Lyft can be a great way to earn in your own time, without anyone telling you when or how much to work. Driving a rideshare is one of the most popular gig economy jobs, but if you’re looking to switch things up with Lyft becoming less profitable in recent years, there are loads of options out there, both with and without your car.
Become an Amazon Flex Driver - $18-25 per hour
Amazon is obviously one of the biggest companies in the world today. They deliver billions of parcels every year, and are always seeking people to help them do this. With Amazon Flex, you can deliver parcels with your vehicle, the exact same one you’ve been Lyft driving in.
It’s perfect for introverts, so if you’ve had enough of dealing with customers lately, the parcels won’t talk back or throw up in your car.
If you live in an area where shifts don’t get claimed too quickly, you’ll be able to make a reliable and predictable amount of money by delivering parcels, with most drivers earning between $18-25. Of course, this’ll depend on tips, time taken, and other factors, but in general, Amazon Flex is a great option for those looking to expand their driving gig repertoire.
Deliver Food with Grubhub, Uber Eats, or Others - $10-25 per hour
Similar to Amazon Flex packages, food won’t talk to you. The restaurants you deliver from might be challenging to work with, but once you get used to your route, it’ll become nice and easy.
I don’t own a car, but I did deliver food with Deliveroo on my bicycle, and it was a great option for me when I wanted to work late at night. The earnings aren’t super reliable, and you may have to work unsociable hours, but with apps like Grubhub/Just Eat, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats, you can make some solid cash on a good night. I would regularly make about $100 a night, and that was without a car to help me out.
It can be competitive at peak times, but I suggest you find the best spots to hang out between orders - usually near the popular restaurants you regularly deliver from. Check the actual app you’re using, too. What deals are on at the moment? If the local Chinese takeaway has an amazing special offer and orders are flying out the door, camp out there.
Deliver Groceries with GoPuff - $14-20 per hour
If delivering food and fast-moving goods works for you but trundling around town looking for the right spot for orders to come in is a bit more of a pain, GoPuff could be the perfect solution.
Instead of restaurants and shops around town, GoPuff uses centralised warehouses to source their product. That means you know exactly where to go and how to get there for every delivery, massively speeding up the process between orders.
It’s easy to sign up on GoPuff’s site, too. The shifts aren’t as flexible as with Uber Eats-style apps, but the shifts you sign up for can be much more reliable.
Do Odd Jobs with TaskRabbit - $20-60 per hour
For a bit more variety in the jobs you do, TaskRabbit can be your best friend. In fact, there are tons of odd jobs you might not have even considered, from IKEA furniture assembly to TV mounting. You can even use your vehicle to help people move house if driving and lifting heavy objects floats your boat.
Signing up as a tasker is super easy, and the job offers a great deal of flexibility. It’s scalable, too. You’ll be able to get out of the house, find jobs in your local area, and build your reputation as a quality tasker.
Your degree of success may depend on your local area and how much competition you’re up against, but a skilled and reputable tasker will be able to find a place in the industry and make some decent money post-Lyft.
Walk Dogs for Money - $15-25 per walk
How about trading the car for your own two feet and getting paid to walk dogs? Walking dogs for money might seem a little too good to be true, but check out apps like Rover and Wag and you might be surprised at the number of people in your area looking for help from dog walkers.
People are busy, and the dog they rescued because of those puppy dog eyes has needs. That’s where you come in!
This is obviously a terrible choice for non pet-lovers, but if you’re someone with flexible time and the space to exercise dogs, you’ll be in heaven and getting paid for it. Of course, it’s a big responsibility - don’t lose someone’s pet - and you will have to deal with picking up their mess. You knew that, though. If you love dogs, look no further.
Babysitting - $15-30 per hour
If looking after a dog isn’t enough responsibility for you, how about a whole entire person? Babysitting can be a rewarding job for more nurturing folks, so if you’re good with kids and haven’t looked into babysitting, you’re missing out.
It pays decently as well, and you’ll build a rapport with families who’ll want your help on the regular if the kids like you! Of course, you might have to sacrifice Saturday nights to let the parents go out on the town, but once you’re past bedtime, you’re essentially getting paid to chill!
I’d suggest asking your network and neighbours as a first port-of-call, as personal relationships are important to be trusted with this important job. For online and gig economy options, though, there are sites like Sittercity and Care.com.
Tutor Students of All Ages - $20-60 per hour
Depending on your level of expertise, tutoring can be a fantastic route to a bit of extra income. When it comes to exam season, there’ll be high demand for tutoring help, and if you can prove you have strong knowledge on an academic subject, you’ll be quids in.
Of course, this isn’t nearly as reliable as driving with Lyft year-round, so don’t expect to have quite as many clients outside of those peak times. You also need to factor in the lesson preparation time you’ll be putting in, which is often unpaid.
It’s well worth doing if you have the time and knowledge, though - hourly rates can be generous. Tap into your network to start looking for tutoring work, or head to a site like Superprof to offer your services online.
