I made $100 a night as a teen with my sports side hustle – all it takes is a call to start and it keeps me active

FINDING a side hustle can be a crucial way to make ends meet or just have some money put away for a rainy day.

One Reddit user recently shared their predicament, needing a side gig for some extra cash - and someone came up with a lucrative suggestion that can get them up to $100 per night.

“Currently have $15 in my name and I’m looking to get more money," wrote the user.

They said they sold t-shirts with their dad, but sales have been slow, leaving them frustrated and eager for a more reliable source of income.

Considering their situation, the Redditor was exploring the idea of buying broken video game consoles, repairing them, and then reselling them for a profit, per the post.

Repairing consoles can require some technical skill, but online tutorials and resources would make it easier for beginners to learn.

However, it’s essential to consider the potential costs of repairs, parts, and whether there’s a demand for the specific consoles they plan to fix.

While repairing video game consoles is one route, another Redditor chimed in with an exciting suggestion: officiating youth sports.

They shared their experience of reffing two fifth and sixth-grade basketball games, writing, “I made $100 total tonight.”

“Contact local elementary/middle schools in your area and see if the school Athletic Director can get you in contact with the assignor who schedules the officials.

"Or maybe the school AD schedules their own officials, and you can talk to them.”

For those interested in officiating, establishing connections with local schools can lead to consistent work during the sports season, and many schools are always on the lookout for reliable officials.

MORE SIDE HUSTLES

A TikToker has shared how her family earns hundreds of dollars in extra income simply by baking homemade cookies.

In her TikTok video, Steph (@stephanie.b.stevens) explained that her teenage daughter launched a home bakery that now generates around $700 a week.

"My daughter started a home bakery," she said in the video. "I joined in to help her a little bit and she hired her brother to do the selling."

Steph noted that this side hustle brings in approximately $700 weekly.

Side hustles and tax implications

The extra income made from side hustles may need to be reported to the IRS.

If you receive more than $600 in gross payouts from a selling platform like eBay, the site will issue you a Form 1099-K to use in your tax return.

Individuals should calculate their adjusted gross income, taxable earnings, and deductions for the year.

Once they have that, they can use the 1040-ES form to calculate estimated taxes.

Every weekday, she and her two children bake eight dozen chocolate chip cookies using the classic Nestlé Tollhouse recipe.

"We make the dough early in the morning so it has time to chill, package in the evening, and that's what we sell the next day," she explained.

She also highlighted some personal touches that customers really appreciate.

For instance, each cookie is individually wrapped in cling wrap, reassuring clients that the small business owners prioritize safety precautions.

Currently, she charges $20 per dozen for the cookies.

Although she admitted that some might find her prices a bit high, she emphasized the importance of finding customers willing to pay for homemade products.

After experimenting with different marketing strategies, the family discovered that blue-collar workers, particularly men in trades like painting and plumbing, are their primary buyers.

They explained peak selling hours for their family business are between 3 pm and 5 pm, when people are “hungry,” “tired,” and ready to wind down for the day.

"$20 seems to be the magic price. Everybody's got a $20 in their wallet," she said.

"We're clearing a $140 a day. That's not riches, but it's a good little side hustle."

Another TikToker has successfully earned an impressive $8,400 each month by providing a service to clean out trash cans in his community.

Plus, there’s a creative Halloween-themed side hustle that could allow individuals to make as much as $12,000 during the spooky season.