Pets and houses
Walking £12–£18 a walk in market towns; more in cities. Overnight sitting pays better than lunchtime loops. Meet the animal first. Carry a simple written agreement: keys, medicine, emergency vet.
Work in your town
Hours you can walk to
Not every extra pound needs a laptop. Dog walks, hedges, spare rooms and evening deliveries still clear money in Worcestershire and every other county that has houses, pets and takeaways.
Gardens and odd jobs
A mower, a ladder you trust, and public liability insurance. Quote in writing. Do not take on gas, electrics or work at height you are not qualified for. Repeat customers are the whole business.
Deliveries
App work is available the week you pass onboarding. It is also the hustle most likely to pay below minimum wage once you count waiting. Track miles. For 2026/27 simplified car mileage is 55p for the first 10,000 business miles.
Spare rooms and driveways
Rent-a-Room relief lets you receive up to £7,500 a year tax-free for furnished accommodation in your only or main home. It is halved if you share the income. It does not cover a whole-home Airbnb while you live elsewhere.
A driveway on JustPark is property income. It has its own £1,000 property allowance, separate from the trading allowance. Check your mortgage, lease and insurance before the first booking.
Insurance, keys and neighbours
Public liability is the grown-up purchase for anything involving other people’s homes, pets or gardens. Household contents insurance often excludes “business use”; tell the insurer. If you hold keys, keep a log. If you make noise at 8am with a mower, you will meet the neighbour either as a customer or as a complaint.
Cash in a jar is still taxable. A separate account and a weekly note of jobs done will save a January argument with yourself.