Almost half of first-time buyers are turning to side hustles to boost their savings and get on the property ladder, with some considering more creative income streams
07:00, 23 Apr 2026Updated 13:01, 23 Apr 2026
Potential buyers are turning to side hustles to boost their savings(Image: Getty Images)
First-time buyers are resorting to side hustles to help get a foot on the property ladder – with flogging used socks amongst the more bizarre money-making schemes being considered. A survey of 1,000 adults hoping to purchase their first home revealed that 49% are turning to additional income streams to bolster their savings.
While traditional side hustles such as dog walking (17%) and completing surveys (39%) remain firm favourites, many would be willing to go further, and stranger, to top up their earnings. Potential ventures range from crafting candles (14%) to becoming a self‐styled ‘social media witch’ (12%), and selling used socks (11%).
Over half said they’d be willing to do whatever it takes to get their first home(Image: Getty Images)
On average, side hustlers earn £442.62 extra per month, putting in around seven additional hours a week, according to the research from Santander. More than one in 10 (12%) even reported earning over £1,000 a month, with 64% saving most or all this extra cash towards building a house deposit.
The bank commissioned the research to highlight its My First Mortgage product, which offers up to 98% loan to value with a £10,000 deposit.
David Morris, director of mortgages at the lender, said: “Home hustling is just one-way would-be buyers are boosting their income streams. It can expedite the time it takes to save for a deposit, stamp duty and legal costs, as budding buyers are taking back control of their homeownership journey.
“We’d encourage anyone who wants to buy a property to speak to a mortgage professional to understand their options, they may be closer to owning a home than they think.”
One recent first-time buyer, Anya Jones, 25, revealed how a side hustle helped her get onto the property ladder with a three-bed house in her early twenties.
As a nurse, she was required to complete up to 40 hours of unpaid work experience per week as part of her degree, making traditional part-time jobs impossible. She transformed her passion for crafting jewellery from sea glass collected on her local beach into a thriving business, and began flogging her designs on Depop.
Anya Jones (pictured) managed to save £10k towards her deposit(Image: SWNS)
As sales soared, she launched a website and eventually got her pieces stocked in 17 stores across her native Wales.
Rather than splashing her earnings, Anya ploughed every penny back into her business, allowing her profits to flourish, and within two years, she had made £10,000 – rising to £12,000 by the time she finished university.
The money covered half of her house deposit, helping her purchase her first home alongside her partner in July 2022, with the remainder coming from babysitting, creating TikTok content and paid nursing shifts alongside her studies.
“Even with two incomes it’s a struggle to save for a deposit,” said Anya, who is from Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan.
“They seem so out of reach for people on regular salaries – I never would have been able to buy a house at such a young age without a side hustle.”
The research reveals that 53% of respondents would be willing to do whatever it takes to buy their first home. This rises to 59% among those in the North West and climbs further to 63% o f Londoners.
In fact, 23% confessed they have sold childhood collectables – including Beanie Babies and Pokémon cards – to give their deposit savings a boost.
David Morris added: “It’s tough out there for today’s first-time buyers, but they’re not giving up.
“In fact, the ambition to own a home remains as strong as ever with buyer optimism boosted by recent affordability changes and new, higher LTV products.”
POPULAR SIDE HUSTLES BEING CONSIDERED BY FIRST TIME BUYERS:GardeningCreating and selling personalised items (e.g. wrapping paper, cards, clothes, bags)Selling baked goodsLeaflet distributionCandle makingSelling feet picturesFurniture flipping (i.e. buying, painting and reselling furniture)Childcare services/behavioural adviceSocial media witch (i.e. someone who sells spells, potions, tarot readings, etc. on social media)Selling used socks