One of the issues young moms face is lack of cash flow. We’re typically not as advanced in our careers as our older counterparts, so our salaries are usually lower, yet we still need to pay for the same things moms in their 30s do: food, doctor visits, diapers, daycare, etc. Adding a baby to a budget can be a tricky thing, but adding a side hustle to your life might help stretch things out a bit.
This blog is my side hustle. In addition to starting a dialogue among all the young moms out there, I’m trying to make a little money that I will ultimately invest. (Don’t get me started on how worthless savings accounts are – especially the kind with no interest whatsoever…argh!) I don’t have the time (or energy) to get a regular second job.
So what is a side hustle? Basically, a side hustle should be something that you do part-time to help bring in extra cash. It can be a hidden talent that you have, or something that you secretly (or openly) desire to do full-time but are too timid to take that huge leap. For me, I enjoy writing and while I get to do a little bit of that at work, my ultimate goal is to create my own magazine. This blog gives me that creative outlet and in the long run will provide me with a nice stream of side income.
How do you get one? The great thing about side hustles is that you generally make them yourself. Here’s a set of steps to get started:
1) Analyze: What do I enjoy doing? Notice that the question isn’t “What are you good at?” By asking yourself what you enjoy doing, you’re probably going to come up with an answer that’s a lot more vague and can lead you down more avenues. For example, you might enjoying spending time doing your girlfriends’ makeup before you all go out. Why not create a website, print some flyers, and do makeup for high school girls before big dances and events?
2) Discover why you think you need a side hustle. If you’re thinking of getting a side hustle to save up for a big trip or a nice Gucci bag, you might be better off logging in a few extra hours at work. But, if your ultimate goal is to strengthen your financial standing, or pay for some big-ticket item (like a house or college savings plan) then a side hustle might be where you want to focus your energy.
3) Think about your current job and how you could do some freelancing in that field. Sites like freelanceswitch.com have great advice on freelancing and how to make extra money doing what you already do. Work in retail? Start an online shopping blog. Got a job as a secretary? Put those memo-proofing skills to work as a proofreader for college students.
Next: 5 Side Hustles That Can Make You Extra Cash Fast
i love money!!!!
So I’m surfing through your old post and saw this…LOVE IT. I actually want to start doing something on the side but work seems to be taking all my energy and time. I actually want my side gig to eventually be my main gig. I keep saying I need to take a mental health day to figure some things out and this is one of them.
Being in the IM field, there’s new how-to information products popping up all the time. There is so much variety, but still, most people end up being pulled in by the sales letter. What’s your advice against being overwhelmed by the manychoices?
Wanda, I know this might be a late response but something hit me when I read your reply. Yes, I’m now focusing on 1-3 review pages of mine. I used to build dozens of them with not so useful content. And yes, fear holds me for quite a long time but now I know I’m stronger than it. I finally forget the rest and take focus.
I’m very pleased to find this web site. I need to to thank you for your time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and I have you saved as a favorite to see new information in your web site.