At 6:47 AM, I’m stuck in the same traffic jam I’ve been sitting in for three years.
The brake lights stretch ahead like a red snake. My coffee’s getting cold. And I’m doing the math again: 54 minutes a day, five days a week, equals 22.5 hours every month just… sitting.
That was my life until last April.
Now? I’m still in that traffic. But I’m also making $178 per week while I’m there.
Let me show you exactly how I did it.
The Problem That’s Draining Your Bank Account
You already know commuting sucks. But here’s the part that made me angry enough to change things.
A study by Clever Real Estate found that the average American worker spends $8,466 per year on commuting costs. That’s $705.50 every single month. The study looked at gas prices, car maintenance, insurance costs, and the actual value of time lost to commuting.
And according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average commute time hit 27.2 minutes each way in 2024.
I was spending money and time. Getting nothing back. That had to change.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Five real methods that work in 2025
- Exact dollar amounts you can expect
- How to start this week
- The combination strategy that gets to $700+
Your Commute Is Worth More Than You Think
Pull out your phone right now. Calculate this:
Your daily commute time × 20 work days = Monthly opportunity hours
For me: 54 minutes daily × 20 days = 18 hours every month.
If you could earn just $35 per hour during that time, you’d make $630 monthly. That’s the goal.
Know your commute type because it matters:
Drive alone (69.2% of workers)? You can do rideshare or delivery.
Take the train or the bus? You can freelance on your laptop.
Carpool? Your options are limited but still possible.
Here’s the thing: You won’t monetize every commute. I aim for 15-17 days per month. Not all 20. This prevents burnout.
Method #1: Rideshare Driving Pays $400-600 Monthly
Here’s the 2025 reality: Uber drivers earn between $18-28 per hour before expenses. Lyft drivers make $17-27 per hour.
But what matters more: Uber drivers averaged $513 per week in 2025, while Lyft drivers made $318 weekly. Big difference.
The Destination Mode Trick
I don’t just drive around hoping for rides. That wastes gas.
Uber has “destination mode.” You tell the app where you’re going. It only shows rides headed that direction.
Every morning at 7:15 AM, I set my destination to my office. I get 1-2 rides along that route. Same at 5:30 PM, going home.
This adds 10 extra minutes to my commute. But I earn $12-15 per ride.
My monthly breakdown:
- 2 rides per day
- 17 days per month
- 34 total rides at $13.50 average
- Total: $459 per month
- After gas: $350-400 net profit
Getting Started
Sign up for both Uber and Lyft. Uber offers up to $1,000 in sign-up bonuses. Lyft offers up to $900 plus guaranteed earnings for 30 days.
The process takes two weeks:
- Submit driver’s license and insurance
- Pass background check (5-10 days)
- Vehicle inspection ($20-30)
- Start driving
Your car needs to be 2015 or newer for Uber.
Quick Tax Note
You’re self-employed. This means you owe self-employment tax (15.3%). But you also deduct $0.67 per mile (2024 rate).
I drove 4,200 miles for Uber last year. That’s a $2,814 deduction.
Use Stride or Everlance apps. They track mileage automatically for free.
Method #2: Delivery Work Pays $300-500 Monthly
No strangers in your car. No awkward conversations.
DoorDash drivers earn around $20 per hour. Here’s my strategy.
The End-of-Workday Approach
At 5:15 PM, I open DoorDash. I look for orders near my office that deliver along my route home.
Orders take 20-30 minutes total. This adds 15 minutes to my commute.
I do this 3 times per week. That’s 12 deliveries monthly at $28 average per delivery.
Monthly total: $336
After gas: $280-300 net.
Plus, DoorDash gives 2% cash back on all gas purchases with their prepaid card. Another $15-20 monthly saved.
The One-Dollar-Per-Mile Rule
Never accept orders under $1 per mile. Ever.
A 5-mile delivery needs to pay at least $5. I reject about 60% of offers. That’s normal.
Peak Pay Bonus
During dinner rush (5:30-8:30 PM), DoorDash adds $1-4 extra per delivery.
A normal $8 delivery becomes $12 with peak pay. Same work. 50% more money.
Friday and Saturday nights almost always have peak pay.
Method #3: Freelance During Transit Pays $200-400 Monthly
For train and bus commuters with a laptop.
A 2024 study by the Economic Innovation Group tracked 2,000 workers for 12 months. Those who used commute time for freelance work averaged $340 monthly in additional income.
My friend Marcus takes the train 35 minutes each way. He does proofreading at $22 per hour.
Marcus’s math:
- 70 minutes daily = 1.17 hours
- 15 work days per month = 17.5 hours
- $22 per hour × 17.5 hours = $385 per month
What Actually Pays
Writing/editing: $15-30 per hour for beginners on Upwork or Fiverr.
Data entry: $12-18 per hour on Amazon Mechanical Turk.
Virtual assistance: $15-25 per hour. Scheduling and email management.
Proofreading: $18-25 per hour.
Website testing: UserTesting pays $10 per 20-minute test.
Getting Started
Set up your profile on Upwork or Fiverr. Charge less for your first 3-5 projects to get reviews. Then raise your rates.
Tools needed:
- Noise-canceling headphones ($50-80)
- Mobile hotspot or unlimited data
- Laptop stand ($20)
Total startup: under $150.
Method #4: Podcasting Builds to $100-300 Monthly
This takes longer to pay off. But it compounds.
The podcast industry hit $2.4 billion in ad revenue in 2024. Podcast hosts earn $25-50 per 1,000 downloads per episode.
I started “The Commuter’s Corner” in March 2024. I record during lunch breaks. I edit during evening commutes using my phone.
Realistic Timeline
Month 3: 250 downloads per episode Month 6: 800 downloads per episode
Month 12: 2,200 downloads per episode
At 1,000+ downloads, sponsors pay attention.
My first sponsor paid $50 per episode. Now I have two at $75 and $100 per episode.
Current monthly income: $175 for one episode per week.
What You Need
- USB microphone ($60-100)
- Anchor.fm for recording (free)
- Your phone for editing
- Total: $60-100 startup
Record in your car. It acts as a mini sound booth. Edit using Descript or Ferrite on your phone (both free).
Timeline for money:
- Months 1-3: Zero income
- Months 4-6: Maybe $50 from Patreon
- Months 7-12: First sponsors at $100-200 monthly
- Year 2+: $300-500 monthly
This is a long game. But it builds while you do other methods.
Method #5: Reselling Items Pays $150-300 Monthly
I spend 20 minutes each morning listing items on eBay and Poshmark. Another 15 minutes each evening responding to buyers.
Saturday mornings: Hit garage sales and thrift stores. Buy items for $50-100 total.
Saturday afternoons: Take photos and write descriptions.
Weekday commutes: List items and respond to buyers using the photos.
What Sells
Vintage video games: Buy for $2-5. Sell for $20-40.
Name-brand clothing: Buy for $3-8. Sell for $25-50.
Old electronics: Buy for $10-20. Sell for $40-80.
Last month: 14 sales at $22 average profit = $308.
After eBay fees: $260 net profit.
Use eBay and Poshmark mobile apps. Print labels at home in the morning. Drop packages at the post office on your way to work.
My Exact $750 Monthly Schedule
Here’s my real weekly routine:
Monday:
- Morning: 1 Uber ride ($13)
- Evening: List 3 eBay items (10 minutes)
Tuesday:
- Morning: 1 Uber ride ($14)
- Evening: 1 DoorDash delivery ($28)
Wednesday:
- Morning: Edit podcast (30 minutes)
- Evening: eBay admin (15 minutes)
Thursday:
- Morning: 1 Uber ride ($12)
- Evening: 1 DoorDash delivery ($30)
Friday: Off. Just music and coffee.
Weekly total: $97 + eBay sales
Monthly average: $750
This is sustainable. I’m not exhausted. Two full days are normal commutes.
Start Slow
Week 1: Pick ONE method. Sign up.
Week 2: Do 2-3 test runs. Learn the system.
Week 3: Set a schedule. Specific days only.
Week 4: Review and adjust.
By month 2, you’ll know what works.
The Boring Tax and Insurance Stuff
You’re self-employed when doing gig work. This means:
- No taxes taken out automatically
- You owe 15.3% self-employment tax
- Quarterly estimated payments required
- Must file if you earn over $400
I set aside 25-30% of everything I earn for taxes.
Deductions Save Money
The mileage deduction is huge: $0.67 per mile for 2024.
Other deductions:
- Phone bill (work percentage)
- Car washes
- Phone mount and charger
- Delivery bags
Keep every receipt. Take photos and store them in Google Drive.
Insurance Is Required
Personal car insurance doesn’t cover rideshare or delivery work.
For rideshare: Get a rideshare rider ($10-20 monthly extra).
For delivery: Call your insurance and ask about “commercial use for delivery.”
I pay $15 extra monthly for full coverage. Worth it.
Tools That Make This Easier
Stride: Free. Tracks mileage automatically. Calculates tax deductions.
Gridwise: Shows earnings across all platforms in one place.
Dash cam: $60 from Amazon. Records everything for safety.
Life360: Free location sharing with family.
These apps save time and protect you.
Realistic Expectations
This isn’t get-rich-quick.
Month 1: $100-200 while learning
Month 2: $300-400 getting efficient
Month 3+: $500-800 if consistent
December is amazing (holidays). Summer is great (tourists). January and February are slower.
What Can Go Wrong
Your market might be oversaturated. Your car might not qualify. You might hate it. The money might not be worth your time.
Give it one month before deciding.
Pros: Already commuting anyway. Flexible. Multiple income streams. Weekly pay.
Cons: Extra car wear. Complicated taxes. Variable income. It can be draining.
