New user? Join now and get $2 starter gift!
New user? Join now and get $2 starter gift!
Have you ever felt the need for more income, yet don’t know what to do? Do you feel like life is boring and you want to create or explore something new?
This guide introduces you to what is a side hustle and how it works. Having the right gig that fits your lifestyle, passion, and goals may be the best thing that you can have right here, right now.
A side hustle is a paid activity for work done outside one’s full-time job. It helps generate more income that will support specific goals.
It is also used to support a family’s lifestyle, given the rising costs of living expenses like bills, food, and transportation.
Having a side hustle may give you the autonomy and flexibility to work on your own, anywhere and anytime you see fit.
It could be done right after your day job or just a few hours during weekends. It’s up to you to decide on the terms of business you would like to have or the content you will offer.
Thanks to the digital availability we have today, starting a side hustle has never been easier.
While there are several jobs you can do on the side, it is important to note that side hustles fall into categories, and not just specific jobs.
It is essential to know how much time and effort you are willing to give. This helps you better manage your responsibilities.
Jobs under this category require consistent time and effort to earn. You get paid for the work you do; hence, if you stop working, there will be no income either. Some of the go-to jobs included here are the following:
Best for: People who enjoy hands-on work and those who prefer flexible schedules after a day job. You get to have more work and earn extra money. Plus, you can manage your time with your family or friends as much as you need.
These are jobs that need time to create but don’t require daily effort to keep the business running.
Starting one may need upfront effort, but don’t worry. It won’t take too much time in the long run, as your previous content or products may continuously generate income.
Also, being responsible for maintenance or taking inventory can be done periodically. One example is:
Best for: People who can invest time and energy upfront and want to continuously earn with moderate effort.
Minimal effort, yet steady income? It is possible with passive-leaning side hustles. These could be businesses or investments that should be well-established, and in turn, will automatically generate income.
Still thinking about it? Check out this example below:
Nowadays, gadgets like cellphones and cameras can be rented too. For instance, a good number of concert-goers or tourists need high-quality cameras to take photos.
There are also much simpler ways to earn money online effortlessly without taking too much of your time. Take, for example, bandwidth-sharing apps like Honeygain.
Honeygain lets you earn just by sharing unused bandwidth. This may generate low income, but all opportunities for added earnings are very much welcome.
Best for: This is for people who prefer long-term, low-maintenance sources of income. However, you need to be patient as it may take time before you can see returns from your initial investments.
When people start looking for additional work and income, a great number often get confused with its similarities and differences among full-time and part-time jobs, freelancing, and passive income.
Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at this quick guide we prepared for you.
| Category | Type of work | Flexibility | Time commitment | Income stability |
| Side hustle | Extra work done outside one’s full day job | High | Done on spare time | Can vary per month |
| Traditional job | Primary day job | Low | 35-40+ hours/week | Fixed with other benefits |
| Freelancing | Project/Client-based | High | Done on chosen time | Can vary per project/client |
| Part-time work | Hourly or shift-based employment | Low to moderate | 10-30 hours/week | Steady but lower income |
| Passive income | Automated income streams | Very high | Upfront effort needed | Low at first, potentially high over time |
To help you decide if you will take the next step of having a side hustle, let’s walk through its pros and cons.
If you think that the pros of starting a side hustle outweigh the cons, you can now determine which side hustle best fits you.
Below is a self-evaluation tool that you can use to figure out the one that best suits your lifestyle.
| Question | Yes | No |
| Do I have at least 5-10 hours a week I can allot for more work? | ||
| Can I work evenings, weekends, or early morning? | ||
| Do I still have energy and motivation after a day job? | ||
| Do I prefer a flexible schedule than a fixed one? | ||
| Do I prefer working with people (selling, tutoring, child care)? | ||
| Do I prefer working alone or behind the screen (writing, coding)? | ||
| Do I have hobbies that could generate income (baking, drawing)? | ||
| Am I open to learning new skills to start a side hustle? | ||
| Do I have money I can invest in tools or setup costs? | ||
| Am I okay with little or no income while I build my side hustle? |
Do you have time to get into active side hustles? Or perhaps, a passive side hustle best suits your already-busy schedule?
It is also advisable to do some research where you could possibly find unique side hustles that might be unfamiliar, but are actually game-changers in providing financial stability.
Finally, there are also a number of secret websites to make money from. You can share these with your loved ones as well.
There’s no need to gatekeep information when today’s digital time makes it easy for everyone to earn money online.
Starting something new may feel overwhelming, especially if it’s a job that you need to excel in. Success is never guaranteed, but you’ll never know unless you try. So, if you feel ready to start, remember these:
