Most 'side hustle' lists online are either affiliate padding or something close to a scam. This is the short version, what's actually worth a beginner's time, and what the catch is with each one. Not everything here will suit you, and that's fine.
- 1
Bank switch offers - easiest money, but limited
Around 20 minutes of admin for £100 to £200. The downside is there are only so many banks, and once you've done them you've done them. Start here anyway.
- 2
Cashback - easy, but slow
Free to set up and works in the background. Nobody's getting rich off it, but over a year it's a decent amount for almost no effort. Just remember to click through before you buy.
- 3
Referrals - good if you already use the app
Genuinely easy money when you recommend something you actually like. Less good if you don't know many people who'd want it, and it can get awkward fast if you push it.
- 4
Surveys and paid research - reliable, low pay
Prolific and YouGov are legitimate and pay out. The hourly rate is poor, so use them for downtime rather than expecting much from them.
- 5
Matched betting - higher earning, not for everyone
The returns are real and it isn't gambling when done properly, but it involves betting accounts, takes time to learn, and it's a hard no if you've had any issues with gambling.
- 6
AI training and freelance work - best pay, most effort
Pays considerably better than anything else here, but you'll need to pass an application and put in actual hours. Worth starting the process early since onboarding is slow.
If you only pick one thing to start with, make it a bank switch offer. It's the least effort for the most money, and it gives you something to build on.