These Are The Side Hustles I’ve Tried, and In the End Everything Was Worth It
If you’ve ever fallen down the rabbit hole of YouTube videos titled “10 side hustles that make $10,000 a month,” or whatever. Then, you know how tempting it is to earn extra money and become financially free. Inside every one of us, deep down, we all want to be a millionaire or a rich boss who gives us the freedom to live life. I’ve definitely been there. I wanted to boost my savings, pay off debt faster, and have a little extra income in life.
But the truth is that not all side hustles help you earn money fast. Some sounded amazing on paper but drained my energy with very little payoff. Therefore, I tried others as well, which surprised me by making extra income, and those were also my hobbies that I actually enjoyed while working.
So today, I want to share the real story, the side hustles I tried, the good, the bad, and the ones I would actually recommend.
These are the side hustles that I've tried and earned money from
1. Freelance Writing
This was the very first side hustle in which I dipped my toes. I’ve always loved writing. So, when I learned to make money, I could also learn and make money by writing content. It depends on you which type of content you’re writing; for example, you may write blog posts, website copy, or even product descriptions. I’ve got an easy-peasy plan for you and my story to give you inspiration.
I started from a very small age, signing up for platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. However, the beginning was rough. But remember that the start will always be boring and weird. You need to imagine spending hours writing proposals that barely got a response, or getting underpaid for way too much work. But slowly, I built a portfolio and a few long-term clients.
Here is the list of things that worked out for me:
- Once I had some samples, it made it easier to pitch directly to small businesses.
- Niching down helped me a lot. I focused on lifestyle and productivity content instead of “just writing about anything.”
- The flexibility was unbeatable. I could write in my pajamas at midnight if I wanted to.
Here’s what didn’t work out for me:
- Feast or famine cycles. In some months, I had five clients; in other months, I had zero.
- Rates were low in the beginning. It took a lot of time to get to a “worth it” income.
- Verdict: Worth it if you enjoy writing and don’t mind the hustle of finding new clients. For me, this was a keeper, though I treat it as more of a “sometimes gig” now.
2. Selling on Etsy
At one point, I went through a full-on DIY/crafty phase. I learned how to make custom mugs with vinyl decals and dabbled in digital prints. Etsy felt like the perfect marketplace.
Setting up the shop was easy, and there’s a real thrill the first time you get that “cha-ching” notification. I’ll never forget my first order; it was a custom “Coffee Before Chaos” mug.
Here's what worked for me:
- Etsy already has a built-in audience, so I didn’t have to drive traffic completely from scratch.
- Digital downloads (like printable planners) had zero shipping hassle and felt very passive once uploaded.
Here is what didn’t work for me:
- Physical products meant dealing with shipping, packaging, and the occasional lost order headache.
- The market is crowded. Competing with thousands of other mug shops felt like screaming into the void.
- Trend chasing by, the time I figured out what designs were hot, they were already fading away. Lol.
Verdict: It is a fun, creative outlet, but it is not worth it in the long term for me. If you love crafting or digital art, it could be great, but I realized I didn’t want my living room to be a mess like a shipping warehouse.
3. Rideshare Driving
I live in a city where Uber and Lyft are always buzzing, so I thought, why not I'm earning through rides? It seemed simple enough, like drive, chat, and earn.
The upside: instant money. Depending on demand, I could log in for a few hours after work and make $60–100. It was also oddly social, I met some interesting people (and some very strange ones).
What worked for me:
- I could choose my own hours.
- Quick payouts and no waiting weeks to get paid.
- Surge pricing on weekends or events made it pretty lucrative.
What didn’t work for me:
- Wear and tear on my car added up fast.
- Late-night rides were stressful because not everyone treats rideshare drivers respectfully.
- Factoring in gas and maintenance, the actual hourly rate wasn’t as shiny as it looked.
- It was not worth it for me as a long-term goal. It felt more like trading hours for dollars than building something sustainable. But if you need fast cash, it’s not the worst option.
4. Online Tutoring
This one was unexpected. I stumbled into tutoring English online through platforms like Cambly and Preply. Honestly, I thought it would be boring. But I ended up loving it. I found that talking to people from different places of the world, helping them practice conversation, and watching their confidence grow was rewarding in a way that surprised me.
What worked for me :
- I could set my own schedule.
- No prep work required for conversational English.
- Some students became regulars, which made it feel less like “gig work” and more like connections.
What didn’t work out for :
- The pay per hour wasn’t amazing.
- I was facing time zone issues. Sometimes I had students who wanted lessons at 5 a.m., my time, and others wanted to be on their specific time.
- The platform took a hefty cut in earnings.
This was definitely worth it. It didn’t make me rich, but it was fulfilling and gave me a steady income. If you’re patient and enjoy people’s gathering, then tutoring is a great side hustle.
5. Blogging / Content Creation
And of course… blogging itself! I started writing just for fun. I started sharing personal stories, tips, and experiences. But then I learned about affiliate marketing, ad revenue, and sponsored posts.
The reality is that blogging is a long-term game. For months, nobody used to read my posts except my mom (Hi, Mom). But with consistency, and I also learned some basic SEO techniques, then traffic started coming in. Eventually, I made my first $100 in affiliate commissions, which felt like winning the lottery.
What worked for me:
- I had creative freedom. I could write about things I genuinely cared about.
- Passive income potential, like the posts I wrote months ago, still brings in occasional clicks.
- It built a personal brand, which opened other opportunities.
What didn’t work for me:
- It’s slow. If you’re looking for quick money, blogging isn’t it.
- It can feel discouraging in the beginning when nobody is reading.
- Tech headaches (hello, website hosting and broken plugins).
But believe me, it is absolutely worth it, but only if you enjoy the process. Blogging isn’t a “get rich quick” hustle, but it can become something sustainable and fun over time.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, the side hustles that felt most worth it were the ones that matched my skills and interests. Such as freelance writing, tutoring, and blogging. They didn’t feel like chores. They felt like my hobbies wh,ich I already enjoyed doing.
The ones that weren’t worth it were Rideshare driving (too draining) and Etsy (too crowded and messy for me). But I don’t regret trying them. Each one taught me something about myself, what I value, what I’m good at, and what I don’t want to spend my evenings doing.
If you’re thinking about starting a side hustle, here’s my biggest piece of advice:
Don’t just chase the “highest income” opportunities. Think about what fits your lifestyle and mood. Side hustles take time and energy, and if you hate every second of it, you won’t stick with it.
For me, the best side hustles are the ones that bring not just extra cash, but a sense of growth and even joy.
So, would I try new side hustles in the future? Absolutely yes. But now I know to ask myself
A different question first: Is this worth my time, energy, and happiness?
