Some people make all the money they will ever need. Good for them! They worked hard for that success. The rest of us, however, work a job we love but don’t make as much money as we would like. The need for a side hustle could grow out of a goal, such as saving for a house or paying down debt, or it simply could be a way to create a little breathing room in a budget. For me? I’d have to pick all of the above. I’d like more room in the budget, and I’d like to accomplish my goals faster.
Almost every personal finance blogger out there that I know has a side hustle, and I figured it was time I joined in the fun. I already monetize my blog (I’m set to add an additional 4k to my salary my first year as a blogger!) Finding time to maintain and grow the blog has been the most difficult part, how do you people manage to work, side hustle, AND have time for a social life and family?
Oh you know me, just shaking and growing my money tree.
The opportunity for income growth outside of this site fell into my lap really. I was approached by a friend to do SEO for a design client since I’d been doing so much of it at my day job. It dawned on me in a beautiful instant-I have marketable skills other than my wit and charm!!
So from there my baby side hustle was born. I’ve updated Linkedin and put up a new Hire Me! page in the Navigation panel of this site. I now offer freelance content/writing services, as well as SEO optimization for small businesses and other bloggers. I also threw in blog monetization consulting ……AND can I tell you how excited I am about my first presentation this week? I have my power point ready to go and I can’t wait to spread the good word about financial preparedness to a group of graduating college seniors. I’m hoping to put together a slick presentation package and begin marketing myself as a speaker, if you think I’m love able online, wait till you meet me in person. (I kid, I kid) Seriously though, I already have two more potential engagements for 2013 already!
Of course, none of these things would be possible without networking as all these opportunities came my way via friends or a work/blog acquaintance….so the lesson here is to never underestimate the value of your network, even if you think you aren’t in an industry or career where it might matter.
So what about you? Do you have a side hustle? If not, are you hoping to start one soon?
Hi, my name is Lauren but I'm known to those nearest and dearest as L. Bee. After twenty-five years on the planet I have worked in a lot of industries, moved to many different cities, and made almost every money mistake you can make.Join me on my journey as I navigate my twenties and try not to pick my "money tree" bare.
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I definitely have side hustles! And I’m about to add something else that will be a lot of fun for me
Michelle recently posted..$823 in Extra Income and Life Updates
I have one side hustle, but I am finding it hard to keep up. With the baby and crazy work schedule, I am just tapped out. I have many ideas, but little time to work on them.
Grayson @ Debt Roundup recently posted..Want to Save Money? Here Are 13 Ways!
The speaker series as a side hustle is a great one! I am on the board of an industry networking group and we are always looking for speakers. If you really want to pursue that, check out meetup and brainstorm all of the industry groups you can think of that might be relevant. For example, a friend in Toronto runs a group called “Professional Young Women of Toronto” …voila, potential client for you! The best part about presenting at groups like that is the members are likely to be involved in other similar things through work or their past times, so it may translate into further gigs.
Best of luck!
Anne @ Unique Gifter recently posted..Gazelle Carcass! A Gift Idea for Men
Congrats! My main side hustles right now are blog monetization and staff writing, I should make about $5000 this year off of it. The rest of my spare time I put into doing free marketing for my fiance’s start up business. While that might not qualify as a side hustle, hopefully it’ll still result in a financial return on my time investment.
Congrats on the speaking engagements! I have no interest in public speaking, but I definitely think you’d be perfect for it.
Jordann @ My Alternate Life recently posted..Weekend Personal Life Update
My main side hustle is selling items on eBay! I had no idea how exciting it could be. Not only am I cleaning out my house and paying off my debt, I am also selling items for friends and making a percentage of the sell! It seems to be a way to make a little extra without requiring too much extra time.
Loved your post! Thanks for the idea about putting the Hire Me page on Linkedin. I’m going to take a stab at that!
-Chelsea
I definitely have a side hustle mostly for the few reason you listed but also because I have always wanted to start my own business. It has taken a lot of time but is totally worth it in my eyes. Good luck in your new adventures!
Lance @ Money Life and More recently posted..Debt Pay Off Update – February 2013
Congrats on the growing side hustle! Seems like you got a lot of different ways to earn extra money!
The Norwegian Girl recently posted..Cream Puffs “Norwegian Style”
Yep, mainly drawing on the skills I use as part of my job – ghost blogging, copywriting, creative and SEO writing. Blog monetisation is also growing, hopefully that will continue!
eemusings recently posted..Relationship dealbreakers, financial or otherwise
Good for you Lauren! Pumped for you
I’m looking to get (more) into freelancing but nothing as of yet. I’d love to make $6000 more/year. Trying blog monitizing but its SLOW and infrequent. You’re going to kill it!
Catherine recently posted..How Much I Would Make As a Stay-At-Home Momma
I don’t. I maintain a blog because I like to have a “face” in the blogging community, not because I want it to be a full-time gig or let me retire at 30 or anything like that. If anything, I am more interested in the skills from blogging that will help me at my full-time career. I do enjoy writing and research, and (after school) I will probably be very interested in freelancing projects that more academic/research-heavy than SEO/marketing.
Sara recently posted..Flats season!
You can make good money from speaking engagements. I suck at it or maybe I would be giving optometry talks around the country. I’ll have to settle for the little blog. My goal is to hit $5K this year. We’ll see.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..Does Being Rude Get You Further in Life?
yay for side hustle! Right my my side hustles are freelance writing, which I love and hope do do more of, and babysitting/pet sitting.
KK @ Student Debt Survivor recently posted..My Secret For Paying off $30K in Student Loan Debt
I’m all about the side hustle! I’m just looking forward to finding one that doesn’t involve working retail at the mall. Always ended up shopping instead of using that money to pay off debt. Am working on the concept as we speak…
Congrats on the new side gigs! Speaking can be a great way to make some decent money in the long run. In addition to the blog I’ve also started doing some freelance writing and am looking to add some SEO services to some local businesses in order to further expand our business.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..You Bought That at Walmart?!
I’m always on with some kind of side hustle Lauren, though it is difficult to keep up the pace with a family to think about. In some ways though my family’s well being is the reason I do it. I make sure I give them as much time as possible and the extra money from the blog and my other ventures looks after them financially in an otherwise tough economy.
Money Bulldog recently posted..Is There Still A Demand For Discs?
That’s so incredibly cool. I wish you the best of luck in your side hustling. I’ve been approached by a real estate office to sell home owner’s insurance on the weekends. I’m in the financial sector already, albeit information systems in FIs. I’ve been gun shy about it though because I’m also thinking about going back to school and getting my MBA. BAH decisions.
Congrats on your new opportunities. I can definitely see you being a fun speaker. Public speaking is something I do frequently, although not as a paid speaker at this point, but as an opportunity to get referrals, etc. Keep us posted!
Shannon @ The Heavy Purse recently posted..Children and Money: Don’t Turn It into a Taboo Topic
I’m all about the side hustle–I’m pretty much making a living from mine at this point!
The Happy Homeowner recently posted..Are You a Slave to Money?
I love your blog! I don’t have a side hustle and I’m po’, but it makes me THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS
My side hustle is the design of wordpress widgets and blogs. I’m getting better at SEO now and will hopefully add that to the mix. Congrats in advance on the speaking gigs though
Justin McClelland recently posted..6 sneaky ways to work your side-hustle at work, without getting fired
That’s so exciting! Congrats on the new opportunities! It’s so great to be able to parley one adventure into another for monetary success!
The College Investor recently posted..5 Trading Mistakes That Make You Feel Dumb
Great job, Lauren! I’m new at this online income thing, but yes, a side hustle is definitely a goal for 2013.
Laurie @thefrugalfarmer recently posted..“Ya See, That’s What I Wanna Talk to You About”
I monetize my blog, staff write and I also manage content for another blog. My husband works 24-hour shifts so I tend to work nights on the ones he works too. We don’t have kids yet, and my friends and I only get together about once every two weeks or so. With graduate school starting soon though, I know my life is going to be much more crazy…I don’t know how I’ll manage yet.
That’s awesome! Congrats on the side hustles. I work as a brand ambassador, petsitter, and do various tasks on Craigslist and TaskRabbitt. I hope to work more on my blog and I would love to write and do more research as a side hustle!
Do or Debt recently posted..Home is not a place but a feeling of belonging
Starting new side hustles is always exciting! I have a few that I’ve dabbled in, but I think that there’s one which is getting much more serious. It’s a bit stressful, but in that good way when uncertainty can lead to amazing things.
Good luck on your presentation!
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