14 reasons why you need to start that side hustle, NOW
/One of the lessons that many of us learn at some point in our career, is that we should not assume that our current situation will last forever. Some of our Money & Mimosas readers write in to us to share that they have recently been laid off and are trying to figure out how to financially maintain their lifestyle.
We truly believe in the importance of a side hustle. Even if your job is 99.99999% secure, having an additional income stream is empowering because you know that you have the skills to support yourself. And having a side hustle does not have to mean that you turn it into a full-time business. For example, you can love your job as a full-time marketing analyst and use those same skills to develop your blog on the side. Your blog may also help you sharpen your skills that will help you in your current position.
Here are fourteen reasons why you need a side-hustle.
Extra money for those shopping sprees and investing. It goes without saying that having a side hustle helps you make more money. This additional money can go towards your indulgences and/or your investing accounts so you can start living like a BOSS. The extra dolla bills you have can go towards building up a high-yield savings account. This is an account that has a higher interest rate than most savings account. We really dig Radius Bank’s high yield savings account that has a 1.86% APY.
It provides a cushion in case you suddenly lose your job. None of us like to think about the negative side, but there is a chance that your company could go through a series of layoffs. One our members worked as a staff accountant and the company went through a terrible downturn. She was asked to cut her pay by 20%. That is a huge pay cut! But, because she was teaching Zumba on the side, she was able to make up those lost wages.
Opportunity to write off expenses on your taxes. Most of the things you buy to support your side hustle, can be a tax deduction. Yay!
Creative outlet. We all need to express ourselves creatively, and sometimes our job doesn’t provide the opportunity to do that. Having a side hustle will allow you to let your creative juices flow while still holding down that 9 to 5 J-O-B.
New experiences. Wow, you never know what life has to offer until you put yourself out there. Having a side hustle forces you to get out of your comfort zone and can lead to opportunities that you never knew existed.
Learn additional skills that can translate to your career. Writing, photography, marketing, sales - these are just some of the skills that you will pick up from your side hustle. And all of these skills will be helpful to you regardless of the career you have.
Your success can be used to negotiate a higher salary. Did you grow your email list by 150%? Or snag a huge press mention? Or build a loyal following and host sold-out events? Depending on your role at work, you can mention these wins as a way to demonstrate your advanced skill-set and ask for higher pay.
Live life on your own terms. If you are out of PTO you can still generate income while taking time off. Have you already used all of your vacation time, but, want to take another 2-day trip? Well, your side hustle can make up for the missed pay. Go ‘head and live your life, girl.
Meet new friends outside of work. Sure, you love your colleagues. But sometimes it’s fun to connect with different kinds of folks. Having a side hustle will encourage you to attend events that are outside of your comfort and meet new people.
Free products. This is especially true if you blog and/or have a social media presence. Brands love to send their products for people to try. And who doesn’t like free gifts.
Discover new passions. Having a side hustle may introduce you to fun activities that you may have not discovered, otherwise. Like painting, underwater photography or snorkeling. You never know what life has to offer until you put yourself out there!
Reduce feelings of burnout at work. Feeling uninspired at work? Even if you love your job, we need a creative outlet. Having a side hustle can help reinvigorate the once burning passion you had for your job.
Create more structure in your life. When you pick up a creative gig, your time becomes even more precious to you. If you feel like you are all over the place and unsure of what you want to do with life, a side hustle may help give you the clarity you’ve been craving.
More opportunities to give back and be a part of the community. Looking for ways to be more involved? With your side hustle, you can collaborate with local non-profits and organizations that align with your values.
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This post was in partnership with Radius Bank.
*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 05/30/18. Minimum amount to open account is $100.00. Rate tiers are as follows: 0.00% APY applies to balances of $0.01—$9.99, 0.05% APY applies to the entire balance on balances of $10.00—$2,499.99, and 1.50% APY applies to the entire balance on balances of $2,500- $24,999.99. 1.86% APY applies to entire balance on balances of $25,000 or more. Rates may change after account is opened. Fees may reduce earnings.
