It is time for another instalment of the awesome side hustle ideas series. Here is the link to part 2, part 3 part 4, part 5 part 6 part 7 part 8 , part 9 and part 10 as well if you missed them. And today I have got some more for you! If you want to share your unusual, weird, unheard of or well paying side hustle with my readers, please drop me a line at tdmpauline at gmail dot com, thank you!
The Most Joyful £40 I Ever Made
Side hustles are supposed to earn you a decent amount of cash – otherwise, what’s the point, right? You’re giving up your precious and limited free time for them – at least they should reward you well. Unless, of course, you’re doing it for love. You see, my most memorable side hustle, and the most joyful, also happens to be the lowest paid.
In 2006, having always loved singing and especially jazz, I attended a week long vocal jazz workshop as part of the Glasgow Jazz Festival. There, I learnt how to count in the band, work with musicians, put a set together and perform in front of an audience. I was hooked, and from there I started doing a song or two at open mic nights.
The turning point came after a year when I was invited to headline an evening at a jazz bar where I’d done a few open mic spots before. Two months to pull together a two hour set, from an existing repertoire of six songs. I said yes, of course, then worked like crazy to pull it off. The day of the gig I was so terrified I could hardly swallow. I considered calling it off, pleading a sore throat, but knew I couldn’t. People had booked babysitters to come and see me, for Goodness’ sake. Me!
My performance wasn’t the world’s greatest, but it was fine. I got an encore, I didn’t screw up, and most importantly I felt as if I was doing what I was born for.
The deal with payment for this gig was that it was based on what the bar took. A portion of money would be split equally between the band – there was a pianist, double bass play and drummer as well as myself. When we finished the set and sat down for a drink, the bar owner came up and handed me £40. I looked at it incredulously. £40 isn’t a lot of money, but all I could think was: Jeez, I get paid to do this? So amazing was the feeling I got singing on that stage that I’d have paid the bar three times that.
I’ve had other gigs since, all joyful, but none have equalled that euphoric feeling I got from my first solo set. Sometimes the very best side hustles aren’t the ones that earn you most cash, they’re the ones that stem from doing what you love.
– Ashley from Skint in the City
Playing fantasy sports
My side hustle is fantasy sports. I’m not even that big of a sports fan, but fantasy sports is more about understanding statistics than it is understanding sports. I got into fantasy baseball last year due to a friend at work and ended up winning 5 of the 6 leagues I was entered in for a profit of several hundred dollars. This year I found daily fantasy (if you’ve ever seen ads for Fanduel or Draftkings on TV, that’s what I play), which allows players to bet on daily outcomes rather than having to wait an entire season for their results.
Fantasy sports is sort of like poker. It’s a high-variance activity that has some risk, as you can make the “right” plays and still lose, but over time skilled players have a significant advantage. I’ve had losing weeks, but I have made money every month since I started back in May. My total profit for the year is a little over $20,000, and I’ve made more money each month than the month before. There are all types of games available, from big tournaments to “50/50s,” where the top half of the entrants double their money.
I’ve been looking for a side hustle for a while, but hadn’t really landed on one that felt like it was worth the time. Fantasy sports is a fun hobby that can also make a significant side income, and if you like either sports, statistics, or both, I’d encourage you to give it a try. If you’re interested in trying it out, you’ll need to be ready to do some research, and www.rotogrinders.com is a great place to start.
– Matt
Real estate investing
I’ve dipped my finger into a number of side hustles — from installing car audio to ripping out drywall — but the one I find myself coming back to time and again is real estate. Sure, investing in real estate requires a bigger up-front investment when it comes to both money and time than other side hustles, but once the returns start coming in, the pay I get ends up being pretty huge when you figure it on an hourly basis, considering it’s as close to passive income as you can get. And I’m always looking for the next great deal!
– Mario from Debt Blag
How do YOU hustle? Please get in touch and share your unusual side hustle! tdmpauline at gmail dot com. Thanks!
Great ideas. I’ve written freelance for years and it’s really helped me start my blogs. The Problogger job board is one of the best for finding writing jobs. I’ve rarely gotten anything from the mass market freelancer sites.
I like the idea of finding ways to do what you enjoy. I like talking to people and have worked in investment analysis for nearly a decade. I’ve made side money speaking to investing groups and at conferences.
If you’re talking about investing, peer loans is becoming a good area to make a little money. There are a few risks that are basically the same as any investment. Understand your tolerance for risk and that high-return loans are going to have higher default rates. The returns on different categories of risk, after default is taken out, seem to range between 5% and 10% with some opportunities for higher returns on a good strategy. You won’t get rich but it can be a decent income.
Joseph Hogue recently posted…How I Made $9,000 on Peer Lending
Thanks for a great peek into a joyful side hustle. I don’t think I’d ever be brave enough to try singing for money, but it would really be a dream come true. That’s an original idea for making a bit of extra cash. I think if I could do anything for money, my dream hustle would be testing coffee!
Janeen recently posted…Change the Culture: Helpful Tools
I would love to sing for money. I don’t think anyone would pay me for it..
Michelle recently posted…The One Shoe Traveler: Or The Case for the Emergency Travel Fund
I totally agree with doing something you love and not worrying about the money, if you can. Obviously for some money must take a high priority. I only pursue opportunities I am interested in and passionate about doing. I think that is what our souls crave.
LeisureFreak Tommy recently posted…Being Rationally Unreasonable
Hi Pauline,
I like the idea of finding ways to do what you enjoy. I like talking to people and have worked in investment analysis for nearly a decade. I’ve made side money speaking to investing groups and at conferences.
Waqas Ahmed recently posted…How to Make Money on Twitter for Free in Urdu
I love the first story – yes side hustling is about the money but if you love to do it too that’s important. It takes a lot of time and energy to have a side hustle. It takes dedication to spend your “free time” trying to make more money. If you can do something you love and make some money at it too that’s great!
Kayla @ Everything Finance recently posted…5 Reasons You’re Not Getting Promoted
I love reading side hustle stories! And glad I bumped into your blog. The joy of doing what you love no matter how little you get paid for it is truly an achievement– something that you will always looked back when things get a lot easier and extravagant. This is why most people who are thinking of diving into the world of freelancing try to test the water through micro jobs. Sure, they pay only a little– but when you sum it all up, it can gain them experiences, skills, and money.
Mai recently posted…5 Most Influential Men and What They Teach Us
Thanks Kayla, not the best money-maker really that singing gig but nothing has ever rivalled it for fun!
Skint in the City recently posted…Phone Overboard! An SOS for sinking (and costly) mobiles everywhere
Nice for sharing all this . I liked the post . Its very interesting .
I LOVE this blog post! What a great round up, thank you for this Pauline :]
What I’ve found to be an AMAZING side hustle is Brand Ambassador/Promo work.
It’s a very flexible, fun, and lucrative side hustle if you have a friendly and outgoing personality. Basically you represent your favorite brands at awesome events (e.g. handing out Red Bull or demoing new products at high foot traffic areas) and it pays $18-$45/hr depending on the event.
I created an entire resource website on how to succeed in this industry called “Brand Ambassador World”. It has everything from resume designs, to super helpful tips and tricks, to where to find promo gigs, to a comprehensive list of agencies, etc.
You can check it out at:
http://www.brandambassadorworld.com
I hope you all find it helpful and feel free to let me know if you have any questions at all!
Kenny Azama recently posted…How Being a Brand Ambassador Adds Years to Your Life