I Paid Off $10,000 In Debt. Here Are The Side Hustles That Helped Me Do It
By Literally broke
Some call it a side hustle. I call it exploitation.
But, for all intent and purposes, a side hustle is a part-time job that personal finance gurus are obsessed with. There’s nothing Dave Ramsey or NPR loves more than a story about an engineer who drives for Uber after hours.
Now, listen, I’m not deaf to criticism that personal finance gurus tout side hustles while supporting measures that do away with social security and the welfare state. It’s annoying and it’s fucked up and I get why you’re mad (I’m mad, too)
But if you want to increase your income and pay off debt you need a side hustle. So, here are some of my favorite ways to increase your income while we await the revolution:
Start proctoring
Do you know what the LSAT and SAT have in common? Yes, they’re standardized tests. But they also need a proctor to run the show and make sure no one cheats.
A proctors job is to read directions and keep time during an exam. These are both things I’m fairly certain anyone reading this blog should be able to do!
Last week I got paid $60 to sit and administer a practice LSAT for four hours. It required me to keep time, announce time, and read from a script. It was super simple and while sitting there I was able to work on my other side hustle.
Answer someone’s emails for them
My first job out of college was as a Customer Experience Associate at ClassPass, which basically just entailed me answering emails and solving customer concerns.
Although I left that job in 2017, ClassPass still hires me to help manage their inbox during busy seasons. It’s great because I’m paid as an independent contractor, create my own hours, and work from home.
Many startups and small businesses hire remote and part-time CXers. If you have a customer service or hospitality background this is the sidle hustle for you!
Sell Your Old Stuff
No, I didn’t become a professional reseller, but in 2019 I made $100 extra dollars selling my old and unwanted clothing on Poshmark.
Sites like Poshmark and Depop are a great way to clean out your closet and make more than you would at a store like Buffalo Exchange, where the cash payment is even lower than the store credit they offer you.
Some people get so into reselling they become professionals!
Work All The Overtime You Can
If you have debt but don’t jump at every opportunity for overtime you’re kidding yourself. Working overtime is the #1 method I’ve used to pay off debt.
Getting paid overtime, which typically occurs when you work more than 40 hours in a given work week, provides you with time and a half.
The reason overtime worked so well for me? While I was paying off my credit cards I never lived on more than $2,400 a month. Any extra money I made went straight towards my debt.
Monetize Your Skills
What are you good at? Can a skill you already have (graphic design, writing, photography) be monetized?
My primary side hustle is doing freelance copywriting and social media management outside of my regular 9 to 5. This additional income has been essential to me getting my financial shit together.
Reach out to small businesses and offer your services. Connect with friends and let them know you’re looking for more work! The more I told people I wanted freelance work the more that came my way.
If you’re just getting started freelancing, try a freelancing site like Upwork or Fiverr to build your portfolio and gain experience. Monetizing your artistic talent is the #1 way to increase your income and build an in-demand skill set.
Just think: one day you’ll be able to tell your grandchildren, I “hustled so hard and now you can too.” And yes, they’ll think you’re an asshole. But that’s okay because everybody probably already thinks you’re an asshole.
Side hustles are one of the easiest ways to increase your income and achieve your financial goals. Here are fifteen side hustle ideas perfect for creatives.