Fun Goals Through Side Hustles
Hey, let’s chat a bit about side hustles and trying to strike a balance between wants and means.
We all have our guilty pleasures, right? Mine? Well, I’m a sucker for Facebook! These days, it’s incredibly skilled at figuring out what I might be tempted to buy.
In my freelance vocation as a blogger and stage manager, you’d think I’d be a rollercoaster of financial uncertainty. But I’ve gotten pretty good at this – just like a hyper-organized squirrel, I tuck away my extra cash when times are good, preparing for those leaner phases.
In high-income months, it’s easy to feel a rush of carefree spending. But I am not the type to roam the mall unless I truly need something. Online window shopping? Not my thing. But I do maintain something like a Pinterest wish list – a place where I store my online ‘wants,’ handy to share when someone asks me about gift ideas.
Here’s the trick though – often, once pinned, these items are out of sight, out of mind.
Cue the Facebook issue. Beyond the way it makes us question our own lives, Facebook has been pin-point accurate at showing me ads I’m interested in. And Pinterest? That’s how a cute pair of Tieks ended up in my wardrobe a couple of years ago. Facebook? That conned me into buying a lovely – albeit costly – pair of Betabrand pants.
The thing is, even on high-income months, I can’t justify an impulse purchase of, let’s say, a $200 pair of shoes or $100 pants. It just feels wasteful, right?
So, I found a solution that feels financially responsible – I work for it.
What I do is set up a mini side hustle dedicated to earning the cash for the item. Sometimes it’s through UserTesting, where I critique websites for $10 each. The issue here is that the work isn’t always available. To make $200, for instance, it might take me 2-3 months of keeping the site open continuously and jumping at every opportunity.
If I’m in a hurry – and I have a lot of free time – I can do transcriptions through Rev. Although I’m not a fan of the job, I can earn up to $200 a week. It feels better, knowing there’s a reward awaiting me, and it’s not hurting my general budget.
Linking my wants directly to the method of financing makes the splurging feel justified.
What do you folks do to budget for your treats?
Next question:
Ever thought of turning your side hustle into a full-time job? Check our guide on that from July 24, 2020!
Previously on this, we’ve discussed The Hustle vs. Pin Money on January 11, 2017, and presented a smorgasbord of side hustle ideas on October 27, 2021. Check them out!
Let’s chat again soon! Don’t forget to spread the word! Share the love!