Are you looking for a side hustle that actually fits your life? It’s easy to find lists of ways to make extra money. The harder part is choosing something you have time for, can afford to start, and might actually enjoy doing. A side hustle that works well for someone else may not fit your…
Are you looking for a side hustle that actually fits your life?
It’s easy to find lists of ways to make extra money. The harder part is choosing something you have time for, can afford to start, and might actually enjoy doing. A side hustle that works well for someone else may not fit your life at all.
I’m talking about a side hustle that fits with the amount of time you have, how much money you want to make, and even things you’re already good at. You may even want a side hustle that fits your personality type, working online vs. in-person, or working alone vs. with people.
In this article, I’m going over important things to think about before choosing a side hustle, which will help narrow down which side hustle to start and what to do if you end up not liking your chosen side hustle.
How To Find a Side Hustle That Actually Fits Your Life
Here is a list of 8 ways to find a side hustle that actually fits your life.
1. Figure out why you want a side hustle
What do you want the extra money to do for you? Maybe you want to cover a monthly bill, build an emergency fund, or save for a car. Or, you might want to earn money from a hobby or eventually start a full-time business.
Thinking about your goal can help you narrow down your options. If you want a little extra spending money, a flexible activity you can pick up now and then may work. If you hope to build a business, you may be willing to spend more time finding customers and learning new skills.
You don’t need a perfect plan, and just knowing what you’re working toward can help you choose what to try first.
2. Be realistic about how much time you have
Look at your work schedule, family time, and other commitments. How many hours could you spend on a side hustle in a normal week? And when are those hours available?
For example, if you only have time after your kids go to bed, a job that requires daytime meetings or hours probably won’t work. If your schedule changes every week, you may want something you can do when you’re free.
Recommended reading: 16 Ways To Find Time To Make Extra Money
3. Set an income goal
How much would you like to make each month? Your answer doesn’t have to be exact, but it should be realistic for the hours you have.
For example, making an extra $200 a month is a different goal from making $1,000 a month. If you can work five hours a week, $1,000 a month would mean earning about $50 for each hour you work, before expenses and taxes. Some side hustles could reach that rate, while others will not.
Think about how quickly you need the money, too. A service you can sell to a customer may bring in money sooner than a blog or YouTube channel, which can take time to build.
4. Think about what you are already good at
You may already know how to do something people will pay for. Think about your job, hobbies, education, and the things friends or family ask you to help with.
Your skills might include writing, organizing, caring for pets, taking photos, cleaning, or helping a small business with social media. Starting with something you know can make it easier to take the first step.
Of course, you can learn something new, too. But, sometimes thinking about what you’re already good at can save you some time.
5. Think about the kind of work you enjoy
Do you like meeting people, or would you rather work on your own? Would you rather spend your time at home, outside, or visiting customers? Do you enjoy creating things, solving problems, or doing a task with a clear start and finish?
These questions matter. For example, pet sitting could be a good fit if you like animals and don’t mind talking with their owners. Freelance writing may be a better fit if you prefer to work from home, although you’ll still need to communicate with clients.
No side hustle has to match your personality perfectly. But if you know you’ll dread an important part of the work, keep looking.
6. Check what it will cost to start
Some side hustles cost very little to try, and others may require supplies, tools, a car, insurance, a license, or training. Even a low-cost idea can have ongoing expenses.
Before paying for anything, write down what you truly need to begin. You might be able to use equipment you already own or test the idea with one customer first. You can decide later whether extra training or better tools would be worth paying for.
I recommend that you set a startup budget you feel comfortable with, and avoid spending money based only on what someone says you could earn.
7. Test your side hustle before going all in
You don’t need to build a whole business before you find out whether you like the work.
If you’re interested in cleaning houses, could you take on one client? If you want to sell printables, could you make a few designs and see what you learn from listing them? (For example – do you like making the printables?) If you’re thinking about pet sitting, could you start with one booking that fits your schedule?
Pay attention to more than what you earn. How long did the work take, including prep and travel? What did you spend? Did you like doing it? Would you want to do it again next week?
One small test won’t tell you everything, but it can help you decide whether to keep going.
8. Give yourself permission to change your mind
You might discover that an idea sounds great but doesn’t fit your life once you try it.
That’s okay.
You can use what you learned to pick something better.
I’ve tried many side hustles over the years, and some didn’t fit the way I like to work. Trying different things helped me learn what I enjoyed and what I wanted to avoid. You don’t have to keep a side hustle just because you spent time getting started.
Recommended reading: I Worked From Home for 10+ Years, Then Tried an In-Person Job – Here’s What Surprised Me
How To Narrow Your Choices Down to One Side Hustle
Before you look at the ideas below, write down your answers to these four questions:
- How many hours can I spend on this in a normal week, and when am I free?
- How much extra money would I like to make each month?
- What can I afford to spend to get started?
- Do I want to work from home or in person? With people or mostly on my own?
Now pick two ideas that match your answers. Look at what each one requires, including the time it takes to find work. Choose one to test on a small scale.
For example, say you have five hours a week, want to work from home, and have almost no startup budget. Answering surveys might be easy to try, but it’s unlikely to meet a large monthly income goal. If you’re good at writing, selling a small freelance writing service may have more room to grow, though finding your first client will take work. Your goal helps you decide which idea is worth testing.
Give yourself a short trial period, such as 30 days. At the end, look at your earnings, expenses, hours, and how you felt about the work. Then decide whether to continue, change your approach, or try your second idea.
Side Hustle Ideas Based on Your Lifestyle
Here are side hustles to choose from based on your lifestyle factors.
If you only have a few hours a week:
- Playing games on your phone – This is best for making a little extra spending money, not a large income goal or a job.
- Answering online surveys when you have spare time. Pay can be low, and you may not qualify for every survey.
- Dog walking or pet sitting when your schedule allows, while allowing time to meet owners and care for their pets.
- Sell a service you already know how to do, such as proofreading or taking photos, to a small number of clients.
If you want to work from home:
If you want something that could become a full-time business:
- Dog treat bakery if you enjoy making products and want to grow from a few customers to regular sales.
- Bookkeeping if you like working with numbers and want to build a list of monthly clients.
- Membership or subscription business if you have something useful to offer people month after month.
- Pet waste removal if you like working outdoors and want to build a route of regular customers.
- YouTube channel if you enjoy making videos and are willing to keep creating while your audience grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to frequently asked questions about finding a side hustle that actually fits your life.
How do I know which side hustle is right for me?
The right side hustle should have a blend of the following things: schedule, skills, interests, and income goals. Finding the right side hustle also means finding something you can stick with that helps you reach your goals.
How many hours a week should I spend on a side hustle?
You don’t need to spend a ton of time on your side hustle, especially when you’re just getting started. It really depends on how much time you have and what your goals are. Even just five hours a week can be enough to get started.
What is the easiest side hustle to start?
The easiest side hustles are gigs that use skills you already have, require little to no upfront money, and can fit into your existing schedule.
Can I start a side hustle with no money?
Yes, you can definitely start a side hustle with no money just by using the skills and resources you already have. Many side hustles can be started from home without having to buy any courses or expensive equipment. Here are 14 Side Hustles You Can Start With No Money.
When should I quit a side hustle that is not working?
It’s time to think about possibly quitting a side hustle when you realize it’s consistently taking more time, energy, and resources than it is worth. You also need to decide to quit if you’ve given it a realistic chance of working, but you’re just not happy with it. You can always try something else!
How To Find a Side Hustle That Actually Fits Your Life – Summary
I hope you enjoyed my article on how to start a side hustle that actually fits your life.
Finding a side hustle that fits your lifestyle is important because it helps you stay consistent, avoid burnout, and truly enjoy your work and everyday life.
I have tried many, many side hustles over the years. Some I have loved, and others weren’t the right fit for me. Each one taught me more about the kind of work I enjoy, how much time I want to spend on it, and what I want my life to look like.
It’s okay if the first (or second!) side hustle you try doesn’t work out. You can take what you learned and try something else.
Which side hustle are you interested in starting?
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