Money maps
See the money, simply
Infographic · Start with £0
Start with £0
50 of the 62 hustles we list cost nothing to start. Here's where they are.
81%
free to start
Counts come straight from our guides (upfront cost = £0). Some still need a smartphone, bank or PayPal account.
Roadmap · 3 steps to your first £100
3 steps to your first £100
A simple order that works for most beginners: one-off cash first, then small apps, then one regular earner.
- 1
Clear out a cupboard
Sell clothes and clutter you don't use. It's often the fastest first chunk of cash.
- 2
Stack 2–3 free apps
Surveys and cashback in spare minutes. Small on their own, useful together.
- 3
Add one local gig
Short paid jobs near you, like in-store photo checks, keep the total ticking up.
Illustrative route, not a promise. Figures on each chip are that platform's published monthly range (or 'Varies'). How long £100 takes depends on what you sell, where you live and how much time you put in.
Infographic · How much could you earn?
How much could you earn?
Typical monthly ranges by type of hustle, from the figures each platform or reliable source publishes.
- Cashback & rewards (6/8 publish)£2–£35/mo
- Paid surveys & research (12/13 publish)£0–£65/mo
- Mystery shopping (3/3 publish)£0–£100/mo
- Rent out your things (3/6 publish)£0–£200/mo
- Passive income (2/3 publish)£0–£350/mo
- Referral programmes (3/3 publish)£0–£500/mo
- Small online businesses (3/3 publish)£0–£500/mo
- AI side hustles (4/5 publish)£0–£600/mo
- Digital products (3/4 publish)£0–£800/mo
- Freelancing & microtasks (6/6 publish)£0–£1,100/mo
Estimates, not promises. Each bar runs from the median low to the median high of the guides in that group that publish figures (the count is shown). Lots of people earn at or below the low end, especially at first. Selling and renting depend so much on what you have that most guides say "varies".
Interactive · Time vs Money
Time vs Money
Each dot is a hustle: how many hours a week it takes against the top of its published monthly range.
Tap any dot to see the hustle, its range and how much time it takes.
Top-of-range figures are shown so you can compare ceilings, not typical earnings. 45 of 62 hustles publish a figure; the rest say "varies" and aren't plotted. Hours use the top of each guide's weekly estimate.
Infographic · How £100 becomes £500
How £100 becomes £500
Nobody jumps straight to £500 a month. People who get there usually stack a few things, adding one layer at a time.
£500/mo
Build something semi-passive
An illustrative path, not a forecast. Each stage is possible within the published ranges of the hustles shown, but many people stay at £50–£150 and that's fine. Income over £1,000 a year from side hustles may need reporting to HMRC.
Infographic · Your side-hustle journey
Your side-hustle journey
From never-tried-it to a regular bit of extra income, one small step at a time.
- 1
Try one free app
Pick one £0 hustle from the quick wins and give it a week.
- 2
Hit your first cash-out
Many apps have a minimum, e.g. Shopmium pays out from £10. Reaching it proves it works.
- 3
Find your fit
Use Time vs Money to swap low-earners for ones that suit your time and skills.
- 4
Make it regular
Add one dependable earner: a local gig, a skill, or renting something you own.
- 5
Keep it tidy
Track what you earn. The UK trading allowance covers the first £1,000 a year of side income.
General information, not tax or financial advice. Check gov.uk for the current trading allowance rules for your situation.