Side Hustles 101

Has 2020 taught you that any job or business is prone to insecurity?

I NEVER thought that weddings would be regulated and shut down by a health department…but hey, welcome to 2020!

Forbes states that 40% of Americans cannot cover a $400 emergency expense based on their debt. This figure has made me even more passionate about side hustles, because often the cover emergency expenses!

Back when my photography biz was a side hustle, it covered a $1300 emergency expense (a dog surgery!) with a $1300 wedding payment that I received THE SAME WEEK. I’ll never get over that one!

Side hustles can cover more than emergency expenses; they can fund travel, juice your savings, pay off debt, or be your allowance money!

So, what is a side hustle? It’s a stream of income on the side of your main job or business. It’s often entrepreneurial in nature.

Should you start a side hustle? My default answer is always yes because I see how they have helped my family! But here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Would I benefit from an extra stream of income?

• Do I have a product or service my network wants to pay for?

• Am I bored?

• Do I want or need a creative outlet?

If any of those are yes, a side hustle could be a great option for you! Here are a few great options/ideas for side hustles that are easy and have a low-risk to start:

• Walk dogs with Wag
• Drive or deliver with Uber/Lyft/Doordash/Grubhub
• Become a personal shopper (great in Covid days since there are lines!)
• Partner with a company like Monat or Maskcara. I’ve been with Monat since February 2018 and it has helped my fam SO much!
• Provide a service like photography, calligraphy, or floral design
• Start an Etsy shop selling digital artwork, the blankets you knit, your calligraphy, or something else!
• Sell on Amazon (original work or used items) OR become an Amazon influencer.

Those are just scratching the surface, but they’re a start! There’s no real down side to a side hustle; they make you more diligent with your time, bring in income, and add options to your budget. If you’ve been debating whether you should, GO FOR IT! 🙂