Can Affiliate Marketing Be a Side Hustle?

Let’s cut to the chase: You’re tired. You're juggling bills, maybe a job (or two), and you’re trying to keep it all together. The idea of a “side hustle” sounds great… until you remember how much time and energy you don’t have.
But what if there was a way to earn extra income without having to drive Uber at night, babysit on weekends, or take on another job that drains you?

That’s where affiliate marketing comes in—and yes, it absolutely can be a side hustle. One that works with your life instead of against it.

What Is Affiliate Marketing, Anyway?

Affiliate marketing is when you earn a commission for promoting someone else’s product or service. You don’t need to create your own product, hold inventory, or handle customer service. You just share a link, and if someone buys through your link, you get paid.

Sound too good to be true? That’s what I thought, too—until I realized it’s one of the few side hustles that can be done:

• On your own schedule
• From your phone or laptop
• Without upfront inventory or high startup costs

If you’re already telling friends about your favorite skincare, protein powder, or budgeting app—congrats, you’re already doing affiliate marketing. You’re just not getting paid for it (yet).

Why It’s a Great Side Hustle—Especially in Midlife

If you're anything like me, you’ve hit a point in life where you're rethinking how you earn money. Maybe your body is tired. Maybe your job isn’t paying enough. Maybe you're caregiving, managing your health, or just sick of trading time for money.

Affiliate marketing offers something a lot of side hustles don’t: flexibility.

You can work on it when you have the time and energy. There’s no need to clock in, report to anyone, or leave your house. And while it does take strategy (more on that in a minute), it doesn’t require a huge financial investment to get started.

Here’s what makes it sustainable:

• You choose what to promote. Love clean skincare? Talk about that. Obsessed with gut health? Share that. When it’s something you already believe in, it doesn’t feel like selling—it feels like helping.
• You can work around your schedule. Early mornings, lunch breaks, late at night—this hustle fits into your life.
• You can build over time. Unlike many side hustles where you only get paid for hours worked, affiliate marketing allows you to build a library of content that keeps working for you 24/7.

Okay, But How Do You Actually Start?

Let me break it down into simple, doable steps. This is how I got started—and how you can, too.

Step 1: Choose a Platform to Focus On

You don’t need to be on every social media channel. In fact, trying to be everywhere at once will burn you out. I personally started on Pinterest because it's a search engine (not social media!) and people use it to look for things to buy. That’s a big win for affiliate marketing.

I highly recommend Kim Ward’s Pinterest Marketing Academy if you want to learn how to turn Pinterest into a side hustle machine. She’s THE BEST teacher I’ve found (they don't call her the Pinterest Queen for nothing!), and her course walks you through everything you need to know—from setting up your account to driving traffic to your affiliate links.

Step 2: Pick Products You Believe In

Not all affiliate programs are created equal. You want to promote things you actually use or trust—not just whatever pays the most. If it doesn’t align with your values or your audience, it won’t convert anyway.

One great program I recommend is SendIt. It pays you to help companies comply with sweepstakes laws (yep, it’s legit). You simply mail envelopes from home and can get paid directly or earn commissions by referring others. It’s a great entry point if you want to earn while learning affiliate marketing.

Step 3: Create Content That Helps (Not Sells)

Here’s the truth: No one wants to be sold to—but everyone wants solutions. When you create content that helps solve a problem or answer a question, your affiliate links become part of a bigger value exchange. You’re not just dropping links—you’re guiding people to helpful tools.

This could be:

• A blog post about your favorite skincare routine for dry, aging skin
• A Pinterest pin about low-FODMAP snacks that includes your affiliate link to a product you use
• A short-form video explaining how you earn money from home (and linking to whatever company you align with).

Focus on being helpful. The sales will follow.

How Much Can You Make with Affiliate Marketing?

This varies—a lot. At first, it might be $5 here and $10 there. But over time, as you learn to grow traffic and create better content, those little wins can stack up into serious income.

Many people earn a few hundred dollars a month as a side hustle. Others replace their full-time income.

Here’s what affects your income:

• The commission rate (some programs pay 5%, others 50%+)
• How often you promote the product (and how visible your content is)
• How well your content converts (this is where learning strategy comes in)

If you treat affiliate marketing like a hobby, you’ll earn hobby money. But if you treat it like a business—even on the side—it can grow into something meaningful.

What Tools Do You Need to Succeed?

You don’t need to spend a ton to get started, but here are a few tools I use and love:

• Canva: To create pins and images for free
• Pinterest Business Account: It’s free, and it lets you post idea pins, track analytics, and connect links
• Google Docs or Ghost Blog: To write blog posts that live forever
• Kim Ward’s Pinterest Marketing Academy: For real training that helps you skip the guesswork

Make the Most of the Money You Earn

Affiliate marketing is one way to make extra income—but what you do with that income matters.

If you’re ready to learn how to save smarter, grow your money, and protect your future, I invite you to book a free 15-minute intro strategy call with me and my mentor Joy.

This call is designed to see where you’re at financially, and offer helpful education around how to make your money work harder for you. It’s not about affiliate coaching—it’s about the big picture.

Why Affiliate Marketing Is Worth It

Affiliate marketing is one of the most beginner-friendly, low-risk ways to start earning extra money in your spare time—and turn your knowledge, story, and experience into income.

Even if it’s slow at first. Even if you make $50 in your first month and $500 in your sixth. Every bit counts. And every step builds momentum.

Start small. Start messy. Start now.

📌 Check out SendIt to make money from home with zero tech skills
📌 Learn affiliate marketing through Pinterest with Kim Ward’s Academy
📌 Book your free intro call with me + Joy to explore your next step

Affiliate Disclaimer

This blog may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. As an affiliate, I only recommend products that I personally use, trust, and believe will add value to my readers. Your support helps keep this content free and allows me to continue sharing helpful tips and resources.

I am not a medical professional, and the information provided on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your skincare or wellness routine.