We hear about side hustles all the time, but have you ever wondered what people are actually doing to make money on the side? I’m a big fan of research because it’s data-driven and objective. When it comes to side hustles the two biggest questions are: how many are doing them and what are they doing? Perhaps the biggest question is: how much are they making? CareerBuilder recently released research on side hustles that I thought was insightful. Today I want to talk about the most popular side hustles according to research. Let’s take a look at the list.   The Most Popular Side Hustles A ..read more

A popular topic in personal finance is passive income. Income that doesn’t require you to trade your time for money is “the dream” for many people. There are many different forms of passive income, but the ultimate passive income is dividend income. Dividend income comes from owning dividend-paying stocks. Not every company pays dividends. If a company is focused 100% on growth, they are going to use all their earnings to continue to grow their business. With that being said there are many large companies that are focused on growth that pay a dividend. In fact it would almost be silly for a ..read more

No matter someone’s income level, skill, or financial knowledge, there is always something that can be done to improve your finances. Whether you have 5 minutes or 50 years, here are 100+ ways you can work to improve your finances.   Increase Your Savings   1) Open an online savings account with a higher interest rate. Online savings accounts, like CIT Bank, are able to offer a higher interest rate because they do not have to spend money keeping up brick-and-mortar locations. Consider making the switch and earning a few extra dollars in interest. 2) Set automatic increases. You can i ..read more

  Making extra money has changed my life. So much so that I wrote an entire book about it. In my book Hustle Away Debt I talk about how you can pay off your debt faster through side hustles. Side hustles are essentially ways to make extra money outside of your 9-5 job. While the book is focused on all sorts of side hustles, not just ways to make extra money from home, I have a soft spot for making money from home. There is nothing quite like making money without leaving the comfort of your home. This post shares 50+ legitimate ways to make extra money from home. A large majority of these ..read more

Considering making the switch to a new career? There are many reasons why people choose to change careers. Maybe you’re looking for a new challenge, more career growth, better pay, or fewer hours, to name a few. Regardless of your reason, a career change is a big decision. Here are 8 things you should do if you’re considering a major career change.   1) Understand Your Why   Before you dive right in with a job search, it’s important to understand why you are looking to switch careers. What do you hope a new career has that your current one doesn’t? While it may be tempting to believe ..read more

  Have a gap in your work experience? It’s more common than you may think. Many people take a sabbatical at some point in their career for various reasons. Maybe you moved, went back to school, job loss, started a family, or just needed a break. Whatever the reason, having a gap on your resume doesn’t mean you can’t find a job and reenter the workforce. Here’s everything you need to know about how to overcome a gap in your work experience.   Be Honest and Vulnerable   They say honesty is the best policy, and it certainly applies here. Be prepared to speak to why you had a gap. D ..read more

Are you thinking of starting a virtual side hustle? Have you ever considered tutoring virtually? Tutoring is an amazing side hustle, and you get to help students while doing it. Plus, with many schools going remote due to COVID-19, virtual tutors will be in high demand. If you have ever considered starting a virtual tutoring business, here’s everything you need to know to get started.   Decide Your Niche   To start, you’ll need to determine what subject areas you will offer your expertise in. What subject areas did you enjoy while in school? What classes did you excel at? Do you have ..read more

  As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, there is some uncertainty as to what the future of the workforce will look like. And unfortunately, many people are still either temporarily furloughed or laid off from work. Others may feel trapped in the jobs they do still have. But now for the good news. Although unemployment rates are still high, the job market remains surprisingly strong. Now that companies are more versed in a fully remote workforce, they are continuing to hire for roles they may have put on hold. It is totally possible to find a new job during COVID – here are a few tips to ..read more

  As I write this we are more than four months into COVID having a deep impact on the United States. We’ve learned a lot about COVID during that time, but at the same time we are still far from having certainty about many things. I’ve personally accepted the fact that social distancing and mask-wearing will be needed through 2020, and very likely into early 2021. In Minnesota our winters can be brutal. The warm Summer and crisp Fall we have are great times to get outside. It’s also easier to social distance outside. My wife and I have had a few bonfires at our house, each time with just a ..read more

Do you spend your free time surfing the internet or television? Do you feel like you’re “wasting” time? We are all guilty of not making the most of our downtime, but what if I told you that you could start earning extra money when you’re bored? There are numerous ways to make money in your spare time. Whether you have 10 hours or 10 minutes, here are 8 ways you can make extra money when you are bored.   1) Take Surveys   If you want to make money while watching television, then surveys are worth considering. There are many survey sites out there, so you can find one that works for yo ..read more