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Side Hustle Potential

Your Side Hustle Is Worth A Lot More Than You Think

Last Updated on April 6, 2023September 23, 2016 32 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure.This post may contain affiliate links. Financial Panther has partnered with AwardWallet and CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Financial Panther, AwardWallet, and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies, or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

One of the big benefits of side hustling is the ability to bring in extra income that you don’t need to spend. Arguably, you might need every last bit of your day job income in order to survive.

But if you’re already making ends meet with your day job income, that means that every single dollar you make on the side can be saved. It might not seem like that big a deal to make a few extra hundred bucks a month. But the power of saving the entirety of that money shouldn’t be underestimated.

Everyone Can Make Money With A Side Hustle

Most side hustles are exactly that – something you do on the side. After all, most of us have day jobs that take up the majority of our day, and not all of us are brave (or foolish) enough to just up and quit the safety of a steady paycheck.

This probably means that your side hustle won’t bring in a ton of money – at least not at the beginning. You just won’t have the time necessary to make the big bucks from your side hustle.

But that’s okay!  Not all of us want our side hustle to overtake our regular day jobs anyway.

Still, it’s fairly easy to find a side hustle where you can make a few hundred bucks a month. This is especially true with the plethora of sharing economy and gig economy apps out there. Now, anyone can start their own little side hustle business with basically no start-up costs at all. And the amount of time you have to put in per month is fairly minimal.

As documented in my side hustle reports, I’ve been able to make well over $1,000 per month basically doing things I’m already doing or using resources I already have. I’ve rented out a room on Airbnb, hosted dogs on Rover, and delivered food on my bike through apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. I even sell trash I find on the street.

If I can make over $1,000 per month doing these types of gigs, I’m positive you can find a way to make a few hundred dollars per month on the side as well.

A Small Amount Can Really Add Up Over Time

Here’s where your side hustle income can really add up. Since we’re not spending that money, it means that we can save the entirety of our side hustle income.

As an example, let’s take everyone’s favorite stealth retirement account, the Health Savings Account (HSA). In 2021, the max a single person could put into an HSA was $3,600.  Thus, in order to max out an HSA, a single person would need to contribute $300 per month.

What if you made $300 per month from a side hustle and put it all into an HSA (assuming you have access to one)? Below is a graphic showing how much a $300 per month investment can grow over a 30-year period, assuming an annual rate of return of 7%. 

 

Wow! Just earning an extra $300 per month in side hustle income and throwing it all into an HSA yields over $300,000 in a 30 year period! Your tiny, couple hundred bucks per month side hustle doesn’t seem so small now. And the great thing is that this is money that you otherwise wouldn’t have had. You won’t even notice it being saved.

The interesting thing to note is that by year 11, the yearly returns on your side hustle income equals what you’ve been earning from actually performing your side hustle. Your side hustle eventually creates its own side hustle!

homer-simpson_woohoo
Woo Hoo!

What If We Increased The Savings?

What if we tried to up our side hustle income to meet the IRA contribution limits?  The 2021 IRA contribution limit is $6,000.  In order to max that out, a person would need to put away $500 per month.  Here’s what that amount looks like over a 30-year period. 

 

Again, that figure is pretty astounding!  That’s half-a-million dollars just from doing random side hustles!? Can you make between $300 and $500 per month from a side hustle? There are tons of ways to do it that don’t take up a ton of time and I bet there will be many more in the future.

Where To Save Your Side Hustle Income

An added benefit of saving all of your side hustle income is the ability to limit your tax liability now. Instead of paying taxes at your highest marginal tax rate, you’ll instead only have to pay self-employment taxes on it.

Getting tax free growth is a huge part of being able to turn that side hustle income into huge dollars later. I recommend stashing your money away in these types of accounts:

Solo 401(k)

A Solo 401(k) is a great retirement account for folks making 1099 income. With a solo 401(k), you can basically put all of your 1099 income into tax advantaged savings.

The unique thing about a solo 401(k) is that it allows you to make contributions both as an employer and an employee. If you’re having trouble maxing out your 401(k) at work, this is a great way to beef up your 401(k) contributions without feeling a pinch on your regular paycheck. If you are like me and happen to have a 457(b) at work instead of a 401(k), you’ll be able to put all of your 1099 income away as employee contributions, since 401(k) contribution limits and 457(b) contribution limits are separate.

A solo 401(k) is also particularly beneficial for future high-income earners like myself. Unlike a Sep IRA, having a solo 401(k) won’t mess up your ability to do backdoor Roth contributions. As a downside, income that comes from “passive activities” – such as Airbnb or rental income – cannot be contributed to a Solo 401(k), so you’ll need to figure out another way to stash that type of money. 

Related Solo 401k Posts:

  • The Solo 401k: The Side Hustler’s Bonus Retirement Account 
  • Fidelity Solo 401k: A Step By Step Guide To Setting Up Your Self-Employed Retirement Plan

Health Savings Account

If you happen to have access to an HSA, this is another great place to stash your side hustle money.  Depending on your income level, it might make sense to contribute to your HSA directly through payroll deductions, as doing so allows you to avoid paying FICA taxes.

However, keep an eye out for which HSA provider your employer uses if opting for payroll deductions! For example, my employer uses an HSA provider that has really terrible investment options, so I opted to go with my own provider. The two HSA brokerages I recommend are Fidelity or Lively. Both are free and have excellent investment options. 

Related HSA Posts: 

  • Lively HSA Review: The Best Free HSA For People Pursuing Financial Independence 
  • The HSA: The Perfect Retirement Account For Millennials 
  • Questions To Think About When You’re Setting Up Your HSA

Your Side Hustle Can Make A Big Difference

It’s so easy to start a side hustle these days that everyone should consider doing it. Even earning a little bit more per month can add up to a large sum of money over the long term! If you’re maxing out all your tax advantaged savings already, then starting up a small side hustle is a great way to squeeze out just a little more in tax advantaged savings.

Ultimately, don’t underestimate the power of your side hustle, even if it’s a “crappy” little side hustle. Earning a few hundred bucks a month might not look like much today. But don’t worry. Keep saving it! Some day, you’ll look back and see a lot of zeroes in there.

This post may contain affiliate links. Financial Panther has partnered with AwardWallet and CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Financial Panther, AwardWallet, and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies, or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

More Recommended Ebike/Scooters

Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:

  • Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
  • Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
  • Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
  • Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
  • Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
  • KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
  • Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
  • Himiway Escape Ebike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
  • Espin Sport Ebike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
  • Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
  • Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
  • Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
  • Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review.
  • Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.

More Recommended Investing App Bonuses

For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:

  • M1 Finance ($100) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
  • SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
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  • Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
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More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses

If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.

  • Upgrade ($200) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $200 referral bonus if you open an account and complete a direct deposit. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $200 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
  • Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
  • Fairwinds Credit Union ($175) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
  • Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
  • US Bank Business ($900) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
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financial panther

Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.

Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.

Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:

  • SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
  • 5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
  • US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $900 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
  • M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account.
  • Empower. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.

Feel free to send Kevin a message here.

Filed Under: Side Hustle, Top Posts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex says

    August 18, 2021 at 8:27 am

    I couldn’t agree more, side hustle income may seem small, but it is bigger than you think when it adds up.

    Reply
  2. Survey Examiner says

    January 14, 2021 at 5:06 am

    I totally agree! Pocket change makes a whole lot of difference. Saving these extra cents on the dollar can gradually build up your savings account.

    Reply
  3. Jon M. says

    May 12, 2020 at 11:30 pm

    I was doing research for my own post on valuing side hustles and found this article. Nice work! I approached it from the opposite direction of, if I have X in daily side hustle income, how much less do I need invested to reach my income goals. I also love the opportunity when side hustles intersect and their respective earnings power is multiplied. Then there’s the diversification away from financial markets, the joy of creating, and so on.
    https://smartdevpreneur.com/how-much-is-your-side-hustle-worth/

    Reply
  4. Elize from Blue Light LLC says

    October 3, 2018 at 2:03 pm

    Thanks for sharing this post! I totally agree with you, this is what really happening in my case. Instead of just keep sitting the money my bank account I invested the money in some place I know I can benefit more than other banks do. I carefully studied it in the first place, it is quite pricey if it is coming in my day job. I have to have a side hustle because of my investment in the first place. I plan of doing this for the next 10 more years.

    Reply
  5. Eddie says

    May 30, 2018 at 7:34 pm

    I have recently started my side hustle and within a year I’ve made around $2500. All I do is find clearance items like at Target and Lowe’s and resell them. I recently found a $369 tool chest for $50 and sold it for $250.

    Reply
  6. Lynette says

    August 4, 2017 at 11:59 am

    This is very motivating! As a newbie at side hustling, I’m not sure how things will turn out. But as I move forward, I’m definitely going to keep your points in mind!

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      August 5, 2017 at 8:47 am

      Awesome! Glad it’s motivating for you. Make sure to check out my side hustle reports so you can see just how possible it is to make extra cash side hustling.

      Reply
  7. Brian says

    December 9, 2016 at 4:19 pm

    Love this post! I am considering starting to drive with Uber when I am heading in a certain direction and make money to just go where I am anyway. And you are correct, every little bit helps. Use it for vacation, pay bills or just save it and watch it grow. Thanks for sharing!
    -Brian

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      December 9, 2016 at 6:36 pm

      Thanks Brian! Definitely no problem just signing up for Uber and grabbing rides if your going in a certain direction. It’s not like you’re forced to do it. You can just pick and choose basically. Just make sure to do a ride like once a month or something so that your account doesn’t get deactivated or something. That’s what I try to do with my delivery gigs during the winter (I really don’t do as many bike deliveries when it’s cold out).

      Reply
  8. Arrgo says

    October 8, 2016 at 3:00 pm

    Great point about investing the side hustle money. I think side hustles are a great addition to your financial portfolio and a good income diversifier. Even just a few hundred $ a month can add up to 2 or $3,000 a year without too much effort or time. And year after year that can really add up. Plus, it can really be more fun than a regular job with less stress etc. Another good point is if you want to retire early, you could still keep your part time hustle. That income can really help the math with withdraw rates etc with your portfolio. I dont mind working. I just dont like the commitment of working 40 or 50 hrs a week which doesnt leave much time to really enjoy life the way you would like to.

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      October 9, 2016 at 10:36 pm

      I totally agree that the side hustle income can be used to bolster your early retirement. It’s easy to just pick up some minor side hustle if you’re in a position where you want to early retire, but might need a little bit extra per year. Wouldn’t be hard to make some money doing Uber or something like that on the side if you needed the money.

      And totally agree on the fun! I have a ton of fun watching dogs or biking around town delivering food. Getting paid to do it is a nice little bonus.

      Reply
  9. Jacq says

    October 6, 2016 at 10:48 pm

    I wasn’t sure how much I could make so this year, my side hustle money has gone into savings. Looking at paying taxes on it, I am now looking into solo 401k vs SEP etc that Vanguard offers to tax shelter my funds next year. Great recommendations in this post.

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      October 9, 2016 at 7:44 pm

      Thanks Jacq. Definitely take a look at a Solo 401k. It’s a good way to reduce your tax burden and save your money.

      Reply
  10. Xyz from Financial Path. says

    October 6, 2016 at 11:51 am

    If we use the 4% rule, every 100$/month you make is basically worth 30k of savings you would have needed to earn that in retirement… Now if you are able to consistently make 1000$ a month out of your side hustles, that’s like 300k less you need in your nest egg!

    Of course, this has the risk of your side hustle dying but it’s just like any other employment… just not 40h a week 😛

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      October 9, 2016 at 7:40 pm

      That’s a great way to put it. No doubt, your side hustle can definitely die, but the great thing is, it’s a side hustle! It’s extra money that you could save. And if one way to make money dies, there’s always hundreds of other ways to make a bit more.

      Reply
  11. Physician on FIRE says

    October 6, 2016 at 10:36 am

    Every little bit helps. A side hustle can be one way to justify / cancel out spending that would otherwise seem induflgent and unnecessary. Like $6 beers at Surly, for example. I only let you buy me one because I knew about your side hustles. 😉

    Side hustles can be fun, too. Finding, refurbing, and reselling tossed aside furniture can feel like a game. Watching dogs could be fun, too, depending on the dog. The side hustle of writing and running a blog is rewarding as well.

    Cheers!
    -PoF

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      October 9, 2016 at 7:22 pm

      Haha, good thing I had some side hustles going so I could afford that beer. I owe you another one next time you’re in town.

      Reply
  12. Graham @ Reverse The Crush says

    September 27, 2016 at 3:59 pm

    Great post!
    Small amounts of money really do add up. I find it strange that a lot of people don’t see the value in saving small chunks of money over time. It’s great that you were able to chart the potential of a side hustle.
    And it’s cool that you document all your side hustle income too.

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      September 28, 2016 at 11:33 am

      Thanks Graham! I think the benefit of putting away your side hustle money – especially if you can do so in tax-advantaged savings – is huge. You basically can up your savings right by a huge amount just by taking a small amount per month. I’ve enjoyed documenting the side hustle income as well. It’s not a huge amount by any means, but I find it interesting that I’m able to earn a pretty decent chunk of change with very little capital output by using all these on-demand apps.

      Reply
  13. Harmony@CreatingMyKaleidoscope says

    September 27, 2016 at 2:37 pm

    Side hustles really do add up and can make a huge impact on your overall finances. We’ve been using the extra income to pay off our debt and are really starting to gain momentum. I enjoy the freelance writing and even clicking things to earn a few gift cards is much a better use of time than just scrolling through Facebook again.

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      September 28, 2016 at 11:31 am

      That’s the beauty of it. It’s money that you absolutely don’t need. The only thing to remember is, don’t forget taxes on your side hustles. That’s why I like being able to save it away in tax-deferred savings. It gives you a way to earn that money and avoid much of the tax hit as well.

      Reply
  14. Mystery Money Man says

    September 24, 2016 at 12:32 am

    Love this post! I was thinking about this the other day, that even though my side hustle may start out being a few hundred dollars, it can be a very powerful few hundred dollars if it’s all disposable income. I love the calculators as well. Goes to show what can happen if you are smart with how you ‘dispose’ of that income! : )

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      September 24, 2016 at 9:55 am

      Exactly right. You literally don’t have to touch any of this money you are earning on the side. If you just act like its not even there, you’re basically giving yourself some extra retirement money down the line. Even if you were to early retire, it seems like it wouldn’t be hard to just keep earning a few hundred bucks a month forever. Really gives you some cushion down the line if you suddenly find yourself with an extra 300-500k.

      Reply
  15. Adam @ CrispyCabbage.com says

    September 23, 2016 at 8:19 pm

    Excellent use of Homer Simpson… “Your side hustle eventually makes its own side hustle. Woo Hoo”. Love it! Truly shows how powerful it is. This makes me less worried about the decline of the middle class long term. As you pointed out, side hustles are so easy to start up now and they’ll only get easier. Traditional work is going away, but more and more opportunities for side income are popping up. I just have little doubt people will figure it out.

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      September 24, 2016 at 9:53 am

      Whether the rise of this 1099 economy is a good thing or not is really up for debate. I’m a bit on the fence, but I do like the flexibility for myself of being able to do all these little gigs. If you want a little more information about this on-demand/sharing economy, you might want to check out a book called “Raw Deal: How the Sharing Economy and Runaway Capitalism are Screwing American Workers.”

      Also, great to see a fellow Minnesotan! Do you draw all those pictures on your blog yourself?

      Reply
  16. Finance Solver says

    September 23, 2016 at 5:45 pm

    Side hustles are so powerful! That’s a great point about postmates. With the on-demand economy these days, I’ve been thinking of getting in the food delivery business or on Fiverr. An extra $100 dollars in a month really makes a huge difference in the end, can’t argue with that!

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      September 24, 2016 at 9:47 am

      The thing is, I also find these side hustles fun! It also teaches you a lot about being humble. I’m a lawyer, graduated near the top of my class, but here I am going around delivering food to college kids. It’s funny because the people I deliver food to have no idea.

      Reply
  17. Piggybanknomics says

    September 23, 2016 at 4:18 pm

    I agree with you, 100%. Some people think that pocket change doesn’t make a difference, but when compound interest is added in there, then pocket change makes a huge difference long-term. We wrote an article a few weeks back on how if a parent put away $50 a month, for 18 years, then by the time a child retires, he/she is looking at some major money, when the base investment was only $600/year, $10,800 total.
    http://www.piggybanknomics.com/kids-college-fund-vs-retirement-fund/saving-for-college-vs-retirement-fund/8/26/2016

    Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      September 24, 2016 at 9:45 am

      The really big thing with side hustling is the fact that you can increase your savings tremendously. Since side hustle money is money you didn’t necessarily need to live, you can easily increase your savings rate tremendously. It can be hard to cut hundreds of dollars from your budget to save. But it’s quite easier to just make those couple hundred dollars and squirrel it all away for the future.

      Reply
  18. Ms. Montana says

    September 23, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    It’s powerful motivation! My friend just launched an app to let people deliver items, like groceries. If you are going to be shopping at Costco anyways, why not pick up some groceries for an elderly lady? It all adds up!

    Reply
    • Piggybanknomics says

      September 24, 2016 at 9:25 am

      That’s a really cool idea with the app and groceries. Has it had much success?

      Reply
    • Financial Panther says

      September 24, 2016 at 9:41 am

      I actually signed up to do deliveries for Instacart earlier this year. It’s basically an app that lets people order groceries online. Someone from Instacart then does the shopping for you and delivers it to your house. Ultimately, I did one delivery and then decided it wasn’t for me, simply because you had to use a car in order to do it. Since I hate driving, it just didn’t feel like a great use of my time and I was putting wear and tear on our one car. But the great thing about these type of apps – since it wasn’t for me, I just stopped doing it. No harm, no foul!

      If your friend’s app is one where you could incorporate your own shopping while doing grocery shopping for someone else, then that sounds like it could be useful to build up a little side money doing something you’re already doing! That’s initially what I thought I could do with Instacart, but the nature of how the app works made it so that wasn’t really possible.

      Reply

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