I started side hustling three months ago. Before that, I never really thought about making money online and had no idea what opportunities were out there. In my first month, I managed to make almost £500, and now I can’t believe I didn’t start sooner!
These three months have flown by, but I’ve already learned a lot. Here are some key takeaways from my money-making journey so far:
**Time Management is Crucial**
Balancing a side hustle with a full-time job isn’t easy. It requires time and discipline. I’ve never been great at managing my time, but seeing the money add up is a great motivator! My top tip is to find the best time of day for each task:
– I check apps like OnePulse and Spare5 whenever I have a spare minute, like when I’m waiting for the train.
– I use my lunch breaks at work to catch up on personal finance reading or handle blog-related tasks like social media.
– In the evenings, I set one main goal for each day. Otherwise, I end up with a long to-do list and jump from task to task without finishing anything.
For example, if it’s a big night for football and there are lots of offers, I’ll set aside an hour for matched betting. Otherwise, my main goal might be to publish a new blog post. After that, I might check for available tests on What Users Do or look at less time-sensitive matched betting offers. By ticking off my major goal first, I make steady progress day after day.
**Making Money is Addictive!**
When I first started exploring ways to make money online, I thought of filling out surveys and maybe making a few pounds a month. I had no idea about more lucrative options like matched betting or how many different ways there are to generate extra income. Now that I have a better idea of what’s out there, I keep raising my money-making goals each month. I also have a long list of other side hustles I want to try. I’m excited for the future and looking forward to seeing my income grow!
**Side Hustling is Empowering**
The money is great, but an unexpected benefit of side hustling is how it changes your outlook. I used to feel powerless about money, thinking I had to rely solely on whatever my boss decided to pay me. Now, I’ve taken responsibility for my own income, and it feels empowering to know I’m not 100% dependent on my job anymore. I’m not making a full-time income yet, but if I were to lose my job, I could ramp up my side hustles and be okay.
I have a secret plan to have my side income match my salary by the end of next year. It’s a great motivator on tough workdays, and it’s fun to have a double life of money-making that no one at work knows about!
**There’s So Much to Learn About Personal Finance – and I Love It!**
When I started this project, my main goal was to make a bit of extra money each month to stretch my budget. Then I discovered personal finance blogs and inspiring communities of people who have turned their side hustles into full-time incomes, make six figures a month blogging, or have retired in their 20s or 30s thanks to high savings rates.
I’m proud of making an extra couple of hundred pounds a month, but I now realize this is just the tip of the iceberg. Along with making extra money through side hustles, I’m inspired to learn more about investing, financial independence, and money management. I’m just at the beginning of this journey, and it feels great to have so much to look forward to!