Side Hustle Ideas

[bjl584]

Rossen Reports: Top side hustles to earn extra cash (wtae.com)

This story was featured on my local news cast this morning.

[disneysteve]

I can't believe they put selling your old stuff last as that's probably the easiest of the things they listed. It's certainly a heck of lot easier than refinishing furniture or doing other people's laundry.

I also hate that they started the article by saying, "With inflation on the rise" when the exact opposite is true. Inflation is down very sharply. Maybe if they had published this a year or two ago but certainly not today.

[ua_guy]

I can't believe they put selling your old stuff last as that's probably the easiest of the things they listed. It's certainly a heck of lot easier than refinishing furniture or doing other people's laundry.

I also hate that they started the article by saying, "With inflation on the rise" when the exact opposite is true. Inflation is down very sharply. Maybe if they had published this a year or two ago but certainly not today.

While not technically correct, inflation has basically leveled out, it does speak to the fact that a lot of people are dealing with higher prices post-inflation and wages may not have caught up.

I don't really subscribe to the idea of taking on a second job/ side-hustle just to be able to afford things. As a hobby or just to accelerate savings, sure.. To me, feeling like I can't afford to live, that's impetus to pivot and re-tool, find an in-demand position that commands more money. Not take a second job and continue to sell skill at a loss.

[disneysteve]

I don't really subscribe to the idea of taking on a second job/ side-hustle just to be able to afford things. As a hobby or just to accelerate savings, sure.. To me, feeling like I can't afford to live, that's impetus to pivot and re-tool, find an in-demand position that commands more money. Not take a second job and continue to sell skill at a loss.

Yes and no. I think it really depends on the person and the situation. Not everyone is in a situation where they can just pick up and get a new job and boost their income significantly. It's great if you can but it's not always so easy to do. I think adding a side gig is a great option. I also know quite a few people who ended up turning their side gig into their full time job after they got it up and running. Plenty of people in my reselling community have done that, for example.

Just as an example of what's possible, I went from grossing 13K reselling all of last year to grossing over 13K just since July 1, 2024 and that's just doing this on the side. If I decided to work at it full time, I'm quite positive I could double or triple that without much difficulty and be grossing 100-150K. If I was looking to boost my income and maybe even leave my "normal" job entirely, this side gig could easily become a lucrative replacement. So I'm totally okay with someone starting a side gig to help pay the bills if things are tight or if they're looking for a change.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Yes and no. I think it really depends on the person and the situation. Not everyone is in a situation where they can just pick up and get a new job and boost their income significantly. It's great if you can but it's not always so easy to do. I think adding a side gig is a great option. I also know quite a few people who ended up turning their side gig into their full time job after they got it up and running. Plenty of people in my reselling community have done that, for example.

Just as an example of what's possible, I went from grossing 13K reselling all of last year to grossing over 13K just since July 1, 2024 and that's just doing this on the side. If I decided to work at it full time, I'm quite positive I could double or triple that without much difficulty and be grossing 100-150K. If I was looking to boost my income and maybe even leave my "normal" job entirely, this side gig could easily become a lucrative replacement. So I'm totally okay with someone starting a side gig to help pay the bills if things are tight or if they're looking for a change.

A lot of people also fall into businesses as a hobby and then it turns out more lucrative than you thought. I'm looking at you mrs field's cookies. Just heard a podcast about how it all started. just a thought that some of these small ideas went big.

[ua_guy]

Not wrong, side hustle as a hobby, great things can come of that. What I'm saying is when a side hustle is required to afford food OR gas, basic living expenses. Maybe focus on the primary hustle. I don't subscribe to this idea of normalizing working 100% of the time. Most of us work to live, not live to work.

[Fishindude77]

I think everyone ought to have more than one source of income. Things change, jobs disappear, companies close up of lay off, etc.
Having a decent side hustle, and more importantly knowing how to make money on your own without and employer might be the difference maker in avoiding a serious financial disaster some say.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Not wrong, side hustle as a hobby, great things can come of that. What I'm saying is when a side hustle is required to afford food OR gas, basic living expenses. Maybe focus on the primary hustle. I don't subscribe to this idea of normalizing working 100% of the time. Most of us work to live, not live to work.

agreed its the idea you can't make a living with what you do where you live. Then it's time to consider moving. I dont' think two jobns is the answer

[disneysteve]

What I'm saying is when a side hustle is required to afford food OR gas, basic living expenses. Maybe focus on the primary hustle. I don't subscribe to this idea of normalizing working 100% of the time. Most of us work to live, not live to work.

I think that's generally true of the middle and upper class, but much harder for the lower class. Their upward mobility is often hampered by any number of personal, social, and systemic issues. Something as basic as having dependable transportation can greatly limit their ability to find better work. If it isn't along a bus route convenient to their home, it doesn't matter how much better the job is if they can't get to it. But if they can come up with something they can do on their own - a hobby or craft they can monetize, for example - that they can use to generate additional income with minimal barriers that can make a huge difference in their lives. Even an extra $50 or $100/month can be life-altering. Maybe they work at a restaurant in the same strip mall as a thrift shop. After work, before hopping on the bus, they visit the shop and pick up an item or two to resell online. Or maybe they watch a friend's child at home while the friend works night shift. They're already caring for their own kids. One more is no big deal but brings in some extra cash. I'm all in favor of them getting creative to make ends meet.

[ua_guy]

I think that's generally true of the middle and upper class, but much harder for the lower class. Their upward mobility is often hampered by any number of personal, social, and systemic issues. Something as basic as having dependable transportation can greatly limit their ability to find better work. If it isn't along a bus route convenient to their home, it doesn't matter how much better the job is if they can't get to it. But if they can come up with something they can do on their own - a hobby or craft they can monetize, for example - that they can use to generate additional income with minimal barriers that can make a huge difference in their lives. Even an extra $50 or $100/month can be life-altering. Maybe they work at a restaurant in the same strip mall as a thrift shop. After work, before hopping on the bus, they visit the shop and pick up an item or two to resell online. Or maybe they watch a friend's child at home while the friend works night shift. They're already caring for their own kids. One more is no big deal but brings in some extra cash. I'm all in favor of them getting creative to make ends meet.

In the context of the truly poor and vulnerable, I agree.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I think that's generally true of the middle and upper class, but much harder for the lower class. Their upward mobility is often hampered by any number of personal, social, and systemic issues. Something as basic as having dependable transportation can greatly limit their ability to find better work. If it isn't along a bus route convenient to their home, it doesn't matter how much better the job is if they can't get to it. But if they can come up with something they can do on their own - a hobby or craft they can monetize, for example - that they can use to generate additional income with minimal barriers that can make a huge difference in their lives. Even an extra $50 or $100/month can be life-altering. Maybe they work at a restaurant in the same strip mall as a thrift shop. After work, before hopping on the bus, they visit the shop and pick up an item or two to resell online. Or maybe they watch a friend's child at home while the friend works night shift. They're already caring for their own kids. One more is no big deal but brings in some extra cash. I'm all in favor of them getting creative to make ends meet.

transportation and child care is a big impediment to being able to work and earn more

[myrdale]

I also hate that they started the article by saying, "With inflation on the rise" when the exact opposite is true. Inflation is down very sharply. Maybe if they had published this a year or two ago but certainly not today.

The "rate" of inflation is down, but inflation as a whole is still up. Anything above 0% is on the rise. As a whole, things are more expensive today than they were last year.

[myrdale]

I don't really subscribe to the idea of taking on a second job/ side-hustle just to be able to afford things. As a hobby or just to accelerate savings, sure.. To me, feeling like I can't afford to live, that's impetus to pivot and re-tool, find an in-demand position that commands more money. Not take a second job and continue to sell skill at a loss.

I fully agree with this.

My typical work schedule is M-F 8-5. That leaves a few hours in the evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday I could be working a second / part time job. I don't see any practical reason to do it. Would it mean an extra $10k or more per year? Maybe. Would I rather be at home or with friends, or underground, absolutely.

If I were in serious debt it would be a completely different story. Working to live, and then not living takes the whole point out of working.

[disneysteve]

My typical work schedule is M-F 8-5. That leaves a few hours in the evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday I could be working a second / part time job. I don't see any practical reason to do it. Would it mean an extra $10k or more per year? Maybe. Would I rather be at home or with friends, or underground, absolutely.

Do you think the people working those 2nd jobs wouldn't also rather be with friends and family? They aren't doing it for the heck of it; they're doing it to survive. An extra 10K might not be an incentive to you but to someone making $13/hr that is life-altering.

[myrdale]

Do you think the people working those 2nd jobs wouldn't also rather be with friends and family? They aren't doing it for the heck of it; they're doing it to survive. An extra 10K might not be an incentive to you but to someone making $13/hr that is life-altering.

If they didn't want to work two jobs and spend time with their family instead, they would get a better paying 1st job, or they would cut back on their budget and work just the one. There is no slavery in this country any one of these hypothetical people can quit their job today and get a better paying job. If you're over 25 and are earning only minimum wage, you're not applying yourself.

How many of these hypothetical people also have cell phones, color TV, designer cloths, air conditioning, $40k cars, eat out daily, and any number of luxuries?

To UA_Guy's point, if you're having to work multiple jobs just to get by, then you should consider pivoting and working on your primary job. I missed his second post about working to live, but echoed it in my own comments.

The side hustle is great for people who have reached that inflection point where they realize they have to make a radical change to get out of debt, or save up a down payment for a house or the like, but doing this for just a roof and basic necessities you need to focus on your primary job first and foremost.