Okay, so, side hustles. The internet is just *flooded* with them, right? Everyone’s got the magic formula, the “secret” to passive income, the thing that’s going to make you a millionaire while you sleep. Honestly, it’s exhausting. And for a long time, I just felt… lost. Like, where do you even *start*? I’m going to walk you through my trials and tribulations in search of something I could do on the side to add to my regular income. Trust me, there were some *real* doozies.
The Allure (and Danger) of Online Surveys
The first thing I tried, and I’m almost ashamed to admit it, was online surveys. I saw ads everywhere claiming you could earn decent money just by answering a few questions. Sounds easy, right? Ugh, what a mess! I signed up for, like, five different survey sites. Spent hours clicking through pages, answering questions about my shopping habits, my political views, my favorite brand of toothpaste… you name it.
The payoff? A grand total of, maybe, five dollars. And that’s after a solid week of dedicated survey-taking. Five. Freaking. Dollars. Was I the only one confused by this? I mean, seriously, who’s actually making a living doing online surveys? I quickly realized this wasn’t the path to financial freedom. It felt more like a path to carpal tunnel and existential dread. Plus, the sheer volume of spam emails I started getting was insane. Definitely not worth it. This whole experience honestly felt like a giant time suck. I needed something… more. Something that used *actual* skills, or at least had the potential to. I’d learned my lesson: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Diving Headfirst into the Freelance Pool
Next up, I decided to try freelancing. I figured, hey, I’m a pretty decent writer (or so my mom tells me!), maybe I could get paid to write articles or blog posts. I signed up for a few freelance platforms, created a profile, and started bidding on projects. This was when I discovered I had some serious imposter syndrome. I looked at some of the other profiles, and I was filled with self-doubt. Everyone seemed to have years of experience and glowing reviews. Me? I had… a college degree and a blog that my aunt read.
But, I persevered! I started bidding on smaller projects, things I felt confident I could handle. And, to my surprise, I actually landed a few! The pay wasn’t great at first, but it was a start. I wrote articles about everything from dog grooming to solar panels. It was… interesting. And definitely more engaging than answering surveys. But the constant hustle of finding new clients was exhausting. It was like a second full-time job just trying to *get* the work. And the deadlines! Don’t even get me started. There was this one time, I think it was back in early 2022, where I stayed up until 3 AM writing a piece about… I don’t even remember what it was about. All I remember is the feeling of sheer exhaustion and the taste of lukewarm coffee.
The Content Creation Conundrum: YouTube? Twitch? TikTok?
Seeing as I was doing freelance writing anyway, I figured I could try content creation. Everyone and their mother seemed to be making bank on YouTube, Twitch, or TikTok. So, I thought, why not me? I mean, I have a personality, right? I started with YouTube. I tried a few different niches – gaming, beauty tutorials, even a series where I reviewed different types of instant ramen (don’t judge!). The videos were… not good. My editing skills were atrocious, my camera presence was awkward, and my content was, well, uninspired. I think I got maybe 20 views on my best video. I mean, I could have done better shouting from my rooftop.
Then, I dabbled in Twitch. I tried streaming myself playing video games. This was even worse than the YouTube videos. I’m not a particularly skilled gamer, and I’m definitely not entertaining to watch. I think the highlight of my streaming career was when my cat walked across my keyboard and accidentally ended the broadcast. It was pretty anticlimactic. TikTok was a complete disaster. I couldn’t figure out the algorithm, my dance moves were embarrassing, and I just felt… old. Who even knows what’s next? Content creation might work for some, but it wasn’t for me. I think I’m too self-conscious and not nearly enough of an extrovert to truly succeed in that world.
The Etsy Experiment: Handmade Hopes and Crafty Catastrophes
Feeling defeated, I decided to try something completely different. I’ve always enjoyed crafting, so I thought I could open an Etsy shop and sell handmade items. I started with jewelry. I bought a bunch of beads, wire, and other supplies, and I spent hours crafting necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Some of them were actually pretty cute, if I do say so myself.
I set up my Etsy shop, took some photos of my creations, and waited for the orders to roll in. And waited. And waited. Crickets. I got a few views, but no sales. I tried promoting my shop on social media, but that didn’t seem to help much either. Turns out, there’s a lot more to running an Etsy shop than just making pretty things. You have to be good at marketing, SEO, customer service, and a whole bunch of other things I had no clue about. I probably put too much inventory online at once. It felt overwhelming, and I think that’s what turned people off. Plus, the competition is *fierce*. There are so many talented artists and crafters on Etsy, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. My handmade dreams slowly faded as my supplies gathered dust.
Finally… Something That Stuck (Kind Of)
After all those failed attempts, I was starting to lose hope. Maybe side hustles just weren’t for me. Maybe I was destined to live a life of quiet desperation, working a 9-to-5 job and never achieving my dreams of financial independence. Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic. But I was definitely feeling discouraged.
Then, I stumbled upon something that actually clicked. I started offering my services as a virtual assistant. I had experience in administrative tasks, customer service, and social media management, so I figured I could put those skills to use helping busy entrepreneurs and small business owners. To my surprise, I actually started getting clients! The work was varied and interesting, and I enjoyed helping people achieve their goals. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was consistent. And it paid the bills! I still wouldn’t say I’m rolling in dough, but it definitely helps supplement my income and gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Funny thing is, I actually use one of the apps I used to write blog posts for, *Trello*, to organize all my virtual assistant tasks. The irony is not lost on me. It kind of felt like a cosmic joke at first, but now I feel like I’ve finally found my niche.
The Takeaway: It’s a Journey, Not a Destination
Looking back on my side hustle journey, I realize that it was never about finding the *perfect* solution. It was about learning, growing, and discovering what I’m actually good at. There were definitely moments of frustration, disappointment, and even a few tears. But there were also moments of excitement, pride, and a sense of accomplishment.
The most important thing I learned is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to side hustling. What works for one person might not work for another. It’s all about experimenting, trying new things, and finding what fits your skills, interests, and lifestyle. And most importantly, it’s about not giving up! Even when you feel like you’re banging your head against a wall, keep pushing forward. You never know what amazing opportunities might be just around the corner. So, if you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into this other topic, and who knows – maybe *you* will find your perfect side hustle after all. Good luck out there!
