Pressing flowers and turning them into bookmarks might be one of the cheapest side hustles to try
I came across this idea recently and it seems pretty fun, especially if you want something creative that doesn't cost much to start. The basic idea is to collect flowers, press and dry them, then use them to make laminated bookmarks or clear resin decorations. You can use wildflowers, flowers from your garden, herbs, or small leaves. If you have a balcony or backyard, most of your “inventory” is basically free. You can press everything inside a heavy book, so you don't even need to buy a proper flower press at the beginning. For the bookmark version, you only need the flowers, some laminating sheets, and access to a laminator. The material cost per bookmark is really low, and similar handmade bookmarks often sell for around $5 each on Etsy. The resin version costs a little more to start because you need resin and silicone molds. A basic kit is usually around $30, but once you have the molds, each piece only uses a small amount of material. People sell dried-flower resin blocks, paperweights, coasters, and decorations for around $15 to $25 depending on the size and design. You could also make custom pieces using wedding flowers, birthday bouquets, or flowers from other important occasions. That probably has more potential than just selling random designs because the product has sentimental value. It seems like one of those ideas you could test for under $30 without taking much risk. Make five or ten designs, take some decent photos, list them online, and see whether anyone is interested before buying more supplies.