[USER]

If you do have a hobby/side hussle that pays your bills-motivate me

How did you turn your passion into a source of financial stability? Many people dream of making money from what they love, but not everyone manages to do it successfully.

Whether it’s freelancing, crafting, content creation, or any other passion-driven pursuit, we’d love to hear your story!

How did you start, what challenges did you face, and what advice would you give to others looking to do the same?

Share your experience!

[Donnie]

My career from 1983-2019 was fishing. Commercial fishing that evolved into Charter Fishing. I got real good at working on my boat and people saw it. Next thing I know other boaters were hiring me to work on theirs.

It got better every year and a few years I made more money on my side gig than I did on my main gig.

The best thing about it was I enjoyed them both. Find something you like and get good at it.

The rest falls in place.

[LySette]

What not to do? Have chickens. What do I do? Have chickens. I do sell extra eggs dirt cheap as nobody in my area wants to spend money on back yard eggs, which is odd. They barely pay their way through 1/2 a winter.

What else not to do? Have a large garden because you love growing, yet your family is small and doesn’t like 1/2 of what you grow.

My local farmers market is too restrictive to sell and so much more $$ and time and rules to join. Probably why it’s teeny tiny is a rural area where many have produce to offer.

So, I then give tons and tons away. Neighbors begin running from me, terrified I’m giving them more squashes.

On the plus side, my freezers and cupboards are full! Saves on groceries and I know my food is grown naturally and cared for.

So not a side hustle of sorts. Yet still a good way to keep grocery prices down. I saved about $800 in groceries last year.

I have my own compost, chicken waste, and built beds from Amish wood mill scraps. Not a big investment to get going. Square foot gardening pays

[Theresa]

I do childcare in my home at my convenience since I am now “retired”. I couldn’t give up having kids around and the extra money is great.

[Marybeth]

Ushering at a local entertainment venue. Free shows, exercise, it gets me out of the house, provides spending money.

Teaching at the career school I graduated from. It’s a lot of work to prepare lessons but great fun to interact with the students.

I repair sweaters that moths have munched or the neck seam popped from rough use, etc.

Very detailed work, I use a magnifying lamp.
Recycled cans and bottles for the deposit money (if your state requires a small deposit when the drink is purchased).

Now I’m going through my two large closets of clothes to figure out what clothes I can sell.

I’ll probably use FBMP or Ebay. Some of my clothes are quite vintage, just like me!

[Gladys]

My mom always helped elderly with house chores and errands. Had same clients for decades. Very rewarding relationships and money always helped.

In between jobs at times was the only money for food

[Dee]

My side hustle is donating plasma for 100 plus every week.

[Brandy]

Depends on the season/time of year/holiday and things I happen to have extra of.
-Sell books and clothes to resell places.

-people sell custom corn hole boards on FB marketplace a lot where I live but no bags.

I did a little research for materials and already had a sewing machine and starting selling the bags

-Valentine’s Day, I made gift baskets with salt scrubs and bath salts I made with flowers I grew and dried from last year.

-summer and fall- garage sales. I post on fb marketplace and I have a following now. I also have a sign up sheet for texts when I I am going to have one. Sometime people give me things to sell and let me keep the money

-I made badge reels for nurses and it turned into companies wanting them. I made my min 1000 pc to get something free and starting selling so many I had to stop!

– lots more but .. you get the idea.

[Misty]

During Covid I did pet transport for breeders. Traveled the country taking people their very expensive kittens. It was alot of fun.

I also worked as an ARC for the postal service delivering packages. Lost 25 pounds and had unlimited overtime.

[Keri]

Childcare and I hear some ppl are making great money doing laundry service for ppl!

[Esther]

Machine embroidery and I was doing craft shows. Was making approx $120.00 every 4 HR show.

[Khadijah]

I make crayons. Melt them down with other colors for a new shade or all the same, pour into letters, shapes, or whatever molds. I also do JoinBrands.

You get to try products they reimburse you and pay on top of that.

That covers supplies for crayons and some gas

[Marsha]

I taught private flute lessons our of my home for many many years. Before I had kids, I used to teach in colleges and music stores snd had to drive everywhere.

After kids, all my students came to me, and I was still in the house when the kids were home.

When they were little, my mom used to come over when I taught, but later, didn’t need anybody but I was there if they needed me.

I was able to get a deduction on our utilities on taxes because of the home business.

[Cathy]

My side hustle turned in to my dream job. 6 years now working for myself!

[Sara]

Security guard at concerts and sporting events. I’ve seen Broadway plays, opera, and great musicians while earning some money.

[Eric]

Handyman in a 55+ community, endless work! mow lawns, hang TV’s, assemble shelves, change oil, wash cars, pet sit, golf cart maint.

the list goes on.

[Catherine]

Dog sitting or boarding. Especially dogs that need home environment and would not do well in a kennel situation

[Joan]

For many years I was a face painter. I learned first from books then other painters and taking workshops.

I booked events on my own and sometimes worked under other painters to learn and then got a website and by word of mouth I built up a nice business.

I was working full time while growing my face painting business.

I made more money working weekends at gigs than I did at my full time job. It was a good 16 years.

[Anita]

I rent out rooms in my house. I’m away in Winter; so why not. Especially with rental shortage in Toronto.

[Varvara]

I used to do translating but now probably wouldn’t be good enough to compete with technology. Really good or specialized translators are still in demand.

Also do some 3D modeling / visualization sometimes.

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