The pandemic, while challenging, has brought us a big silver lining — a more flexible work schedule. Time that used to be spent commuting on the bus, PATH, train, or in your car can now be used to drop off your kids at school, throw in that extra load of laundry, get in a midday walk or workout at lunch, and run those errands that used to be put off until the weekends. It has also created an opportunity to have a side hustle and earn some extra money. Depending on your skills and availability, there are so many creative and fun ways in Hoboken and Jersey City to make money with a second job in your downtime. These paid projects, big or small, can easily be done outside of your full-time job and are great for flexible schedules. Side hustles are a great way to manage your finances, save for the future, pay off any debt, or even have some extra cash on hand to spend on a night out or vacation. The Hoboken Girl has rounded up some side hustle and second job ideas in the Hudson County area.
One of the many reasons why we love living in Hoboken is how dog friendly it is. Numerous cafes, shops, restaurants, and bars allow dogs so you can eat or shop alongside your pup (though remember, NJ law states that food-serving establishments aren’t allowed to let dogs inside). Recently, many dog owners have returned to the office on a hybrid schedule or have decided to take a much-needed vacation — so the need for dog walkers and caretakers has been in high demand.
If you’re a dog lover and this interests you, we suggest setting up an account on Rover. A few simple steps, a short assessment, and you’ll be in business. There are also opportunities to find work through dog-friendly groups on Facebook, such as ‘ Hoboken Dog Lovers .’ This is a great place in the local community where people go for dog advice, tips, and typically for someone to watch their pup. The going rate for dog walks is $20 on average per 30-minute walk and $45 on average for a night of boarding. In addition, a few local businesses such as ‘Tails on Trails’ in Jersey City, ‘Pawesome Pups LLC’ in Hoboken, ‘Trusty Tails Pet Care’ in Hoboken are currently hiring dog walkers.
It seems there are so many new businesses in Hoboken and Jersey City, we can hardly keep up. Retail stores, new and old, are hiring and offering residents the opportunity to work various different roles on a part-time schedule. Regardless of your experience level, part-time job opportunities are awesome for a flexible schedule. For example, Hoboken’s Washington General Store is currently hiring Part Time Sales Associates for both weekend and weekday work, Hazel Baby + Kids is hiring a sales associate, Club Pilates is hiring Desk reps and studio staff, and Hound About Town is looking for a Sales Associate.
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In addition, many coffee shops , restaurants , and bars around town are looking for extra help. If being a hostess, bartender, or server interests you or you are looking to gain experience in retail or the hospitality industry, be sure to keep an eye out on local spots such as Zack’s Oak Bar , Urban CoalHouse, Turning Point, Grand Vin, Dear Maud, La Boheme, Zack’s, Tosti Cafe, and Uncle Milton’s Cafe — to name just a few. Many businesses promote their open positions outside of their building, but it never hurts to ask the manager as well. You never know where an opportunity could lead.
If you’re an avid exerciser, fitness buff, or gym class attendee, try looking for open positions at the front desk of your favorite studio. Although compensation most likely will not come in the form of money, you may have the opportunity to receive free fitness classes, which, in the long run, will ultimately save you money each month. Many yoga studios such as Asana Soul Practice, Reel Hot Yoga, and Surya Yoga Academy offer yogis the option of working the front desk in exchange for unlimited yoga classes. A win/win!
Hoboken attracts so many different age groups, especially families with little children. If you’re good with kids or are pursuing a career in education, there are many opportunities to become a babysitter or nanny in your spare time. You can create an account on Care.com, making sure you have a reputable profile, qualifications, references, and certifications. Also, you can explore local Hoboken groups where moms tend to post about needing some extra help and after-school care. You can also get the word out by advertising your childcare services with fliers out around town or on a bulletin board at one of the many local daycares and elementary schools.
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Another great way to make money on a very flexible schedule is by delivering food. Third parties such as UberEats, DoorDash, and GoPuff enable you to deliver food with your car, bike, or scooter right to people’s doors. Similar to driving on Uber or Lyft, this gig can be done on your own time and you can deliver day or night, for however long you’d like. In addition, countless restaurants offer (no-contact) delivery in Hoboken and Jersey City, so you can work with the business directly to deliver food throughout the area. A few businesses hiring delivery workers include Napoli’s Pizza, Quality Greens Kitchen, Wings To Go Grande Pizza, Hot House Pizza, Dominos Pizza, and many more.
If you’re looking to clean out your closet or are simply tired of looking at the same clothing day after day or even year after year, this is a win-win for cleanliness and making extra cash. Between local consignment shops and sites like Poshmark and Thredup, selling your lightly-used clothing has never been easier. For example, with Poshmark, it takes a few short minutes to set up an account, post pictures of your clothing, and list the items. Once someone makes an offer and you accept it, the process is seamless (no pun intended!).
All you need to do is download and print the shipping label, package the item, and drop it off at the nearest USPS – all free of charge. Pro-tip: the more pictures and angles of each item, the better. Also, it is best to include real-life pictures wearing the actual clothing. Name brand items and items labeled ‘NWT’ (new with tags) sell the quickest and will give you the highest sell-out, but you can still make a few bucks on used clothing a s well.
U SPS locations in Hoboken are: 89 River Street, 502 Grand Street, or 734 Washington Street, and locations in Jersey City are: 69 Montgomery Street, 392 Central Avenue, or 504 West Side Avenue.
Additionally, another way to make money on used clothing is to drop off your clothes at local consignment shops such as Buffalo Exchange in the city, where you will receive either 25% in cash or 50% in store credit for your closet clean-out.
If you find yourself away a lot of weekends, whether it be for work or a much-needed long vacation, renting out your space is such an easy way to make some extra money. You can look into listing your apartment on sites like AirBNB and Vrbo . As long as it’s okay with your property managers and landlord (and it’s crucial to verify this), listing your space online is a great way to make a little extra money and requires minimal work. The Hudson County area will always be in high demand for visitors and tourists, due to its super convenient location to Manhattan — and not to mention all the activities, restaurants, and views that Hoboken and Jersey City offer as well.
If you’re handy with a professional camera, this one is for you. With the huge growth in blogging and social media, the demand for skilled photographers to develop, create, and style is a craft that is getting more and more popular. Whether you prefer photographing landscapes, scenery, recipes, or portraits, there will always be a need for a skilled photographer. Hoboken and Jersey City especially are huge destinations for big celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, and weddings. People are always looking to document every moment — and we may be biased but there is truly no better view than a photoshoot done with an NYC backdrop. An experienced photographer is invaluable these days, and at an average rate of $100 per image, it’s not a bad way to start a side hustle. Start small, create an Instagram account to showcase your work, spread the word, and be consistent.
If you have any other fun side hustle ideas, send us a note at hello@hobokengirl.com.
Cristina is a Jersey girl through and through. Originally from a small town in Essex County, she made the move to Hoboken about 7 years ago and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She has a degree in Food Marketing from Saint Joes in Philly, and has since been pursuing a career in the world of digital marketing and advertising. Outside of work, she loves traveling, cooking, interior design, photography and staying active. You can find her around town, trying new restaurants, coffee shops, soaking up the city views and taking advantage of all that the mile square has to offer.
Email hello@hobokengirl.com with any story updates, edits, or fixes.
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