing which provided some amazing opportunities all over the world.

Freelance writing isn’t for everyone and now is more competitive but there is still money to be made.

Read how to make money as a freelance writer for more info.

Another option with writing is to create your own eBooks and sell them on Amazon or your own website.

I have both and it means multiple incomes.

8. Virtual Assistant

Most things can be done online so if you have any experience with admin, marketing or similar, this is a good one.

You can make $20 to $50hr in Australia, although other countries charge much less.

This means you will be in competition with overseas workers, however, many companies want native English speakers or someone in Australia.

Remote work means virtual assistants are increasing in demand.

How to become a virtual assistant covers the set up and what is involved.

9. Rent out a Room or Your Space

This is one you will definitely need to check the laws in your area.

I’ve made thousands with Airbnb at different times, $50 a week renting out my garage in different cities and even rented other space in my home.

For long-term, consistent income, getting someone to rent a room works better than Airbnb for most people.

Do a thorough interview, get references and proof of income etc.

Treat it the same as you would a rental property.

Find out how to make money with Airbnb here . Plus this one about how to sell your stuff or space.

10. Rent Out Your Car

It can be a bit hit and miss because people do not care about your car as much as you do.

So if you rent it out, you could end up with more dings and scratches.

Some people find it worth it, others have not.

In my experience, the customer service is lacking a little and insurance policies have changed so it is not as great as it was.

However, where I currently live is such a huge tourist destination that cars get booked out extremely fast for maximum prices.

You could opt to make your car available only during holiday times to get premium prices.

11. Airtasker

I experimented with this at the end of last year and was surprised at the options and how much I made.

From delivering flyers to updating a business page on Tripadvisor, I tried everything.

Some were worth it, others were not.

Read how to make money with Airtasker to see what I did, how much I made and my tips.

12. Cash Back Sites

While not technically making money, you do get a signup bonus once you make your first purchase.

Plus getting cashback on your shopping is great.

I get at least a few hundred each year, depending on what I am buying.

One year, when setting up a new home and selecting new items instead of second hand I got over $1,000 in cashback!

They will let you know how much you can get back so you can choose which one to use at which time.

Sometimes they have the same amounts, other times one will have more than the others.

Here are my favourite cashback sites.

Shopback

With regular bonus cashback offers and sales, Shopback is one of the most popular cashback sites and apps. Join Shopback for free and start saving money.

Cashrewards

I have gotten a lot back from Cash Rewards. Join Cashrewards for free and add it to your Chrome bar then download the app.

Then whenever you shop, you will be notified of cashback offers available for that site.

Honey

Slightly different to the others, Honey also scans for coupons and discounts you can use.

It will filter through all the ones available online to get you the best discount.

Compare the offers from Honey, Cashrewards and Shopback yourself though as they can vary. Join Honey here.

Kickback

Similar to the others, Kickback is free to join and offers a variety of discounts and cash back on your purchases. Join Kickback and start saving money.

ReceiptJar

This is for after your purchase is final. Upload your receipt and get points. Once you reach 1,000 points you can get a gift card. Join free with the code KYLIT3QH2 and get a bonus 200 points when you upload your first receipt.

13. Flip Websites

I was more active with this a few years ago.

Flipping websites is where I would buy a website for a few hundred, improve it then resell it for thousands.

It took a little work and sometimes it was a pain with the handover but the income was great.

As soon as I write about how I do this specifically, I’ll add it here.

In the meantime, check out how to make money blogging for tips to do this.

14. Deliveries

Ubereats or even your local restaurant, couriers, Australia Post has taken on more delivery drivers or if you have a bike, deliver flyers. With a car, postie bike or even a pushbike, you can make some decent money.

Some of these companies have been offering sign-on bonuses too so do a little research for them before joining. Most of them allow you to be signed up for more than one at a time too.

15. Cars e.g. Uber, Shebah, Lyft etc

With a fairly new car, you can make money driving others around.

It will cause wear and tear on your car plus there are the expenses of insurance, petrol etc.

But most people I talk to enjoy doing it as a side gig.

If you live in a main city you can make a lot of money too.

The pay isn’t huge once you account for the expenses but it’s generally regular as you choose your own hours.

16. Medical Trials

I made $4,050 with one medical trial and have been featured in the news for this.

There are a variety of trials and not all involve medication.

You don’t need to have the condition to be involved in the trial either.

I wouldn’t do it again mainly because I have 4 kids now and earn good money.

But at the time, I needed the money and it was for something I already had so wasn’t much of a risk.

My top tips and personal experience are outlined here.

17. Voiceover Work

Get paid to read things, do intros for podcasts or other shows, ads and so much more.

A few of my friends from different countries make thousands each year with this.

And as different places want different accents, genders etc. There is work for so many people.

18. Pet Sitting/Walking

This can be a great way to enjoy a pet without the cost of owning one.

Some people pay to have you house and pet sit, which means free accommodation too.

Others will let you housesit at yours for payment.

As for dog walking, I see a huge need for this in various areas as people lead such busy lives now.

19. Ironing

One of the most commonly requested gigs that I see in Facebook groups is people looking for someone to do their ironing.

Personally, I hate ironing and have paid others to do it. If you choose to do ironing be really clear on your prices e.g. per item or per FLAT basket.

Otherwise, people will try to stuff as much as they can into a basket.

You can also offer to pick up or drop off for an extra fee.

20. Cleaning

Especially in touristy areas, cleaning can be amazing.

There is a lot of work and even Airbnb specific gigs you can pick up now where you clean between guests.

Look on Facebook, Airtasker and Gumtree for gigs to get you started.

Be sure not to underquote though!

21. Gardening

The more time-poor people are, the more they outsource.

Gardening is one more and more people are paying others to do.

You can set up your own business or work for others.

Check Facebook groups, Gumtree and similar for people needing work and advertise your services there.

Some will want regular lawn mowing, others require more work.

Be sure to quote accurately after checking the prices in your are.

Underquoting will leave you exhausted with no money to show for it.

22. Second Job/Ask for a Raise

Hospitality, delivery driving, nightfill etc.

There are numerous jobs with different hours depending on your experience, interest and availability.

Many of these jobs are picked up by uni students, semi-retired people or mothers now and are in high demand as so many have been laid off.

But in terms of regular payment, a second job is more definite than random gigs as you know how much you are making each week usually and it can include superannuation and other benefits.

Alternatively, if you are in a job where you can ask for a raise, do it.

Show why you are valuable and worth it. At the same time, check to see the rates in your area for your qualifications and experience.

More often than not, it is easier and more beneficial to change jobs than it is to get a raise.

FAQ’s

Due to the popularity of this post and how we all like to make money, I’ve gotten a lot of questions. Here are the most common ones.

Do I have to declare any of these on tax?

Generally speaking, if you earn money you need to declare it.

That said, if you have to declare income, you might also be able to claim some other things related to making that income.

So it is always best to speak to a tax professional regarding your personal situation.

Will making money on the side affect my Centrelink payments?

As with tax, income needs to be declared to Centrelink. How much you earn, how you earn it and a few other factors determine if it will.

Check with Centrelink, always be honest and make sure you follow whatever advice you receive.

Do I need a business bank account for these side gigs?

If you are starting an actual business, which some of these ideas can be, then yes, a separate business bank account for your accounting purposes is needed.

If it is something such as the online surveys then no, you don’t need a business bank account.

With starting a business, get professional advice including legal, insurance, accounting etc.

To ensure you set it up correctly too.