What do you think of when you hear the term "Side Hustle?" Do you think of someone tirelessly working a second, part-time job? Maybe you think of some woman on social media, randomly messaging people to buy their products or join their team. And, the latter actually used to be, and unfortunately sometimes still can be, true. But now, side hustling is no longer a fringe idea you read about online — real people, probably several people you know, are actually side hustling to increase their income.
For anyone who hasn’t started a side hustle, there are lots of questions about what exactly a Side Hustle is, how you find one, and how you manage to fit them into your schedule. Those are all valid questions, but I fear that a lot of people spend too much time asking questions and not enough time getting to work, especially if they want to pay off debt or start investing.
f you’re here, you’re at least interested in starting a Side Hustle. You just need a little more motivation, and that’s precisely what I’m about to give you.
Let's take a moment to think about what your financial goals are. Do you want to pay off your student loan debt? Pay off your credit card debt? Maybe you're like me, and want to start maxing out your yearly IRA contributions. Those are fantastic goals, but here’s the problem — you only have so much money to go around. I make a pretty good income, but even with my salary, it could literally take me decades to meet all those goals.
If you picked just one of the dozens of side hustle ideas out there, you could start earning $500, $1,000, $2,000, or more every month. That money will expedite your debt pay off, your retirement contributions, and more. I’ve also heard many personal finance enthusiasts say that you need to “do what the numbers tell you to do” when you’re trying to decide between paying off your debt or investing. While I’m a huge fan of paying off my student loans and high-interest rate debt as fast as possible, I agree with that argument to a certain degree. I don't know about you, but I don't think anyone took into consideration with the numbers approach is the mental effect of having tens of thousands of dollars that you owe to someone else hanging over your head like a dark cloud. '
Debt sucks....Period. It’s more than a number; it’s a feeling. Side Hustles can get rid of that stress and anxiety caused by debt. You save money on interest charges, and you might be able to throw some cash into an emergency fund to prevent future debt. And going back to the numbers, (because hey, I'm in Accounting & Payroll and numbers are my jam) more money means you can start investing that much sooner.
Make more money. It’s really that simple.
One of the biggest objections I hear from people have about starting a side hustle is, "I'm too busy. I don't have time" I get it. You work all day, make dinner when you get home, there’s laundry, the kids have homework and bath and need attention, you’ve got to make lunches for the next day... WHEW! And maybe you don’t have enough time — those cases are legitimate. But, I’d argue that in most cases that’s not the norm.
Here’s why I think you might have more time than you think: the average person spends, on average, almost TWO hours EVERY SINGE DAY on social media. That’s Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, etc. Trust me, I do it too.
What if you tried to cut one hour of your social media time and put it towards a Side Hustle? That’s just one hour a day.
And yes, there are side hustle ideas that you can earn decent money through working only one hour a day. Trust me; I do it every day.
If you worked a Side Hustle five days a week for one hour a day, that’s an extra $280 to $440 a month. Just think what you could do in two hours?
One of the things I love about side hustles is that there is something for everyone. No matter what your education is, the field you work in, or interests, there is something for you.
The only skill all Side Hustles require is motivation. Once you’ve got your reason for side hustling — like paying off debt or retiring early — you can start making things happen. Let's use my Side Hustles for an example; the Health & Wellness industry. That sounds like a job that requires a degree or a background in nutrition or fitness. NOPE. I literally started my businesses with ZERO knowledge of fitness or nutrition or anything beyond what I already knew. Any Side Hustle something you can learn how to do from the comfort of your own home, on your own time, and make an extra $1,000 to $2,000+ every month. All the training and tools are provided for you.
There is literally something out there for everyone.
If you haven’t noticed, the Side Hustle is the way of the future. And if you need proof of that, check out these statistics found in the 2019 Freelancing in America Study study done by Upwork:
57% of companies are outsourcing freelance work to side hustlers to save money. Numbers like these are why I’m so focused on starting multiple Side Hustles and helping people find online side hustles. The internet is where we learn, play, and work. The earlier you get on board, the easier it will be to learn new technology and platforms that many online side hustlers use regularly.
Here’s the harsh reality: when you have one job or one income stream, your finances are at a higher risk if something happens to that job. What if your company decided to downsize and your job was on the line? Having a side hustle can keep you afloat while you look for more work. You’re less likely to rely on credit cards or dip into your retirement savings if you have extra money coming in.
Also, several side hustle ideas can bring in passive income, where you aren’t trading time for money. Just think, you could build a residual income now to bring in more income, you would then be prepared if something happened to your traditional 9-5 job. The internet has made it easier for companies to spend less money on traditional employees. In today's economy, having that Side Hustle income can alleviate your anxiety if you lose your 9-5 income.
When I started my Side Hustles, I never had any idea that they could become my full-time job. I’ve seen this same thing echoed by so many of my MLM friends. They all started because they were stay at home moms and wanted to be able to contribute to the monthly grocery bill or help make a car payment. Or, they felt something lacking in their life just being home all day, and wanted a little something to call their own. Or, they didn't want someone else raising their children, so found an income of their own without having to leave them. All of these women have now surpassed their 9-5 annual salaries and some have even joined their company's Millionaire's Club.
For most people who turn their Side Hustle into a full-time job they are switching to full-time self-employment, which include some of my favorite perks:
Of course, your income won't be steady in the beginning. But, this is one of the best reasons to start a side hustle now. Work your Side Hustle into the pockets of your day; breaks, lunch, evenings...and build demand and your client list while earning a steady income for your day job.
The point is, that the option is out there. And it’s not called a Side Hustle because it's easy — earning a full-time income from your side hustle takes work. If leaving your day job is your dream, then Side Hustles are one way to make it happen.
This is my absolute favorite reason. Why work to make someone else rich? Why not work to make yourself rich? Why work to make someone else's dreams come true? Why not work to make YOUR dreams come true? There is a lot of room in the online space for new Side Hustlers. Contrary to popular belief, NO market is saturated. People might be selling the same thing you are, but no one is selling like YOU do.
Those of us who have already started Side Hustles have already done the hardest parts of starting one — we took a leap, found a side hustle, and got to work. We have jump-started paying off our debt, saving for retirement, and diversifying our income.
Honestly, the hardest part is getting started. There are so many Side Hustle ideas out there, and all it takes is finding one that you’re interested in and that fits your situation.
Several years ago, Side Hustle was a word most people associated with your auntie selling Tupperware from her living room or your mom dragging you to Mary Kay parties.. From time to time, you would see it mentioned online, but maybe it never seemed like something you wanted to be a part of because, let's face it, selling sucks. Those are the "old days" of Side Hustles.
Side Hustling has now become the the norm because it’s a real solution to making your financial goals a reality. Starting a Side Hustle today is super easy and you are not required to sell anything. Side Hustles now work off attraction marketing, where people come to you, not the other way around. No cold calling, no creepy messaging, no bothering your friends and family. (unless you know of some friends and family that would LOVE your product, then sure...ask away!)
Don’t be the person that wished they started a side hustle last year. If you're on the fence, reach out to me. Let's talk.
xoxo Stasia ~
