12 Recession-Proof Side Hustles to Help You Make Money
Headlines about the economy can be unsettling. If you’re worried about a recession, what’s a worker to do?
Start a side hustle. Having another job on the side before things get too rough can create a buffer. Many people find that a second, part-time job provides extra financial stability, especially in an unstable economy.
12 Side Hustles to Get You Through a Recession
Amid economic uncertainty, a side hustle might be what helps get you through it. So what are your options?
1. Grocery Store
Restaurant business usually drops during a recession as more people cook at home to save money — and shop more at grocery stores.
People might have to trim their budgets a little, but the need for comfort foods and pantry essentials won’t go away.
So whether it’s stocking shelves, bagging groceries or providing customer service, there will almost always be a need for grocery store workers.
A grocery store shift can work well with a full-time job, too, since most stores have early morning, evening and night hours.
Need a Recession-Proof Side Hustle?
Side hustles are a great way to make money until a recession dries up your opportunities. If you’re looking for ways to increase your cash flow, we have some suggestions. These are some of our favorite ways to make quick cash.
| Offer | What You Can Earn | What You Have to Do | Take Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| InboxDollars | $225/month | Complete short surveys | |
| FreeCash | $1,000/month | Simple online tasks | |
| GoBranded | Up to $140/month | Share your honest opinion | |
| Kashkick | $1,000/month | Try out apps | |
| Solitaire Cash | Up to $83 per win | Compete against other players |
2. Grocery Store Delivery
Grocery delivery services have taken off since 2020, making life a little easier for consumers while providing more opportunities for side gig workers.
Third-party apps like InstaCart, Shipt and Boxed are extremely popular, as are grocery stores that have created their own delivery apps, such as Walmart and Kroger.
3. Bookkeepers
Death and taxes, right?
Recession or not, individuals and businesses have to pay taxes and track their finances.
While accountants work mostly full-time, bookkeepers might work either full- or part-time or even seasonally – making this a viable side hustle option.
Over the last several years, more bookkeepers have been offering their skills virtually as well.
4. Virtual Assistants
The need for virtual assistants isn’t going anywhere either. And during a recession, businesses are a little more picky when hiring support staff — making part-time, hourly virtual assistants an attractive option.
Not only that, companies save money when they use virtual assistants. Companies save 78% of their costs by hiring a virtual assistant instead of one that works on-site, according to one study.
5. Mobile Mechanic
The average new car price is inching closer to $50,000. Used car prices also are going up.
This simply means car maintenance is incredibly important — and mechanic skills are even more valuable.
The convenience of a mobile mechanic is attractive to people who don’t want to spend hours waiting at a repair shop, juggling a drop off or having a car towed to a shop.
Other car-related businesses — such as mobile tire and windshield repair — should continue to grow as well. You could even start a mobile car detailing business as a side hustle, no special training required.
6. Handyman
Let’s face it. Stuff breaks, no matter what state the economy is in.
There’s a world of DIYers out there who love to fix things and take on new projects. Then there’s everyone else who just wants to call someone and let them do the fixing.
If you’re good at home maintenance or improvement, a part-time handyman job might not be a bad idea to earn some extra money, recession or not.
7. Senior Care Workers
Whether it’s in a care facility or at home, senior care providers look after the daily needs of aging citizens — everything from household chores to skilled nursing.
There are 62 million seniors in the U.S., and that number is only going to grow. In fact, the number of centenarians is expected to quadruple over the next 30 years.
8. Child Care
The need for child care doesn’t dissipate during a recession.
Even if workers are laid off, they may still pay for child care so they can spend time looking for a new job or building a business and avoid losing the child’s spot.
And with more companies offering child care as a workplace benefit, the need for child care workers only continues to grow.
9. Staffing Agency
During a recession, when businesses are laying off more workers, they may turn to staffing agencies for temporary, less expensive replacements.
Side hustling with a staffing agency may be a decent place to find yourself during a recession.
10. Pet Care
More than 94 million Americans own a pet — a number that has been growing gradually over the last ten years, according to an American Pet Products Association report.
The pet care industry is pretty doggone recession proof, even growing during past recessions: 29% in 2001 and 17% in 2008-2009, according to a Mauldin Economics analyst.
All that to say, America loves its pets. And recession or not, essential grooming, dog walking and pet sitting still happens. You can even rent out your yard as a dog park if you like.
11. Alcohol-Related Jobs
While restaurant jobs — including bartending — have declined in past recessions, Americans still find ways to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail.
That makes any job that involves alcohol — whether it’s a liquor store clerk, wine store stocker or delivery driver — a much-needed position during a recession.
12. Tutoring
While teaching jobs are always available during a down economy, they’re too demanding to work as a side hustle.
However, if you have the qualifications, you can still find plenty of jobs as a substitute teacher — or even a tutor. You don’t even have to teach in person, if you find a tutoring position through one of these companies.
Robert Bruce is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.
