11 Side hustles to help you save for a home faster
Home ownership continues to hold a special place in the Aussie mindset, with two-thirds of Australians still defining it as the "Australian Dream." But ongoing affordability pressures are making that dream feel further out of reach for many. Every week, it seems like something else has gone up – groceries, rent, fuel, insurance renewals, and there's not much leftover to put towards that deposit. When cutting back only goes so far, the focus often shifts to earning more instead, which isn't always easy. So where do you start?
Side hustles could be the answer. More than half of Australians have already jumped on board, either earning extra income through a side hustle already or considering starting one. If you're not one of them, it might be time to give it a try. Here are 11 easy ideas to start earning outside your nine-to-five.
What is a side hustle?
Before we dive in, it helps to understand what exactly a side hustle is. It's loosely defined as any money-making activity you pursue outside your primary job. And perhaps the best part is that it's not about picking up another part-time job, sacrificing your weekends, or working every waking hour. More often, side hustles utilise your spare time and turn it into cash – whether that's your evenings, weekends, lunch breaks, or couch-time.
How side hustles help you save for a home
The real beauty of side hustles is that they typically cost little to nothing to start up, meaning you're not investing much (aside from your time) to get them up and running. With some, you'll utilise existing skills, others help you pursue your passions, and in some cases, you can even make money while you sleep. While you're unlikely to write your own rags-to-riches story (although don't discount that completely), even an extra couple of hundred dollars a week can add up to thousands of dollars towards a deposit over a year.
The 11 top side hustles to help boost your savings
From online to hands-on, creative or tech-savvy, boost your income with one of these flexible side-gigs that won't affect your day job:
1. Rent it out
Sitting on unused assets that might be useful to other people? Whether it's a spare bedroom you could list on Airbnb or Stayz, a car space in a coveted location, a caravan that only moves for its annual summer holiday or a shed full of tools or audio equipment that are gathering dust, take stock of the things you already own, and think about how you could monetise these. You might be surprised how quickly these small income streams add up and bring you one step closer to owning a place of your own.
2. Turn clutter into cash
The saying one person's trash is another's treasure couldn't be truer. Unless you live a very minimal lifestyle, it's almost guaranteed you've got a few things lying around that could be easily turned into profit. Sure, it takes a bit of admin, but start by setting aside a weekend for a spring clean and gathering together sale-worthy goods. Anything goes, from clothing and kids' toys and accessories to sports equipment, collectables, furniture, or unloved electronics. Head to Depop, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, or eBay and turn your unwanted items into extra cash. For best results, focus on high-quality photos, clear descriptions, and accurate pricing. If you enjoy the process and have an eye for a bargain, you can even start hunting out pre-owned goods from charity stores and flip them for a profit.
3. Make money in your sleep
If you've ever dreamed of running an online business and have a knack for social media marketing and an eye for trends, selling digital products could be the side hustle for you. It takes a little time to get started, find the right product, and build up demand, but once you're away, it can easily grow into a reliable source of income with relatively little input. involves selling physical products through your own online store (like Shopify or Etsy), without actually holding any of the stock yourself. When someone orders, the supplier (for example, AliExpress) ships the product directly to your customer – no garage full of product required! Digital products, on the other hand, are templates you create, like budget planners, wedding stationery, meal planners, or social media templates – that you create once, are paid for repeatedly as they're downloaded by new customers, and don't need to be packaged, posted, or restocked.
4. Cash in on your passion
Ever been told, "You should sell these!" It might be time to listen. Whether it's handcrafted ceramics, intricately embroidered gifts, hand-poured candles, stunning cakes, cupcakes, unique jewellery or beautiful chopping boards, choosing a hobby as a side hustle can turn something you enjoy doing into a great little income stream. It can take a bit of research to get it right, so seek out something a little unique and sell on platforms like Etsy, your local markets on weekends and online. The objective isn't necessarily to build the next big business (although don't limit your self-belief), but earning even a few hundred dollars a month can make a real difference to your home deposit.
5. Freelance for funds (after hours)
The old-school after-hours job working as a checkout chick at Coles has slowly become obsolete thanks to self-serve checkouts, but has been replaced (thankfully) with more flexible ways to earn. One of your biggest assets is often the skills you already use every day at work. Think about what you do in your role – whether that's design, social media, admin, accounts, photography, or customer service. There are thousands of small businesses looking for casual, flexible support without the cost of hiring full-time staff. Market your services through Upwork, Fiverr and Airtasker, and you'll quickly notice that even picking up a couple of freelance jobs a month can add a useful boost to your savings. The best part is that most of this work can be done from home in the evenings or on weekends, making it an easy way to earn extra income without overhauling your lifestyle.
6. Your car, the money maker
If you've got a car and a few hours to spare each week, turning your daily drive into a money maker is easy. With platforms like Uber and DoorDash, you can deliver food, parcels, or people, and choose your hours around your existing schedule. Whether that's a couple of evenings after work, before school pick up, or a few hours on a high-demand Friday or Saturday night, the choice is yours, and every shift will boost your savings.
7. Animal lover? Monetise that!
With over 31 million pets part of Australian households, if you've got a passion for animals and experience caring for them, pet-related services like dog walking, cat feeding or overnight stays are in huge demand. Whether you're looking after someone's furry friend while they're on holiday or popping out for a walk at lunchtime with a neighbourhood dog, this side hustle is easy to fit around your existing job, and could be one of the most enjoyable ways to earn a little extra cash. If you're experienced with less mainstream pets like rodents, rabbits, or tropical fish, you'll have a great point of difference too!
8. Sell your skills with tutoring
If you've spent years building your knowledge in a particular niche, chances are, there's someone who'd like to learn from you. Whether it's school-level English or maths, teaching a language, instrument, or specialist subjects like coding or life coaching, the possibilities are as varied as your skills. It's a super rewarding side hustle where you're helping others, often one of the most lucrative (with teacher-trained tutors charging $55-$180 per hour), easily fits around your existing schedule, and much of it can be done online. Check out top online platforms like Learnmate and Cluey, which make it simple to connect with students across Australia.
9. Your opinion is worth something
If spending time on your phone while lounging on the couch and making money at the same time sounds too good to be true, we're here to tell you it isn't. Plenty of companies pay people every day to test websites and apps, and to share their opinions on all sorts of topics through online surveys. Often, each survey or test will take less than half an hour, and can be done in your own time – whether that's while you're sitting on the bus to work, during your lunch break or from the comfort of your couch at the end of the day. For web and app testing opportunities, check out User Testing and Userlytics; to get involved in surveys, try Octopus Group, Pureprofile, or Top 5 Paid Surveys.
10. Lend a hand, boost your bank balance
Sometimes the simplest side hustles are the most practical. Think about the jobs people keep putting off around the house or simply don't have time to fit into their week, whether that's the washing and ironing, mowing lawns, cleaning the house, assembling flat-pack furniture, pressure washing driveways, or clearing out the garden. These are all tasks many people are happy to pay for, and you don't need a business setup or expensive equipment to get started. A few hours of local work on a weekend can quickly add up, and even better if it's ongoing work like a weekly load of washing, drying, and ironing. You can find jobs through Airtasker, Gumtree, Indeed or head to your local Facebook community groups or rely on good old-fashioned word of mouth. While it might not sound glamorous, these everyday jobs are often in consistent demand, and can make a noticeable difference to your savings – one basket of laundry at a time.
11. Monetise your content creation skills
If you're constantly creating reels, editing your latest adventure, or turning happy snaps into a great edit in no time, turn those skills into a flexible side hustle – and no, you don't need thousands of followers to make it. Plenty of businesses are looking for something other than influencers these days; they want who can produce authentic, engaging content they can use on their own social channels. From TikToks and Instagram Reels to product demos, reviews, and user-generated content (UGC), businesses are all about harnessing creative, attention-grabbing talent.
Could you fast-track your first home with a side hustle?
Whether you're looking to boost your savings, test a passion, or experience what it's like to be your own boss, side hustles are a simple way to supplement your income and try something new without the risk of going all in. Even just one or two evenings a week can add up to thousands of extra dollars a year, turning spare time into real progress towards your first home.
Whether you need more space for your side hustle or you're ready to turn your savings into first home ownership, we're here to help. If you'd like to chat about what's happening in your local market, get in touch with our First National team.
DISCLAIMER
The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial, or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial, or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use.