If you’re saving for a down payment—or trying to make a little extra to cover a mortgage payment—picking up a side hustle can make a real difference. These ideas are flexible, easy to start, and in many cases, you can earn money within days.
Every dollar you earn goes further if you’re also making sure you’re getting the lowest mortgage rate when you buy (pro tip: always compare at least 3 lenders.)
1. Sell Items You Don’t Use Anymore
Go through your garage, closets, and storage bins. List furniture, kitchen gadgets, electronics, and baby gear you no longer need on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or eBay. Bonus: you’ll clear clutter and make moving easier if you’re buying soon.
2. Walk Dogs or Pet Sit
Pet care remains a booming service—especially with remote work fading. Rover pet sitters average about $21.81/hour in the U.S. (ZipRecruiter). Dog walks typically pay $17+/hour, and overnight stays can bring in $35–$75 (Gridwise).
In New York, demand for dog walkers has even risen 40% year-over-year (NY Post).
3. Freelance Your Skills
If you can write, design, code, or edit, platforms like Upwork and Fiverr connect you with paying clients. Even a few hours a week can add up to hundreds of extra dollars a month.
4. Tutor Online in Your Favorite Subject
Whether it’s math, science, history, or languages, sites like Wyzant, Tutor.com, or Preply let you teach from home on your schedule. You set your rate, and the more niche your expertise, the more you can charge.
5. Help with House Cleaning or Organizing
Busy people will pay for a clean home or a decluttered space. Offer deep cleans, move-in/move-out cleans, or help with seasonal organizing. Post in local Facebook groups for quick client leads.
6. Create Content for Brands
You don’t need a big following—brands pay for user-generated content they can run as ads. Film short TikToks or Reels featuring their products and sell the rights. UGC platforms like Billo or JoinBrands make it easy to start.
7. Drive or Deliver
Sign up with Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, or Instacart. You can start earning almost immediately after approval, and choose hours that work around your schedule.
8. Participate in Focus Groups or User Testing
The average online focus group pays around $27/hour (ZipRecruiter), with many sessions offering $75–$125/hour for 1–2 hours of your time (The Penny Hoarder). Some participants report making $150 for just 90 minutes, and one case study showed someone earning nearly $3,000/month this way (The Sun).
9. Work Paid Event Gigs
Sign up with event staffing companies or post locally to work weddings, corporate parties, or concerts–hello catering. Roles can include bartending, set-up, ticketing, or hosting trivia nights. They often pay well per shift and include tips.
10. Sell on Etsy or Other Marketplaces
If you can make something—candles, digital templates, art prints, custom shirts—Etsy, Redbubble, or Creative Market give you a place to sell to a global audience. You can start with simple products and scale up over time.
What 10 Hours/Week Could Add Up To
(Average national rates pulled from ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and industry sources as of 2025 — actual pay varies by location and demand.)
| Side Hustle | Avg. Hourly Pay | 3 Months (≈120 hrs) | 6 Months (≈240 hrs) | 9 Months (≈360 hrs) | What That Covers in Homebuying |
| Tutoring Online (Wyzant) | $22/hr | $2,640 | $5,280 | $7,920 | Inspection + appraisal + movers |
| Freelance Writing/Design (Upwork) | $25/hr | $3,000 | $6,000 | $9,000 | One month’s mortgage payment on a $300k home (≈$2,500) x 3–4 |
| Pet Sitting/Walking (Rover) | $18/hr | $2,160 | $4,320 | $6,480 | Closing costs (2–3% of purchase price on a starter home) |
| Event Gigs (weddings, catering) | $20/hr + tips | $2,400+ | $4,800+ | $7,200+ | A big chunk of your down payment savings |
| Driving/Delivery (DoorDash, Uber) | $17/hr | $2,040 | $4,080 | $6,120 | Covers 2–3 months of utilities + insurance in your new home |
Why This Matters
Even if you only keep a side hustle for six months, you’re looking at $4,000–$6,000 in extra cash. That’s enough to:
- Pay your closing costs,
- Cover moving expenses, or
- Put a dent in your down payment.
It’s not about working multiple gigs — just picking one that fits your lifestyle and sticking with it for a season can meaningfully accelerate your homebuying goals. And once you’re there, make sure your monthly payment actually works for you by running the numbers on how different rates and points affect what you’ll owe each month.