5 Reasons Why You Need To Start Your Side Hustle

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ll no doubt be more than familiar with the concept of a ‘side hustle’.

what is a side hustle

It’s an extracurricular activity that allows you to earn some extra money outside of your 9-5, and it’s estimated that 40% of UK workers have one – with that number expected to increase to 50% by 2030, according to research by Henley Business School.

Not sure whether it’s the right option for you? You’d be right to be a little cautious. After all, many people work long hours in the office, and we all need to be savvy with our time. But whilst it’s more than tempting to dedicate our evenings and weekends to some well deserved down time, there are some big and extremely compelling reasons why you should consider dipping your toes into the side hustle waters.

Here are five reasons why now could be the time for you to start a small business venture on the side…

1 - It’s your chance to pursue something that you’re madly passionate about

If you’re lucky, then you’ll have a day job that you don’t mind too much. The harsh reality though is that for many people, their occupation is simply a means to an end. They do their job, they get paid, but they don’t have a burning passion for the work that fills a big chunk of their lives.

With a side hustle though, you’re completely in the driving seat, and you get to choose exactly what you do. Always dreamed of selling your handmade crafts? You can do that. Love writing blog posts and think you have quite a talent for it? There are people out there who will pay for your services. It might be a bit of a cliché, but there’s so much satisfaction to be taken from doing work that fires you up and gets you excited.

 

 

2 - We all love making a bit of extra cash

Would you benefit from having more money in your pocket at the end of each month? Whether you want to put aside some savings to give you extra peace of mind, you have a big event coming up like a holiday or a wedding, or you just fancy being able to treat yourself a bit more often, a side hustle could be just the ticket for getting your finances on the right track.

A question that you’re likely to have here is just how much you can earn. Annoyingly, there’s not really a definitive answer here. It all depends on what you want to do, how much time you’re willing to commit, and how seriously you want to take it. An extra few hundred pounds per month though is achievable by anyone, and it’s not unheard of to be able to entirely replace your 9-5 income with your side hustle.

3 - It makes you future proof in the world of work

A job for life is an outdated concept, and the gig economy is on the rise. It’s true that this is often associated with negative things like zero-hour contracts and questionable companies exploiting loopholes in the law, but it’s definitely not all bad news. The world of work is changing, and there are so many benefits that you can take from leaping in with both feet and tapping into the genuine opportunities that are out there.

By adding an extra string to your bow, you can boost your employability. You can make sure that your skills are fresh, relevant, and up to date. You can get a foot on the ladder in an industry that you’ve always dreamed of being a part of. Ultimately, your side hustle can give that extra edge to your earning potential and your future career prospects.

4 - You’ll build a network of people with the same passions and ambitions

It’s great having mates at work. But more often than not, you don’t have a great deal in common with the people you work with. When you pursue a passion project in the shape of a side hustle, a surprising but wonderful side effect is that you can find yourself welcomed with open arms into communities that you never even knew existed.

You can find people just like you, working on similar projects, who’ll be your biggest supporters along the way. They’ll also be there to pick you up when things go pear shaped from time to time – which, of course, they inevitably will. Finding your tribe adds another level of satisfaction to what you do outside of your usual work.

5 - It’s never before been easier to launch a profitable side project

The internet has opened up a whole world of opportunities that just didn’t exist even a few years ago. Armed with a few YouTube tutorials and a bit of determination, you can start a website in a few hours that allows you to sell your products to people on the other side of the world. In a few clicks, you can connect with business owners who are eagerly searching for people with your skills.

Whatever your dream is, you can do it quicker, easier, and for cheaper than ever before in history. All the guidance and advice you could ever need is right at your fingertips, and though there’s no denying that you’re probably going to face a steep learning curve when it comes to getting things off the ground, it can absolutely be worth it.

 

 

So what next?

If getting started with a side hustle is speaking to you, then there’s no time like the present to get your idea off the ground. Your options are endless, and they include everything from selling your services as a freelancer, to starting a blog, to selling other people’s tat on eBay, and everything in between.

Do some research. Pinpoint the things that really light you up. But most of all, take action. It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you’ll do it ‘one day’ – but the biggest successes come from just getting started, getting stuck in, and learning as you go.

Do you plan to start your side hustle this year? If so, what is going to look like? These links below will help you on your way

The Top 20 UK Based MLM Opportunities

Ways to Make Money Online & Work From Home in the UK

 

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Claire Roach Founder & CEO @ Money Saving Central

Claire Roach Money Saving Central Founder

Claire is the UK's #1 'Online Shopping Expert', she is best known for creating sale date tracking to reveal UK sale dates so her followers are first to know when the next sale is due to land for their favourite stores - making her unpopular with major UK retailers!

Featured in major news outlets and TV shows such as 'This Morning', 'The Times Money Mentor' 'Closer magazine, 'The Guardian' and many more for posts such as the viral 'Kids Eat Free' and 'Supermarket 25% off Wine Deal Dates' promotions she features. Read More