Fri, July 31, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTC
Temporary debt is sometimes necessary, such as putting an emergency expense on a credit card, or taking out a small personal loan, but if interest grows too high, you might find yourself drowning in debt.
One way to get ahead of debt is to take on a side hustle to bring in extra income. But not all side hustles are lucrative and some require a financial outlay up-front.
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To get some clarity, I asked the artificial intelligence (AI) ChatGPT for the best side hustles that will help wipe out debt quickly.
Consistency Beats Hourly Rate
ChatGPT suggested that if the goal is to wipe out debt as quickly as possible, the best side hustle isn’t necessarily the one with the highest hourly pay. It’s the one you can start quickly, stick with consistently and scale without burning out. The right choice also depends on what kind of debt you’re paying off.
1. Sell Things You Already Own First
This is often the fastest “side hustle” because you get a lump sum immediately and it requires no additional costs on your part. You can do a quick “spring cleaning” (at any time of year) of items that might still hold their value. Some items ChatGPT suggested:
Choose items that are in good shape, lightly used, clean and/or have some kind of collector value.
If you can generate $2,000 from unused belongings and throw it at a credit card charging 25% APR, ChatGPT called that equivalent to earning a very attractive risk-free return by avoiding future interest.
2. Monetize Existing Freelance Skills
If you already have skills that would translate to a freelance gig, this usually produces the highest return on your time, ChatGPT said. Examples include:
People with freelance skills have the advantage of little up-front investment and your hourly rate can grow as you gain clients or increase expertise.
3. Take Up a Weekend Service Business
Some of the best freelance gigs may only be part time or even seasonal. These require more physical effort but often generate the biggest income, and you might even be able to do them in your own neighborhood or close to home.
Many people can earn more in one busy Saturday than they would working multiple delivery shifts.
4. Join a Delivery or Ride-Share App
These aren’t usually the most profitable after gas, maintenance and depreciation, but you can start almost immediately and earn right away.
5. Translate Skills Into Tutoring
If you have both the knowledge and the ability to break it down into easy-to-understand bits, you might make a great tutor in subjects like math, science or test prep, which are often most requested by parents of middle- and high-school students.
Match the Side Hustle to the Debt
ChatGPT gave me a little chart that helps prioritize which type of side hustle is the best for the type of debt.
High-interest credit card debt, personal loans | ||
Fast debt payoff with flexible hours | ||
$20–$50/hour or $50–$150/night | ||
Hundreds to several thousand dollars | ||
Retail or hospitality weekends |
The Order of Debt Repayment
In order of debt repayment, ChatGPT recommended paying it down in the following order of highest risk to lowest:
Auto loans(if interest is 7% or higher)
Student loans,particularly high rate, private loans
Don’t Forget Taxes
If you earn side hustle income, you will have to pay taxes on it. ChatGPT recommended setting aside roughly 20% to 30% of your net earnings for taxes (the exact amount depends on your income and state). Otherwise, a surprise tax bill can undo some of your progress. ChatGPT also urged tracking mileage and expenses so you can bring some of that tax burden down.
Whichever side hustle you choose, remember that consistency over six to 12 months typically has a bigger impact on debt payoff than chasing the highest advertised hourly rate.
This article was provided byMoneyLion.comfor informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. It was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy; however, AI-generated content may be inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated. You should independently verify important information through reliable
