With costs rising at the end of the year, more South Africans are looking for ways to earn extra instead of borrowing. A JustMoney survey reported in December 2025 found that around four in ten people rely on a regular side hustle. Online buying and selling, making products, selling food and renting out spare space were among the most common.
Seasonal ideas include snack stalls, party platters, gift wrapping, home cleaning, mobile car washing, children’s holiday programmes, photography and online freelance work. Retail and hospitality also take on extra staff in December, so apply early. Price your work to cover materials and your time with a margin on top, start small, and keep a record of your earnings for tax.
Stay safe and legal. Check your municipality’s rules and any permits for stalls or food sales, work in pairs where possible and share your location. Be careful with job ads that ask you to pay a fee or hand over personal details before you start, because those are common scams. A side hustle won’t solve every money problem, but it can make January much easier.