International travel may be coming back soon, but that doesn’t mean your travel fund will necessarily be ready. Many people have seen their finances take a hit and are now looking for ways they can earn extra cash to save up for travel.

Thankfully, there are many side hustle jobs out there that will allow you to earn quick money on a schedule that works for you without having to seek out another constrictive part-time job which may force you to work more than you are willing or able to.

The best part of many side hustle jobs is that they don’t require a degree or very much training if any at all. You may even be able to turn a hobby or something you enjoy into cash.

Whether it’s starting a blog, selling items around your home that are otherwise just collecting dust, or renting out a spare bedroom in your home, there are many easy ways to turn any extra free time into money you can put towards memorable travel experiences.

Here are some of my most recommended side hustle jobs.

Best Side Hustle Jobs to Save Up for Travel

Start a Blog

While many people start up blogs for enjoyment, there are many ways you can monetize a blog.

Creating engaging online content via a blog/website and reaching a wide audience with good SEO (search engine optimization) allows you the ability to sell virtual advertising space on your blog and earn money through commissions through affiliate programs.

No matter what your passion is whether it’s dogs, yoga, photography, or cooking, you can create a blog and make money by selling products, services, or online courses/tutorials.

The key is to create quality content written with keyword research in mind so as to rank high in Google search results so you can be found easily by the masses.

Other ways to get your blog or website noticed is to regularly promote links to your blog content via your social media accounts and by guest posting on other blogs. You may also want to make a QR code that you can place on promotional products which will allow readers to easily find your website.

Become a Social Media Influencer or Content Manager

If you’re not much of a writer or don’t want to dedicate the time into creating a blog, you could also try becoming a social media influencer.

Using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, you can create free accounts that will allow you to upload your images and videos which could attract sponsorship opportunities if you happen to gain a large and loyal fan base.

It does take time gaining a big enough following that will lure companies wanting to give you cash to promote their products or services, but it doesn’t have to occupy much of your time and can score you both free products and free travel if you happen to be a travel blogger/influencer.

Scoring a free press trip or hotel stay is just as good as getting paid if the goal of your side hustle is to save money for travel anyway.

If this sounds enticing but you’re not really into having your face and voice shared with millions, then becoming a social media content manager may be a better fit. It embraces the same concept of gaining a large audience of followers but you will be doing it for a brand or company rather than for yourself.

Social media content manager jobs are great in that most will allow you to work remotely. The goal is simply to create engaging content that aligns with the company’s values and vision.

You’ll need to create social media posts that highlight new products or services and do it in a creative way so as to make a brand’s posts stand out in social feeds.

Become a Handyman or Handywoman

People have always been in need of assistance for odd jobs and thanks to online mobile marketplaces like TaskRabbit in the U.S. or Australia’s Airtasker, you can offer your services for a large number of tasks that people require assistance with.

You can get paid by people to mow their lawn, assemble furniture, do gardening, paint a room, or do shopping for them. People requiring a task set a budget for a task they want done and then you can offer your services, quoting a price in the process.

You will generally need to be at least 18 years old to offer your services on one of these online marketplaces and may need to undergo a background check.

You may also be required to have a bank account and valid credit card. Thankfully, there shouldn’t be any liability issues since these platforms often offer insurance protections.

Sell Your Belongings You No Longer Need or Want

Many of us have items around our homes we may not even realize may be quite valuable and you can easily sell these items online to fund your travels.

Long gone are the days where you would need to organize, set up, and advertise a garage sale to trade your junk for cash. Nowadays, sites like Ebay, Craigslist, and Gumtree allow you to sell just about anything and can easily attract many potential buyers from all around the world.

The key with selling items on Ebay is to do your research so you can maximize the amount of money you can earn. Try to learn as much as you can about items you are planning to sell and take quality photos to showcase your items in listings.

You can also simply search for keywords within Ebay’s active and past sold listings to get an idea of what people are pricing certain items for and what they are actually selling for.

List your items in the “Buy it Now” format if you’re looking for quicker sales or choose to make them auctions and hopefully get buyers into a bidding war.

While listing items on Ebay will get your stuff seen by far more people, there are fees involved. You can avoid fees by listing on Craigslist or Gumtree which allow sellers to list most items free of charge.

However, the only downfall is you may have to physically meet with people to finalize a sale as most people who go on these sites are looking for larger items within their own neighborhood that can be picked up in order to save on shipping costs.

Deliver People or Food

Companies like Uber and Uber Eats give you the flexibility to work when you want to. Whether you want to join an online food ordering and delivery platform or a ridesharing app to offer your services, delivering people or food is a great way to quickly earn a few bucks.

The gig economy has exploded lately and reforms are constantly being discussed to offer workers more protections and benefits.

You will obviously need a safe and reliable vehicle along with a good driving record to become a ridesharing driver but if you find yourself with just a bicycle or scooter you can opt for the food delivery option and maybe pick up some dinner for yourself in the process of making money delivering food to others.

Rent a Spare Room or Your Car

As a traveler, you most likely have booked an Airbnb or two. Get in on the money making action by booking out a spare room in your own home to earn some cash while you’re not traveling.

While you are travelling, consider renting out your entire home to maximize your earnings even more and potentially pay for the hotels you yourself book.

If you aren’t keen on having people stay in your home, consider renting out your vehicle when not in use or a spare car you aren’t using. Online car sharing marketplaces like Turo allow you to list your vehicle on their platform for free with no sign-up charges or monthly fees. The company will simply take a cut for every rental you get from your vehicle.

You get to set your daily or trip rental price and can customize when your car is available. You are also usually offered coverage such as liability insurance and physical damage protection options.

Pet Sitting & House Sitting

If you haven’t managed to save up enough cash yet to travel yourself but find your neighbors are planning an escape, see if you can score a paid gig watching their house or pets.

Some people may want someone living in their home full-time while their away while others may simply want you to check in once or a few times each day to put mail away, water plants, and feed pets.

If nobody seems to need a house or pet sitter, they may still pay you to walk their dog if they happen to work a lot or can’t do it themselves for whatever reason. Another option is to give babysitting a go, although this of course will require a bit more responsibility on your part.

Another option is to offer housekeeping services to people in your neighborhood who may not have the time or ability to care for their own home. There may also be homes in your area that are investment properties that are being rented out on Airbnb which will need continuous cleaning between stays.

Give Up a Piece of Yourself

While it’s true that travel can cost an arm and a leg, you can’t literally sell these pretty essential parts of yourself to pay for a trip. However, there are other bits of yourself that you can sell for cash and don’t involve offering sexual services.

You can donate blood plasma in a number of countries including the U.S., Germany, and parts of Canada and get paid. There is a maximum amount of times you are allowed to donate but the process only takes about an hour and allows you to make money while also knowing that you’re helping doctors treat patients with life-threatening conditions.

You’re welcome to donate blood plasma in other countries like the U.K. and Australia, but local laws won’t allow you to get paid. Therefore, you will have to rely on good karma coming your way for voluntarily making a donation.

You can also sell your hair, but don’t expect to make a whole lot of cash. Salons and other companies are always looking for human hair to help those in need of wigs or extensions.

To be able to sell your hair, you’ll generally need to have thick and long hair that is healthy. You won’t have much luck if you’ve dyed your hair, treated it with harsh chemicals or heated styling tools, or are a smoker.

Another option is joining a clinical trial which doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to give up any part of yourself. Whether it’s testing out a new drug or undergoing an experimental treatment, you can get paid to be somewhat of a medical guinea pig.

Not only can you make cash, but you’ll also be helping scientists and doctors develop more effective treatments for ailments or disorders.

Plan to Earn as you Travel

If your career doesn’t allow you the time to take on a side hustle job to save up for travel, one last option is to work while you travel.

Earning money as you travel is a great option for those who normally have busy schedules and only get free time when they take allocated vacation leave time.

There are a number of jobs that are easy to pick up while travelling to help fund your getaway, some being flexible and others which may eat up a lot of your travel time. You can be a server or bartender in a restaurant/bar, work as a seasonal fruit picker, or teach English abroad.

Some families also seek out nannies or au pairs to watch their children while they travel. As an au pair, you can expect to travel for free with the family in need of your services in exchange for watching their children and doing other general daily tasks. You may not have to pay for flights or accommodation and may even get a daily allowance for meals and entertainment while you’re abroad.

It’s important to remember that you may be required to get a special visa which will allow you to legally work in a specific country. Always research the local laws so as to not have your visa revoked, not be deported, or not get a ban on future travel being imposed on you by a country.

There are also websites like Workaway which lists tens of thousands of travel opportunities in more than 170 countries. In exchange for working a set number of hours per day, you are usually offered free accommodation, meals, and sometimes a daily allowance that adhere to local fair salary laws.

You may find yourself working on a farm, at a hostel, or in a ski resort.