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We find ourselves on an economic roller coaster, with global inflation soaring above 5%. There’s no respite from the constant downpour of bills, and everything seems to be getting more expensive. It’s as if we’re navigating the rapids of an ever-inflating economic river.
However, if you’ve found your own crafty ways of dealing with this—perhaps by unlocking the secret codes to saving on grocery bills through clever shopping hacks—give yourself a pat on the back! You’re making the right moves, carving a thoughtful path through these challenging times.
But the journey doesn’t end there. Have you been pouring your efforts into extra assignments only to find that the anticipated pay raise is as elusive as a unicorn? Don’t lose hope.
Speaking from my own experience of doing side hustles outside of my full-time job, there’s a broad spectrum of opportunities to boost your income. I’ve flipped furniture to make an extra $500 a month, sold clothes for a quick $200, and delivered food to earn more than $700 in a week. Interestingly, one of these could be as straightforward as running errands for others.
Diving into extra work during your precious free time sounds like it could leave you gasping for breath, barely managing to keep your head above water during your day job. It’s a valid worry—none of us aspire to that.
This is where I offer you a comforting alternative. The side hustles I’m about to introduce are not the sort to drain your energy reserves. They’re designed to be low-stress jobs, involving manageable tasks with minimal customer interactions.
So, without further ado, let me share with you these 8 smart ways to run errands for money that won’t deprive you of your crucial relaxation time. It’s about turning surplus hours into surplus income without overstretching yourself.
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1. DoorDash
In our fast-paced world, where we’re all trying to balance work, family, and fun, finding time to cook can be a real struggle. But thanks to platforms like DoorDash, nobody has to go hungry! These apps are lifesavers for busy people and, on the flip side, they’re also fantastic money-making apps for those of us looking for a flexible way to earn extra cash.
As a ‘dasher’, you’re basically a superhero food delivery person. Whether you have a scooter, motorcycle, car, or just a good old-fashioned bike, you pick up tasty meals from local spots and deliver them straight to folks who appreciate them.
What’s more, launching your side hustle with DoorDash can happen at lightning speed. Once you’ve cleared the background check—a standard step in the process—you can hit the ground running (or should we say, dashing?). You don’t even have to worry about when and how often DoorDash pays you since you could be pocketing your first earnings in the same week. In fact, I got approved, hit the road within 2 days, and quickly made over $100 in a day! That means it’s possible to make $500 weekly on DoorDash.
If you ask me, making use of DoorDash to earn money is worth it. It’s a seriously smart way to make your spare time pay.
Pro: Delivery drivers keep 100% of tips from customers to themselves.
Con: Accidents, vehicle wear and tear, unpredictable orders, and pranks may happen.
2. Instacart
I have to admit it… I dread grocery shopping, which is why I sometimes get someone else to do it for me. Not everyone gets excited about walking the aisles to look for carrots, bread, raspberries, cereal, milk, and so on.
Can you say it’s just another task to cross off the to-do list?
But maybe there are people like me who find grocery shopping therapeutic. Walking down supermarket aisles can give us a feeling of peace. Does that sound like you? Lucky for you, because you can turn this calming activity into a profitable second job.
Thanks to Instacart, you can grocery shop for people who don’t want to.
As an Instacart shopper, you have the flexibility to choose your own schedule and work as much or as little as you want. When you’ve successfully signed up on the app, you can see all the orders in your area. You don’t have to accept them all. Since the details are shown, you can choose only the ones you want to fulfill.
The best part is that becoming a shopper is easy. You only have to be at least 18 years of age with a vehicle and smartphone to get started. Once you become an Instacart shopper, you’re not only making people’s days better, but you’re also earning money by shopping. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds.
Full-service shoppers (those who pick, load, and deliver the groceries) will earn a guaranteed $7 to $10 per order fulfilled. This amount can go up, depending on the distance and size of the order. Plus, there’s still an exciting surprise for you: those sweet, sweet tips. You get to keep 100% of them, so your earnings can quickly add up.
Becoming an Instacart shopper is a great way to make money with your car, especially if you have enough free time to take on multiple orders in a day. To make the most of the app, I suggest that you work in a place with high demand. There’s usually less competition in these areas, so you can find higher-paying orders.
Pro: Earn perks like a flexible schedule, high-paying batches, and gas discounts
Con: Delivery riders shoulder self-employment taxes and driver-related expenses.
3. TaskRabbit
It’s easy to think that the only profitable errands you can do are delivering items or groceries. Well, with TaskRabbit, that’s not the case. This app lets users find and pay someone to run errands for them. People get access to local service providers that can lend a helping hand.
Maybe an elderly neighbor needs help with cleaning their yard or a busy professional needs someone to stand in line for concert ticketsᅳwhatever the task may be, you can find one that’s within your capacity. As a Tasker, there’s no limit to the kind of services that you can offer.
The best part about TaskRabbit is that you have full control over how much you earn since you’re not bound by a fixed wage. You can set your own rates, depending on how much you think your skills and time are worth.
It also doesn’t hurt to go above and beyond when doing the tasks you’ve selected. Just take a look at this woman, who earns $9,000 a month doing different tasks on the platform. You can do that, too, by downloading this app to run errands and get paid. It’s a flexible way to increase your income while helping your community.
Pro: Taskers have full control over how much they work and earn.
Con: While TaskRabbit allows the tasker to offer a wide range of services, plenty of tasks cannot be performed through the app. For instance, taskers can’t perform jobs that require licenses or special qualifications.
4. Care.com
Do you have a natural talent to nurture and care for others? Do you have a soft spot for children, seniors, or pets? Imagine spending your day playing games with kids or sharing stories with the elderly. With Care.com, you can bring that natural talent into a fulfilling side hustle.
On this platform, you will be connected with families needing your assistance, whether it’s for babysitting, senior care, or pet sitting. It’s a great place to do errands for money while relieving other people of worry or stress.
Signing up on Care.com allows you to set your own rates and schedule, giving you the flexibility to work when it’s convenient for you. No certifications or special qualifications are needed, so anyone with a genuine passion for caregiving can get started. The platform will only do a background check, and once you pass that, you can start accepting caregiving and pet-sitting jobs in your area.
But even though Care.com has pet care services, it’s not the top dog in this area. If you want to focus on more opportunities for pet care, you can check out Rover.
Pro: Care.com has over 32 million members, allowing caregivers to find freelancing jobs quickly.
Con: The site charges caregivers membership fees, background check fees, and up-front fees to communicate with potential clients.
5. Rover
If there’s a heaven on earth, it’s in the company of furry companions. They fill our lives with laughter and the occasional hairball. For those seeking this kind of place, Rover is the perfect platform to be on.
With Rover, you can connect with fellow pet lovers and discover new pets to share life’s adventures with, all while getting paid. It’s an amazing platform if you want to run errands for people as a pet sitter or dog walker.
The thing I love about Rover is that it’s a great side hustle opportunity for teens and college students as well since you can choose your own schedule and balance this side gig with your other commitments. So, regardless of whether you can only work at night or on weekends, you can make it work with Rover.
To become a Rover sitter, you need to sign up on their platform, select the services you want to provide, and show off your pet-loving personality through your profile.
Once you get the seal of approval (doesn’t take more than 20 days), you can start finding pet care opportunities to make money. Dog sitters or walkers can earn around $1,000 a month, while those who are willing to become dog boarders can earn twice as much.
As much as being around dogs is one of the greatest feelings ever, remember that it’s not a walk in the park all the time. You should expect occasional scratches and playful bites when dealing with pets.
Pro: A dog sitter or dog walker can earn up to $1,000 and even more!
Con: This side gig may require you to purchase pet supplies if you are to care for pets at home, as Rover will not provide for that. You may need to buy crates, pet toys, dog beds, treats, and more.
6. Shipt
Are you like me who finds comfort and joy in the organized chaos of Target? Well, you’re in for a treat!
You’re well aware that there are many people with a hectic schedule. We’re busier than ever. So busy that some don’t even have time to do their groceries.
That’s where you and Shipt come in. Like Instacart, Shipt is an app-based delivery service that connects customers with personal shoppers who pick up and deliver their groceries and household essentials to their doorsteps. But what’s different is that Shipt goes beyond just groceries and household essentials – it’s your go-to for all things Target!
When it comes to pay, you can expect to earn above average compared to other apps. In larger cities, Shipt shoppers can earn between $20 and $30 per hour. In smaller cities, shoppers can still make a significant income of around $15 an hour.
I suggest that you keep your Shipt rating high if you’re aiming to earn even more than the average. You will consistently get more orders if the app sees that people are enjoying your service. Not to mention, you can also earn more tips if customers are satisfied.
But what really makes Shipt stand out is that they give their shoppers opportunities outside of shopping and delivering. They have the Shipt shopper perks program where you can enjoy things like car maintenance and gym membership discounts. On top of that, Shipt wants you to feel a sense of community with other shoppers. They hold community events where you can get a chance to network with other Shipt shoppers. You can use that opportunity to make the work feel less like a job and more like a fun, shared activity.
Pro: Allows you to access various Shipt perks like using your reward card to collect points, discounts at various Shipt partners, and auto insurance.
Con: Shipt has many competitors. For instance, there is Instacart with side hustlers doing the same job. Thus, deliveries can be irregular, so it may not be the best errand job to earn where you can have a steady flow of income.
7. Fiverr
Fiverr is a popular site for finding online jobs, especially for freelancers. If you’re familiar with Upwork, you’ll find it easy to navigate through this site because both are designed to help freelancers find clients. Their only difference, though, is that Fiverr is better suited for one-time errands, while Upwork is ideal for long-term and complex projects.
Fiverr presents an opportunity to monetize a broad range of skills. Whether you’re a proficient freelance writer, a graphic designer with an eye for visual storytelling, or a translator bridging language gaps, there’s a place for you on Fiverr. Interestingly, the platform’s scope extends beyond digital services, encompassing everyday errands too.
Consider promoting services like home cleaning, yard maintenance, laundry services, or grocery shopping. Fiverr provides the space to advertise these services and engage with individuals willing to remunerate you for your assistance. This is an attractive prospect for those who derive satisfaction from these tasks and are looking for a flexible way to supplement their income. Many job seekers, known as sellers on Fiverr, have successfully established home-based careers via this platform.
However, like many freelancing platforms (excluding Craigslist), Fiverr does deduct a small percentage from your earnings in exchange for the platform’s use. It’s a modest cost for the access and opportunities that Fiverr provides.
Pro: As a freelancer, you are in control of your time and schedule. You can work and earn as much as you want.
Con: The competition among job seekers on Fiverr is very high, and most sellers set low prices. So, instead of competing on expertise, you are competing on their price.
8. Craigslist
Being stuck at home during the pandemic led me to discover creative ways to spend my time. Not to mention that you can earn money by being creative! Do you love writing, logo design, or video editing? Well, those were just a few creative ways to make money doing what you love, and you can find those gigs on Craigslist.
Don’t worry if you’re not technologically inclined; Craigslist caters to everyone. It’s one of the best errand apps that pay users to do just about anything. How about fixing a faucet, housekeeping, or haircutting service? Craigslist is the digital counterpart of classified ads in newspapers. Here, you can explore numerous part-time jobs, including late-night work, perfect for when you’ve put the kids to bed, and many of these jobs can be done from the comfort of your home.
The Craigslist website may not look appealing, but as cliché as it may sound, don’t judge the book by its cover. The site earns more than $1 billion each year and has about 300 million users. With statistics like these, why wouldn’t you tap into the potential of Craigslist to add a little extra to your wallet?
Pro: With millions of users, finding jobs at Craigslist is easy. The platform divides job categories so job seekers can quickly sort through them.
Con: Craigslist has become an overrated and known platform for shady people to scam others. This is not always the case, but it’s always best to be extra careful when looking for extra jobs at the site. Note that if something is too good to be true, then it probably is.
FAQs
1. Can I make money running errands for people?
Absolutely. Nothing in this world is free. Busy people who do not have time for errands will most likely pay someone to run them. This is where you come in, but where can you find this kind of work?
We have just mentioned some platforms where you could get side hustles and earn extra money during your spare time.
Got your own vehicle? You might want to deliver food and get pocket some extra tips on Doordash. Or how about working as a freelancer on Fiverr and Craigslist? However, TaskRabbit is a promising app if you want more side hustle variations!
Now, if you are fond of shopping, you can make it a side hustle by shopping for other people through Instacart or Shipt. But if caregiving interests you, working at Care.com or Rover is an ideal side gig.
Indeed, there are many ways to make money while running errands for people. The sky’s the limit!
2. What skills do you need for running errands?
Setting up an errand service stands out from other service-oriented businesses in its simplicity and low startup cost. You’re not bound by the need for hefty investments, a swanky office, or specialized training. However, to thrive as an errand runner, you need two crucial skills: effective interpersonal abilities and robust multi-tasking capacities.
Your interpersonal prowess acts as the cornerstone of your dealings with clients. It’s what helps you seal the deal and fosters lasting, mutually beneficial relationships for future interactions.
Meanwhile, efficient multi-tasking is intrinsically linked to organizational abilities. It’s the key to devising a routine that prevents your errands from encroaching on your primary job. Remember, customer satisfaction revolves around punctuality. Hence, the ability to juggle multiple tasks without missing deadlines becomes a critical attribute for anyone stepping into the shoes of an errand runner.
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