UpTrajectory Review
This piece highlights Jackie Mitchell's journey with side hustles, particularly her experience making $100 a day for 100 days through various methods. It emphasizes the practicality of side hustles in achieving financial goals, such as saving for a home, while also noting the time commitment involved. Mitchell shares her ongoing use of platforms like Swagbucks, which allows for flexible earning through gaming and other activities.
For small business owners, the insights from Mitchell's experience can be particularly relevant this week as many are looking for ways to supplement their income or fund business ventures. The emphasis on finding reputable side hustles that fit into a busy schedule is crucial. However, operators should be cautious about the time investment versus the potential return, as not all side hustles yield significant profits. It's essential to evaluate whether these side gigs align with long-term business goals or simply serve as a temporary fix.
“side hustles require a time commitment and potentially your data.” — Business Insider
Takeaway: Evaluate side hustles carefully to ensure they align with your business goals and time constraints.
From the original item — Business Insider:
Jackie Mitchell
- Jackie Mitchell completed a series on TikTok about making $100 a day for $100 days.
- There are three side hustles she still uses today to save up for occasions like vacations and dates.
- She cautions people that side hustles require a time commitment and potentially your data.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jackie Mitchell, a 28-year-old content creator based in Columbus, Ohio. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
When my husband and I needed some extra money to buy our first home, side hustles became my way of crossing that last little monetary threshold to make it happen.
I decided to do a TikTok series with the goal of making $100 a day for 100 days using side hustles. What guided my search for additional side hustles for my challenge was simply that I wanted reputable ones I could start for free.
There are three side hustles I’ve stuck with to this day. The common thread is that they offer the easiest work for the pay and can be picked up whenever I have time.
Swagbucks doesn’t feel like hard work
Swagbucks is a site that offers people tiers of payment for completing certain levels in mobile games. I really like that it’s not all-or-nothing. If I don’t complete the highest level they’re offering money for, I still make some money.
I like to go on the Swagbucks subreddit and follow the guides that people post. I find that people are really willing to share their experiences there, and it helps me weed out which games are actually worth doing. Swagbucks has other ways to make money, like surveys and receipt uploads, but game offers are the main way I use it.
I don’t get paid an immediate hour for dollar amount; it’s more cumulative. I’d estimate that if I played a game for a few hours each night while watching TV for maybe two weeks, I might end up making $200. It’s easy, and some of the games are fun.
Focus groups pay well, but they’re not consistent
I’m signed up for focus group websites, so when I get an email that I qualify for a study, I try to apply. I typically earn anywhere from $100 to $300 for an in-person study, which takes maybe an hour or two, including some travel time. The pay might be higher for a longer, online study, but the work might also be more.
The pay rate is pretty good, but I only get emails about focus groups I can apply for about twice a month. Researchers are looking for an incredibly specific demographic, so the chances of you being that person for every researcher are negligible.
I can make about $30 an hour on Prolific
Prolific is a website that allows me to participate in research studies. If there are studies on my dashboard, I can probably make $30 in an hour because I’m a quick reader and writer. Someone might make only half of that if they’re going slower.
This website is similar to focus groups in the sense that your options depend on your demographics and what’s available that day.
I like that it’s easy to do, the pay rate is good, and I can log in whenever I want.
Things to be careful of when doing side hustles
I caution people that any site doing research isn’t only paying you for your ideas; they’re paying you for your data.
People sometimes tell me they want to try a side hustle, but they’re not comfortable with sharing things like their government ID and permission to release their data. To that I say, that’s the exchange. Whether people are comfortable with that is up to the individual.
There are also no cheat codes to these: side hustles are a time commitment. I always try to direct people toward a mindset that understands that finances are a part of life, but they’re not the point of life.
That being said, side hustles like these can be a really excellent financial supplement. I just don’t suggest that people ever do side hustles at the expense of their own family or their own personal life.
Do you have a story to share about your side hustle? If so, please reach out to the reporter at tmartinelli@businessinsider.com.