Turning Side Hustles Into Wealth: Why ETFs Are the Perfect Investment Partner

These days, it feels like everyone has a side hustle. Whether you’re selling handmade crafts on Etsy, driving for a rideshare app, or doing freelance graphic design, the gig economy has exploded. Side hustles offer a great way to boost your income, but here’s the real question: are you making the most of that extra cash?

Earning money from a side hustle is exciting. But if you’re just letting that money sit in a checking account or spending it as fast as you earn it, you could be missing out on a huge opportunity to grow your wealth. That’s where smart investing comes in, more specifically, investing in ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds). Let’s talk about why ETFs might just be the perfect partner for turning your side hustle income into long-term financial success.

The Side Hustle Boom: More Than Just Extra Cash

Side hustles have become a way of life for millions of people. Whether you’re using the extra income to pay off debt, save for a vacation, or just pad your bank account, a side hustle can help you reach your financial goals faster. But what if your goals are bigger than just next month’s rent? What if you want to build real wealth?

That’s where a lot of side hustlers miss the mark. Sure, making more money is great, but if you’re not investing it, you’re leaving potential growth on the table. The key isn’t just earning more, it’s making your money work for you.

This brings us to investing. Specifically, investing in ETFs.

Why ETFs Are Perfect for Side Hustlers

If you’ve never heard of ETFs, don’t worry, you’re not alone. ETFs are like a mix between a stock and a mutual fund. They’re bundles of investments (like stocks or bonds) that you can buy and sell just like individual stocks. But unlike buying shares of a single company, ETFs give you exposure to a wide range of assets, which makes them less risky than buying individual stocks.

And here’s the best part for side hustlers: ETFs are super easy to get into. You don’t need a ton of money upfront, and they’re great for people who want to set things on autopilot and watch their wealth grow slowly over time. For someone balancing multiple gigs and juggling income streams, ETFs offer a low-maintenance, high-reward option for investing.

You’re already working hard to build up extra income with your side hustle, ETFs are the perfect way to make sure that hard work pays off in the long run.

How ETFs Help Side Hustlers Build Wealth

You might be thinking, “Okay, I get that ETFs are low-risk and easy to manage, but how exactly do they help me build wealth?” Great question.

Here’s the thing: building wealth isn’t just about picking the right stocks or timing the market. It’s about consistency and the power of compounding. By regularly investing small amounts of your side hustle income into ETFs, you allow your money to grow over time. And when that money starts earning returns, those returns also begin to earn returns. This is called compounding, and it’s the magic behind wealth building.

Imagine you’re putting aside $200 from your side hustle every month and investing it in ETFs. Over time, thanks to the growth of the market and compounding returns, that $200 monthly contribution could turn into a significant chunk of wealth, without you doing anything but staying consistent.

Even better, ETFs are a long-term game, so you don’t have to constantly watch the market or stress about day-to-day changes. As long as you’re patient and committed, your wealth can grow in the background while you focus on other things (like building up that side hustle!).

Types of ETFs That Make Sense for Side Hustlers

Not all ETFs are created equal. Some are designed for short-term traders, while others are perfect for long-term wealth building. As a side hustler, you want to focus on ETFs that match your financial goals and appetite for risk. Here are a few types to consider:

Broad Market ETFs: These track major indexes like the S&P 500 and are great for building a stable, diversified portfolio. They spread your money across hundreds of companies, reducing your risk.
Dividend ETFs: Looking for passive income? Dividend ETFs invest in companies that pay out regular dividends. You can reinvest those dividends to grow your investment even faster.
Sector-Specific ETFs: Do you have a specific industry you’re interested in, like technology or renewable energy? Sector ETFs allow you to focus on the industries you think will grow the most.

Choosing the right ETFs is all about understanding your goals. If you want slow and steady growth, broad market or dividend ETFs are great. If you want to take a bit more risk for potentially bigger rewards, sector ETFs might be more your style.

How to Start Investing Your Side Hustle Income in ETFs

Now that you know why ETFs are a great option, the next question is: how do you actually start investing your side hustle money?

Here’s the good news, it’s a lot easier than you might think.

Find the right ETFs: To maximize your returns, you’ll want to choose ETFs that align with your financial goals. Smart investors use the best free ETF screener, which allows you to search through hundreds of ETFs to identify those that match your investment goals, whether you want low-risk funds or high-growth options.

Pick a brokerage platform: Tons of online platforms make it easy to buy and sell ETFs. Look for one with low fees and an easy-to-use interface. Some popular choices include Vanguard, Fidelity, and Robinhood.
Set up automatic investments: One of the easiest ways to stay consistent is by setting up automatic transfers from your checking account to your investment account. You can decide how much of your side hustle income you want to invest each month, and the platform will handle the rest.
Diversify: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Even if you’re really excited about one particular ETF, it’s smart to spread your money across different types of ETFs to balance your risk.
Stay consistent: The most important part of investing is sticking with it. Even if the market dips or your side hustle income fluctuates, keep investing what you can. Over time, those small investments will add up.

ETFs: The Path to Financial Freedom

At the end of the day, investing in ETFs isn’t just about growing your side hustle income, it’s about creating financial freedom. By making smart investment choices now, you’re setting yourself up for a future where your money works for you, not the other way around.

Imagine this: A few years down the road, your side hustle is still going strong, but now you’ve got a significant investment portfolio, too. Thanks to the consistent investments you made in ETFs, you’ve built up a financial cushion that can support you even if you decide to take a break from hustling. That’s the power of investing in ETFs.

And who knows? With enough time and growth, your side hustle income could even transition into full-time investing. There’s no limit to the wealth you can build with the right mindset and strategy.

Conclusion

If you’ve been hustling hard but haven’t started investing your extra income, now’s the time to leap. ETFs offer a simple, low-risk way to turn your side hustle earnings into real, long-term wealth. They’re easy to manage, perfect for beginners, and give you the chance to grow your money without constantly worrying about the market.

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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.
Webull (20 free stock shares) – Webull's current promotion gives you 20 free shares 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 shares using Webull.
Moomoo (15 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 2 different referral bonuses if you open an account using a referral link. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
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.

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.
GO2Bank ($50) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $50 referral bonus.
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.
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.
Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 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.

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.