Side hustle ideas, part 11

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!