Americans have started plotting out their money moves for 2024. Nearly a quarter, 22%, plan to pay down debt, according to a November 2023 Bankrate survey of 2,391 U.S. adults, while 15% plan to save for emergencies. And just a notch more, 16%, plan to get a higher paying job or pick up another source of income.
If you’re one of those looking for another income stream this year, consider what you like to do for fun or have a natural aptitude for and look into the option of monetizing that. If you love animals, for instance, maybe pet sitting is for you.
Here are four side hustles experts believe will be in demand this year.
House helper
Workers have been trickling back into the office since the pandemic. “Folks who got accustomed to being able to do a lot of things because they didn’t have a commute and they were home now can’t do that,” says Angelique Rewers, CEO of small business consulting firm BoldHaus.
As a result, “we’re seeing people want helpers for personal shopping and even personal returns,” she says. People are hiring for “things like mowing the lawn, getting their car washed.” It’s a category generally referred to as house helper, house manager or even personal assistant, and can span the gamut of errands in people’s day-to-day.
Offer your services as a house helper on sites like Nextdoor and local community groups on Facebook. If you’re interested in doing people’s laundry you can also sign up on sites like Poplin or hampr. Rewers says she’s seen the gig pay anywhere from $15 to $30 per hour.
AI specialist
Demand for people with AI skills has exploded, especially since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. Searches for AI consultants on freelancer site Fiverr increased by more than 650% between January and July 2023, according to the site.
Doing “a deep dive into an AI skill is absolutely worth your time,” says Kathy Kristof, founder and editor of Sidehusl.com. That is, learning how to use tools like Midjourney and ChatGPT. But, she adds, “have a niche…
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