Six Amazing Side Hustles That Can Boost Your Income

With the UK’s inflation rate increasing to 10% year over year, increased fuel and grocery prices putting a strain on finances, and a looming recession, people everywhere are turning to side hustles and second jobs to protect their income.

Side hustles are typically flexible in nature and don’t require set hours like most formal types of part-time or full-time employment. But, crucially, they can also put a formidable bit of cash in your pocket.

Why Get a Side Hustle?

Even though wages are rising, they’re still not keeping pace with the cost of living. Therefore, many individuals and households have turned to second jobs or side hustles to increase their incomes.

A second job can provide a much-needed level of protection for many individuals and households. Well over a third of Brits don’t have enough money saved to cover a month’s expenses if they were to lose their job. A second job can help those individuals build an emergency fund that they can rely on if they lose their primary source of income.

Additionally, a second job can help you avoid missing any payments. Your payment history is one of the most crucial factors contributing to your credit score, meaning that any late or missed payments can significantly impact your credit score. Plus, by making timely payments, you’ll minimise the amount of interest that your debts accrue.

2022’s Best Side Hustles Ideas in the UK

With Brits under increasing pressure to make their money go further, a second job or side hustle can give them financial breathing room. Let’s take a look at some of the best side hustles you can start quickly in the UK.

Package or Food Delivery Driver

If you have access to a vehicle and a driver's licence, delivering for companies like Amazon or Deliveroo may be the perfect option. Side hustles like these offer a significant amount of flexibility and aren’t difficult to get started with, but it’s important to read the fine print when you sign up so you know what you’re getting into.

Average Earnings For Package and Food Delivery Drivers:

Food delivery drivers’ earnings depend on how many deliveries they make per hour. Average wages are typically between £7-12 an hour, although busier times can see that rate increase, whereas slower times can see that rate decrease.

Driving for Amazon might earn you a more consistent hourly wage, which will come in around £13 an hour on average. However, this rate may be higher or lower depending on where you live; drivers in areas with high costs of living can expect to earn a higher wage.

Pet Sitter or Dog Walker

If you love animals and don’t mind cleaning up after them, a dog walking or pet sitting position might be a good fit. Companies like Bark will even help get your side hustle up and running.

Keep in mind that while being a pet sitter can be an enjoyable, and even relaxing side hustle, pet sitting doesn’t always offer the flexibility that you might have as a delivery driver, as pets need to be tended to, sometimes at specific times.

Average Earnings For Dog Walkers and Pet Sitters

As a dog walker or pet sitter, you’ll have more control over how much you make, as you’ll be responsible for setting your rate. Dog walkers in the UK can typically charge anywhere between £10-25 depending on the duration of the walk. However, like driving for Amazon, your earnings will be influenced by where you live.

Tutor

Offering private tutoring can be a flexible side-hustle option with excellent wages. It’s common for university students to earn extra income during their studies by providing tutoring. Sometimes tutoring comes in the form of group study sessions, but it often requires one-on-one attention.

Average Earnings for Tutors

Tutoring probably allows you the most control in determining your earnings. However, your rate may vary depending on your level of expertise, the subject you’re teaching, and your location. Average rates for tutors range between £15-30 an hour.

Night Shift Receptionist

Many businesses, such as gyms and hotels, need evening and night coverage at the front desk. The plus side of working as a receptionist is that it is typically low-stress and does not involve strenuous physical activity.

Average Earnings for a Night Shift Receptionist

Night shift receptionists typically earn between £8-13 per hour. Side-hustles like reception work have many of the benefits of formal employment, such as consistent scheduling and legal protections, which aren’t always clear for side hustles like dog walking or tutoring.

Bartending

Bartending can be a great fit if you’re looking for a role where you can socialise and connect with customers and staff while you work. Additionally, by working on the weekends, you may be able to start this side hustle without interfering with your workweek.

Average Earnings for Bartenders

Bartenders typically earn between £8-12 an hour, but this can vary widely depending on location, the type of establishment you work at, and your schedule.

Drive for Uber

Driving for Uber offers the most flexibility of all side-hustle jobs, but is limited to those who own cars and are licensed to drive.

Average Earnings for Uber Drivers:

Uber drivers typically earn about £15 an hour. You might earn more than £15 if you’re able to take trips in busier areas or during peak travel times.

Build Credit Your Credit and Keep More Cash in Your Pockets

With rising living costs, a side hustle can be a fantastic way to bolster your income. It can help you build an emergency fund if you’re laid off from your job, or simply make paying your monthly bills a little easier.

Another great way to lighten the burden on your finances is by improving your credit score. While the slightly-lower interest rate on a credit card, personal loan, or your home’s mortgage that a strong credit score gets you might seem negligible on a monthly basis, the long-term savings could be massive.

Building credit can be challenging, but the good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. Pave’s bills monitoring, personalised credit fixes, and active credit building leverage the payments you already make to build your credit score. To see it in action yourself, download the Pave app from the App Store or Google Play today.