5 Things I’ve Learned from Side Hustling

What you’ll find in this post:

• There’s no such thing as getting rich quick.
• Don’t have too many baskets.
• If something isn’t working, scrap it.
• If something isn’t bringing you joy, scrap it.
• Put yourself out there.

As the latter part of April is upon us, I can’t help but wonder where the time has gone. I guess it’s true what they say: the older you get, the faster time goes by. Can someone please slow down the clock a little?

My granddaughter will be a month old on Friday, which means it’s over a month since we got back from Mexico. Wait! What? It seems like just yesterday we were sitting in 30+ degree weather, wanting to come home, but at the same time not wanting to.

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And a lot has happened in that month as well. We have to move forward, no matter what life throws at us. All I’ll say at the moment in that regard is change is coming: good change for me. But without further ado, onward to the real reason for this post.

Side hustling has been my thing for literally decades, and I have come to a few conclusions over the years. Well, to be truthful, conclusions I’ve come to since I stopped trying to do everything that came along.

1. There’s NO such thing as getting rich quick. I can recall one of my very first so called “money makers”. I was looking through the newspaper’s classified ads section (yes, a real newspaper – pre-internet time) and saw an ad for stuffing envelopes. Well, that didn’t seem so difficult, so I ordered the package. What I got was a stack of address labels and letters to mail out (at my expense of course). The only person getting rich was the one preying on naive people like myself.
2. Don’t have too many baskets. The saying goes “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”, but having too many baskets at any one time isn’t good either. You start a side hustle to free up some time, then you start another. Before you know it, your side hustles and job are taking up every waking moment. It’s easy to overextend yourself without realizing it, so be wary. If you have a full time job and more than two side hustles going (especially those that require you to be present), then you’re defeating the purpose of having one in the first place.
3. If something isn’t working, scrap it. Maybe you’ve had a side hustle or three in the past, or maybe you’re about to embark on your very first one. Whatever the case, it has to produce results in a reasonable amount of time. If you’ve been consistent with your efforts and the monetary return isn’t there, move on. You didn’t start a side hustle to waste time and energy; you started it to improve your financial wellbeing.
4. If it’s not bringing you joy, scrap it. When you start a side hustle it has to be enjoyable. If it isn’t, then it just becomes another job. For example: you love to write so you start selling your services on Fiverr. After awhile you find yourself praying no one will order your gig, because you’re no longer enjoying it. It’s time to either revamp your gig, or take it down. (Fun fact: I’m both a buyer and seller on Fiverr, and have earned over $1700 on the platform. I have spent about $300, so I’m still ahead of the game.)
5. Put yourself out there. “If you build it, they will come.” only works in the movies. (Kevin Costner had more impact on me with that movie than I care to admit.) Just because you’ve created a wonderful blog about your hobby, or started an Etsy shop, it doesn’t mean people are going to flock to it as soon as you hit the “publish” button. YOU have to let them know it’s there, whether through paid ads, Pinterest, Facebook, word of mouth, or a combination of them all. (It’s like getting a new phone number and then wondering why no one is calling you. You have to tell the people in your life you changed it.)

Now that you’ve had an “aha” moment or two, or perhaps an “oh shit” moment, it’s time to share my upcoming change.

For those of you who have been reading my blog regularly, you know what life dealt me almost two years ago. After some careful consideration, tears, sleepless nights, and talking it over with my kids, I made the decision to move. I’m selling my place and am buying an acreage a little closer to a neighbouring town.

It has everything I want in a home. Big windows on all four sides (all with a wonderful view); an attached double car garage (plus a detached in the back); 4-piece ensuite with a jacuzzi; game room complete with pool table, shuffleboard and wet bar; central vac; central air; fireplace; office; big kitchen; covered deck; big master bedroom; large spare bedroom; 4 (yes, no typos here) bathrooms including the ensuite; skylights; and a landscaped yard complete with trees, perennials, and what appear to be some of my favourite shrubs. The best part of it all…no stairs for these old knees.

I know the move will be bittersweet, because this was our home. The one we were supposed to grow old in together. There’ll be tears as I purge, tears as I pack, and tears as I lock the door for the last time. The land and house are staying in Ross’s family, as his brother will be the new owner. In all honesty, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

For me it’s a step forward. I used to think I would live here forever, but as I said in my last post, it’s just easier to be gone sometimes. No matter what life brings his memory will be with me always, and that’s what I cherish the most. And when my time comes (hopefully I’m around to see my grandbaby have her own baby), I’ll be laid to rest beside him.

If you’ve made it this far, I thank you. I know my posts can get a bit rambly at times, but the main reason I started this blog was to share the ups and downs of being over 50. In all honesty, I do like the format of this post, and I may continue on with it. Side hustle information first, then my ramblings at the end. That way you get what you came for as a side hustler, and I get to share the other aspects of life’s trials and trbulations.