I’ve always had an intense obsession for being independent and self reliable. I held my first job in high school while still heavily active in clubs and sports. It was never something my parents expected of me, they were more interested in me living my life, without much responsibility and focused on higher education and career planning.
In college, it was no different. I learned early on that my standards would need supporting and instead of waiting for someone else to meet those or asking for a hand out, I figured out a way to make it work myself. Managing to hold about 2-3 part time/side hustles throughout college, graduate school and even after landing my first corporate position, there was a sense of self pride knowing I could hold my own and with the savings I’d accumulated, didn’t have to rely on anyone to bail me out of a financial strain or burden others at least for some time since I’d managed to build an emergency fund appropriately and relative to my expenses.
Now that I am well into my career, I still value having part time work that can further support the life I choose to live outside of what I bring in from my day job. Honestly, in today’s climate, its almost necessary for everyone to have multiple income streams outside of a 9-5, no matter what generation you fall in or how many people you have to contribute to the household income. It may not necessarily be for supplemental income purposes but a sense of security in a world of uncertainty. It could be to stack for a rainy day and fatten up an emergency fund in the event the inevitable happens or mainly to be able to take that dream family vacation or retire early because honestly the goal should be to live your life not work it away. Whatever it is, its become more common for both individuals and families to consider.
Not only is a side hustle a great way to financially support yourself through tough times, but a side hustle can also be a great way to close the gap between jobs. That way, when a recruiter or hiring manager is going through finding candidates and comes across your resume, it doesn’t appear to them that you’ve been idle. If you find yourself unemployed, you can lean on your side hustle to help you grow professionally while still whiles still financially comfortable. Either by helping you network to find other opportunities or just staying sharp for when the call for work finally comes through.
Some people are hesitant to be associated with more work than just their day job, thinking of the judgements that may be passed and questions regarding their actual pay. However, I view side hustles as a way to invest in yourself and overtime being beneficial to the overall life you desire. You don’t necessarily have to reinvent the wheel or invest your life’s savings, you just need to find something that will work for you and most importantly can enjoy.
Are you looking for a side hustle that can support your lifestyle? Here’s are 12 of the most popular Side Hustles to consider.
Freelance
There are lots of freelancing sites that allow creatives and professionals the ability to utilize their skills outside of their professional jobs. You can easily expand on offering your creative gifts by listing services on some of the more popular sites like Fiverr or Upwork. Upwork is best for Writers, Mobile and Web App Developers, Customer Service and Sales Agents. The platform allows you to build long term relationships with clients for the purpose of return work. They ensure a professional experience. Fiverr on the other hand allows freelancers to set their own fees for their services and advertise. When a buyer/client needs a service, they can sort through the website by service type and pay range and place an order. I have personally used Fiverr and have only had nothing but great experiences.
Create Online Courses
E-courses and E-books are becoming more popular. If you consider yourself to be an expert on a particular topic, you can make extra money by selling what you know in an online e-course. They are a great passive source of income since they don’t require your presence or attention when someone makes a purchase. You can pre-record the class or subject and have the digital product delivered for use at the discretion of the customer. Whenever they may choose to use it and no appointments needed.
Sell Products on Etsy
If you create jewelry, paint, make leather goods, or build furniture in your spare time but would like to offer as purchase to the public, Etsy is great platform to utilize especially if you’re not interestined in running and marketing a full website. You can also use Etsy as a marketing tool to drive new customers to your personal marketplace if you do have a website.
Real Estate
Real Estate is not an overnight success story and may not put much money in your pockets as fast as you may hope, but it is a fool proof and can be a very profitable investment path. Its not anything new that renting is sometimes more appealing and appropriate than owning for some, but space, location and convenience is a lifestyle most people crave. If you’re aggressive and dedicated you can easily have a few properties that would pay for not only themselves through rental contracts, but also your own home.
Blog/Affiliate Marketing
Blogging is not a new discovery but over the years, personal bloggers have been able to create an industry offering personal branding through affiliate marketing. I started a blog myself like others, to connect with women and share similar interests, new discoveries and sometimes personal stories. Bloggers now have transformed their personal platforms into marketing tools for big brands they trust and now, who pay them to share content specifically on the products used or new products they are willing to use. The blogging community has grown into a Billion Dollar industry, so if you consider yourself good at writing and can dedicate time to learn how to market your content in a way to drive sales, I highly encourage you to consider it. Its all about personal branding.
Create a Digital Product
Not every one has the time to spend hours researching the internet. Thats where you come in. People will purchase the step by step instructions if it means they’ll arrive at the finished product quicker, less stressed with doing the least amount of work possible. Creating a digital product that can be made for purchase to those in search of learning a new skill can add a little extra cash to your pockets. If you’re experienced in blogging for example, you can create a guide or workbook to explain the process on how to get started and best practices.
Drop Shipping
Anything that can almost sell itself and not require full attention is right up my alley. With drop shipping, you can creating and design products but allow the order fulfillment process to be done by someone else, typically the manufacture. This allows you to set up your own storefront and process sales, without ever touching the actual product; truly passive. Instead, the items are shipped directly to the customer from the manufacturer or wholesaler.
Consulting/Coaching
Consulting and coaching can be a service provided to anyone or any business, in any industry. If you’re knowledgable, able and willing, you can turn your years of experience(s) into a service that helps entrepreneurs or businesses who may be struggling to scale. This is yet another example of how personal branding pays.