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5 Recession-Proof Side Hustles
Flexible work that fits your schedule
Between rising prices and all the recession indicators, a lot of us are tightening up spending and looking for extra ways to bring in extra cash.
Enter: the side hustle. ✨
And the best part? You don’t need a degree or fancy resume to make more. Some of the highest-paying side hustles require little or no experience — just your time and energy.
Let’s break down a few side hustles that are recession-proof and built to boost your income! 💰
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Whether you’re saving for something big, paying off debt, or just want extra breathing room in your budget, side hustles are a great option to bring in extra cash.
Check out these flexible, recession-proof gigs that are hot right now — and where you can get started.👇
1. Focus Groups 🗣️
Average Pay: $28.00/hour
Want to get paid just for sharing your opinion? Focus groups are one of the easiest ways to earn quick money. Companies pay real people to give feedback on products, ads, or services — no special skills required.
🔥 Why it’s Hot: Companies are desperate for real consumer opinions to make better products (and avoid costly flops). Your voice = valuable market growth.
👉 Where to Start: Check out sites like Respondent.io and FocusGroup.com
2. Virtual Assistant 📅
Average Pay: $26.63/hour
If you’re organized, good with emails, scheduling, or social media, you can land a virtual assistant gig fast. Entrepreneurs, creators, and small businesses are always looking for remote help to manage the behind-the-scenes chaos.
🔥 Why it’s Hot: With remote work demand on the rise, businesses can’t keep up alone. Hiring freelance VAs saves them money compared to having full-time staff. Plus: VA gigs are very flexible and often remote!
👉 Where to Start: Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com
3. Website Tester 🖥️
Average Pay: $25.00/hour
You don’t need to be a tech expert! Website testers give feedback on how easy (or confusing) a website or app is to use. It's basically being paid to surf the web and discuss your experience.
🔥 Why it’s Hot: In a digital-first world, companies must avoid and quickly address bad user experiences or risk losing customers. Your feedback can help them stay competitive.
👉 Where to Start: Try Testerwork.com
4. Dog Walking/Pet Sitting 🐾
Average Pay: $24.84/hour
Get paid to hang out with dogs? Yes, please. 🐕 If you love animals and need a flexible gig that gets you outside, dog walking is a perfect side hustle. Some walkers even turn this into full-time income by stacking regular clients!
🔥 Why it’s Hot: Post-pandemic, sooo many people got dogs, but back-to-office mandates have meant busier work schedules and less time at home with the fur babies. Translation? People are willing to pay good money for a reliable dog walker.
5. Nanny/Babysitter 🐻
Average Pay: $21.39/hour
If you’ve got patience, energy, and experience with kids (even watching your little cousins counts!), nannying or babysitting can be a rewarding experience (and steady side hustle). Whether it’s with after-school pickups, date nights, or help on weekends, families always appreciate extra assistance.
🔥 Why it’s Hot: Childcare costs today are sky-high, and many parents are opting for more affordable part-time help they can get to know personally.
👉 Where to Start: Care.com, Sittercity.com, and word-of-mouth referrals.
Which would you try? Let us know in the poll below!
What side hustle would you pick? |
Want to skip the four-year degree but still level up your education and paycheck? 👀
altPath is your new go-to for exploring training programs and apprenticeships that lead to real jobs and solid salaries!
We love them because they’re bringing transparency to career exploration and different pathways! Their Training Providers tool pulls back the curtain on program outcomes: how many people finish, how many get hired, and what they make afterward. Plus, “Top Tier” programs are clearly labeled, so you can confidently pick a path that pays off.
Trade school, tech bootcamp, or something in between - altPath helps you compare it all and find the right path for you.
Ready to earn while you learn? 👉 Check out altPath!
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See you next week! 📩
P.S. Know someone stressing about funds lately? Forward this to them for a little inspiration. Some extra cash (and care) goes a long way right now 💚
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