Side hustles used to mean babysitting your neighbour’s kid or walking dogs for extra cash. Then came rideshares, delivery apps and reselling vintage Levi’s on Depop. But in New York, the hustle has officially entered its parked car era.
Owning a car in New York City already comes with its own brand of chaos: gridlocked traffic, constant honking and a parking system that feels more like a high-stakes strategy game than basic infrastructure.
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When Sydney Charlet got laid off and relocated to the city, she brought her car with her and quickly noticed a gap in the day-to-day struggles of local drivers.
During scheduled street cleaning, drivers are required to move their vehicles or risk getting ticketed. But not everyone can step away from work or rearrange their day just to play musical chairs with their car. That’s where Charlet comes in, offering to sit in the car so her clients don’t have to. Now, she’s a self-proclaimed car sitter.
“I heard from people that you, actually people sit in their cars during street sweeping, don’t move their cars unless the street sweeper comes by," Charlet told Fox 5 New York.
But is car sitting really the clever side hustle Charlet hopes it is?
How does it work?
Charlet launched her car-sitting service on social media, inviting curious and often skeptical New Yorkers to reach out via her business number. Most people start by asking if her service is legit. Once she confirms it is, she gets their location and coordinates the job.
Key handoffs are typically done through the building’s doorman, and Charlet documents everything by filming the car before she gets in and again when she leaves — her way of keeping things transparent and professional. It may sound unconventional, but she’s tapping into a very real need. In 2024 alone, New York City issued 16.1 million parking and camera tickets, according to NYC.gov.
Most of her business now comes from repeat customers who trust her with their keys.
“I just had someone text me saying, ‘Oh shoot, I forgot to schedule you today.’ I just got a ticket, I’m going to text you every Sunday from now on to let you know where I am," Charlet said.
With the average New York parking ticket costing about $65, Charlet says her service is still the cheaper option. The most common offense? The one she’s tackling: violating the “No Parking — Street Cleaning” rule.
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The calm before the side hustle storm
Side hustles have gone from quirky TikTok challenges to full-on survival strategies — a financial buffer for millions of Americans trying to keep up with rising costs and unpredictable paychecks. From reselling vintage finds to turning urban inconvenience into income, like Charlet, nearly one in four Americans now juggle a side gig, according to Bankrate.
But lately, the hustle has slowed.
“A strong job market and a cooling inflation rate are the biggest reasons why fewer people are side hustling this year,” said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. “But employment trends are weakening and price growth might pick up due to tariffs, so there’s a good chance side hustling will be back on the rise next year.”
If you’re considering a side hustle, focus on something sustainable and long-term. Ask yourself: What am I already good at? What do people already ask me to help with? The best side hustles don’t require reinventing the wheel — just monetizing the one you’ve already been pushing uphill.
Avoid gigs that require a huge upfront investment or promise overnight success. Instead, look for something that offers flexibility, ideally something that works with your schedule, not against your sanity.
Track your earnings and how much time you’re putting in. Side income should support your goals, whether that’s paying off debt, saving for a trip or just breathing easier when rent comes due. If it’s draining your energy with little to show for it, it might be time to rethink the hustle.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
