If you’ve ever felt like your 9-to-5 is just one long rinse-and-repeat cycle, you’re definitely not alone. Hustling in Singapore to keep up with the rat race is a pretty common experience, and it can feel like you’re running on a treadmill that never quite slows down. That’s where side hustles come in – not just to add a bit of colour to your week or earn some extra cash, but as a stepping stone towards something you’ve always wanted, whether it’s monetising a skill or passion, or even becoming your own boss one day.
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Screenshot from: Lemon8
Let’s break down what exactly a side hustle is; its main purpose is to provide you with side income, on top of what you’re preoccupied with on the regular – be it working or studying on a full-time basis. You could also be unemployed and have a side hustle.
Handmade trinkets.
Image credit: @miilkclover via Instagram
Side hustles are also supposed to be flexible, allowing you to work on them in your free or extra time. They can take all sorts of forms, whether it’s a hobby or a skill you want to monetise.
Image adapted from: Pexels
In this list, we’ll be talking about side hustles in digital and physical modes.
On the digital side, virtual products and services are being sold and provided – some examples include becoming a virtual assistant or an affiliate marketer.
Physical side hustles, on the flip side, involve products and services being created and sold in tangible forms. You could make and sell handmade products, or offer services that require hands-on effort, like being a freelance photographer.
Right off the bat, we have social media content creation as one of the most obvious digital side hustles. Get started as a content creator by creating any kind of digital content, ranging from videos to blog posts, and posting them on social media platforms for an online audience.
You’ll generally want to get on apps such as TikTok and Instagram, because those are the social media platforms most people doomscroll away at 3am, especially before a workday.
How it works: Post engaging content consistently. Once you grow an audience, you can earn through sponsorships, ad revenue, or affiliate links. The bigger your following and engagement, the more opportunities to make money.
Screenshot from: @amnesia4508 via TikTok
Those of you who are chronically online would’ve seen content creators on TikTok selling a product, and they’ll usually direct you to purchase it by clicking on the yellow shopping cart in the bottom left corner of your screen.
That’s affiliate marketing, where you share product links on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, or even websites and blog posts, to get people to purchase a product. Each successful referral will earn you a commission.
How it works: Sign up for affiliate programmes, get your unique link, and promote products. You earn per click, per sale, or per lead, depending on the programme. The more people engage with your links, the more commission you make.
Screenshot from: Canva
Being an expert in a niche like digital art or graphic design generally means you might already have a marketable digital product ready to sell. These are things you create once and can sell online over and over, like e-books and even Canva templates.
How it works: You create your product, list it on a marketplace or your website, and when someone buys it, they get an instant digital download – then you earn each time it’s purchased.
Print on Demand (POD) works similarly to selling digital products, except that your end products take a more tangible form, such as T-shirts, mugs, or tote bags. A third-party company prints and ships them when someone orders, so you never have to deal with the stock.
How it works: You upload your design to a POD platform like Shopify or Redbubble, a customer buys it, and the POD provider prints, packs, and ships it. You earn the profit margin on each sale.
If you’ve got ambitions to run a retail store of some sort but can’t quite commit all your time, try your hand at dropshipping. You sell products online, but a supplier handles stock and shipping – you’re basically a middleman between your supplier and your customer.
In a nutshell, dropshipping is a business model where you, as a seller, don’t keep any products yourself. Instead, you let a third-party supplier ship orders straight to your buyers. To help you get started, you can check out Dropship to curate some ideas for products.
How it works: A customer orders from your store. You forward the order and wholesale price to the supplier. They ship it directly, and you keep the difference between what you charged and the wholesale cost.
Freelance writer jobs have been an ongoing thing for years, and if you don’t know about this already as a passionate writer or someone who’s trying to improve their writing skills, today’s your lucky day.
Medium is a well-known platform where anyone can post articles, and if your content attracts readers, you’ll be able to earn money through their Partner Program. To join, you must be at least 18 years of age, a member of Medium, and have published at least 1 story in the last 6 months. You also need to remain active and follow Medium’s content guidelines.
How it works: Create an account, join Medium’s Partner Program, and start writing to monetise your written works. You earn based on reader engagement, like total views and reads.
Being a virtual assistant might just be for you if you’ve ever tried organising your Skittles candy by colour. This role involves handling administrative, creative or even technical work, so you have to be really organised and have a keen eye for detail.
As a virtual assistant, you help clients with admin, social media, or creative tasks – all done remotely. It’s flexible and can fit around your schedule.
How it works: You get hired on an hourly or project basis. Tasks vary from managing emails to scheduling posts. The more clients you take, the more income you can make.
Some people might feel more satisfied holding their crafts in hand – if that sounds like you and you’re passionate about handmaking products, you might be interested in turning your skills into an opportunity to earn some side cash. Some handmade craft examples include stickers, crochet goods, and trinkets.
How it works: Find your niche, make your product, and sell it online or at markets. The money comes straight from each sale.
Selling 3D printed products is another side hustling gig that’s been gaining popularity, and it’s easy to start if you already own or have access to a 3D printer.
3D printing allows you to make customised or in-demand items for customers, from unique keychains to home decor. But you’ll need some knowledge of 3D design software like Blender to create models, as well as an understanding of materials, printing settings, and post-processing techniques – so do read up if you’re unclear to ensure the best results. This might also be a good opportunity to use your credits to take a 3D printing SkillsFuture course.
How it works: Design your product, turn it into a 3D product, and sell it online or to local buyers. You can also take custom orders for extra profit.
Freelance photography or videography is one of the more popular side hustles among Gen Zs, especially for those still in school and looking for a weekend gig. As a freelance photographer or videographer, your task is to take photos or videos for clients – most go for weddings, portraits, real estate, or commercial advertising.
Getting started will take some effort, as you’ll need to build a portfolio by doing small projects or helping friends take photos and videos at no charge. Once you have an established set of work to showcase on social media, you can explore taking on clients project by project.
How it works: Build a portfolio, promote your work, and take clients on a project-by-project basis. Payment comes per shoot or project.
Most thrift stores in Singapore do thrift reselling – it’s the process of buying items, most commonly pre-loved clothing, at a low price and reselling them for a profit, usually online or on a pop-up basis.
If you have an appreciation for undervalued or unique stuff, such as vintage clothes, digital cameras, or furniture, this might be the side hustle for you. It doesn’t always have to be reselling items too, you could add value to them by doing reworks like upcycling clothing, repairing furniture or customising pieces to attract potential buyers.
How it works: Source items, clean or repair if needed, then sell through platforms like Carousell, Instagram, or TikTok. Profit comes from the markup.
Image credit: @twosisterssmoothie via Instagram
All foodies rise up, because now’s your time to show off your cooking or baking skills by starting a home-based food business. A recurring and popular theme of most home-based food businesses in Singapore is cafe-style treats, such as brownies and creative iced matcha latte blends.
This side hustle involves preparing food in your own kitchen and selling it locally, either through delivery, pickup, or a little dine-in set-up. Although most home-based food businesses don’t need a health certificate or SFA licence to operate because they’re considered small-scale and low-risk, it’s important to follow food safety rules. And if you’re handling high-risk items like meat, seafood, dairy, or ready-to-eat protein dishes, then a licence is required.
All businesses must also be registered with ACRA, which you can sort out on their website. At the time of writing, you don’t require approval from HDB or URA to run a small-scale business under the Home-Based Business Scheme.
How it works: Make your homemade eats, promote them online, and sell directly to customers. Earnings come from each order sold.
Image credit: Pexels
Starting a side hustle can be exciting yet nerve-wracking, but a little planning goes a long way. Consider your budget, time, and resources, and check if your hustle needs any licenses or insurance. Patience is important as results take time, and setbacks are normal.
Here are some tips to get you started:
Don’t be afraid to take losses and celebrate small wins, as even small progress matters. Side hustles are as much about growth and experience as they are about extra income – so pick an idea, plan your resources, and start creating because your next side hustle could be just around the corner.
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Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal, @miilkclover via Instagram
Technically, this is the second time Singapore has qualified for the Asian Cup.
This is your call to get up earlier for work.
As if we need another reason to visit the mall.
Look forward to free model-building workshops.
Earn some extra money on the side.
Mark your calendars for 15th December 2025.