Frugal Friends Podcast Episode Summary

Episode Title:

We Review Your 2026 Side Hustles. Are They Worth It or a Scam?

Hosts:

Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni (Backyard Ventures)

Release Date:

March 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively and practical episode, Jen and Jill dig into real side hustles shared by their listeners through the annual Frugal Friends Mega Survey. They review seven specific side hustles that real people are doing in 2026, ranking each on a “Love it or Leave it” scale, discussing pros, cons, average earnings, and the realities of time investment, flexibility, and scalability. Throughout, the hosts keep a fun, honest, and supportive tone, offering actionable tips and sharing relevant personal stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Donating Plasma

• Listener Experiences:
  • Miranda: Earns $400–$500/month; goes twice a week, 1–2 hours per session. First month can be up to $800.
  • Susan: On and off for two years, makes $200–$450/month but dreads the process.
• Hosts’ Verdict:
  • Love it, with a caveat—best for short-term financial sprints (emergency funds, credit card debt payoff).
• Pros:
  • Immediate cash, no special skills, high ROI per hour, helping others in need.
• Cons:
  • Not scalable, physically taxing, time-consuming, strict eligibility rules.
• Research:
  • Promotional offers up to $800 in the first month; ongoing average per donation is $30–$70.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Jen, on her own disqualification:

    “Because I was an acupuncturist and I had had acupuncture like in the last year, I was actually ineligible.” (04:08)

• Summary Rating: Great for emergencies or short-term needs, not recommended long-term.

Timestamp: 02:33–06:07

2. DoorDash (Food Delivery)

• Listener Experiences:
  • Beverly: Did DoorDash for years, worth it short-term but not long-term.
  • Michelle: Customers 20 minutes away, no tips, not worth wear on car or gas costs.
• Hosts’ Verdict:
  • Leave it for most. Worth considering only in dense, high-demand areas or if you use a bike/e-bike.
• Pros:
  • Immediate income, low barrier to entry, slightly safer for solo drivers than rideshare.
• Cons:
  • Wear and tear on your car, low net earnings (often <$12/hr after expenses), volatility, scamming risks, many markets have low/no tips.
• Tips:
  • If using an e-bike and living in a metro area, can offset some negatives.
  • Grubhub’s fee removal for orders over $50 may shift the balance for some drivers.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jen:

    “There is a lot of scamming going on in DoorDash.” (09:29)

Timestamp: 06:07–10:38

3. Rover (Pet Sitting & Dog Walking)

• Listener Experience:
  • Devra: Made $21,000 in 2025; “debt free in August.”
• Hosts’ Verdict:
  • Love it! Very lucrative and can fit easily into your lifestyle if you love animals.
• Pros:
  • Flexible, can weave around a main job, decent earnings ($15–$30 per walk, $40–$75+ per overnight stay).
  • Good for meeting others, potential for pet and house-sitting opportunities.
• Cons:
  • Need to like animals and be responsible, platform fees, insurance/liability issues.
• Tips:
  • Use Rover to start, but build your own client base for higher earnings.
  • Great way to get pet “time” without full ownership.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Jill:

    “It can be so, so lucrative. Enjoy giving and help you get out of the house.” (11:12)

Timestamp: 10:38–14:09

4. Teachers Pay Teachers (Selling Educational Materials)

• Listener Experience:
  • Kendra: Earns $200/month passively.
• Hosts’ Verdict:
  • Love it for educators; best for passive income from work you’re already doing.
• Pros:
  • True passive income after initial setup, monetizes work you’re already doing.
• Cons:
  • Competitive marketplace, requires upfront creation effort, finding a special niche helps.
• Actionable Tip:
  • If you’re making curriculum anyway, stop doubting your value and put it online!
• Notable Quotes:
  • Jen:

    “Value what is unique about whatever you're teaching. If you're making something unique, then you can put it on Teachers Pay Teachers, and just like, let it go.” (17:38)

• Advice:
  • Make your materials look distinctive to stand out.

Timestamp: 16:29–20:19

5. eBay/Poshmark/Depop Reselling

• Listener Experiences:
  • Rosanna: Tried Poshmark, requires a lot of engagement, local consignment works better.
  • Miranda: Sells on Depop/Poshmark, sales are low, shipping costs rising.
  • Kristen: eBay seller, finds sourcing fun, learning what sells, cautious about holding inventory.
• Hosts’ Verdict:
  • In the middle. Great for decluttering, potentially lucrative if you find a niche and enjoy the “hunt,” but can quickly become overwhelming and time-consuming.
• Pros:
  • Clears clutter, can partially fund new purchases, fun if you enjoy sourcing.
• Cons:
  • Can create clutter/inventory if not careful, earnings can be inconsistent, you need to find demand, significant time required.
• Insights:
  • Niche items (e.g., large collectibles, Hot Wheels, retro games, tools) fetch premium prices and are less competitive.
• Tips:
  • Best as a decluttering tool; set strict boundaries (“If it doesn’t sell in two weeks, donate it”).
  • Explore apps like Whatnot for live auctions and specialty items.
• Memorable Moment:
  • Jill (on her furniture flipping side hustle):

    “It was really hit or miss… unless you're in a 10 mile radius, you might not be able to find buyers.” (26:48–27:28)

Timestamp: 20:19–28:49

6. Freelance Graphic Design

• Listener Experiences:
  • Katie: Contract for $500–$800/month with former coworker; “dependable and awesome.”
  • Matilda: Makes T-shirt graphics for family; paid for time/materials.
• Hosts’ Verdict:
  • Love it! Especially if you have the eye/skill for design; high earning potential and flexible.
• Pros:
  • Scalable, flexible, creative outlet, potential for recurring contracts or selling on platforms like Etsy.
• Cons:
  • Reliant on finding/keeping clients, must prove skill, can be competitive.
• Tips:
  • No formal education required, but a good eye and willingness to learn go a long way (use Canva, free courses online).
  • Consider approaching your former employer for recurring contract work on specific tasks you excelled at.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jen:

    “You do not have to have gone to school… If you got an eye for what looks good… you fill a necessary place in the ecosystem.” (30:37–32:53)

Timestamp: 28:49–34:01

7. Research Surveys (Prolific, Cloud Research, Testable Minds)

• Listener Experience:
  • Jesse: Found Prolific via Facebook, used it to help pay off credit cards faster.
• Hosts’ Verdict:
  • Love it! Surprising favorite; everyone should do these as a “productive scroll alternative.”
• Pros:
  • More legit and better paid than typical survey sites ($6–$12/hr common), very flexible, easy to do from your phone.
• Cons:
  • Low earnings cap, studies may be limited or not always available.
• Special Tip:
  • If you have specific credentials (e.g., LCSW), sign up for niche medical or academic surveys for higher payouts.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Jen:

    “If you're going to be scrolling on social media anyway, get off, try to make some money.”

  • Jill:

    “This is one of those things, the micro hustle, that just weaves into and maybe replaces some of that unnecessary downtime.” (36:16)

• Summary Rating: Excellent micro hustle to supplement income in downtime.

Timestamp: 34:01–37:22

Bonus Segments

“Bill of the Week” (Listener Submission)

• Listener Liz shares the value of paying a small fee to use her state’s child support enforcement order service.
  • Memorable for its creativity and real-world application of “a bill you don’t mind paying.”
  • Jen:

    “If you can pay somebody to be that neutral third party… Yes, we all need that.” (39:02)

• Timestamp: 37:42–40:27

Lightning Round: Personal Side Hustle Trials & Fails

• Jen: Applied for a $150 “mystery shop” gig for a HELOC (home equity line of credit) evaluation.
• Jill: Likes taking paid product/service surveys for guaranteed gift cards. Not a fan of “drawing” entries.
• Both riff on failed side hustles, including roadside plant sales (“made $25 after hours of work”) and cleaning Airbnbs for friends.
• Memorable Quote:
  • Jill:

    “If something isn’t immediately gangbusters, I’m done with it.” (50:47)

• Timestamp: 42:38–48:50

Notable Quotes & Speaker Attribution

• Jen (on selling teaching materials):

  “Sell your stuff. Value what is unique about whatever you're teaching. If you're making something unique, then you can put it on teachers pay teachers, and just like, let it go.” (17:38)

• Jill (on pet sitting):

  “It can be so, so lucrative… And depending on where you’re house sitting, many of my friends have gotten some really nice setups. Almost like a little staycation.” (13:32)

• Jen (on eBay/Poshmark):

  “It can create as much clutter as it clears.” (22:58)

• Jill (on research surveys):

  “This isn’t gonna be the big money. That’s why this is one of those things, the micro hustle… that just weaves into and maybe replaces some of that unnecessary downtime.” (36:16)

• Jen (on DoorDash):

  “Scamming is a big issue… your earnings can end up in someone else’s account if you’re not careful.” (09:29)

Tips, Warnings & Memorable Moments

• Beware of DoorDash scams—never give out personal info to someone calling, even if it looks official!
• Find your side hustle “niche”—leveraging unique skills, passions, or local needs increases profitability and enjoyment.
• Set boundaries for reselling—avoid becoming overrun by unsold inventory; enforce a time limit before letting it go.
• Stack micro-hustles—use downtime on your phone for research surveys to supplement expenses like coffees or groceries.
• Don’t underestimate your existing work—from teaching materials to graphic design, monetize what you’re already doing!

Listener Interaction & Community

• Hosts encourage listeners to share which side hustles are or aren’t working in 2026 (“Help us all out!”).
• Suggest joining the YouTube discussion and leaving reviews for their new book: “Buy What You Love Without Going Broke”.
• Frequent shoutouts to survey contributors.

Conclusion

The episode is a helpful, honest guide through modern side hustles—what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid burnout and scams. Jen and Jill root for listeners to earn extra (without losing their sanity or cluttering their homes), and they infuse each review with research, empathy, and personal anecdotes. Perfect for frugal-minded folks seeking practical, realistic side gig options in 2026.

Key Timestamps

• Donating Plasma: 02:33–06:07
• DoorDash: 06:07–10:38
• Rover: 10:38–14:09
• Teachers Pay Teachers: 16:29–20:19
• Reselling: 20:19–28:49
• Graphic Design: 28:49–34:01
• Research Surveys: 34:01–37:22
• Bill of the Week: 37:42–40:27
• Lightning Round: 42:38–48:50

Final Takeaway

For anyone weighing whether a 2026 side hustle is worth it or a scam, this episode delivers a relatable, realistic breakdown—so you can pick what fits your goals, your life, and your values.