7 Side Hustles Students Can Start in 2025

The biggest lie young people are told when they’re 18, 19, and 20 is “go to university and you’re guaranteed to get a high-paid job.” This lie is drilled into them through the school system and reinforced by parents who are stuck in the past. While it might have been true in my time, it’s not the reality anymore. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying studying is a waste of time. Many degrees are very useful, and the student experience is unforgettable. However, relying solely on a degree to make you rich isn’t the right approach. That’s why it’s so important for students to start some kind of side hustle that has the ability to grow into something much bigger in the future. Check out more earnings skills for students on Ainotes.pk to get started.

Look, I wasn’t wealthy enough to afford university or probably academically smart enough, but I always had side hustles. Ultimately, my side hustles turned into multimillion-dollar businesses and made me a millionaire. That’s why today I’m diving into seven side hustles students can start in 2025. To be honest, these can apply to anyone, anywhere in the world. And because I hate those silly lists that just regurgitate the same ideas, I’m sharing real-life examples of people smashing it, along with ratings out of five in three categories: how much time it takes to learn, how much money you need, and how difficult it is to make $1,000 per month.

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Side Hustle #1: Faceless Short-Form Content

This is Daniel Bitton. Like many of you, he started using social media for fun at 13. Now at 16, he’s earning half a million dollars every single month creating short-form content on Snapchat—without even showing his face. It sounds unbelievable, but it’s true. My son Kurt bumped into him at LAX airport, and after some research, I can assure you he’s not capping.

Why It Works

There’s a huge war going on between Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. During the pandemic, TikTok grabbed the world’s attention, and since then, platforms have been competing for eyeballs. The more eyes on their app, the more money they make from advertisers. They need content creators, and what attracts the best creators? Money. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but once a platform is established at the top, competition will decrease along with payouts—so jump in quickly. Follow top creators on TikTok (dofollow) for inspiration.

Daniel makes bank by using existing videos, adding voiceovers, music, and edits, and posting consistently. He’s expanded with multiple channels in niches like rapper updates and live streamers to attract diverse audiences.

Tips to Succeed

• Create a great hook and build towards a payoff to boost watch time.
• Watch short-form content daily—not for entertainment, but to ask: “What intrigued me enough to stop scrolling?” Make a list of winning ideas.

Ratings

Category	Rating (Out of 5)	Why
Time to Learn	4	Seems easy, but understanding psychology takes time. Watching TikTok helps prep you.
Money Needed	1	Just a phone and internet connection—most of you already have that.
Difficulty to Make $1,000/Month	1	Platforms are handing out cash. Be 0.2% as good as Daniel, and you’re there.

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Side Hustle #2: Investing

A lot of people will disagree with me on this one as it’s technically not a side hustle. However, it makes me $17,000 per week, so it’s worth a mention. It’s taken years to build up to that, but I’ve done it without a financial advisor charging me commission. It’s not as complicated as people make out. (Note: I’m not a financial advisor—investments can go up or down.)

How It Works

My dollar-cost averaging strategy—buying into the market consistently, high or low—has worked wonders. Over time, the price averages out. Index funds are the secret weapon. Invest $200/month for 40 years at 10% annual return, and you’ll have over $1.2 million. The S&P 500 averaged 11% over the last 10 years. Don’t want to wait 40 years? Pair it with a side hustle for fast cash while investing half your earnings.

Ratings

Category	Rating (Out of 5)	Why
Time to Learn	1	Basics are simple—check my channel for videos on passive income and index funds.
Money Needed	1	Start with $1. Use apps like Trading 212 (code: Tilbury for a free stock).
Difficulty to Make $1,000/Month	1	Easy once consistent, but it takes years to scale up passively.

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Side Hustle #3: Discord Building

This is Chris Peters, on track to make $15,000/month building and managing Discord servers at just 19. I met him years ago when he revamped my free Discord group (link in description). He started this while sitting his GCSE exams!

Why It Works

Discord is an all-in-one communication hub—text, voice, video—originally for gamers, now for all communities. As usage grows, people like me need help navigating it. It’s complex for beginners but simple for youngsters to learn fast. Offer huge value upfront, and you’ll earn big.

Ratings

Category	Rating (Out of 5)	Why
Time to Learn	2.5	Basics in hours, advanced stuff takes longer depending on tech-savviness.
Money Needed	1	Just a computer—manage everything yourself early on.
Difficulty to Make $1,000/Month	1	Charge four clients $250/month each—easy with the right clients.

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Side Hustle #4: Online Coaching

Jack Jefferson quit his $70,000 London job to pursue online fitness coaching full-time, now earning $7,000/month. He runs Jefferson Training with over 40 clients, working from anywhere with an internet connection. Not a gym expert? You can coach anything online—people value expertise.

How Jack Does It

• In-depth onboarding to understand client goals.
• Personalized nutrition and fitness plans.
• Regular video check-ins for guidance.

Ratings

Category	Rating (Out of 5)	Why
Time to Learn	2	If you have a skill, just learn to package and sell it—rinse and repeat.
Money Needed	1	Just a laptop, assuming you’ve got a teachable skill.
Difficulty to Make $1,000/Month	1	People pay for convenience—spoonfeed them info they’re too lazy to find themselves.

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Side Hustle #5: AI Animation

Mercy makes $8,000-$10,000/month creating AI animations for my channel and others. AI is the biggest thing since the internet, yet few businesses use it. We’re in the early majority stage—embrace it now or miss out.

How Mercy Does It

• Uses ChatGPT to script ideas.
• Midjourney to bring them to life.

Ratings

Category	Rating (Out of 5)	Why
Time to Learn	4	AI helps, but mastering animation and networking takes months.
Money Needed	1	Early adoption means cheap tools can make you stand out.
Difficulty to Make $1,000/Month	2	Creators want premium videos—animations are in demand.

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Side Hustle #6: Reselling Luxury Items

Ben Gallagher generated 7.2 million pounds in 2023 with Luxe Collective, reselling luxury items online. The $39.23 billion luxury resale market is booming, driven by millennials and social media flexing.

Tips

• Learn to spot fakes (scent, stitching, materials).
• Start small, work up to brands like Louis Vuitton or Chanel.

Ratings

Category	Rating (Out of 5)	Why
Time to Learn	4	Hours spent learning fakes and markets—one slip-up can ruin you.
Money Needed	3.5	Designer items are pricey, but use social media for free marketing (Ben’s 1.6M TikTok followers).
Difficulty to Make $1,000/Month	1	High profit margins—one sale can do it.

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Side Hustle #7: Online Writing

Adam earns over $10,000/month through online writing—not novels, but in-demand content like blog posts and copywriting for influencers. He offers exclusive, premium services. Want to learn more? Visit Ainotes.pk (follow) for tips on building skills like this.

Why It Works

Content is king—businesses need writers for websites, TikTok scripts, and more. Charge $50,000 for a webpage that doubles a client’s profit from $200,000 to $400,000—it’s all about value.

Ratings

Category	Rating (Out of 5)	Why
Time to Learn	5	Writing is mentally tough—focus is a dying skill, but master it for big rewards.
Money Needed	1	Just a phone or laptop—bare minimum works.
Difficulty to Make $1,000/Month	1	Once skilled, you can charge $500/hour or more.

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Conclusion

There you have it—seven side hustles for 2025 that can turn your spare time into serious cash, just like they did for me and the real-life examples I’ve shared. From faceless short-form content to online writing, these ideas prove you don’t need a degree to build wealth—you need action, creativity, and a willingness to start small and think big. Whether you’re a student or just someone looking to break free from the traditional path, these hustles offer low entry costs and high potential. Pick one that excites you, dive in, and watch it grow into something life-changing. Which one’s your favorite? Drop your thoughts below and start hustling today!