When I first started figuring out my side hustle strategy years ago, I found that the gig economy and sharing economy worked best for me. What made it work so well was the flexibility that came with these gigs. I was working a full-time, demanding job at the time, so my ability to side hustle was fairly limited. The gig economy worked well because I could turn on the apps whenever I wanted and pick up a random gig whenever it made sense for me. In the history of work up to that point, there really wasn’t a way to work like this, so I took advantage of it.
The criticism that gig economy work often gets is that it’s low-value work that can’t really scale. I can’t say that this statement is entirely wrong because it’s true, the nature of gig economy work means that you have a natural cap as to what you can earn. You only have so many hours in a day and doing any of these gigs takes time. As many would point out, when you do gig work, you’re trading time for money.
And yet, this isn’t exactly true either. When you think about it, doing gig work isn’t exactly trading time for money. Rather, you’re trading tasks for money, getting paid for each task that you complete.
It’s a small distinction that might not look like a big deal at first. But I think it’s a distinction that matters and is worth thinking about.
Time For Money Vs. Tasks For Money – What’s The Difference?
At first glance, trading time for money and trading a task for money seem pretty similar. In both situations, you’re still actively trading some of your limited time on this earth for some amount of money.
But I think there is a difference that makes the distinction between the two matter. Here’s why:
1. Trading Tasks For Money Means You Can Vary What You Make
The big factor with trading time for money vs. trading a task for money is that, with the former, the amount you can make is capped at a set amount whereas, with the latter, you can vary what you make through means that you can potentially control.
Here’s what I mean. A job that pays you $20 per hour means that you have no choice as to what you make other than trading more hours of your life for more money. If you want to increase what you make for your time, you have to get the person paying you to pay you more. Obviously, if you’re getting paid on a straight hourly basis, figuring out ways to get paid more for your time is a smart thing to do. But it’s ultimately not in your control. It’s in the control of the person who’s paying you.
Contrast that with the way the gig economy works, where you’re typically trading tasks in exchange for money. The amount you can make when trading tasks for money generally isn’t tied to the time you work – it’s tied to completing the task.
Are you still trading time for money? Sure, in a way you are. But it’s not exactly the same because of two very important characteristics that come with trading tasks for money: (1) you can accept only higher-paying tasks (i.e. by setting your own price for work you’ll accept); or (2) by being more efficient and either completing tasks faster or completing more tasks in a shorter amount of time. What this means is that in the world of trading tasks for money, two people doing the same thing likely won’t make the same amount. At least some portion of what you make is tied to your skills.
This is the thing about a lot of gig economy apps that I think most people don’t understand – they do take skill to complete. I don’t mean they require hard-skills, but rather soft skills in understanding which type of gigs to accept and how to complete gigs more efficiently.
Over the past several years, I’ve put this principle into practice. Regular readers of this blog know that I love doing food deliveries on my bike. I’ve now been doing food deliveries as a side hustle for over 5 years. Over those years, I’ve gotten better at picking and choosing which orders I accept, thinking of myself much more like a business trading tasks for money, rather than trading my time for money. It’s gotten to the point that I’ve regularly able to earn the equivalent of $40 or more per hour doing deliveries, simply because I’m able to strategize and complete more deliveries in a shorter amount of time compared to most people.
2. Not All Tasks Are Created Equal
In the gig economy world, you often see two types of tasks: timebound tasks and non-timebound tasks. This raises an important issue when it comes to trading tasks for money. Not all tasks are created equal.
So what’s the difference between these types of tasks? Timebound tasks are those tasks where you have to complete the task over a set period of time. An example of a timebound task would be walking dogs using apps like Wag or Rover. In these tasks, you’re contracted to walk a dog for a set period of time (typically 20, 30, or 60 minutes).
When you think about it, a timebound task is pretty similar to a job where you’re paid hourly, with the primary difference that you can work in shorter increments and you have more flexibility with when you work. The big problem that comes with timebound tasks is that there aren’t many ways to increase your earnings for the time you spend working. The only real way you can do this would be to either charge more for your time or increase your earnings by adding more tasks into the same time period – for example, by walking multiple dogs at once.
In contrast to timebound tasks, non-timebound tasks are tasks where you’re paid a set amount to complete a task, regardless of how much time it takes you to complete. That’s how the food delivery game works – you’re offered a task and a payment amount, and you’re paid for that task regardless of how long it takes you. This matters a lot because it means what you make is largely a product of what you can do. The faster you can complete your tasks and the more tasks you can complete, the more you’ll make.
This doesn’t just apply to regular gig economy stuff either. Freelancing typically works in a similar way. For example, a freelance writer might charge a fixed amount for 1,000 words. The faster they can complete these tasks and the more of them they can complete, the more they can make.
It’s this distinction that has led me to shy away from timebound tasks like dog-walking and instead focus more on non-timebound tasks like food delivery. By working during peak periods, being strategic with which orders I accept, and doing multiple orders at the same time, I’m able to earn a lot more for the time I spend working.
3. Trading Tasks For Money Means You Can Use Reverse Latte Factor Principles
One concept that I’ve talked about on this blog is something that I call the Reverse Latte Factor. It’s a spin on the traditional Latte Factor concept, which basically says that most of us spend small amounts on frivolous things each day. If we cut out those frivolous expenses and save that money, it can add up to large sums when invested over the long-term.
The Reverse Latte Factor is essentially the opposite of that. Rather than cutting expenses, consider all of the ways you can generate extra income. Because if cutting small expenses and saving that money each day adds up over time, what happens if we take actions to earn small amounts of extra income on a daily basis?
It turns out it can add up to a lot. Below is a chart demonstrating what consistent, small amounts of extra income can add up to when invested over the long-term (the chart assumes a 7% annual rate of return).
| Amount Earned Per Day | Total in 30 Years |
|---|---|
| $5 | $184,458.30 |
| $10 | $368,916.60 |
| $15 | $553,374.90 |
| $20 | $737,833.20 |
| $25 | $922,291.50 |
| $30 | $1,106,749.80 |
What trading tasks for money does is allow you to earn extra income in small, piecemeal chunks like this. Earning an extra $5 per day can add up to over $180,000 when invested over the long-term. Double that to $10 per day and you’re looking at over $360,000. Figure out how to make an extra $30 per day and you can literally become a millionaire.
What does it take to make an extra $5, $10, or $30 per day? You might not be able to do this if you’re trading time for money because there aren’t that many side hustles or side gigs you can do that will just let you work for a few minutes per day whenever you want. But if you’re trading tasks for money, those numbers might be more in reach than you think.
Takeaways
Gig economy apps obviously have their limitations. They aren’t passive income and they do require you to use up your time if you want to bring in money. But in my opinion, there really aren’t many things that are truly passive income.
Everyone has to work for money, whether they put in the work upfront or they put in the work as an ongoing thing. Even though this website generates income for me in ways that some people would call passive, the fact is, I have to put in a massive amount of work on it every week in order to keep that income flowing in.
Ultimately, there’s a difference I think between trading time for money and trading tasks for money. Most people look at these gig economy apps and think about what they pay on a per hour basis. I’m guilty of doing that as well. But that’s not what these gig apps are about. You’re not exactly trading time for money. You’re trading the task you’re doing in exchange for money. The time that comes into play is incidental and something that you can potentially control.
More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
Check out these other ebikes/scooters I've had the chance to do a review for:
- GEN3 Outcross Bike – The GEN3 Outcross is a solid, affordable fat tire ebike that does a good job of doing what I need it to do. It works great for city riding, giving me a smooth ride in all conditions. It’s works really well as a winter ebike since the fat tires give it good traction over snow and ice. Check out my GEN3 Outcross Review.
- Himiway Escape Bike – 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 Bike – 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.
- 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 ($10) – 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 $10 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 $100 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Moomoo (5 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 5 free stocks (usually worth around $75-$100) if you open an account using a referral link and deposit $2,000. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- Webull (5 free stocks) – Webull also gives you 5 free stock valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free stocks using Webull.
- Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
- Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.
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.
- 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.
- Upgrade ($100) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $100 referral bonus if you open an account and complete three debit card transactions. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Importantly, this bonus says that it’s now scheduled to end on October 31, 2022. As long as you get your account opened before October 31st, you should be eligible. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $100 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
- SoFi Money ($350) – SoFi Money is a free checking account from SoFi. They’re currently offering a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi account with a referral link and deposit $10. You can also make an additional $300 as well if you complete a direct deposit. This is a good bank that is also 100% free, so you won’t have to worry about managing this account. Here’s a post I wrote with instructions on how to earn your SoFi Money bonus: SoFi Money Referral Bonus: Step By Step Guide.
- Fifth Third Bank ($250) – This offer is limited to customers in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, and South Carolina. If you don’t live in one of those states, you won’t be able to open an account online but you can still open an account in-branch if you happen to be visiting a city that has a branch. This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, especially since there are plenty of data points showing what will trigger the direct deposit requirement. In addition, you can open the Fifth Third Momentum Checking bank account, which comes with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Read my guide on this bonus here.
- Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link.Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
- OnJuno ($100) – OnJuno is a fintech/neobank that is currently offering a $100 referral bonus if you open an account using a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $250 or more. The account has no fees or minimum balance requirements. Even better, the bonus posts immediately after you meet the requirements. If you can meet the direct deposit requirements, OnJuno is an easy bank bonus that’s worth snagging. Check out my OnJuno referral bonus guide here.
- Varo ($50) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $50 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($100) – 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.
- Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
- Spiral ($50) – Spiral is a fintech bank that's currently offering new customers a $50 signup bonus after opening a free checking account with them. The Spiral referral bonus is especially good because it's a free checking account and doesn't require a direct deposit to earn the bonus. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Spiral Bank bonus.
- One Finance ($50) – One Finance is a fintech bank that’s currently offering a $50 signup bonus if you open an account using a One Finance referral link and have a direct deposit of $250 or more. This is a completely free bank account with no minimum balance requirement, so if you can meet the requirements, it’s worth doing. Check out my One Finance referral bonus guide here.
- Albert ($150) – If you can manage to do a real direct deposit, Albert is an easy account you can use to earn a referral bonus. Here’s a review about Albert I wrote. And here’s a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Albert referral bonus.
- Netspend ($20 + 5% Interest Savings Account) – Netspend is a company that provides 5% interest savings accounts. If you sign up using my referral link, you’ll get a $20 signup bonus once you make your first deposit into your Netspend account of $40 or more. That means you get a 5% interest savings account and a free $20 to start! Make sure to check out my in-depth guide on how to set up these accounts.
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.
- Upgrade Bank. Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $100 referral bonus if you open an account and complete three debit card transactions. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Note that it’s now scheduled to end on October 31, 2022.
- Novo Bank. Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. It’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog.
- 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 $10 for opening an account.
- Personal Capital. 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.
As a higher ed Math teacher, your article resonates with me. I am middle-aged now, and my career has changed a lot over the years. When I first started working after college, the internet wasn’t a thing. I had a traditional job. I lucked out to be able to work from home in the 90s after my son was born. I would have been all over the gig economy had it been available more then, but I kind of designed my own.
Keep up the informative articles, and I’m rooting for your continued success. I would also like to add that having a complementary (and complimentary!) partner is so important. My spouse has a more traditional job that has enabled me to do my gig thing and work from home. Likewise, all the old stresses of coordinating travel and the demands of 9 to 5 are mostly gone, but his job provides the health insurance.
Thank you Jean.
Absolutely, I agree with the spouse situation. There’s no doubt about it that I’m able to take the risks I’m taking because I have a spouse with a good, stable career path. Only issue for us is that she owns her own practice, which means we’re both paying for our own health insurance with our own money. If I was still working a 9-5, my wife would probably be on my health insurance.
I would love to see an article by you on health insurance for those in the gig economy!
That’s a great idea. I’ll put that down for a potential future post.
I look forward to seeing it.
I am so happy for your blog and the emphasis on side-hustles- which also means emphasis on being self-employed, I’ve been self-employed at least in part my entire post-college work life. I’ve scaled back in recent weeks once I finally started getting PUA, but will start a new (1099!) job next week, that will make me ineligible combined with my other dinky job, will be time to start hitting the app gigs again in earnest.
I used quite a few of your thoughts and analysis in getting my boyfriend to consider and finally join the gig economy, with deliveries, since he left his job end of Feb and didn’t qualify for unemployment. He’s finding it difficult to want to do the available jobs now: half or less pay, with less flexibility of hours.
That’s one of the things about these gig apps – they’re a nice easy introduction into the world of entrepreneurship. You might not feel like it, but when you do these gigs, trading tasks for money like this, you are a business, so this stuff is a nice way to work your way into entrepreneurship.