How to make extra money with a side hustle

How to make extra money with a side hustle

Like the thought of making a few quid extra each month? Read Sophie Cole’s guide to the side hustle and let the money roll in

By Sophie Cole

The concept of a side hustle is nothing new. It’s widely regarded as a smart way to line your pockets with extra cash, but what does the phrase actually mean?

Essentially, it is just an edgier way to describe the age-old process of securing additional income on top of your main job.

As a general rule, side hustles shouldn’t require any expensive outlay to get started.  

Rather than the commitment of taking on a part-time role that fits around your full-time hours, side hustles are a more flexible way to bring in extra cash. They’re often things you can do from home, or that flex around the rest of your life.

As a general rule, side hustles shouldn’t require any expensive outlay to get started. And how much time you give yours is entirely down to you. You can commit every spare second to your side hustle or just one hour a week. That’s the beauty of doing something without an employer breathing down your neck.

Lots of people take on side hustles year-round as a way to supplement their income. But as we approach the most expensive time of the year, the appeal of extra cash seems ever stronger.

So how do you find a side hustle that works for you? Here are four smart ideas that are almost guaranteed to give your bank balance a boost.

How to make extra money with a side hustle 1. Get crafty

If you’re great at making things, use this to your advantage and find ways to turn your passion into a payday.

If you love to make accessories, knit scarves or crochet cute creations, you could make big bucks from the things you create for fun. Set up an Etsy shop if you’re looking to establish this as a long-running side hustle or try selling on places like Facebook marketplace or eBay if you’re just looking for an ad-hoc earner.

If you’re lucky and your products sell well, you may even be able to turn this into your main business. Launching it as a side hustle first is a great way to test the market and see your creations’ profit potential.

2. Free your lance

Look into freelancing. Though you might think only creatives like writers, artists and entertainers can make a good income from freelancing, employers are looking for an array of skills on a temporary basis.

Check out sites like upwork.com, where you can register yourself as a freelancer in everything from computer development to management, and watch the commissions come rolling in.

Or, if you have connections from your previous roles, don’t be afraid to reach out and offer your services as a freelancer. Just check your current contract for any kind of "exclusivity" clause, which forbids you from working for any competitors in the same role, to make sure you’re not going to land in trouble.

3. Market research

Complete paid surveys and market research. Websites like YouGov and apps like Vypr will actually pay you to share your opinion, with pretty much no catch.

Once you’ve answered a certain number of surveys, they’ll hand you a gift card just for saying what you think. This can have a value of up to £50.

Websites like YouGov and apps like Vypr will actually pay you to share your opinion,...  

Other sites and apps do this, but make sure you conduct your own research before offering your details up. Loads of places are legit, but there’s a good number of scammers out there, too.

4. Get smart with cashback

While not technically an earning tool, cashback sites are still a fantastic way to bring extra money into your household.

All you need to do is sign up, click through to your chosen shopping site (e.g. ASOS) and shop as normal. You’ll get cashback on every purchase you make through the site, ranging from 1% to big cash bonuses that can reach hundreds of pounds. Then, you can take out your cashback to spend as you like.

It’s a brilliant way to earn a bit more money if you know there's a period coming up (like Christmas) where you’ve got no choice but to buy lots of things. Topcashback and Quidco are two of the most generous sites in the UK, but do your own research to find out where you can get the most out of your spending.

 

If you enjoyed this article, you may like:
Are you too old to make a career change?
Why smart workers aren’t busy doing nothing

 

Published: 3 September 2025
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2025

Jobs currently available

Part-Time Finance Manager
Sector: Accountancy, Banking and Finance
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913741
About the role

Just Recruitment is supporting a growing, sector-leading business in Sudbury that is looking for a Part-Time Finance Manager to join their team.

The key purpose of this role is to manage the Finance Department and to support senior management in all areas of finance and accounting, reporting directly to the MD and being responsible for an Accounts Assistant.

Key duties include:

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  • Compiling supplier invoices, reviewing and loading for payment via Bacs, updating SAGE and sending remittance advice.
  • Managing SAGE backups.
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  • Loading credit card payments onto SAGE and reconciling against the paper statement.
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  • Processing wages – gathering all timesheets and expenses, compiling and sending to an outsourced company, receiving documents and payslips back, loading Bacs payments and sending payslips and loading Journals onto SAGE.
  • Downloading monthly supplier invoices.
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  • Compiling required documents for accountants at the financial year end, processing SAGE year-end end and communicating as necessary with accountants
  • Managing commercial and vehicle insurance. Reviewing current circumstances, reassessing cover and requirements, and supplying supporting documents.
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  • Communicating with and managing tenants when required.
  • Supporting other departments as required.

This is a part-time role - working 20 - 25 hours per week - this role is office-based, and the ideal candidate will be able to work Tuesdays and Thursdays, but hours can be flexible.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a lovely business, with a great ethos and a long-standing team.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Competitive
Location: North West
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
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Just Recruitment is working with a growing, industry-leading business seeking to add a Field Service Engineer to its team. This role will cover the North West region, including Manchester, Lancashire, and the surrounding areas.

The key purpose of this role is to be responsible for the installation, commissioning, service, repair, breakdown, and maintenance of the company’s range of capital equipment across a variety of environments in the North West.

Duties include:

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To be considered for this exciting role, you must be able to demonstrate a background working in a field service or technical support role, gained within a capital equipment environment. You should be qualified to a minimum of level 3 or above in electrical installation/engineering/maintenance or another relevant technical discipline with 3 years’ experience. Alternatively, a gold card electrician would be considered along with 2391 testing and inspection.

Applicants are welcome from a wide range of equipment backgrounds.

You must have impeccable customer service skills and a confident and professional manner in customer-facing environments.

Key requirements include:

  • Previous experience in performing in a technical field service team.
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  • Good working knowledge of Word and Excel.
  • Ability to work as part of a team.
  • Positive ‘can‐do’ attitude.
  • Problem solver ‐ ability to engineer solutions on the job.
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  • Willing to travel and work unsociable hours when needed.
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This is an excellent opportunity to join a world-class organisation.

You will be:

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For those with the desire, there are opportunities to progress your career within the department and into the wider company.

In return, you will benefit from dedicated product training, recognised by the industry, which will run on an ongoing basis as new products are introduced. A generous remuneration package is also guaranteed, including a competitive salary, company healthcare package, contributory pension scheme, phone, and laptop, along with the opportunity to progress your career within a market-leading organisation.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
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Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB25
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You will need to have an electrical bias and ideally have experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.

The key objective of this role is to support the efficient operation of production facilities.

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Qualifications:

An electrical engineering qualification such as City & Guilds, HNC/HND, or equivalent is essential.

Hours:

39 hour working week: Monday to Thursday, 7am - 4pm and Friday 7am - 12pm.

This role offers Excellent Benefits, including:

  • 25 days holiday per annum, plus bank holidays
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Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
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Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: TB24
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Preference will be given to candidates with a background in science, chemistry or materials.

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Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: £26,800 per annum
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Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
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About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing global organisation, based on the outskirts of Sudbury - they are looking for a skilled Production Operator to join their team.

You must be willing to learn new skills and to work in a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility, including undertaking comprehensive training to enable you to take part in tasting panels. Full training on the use of specialist equipment will be provided.

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Skills required for this role:

  • The ability to follow written instructions and perform basic calculations
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Working hours for this role are:

3 Rotating Shifts (14.00 – 22.00; 06.00 – 14.00; 22.00 – 06.00; Monday – Friday, rotating weekly)

Free parking is available onsite and due to the company location, you must have access to your own transport.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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