Side Hustles for Mums in the UK: What I’ve Actually Tried

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If you’ve typed “side hustles for mums” into Google, you’ve probably seen the same lists over and over. Start a podcast. Become a virtual assistant. Launch a course. Lots of ideas, and not much honesty about what it’s like to fit any of it around school runs, tiredness and a house that never stays tidy.

So this is the guide I wish I’d had. I’m Charlotte, and I’m a mum trying to get out of debt and build a few small incomes so that one job going wrong doesn’t put everything at risk. I’ve tried a lot of these. Some are quick and small. Some take months to build. A few weren’t worth my time, and I’ll say which.

I’m not a financial advisor, and I’m not going to promise you a life-changing amount. What I can do is show you what’s out there, what it takes, and how to choose something that fits the time and energy you actually have.

First, a quick reality check

Small side hustles won’t replace your income, and they’re not meant to. Most of these bring in a little here and there: a few pounds back on your shopping, a bonus for signing up, a payment for a short task. Added up, it can make a real difference. The aim is to build options: a bit of breathing room, a debt that shrinks a little faster, a bit less panic when something unexpected lands.

It also helps to be honest about how much time you really have. If you’ve got ten spare minutes in the evenings, you need a different kind of side hustle than someone with a free Saturday. So I’ve grouped these by how much time and effort they take.

Quick and simple: spare minutes, little effort

These won’t change your life, but you can do them on the sofa, they cost nothing to start, and they’re a good way to get used to earning a little on the side.

Cashback and receipt apps

You’re already buying the shopping, the Christmas presents and the school uniform. Cashback sites and receipt-scanning apps give you a bit back on things you were buying anyway. The golden rule: only use them for spending you’d already planned. Never buy something just to earn cashback.

Cashback can take weeks or months to confirm, and sometimes it’s declined, so keep your order emails. If you have a forgetful brain like mine, set up a simple routine so you remember to click through before you pay. I’ve listed the ones I’d actually use on my side hustles page.

Where to start: Rakuten (Ad / referral link), TopCashback (Ad / referral link), Quidco (Ad / referral link), Airtime Rewards (Ad / referral link) and Jam Doughnut (Ad / referral link). For receipt scanning, try Shopmium (Ad / referral link).

Surveys and paid research

Some survey sites pay pennies and screen you out after you’ve answered a stack of questions. Skip those. The better ones, like paid research studies and user testing, pay fairly for your time. Always check the pay rate before you start, and be picky. If it pays pennies, it isn’t worth it.

Ones I’d use: Prolific, Askable, dscout (Ad / referral link), User Interviews (Ad / referral link) and Respondent.

Sign-up offers

Banks and apps sometimes pay you to join, and the conditions matter: you may need to spend a certain amount or switch your account. Read the terms carefully, check you’re eligible, and never take on a product you don’t want just for the bonus. I keep the offers I’ve checked on my UK sign-up offers page.

A bit more effort: a few hours a week

UGC (creating content for brands)

UGC stands for user-generated content. Brands pay ordinary people to make photos and short videos that look natural, rather than hiring a big agency. You don’t need a huge following. You do need a phone, decent light and a willingness to be on camera or to show a product. It can take a while to land your first paid job, so treat it as something you build, not something that pays on day one.

Places to look: Social Tip (Ad / referral link) and Brand Allies (Ad / referral link).

Selling digital products

Planners, trackers, templates and guides can be made once and sold or shared many times. I’ve made my own, and I use Canva to design them and Payhip to deliver them. The honest bit: the first one takes the longest, and lots of people are selling similar things, so it helps to solve a very specific problem for a specific person. I’ve now decided to give mine away free, because I’d rather help than compete. You can grab them on the Start Here page.

Tools I use: Canva to design them and Payhip (Ad / referral link) to deliver them.

Print on demand

With print on demand you design something (a mug, a print, a t-shirt) and a company prints and posts it when someone orders, so you don’t hold any stock. It’s low risk financially, but it’s competitive, and success usually comes from finding a small niche and being patient. I run an Etsy shop this way.

Where to start: Gelato (Ad / referral link) or Printify (Ad / referral link).

Bigger projects: slower, but they can grow

Things like blogging, building an online shop or selling products through Amazon take months before they pay anything, and some money up front. They can be worth it if you enjoy the work and you’re playing a long game, but they’re not the place to start if you need money quickly. If that’s you, begin with the quick ones and build up.

How to choose the right one for you

Ask yourself three things:

• How much time do I really have? Be honest, and count the tired evenings too.
• How soon do I need the money? Quick and simple pays sooner. Bigger projects pay later, if at all.
• What can I stick with? A small thing you keep doing beats a big plan you abandon after two weeks.

You don’t have to do everything. I’d pick one quick option and, if you’ve got the energy, one slower project. Give each a few weeks before deciding if it’s worth it.

Before you start: the boring but important bit

In the UK, once your self-employed or side income goes over the £1,000 trading allowance in a tax year, you may need to tell HMRC. Check the current rules on GOV.UK, or speak to a qualified professional if you’re unsure. It also helps to set up a separate email address and bank account for your side hustles, and to keep track of what comes in and goes out. My free Side Hustle Starter Kit includes a tracker to help with exactly that.

Where to go next

• Get the free Side Hustle Starter Kit: the Big Side Hustle Guide plus the Side Hustle Tracker.
• Browse the full list on my side hustles page.
• New here? Start on the Start Here page.

Which one are you going to try first? Message me on Instagram @mumsfinancialfreedom and tell me. I’d love to hear how it goes.

I’m not a financial advisor. I’m a mum sharing what’s worked for me and what I’ve learned along the way. This is general information, not personalised financial advice. Always do your own research or speak to a qualified professional before making big financial decisions.

Results aren’t typical and aren’t guaranteed. What worked for me depends on many factors, including time invested, market conditions and starting point, so your results may vary.