Ever wanted to make extra money on the side using side hustles? I know for most, the biggest issue they ever have with money is their income or the lack of it. In fact, 44% of workers aged 25-34 and 39% aged 18-24 also have side gigs, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey of 3,244 people.
A side hustle or the “second job” is a concept that has been branded by the millennial generation.
Besides the regular 9 to 5 clocked hours, some millennials design websites, some tutor a subject and some others run odd errands to make a few extra bucks on the side.
In fact, the gig economy, characterized by independent contract jobs, has been growing at a faster rate than payroll employment.
According to a report by CNBC, the number of independent contractors have increased by 27% more than the traditional clocked-hours employees in the last 2 decades.
If you want to take complete advantage of the opportunities existing in the gig economy or just looking for ways to make extra money, below are some of the best side hustles you can pursue to earn an additional income.
This is what making more money can do for you:
- It can help you build savings or pay off debt
- Making more money can help you stop living paycheck to paycheck
- You become financially independent faster
- You can even retire earlier
Join the other 44 million other people who reported having a side hustle in 2025 to make extra money. As the gig economy develops, so do gig economy jobs and opportunities to earn money fast or for free.
The only thing you need to know is where to look.
Easy Side Hustles for Millennials
1. Earn passive income online.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could invest in commercial real estate and apartments without dealing with all the hassle of buying, improving, and re-selling real estate?
You don’t have to be a millionaire to invest in these types of properties. You can now invest in large-scale real estate for as little as $10 with Fundrise.
Fundrise is a great way to dip your toes into real estate investing without needing tons of cash upfront. For as little as $10, you can start building a real estate portfolio, and new users even get a $10 bonus to kick things off.
Whether you're new to investing or looking to diversify, Fundrise offers an easy and flexible way to grow your money while investing in properties nationwide.
- Earn passive income with real estate investing starting at just $10
- Easy-to-use app for seamless access to crowd-funded real estate deals
- Perfect for those who want their money to work for them
2. Take online surveys.
Taking online surveys to make extra money is a no-brainer. As a Millennial, you definitely won’t get rich or make hundreds of dollars per day with paid surveys alone, but you won’t waste much time, and you can make some money the easy way. Here are some of my favorites:
Survey Junkie: This is a free survey app for your phone that pays you to take online surveys, participate in focus groups, and try new products. And, I really mean free all around – free to join and they don't charge anything to be a member (they will actually pay you in cash via PayPal). You can get a free registration bonus for free when you join through this link.
- Share your opinion to help brands deliver better products and services
- Fast payouts, legit, and our favorite survey site
- Has paid out more than $25 million to its members
3. Earn with this beermoney site.
You should definitely know about Freecash. This site lets you earn real cash by completing simple tasks like taking surveys, testing apps, or signing up for offers, perfect for turning your free time into extra money.
With Freecash, you can cash out via PayPal, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, and the payouts are fast, most users cash out within minutes. Plus, you can maximize your earnings by referring friends to the platform.
- Earn real money by completing surveys, testing apps, and trying game offers
- Cash out within minutes via PayPal, gift cards, crypto, and more
- Withdraw as little as $0.10, so you can start earning fast
5. Get paid for grocery shopping.
You should definitely know about Pogo. This innovative app is available for iOS and Android and makes it easy to earn money for everyday activities like grocery shopping.
With Pogo, you’ll automatically earn rewards on your purchases—no need to clip coupons or scan individual items. Just link your debit or credit card, and the app takes care of the rest. You can also rack up points for rideshare transactions, gas, and other purchases.
Unlock the power of your data to earn and save on shopping, finances and more. Download the Pogo app today to start earning and saving cash.
5. Download an app that gives you $60.
Are you a Millennial that uses your phone constantly?
By using the internet as you do every day, Nielsen invites you to make a difference – and you can make money too. I downloaded this app and make around $60 passively… it's a legit app.
You don’t really have to do anything other than initially registering your computer or phone.
This company will pay you $60 a year to keep their app on your favorite internet browsing device and they also give away $10,000 each month. So you can possibly make more than $60.
- This company will pay you $60 a year to keep their app on your favorite internet browsing device
- They also give away $10,000 each month
- Legit passive income opportunity
6. Earn money playing games on your phone.
Looking for another easy side hustle for Millennials? How about playing games on your phone for real money?
Playing games for money sounds too much like gambling for some folks, but if you like to play games on your phone, this side hustle is for you.
Once you know what to look for, you’ll find more game apps to win real money than you first thought. These apps include:
- Bingo Cash: This app offers pairs you in head-to-head bingo games against real people and whoever plays the fastest, wins real cash.
- Solitaire Cash: Earn cash by testing your solitaire skills in swift, 2-minute matchups against others from your mobile phone.
- Mistplay: A unique platform where players can earn rewards by playing different mobile games.
Playing these games consistently won’t make you as much money as other side hustles. But it can be fun to pass the time and earn cash.
- Win up to $83 per game just by playing bingo
- Play anytime and anywhere with no interruptions
- Cash out instantly with PayPal or Apple Pay
7. Lower your bills with automation.
You should definitely know about Rocket Money (formerly Truebill). This app not only helps you save money but also puts your finances on autopilot by managing subscriptions, tracking expenses, and finding ways to lower your bills.
With Rocket Money, you can identify unnecessary subscriptions, negotiate lower rates on bills, and optimize your budget—all in one place. Plus, it’s a great way to find extra cash in your monthly spending by eliminating wasteful expenses.
- Lower your internet, phone, and cable bills automatically
- Trusted by over 5 million users to cut monthly expenses
- Contacts providers to find discounts and hidden savings
- Saves users an average of $300 per year
8. Use a cash advance app.
Cash advance apps let you access part of your paycheck before payday. They’re designed to help you cover expenses when you're in a pinch and don’t want to rely on high-interest payday loans or credit cards.
These apps give you the power to get paid for the hours you've already worked. Whether it's gas, groceries, or an unexpected bill, you can borrow up to $750 instantly with the right app.
Here are a few top picks to get you to your next paycheck:
- EarnIn: Withdraw up to $100 per day (up to $750 per pay period) with no mandatory fees. Just link your bank and log your hours—EarnIn lets you access your earnings when you need them.
- Cleo: This AI-powered financial assistant helps manage your money and offers cash advances up to $250. It’s funny, useful, and great at helping you stay in control of your finances.
You worked today, get paid today. These apps make it happen.
- No fees if you choose standard delivery
- Works with most jobs if you have a steady paycheck
- No credit check and won’t hurt your score
- Borrow up to $750 as you build history in the app
9. Earn money delivering food.
DoorDash lets any Millennial become their own boss and make deliveries on their own time. It’s one of the highest rating gig economy jobs.
You choose the hours you work and get paid cash per order (once you have access to fast pay). Rates will vary by location.
Once you sign up to become a dasher, you can earn an average of $15-25 an hour.
This is such an easy way to make money by delivering on your free time while making extra cash and funding your personal goals.
Click here to sign up with DoorDash
- Work whenever you want, no set shifts
- Cash out earnings daily with Fast Pay
- Unlike rideshare, no dealing with riders
- Keep 100% of customer tips
10. Use your time to earn free gift cards.
If you’re a Millennial that that is free nights and weekends, you can spend time learning how to earn free gift cards. Getting free gift cards sounds like a dream but it’s realistic with these fool-proof ideas:
- If you’re a fan of bonuses be sure to check out how these 11 free apps will give you $15 just for downloading.
- If you have free time to kill learn how to get free gift cards in your free time from your phone.
- Want free PayPal money without the work? Snag PayPal money being sent to you for free each money now with these free PayPal money methods (I'm serious).
- Who doesn’t love freebies? Learn how to get free money, free internet, free cable TV, and even free food.
11. Check class action lawsuits.
If you use a product that’s involved in a class-action lawsuit, a little online legwork could get you a cash payout.
The rules of each settlement are different, but in most cases, you’ll have to provide proof of purchase or product use, like a serial number or a receipt.
Once you fill out your online claim form, you may have to wait a few weeks or months before receiving your payment.
12. Claim bank bonuses
One option for millennials looking to make some extra cash is to collect bank bonuses. Many banks offer sign-up bonuses and other incentives to attract new customers.
By taking advantage of these offers, millennials can earn extra money without having to commit to a full-time job or invest a lot of time.
In this era of easy access to information and technology, it has become easier than ever to learn about these bank bonuses and how to maximize them. You can see some of my favorite banking offers currently live below:
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Best for checking
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Best for savings
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Best for business
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Chase Total Checking® (Nationwide)
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SoFi Checking & Savings (Nationwide)
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Chase Business Complete Checking® (Nationwide)
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- Bonus Offer: $300
- Minimum Deposit: $500
- Direct Deposit: Yes
- Expiration Date: 7/16/25
- Bonus Offer: $325
- Minimum Deposit: $1,000-$5,000
- Direct Deposit: Yes
- Expiration Date: 12/31/25
- Bank Bonus: $300
- Minimum Deposit: $2,000
- Direct Deposit: No
- Expiration Date: 7/17/25
13. Sell on eBay.
Selling your unwanted items around your household on eBay is a great easy side hustle. I've been using eBay for about 7 years now and it is very easy to sell things around your home that you no longer use or find items that you can purchase for cheap and then flip them on eBay for a profit.
I personally made $1,1379.79 one month by flipping iPhones. Just make sure that you keep the fees into consideration.
14. Get $10 from this rewards site.
Swagbucks is another great survey site to make some extra money. It’s similar to Survey Junkie, but there are also a few other ways you can earn money as a member (including a $10 bonus just for signing up).
Other ways you can make money with Swagbucks outside of surveys:
- Cash back program for online shopping (includes $10 bonus).
- Get paid for searching the web (includes $10 bonus)
- Watching videos (includes $10 bonus)
- Earn points by taking surveys, playing games, and shopping online
- Redeem rewards like PayPal cash or gift cards to top brands
- Join millions who’ve earned over $800 million with Swagbucks and get a $10 welcome bonus
15. Watch videos online as an easy side hustle.
The next thing you can do is sign up for InboxDollars which pays you, in cash, to watch fun videos & take surveys.
If you sign up before the end of this month, they also give you a $5 free bonus just to give it a try.
By spending just 5-10 minutes per day on this (either on your lunch break or during TV commercial breaks) you can earn and earn an extra $50/month.
More people should be doing this easy side hustle!
- InboxDollars is a legitimate way to make extra money online
- Been around for 20 years
- Paid its members more than $59 million since 2000
- Free $5 welcome bonus
16. Get paid to play games.
You should definitely know about Mistplay. This app rewards you with gift cards just for playing mobile games on your Android device. The more you play, the more points you earn, it’s that simple!
With Mistplay, you can discover new games, level up, and cash out your points for rewards like Amazon, Visa, or Google Play gift cards. It’s perfect for turning your downtime into a money-making opportunity.
Bonus: Download Mistplay through this link and start earning rewards today. Most users earn their first gift card within a few days of playing! It’s fun, easy, and a great way to make money doing something you already enjoy.
- Earn free gift cards just for playing new mobile games
- 100% free to use—no deposits or hidden fees required
- Discover and play games while earning rewards effortlessly
17. Get paid to lose weight.
HealthyWage offers people the opportunity to earn cash for losing weight. Earn cash for losing weight? Sounds too good to be true, but Healthywage’s mission is to help people lose weight by offering cash prizes to make weight loss more fun and effective.
You start by using the free calculator to find out how much you can win for hitting your weight loss goals. Once you determine your goal, you can sign up and start your HealthyWager.
If you hit your goal, you win the cash prize! Weight verification is done simply (from your own home!) through the HealthyWage app and payouts are handled quickly and efficiently through check or free Paypal money.
HealthyWage is a program for people who want to start dieting in a way that is fun, competitive, and potentially rewarding. As a member, you and your friends, family, and coworkers can bet against yourselves and potentially walk away with hundreds or even thousands of dollars in your pocket.
18. Walk dogs for money.
If you think happiness comes from doggy kisses and wagging tails, then you would be perfect for this awesome opportunity from Rover.
Rover is the nation’s largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers. They offer a ton of different services to help pet owners give their four-legged buddies the attention and care they deserve when they can’t.
Rover takes pride in its amazing customer care and 5-star sitter rating and Rover is full of dog lovers like yourself.
It’s a great company to work with and nothing beats adding some extra income while playing with a bunch of different dogs!
As a Rover Sitter, you can earn up to $100 per week (or more) and don’t need to worry about networking and marketing yourself – Rover does it for you. So, add a little more happiness to your days and get paid to enjoy some quality pup time – it’s a win-win.
What can be more fun than walking dogs around your neighborhood and get paid? You can do it on your time and get paid today with Rover! According to Rover, dog walkers and sitters can earn up to $1,000 per month.
Why Do Millennials Love Easy Side Hustles?
In today's fast-paced and increasingly expensive world, many millennials are finding it challenging to make ends meet.
With student loans, high rent, and other expenses, it can be difficult to save money or build wealth.
As a result, many are turning to side hustles to supplement their income and achieve financial stability.
Are Online Easy Side Hustles Worth It?
I sure think so. I tell most of my readers to use easy side hustles to increase their savings rate to become financially free.
These are 5-star side hustles that you can take advantage of in order to supplement your income. These proven methods are guaranteed to help add some extra cash to your bank roll.
If you wanted more ways to make money online besides these easy side hustles, you should check how to get paid to walk or here's my list of favorite survey sites.
- 1. Earn passive income online.
- 2. Take online surveys.
- 3. Earn with this beermoney site.
- 5. Get paid for grocery shopping.
- 5. Download an app that gives you $60.
- 6. Earn money playing games on your phone.
- 7. Lower your bills with automation.
- 8. Use a cash advance app.
- 9. Earn money delivering food.
- 10. Use your time to earn free gift cards.
- 11. Check class action lawsuits.
- 12. Claim bank bonuses
- 13. Sell on eBay.
- 14. Get $10 from this rewards site.
- 15. Watch videos online as an easy side hustle.
- 16. Get paid to play games.
- 17. Get paid to lose weight.
- 18. Walk dogs for money.
