We’ve got some of the best business, or a bit of extra cash, side hustles could act as a flexible way to earn some much-needed income.
According to Monzo’s Side Hustle Forecast 2026, people with a side hustle are earning an extra £470 per month (£5,640 per year) on average from their secondary income.
If you have the ambition but not an idea, read on for some inspiration.
Side hustles that don’t require money or experience
Side hustles that require some level of equipment and experience
You’ll be glad to hear some side hustles require little more than a user account, a computer of some kind and a reliable internet connection. Here are a few examples.
1. Mystery shopper
What is it?Mystery shopping allows you to get paid to shop and eat out while bagging some freebies. As for the work itself, you’ll be observing the state of the shop/eatery and the level of customer service, reporting findings back to the company you’re working for.
You’ll need to buy certain things, ask certain questions and make a mental note of the markers you’re being instructed to look at, such as lighting. The brief will also tell you when you need to submit your report to the mystery shopping agency.
If you’re more rural, you could even opt to ring up a company’s customer service to see how long it takes to answer and how helpful they are.
For the more socially anxious, you’ve got the option to do the same but by email or by completing online surveys. Alternatively, sign up to brochures by post and see how long they take to arrive and how good they still look on arrival.
The more regular work you can get, the better. Sign up to a few companies to maximise the potential workload and remember to keep those receipts as proof of spend.
Pros:
- You can take on the jobs you want
- Fewer limits on how many jobs you can do compared to other side hustles
- Freebies
Cons:
- There’s a lot of competition
- Some companies might not compensate you for your work in a fair and timely manner – check reviews first
- Can take a lot of time for relatively little money
