Lately I’ve been noticing an increase in the opportunities that people have to make money on the side. There’s Uber, PostMates, TaskRabbit, and Airbnb just to name a few. The app that I have been using this summer is called Wag — a dog walking service. These apps allow you to be extremely flexible in the work that you do and help you make extra money on the side; or if you’re like me, a student on summer break, they help make enough money to survive on temporarily.

Every weekday, from my bed, I open up the app and wait for dog walks to be requested. It’s 9:30 a.m. now and I have scheduled four walks today. I will be walking Charlie at 12 p.m., Dragon at 1 p.m., Mosca at 2 p.m. and Berkeley at 3 p.m. It is going to be a busy day already. There are a few things that I need to have in my backpack that create a dog walking kit. I always bring along extra poop bags, training treats, a Wag bandana, a power case, snacks and water, ultra comfy walking shoes and of course, my phone which will be the tool that helps me do pretty much everything pertaining to my job.

Along the way I am able to get some pretty good exercise! On an average dog walking day, I will walk 10-15 miles and bike about 8-12. There’s no need for a gym membership or feelings of remorse for eating one too many cookies — the city is my gym.

However, sometimes the job can be stressful. Some dogs are not so easy to walk or you end up running a bit late because you just can’t seem to bike fast enough. You are ultimately responsible for your schedule, well-being and reputation as a contractor. You have to make sure that you are practicing self-care and choosing clients that can help you, as well as help them. That’s the beauty of it all, though. You are your own boss!I’m at my first dog walk now and I’ve come a little early because I have never met Charlie before. We go on an hour walk. Then I head to my next walk. This goes on for about four hours before I take a break down by Fort Mason. I love being able to work outside and take breaks all over the city. I have a snack, drink some water and relax. From here, I can either choose to pick up more walks or just call it a day. I choose to just head home because I would like some free time and there are things that I need to do like write this article for example.

This is a lifestyle that wouldn’t be possible with the advancement of technology. These apps are shifting the way we interact with our neighbors and the world. They rely on the trust of others and the sharing of resources — like time in my case. Now I just wonder what will be the next clever app that will allow me to make even more spending money easily.

Have you tried any of these apps out? If so, what have your experiences been like?