I don’t mean like a part-time job. I mean a hustle. A small something you do on a regular basis that earns you some dollars, but doesn’t necessarily come with a huge time commitment or a big emotional investment.
You want your side hustle to be something you enjoy, but not some like, essential chasing your dreams type thing. A side hustle is a hobby, not a passion. You want your side hustle to be a regular, consistent part of your routine, but you don’t want it to take up a significant amount of time. A side hustle is a commitment, not a time time suck. You want your side hustle to make enough money that on an otherwise dry Fund deposit week, you’ve got a little bit of cheddar. But you don’t want your side hustle to make so much money that you feel bad putting It in your vacation Fund and not towards something higher priority, like home renovations. Ideally, side hustles are for luxuries, not essentials.
Great examples of side hustles: dog walking, house sitting, plant sitting.
I have a side hustle! My side hustle started in the Fall, and I used all of the money to pay for soccer related things for my soccer related girls. We are big soccer fans in this house. Mr. B has coached the Glass Slipper for six seasons and this Fall he added the Frying Pan’s team to his coaching duties. One small problem. Guess who forgot to put the Frying Pan’s soccer needs into the soccer budget? Rather than drain the entertainment budget (of its $6) I applied the dollars from my recently acquired side hustle and alls well that ends well.
And what ended well was that 2019 budget! With BOTH girls soccer needs addressed in the 2020 budget, I suddenly found myself looking at some side hustle dollars. Disney Fund!
My side hustle fell into my lap and it’s pretty perfect for me. Once a week, for an hour, I tutor the teen son of a friend of a friend. In a past life, before Glass Slippers and Frying Pans and Teacups, I was a Middle and High school teacher, so this works out nicely.
This side hustle checks all the right boxes. I do it once a week, so it’s a constant but not overwhelming commitment. It’s something I enjoy, and it’s something I know how to do already, ie: I’m not having to learn a new skill and then have the added pressure of trying to make money off that new skill. I’m able to keep my family’s routine, contribute a little bit to my Disney Fund, and engage in an activity I enjoy. Win win win.
2020 (?) Family Trip
Goal: $8000
After Last Deposit: $6778.03
Total Deposit: $15, from tutoring
Still Need: $6763.03
Do you have a side hustle? What is it? Tell me all about it in the comments!
Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey five years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!
Meredith says
You should charge more for tutoring. I run an in home tutoring company and rates in the suburbs of Denver are $42-$60 an hour.
Kristen says
Wow, Meredith! Got me wanting to move to Denver! :)