The spring season brings schedule adjustments for many, which can mean opportunities to make more money. The key, experts say, is knowing where to look and taking some initiative.
“Spring brings more sunlight, warmer weather — and fresh opportunities,” says Lisa Dupras, a career coach, resume writer and founder of Elev8 Coaching. “College students gearing up for spring break can jump on seasonal needs for extra cash and caregivers can supplement their income with short-term gigs that fit around their current commitments .
Here, 10 spring side hustles and expert input on how they can benefit you.
1. Spring break babysitting or nannying
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For many families, spring break means vacation time — and some parents are looking for reliable help with the kids while they travel. If you are a nanny or sitter looking for additional work, view job opportunities including spring break travel. If you already work with a family, ask if your employers require childcare during their vacation.
“Many working parents combine their vacation days with their kids’ spring breaks so they can take family trips,” says Robbie Green, an executive coach and leader of working parents and caregivers for on Talking Talent. “Babysitters can earn extra money by joining families on those trips to be available to care for the kids while the parents have some alone time.”
On the flipside, spring break childcare is notoriously tricky for working parents who aren’t traveling, making this season a great time to find high-paying childcare jobs.
“Babysitters are always needed to help parents with daily chores and outings with the kids during spring break,” says Green.
2. Spring break pet sitting and/or house sitting
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Sometimes done alone, sometimes done together, pet and/or house sitting is a great way to make a little extra money when families are out of town. Because Fido can’t always be around, and plants need watering!
“If people are usually available all day for their pets, offer to pet sit so their fur babies don’t have to be ridden for long periods of time,” says Green.
Samantha Romito, a junior at The College of New Jersey, has petted many times during and around spring break. “During spring break, I did a pet for a local family’s cat,” she said. “And anytime our neighbors go out of town, I offer to help with their dog.”
For Emily Marinucci, a college student at Rutgers University, pet sitting often goes hand in hand with house sitting. “I watched a lot of pets during spring break and beyond — and a lot of times, I was sitting at home at the same time,” she said. “I lived in people’s houses — usually families I cared for — for up to a week, and made about $60 a day. If a family wants to drop off their pet at my house, I charge about $50 per day. I also ask if they want any add-ons, like bathing their dog or taking them for extra walks.”
3. Home repairs
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Another great spring side hustle, particularly for caregivers who already have connections to a busy family or work from home, Green notes, can come from using organizational skills.
“Nanny or babysitter can offer organization to the family they care for while they are away,” she suggests. “When the house is quiet, caregivers can focus more on the spaces and rooms they want to organize. And everyone will benefit!”
Salome Sabourin, a mother of two in Cranford, New Jersey, has a “crazy organized” babysitter she pays to come in for non-babysitting shifts to help with household organization, and eventually -unpack after moving.
“I gave him the keys to our new home, and before we moved in, he would run over there to unpack, move things around and organize,” Sabourin said. “I kept telling him he should do it professionally, and now he’s running his own business!”
4. Spring cleaning
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Fact: Everyone loves — and wants — a clean house. And spring is a particularly good time to clean, as many people let dust and grime build up – inside and out – during the cold, winter months.
“There are several ways to help with spring cleaning,” Dupras said. “Consider offering to help with gardening or even washing cars.”
And if you want to branch out, there’s also the option of commercial cleaning. “Most domestic households need or want help cleaning the house, but don’t forget about commercial services,” says Emily Dills, founder and policy advocate for the Seattle Nanny Network. “So many small businesses would welcome the opportunity for help keeping their commercial spaces clean – and it can be a very flexible schedule.”
5. Companion care
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Both Dupras and Dills, remember companionship as a great way to earn extra money. In addition to providing general companionship (good conversation!) to the elderly, you can offer in-home services and run errands.
“Consider the option of helping seniors with things like spring cleaning, organizing garages and decluttering to help prepare for warmer weather,” says Dupras.
Other tasks, according to Dills, include “shopping, simple food preparation and helping to care for their livestock.”
Note: Depending on where you live, your state may require some training for caregiver jobs. Learn more by reading: How to be a companion caregiver.
6. Walking the dog
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Unlike pet sitting, which is done when pet owners are not around, dog walking can be beneficial whether the dog’s parents are home or not. In fact, if a family isn’t going away during spring break, but the kids are at home, it can be especially helpful to have someone take the dog out for a walk around the neighborhood. Plus, when the snow melts, the local dog parks are ripe and the pups are itching to play.
Sheila T., a mother of two in Westfield, New Jersey, says her son keeps walking their neighbor’s dog — even when everyone else is home. “Our neighbors have small children and both parents work, so time is not plentiful for them,” he said. “My son asked if they wanted help with the dog, and now he walks him Monday through Friday.”
7. Teaching
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Teaching, in general, is one of the “most lucrative side gigs, because, in general, the pay rate is higher because of the shorter timeframe and concentrated effort that goes into the job,” Dills explained, adding that spring break is an “especially” good time to tutor, as many children are off school while mom and dad still have to work.
In addition to traditional teaching, Dills suggests organizing a small group for younger children. “Offer to get together with the kids to just read aloud to them and practice reading with them,” she continues. “Imagine some families paying you to read with their children in small groups. There, no doubt, are the takers for this kind of offer.”
And, remember, if you’re an effective tutor, you’ll probably get more gigs, because many tutoring jobs come from word-of-mouth! Also, if you currently work as a babysitter or nanny, consider adding “homework helper” to your role for a fee.
8. Campus jobs
For college students who stay during spring break when many others go home, look for jobs around campus, which not only provide extra cash flow, but are very convenient.
“Some of my friends and people I know have gotten jobs on campus,” Romito said. “Some work in the library, others in the recreation center, and still others in a coffee shop.”
9. Personal assistance
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Spring automatically gets busier for busy families, which means extra help is needed. If you can provide transportation for children or the elderly, run personal errands or provide household administrative assistance or even help with travel planning, post a detailed online job profile or share your services on your local social media. It can be a great way to pay your salary.
For college students and or other dedicated workers, personal helping — which can include almost anything — can be a great way to earn money while maintaining a flexible schedule.
10. Seasonal and external affairs
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With longer days and warmer temperatures, there are new jobs — use this seasonal demand to your advantage when looking for extra cash.
“Spring often brings an increase in outdoor projects and seasonal activities,” Dupras said. “Help elderly or busy parents organize chores, such as picking up gardening supplies, gardening help or even washing cars.”
If there are outdoor children’s parties in the area, she suggests tapping into your creative side and offering to paint or help out in other ways. If you’re super organized and love planning kids’ activities, you can plan and run the entire party for one packaged rate.
The bottom line
When schedules and seasons change, jobs often open up, so knowing what jobs are in season is key. Whether you find something completely unrelated to your current gig or offer additional services for extra pay, spring is a great time to increase your income.
For college students, Dupras recommends, if possible, taking gigs related to your college major. “You’ll have extra money and experience for your resume at the same time!”
