Make More Money

  • How to Increase Your Income in 2023

    When my husband and I got married, we knew the only way we would be able to pay off our six-figure student loan debt while also saving for our other goals was to increase our income.

    Finding ways to save money is great. But you can only cut so much from your budget. And we knew we wanted to continue to enjoy hobbies like travel, eating out, and seeing live music while paying off our debt.

    More and more often, I hear from other millennials looking to find ways to increase their income to help them reach their financial goals.

    In this article, I’m rounding up a few of my favorite tips for how to boost your income in 2023.

     

    How to Increase Your Income in 2021

     

    Ask for a raise

    If you love your current job, then asking for a raise is one of the best ways to increase income while continuing to do what you love. 

    While I know trying to negotiate your salary might sound stressful, look at the positives. Increasing your salary now increases your entire career income projection, meaning you’ll make more money over the course of your working life AND set aside more for retirement.

    Before you approach your boss about a raise, there’s some prep work you’ll need to do.

    1. Start by making a list of your job responsibilities. Write down everything you do in your job, either on a regular or irregular basis.
    2. Next, collect your recent performance reviews. Chances are, your company has some sort of review process in place. If not, gather other written positive feedback you’ve gotten, both from your boss and others. While you’re at it, make a list of any major accomplishments or successes you’ve had in your job.
    3. Do some research online about the average salary for your position. How much are other people making in the same type of position as yours? Another step I’d recommend is asking your colleagues, especially your male colleagues, if you’re a female, how much they make. Bringing this up might sounds scary. But when I finally got up the nerve to speak to a few of my male colleagues about salary, I found that multiple men were making more money than me in similar roles, and I had more responsibility than they did. Even today, the wage gap is still something we’re dealing with.

    Once you’ve done all your prep work, set up a meeting with your boss. I’d recommend telling them upfront that you’d like to meet to discuss a pay raise. That allows both of you to go to the meeting a bit more prepared.

    Once you’re in the meeting, sit down with your boss and tell them that after going through your list of tasks, your reviews, and your accomplishment, you feel confident that you’ve made valuable contributions to the team and would like a raise. 

    Give a specific percent increase. Most raises are about 3%, so ask for a little more, like 5%.

    If your boss has hesitations, you can talk about the conversations you had with your coworkers and the research you did online, showing that people in your role are being paid more than you are. 

    You can also ask some follow-up questions, such as what is causing them to hesitate and how long someone normally works in your role before getting a raise. 

    During this meeting, keep the conversation focused on the job and your accomplishments in it. Don’t bring your personal finances into the mix. Companies don’t give raises because people are trying to pay off debt — they give raises to people who make valuable contributions.

    Ultimately, whatever the final answer is, be gracious and polite and thank them for their time. The worst answer you can get is no. But if you’re rude or don’t take the word no well, then you might damage your reputation with your boss and the company.

     

    Find a new job

    Getting a raise in your current job is a great way to increase income, but it’s not right for everyone. Some people may not be able to earn as much as they’d like in their current company or line of work. And for those who really dislike their job, more money may not be enough to make up for it.

    Instead, you might consider finding a new job altogether. Here are a few steps to take:

    1. Consider the type of job you want. Before you start applying for jobs, spend some time thinking about what you really want. Ask yourself if you want to stay with the same company and simply apply for a higher-level job. Or maybe you want to switch careers altogether.
    2. Research the job market. Do your homework about the career you want and the current job market. Learn about the types of jobs available, the top companies, and the salary you might expect to get.
    3. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. Update your LinkedIn resume so it will attract recruiters. When it comes to actually applying for jobs, create one that is tailored to each job you apply for.
    4. Reach out to your network. Once you’re ready to start looking, connect with people in your network. Let people know that you’re in the market for a new job and ask them to keep an eye out for any opportunities.
    5. Talk to recruiters. Depending on your field, there may be plenty of recruiters who specialize in finding candidates for jobs like the ones you want. You can contact recruiters directly or connect with them on LinkedIn.
    6. Apply consistently. Job hunting can be discouraging, especially if you find that it’s taking longer than you hoped. Find a few job boards that you find the best jobs on, and visit those consistently. Eventually, your hard work will pay off!

     

    Get a part-time job

    A part-time job might not sound like the most glamorous way to make money, but it’s effective and consistent. So many people are on the lookout for the next popular side hustle that they forget that getting a normal part-time job is an option. 

    While my husband and I were starting our debt payoff journey and saving for our RV, I was working full-time in politics while working on my business as a side hustle. My husband, in the meantime, worked as a bartender a couple of nights per week. It was a fairly easy job and one that he liked, and he was able to make an extra $1,000 per month.

    There are plenty of part-time jobs available in food service and retail. Depending on your skill set, you might also be able to find something more specific to your career and earn even more money.

     

    Join the gig economy

    While there’s no technical definition here, the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes a gig as “a single project or task for which a worker is hired, often through a digital marketplace, to work on demand.”

    These types of jobs are contract positions, and most allow you to work whenever you’re available rather than abiding by a schedule like a part-time job would require. 

    Examples of gig jobs would include:

    • Rideshare opportunities like Uber and Lyft
    • Grocery shopping and delivery through companies like Instacart
    • Food delivery with Doordash, Postmates, UberEats, etc.
    • Pet sitting and walking with Rover or Wag
    • Tackling specific tasks with sites like Fiverr or TaskRabbit

    These side hustles can be great for anyone who wants to be able to make extra money on demand. With a part-time, you’re usually subject to a set schedule. But these apps allow you to work and make money when it fits with your schedule.

     

    Start a business

    The final strategy I want to talk about for making extra money (and my personal favorite) is to start an online business.

    Now let me preface this by saying that if you’re just interested in picking up some extra income right now to help you on your debt payoff or savings journey, then this probably isn’t the right choice for you.

    Depending on the type of business you want to start, there are likely going to be some start-up costs. Plus, it could be a while before you really start making money.

    I can tell you that I put hundreds of hours of work into my business before I made money. At the same time, if you’re looking for something sustainable that you can build over many years, I love this idea. 

    Starting a business involves selling something, whether you’re selling a physical product, a digital product, or a service. I run a service-based business. I provide money coaching to clients and provide freelance writing services to financial companies. 

     

    SERVICE-BASED BUSINESS

    Starting a service-based business is fairly low-cost and doesn’t require a lot of upfront work. What it does require is for you to have a specific skill that you’re offering to your clients.

    Here are the steps you can follow to start your own service-based business:

    1. Step one pick a skill. For me, it’s writing and coaching. For others, it’s social media management, photography, ad management, web design, editing, or a million other options.
    2. Step two is to hone your skill. Depending on the skill you choose, this might be a little or a lot of work. When I decided to become a freelance writer, I already had a degree in journalism and had been writing on my own blog for years. There wasn’t a huge learning curve. But I did have to learn how to freelance write for other sites. But some people might decide to start a service-based business doing something they’ve never done or haven’t done in years. In that case, you may want to take an online course or find an online certification to help boost your skills.
    3. Step three is to build your portfolio. Once you’ve honed your skills, start putting together work to show potential clients. This might require doing a bit of free work. If you’re starting a business as a social media manager, you could reach out to friends or family members who own businesses and ask if you can manage their social media for a while in exchange for testimonials. When I was starting to freelance write, I was able to use my blog as my portfolio. The bottom line is that you need to find a way to display your work and prove to potential clients that you can do the job.
    4. Step four is to start marketing your business. You can do this through social media or by directly reaching out to potential clients. When I started freelance writing, I just started emailing sites I wanted to write for and asking them if they needed more writers. It was surprisingly effective. For my coaching business, I do things differently. I don’t just email women and ask if they want a money coach. Instead, I share value on social media by offering personal finance tips and then sharing information about my program for people who want to work together one on one.

    So that’s how you can get started with a service-based business. I’ve found that’s the type of business that was the best fit for me. It’s my favorite way to make money.

     

    PRODUCE-BASED BUSINESS

    If that’s what you’d like to pursue, start by considering what product you’d like to sell. Maybe you’re good with crafts and want to handmake something to sell. Or maybe you’re good with graphic design and want to start selling printables.

    Once you figure out what you want to sell, figure out where you’d like to sell it. Etsy is a great marketplace for both physical and digital products. You can also decide to sell your product on your own website using a program like Shopify or WooCommerce. 

    And just like with starting a service-based business, the final step is to start marketing your product online.

    Now, this is obviously a simplistic explanation for how to start a business. There’s so much more that goes into it. If you’re serious about doing this, I recommend seeking out an online course to help you get started.

     

    What to do after you increase your income

    Once you actually take steps to boost your income, I encourage you to think about what you’ll do with that extra money.

    When your income increases, it can be tempting to spend all of that money. But chances are you’ve got some financial goals you want to save for. Deciding ahead of time how you’ll use the best way to ensure you don’t waste it.

    And once you start bringing in money, follow through on your plan. You’ll be happy that you did!

     

    Final Thoughts

    Increasing my income has been one of my favorite ways to reach my financial goals even faster. It helps me to save more without necessarily having to cut everything I love from my budget.

  • How to Start a Side Hustle and Make More Money

    One of the most important lessons I’ve learned through my own money journey is that the best way to reach any financial goal faster is to increase your income.

    Wanna pay off debt? Increase your income, and you’ll pay it off faster.

    Wanna save up to buy a house? Increase your income, and you’ll get your house faster.

    It’s just basic math – the more money you have, the more you can do with it. And one of the best ways to increase your income is to pick up a side hustle.

    I started my side-hustling journey in 2014. I had a full-time government job, but the pay wasn’t great, and it didn’t do a lot to spark my creativity. So I started my first blog, both as a creative outlet and as a great way to earn a bit of extra income.

    In the years since then, side-hustling has helped me to pay off tens of thousands of dollars in debt and save up enough money to buy an RV, and travel the country full-time. Not only that, but I was able to turn my side gig into my full-time, allowing me to work from anywhere on my travels.

    In this post, I’ll share all of my best tips for starting a side hustle and making extra money to help you reach your financial goals.

    Not sure a side hustle is for you? Read this article on why a side hustle is a great idea!

     

    There are affiliate links in this post, meaning I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, see my full disclosure policy here.

     

    Step 1: Choose a side hustle idea

    Some of you might already have a side hustle or business idea that you can’t wait to dive into. For others, maybe you know you want to start a side gig to earn a bit of extra money in your spare time, but you’re not sure what exactly you want to do. Well, that’s what this first step is for. This phase is all about brainstorming!

    First things first, ask yourself what you are good at and passionate about. It’s important that this isn’t something you’re going to get sick of right away! I could talk about my personal finance for hours on end, which made writing about money the perfect side hustle for me.

    In addition to finding a topic that you’re passionate about, you have to make sure it’s something that other people are interested in as well. Because as important as it is that YOU love your side hustle, you can’t make money from something that no one else will spend money on.

    Still short on side hustle ideas? I’ve got you covered! In this blog post on reasons to start a side hustle, I shared 9 awesome side hustle ideas! Those ideas include:

    • Becoming a freelancer (writer, graphic designer, etc.)
    • Starting a blog
    • Opening an online shop
    • Becoming a virtual assistant
    • Selling digital products, such as an ebook or an online course
    • Teaching a skill 
    • Joining the gig economy

     

    Step 2: Do your research

    Let me preface this by saying that when I started my side hustle, I did zero research. I literally didn’t even know that blogging was a thing you could make money from when I first got started. And I certainly didn’t forsee being able to turn it into a six-figure freelance writing business

    But once I learned that it was something you could make an income from, you better believe I did a ton of research to maximize its potential.

    Whether the side business you’re starting is a blog or something totally different, I guarantee there is tons of information available online from people who have done the same thing you are trying to do. Side hustles are quite common today, and I guarantee someone else is teaching people to do exactly what you’re trying to do.

    Research everything from the logistics of setting up your website to marketing. Join some Facebook groups with others with the same side gig and learn from them. One thing I’ve learned is that online business owners seem super happy to share their knowledge and create connections with other online business owners. It’s such an awesome and welcoming community.

     

    Step 3: Get it up and running

    Okay, so you’ve figured out the what and the how. Now it’s time to just freaking do it already. The launching phase is going to vary from person to person. Part of this depends on the side hustle you’ve chosen – some just take longer to get set up than others do!

    It also partly depends on what else you’ve got going on in your life. The more prior commitments you have, the less free time you’ll have to work on your side gig. And if that’s the case, it’s going to take a bit longer to get set up.

    I remember when I was just in the launch phase of my website, I seriously looked for every spare moment I could find to work on it. I spent entire weekends curled up on the couch with my laptop, excitedly planning and designing everything. Additionally, I spent lots of nights up way too late because I was mid-project and just couldn’t bring myself to stop.

    Then again, I’ve also gone through seasons of life where I don’t have nearly as much spare time. I would have had a much more difficult time starting my side hustle during those seasons.

    Pro tip: Knowing how much time you can devote to your side hustle can also help you decide the best side hustle for you. Some naturally require more time than others.

    If you’re like me and have chosen a blog as a side hustle, the launch phase is going to include things like setting up your website and choosing a design, getting your social media accounts set up, learning SEO, and getting your first few blog posts written.

    Of course, the start-up process will look entirely different if your side hustle is something else.

     

    Step 4: Create a schedule

    If you truly want this side hustle to make money, then you have to treat it like a business. That means setting aside certain hours when you are going to work on your business.

    Obviously, since it’s your own business, no one can enforce these hours for you. There will definitely be times when something else sounds more fun than working.

    But just remember, you will only get out of it as much as you put into it. How many hours you work is 100% up to you. Someone with a full-time job and a family with kids at home is going to have fewer hours available than someone who is single with no kids.

    Since this is a side gig, your work hours are certainly going to be limited. You might have a full-time job, be a stay-at-home parent, or be going to school full-time. You know best when you are free and will be most available to work on your business.

    When I was still working my day job, evenings and weekends were my side hustle time. I scheduled certain work hours into my calendar, and those hours are non-negotiable. And if I knew I’d be busy all weekend, I’d make sure to work extra hours in the evenings that week.

    Part of creating your side hustle schedule is respecting everyone’s time. You need to respect your own time and hold yourself accountable for those hours you plan to work on your side hustle.

    But this also means respecting your employer’s time if you work a full-time job. Don’t let your side hustle interfere with your job. If you have a lunch hour or breaks available to get in a little work on your side hustle, that’s great!

    But don’t work on your side hustle when you should be working on your full-time job. If you do, you may not have a full-time job for long.

     

    Step 5: Set SMARTER goals

    Even though you spent a TON of time doing research before launching your side hustle, there’s still so much to learn.

    You’re going to learn a ton right after you launch your side hustle and really dive into working on it every day. Once you have a better idea of what you’re getting yourself into, it’s time to set some goals for yourself.

    I set zero goals for myself when I first started my blog. And guess how long it took me to make my first dollar. One year. I’m guessing you’re not interested in waiting that long! Part of this is because I started off just blogging as a hobby, and part of it was that I didn’t get organized and set goals for myself.

    So what kind of goals should you be setting? This isn’t just about throwing out arbitrary goals. It’s about setting realistic goals and coming up with a plan to meet them. In other words, you want to set SMARTER goals. And just what are SMARTER goals?

    • Specific: The more specific your goals, the better. Don’t just set a goal of earning money with your side hustle. Set a goal of earning $1,000/month from your side hustle within the first year. (That’s just an example, the actual number will vary person to person).
    • Measurable: The progress of this goal can be easily tracked. $1,000/month is very specific – you’ll know for sure if you’ve reached it or not! And once you know how much you want to make per month, you know what your daily and weekly goals should be!
    • Attainable: While setting your goals high is awesome, make sure it’s something you can actually accomplish. Consider what will be required of you to complete this goal, and carefully consider whether you have that to give.
    • Relevant: Make sure your goal is in harmony with your core values and what you’re working toward in life. If your ultimate dream is to work from home full-time, then setting a goal of $1,000/month in the first year is awesome because you’re totally moving in the right direction!
    • Time-Bound: Don’t make the time frame for reaching your goals open-ended. We tend to take as long to accomplish a task as we are allowed. If your goals are completely open-ended, they may never seem urgent enough to get to. As you can see, we set a time frame of one year in the goal we’re using as an example.
    • Exciting: Let’s be real, it’s going to be a lot easier to make time to work on goals that excite and inspire you. Emotions are a big factor when it comes to goal-setting, and you’re far more likely to reach for things that excite you.
    • Routine Bound: I firmly believe that creating routines and habits is the absolute best way to make changes in your life. Incorporating your goal into your daily routine ensures you’re making time for it. It also gives you a much better chance of reaching it. For example, you might say that every evening you get home from work at 6 pm and work on your online business until 8 pm. It becomes a daily routine and ensures you’re putting in the time to reach that $1,000/month goal.

     

    Step 5: Invest in growth

    If you truly want your side hustle to be a real business that creates an income stream, then you have to treat it like a business. And this means investing in your growth.

    Time is certainly the biggest investment you’ll make in your side hustle. But there will be some financial investment as well. The good news is that many side hustles are relatively cheap to start. And you can increase your investment as you start making an income.

    Some of the investments you’ll make in your side hustle will be tools, such as those to start your email list or market yourself on social media.

    Here are a few of my favorite tools that I use to run my business:

    • SiteGround: This is the website hosting company I use – monthly plans start at $3.95/month, so SUPER affordable for beginners.
    • Canva: Images are an important part of any website. I use Canva to design certain elements of my website. I also use it to design the images that appear on my website and social media pages.
    • Flodesk: For many side hustles, having an email list is going to be crucial. Flodesk is the best!
    • QuickBooks: This is the tool I use to manage my business finances. You’ll need to do so no matter what side hustle route you choose to go.

     

    Step 7: Track and evaluate your progress

    You may think that once you make it through the research phase and launch your side hustle, it’s all smooth sailing toward your goals. I assure you this is not the case.

    There are going to be bumps in the road. One month you’ll have an amazing month and feel like you’re making a ton of progress. But the next month, you’ll feel like you’re starting from square one.

    And one thing I can definitely promise you: you will never, ever stop learning when it comes to best practices for your side hustle.

    Because of this, it’s super important that you’re diligent about tracking and evaluating your progress. Make sure to have some sort of system in place where you can track how things are going. 

    The metrics that are important to you will, of course, depend on the side hustle you choose. However, I’d caution you against getting too caught up in vanity metrics, such as the number of followers you have on social media.

    In addition to tracking everything, you need to be regularly evaluating those numbers to decide if what you’re doing is really working.

    If you see a trend of several months where you’re income is going down, it’s probably time to change something up. It’s when you get complacent that things start to really slip.

     

    Step 8: Make a plan for your side hustle income

    I love that having a side hustle can help people to pay off debt and reach financial goals years earlier than they otherwise would have. But in order to really make the most of it, you’ve gotta make a plan for that money.

    Imagine this: You start a side hustle to help you pay off your student loans faster. You get it set up and start bringing in money. You’re so excited about this new income that you find yourself doing a lot more online shopping than planned. Suddenly the money is gone, and you haven’t put any extra toward debt.

    Listen, I’m all for spending money on things that bring you joy. In fact, it’s one of the things I teach in my money coaching program. But I also teach my clients to be incredibly intentional about their spending and to have a plan in place.

    Instead of letting your emotions guide your spending decisions, make a plan ahead of time. For example, maybe you decide you’ll spend 75% of your side hustle income on extra debt payments while the other 25% will be fun money. You still get to treat yourself, while also making progress on your goals.

     

    Step 9: Know the tax laws regarding side hustle income

    One thing to keep in mind about starting a side hustle is that there are tax laws you’ll have to follow.

    When you have a full-time job, your employer takes money out of each paycheck to pay income taxes on your behalf. But with a side hustle, there’s no one doing that for you.

    But the IRS still expects to get paid. It’s critical that when you’re making money on the side, you track every single dollar you earn and spend. That way, you can report them for tax purposes.

    Software like QuickBooks can help you get this process started. And if you’re uneasy about handling the finances yourself, consider hiring an accountant or bookkeeper to help you out.

     

    Final Thoughts

    A side hustle is my absolute favorite way to increase your income. That extra income can help you to pay off debt and reach your financial goals. It can collapse the timeline of these big goals by years! And while starting a side hustle might seem overwhelming at first, it’s a lot less scary once you get started! 

  • 11 Ways to Make an Extra $1,000 a Month

    When my husband and I got married, we knew we had some financial goals we wanted to meet pretty quickly. 

    Together we had six figures of debt, and we knew we wanted to pay that off as soon as possible. Thinking about making these student loan payments twenty years from now sounded miserable, so we settled on a payoff timeline of about seven years. 

    We also had some big purchases we knew we wanted to save for. We also had plans to give up our apartment and buy an RV so we could travel the country in it.

    We also knew we wanted to buy a home when we got back to Wisconsin, so we wanted to start preparing for that early.

    So I guess you could say we’ve got an expensive few years ahead of us. 

    The best way for us to aggressively pay down our debt and save for our financial goals at the same time has been to increase our income. 

    $1,000 in extra income per month can go a long way!

    In this post, I’m sharing how you can make an extra $1,000 a month to start tackling your financial goals. 

     

    11 Ways to Make an Extra $1000 Per Month

    There are affiliate links in this post, meaning I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, see my full disclosure policy here.

     

    Why is it good to make extra money?

    How many times have you read a personal finance book or blog post that said you should stop buying lattes or start clipping coupons to reach your financial goals?

    Yeah, it might not be terrible advice, and those things can help you to save a few dollars here and there. But are you really going to pay off your student loans or buy your dream house by saving a few dollars here and there? Probably not. 

    Rather than ruthlessly cutting small things from our budget, my husband and I have found the best way to reach our financial goals is to make more money. 

    After all, we really wanted to be able to aggressively pay off debt while also enjoying live music and eating out since those are our favorite things to spend money on. 

    Making an extra $1,000 a month can make a huge difference in helping you to reach your goals. 

    With $1,000 extra income per month, you could pay off your student loans in just a few years rather than the 10-20 years it’s scheduled to take. 

    With $1,000 extra income per month, you could save the downpayment for your dream home in just a few years. 

    With $1,000 extra income per month, you could take an amazing vacation every year and still have enough to save aggressively for retirement. 

    I’m telling you, making extra money is the secret you’ve been looking for!

     

    What are the best ways to make extra income?

    When you first think about it, $1,000 sounds like a lot of money. And don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely more than spare change. 

    But when you do the math to figure out exactly what you have to do to hit that number, it’s actually not as hard as you’d think!

    An extra $1,000 could be:

    • 25 hours per week at $10 per hour
    • 10 hours per week at $25 per hour
    • $250 from four freelance clients each
    • 10 online courses sold for $100 each
    • 8 musical lessons taught for $125 each

     

    START A BLOG

    I can honestly say that starting a blog was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not only is it something that I genuinely enjoy doing, but it is also an amazing way to bring in additional income every month. 

    There are plenty of different ways to make money blogging depending on what interests you. You could make money through affiliate marketing, sidebar ads, working with companies on sponsored blog posts, or selling your own digital products like eBooks and online courses. 

    You can start your own blog or niche site on just about anything. I’ve seen successful blogs in just about every niche you could think of. As long as someone out there is interested in it, you’ve got a potential audience. 

    And for what it’s worth, I was able to launch my tiny personal finance blog into a six-figure freelance writing business.

     

    BECOME A FREELANCER

    When you work as a freelancer, you’re an independent contractor providing a particular service to another person or company. 

    If you’ve got a specific skill set to be a freelance writer, graphic designer, or social media manager, you can find work as a freelancer online. 

    In 2018, in addition to running my blog, I started picking up freelance writing clients. In just a little over a year, I was able to take my freelance writing income from just a few hundred dollars here and there to $10,000 per month. 

    My favorite resource to get started with freelance writing is the online course Earn More Writing. In this course, six-figure freelance writer Holly Johnson teaches you how to get started with freelance writing and make serious money online. 

     

    START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL

    We’re living in an increasingly visual world, so it’s not surprising that video continues to become a bigger and bigger deal every year. 

    And while it might seem like it’s too late to start a YouTube channel (hasn’t it all been done already??), there’s definitely still room for anyone who has something unique to bring to the table. 

    Certain niches tend to really go hand in hand with video, but honestly, people have been successful on video in just about every niche!

    If YouTube sounds right for you, I recommend finding an online course on video and editing. With so much competition out there, people really expect high-quality videos. 

    Start sharing your creations with the world, and before you know it, you’ll start bringing in extra money. 

     

    BECOME A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

    One of the awesome things about the rise of online businesses is that it’s created an entirely new career — Virtual assistants. 

    A virtual assistant (aka a VA) is an independent contractor that provides administrative services for online clients. 

    Plenty of online business owners hire VAs to help them in all areas of their business. Some do really basic administrative tasks like responding to emails, while others might have a more narrow specialty, like running someone’s Pinterest account or doing all of their social media scheduling. 

    You can find VA jobs on just about any job board these days. You can also join Facebook groups for business owners and find anyone looking for VA services. 

     

    START A SERVICE-BASED BUSINESS

    Plenty of people make extra cash by offering services to people in their community. If you have a talent, chances are other people are willing to pay you for it. 

    For example, the photographer my husband and I hired for our wedding actually does that as a side gig, and she has a different job she works as her full-time job. 

    She’s at the point where she’s definitely making more than $1,000 per month, but you’ve gotta start somewhere! 

    A service-based business could also be something as simple as mowing people’s lawns in the summer or shoveling their driveways in the winter. 

    Plenty of people offering service-based businesses start off just to make some extra money and then end up going full-time later on. 

     

    TEACH ENGLISH ONLINE

    Another easy way to make $1,000 per month is by teaching English online. You can do this by using a site like VIPKID. 

    VIPKID is an online education service that connects kids in China with English teachers. And no, you don’t have to be an actual English teacher to join. 

    On VIPKID, you can make up to $22 per hour teaching short half-hour lessons to kids. The best part is that you can make your own schedule, meaning you can make an extra $1,000 per hour in your spare time between other commitments.

     

    START AN ETSY SHOP

    If you’re crafty, Etsy can be a great way to make some extra money every month. Etsy is an online marketplace where you can sell anything that is handmade or vintage.

    You can sell hand-made items on Etsy, like jewelry or knitted items. You can also sell digital items. Plenty of people sell printables and spreadsheets of all kinds. 

    I had an Etsy shop as a part of my business model for a number of years, and it was a great way to make a little extra money every month. 

     

    JOIN THE GIG ECONOMY

    One of the best things about technology today is that there is no shortage of apps you can download and immediately start making money. 

    These apps exist in what is called the gig economy, where you make money by picking up gigs.

    One way to make money with apps is by driving for Uber or Lyft, where you make money by driving people around in your own car. You’re basically a freelance taxi, and you can pick up a few rides whenever you’ve got time. 

    You can also make money online by delivering things. Apps like DoorDash and GrubHub allow you to sign up to deliver food. Other apps, such as Instacart pay you to go grocery shopping for other people and deliver their groceries to their homes. 

    There are also gig apps that don’t require driving anyone or delivering anything. Sites like Rover, for example, allow you to make money by pet sitting or walking people’s dogs. Sounds like a fun way to make money to me!

     

    TEACH OTHERS A SKILL

    You might be noticing a trend with this list, but the gist of it is that you can find a way to monetize just about any skill. 

    Depending on the skill, you might be able to teach lessons in your community. 

    For example, let’s say you’re skilled at a particular musical instrument. Chances are there are people in town who are interested in taking lessons. 

    If you’re teaching people locally, you can start sharing your services on social media. You could also offer a few lessons for free and ask those people to spread the word about your services. 

     

    RENT OUT A ROOM ON AIRBNB

    If you have an extra room in your house or a house or apartment you’re not always using, you could make extra money by renting it out on Airbnb. 

    This can be a great way to make a bit of extra money without too much of a time commitment. 

    Even if you don’t live in an area with a ton of tourism, there are almost certainly people coming into town for events, businesses, or to visit friends and family. 

    I know it can sound super sketchy to let a stranger come stay in your home with you, but you can screen the people who stay with you. Plus, someone coming to visit the city is probably going to be spending most of their time out, so you won’t run into them too much. 

    I’ve even read about people who rent out their apartments during their city’s tourist season and then just crash with their parents anytime someone books the place. 

     

    GET A SECOND JOB

    So many people are constantly on the lookout for the next big side hustle that they forget all about the original side hustle: getting a second job. 

    Often, these are the side jobs where you can actually earn the most money the most quickly. 

    You might think that sounds crazy, but hear me out!

    I started my blog in 2014. It started as a hobby, but it didn’t take long for me to learn that people actually make money from their blogs. As soon as I learned that, I wanted in. 

    I worked on my blog for an entire year before I made a single dollar. That first year was spent building a framework I could make money from home with later. 

    It was another year or so before I was making $1,000 per month. 

    Now don’t get me wrong — Plenty of people make a lot more money with their blogs a lot more quickly. But to do that, you have to devote a lot of time to it. As in, you skip all those happy hours and weekend plans with friends because you’re always working.

    Contrast that with my husband, who took a side job as a bartender for a couple of nights per week while we were working to save money.

    When he started that job, he was immediately able to start earning $1,000 per month (or more). There was no period of “building a framework.” 

    While it took me a couple of years to get to earning $1,000 per month on my blog, it took him no time at all. 

    So if what you’re really looking for is just an extra $1,000 per month, getting a second job might be the quickest way to make it happen. 

     

    Final Thoughts

    An extra $1,000 of income a month can have such a big impact on your life. It doesn’t take that many hours per week to get there, and yet it can actually be life-changing. 

    I can tell you that when I was going through my divorce and at my lowest financially, that extra monthly income is what got me through it. 

    Whether you want the extra month to pay off debt, save for a financial goal, or just live a little bigger, all of the tips on this list can help you to get there. 

  • 35+ Legit Ways to Make Extra Money

    I love thinking of and talking about ways to make extra money.

    Like most people in my generation, I graduated college with my fair share of student loan debt. And let’s be real, life is just expensive in general. And rather than just getting by, paying my bills, and being able to put a little extra in savings, I want to reach real financial freedom someday.

    And I truly believe that side hustles and extra income will be able to change my life – and yours too! Because of that, I’m sharing 35 ways to make extra money.

     

    35+ Legit Ways to Make Extra Money

    There are affiliate links in this post, meaning I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, see my full disclosure policy here.

     

    Start a side hustle

    1. Start a blog: This one is first on the list because it’s seriously my favorite of all the ways to make more money! Blogging started as just a hobby for me, but as soon as I realized the income potential, I dove right in.

    2. Become an influencer: These days, it’s possible to make money with your online presence without even having a blog! If you have a significant following on social media, you can become an influencer and get paid to promote brands on social media (primarily Instagram). 

    3. Start an Etsy shop: If you’re a crafty person, Etsy is definitely for you! Etsy is an online marketplace where you can sell anything that is handmade or vintage. 

    4. Freelance writing: Not only can you make money writing for your own blog, but you can become a freelance writer and make from other sites as well. I started off using my freelance writing income to supplement my income before turning it into my full-time job. The best way to learn about freelance writing is through the course Earn More Writing, which is what I used to help me make money through freelance writing.

    5. Editing: In addition to freelance writing jobs, you can also find freelance editing jobs. Lots of blogs and websites hire freelancers to edit their articles for them.

    6. Affiliate marketing: Affiliate marketing is where you make a commission selling someone else’s product. Bloggers make a lot of money with affiliate marketing, but you definitely don’t have to have a blog to be successful at affiliate marketing! You can share affiliate links anywhere, such as your social media pages, and make a commission when someone uses them. 

    7. Become a virtual assistant: More and more companies and individuals are hiring virtual assistants, so it’s becoming a more and more lucrative career. A virtual assistant (or VA) does administrative tasks for a person or business, but it’s done online instead of having to go into an office.

    8. Social media management: If you love being on social media and figuring out social media strategy, you can become a social media manager for other companies. Many companies and websites outsource their social media management rather than bring on someone full-time to handle it.

    9. Sell your photography: If you’re good with a camera, you can use that to make extra money. You could become a part-time photographer and take on jobs on the weekends, or you can sell your photography to a number of different stock photo sites.

    10. Start a different business: The options for online businesses are pretty endless these days, and chances are you can take something you’re passionate about and figure out how to make money from it online.

    11. Self-publish books: These days, it’s surprisingly easy to publish a book. You can self-publish and sell your book solely as an eBook or even sell physical books through Amazon.

     

    Make extra money online

    12. Sign up for Rakuten: If you shop online, Rakuten is seriously the easiest way to make more money because it gives you FREE cash back on purchases you’re already making! You just sign up and click on a link through the Rakuten website when you make your purchase, and you’ll get cash back. You can sign up for Rakuten here and get $10 when you spend your first $25!

    13. Get cash back on groceries: Apps like Fetch Rewards and Ibotta allow you to get cash back on groceries you already purchase! You just upload a picture of your receipt, and you’ll earn cash back on certain grocery purchases. I use Ibotta every week and ALWAYS find something to get cash back on.

    14. Teach English online: These days, it’s super easy to find work teaching English online, and companies like VIPKID actually pay you really well to do it. You can get paid $17-$22 per hour and make your own schedule.

    15. Airbnb: If you’ve got an extra room in your home, try renting it out on Airbnb. If you live in a popular city, you might be surprised just how much you can make.

    16. Take online surveys: There are tons of companies that will pay you to take market research surveys online! They’re free and easy to join and use. The best site I found for online surveys is Survey Junkie.

     

    Offer services to other people

    17. Pet sitting: If you’re an animal lover, this one is seriously right up your alley! This could either mean you staying at someone else’s home or having their pet stay with you. Either way, it’s a win-win because you’re getting paid to hang out with animals.

    18. Babysitting: If pets aren’t your thing, but you love kids, look for babysitting or nanny jobs instead. You’re not going to get rich taking care of someone else’s kids, but it’s definitely a way to make some extra money.

    19. Housesit: Believe it or not, you can make money looking after someone’s home while they’re out of town. Sites like TrustedHousesitters can help you to connect with people who are looking for someone to housesit for them. This is an even more lucrative offer for people who are traveling and can save money by housesitting instead of paying for lodging. TrustedHousesitters is specifically for pet lovers!

    20. Yard maintenance: You can make money by mowing lawns and doing other lawn maintenance in the summer or shoveling and plowing snow in the winter.

    21. Clean homes: If you’re one of those rare people who really don’t mind cleaning, then getting paid to clean homes might be right up your alley!

    22. Rent out your car: Apps like Turo allow you to rent your car to others for the day.

     

    Sell your stuff

    23. Sell on eBay: eBay is still a great place to sell used items and ship them to their new owner.

    24. Sell on Craigslist: Craigslist is a great way to find local buyers you sell your used items. The one downside to Craigslist is meeting up with a stranger, so I always like to do this in a public place!

    25. Sell on Facebook: Facebook’s marketplace makes it super easy to sell stuff online. I’ve had a lot of success with this. The big upside to Facebook over Craigslist is that it’s a little easier to vet the person you’re meeting up with.

    26. Sell on Poshmark: If you’ve got a closet full of clothes you don’t wear, you can make extra money by selling them on Poshmark.

     

    Make extra money at your job

    27. Ask for a raise: Asking for a raise at your current job is a great way to make extra money because it doesn’t require you to take on extra work. You’re just making more doing the job you were already doing!

    28. Work overtime: If you work an hourly job, consider working extra hours to make extra money.

    29. Get a promotion: If there’s room to grow in your company, see if a promotion is available.

     

    Other ways to make extra money

    30. Pick up a seasonal job: During the holidays, there are tons of seasonal jobs available. This really comes in handy since the holidays are when most of us could use a little extra money anyways. In addition to a little extra money, you also might be able to take advantage of an employee discount for some of your Christmas shopping.

    31. Sell plasma: Did you know there are companies that will pay you for your plasma? The process is similar to donating blood, but you get paid for it. A lot of friends of mine did this in high school and college for extra money, and you can earn about $50 per donation.

    32. Sign up for credit card rewards: There are lots of credit cards that offer cash back for using them or for spending a certain amount of money in the first three months. Make sure only to go this route if you really feel you’re responsible enough for a credit card (because let’s be honest, not everybody is).

    33. Invest: Investing obviously isn’t a sure thing, and it’s not as quick of a way to make money as some of the other things on this list. But if you have the money available, you might consider investing.

    34. Become an Uber or Lyft driver: A part-time job that you can do completely on your own schedule is becoming an Uber or Lyft driver. You don’t have a schedule, so you can work around your life, and you can make a lot of money if you’re available to drive at peak times.

    35. Get a part-time job: Check out local businesses to find a part-time job. Jobs such as retail, serving, and bartending are ideal when you have your nights and weekends free.

     

    Final Thoughts

    Let’s be real – most of us could really use a little extra income these days. Whether you’re trying to get out of debt or saving for a big goal, making a little extra money is a great way to do it. Hopefully, one of the ideas on this list will speak to you and be just what you need to bring in a little extra money every month!

  • Why You Should Start a Side Hustle (And 9 Side Hustle Ideas)

    Starting a side hustle is one of my top tips for reaching your financial goals more quickly.

    When I was working at my government job, I realized it could take my entire lifetime to pay off my debt, buy a home, and save money for travel and other financial goals. Oh, and I somehow needed to save for retirement while doing all of that.

    It just didn’t seem possible. At least, not until I started looking for other ways to make money.

    I started by making a bit of extra money here and there from my blog. But I was able to use that to launch my freelance writing business, which ended up earning me far more money (and eventually became my full-time job).

    Are you wondering whether a side hustle is right for you? In this article, I’m sharing a few reasons why you might want to start a side hustle, as well as a few side hustle ideas.

     

    Why You Should Start a Side Hustle (Plus 9 Side Hustle Ideas)

     

    Why you should start a side hustle

    YOU CAN DIVERSIFY YOUR INCOME

    When I first started blogging, I gave no thought to the idea that I might be able to monetize my blog. In fact, I didn’t even know you could make money blogging. 

    But it didn’t take me long to realize that there are a lot of people online making a great income from their blog or online business. While it didn’t replace my full-time job, it was enough to diversify my income, so I had a bit more money coming in and from a couple of sources.

    I was able to diversify my income even more when I was able to use my blog to launch my freelance writing business.

    Regardless of whether you want to turn your side hustle into a full-time job, having an extra source of income is great. Whether you’re paying off debt, saving for a trip, or just trying to build up your savings account, the extra income always helps.

     

    YOU’LL HAVE A CREATIVE OUTLET

    When I first started blogging, this is exactly why I did it. I have always loved writing, and while I was doing a lot of writing in my full-time job, it didn’t leave a lot of room for creativity.

    The content I share on my site has changed significantly from the beginning, but I still love that it’s my own space where I can write about whatever I want.

    I will say that blogging is no longer quite as much of a stress relief as it was when I first started. In the beginning, it was just a hobby and was great for stress relief and just a way to focus on something fun.

    Since I’ve started making an income from my blog, there are obviously additional stressors put on it. Nevertheless, I still get a lot of joy from it and love having it as a creative outlet. For example, unlike with my freelance writing clients, I have 100% creative control over what I publish on my own website.

     

    YOU CAN MAKE A CAREER CHANGE

    If you’re interested in switching career fields but don’t necessarily have the resume to get a job in the new field, starting a side hustle is a great way to do that.

    I had only worked in one field since graduating college, and by starting a blog, I was able to gain experience in areas I would never have otherwise. I was able to use that experience to launch my freelance writing business, which is now my career.

    I’ve seen plenty of other people who are either able to turn their side hustle into a full-time business or who are able to find a full-time job in the field of their side hustle, thanks to the experience they had gained.

     

    YOU’LL LEARN NEW SKILLS

    Even if you aren’t out to jump into a new career, you can still learn some awesome new skills from a side hustle! Before I started my blog, I had no idea of the skills and hard work that went into running a successful blog and online business.

    When I started blogging, I decided I wanted to learn as much as I could about blogging, social media, SEO, etc., and really dove into educating myself. I’ve learned so many skills over the last few years that I would never have had the chance to learn otherwise.

    Even if you aren’t planning on taking your side hustle full-time or switching to a new career field, these skills can be super useful in growing your side hustle and in other areas of your life and career as well. I definitely found some of the skills I’ve learned to be super useful in my former full-time state government job, even though it was a completely different industry.

     

    YOU’LL MEET NEW PEOPLE

    This one has come as a huge surprise to me, but definitely a pleasant one. When I first started my blog, it didn’t occur to me that I might be able to meet new people. I simply started it to have a creative outlet. However, I quickly learned that there are a ton of people online doing the same thing I am, and there are so many ways to connect with them.

    One of my favorite ways to connect with other bloggers and side hustlers has been through Facebook groups. There are tons of Facebook groups specifically for people to ask questions (lots of technical questions about setting up and running a blog, as well as questions about growing your audience).

    There are also groups solely for connecting with other online business owners. I have met some awesome people in these groups, and blogging definitely wouldn’t be the same without that online community of people who are going through all of the same struggles I am.

    Another way to meet new people in your industry is to connect with them on social media. Often this just looks like sending an Instagram DM to someone doing something similar. Over time, you can grow those DMs into a real friendship.

    Finally, there are probably in-person events in your industry where you can meet other people with a similar side hustle or interest. Not only are these conferences a great way to learn more to help grow your business, but you can also make friends in person.

     

    YOU’LL BE PUSHED OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

    I’ve always been a fairly shy person, and to be completely honest, my comfort zone has always been pretty small. I definitely feel like that has caused me to miss out on some experiences over the years.

    Since starting a blog, I’ve put myself out there in a way that I would never have otherwise and have had the opportunity to interact with people who I wouldn’t have otherwise.

    If you’re someone who has a small comfort zone as I did for most of my life, a side hustle might be an awesome opportunity for you to challenge yourself and come out of your shell a bit.

     

    Side Hustle Ideas

     

    1. Start a Blog – This is definitely #1 for me! I started my blog in 2014 and have loved it ever since. It’s a great way to make some extra money while also doing something super fun (if writing happens to be super fun for you). The best part is there are so many different ways to make money from a blog!
    2. Open an Online Shop – Are you really crafty at something? Start selling your goods online! You can set up a shop on a site like Etsy, or set up your own site altogether.
    3. Become a Freelancer – Whatever your skill is, freelance it! There are tons of sites these days that connect freelancers with work opportunities.
    4. Sell Digital Products – It’s super easy to create and sell digital products these days. There are tons of options from online courses to eBooks to printables.
    5. Teach a Skill – If you have an awesome skill, chances are someone else is willing to pay you to teach it to them. Whether you play a musical instrument or are an awesome chef, I guarantee there’s a way to make money teaching someone else your skill.
    6. Become a Dog Walker/Sitter – If you love animals, this can be a fun way to make a bit of extra money while also doing something super fun!
    7. Drive for Uber/Lyft – I know quite a few people who have become an Uber driver in addition to their full-time job.
    8. Take Online Surveys – Online surveys won’t make you a ton of money, but a little extra here and there!
    9. Get a Part-Time Job – If you want to make a bit of extra money but aren’t interested in doing anything entrepreneurial, look for a part-time job at a nearby business.

     

    Final Thoughts

    These are definitely some great reasons to start a side hustle, and the side hustle ideas I shared above are a great start if you’re looking to start one! I would LOVE for you to leave me a comment and let me know if you have a side hustle, and leave a link so we can check it out!

  • 7 Tax Tips for Your Side Hustle

    One of the biggest mistakes I made when I started my business was not understanding the tax implications. I knew I paid taxes out of my paychecks from my full-time government job. Yet somehow, I didn’t consider the fact that I would have to pay taxes on my side hustle.

    And eventually, that ignorance came back to bite me. After a couple of years, I had started to make real money and ended up with a large tax bill when I filed my taxes. I definitely learned my lesson then.

    Now over the past few years, I’ve seen more and more people starting their own side hustles, which is amazing. But whether it’s a blog, an Etsy shop, a gig side hustle, or anything else, it’s important to know what it means for your taxes.

    In retrospect, I wish I had all of the knowledge and the bookkeeping and tax system that I have today in those early years. So today, I’m sharing all of the advice I have with you to ensure you don’t make the same mistakes I do.

     

    Tax Tips For Bloggers & How I Manage My Blog Finances

    There are affiliate links in this post, meaning I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information, see my full disclosure policy here.

     

    Set up a separate bank account

    First things first, if you’ve decided to start making money from any side hustle or small business, set up a separate bank account ASAP.

    When you are making money from your side hustle, you have to track every single dollar of income you get. And since you report and pay taxes on your income, you’ll also get to deduct your expenses (meaning you need to track those too).

    The best way to do this is by keeping your side hustle income separate. If you have your side hustle income going to your personal bank account, you’re sifting through far more transactions to figure out which were and were not business-related.

    Aside from making it easier to track, it also helps with budgeting. I like investing in myself and my business with tools and education. However, I want to make sure the amount I’m investing in the business isn’t excessive compared to the amount I’m bringing in. Having a bank account with just my business income, especially early on, showed me exactly how much I’ve made from my business so I can get a look at the big-picture of my business finances.

    It also helps when it comes to paying quarterly taxes. QuickBooks (the tool I use to manage my business finances) keeps track of how much I’m likely to be paying in estimated quarterly taxes. I keep an eye on that number and make sure I always have enough set aside to cover that number.

    Then, when I have money left after the amount I need for quarterly taxes and the amount I plan to reinvest in the business, I can transfer that money into my personal bank account.

     

    Track all income and expenses

    Track every dollar you make from or spend on your side hustle. That way, when it comes time to file taxes, you’re ready to go. As I mentioned above, setting up a separate bank account makes it way easier to do this. So does using an accounting tool like QuickBooks.

    As you’re tracking your expenses, make sure you save all of your receipts so you can deduct them on your taxes. Without receipts to prove your expenses, you might run into trouble with the IRS down the road.

    I recommend doing your bookkeeping at least monthly. My QuickBooks is connected to my business checking account and credit card, meaning it automatically pulls all income and expenses. I simply sit down once per month and go through them to ensure everything is accurate.

    Then, at the end of the year, it’s easy to pull all of that information for my business tax return. And since I’ve been diligently checking it each month, I know it’s all accurate.

     

    Report all of your income

    The bottom line is that you need to report every dollar you make from your side hustle. I read articles or Facebook posts occasionally where someone says you don’t have to pay income unless you make a certain amount of money or you only have to report income you have a 1099 form for. That’s simply not the case.

    The IRS wants to know about and tax every dollar that you’re bringing in. Yes, you may get 1099 forms from some companies you work for. But that is not the only income you have to report.

    The pain of having to pay taxes on your side hustle income is a lot less than the pain of the fine you could be facing down the road if you don’t report your income.

     

    Know what you can deduct

    Having to report and pay income on your side hustle income is a bummer, but the good news is that your side hustle expenses are tax-deductible! The general rule is that you can deduct any expenses that are considered reasonable and necessary for your profession.

    The expenses you deduct will depend on the type of side hustle you have. Deductions that I deduct for my own business include the cost of my website, writing tools, bookkeeping software, marketing expenses, education, my accountant, and more.

    NerdWallet has a really good list of common tax deductions for small businesses you can use to see which of your expenses qualify.

     

    Learn about quarterly taxes

    Do you know how at your full-time job, there is money taken out of every paycheck for taxes? Yeah, that’s because the IRS wants you to be paying taxes on your money as you’re earning it. Meaning if you’re making money from your side hustle, they don’t want you to wait until the following April to be making good on that tax bill.

    That is where quarterly taxes come in. Every quarter (on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15), you will pay your quarterly taxes. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have an accounting tool or professional for your business because this resource can estimate your quarterly taxes for you and coordinate the payment (my go-to accounting tools are QuickBooks and my CPA).

    Don’t start freaking out now – this rule probably doesn’t apply to you if you’re a beginner. Generally, you won’t have to do this if you didn’t have a tax liability the following year OR if you don’t owe more than $1,000 in taxes for your side hustle. If you’re concerned about it, though, I would definitely talk to an accountant.

     

    Find the right tools to help you

    Finances and taxes can be complicated. There’s a reason we pay accountants so much money to do this for us. And if you’re new to the whole side hustle thing, this probably all seems pretty overwhelming to you. The best advice I can offer you is to find tools that help you to implement these tax and finance tips. Here are my favorites:

    1. QuickBooks: This is the tool I use to do my business accounting. I’ve tried a couple of other tools, and this one is hands down my favorite so far. It connects to my business bank account, credit card, and PayPal account to track all of my income and expenses. It also tracks my estimated quarterly income. Finally, it connects with TurboTax (the tool I used to use to file my taxes) so I can just import all of my business income and expenses for the year.
    2. TurboTax: As I mentioned, this is the tool I previously used to file my taxes. I now work with a CPA who files my taxes, but when your business finances are fairly simple, software like TurboTax can do the trick.

     

    Hire a CPA

    I’m going to share a secret with you: It took me more than five years of being a business owner before I finally hired an accountant. While many people will recommend this as a first step when you start a business or side hustle, I really think you can DIY your finances at first – if you understand what you’re doing.

    But eventually, you may hit a point where your financial situation has become too complicated to handle your own taxes. I should also mention that while I went the DIY approach for several years, I was a personal finance blogger, meaning I had a deeper understanding of taxes.

    If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the tax part of running a side hustle or don’t feel that you understand what’s expected of you, then I recommend hiring a CPA sooner. The cost you’ll pay is well worth avoiding any problems with the IRS.

     

    Final thoughts

    Learning to deal with taxes and finances is definitely one of the most daunting parts of having a side hustle. For years after earning income from my business, I was nervous that I would make a mistake. Do your research, and when in doubt, talk to an accountant. if you already have an accountant you work with for your taxes, they should be able to talk you through all of this.