Flexible Side Hustles

Not everyone’s got free childcare.

Not everyone’s got calm.

Not everyone’s got savings to “launch a business.”

But if you’ve got bits of time, a phone and a hidden skill you’ve been brushing off, you’ve already got a starting point.

This chapter is about earning money in a way that fits your life — no burnout, no pressure, just steady moves that work around you.

Not Sure What Fits? Here’s a Quick Comparison

We made a table to help you match your energy, personality and life setup to side hustle ideas that might actually work for you.

You can scroll and skim it, then come back here for more detail when something catches your eye.

Side Hustle	Best For Personality Type	Time Commitment	Setup Effort	Can Work With Kids Around?
Online Surveys	Introverts, detail-oriented	10–30 mins per task	Low	✅ Yes
Pet/House Sitting	Calm, responsible, enjoys solitude	Overnight or multi-day	Medium	✅ Yes (if kids are calm/used to pets)
Hosting Students	Sociable, organised, enjoys hosting	Ongoing, daily meals	High (requires spare room, paperwork)	✅ Yes (if home is safe/quiet)
Freelance Cleaning	Active, practical, likes tidy spaces	2–4 hrs per booking	Medium (equipment, marketing)	⚠️ Sometimes (depends on job/client)
Delivery Driving	Independent, good sense of direction	Flexible shifts, varies	Medium (vehicle, DBS check)	❌ Not easily
Freelance Services	Creative, tech-savvy, self-starters	Project-based, flexible	Medium (portfolio, sign-up)	✅ Yes (evenings/naps)
Baking/Selling Treats	Creative, nurturing, good with time management	Naptimes/weekends	Low to Medium (kitchen prep, word of mouth)	✅ Yes (during naps or shared prep time)
Laundry/Washing Services	Organised, reliable, likes a repeatable routine	2–3 hrs per load batch	Medium (washing machine, detergent, pickup/drop-off setup)	✅ Yes (can schedule around family rhythm)

⚠️ Check how income affects your Universal Credit.

Now Let’s Look at Each One in More Detail

You’ll find the kind of work that can slip between the cracks of everyday life, not take over your whole week.

Online Surveys and Market Research

• Pay: £1–£10 per task

• Time: 10–30 mins

• Good for: Introverts, low energy days, neurodivergent thinkers

• Try: Prolific, Swagbucks, Respondent.io

  
  

  Tip: Use a separate email to avoid spam.

  
  

House & Pet Sitting

• Pay: Varies — sometimes paid, sometimes it’s free accommodation

• Good for: Calm, responsible folks who love a quiet setting

• Try: TrustedHousesitters, local FB groups

  
  

  • Great option if you don’t have pets or want to save on rent short-term.

  
  

Hosting International Students

• Pay: £100–£200/week (varies by area)

• Good for: Sociable types, especially with a spare room

• Try: HFS London, HostUK

  
  

  • You’ll usually need to offer some meals, basic care and a welcoming home.

  
  

Cleaning (Freelance)

• Pay: £12–£20/hour

• Good for: Active, practical people who love transforming a mess

• Start with: Friends, family, local Facebook groups

  
  

  Tip: Use before/after photos to promote yourself and get repeat bookings.

  
  

Delivery or Cab Services (Uber, Bolt, Just Eat)

• Pay: £10–£20/hour depending on demand

• Suits: Drivers, independent spirits, people who know their area

• Try: Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Amazon Flex

  
  

Freelance Services (Design, Admin, Writing)

• Pay: From £10 to £100+ per job

• Great for: Laptop lovers, organised minds, creative heads

• Try: Fiverr, Upwork, PeoplePerHour

  
  

  Bonus: You can work from bed, your sofa or during wind-down hours.

  
  

Selling Homemade Treats

• Pay: Varies depending on demand

• Perfect for: Creative, nurturing types with kitchen skills

• Start: Word of mouth, Insta, local WhatsApp groups

  
  

  Tip: Check local council food regulations before selling anything edible.

  
  

  

  Our Star Pick!

  
  

  Laundry! The nemesis of so many households

  — from mums juggling everything to those with complex needs.

  
  

  That’s exactly why at-home laundry services made our top spot.

  It’s practical. It’s quiet. It’s predictable.

  
  

  And it works around your rhythm.

  
  

  You don’t need a van or a certificate.

  You just need your machine and some detergent.

  
  

  Why is it a gem?

  
  

  • Some people are better at doing things for others than themselves.

  • The routine can be soothing once it's set up.

  • It's a low-pressure task with clear start-and-end points.

  • And — bonus — it might even help you stay on top of your own loads too.

    
    

  You can also run it in the background while parenting, resting, watching TV and still feel like you’re building something of your own.

  
  

  It’s not just laundry.

  It’s independence, in cycles.

  
  

  Laundry or Washing Services (At-Home)

  • Pay: £10–£20 per load (can increase with pickup/drop-off or ironing)

  • Perfect for: Organised mums, night owls and people who like a rhythm

  • Start with: Friends, family, local Facebook groups, apps like Laundryheap, TidyChoice or by offering services direct

    
    

Got Kids and No Childcare?

You’re not alone and you’re not out of options.

Start with what fits between the chaos:

• ✅ Bake while they nap

• ✅ Proofread or design at night

• ✅ Sell secondhand bits on Vinted or Facebook Marketplace

• ✅ Offer one-off local help like cleaning, admin, or tutoring

  
  

Even an hour a week can add up.

Tax Tip (Don’t Skip This Bit)

If you earn more than £1,000 in a tax year, you’ll need to register with HMRC as self-employed.

It sounds scary, but it’s not.

We’ll break it down fully in Chapter 7 (Tools & Platforms), so don’t stress — just flag it in your head for later.

You don’t need to blow up online.

You don’t need a business coach or a logo or a five-year plan.

You just need one option that fits around your reality.

Something that brings in a little — consistently, calmly, confidently.

Small money. Side money. Soul money.

It all counts.

Ready for the next chapter?

Let’s explore online income streams that let you go fully remote — from virtual assistant gigs to tutoring from your kitchen.

Income Opportunities