People Who Make More Money From Their Side Hustles Than Their Day Jobs Share Their Experiences
In this day and age, it's not uncommon for people to have a side gig -- an extra job as a way to make more money -- aside from their regular 9 to 5.
It's also not super uncommon for some of these people to find that their side gig can -- and sometimes does -- pay them more than their 9 to 5.
My best friend is a brilliant journalist by trade, but he makes way more money by freelance editing than he does as at the paper he writes for. Freelance editing is a side gig, however. He doesn't do it all the time, and yet makes enough to pay his monthly rent just by doing one freelance job!
Redditors have discovered other side gigs that pay them more than their regular 9 to 5, and are ready to share their experidnces.
It all started when Redditor DonkKinnis asked:
"People that actually found a side hustle that makes more than your 9-5, what was it?"
I Need A Weapon
"Making swords, it started as a hobby - like let's see where we can take it. It is now a company with 15 guys employed, and 1,500+ swords a year. Best job ever"
– Charming_Height_6944
"You’re living my husbands dream. He would love to forge swords as a hobby. If you feel so inclined, can you message me with info on your starter setup? It’s my goal to surprise him someday with a fully functioning beginner forge, but I have no idea where to start"
– _StaRrFoxX_
"Lucky for you guys England and France are at war. Business must be booming."
– Tudpool
Happy And Healthy
"I was a therapist for 5 years in acute inpatient psych, and I burned out HARD. From awful pay, zero security, staff getting cut but workload increasing, and the work culture being one of “suffering Olympics” where you’d see who can work the most on the least sleep, it was inhumane."
"In the last 2 years, I turned my photography hobby into a successful business! I shoot weddings, elopements, couples’/family sessions, you name it. I work much less and make much more, plus the second hand dopamine is fantastic for my own mental health."
– LimitedGenius
"Me, working inpatient psych as a nurse, studying this thread like my life depends on it."
– Addwon
Knickknacks
"I sculpt miniatures for 3D printing, RPG, DnD etc. I make roughly triple what I was doing at a previous ''real'' entry job."
– CougarJo
Just Whistle While You Work
"Cleaning houses makes pretty good money. It's surprising how much people will pay you to just come in once a week and do a little cleaning."
– Sprinkle_drama
"My dad told me once of a acquaintances wife who started a cleaning business. Not by hour but charged for the task. Floors swept and mopped was $xx dishes done and benches wiped $xx carpets vaccumed $xx bathroom cleaned $xx toilet $xx. It worked brilliantly esp for young busy working men. Having set prices for set tasks was easier for them to get their heads around than 3-4 hours cleaning. She did very very well out of it"
– SupTheChalice
Flowers DO Cost A Fortune!
"Wedding Florist. Quit the 9-5 last year!"
– _adsbygoogle
FOOD!!
"I sell brownies on delivery apps"
– andydessa
"There is a kid who did this with frozen pizzas from his apartment on YouTube."
– Elegant_Housing_For
"This is f-ing brilliant."
– HappyPixie
I Want One!
"I sew stuffed animals, quilts and sometimes children’s clothing. I use to work in a nearby hospital working with Covid patients and Covid samples. I can make my old paycheck in a day if I spend the entire day working."
– YrsaAse
Should I Be Scared?
"Building killer stereo systems I’ve also have been building patio chairs really just making stuff if you can make it but make it well and take pride in your craftsmanship there’s a market for it"
– Bass_head_thomas
"Read this too fast and thought it said “serial killer system” and I was very confused and slightly worried for a moment."
– Infinity9999x
A New Idea Is A Good Idea
"I’m a software engineer. I had a coworker who was into bowling and couldn’t find an app he liked to track his stats, so he wrote one himself after using it, his friends started asking if he could give it to them. He put it on the App Store. Within a year close to half his income was coming from his app selling."
"He tried to repeat his success a few times, but none of his other apps ever caught on."
– dring157
Didn't Even Know This Was A Thing
"Secret shopper."
"So technically I don’t have a 9-5 cause I’m a student, but it’s still a VERY well paying hustle."
"Essentially all I do I drive around the city, go to random stores, buy a lottery ticket, see if they ask for ID, and leave. Then I fill out some paperwork, and I’m done."
"They compensate full gas charge, and give roughly 30$ per store. I can easily do 20 stores in a day. The problem is once all the stores are done, I can’t check anymore."
– Mattrockj
Very Entrepreneurial
"I'm the unofficial tech guy for a pretty large retirement community. It started by me setting up a dvd player for my grandma, she started telling her neighbors and now one day a week I go by and will spend the day doing minor stuff for tech illiterate people. Half the time it replacing batteries, allot of the residence are given computers their kids or grand kids that ill set up for them. I charge next to nothing, but usually will ask for the old tech if im replacing something which i refurbish and sell. Alot of people buy their grandma new mac book every 2 years that are barely used, then given to me."
– handsthefram
Fun, Fun, Fun
"I became an Uber driver and make over 10k a month these days. Really enjoying it too."
– Alexanderdaw
Music Ties It Together
"I started a wedding DJ business and found people were willing to pay a premium for a non-cheesy DJ who doesnt make the night or party about them. Even though I only worked Friday-Sat-Sundays due to weddings mostly being held on these days, I was making 2x my 9-5 job."
– JamesKPolk130
"This day and age it does make sense to do this. Invest in a good sound system. Invest in a decent light setup. Be sure to have a wi-fi connection at the venue so if someone requests a song you can easily download it. Watch people have a great time"
– chxnkybxtfxnky
The Universe At Work
"I left my job in publishing and performed the same functions on a freelance basis for about two years."
"I made only about 5-10 percent less gross. Once you factor in my lack of commute to Manhattan, not havimg to buy clothing for work, not getting lunch out, etc., net was only single digits less."
"It was also cool because every so often the universe would toss me a random extra day off. That was hard to give up."
– AlanMercer
Check And Mate
"I make custom chess board sets for professional chess players."
– Magnetic_penis_strap
I understand. I would pay big money for one of those!
Do you have a side hustle we should know about? Let us know in the comments.
We've all played the "What I would do if I was rich" game.
Admit it.
You've imagined a trillion scenarios for what you would do (after you paid off your debt, of course) with wads of cash. In your imagination, you've given money to friends, started charities or businesses, and probably bought your fair share of imaginary real estate.
And that's all just the basics. We haven't even gotten into all the rich-people hobbies you could take up like SCUBA golfing, sailboat customization, or learning how to melt down antique jewelry to make gem-encrusted bongs for yoga Wednesdays at the gym-slash-coffeehaus.
Reddit user BabySuperfreak asked:
"What's your fantasy 'rich person hobby'?"
Reddit is absolutely right there with you, folks.
Carpentry
Season 4 Wow GIF by The SimpsonsGiphy"Woodworking, which I already enjoy. But I'd have a huge workshop with all of the expensive tools."
- AMeatPopsicleIAm
"It's fun to figure out how you could spend increasingly large amounts of money on a hobby."
"$10k? Sweet garage shop."
"$100k? Build a huge shop and tweak it out. Loan it out to people who don't have access to shops."
"$1M? I have no idea. Train under the best woodworkers in the world? Visit exotic locales to see how materials/supplies are produced?"
- RedSpikeyThing
"I just want my own bandsaw and I'll be happy, but yeah it's my dream to have my own little shop in a quaint little building in my backyard. It would be the cutest girliest little grandma-core workshop out of a fairytale picture book."
"I'd have little organized stations for everything and it would be so satisfying!"
- BetterRemember
"I've built a pretty decent 'shop' through marketplace and estate sales. Taken a while but I have most of the major tools I need. Affording wood is another story"
- allf8ed
Want To Grab Lunch?
"I want to be a 'lady who lunches'."
- suzy7517
"You could even step up your game and do 'Brunch' on Sunday! They would say 'wow she is so rich'.”
- Ok-Suggestion-7965
"Word. Except I think I would hate those people and just lunch w people who are self-employed artists and/or homeless."
- MidLifeHalfHouse
"Those are the only two groups you'd eat lunch with?"
- wandering_ones
Miniatures
Startup Miniatures GIF by Mighty OakGiphy"I love building miniatures. I helped my dad build a few models as a kid. Then I stumbled onto those miniature rooms you can buy on Amazon. Surprisingly cheap for the decent quality. I've done about 10 of them and have another 20 on my wishlist."
"I went to a hobby store the other day in search of a material for a custom mini, and my friend brought to me a giant box of a model of the Enterprise. For $1200. 3 months' rent."
"I know my first stop after winning the lottery"
- samtheflamingo
"As a gamesworkshop fan I feel you. I’ve got a wishlist too."
- LordHamu
"Being rich, you could build 1:1 scale miniatures."
- d!ck_schidt
Sailing
Sewing Bee Hello GIF by The Great British Sewing BeeGiphy"Sailing sounds fun as hell"
- WorkingContext
"Sailing is fun as hell. I’ve been crewing now for about 7 years."
"Sailing is cheap. It is owning a boat that’s expensive. I pay $350 a year for access to my local club’s boats if I do want to go take a boat out myself."
"Boat owners frequently spend $350 on parts for a single event, and people always need dependable and reliable crew."
"I’ve even gotten flown out to tropical places and had my accommodations paid for at bigger events! I don’t even own a boat, just pull lines!"
"If you live near a racing community, you can get into sailing at the cost of maybe some sandwiches for the team, or occasionally replacing sunglasses you drop in the drink, you just need the right attitude."
- lifeinexile42069
"I agree, but only during the day as the ocean according to videos seems pretty terrifying looking at night"
- 2020-RedditUser
"Sailing is it for me too, particularly cruising. I'd like a nice, 45 ft catamaran that I could cruise around on with the family."
"I have more immediate ambitions to get a little beach cat (Hobie cat, etc) or a dinghy and improve my sailing skills."
"My local 'yacht club' has a learn to sail class that's pretty affordable for a two day introductory class and going out sailing twice (~$100). I did it last year, but I'm considering doing it again as I didn't exactly consolidate my skillet with practice in between."
- TryingSquirrel
Traveling
"Traveling. I know it isn’t much of a hobby, but traveling can be very expensive, and I’ve always wanted to travel the world."
- Im_a_noodle_101
"Beside the cost, getting time off from your full time job can be very hard. I want to spend the summer traveling in XYZ, not fly in, have a couple of days looking around then fly back to work. There's no time to really relax and enjoy the experience"
- PecanSama
"Be one of those people perpetually on vacation."
- wazzle13
"I'm with you on that. I see all the wonderful places to travel and will never be able to go to them. At least many are on streaming channels now."
- Laura9624
"Traveling without budget or ANY money worries. I'd like that. No more sh*tty third-grade hotels and public transportation *joys* and just enjoying the trip."
- Khalae
"I'd travel the world till I physically can't lol that sounds fun"
- Several-Orchid9640
Esthetic Farming
calfs GIFGiphy"Owning a hobby farm/garden with *small breeds of farm animals (mini cheviot sheep, serama chickens, bantam call ducks, miniature jersey cows) *lush vegetation (english garden/new cottage style landscaping) *an orchard with a huge range of different kinds of each fruit and climate controlled greenhouses for plants that wouldn't grow in my region"
- RK_Killer
"Would they be miniature fruit trees? I want the small animals walking amongst the small trees with small fruit."
- phobosmarsdeimos
"I would love it to have ducks, cats, dogs, rabbits anything to be honest and just watch them enjoy their time and play around. A small pond for the animals to cool down, big trees for nice cool shadows and also some fruits that drop for them etc."
- Bfnti
Prehistoric Collection
"I'd like to have a large collection of really cool fossils. The really neat ones are expensive."
- revtim
"Oooh, good thought. You know there's a tech billionaire somewhere (I'm blanking on which one) that got really into collecting gemstones after he got swindled into buying some fakes."
"He found the geology of them fascinating and now he has the biggest jewel collection outside of a royal family and was in a documentary talking about them."
"I think pure geekery unfettered by financial restraints may my favorite use of a large fortune."
- gonegonegoneaway211
"Like a complete T-Rex skeleton and a complete Triceratops skeleton and make them fight like action figures... I'm not going to judge."
- phobosmarsdeimos
Preservation Of Wildlife
Happy Feel Good GIFGiphy"I'd really like to hire a ton of experts to help me find and preserve a wildlife habitat with all native species."
"Get rid of all the invasive plants and whatnot and make it how it was before we got here. I'd be the anti gardener."
- AmericanGoose23
"Same goals club! I’ve got a good 100 acres chugging away just woods. Have had several offers to buy it but they’re gonna have to wait til I’m dead."
"Last guy asked me why I wouldn’t sell. 'Because somebody already lives there sir.' Him-' but your house is way up there.' Me- 'yea but the birds and bugs live here.' Also learned that old people get pissed off when young people own land and don’t develop it into housing editions. 'People could live here!' People could live somewhere else too."
- Abrahamlinkenssphere
"Mine is similar: I want to make a huge bee sanctuary filled with all sorts of wildflowers and plants, with an absolute ton of pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths."
"Also all sorts of other interesting plants like oak trees and wild grass."
- -Reddit_Account-
"Yours is my favorite I think :)"
- gonegonegoneaway211
'Paying' It Forward
Talking Season 3 GIF by The SimpsonsGiphy"Anonymously paying debts or giving things to people in need."
- DarkleCCMan
"Robin Hood, that you?"
- Numerous-Rough-827
"I'd help with that if I could!"
- Several-Orchid9640
"I think it would feel pretty amazing to sit in a bankruptcy court and pay off a defendant’s judgment. Idk how it works, though, like whether you can make a payment anonymously on someone else’s behalf."
- LevelPerception4
"I wouldn’t pay off debts (other than to immediate family members), but I like the idea of randomly paying for groceries or gas for strangers."
"Especially at the last week or so of each month. Have some type of set up so I could have an arrangement with a store’s manager to call down to the cashier to just tell the customer after they scan everything, 'It’s your lucky day! You don’t have to pay!'."
- OhiobornCAraised
Community Spaces
"Operating a maker space that enriches the community and enables everyone to have access to tools and space to create anything they need / want."
- Ximidar
"oh yeah my husband and I have talked about doing this"
- seven_seacat
"I'd love to have this for music. Like a rehearsal complex for certain younger artists I see potential in."
"Also have a recording studio nearby as well. Just try to develop some sort of niche community of musicians that focus on certain aspects of music"
"Have all the stuff like drumkits, guitar amps, all that in each room already (kind of like a normal rehearsal space you pay for). Maybe even some cheaper guitars so that even if you don't have money you can use them"
"Maybe do some community events with all the people, and who knows. Maybe some amazing bands or groups could come from it."
- appleparkfive
Alright bougie broke friends, it's your turn at the mic.
We know what Reddit would do for hobbies if they got rich, but what about you?
Anybody suddenly feel like funding a documentary into Tevin Campbell's life, music, and how homophobia robbed him of a bigger career and the community of a cornerstone personality?
No? Just me and my love for Mr. Campbell acting up again?
Hobbies are great, but they can get awfully expensive very quickly. Not every hobby is going to cost you an arm and a leg, though; some are even completely free!
Reddit user Maximus100BC asked:
"What is a hobby that is 100% free?"
Cleaner Neighborhood And Relaxed Mind
I've been litter-picking and I find it more engaging than just walking and super soothing to help my community look tidier.
I've been doing around some trails near my house and the road along my street with my son. Sometimes my mom joins as well. It really does make you feel good until two weeks later when there is litter everywhere again. If there were not parks with garbage cans nearby I don't think I could keep up with it.
Libraries Rock!
Reading (public libraries)
Public libraries also offer free services in borrowing all sorts of media from other libraries. I watched all of the studio ghibli films by borrowing from public libraries
Observation Is Key
People watching
Sometimes I like to imagine short histories about people I don't know based on the interaction I'm watching
This. I hate airports but I make it tolerable by making up narrations about other airport goers.
You Could Become A Grandmaster...Or Not
Chess. Online chess is totally free and materials to learn are all over the place.
Readers beware, chess can either be the best game in the world, or the most frustrating game in the world (due to the fact that you're not getting better at all).
Or both.
Put It On Paper
Writing
My husband and I are working on better recreational habits and one of the things we started doing is working on a sci-fi book together. HUGE bonding activity.
Don't Take Them All Home, Though
Volunteering at a local dog shelter.
The 12 dogs you end up adopting are definitely not free….
Rocks Are Cool
You could collect rocks. You can start that in your own backyard even.
I play DnD; I collect (math)rocks aka dice.
You'll Always Have Your Instrument With You
Singing
Straight up my favorite hobby. And you can enjoy it anywhere! Doing the dishes? Driving the car? Just sing!
Also: maybe it's just me but singing is so cathartic I can use it to calm down when really angry or upset. So that's a win too!
I love singing, but doing it on front of anyone is really difficult. I'm even somewhat confident that my singing is at least not unbearable to listen to as well, but singing in front of someone is just a crazy amount of anxiety. So basically the only time I ever do is in the car.
Trains!
Train spotting
If you assume you have internet and don't use it just to watch rail cams, that's free. Virtual Railfan is great and you may get to see a shooting like the one in Arizona this week. Also go to a railroad crossing or even a park that is adjacent to some tracks and just watch.
Give Your Time, And Get Something In Return
Volunteering. You can meet great people, help others and learn something for life.
I used to volunteer in the hospital, that is how I decided to go into medicine as a career. Meet some really nice people, too.
Hobbies don't have to cost you hundreds of dollars to be rewarding.
Some choice of people's "careers" can be baffling? I've lost track on how many times over the last decade I've said... "that's a job?" It feels like people are just making stuff up as a joke, and then someone decides to give them money for it and then BAM, you've struck gold!
The things people can get paid for, legally, has quadrupled in recent times, so maybe that extended unemployment wasn't necessary. But just because you're getting paid, doesn't mean it's a job or career one should really be thrilled of. Not to shame anyone or be a Debbie Downer, sometimes you just get lucky, and some coin is there for you.
Redditoru/Neil_Murphywanted to discuss people's career choices, by asking:
What profession do you have the least respect for and why?
All of this online nonsense. That is what sticks with me the most. Example, an "Influencer" is not a job. It is certainly not a career. And it is shocking we give money to these people. Not to sound too bitter...
Stalkers
News Stalking GIF by Gecko1Giphy"The paparazzi. No respect there."
"Paparazzi was actually the job I had in my head when making this post, useless to society and only make peoples lives hard by constantly harassing celebrities."
"cancel anytime"
"Whoever makes subscriptions hard to cancel."
"Try canceling a Shipt (Target's delivery service) membership. You get a 4 week free trial, after that it's a $99 annual fee (honestly it's not a bad deal if you would actually be using it.) I only signed up because I was out of town for a conference, the hotel wasn't within walking distance of anything, and while there were several on site restaurants it was ridiculously expensive."
"Like $3 for a 12 oz can of soda or a regular sized candy bar and no complimentary continental breakfast. There was a $9.99 delivery fee or I could sign up for a "cancel anytime" 4 week trial membership and get free delivery so I signed up and got some sodas, breakfast stuff, and some snacks."
"Once my stuff was delivered I tried to cancel through the website and couldn't figure it out. Downloaded the app and couldn't cancel through that either. Went through the FAQs which gave me a link to a non-existent webpage. I ultimately had to call their customer service line and spent over an hour on hold to cancel it."
- Obwyn
Jesus People
"Televangelists. Perverting religion to enrich themselves. They're not the only group that does that, but local priests, pastors, etc. Are not all bad."
"We have a local mega church in my town where folks fill re-purposed theaters and other buildings all over to watch the millionaire hipster pastor each week. Dude wears $1000 tennis shoes, ripped designer jeans, bling… all to talk about Jesus. Peoples' money is their own and this ain't no skin off my d*ck, but it just seems incredibly shady and dishonest to me."
Hey You!
"Not exactly a profession, but MLM."
"Yes! MLM consultants. A bunch of bored housewives who are convinced that they are being "empowered." "Hey I know I used to bully you in high school but I noticed your Facebook profile and do you want to hear about this amazing opportunity?! You can earn 5k a MONTH if you peddle this crappy mascara to all the Mormon moms in your neighborhood!"
Medic
Sick Doctor GIF by KNAPPSCHAFTGiphy"As someone who works in the medical field: pharmaceutical reps. Often big pharma, trying to convince you to sell their products."
People who are undercover shoppers, that's not a job. You're just a narc. And I did serve you that Iced Tea in a timely fashion. Not to be bitter...
Pay Up
martin scorsese casino GIFGiphy"Payday and title loan sharks. Predatory loans. Taking advantage of vulnerable people at low points in their lives with sky high interest rates and fees. Definitely hurts more people than it helps."
Hang Up
"Telemarketers."
"They're often staffed by people who have no other options for work. No one dreams of going into telemarketing as a kid, and it offers work to anyone who can make a phone call. Those people are trying to provide for their families, go easy on them."
Not a profession...
"Poachers."
"As a profession I agree. However, I knew a farming family that were poor and poached for food. I have also known farmers who poach to take care of pests that eat their crops. Can't say I wouldn't do the same in their situation."
My dad poached a lot but took animals that weren't endangered for food. He also brought home roadkill (he had a side job working for the city removing animals and obstructions from the roads). Not the best wildlife management practice and unsustainable if many people do it but pretty benign in my opinion."
Snake Eyes
"I guess it's not really a profession per se, but the whole gambling industry. They keep coming up with more exciting ways to drain vulnerable members of society of all of their money."
"I go to the casino a couple times a year. For me, it's a fun night out. Get a light buzz, wander around looking a blinking lights, blow forty bucks, and get a discount on all you can eat crab legs. But I know people who regularly go there and blow their paycheck, and it's really heartbreaking."
Bad Woo
government shutdown obama GIFGiphy"Political lobbyists - spend tons of money wooing politicians to pass laws that are favorable to big corporations. It's legal yet seems illegal somehow."
I'd be a lobbyist. You get to hang out with the amoral and get paid for it. I've been hanging out with friends for free. And poachers suck, there I said it.
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