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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what is your 'side hustle' and how much do you earn?

349 replies

MisterMakerMakes · 12/12/2020 22:03

I need to preface this with apologising for using the term 'side hustle'. I know it is hated by many Grin

I work part time but over the years I have supplemented my income with various side hustles. Cleaning, buying and selling, cake decorating, etc. Now I tutor and earn about 350 a month extra.

What is your side hustle if you have one and how much do you earn each month from it?

OP posts:
sallievp · 13/12/2020 08:16

Matched betting. Made around 9k in 15 months would recommend it to anyone.

Adelais · 13/12/2020 08:23

I do web content moderating and earn about £200 a month. I could earn more but I don’t have the time.
I used to do matched betting and how do the odd casino offer.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 13/12/2020 08:35

To me the term 'side hustle' implies something dishonourable, barely legal, maybe even downright illegal or fraudulent.

If that is the sort of opportunity you are seeking there are some MLM and Ponzi-type scams out there which may appeal.

Then again the word may have evolved since Clement Attlee's day...Grin

Italianmoma1983 · 13/12/2020 08:39

Interesting !

RaspberryCoulis · 13/12/2020 08:46

My side-hustle has progressed into a full hustle. When my kids were small I started doing a bit of writing, and work for a question and answer text message service. Then as the kids got older and went to school I had more time and took on more work... here we are 12 or 13 years later and I can't really imagine having a "proper job" ever again. Since April I've earned around £2k a month, for around 20 hours a week absolute maximum.

But as with any job it's all about reputation and it takes a while to build yourself up to that level.

YardleyX · 13/12/2020 08:49

I used to work for AQA - the question and answer service. Before the days of smartphones!

Can’t imagine what that has evolved into since then? Or is if your writing that’s evolved?

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 13/12/2020 08:56

I've always found anything I can do on the side just makes so little in terms of an hourly rate relative to my main job that I can't be bothered with it.

A lot of people underestimate how much time they are putting in across the board on a side hustle and overestimate how lucrative it actually is.

RaspberryCoulis · 13/12/2020 08:56

@YardleyX

I used to work for AQA - the question and answer service. Before the days of smartphones!

Can’t imagine what that has evolved into since then? Or is if your writing that’s evolved?

That's the one! I don't work for them any more but spent a lot of time back in the day answering questions about train times and who had gone out on the X-Factor.

I could see the way things were going with tech and saw it was a shrinking market, I also wasn't comfortable with a lot of their policies such as not blocking people who were clearly mentally ill and spending £1.50 a pop on a text, and pitching the service to teenagers with the "Does Jason fancy me" type of questions. So while I was still working for them I started on sites like People Per Hour and Upwork, a few tiny projects here and there, then over time AQA got less and less and the writing got more and more. Is AQA still going?

There then came a point where I hadn't logged into AQA for months and I just asked them to cancel my account. I'm not logging into the freelancing sites much any more either, I have three or four customers who come to me regularly and I don't pitch for new work any more.

RaspberryCoulis · 13/12/2020 08:57

Just googled - AQA is still going. £3 a text Shock When I was doing it, it was 50p.

HedgieHog · 13/12/2020 09:10

Wow £1k from TopCashback! I make £200 a year, clearly doing something wrong!
I’ll hustle now and share my refer a friend link, we both earn extra once you’ve saved with them! www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/gingerprincess

I’m interested in the match betting, I know a lad who did it. If I can make a couple of grand I’d be happy

Bupkiss · 13/12/2020 09:17

I've always found anything I can do on the side just makes so little in terms of an hourly rate relative to my main job that I can't be bothered with it.

Exactly. Nine times out of ten it's more lucrative (and easier) to have a job - just one - and not try to monetise your precious leisure hours.

Sobeyondthehills · 13/12/2020 09:27

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

To me the term 'side hustle' implies something dishonourable, barely legal, maybe even downright illegal or fraudulent.

If that is the sort of opportunity you are seeking there are some MLM and Ponzi-type scams out there which may appeal.

Then again the word may have evolved since Clement Attlee's day...Grin

I got my arse handed to me on here by using the term cash in hand which to some Mnetters means you are cheating the system, to me, its just cash in your hand and the phrase they means was under the table, backhanded type thing

What fun we had

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 13/12/2020 09:28

Bupkiss MLM and the like tend to really play on the fact that people misunderstand the difference between revenue and profit. Eg a lot of people who make cakes on the side will say they "make" a few hundred a month selling 5 or 6 cakes, but they aren't factoring in all their costs (including ingredients, baking equipment, extra electricity or gas on your oven) and actually their hourly rate on their own time to make the cakes is often well below minimum wage.

Trinacham · 13/12/2020 09:31

I did matched betting for a month or two but didn't get into it properly before I lost interest. I think if I had more spare time I could get into it again. I did enjoy seeing the profits. Other than that I only do online surveys/studies, which makes me only around £25-£50 each month. I work full time and earn an extra £400 in overtime every month so don't have much extra time to spare earning in other ways

rainbowstardrops · 13/12/2020 09:38

I'd like to earn a bit extra but I can't think of anything I'm particularly good at!

Does filling out surveys or entering competitions actually make any money?

dancinfeet · 13/12/2020 09:50

I make and sell little handmade products, jewellery and the like. Make anywhere between £50 and £500 a month depending on the time of year, and the demand for the type of gift. It's a little hobby, I enjoy it more than anything I have learnt new crafting skills and it sometimes makes me a bit of extra cash to tide me over as a bonus

Trinacham · 13/12/2020 09:55

@rainbowstardrops

I'd like to earn a bit extra but I can't think of anything I'm particularly good at!

Does filling out surveys or entering competitions actually make any money?

I only use one survey/study site and don't devote that much time to it but earn around £50 most months. I only use this one site as it is the only one I've found that offers good payment for studies that are actually enjoyable to do!
Disfordarkchocolate · 13/12/2020 09:56

I had to stop full-time work due to mental health issues. No I only do ad-hoc and sessional work, mostly related to health care but not all. For example, for the last couple of weeks I've been assessing research applications and being part of interview panels. After Christmas I'll be starting to paid roles in a similar area but each will only be 10 or so days a year.

Disfordarkchocolate · 13/12/2020 09:56

No = now.

OneWildNightWithJBJ · 13/12/2020 10:24

I forgot to add Zazzle and RedBubble to my list! Not making huge amounts yet as I’m mostly concentrating on KDP, but I’ve realised passive income is the way to go. Etsy etc just took far too much of my time.

@rainbowstardrops I use Prolific Academic for surveys. They pay quite well and a lot of the surveys are fairly interesting. You can cash out after £5.

And yes, been completing tax returns for 12 years...

Trinacham · 13/12/2020 10:28

Prolific academic is the only site I use too! In the past 4 years I've earned over £1000 and I enjoy the studies. They are usually fun and interesting, I've had a few that are involve playing games.

SlopesOff · 13/12/2020 10:30

@AddisonM

I really wanted to start a kids’ pjs business on the side but I have absolutely NO idea where to start or how to do that. I’m not asking for anyone’s trade secrets but how can I find this out!?
Depends on what you mean - buy and sell on, make them?

Google is the best place to start. If you don't know how to research for what you want to do it doesn't seem as if you would be very successful at what you want to do if you ever get started.

NeedToKnow101 · 13/12/2020 10:32

@ArosGartref

Checking DH's pockets before they go in the wash. Averaging about £4.30 a month.
😂😂
balloonie · 13/12/2020 10:35

I have a balloon decorating side hustle, fairly lucrative but takes up so much time and a lot of late nights!

Ginsodden · 13/12/2020 10:35

I’m a balloon artist on the side. Usually do a few parties a week (£100 - £250 per party) but COVID has stopped that. I’ve been making big woven ballon numbers for collection which is going ok. £25 per number. I do it in front of the tv :)

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