What is your side hustle?

Lately I’ve been thinking about getting some extra income in order to pay off debt quicker. But I already work a pretty demanding job, so it would have to be something I could do when I wanted and wouldn’t be too intense. I’ve thought about delivering stuff. Anyone have any experience with the Roadie app? Would be kind of fun and relaxing to make runs of stuff in the truck.

But my ideal would be something like making runs up to Duluth, Mankato, etc to deliver something. With the labor shortage we have now, there has to be a need like this by companies. Delivering car parts, etc.

Any other suggestions? I don’t want to deal with any of the food delivery, Uber, etc. Has to be worth my time and money.

I used to remodel basements and kitchens and build decks on the side, now it has turned into my full time.

Ebay and Amazon selling when I have some free time to list stuff.

Had a buddy join a dog walking app and did ok.

My dad made custom wood fireplace hearths back in the day.

My side hustle became my job…

I fix up small engines. I try and find free or dirt cheap lawn mowers/ wood chippers/small outboards, ect. Most the time it boils down to a dirty clogged carb. I tune them up and sell them. Not really making much money doing it, but probably around $100-200 a job. End up giving more away to family and friends for free haha. It’s an excuse to tinker in the garage and I learn a lot tearing the stuff apart.

I dont make too much money off it but I woodwork and sell furniture that I make. I made a few grand this past year from but I mostly just enjoy being in the garage and making things.

My wife and I used to refinish antique furniture. Pretty fun finding solid but dated furniture at flea markets and garage sales, and fix it up throw some chalk paint on it and sell it. We even had space at an occasional shop in Buffalo, and made some decent money on it. That extra time is now taken up by the boys, and wouldn’t have it any other way!

Transporting sounds like a liability nightmare.

People below me at work are always talking about this side hustle stuff, and I always give the advice to give more effort at work and it’ll be much better return.
They think I’m crazy or “the man”.
Literally all I want is for one of them to step up, and get they’d get paid pretty quickly for their efforts.

But,
Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives.

I’m following my calling.

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Eelpoutguy wrote:

I’m following my calling.

Nice! Must have been a $5 box?! Those make me nervous. LOL Why isnt there a serial number on it?

queenswake wrote:

I’ve thought about delivering stuff. Anyone have any experience with the Roadie app? Would be kind of fun and relaxing to make runs of stuff in the truck.

I’d recommend checking with your insurance agent before starting this as well, assuming you are using your personal vehicle there likely are some restrictions. Uber/Lyft usually requires an endorsement, but courier services (delivering stuff, not people) is handled differently and may not be covered nor have an optional endorsement.

DH
I sent you a PM about a lawnmower.

When I started my career in Marketing and Advertising, I was a graphic designer and really enjoyed the creativity. I got to be pretty dang good in Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. But the easier money and growth was in Account and Project Management and I slowly got pulled further and further away from the creative an into things like contracts, client management and marketing process. It’s made for a good career and pays the bills, but no where near where my passions lye.

So I finally convinced my wife to let me invest in a New MacBook Pro and full subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. I’m not going back to school, but I am out of practice. However I have enough base knowledge to re-train myself and grow my Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign Skills. But most importantly, I’m VERY interested in teaching myself Video Content editing with Premier Pro and have already started to play with it a little using some resources at my work.

I have a friend and neighbor who runs a small trade Marketing firm and she said they have more work than they can handle would happily let me take some side work on more basic projects once I feel I’m up-to-speed enough. That and I’m dabbling in amateur photography and am thinking of perhaps trying to do “mini-sessions” for Family pictures, etc once I get my re-touching chops back up-to-snuff. I have to tell ya – I feel almost giddy! Half the obstacle to doing this was just the equipment investment and I finally pulled the trigger! Really hoping I can grow this into a fun source of side-income. If nothing else, I’ll be bettering my skills and knowledge and having fun doing it. Wish me luck!

I know you said you did not want to do the food delivery thing. Just wanted to say I have a friend who’s daughter does Doordash and Uber eats and is making REALLY good money from it. She has pretty much paid for her college the last 2 years only working a few Hours a day. She says its great because she can work when and how much she wants. You would need to live in a rather populated area to make good money doing this.
Like others said it may also require checking with your insurance to see if they offer a endorsement for delivery service.

I wish there was a way to get paid for drinking busch lites cause that seems to consume alot of my free time and im pretty good at it as well.

I work for a local lumberyard on the side. I run a fork lift, offload trucks, deliver lumber, doors, windows, etc. It’s relatively easy cash in that I get to be outside and stay active which I enjoy. There’s enough lifting straining and whatnot involved that if it was my fulltime gig I’d be nervous for my body breaking down before retirement. The few months in the summer where my office hours are less and an occasional weekend or evening when they are slammed provide enough income for my fun money and my daughter’s college account.

I also dabble in some minor remodels and construction with a couple local contractors when they get behind. Roofing, framing, some interior trim work, flooring, etc. I don’t mind doing this kind of work…but it’s tough when the phone has rang constantly the last 2 years and I have to turn a lot down.

We will now be leasing out 40 acres of cropland as a source of income to hopefully pay off our property taxes on a new build and land each year.

My full-time gig is working as an athletic director and coaching (I was a varsity coach for years up until my daughter was born but stepped down to be an assistant). I also teach some college prep classes on contract occasionally when the local district is stuck as I hold a teaching license.

One thing I’m quickly learning is that although side hustles are maybe the easiest way to pocket extra cash, they should never take precedent over family. You can replace toys, income, etc. but time will never slow down. That hug from my daughter when I walk in late some nights after a side gig gets carried away always grounds me.

buckybadger wrote:

I work for a local lumberyard on the side. I run a fork lift, offload trucks, deliver lumber, doors, windows, etc. It’s relatively easy cash in that I get to be outside and stay active which I enjoy. There’s enough lifting straining and whatnot involved that if it was my fulltime gig I’d be nervous for my body breaking down before retirement. The few months in the summer where my office hours are less and an occasional weekend or evening when they are slammed provide enough income for my fun money and my daughter’s college account.

I also dabble in some minor remodels and construction with a couple local contractors when they get behind. Roofing, framing, some interior trim work, flooring, etc. I don’t mind doing this kind of work…but it’s tough when the phone has rang constantly the last 2 years and I have to turn a lot down.

We will now be leasing out 40 acres of cropland as a source of income to hopefully pay off our property taxes on a new build and land each year.

My full-time gig is working as an athletic director and coaching (I was a varsity coach for years up until my daughter was born but stepped down to be an assistant). I also teach some college prep classes on contract occasionally when the local district is stuck as I hold a teaching license.

One thing I’m quickly learning is that although side hustles are maybe the easiest way to pocket extra cash, they should never take precedent over family. You can replace toys, income, etc. but time will never slow down. That hug from my daughter when I walk in late some nights after a side gig gets carried away always grounds me.

The last paragraph can’t be overstated. I’ve had opportunities to consult and do some side projects around building sales teams and sales cultures in small companies. I passed because I work enough and I enjoy my time outside of work with my family and hobbies way too much.

There is good money to be made doing side hustles….ten years ago I would’ve jumped at the opportunity. You get to a point where money isn’t the motivation but time is. That’s where I’m at.

To the op….taking a side gig to pay off debt is a great idea if you have the time and motivation. Better to do that sooner rather than later.

I don’t do it anymore, but I used to be a little league baseball umpire in addition to my regular summer jobs. In college, I was a youth pee wee football official and a university hockey official for intramural and men’s adult hockey league.

My Father is 70 and he still is a girls HS softball umpire. He doesn’t work full time anymore, as he retired when he was 62, but he does some umpiring.

There is a big demand for umpires and officials.

I never thought I’d be able to get paid to sit in a boat with people and take pictures of them holding giant fish, but here I am. Find something you love to do and sometimes the rest just falls into place. It doesn’t come without some significant sacrifices though…

I don’t see it as a side hustle, rather a diversified retirement plan

JEREMY wrote:

I wish there was a way to get paid for drinking busch lites cause that seems to consume alot of my free time and im pretty good at it as well.

Me too.

Concrete. And I have my ten year old help so I don’t miss family time. He earns money and learns life lessons

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Bearcat89 wrote:

have my ten year old help so I don’t miss family time

My middle kiddo finally got to start working with me now as well after bugging me for years. Had her sanding treads the first day, did great, told her way better than her older sister. She got a kick out of that. Good times

I love working with My son, he takes it in and learns. He is a worker just like I am. It’s really fun to watch him learn the trades, not only concrete but working on motors and fixing things. Plus he likes to earn his own money. I taught him that things are earned in life and not just given. Plus he can take a butt chewing better then most my Co workers

My middle kiddo finally got to start working with me now as well after bugging me for years. Had her sanding treads the first day, did great, told her way better than her older sister. She got a kick out of that. Good times
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Cold Nation Outdoors (Ice Defense) Marketing Director and also run a couple companies’ social media accounts…..maybe someday it’ll be fulltime. Can only hope. God knows I want to get out of this hospital gig.

I fix small engines and outboards. It’s kind of a neighbors/friends/family/word of mouth deal. I keep it limited to one project at a time, the current project has to leave before I’ll take on anything new.

A sweet little Yamaha 6 HP 4 stroke just turned up from a friend. Been sitting in the FIL’s basement for years and they left it laying on the wrong side so all the oil leaked into the intake and got into the carb. What a mess. Poor little outboard has barely been used, I doubt it has 5 hours on it. Going to take a lot of work to get all the dried-up oil goop out of everything and get it running.

Snowblower season will be soon. Get a few flakes flying and everybody who didn’t summerize their blower properly discovers why you need to summerize your blower properly. Carbs, carbs, and more carbs. I also buy and install fuel shutoffs by the 20 pack.

Grouse

Don’t know how handy you are but our Neighborhood app people are always looking for small electric, plumbing painting, small carpentry projects. You can charge a good rate and probably be paid in cash.

I may have to rethink my plans after stopping for one at the Y in Garrison.

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Eelpoutguy wrote:

I may have to rethink my plans after stopping for one at the Y in Garrison.

The tabs at the Y usually treat me better than the fishing on the pond sadly.

Love your cheaters by the way……

I won’t list any side hustle as the tax man might need his share lmao

I’m a teacher for 9 or so months. I work construction in the summer time to pay for my hunting and fishing addiction! I enjoy building houses and garages it is a great change of pace. I especially love demolition at the start of summer.

ThunderLund78 wrote:

When I started my career in Marketing and Advertising, I was a graphic designer and really enjoyed the creativity. I got to be pretty dang good in Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. But the easier money and growth was in Account and Project Management and I slowly got pulled further and further away from the creative an into things like contracts, client management and marketing process. It’s made for a good career and pays the bills, but no where near where my passions lye.

So I finally convinced my wife to let me invest in a New MacBook Pro and full subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. I’m not going back to school, but I am out of practice. However I have enough base knowledge to re-train myself and grow my Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign Skills. But most importantly, I’m VERY interested in teaching myself Video Content editing with Premier Pro and have already started to play with it a little using some resources at my work.

I have a friend and neighbor who runs a small trade Marketing firm and she said they have more work than they can handle would happily let me take some side work on more basic projects once I feel I’m up-to-speed enough. That and I’m dabbling in amateur photography and am thinking of perhaps trying to do “mini-sessions” for Family pictures, etc once I get my re-touching chops back up-to-snuff. I have to tell ya – I feel almost giddy! Half the obstacle to doing this was just the equipment investment and I finally pulled the trigger! Really hoping I can grow this into a fun source of side-income. If nothing else, I’ll be bettering my skills and knowledge and having fun doing it. Wish me luck!

ThunderLund78 wrote:

When I started my career in Marketing and Advertising, I was a graphic designer and really enjoyed the creativity. I got to be pretty dang good in Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. But the easier money and growth was in Account and Project Management and I slowly got pulled further and further away from the creative an into things like contracts, client management and marketing process. It’s made for a good career and pays the bills, but no where near where my passions lye.

So I finally convinced my wife to let me invest in a New MacBook Pro and full subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. I’m not going back to school, but I am out of practice. However I have enough base knowledge to re-train myself and grow my Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign Skills. But most importantly, I’m VERY interested in teaching myself Video Content editing with Premier Pro and have already started to play with it a little using some resources at my work.

I have a friend and neighbor who runs a small trade Marketing firm and she said they have more work than they can handle would happily let me take some side work on more basic projects once I feel I’m up-to-speed enough. That and I’m dabbling in amateur photography and am thinking of perhaps trying to do “mini-sessions” for Family pictures, etc once I get my re-touching chops back up-to-snuff. I have to tell ya – I feel almost giddy! Half the obstacle to doing this was just the equipment investment and I finally pulled the trigger! Really hoping I can grow this into a fun source of side-income. If nothing else, I’ll be bettering my skills and knowledge and having fun doing it. Wish me luck!

Check out the Adobe MAX virtual convention online. It’s happening live this week and is free to attend. There are a ton of excellent tutorials and new feature demos across the entire software suite. Really cool new things happening in 3D and AR this year! Enjoy getting back into it!