1. Sell your preloved items online: From gently used clothes to furniture that’s taking up too much space or items that are getting dusty in your cupboards, there’s never been a better time to list them online.

That’s right – sell them! Budgets are tight but people still enjoy shopping, and what you no longer want could be just the thing someone else is looking for.

How to make it happen:

Do some research into where your community is looking for goods online and the average prices that they’re selling at and start listing your stuff. Next, be sure to take clear, well-lit photos of your pieces. You want them to look as good as possible. There are dedicated marketplaces on Facebook that you can join and a host of sites.

2. Make lunches for people in your office block

If you’re a whizz in the kitchen this is something you can do in the evenings that will make you extra cash the next day.

Many people don’t enjoy making themselves lunch or they simply don’t have the time. If you work in an office park or a busy area during the day, you can pre-make healthy, hearty meals and then sell them during your lunch hour.

How to make it happen:

You’ll need a bit of upfront cash for ingredients and it’s worth asking people what they’d love to be eating for lunch, and then take it from there. Keep your packaging simple but pay attention to the presentation of your lunches – your customers are more likely to buy food that looks good. Once people know you’re doing this regularly, you might even score some pre-orders.

4. Become a translator

With 11 national languages, there are many opportunities to put your bilingual abilities to work in South Africa and make some extra money on the side.

How to make it happen:

Sign up on freelance platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr, list the languages you’re fluent in and start getting some experience. The more experience you have, the more you can charge. The great thing about freelance work is that you can do it after hours, so it’s the perfect side hustle if you still have a full-time job.

5. Become a voice-over artist

Television, radio, IVR (phone messages), news reading, radio presenting, documentary narrations, movie trailers, walk through games, boxing announcing and sport and traffic for radio. Because we have so many languages, there’s always a need for more Sesotho, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Setswana, Tshivenda voices.

How to make it happen:

Start reading out loud every opportunity you get, record yourself and become comfortable with your own voice. There are many voiceover artist studios across the country. All you need to do is record a demo, list yourself on their books and wait for work to roll in.

6. Bake up a storm

People love hand-made and gourmet baked products, but most of us aren’t very good at making cakes and cupcakes for special occasions that taste good and look amazing! If this is one of your skills, maybe it’s time to make some extra cash from it?

How to make it happen:

Set up a Facebook page, let your friends and family know what you’re doing and start baking! You’ll need to buy some ingredients and think about themed cakes and cupcakes, but other than that, nothing is holding you back! You can find some great ideas online, and make sure you take well-lit photos of all of your creations to post on your social media account.

7. Sewing and alterations

You’d be amazed how many people no longer have this skill. If you’re handy with a sewing machine and know how to make basic alterations to clothing, this could be the side hustle for you.

How to make it happen:

Use social media and word of mouth to let your friends and family know that you’re open for business and ask them to let their wider circles know as well. Everyone has clothes, which means everyone in your community is a potential customer.

8. Become a driver

If you’ve got your own set of wheels this is a great side gig because you can drive people around or deliver food after hours. Food deliveries in particular have picked up and you can control your own schedule.

How to make it happen:

Apply to join one of the many food delivery or ridesharing services in South Africa. Visit their websites to make sure you meet the minimum requirements and then hit the road!