Side Hustle Meaning: Side Money For Financial Freedom (2023)

Do you feel out of the loop because you don’t understand what a side hustle is? You’re not alone, and we’re happy to fill you in!

More and more people are now turning to side hustles to supplement their income and make extra money every month.

You see videos on TikTok and blogs all over the internet where people brag about their side hustle money and tell you about all the different ways you could earn money.

In this post, we’ll look at what a side hustle is and why you should consider starting a side hustle this year. 

Side Hustle Meaning: More Money Yor You!

A side hustle is any work or activity a person does outside their regular work (full-time or part-time job) to earn extra income.

A side hustle could be something you do on the weekends or even something you do in the evenings after your day job. 

Some people call side hustles side jobs or side gigs, and it’s a great way to describe them because it’s just work you choose to do outside your normal routine.

Not Exactly Part-Time Work 

The main difference between a side hustle and a part-time job is that a side hustle usually involves more autonomy and even working alone.

With a part-time job, there are often set hours, specific tasks that need to be completed in that time frame, and someone who oversees your progress throughout the week.

A side hustle allows for more freedom and flexibility since there typically aren’t any set hours or goals other than what you set for yourself.

Benefits of Hustling

Whether you want to start your own business, explore a passion project, or make some extra cash and start saving money, there are a lot of advantages to having a side hustle.

Let’s look at some of the top benefits of having a side hustle.

Flexibility

One of the major benefits of side hustles is that it offers more flexibility than traditional employment roles.

Instead of being constrained by office hours or commuting times to your day job, you can work whenever and wherever suits you best. 

You are essentially your own boss and control how much time you dedicate to a project- your client can give you things to do and a due date, but how you get it done and when is up to you.

A side job is ideal for those who like to decide how they use their time, ability, and energy while working. 

Extra Income 

Who doesn’t want extra income for the things that matter?

If you’re looking for ways to make ends meet, save money, or pay off debt quickly, having an additional income from a side hustle can be incredibly helpful.

Another significant benefit of having a good side hustle is that it gives you additional income, and you can grow your bank account exponentially.

Even if you don’t make much from your side hustle, every little bit helps, especially when trying to make ends meet!

A side hustle gives you more financial security, freedom, and flexibility when budgeting or making financial decisions.

Creative Outlet 

Having a side hustle is also great for those who need an outlet for their creativity or want to make money from hobbies.

A side hustle gives you the time and opportunity to pursue your creative interests without putting too much pressure on yourself.

Learning New Skills

Learning new high-paying skills or developing a new hobby is another benefit that comes with having a side hustle.

Whether learning to code websites or mastering graphic design software, having a side business can help expand your skill set in many ways.

These skills can also be helpful when looking for a new full-time gig down the line or if you want a raise at work.

How Side Hustles Work

If you’re already working a full-time job, you don’t want to take on something that requires too much time or effort.

Look for opportunities for things you’re passionate about and focus on those; if you love what you’re doing, it won’t feel like work!

Once you’ve chosen the right side hustle, explore websites to find side hustles that fit your skills and pay what you want.

Here are two ways you can start a side hustle:

Freelancing

Freelancing is when someone contracts your work for a given time. Your contract will have your goals and pay but doesn’t dictate your hours.

You can freelance in any profession—writing, graphic design, web development, tax prep during tax season, or accounting—as long as you have the skills necessary to do the work.

Freelancing is essentially offering services on a come-and-go basis for various clients and making extra money with your skills.

Small Businesses

You can also create a side hustle with your own small business!

Being a freelancer is actually one business idea, but there are other small business ideas you can start that aren’t just offering services.

Here are some examples of small business side hustle ideas you could start in addition to your full-time job:

Our Tried & True Examples: Best Side Hustles

Now that we’ve talked about what sides hustles are and why you should start your own side hustle ASAP, let’s go over the best side hustles Britanny and I have both done over the years:

Blogging

Blogging is one of our favorite examples of a side hustle, and we highly recommend it to anyone looking to make extra money in addition to their full-time jobs.

We started this blog as a side hustle, and it became so much more! We were able to monetize and grow our blog until we quit our full-time jobs and focused solely on blogging.

It’s easy to set up and start blogging about topics that interest you, and it’s possible to generate money through ads or affiliate programs.

We have a step-by-step guide that you can use to start our blog, plus our Start Your Blog Boot Camp workbook will help you get started today!

Proofreading

Proofreading is a side hustle that can be done in addition to your day employment and from the comfort of your home.

Proofreaders check documents for accuracy and formatting. They work with bloggers, authors, editors, and other businesses who need help with their writing or editing.

You can easily make $20 – $50 per hour a proofreader; the more experienced you are, the more money you can make.

We recommend taking the FREE workshop by Proofread Anywhere to learn what it takes to start a proofreading side hustle.

Shopify Store

Creating a shop on Shopify is one of the great ways to make money with a side hustle. You can create an online store and start selling products.

You don’t need experience or special qualifications, just creative ideas for the products you want to sell.

Setting up a shop is simple; you don’t need any coding or design skills to get started. You can leverage Shopify’s vast library of resources and tutorials to set up shop in no time.

Food Delivery

Delivering food is easy- you pick up and drop off people’s orders for quick cash. You also get to choose when and where you want to work and get a base pay plus tips for every delivery!

You can quickly sign up as a delivery driver and start making extra money with your car or bike.

Here are some food delivery apps to consider joining:

• Uber Eats
• Grubhub
• DoorDash
• Postmates

Tutoring Services

If you have expertise in a specific field, such as math, science, or a foreign language, you can offer your services to students who need extra help.

You don’t need a degree or teaching certificate to tutor anyone, just knowledgeable and patient so your students can improve their grades and ace those tests!

You can find students to tutor on BookNook, where you can tutor English and math for $15+ an hour.

How To Find Side Hustles

Side Hustle Apps

Side hustle apps are an easy way to pursue your side job. You can access hundreds of available opportunities for clients in your area at any time of the week, including weekends.

You can search for a good side hustle by category, allowing you to find another source of income and work around your full-time job.

There are many side hustle apps, and our favorite one is Steady because you can find side hustles and track your side hustle income!

Find out more about their features and side hustle offerings from our honest Steady Review.

Job Boards

Job boards are a great way to find side hustles, as they usually post openings in specific categories.

For example, if you’re looking for flexible work options that you can do in your free time, don’t require a long-term commitment, and provide a supplemental income, you can search for “freelance” jobs on the board.

We recommend using Fiverr, FlexJobs, and Upwork to find side hustles. You can apply for jobs directly but also create a profile for potential clients to view- and contact you!

Final Thoughts

So, now that you’ve learned the meaning of side hustles, what do you think?

To me, a side hustle is a good way for everyone to make a supplemental income while still maintaining their full-time job or lifestyle commitments.  

For us, it’s a way for Brittany to be a stay-at-home mom and work when she wants, and I get to write about finances, one of my biggest passions.

It’s feasible for you to look into your passions and find a side hustle (or a few!) that will make you money on the side and help you reach financial freedom quicker than you would with just your 9-5 job.

Check out our list of the of side hustle ideas and see what side jobs could change your life this year! And join FlexJobs to start applying for high-paying side hustles.