Should You Have a Side Hustle?
There was a time when most people had one job that they worked full time, but times have changed. With the changing economy and the growing demand for a number of different services, many people have turned to working a couple different jobs.
Some people choose to work a second job, often referred to as a side hustle. These jobs are generally very flexible and allow you to work around the schedule of your primary job. If you’ve been thinking about getting a side hustle but aren’t sure if you need one or where to start, here is some basic information.
What Is a Side Hustle?
To some people, a side hustle may simply sound like a second job, but there are distinct characteristics that make side hustles different than other jobs. The main thing is that side hustles are usually very flexible jobs. Many side hustles work under the premise of the sharing economy, where people can work for a few hours when they have free time to provide a service.
Working for companies like Lyft and Postmates are both examples of side hustles. You aren’t obligated to work a certain number of hours every week, so you can simply work as much as is necessary to supplement your main job. Because of this, side hustles are accessible to just about everybody who has some amount of free time during their week.
Who Needs Them?
Deciding whether or not you need a side hustle is a matter of assessing your financial situation and figuring out whether or not you need to make more money. Budgeting and cutting back is a good way to save money, but it can only get you so far if you’re not making much. If you feel like you’re spinning your wheels when you try to save money, adding a hustle on the side can be a good way to give yourself a bit of a boost.
A side hustle can also be a good temporary solution for financial problems. If you have costly medical expenses or need to come up with deposit and first month’s rent on a new apartment, a side hustle can help you put some extra money in your savings account.
Side Hustle Ideas
Simply understanding the premise of a side hustle isn’t enough to start making extra money. If you really want to get a legitimate side hustle going and start pocketing extra cash, you need a good idea to start with.
A good side hustle is something that won’t require too much of your time—especially your unpaid time. You have limited resources if you’re already working a full-time job, so you need something that isn’t full time.
You could rent your home out through Airbnb, drive for Uber or Lyft, start an affiliate marketing website through Amazon, and more. As long as you find a side hustle that’s lucrative and doesn’t require you to spend 40 hours a week working tirelessly, you’ll be well on your way to making more money and living a better life.
