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WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — For many Americans, side hustles are no longer just extra income; they’re a financial necessity.
Parents balancing child care, rising costs and uncertain job security are increasingly turning to flexible work and online gigs.
Megan Humphrey, a mother from Burke, Va., said the idea started with a simple goal: keeping her toddler occupied.
“My daughter was always getting in the middle of things,” Humphrey said. “I’d set her up with these Play-Doh kits.”
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The sensory play activities kept her child entertained for hours but Humphrey also saw an opportunity.
“Even if both parents are working, it’s challenging to make ends meet,” she said.
Humphrey began selling sensory kits online through her business, “Magic Moments by Meg,” shipping playful potion and activity kits to customers across the country.
What began as a side business eventually became her full-time job after federal workforce cuts tied to DOGE layoffs affected her household income.
Humphrey is far from alone.
Bankrate reports that roughly 27% of Americans have some form of side hustle, ranging from app-based gig work to online reselling and freelance creative jobs.
Some of the most common side hustles remain working for food delivery services, such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, which allow people to earn money on flexible schedules.
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Newer platforms are emerging to connect people with quick tasks and temporary work opportunities.
The app Field Agent pays users to complete small assignments such as checking store shelves, photographing displays or verifying merchandise placement for brands. While some tasks only pay a few dollars, users say the work can make sense if they already are planning a shopping trip.
Online reselling also has grown in popularity, with many users sourcing free items, thrift store finds or discounted goods and flipping them for profit on platforms such as eBay, Poshmark and Depop.
Creative freelancers can turn to Upwork for projects ranging from graphic design and coding to writing and marketing.
For people with practical skills, Fiverr and similar platforms can connect workers with local odd jobs, from assembling furniture to repairing household items.
Meanwhile, Instawork specializes in connecting workers with temporary staffing opportunities at concerts, sporting events and hospitality venues.
But Humphrey says the key to success is finding a unique need to fill.
“Finding your niche is really the most important part,” she said. “You want to figure out what problem you are going to solve.”
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