



Side hustles are great ways to supplement your income, but some can reward you with more than just cash. Food, gadgets, beauty products, even admission to events can be complimentary if you have the right gig.
The monetary compensation for these side hustles will vary (and sometimes the product or service is the payment, so these may not be the best side hustles to help you pay your bills).
But the products and experiences can be worth hundreds of dollars and give you access to something that might normally be out of your price range.
The right hustles ultimately come down to your interests and how much time you have to dedicate to the job. Here are some that have perks beyond the paycheck.
Product tester/reviewer
Companies are always looking to build buzz around their products, especially early in their lifespan. To do that, they will seed the market, handing out free products to consumers in hopes of getting (but not requiring) a positive review.
There are a wide variety of sites to look at to get on these lists. Amazon Vine is an invitation-based service that lets you request products from thousands of brands in the Amazon store. It doesn’t compensate you with cash, but the product access is extensive. Other options include UserTesting, Home Tester Club, Influenster and PinchMe.
Brand ambassador
If you’ve ever attended a concert or sporting event and seen people in branded T-shirts handing out products, you’ve met a brand ambassador.
While there’s often an assumption that those people are employees of the company, they’re typically freelancers. The real appeal here is getting into events you might not be able to otherwise (though you might be able to sample the product yourself or take home some swag). Salaries tend to hover in the $20-an-hour range. There’s often a call for ambassadors on Facebook or job posting sites, but you can also explore sites like Oppizi and ATN to find gigs.
Influencer
If you’re passionate about something, you’re probably not alone. And with social media, you can build a channel dedicated to that passion. Once you’ve built a good-sized following, you’re likely to get on the radar of marketing professionals in that industry (or you could reach out yourself), which could result in freebies. Maybe you love going to concerts and reviewing them. Perhaps you’re a theme park enthusiast who enjoys helping people make the most of their vacation. Or you might like trying exotic foods. Just remember, though, the Federal Trade Commission requires you to mention in your videos that you received the item for free.
Once you get to 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within a 12-month period, YouTube will let you join the AdSense program to earn a portion of the ad revenue on your videos. If TikTok is your outlet of choice, you’ll need at least 100K authentic video views in the past 30 days to be eligible to join the company’s Creator Fund. And Instagram offers monetization features like Badges and Subscriptions once you cross the 10,000-follower mark.
Mystery shopper
Working as a mystery shopper can bring in up to $1,000 a month — as well as products or meals. You’ll visit stores, posing as a typical customer, and provide feedback on everything from the cleanliness to the employee experience. Those could range from retailers to restaurants (where your food is reimbursed). Check out sites like BestMark, iSecretShop, Market Force and Secret Shopper for more details.
Housesitter
If you can handle the travel expenses, you can get paid while you stay at your vacation accommodations.
There’s no room service and you’ll have to keep the place orderly (and don’t even think of throwing a party), but housesitting can offer a change of environment and a pay range of $13 to $48 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. There’s a decent chance you’ll also be required to watch a dog or cat, but four-legged roommates are the best kind. Check out sites like MindMy House or TrustedHousesitters to find people looking for sitters. Indeed and ZipRecruiter also carry listings.