The cost of living crisis has seen more and more people looking for ways to top up their monthly pay packet. Side hustles have always been a thing, but they undoubtedly became more popular during the pandemic.
For some, it can be a passion or hobby that inspires them to set up a side hustle - things like baking or crafts. For others it can be more out of necessity, or even boredom. Whatever the reason, chances are you will know at least one person who's done it.
Research has shown that half of under-35s now have a ‘side hustle’ to top up their salary by an average of £8,400 per year - with seven per cent now earning more than UK average wage.
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With second jobs becoming an upward trends for the working professionals of today, we asked some people about what it's like to have a side hustle, what was their inspiration and how much it helps them.
Clare Hill’s side hustle was inspired to start her own business after she felt guilty about how often her children spent looking at screens. While on maternity leave the mum of two has set up Go Doodle to help with their family’s income and engage the brain of her tots.
Go Doodle, is portable reusable silicone colouring mat for kids which was made to give parents a different way to keep their children occupied when out and about or at home.
Clare, 39, from Sale said: “I surprised myself by how much I was relying on phones for entertainment to occupy them. I wanted something that was portable that you could take around with you other than putting a screen in front of them."
Having taken voluntary redundancy from her job, Clare jumped into it. “I just used the internet to find a manufacture and I learned some skills. That was part of the interest in doing it, I had to use my own skills as well to learn new skills.
“I’m not a marketeer or designer by background so it was learning how to use new software like Adobe, I had to build a website as well, I’ve never done it before but I had to do it myself.”
Tom Chivers, 28, is from Liverpool but works in Manchester. He says he took to selling sweets on the side out of curiosity and to see if he could put to use the skills he learned in marketing for himself. He has set up his on pick'n'mix Picky Mixers.
Tom, who has six years experience in marketing says, he has done the research and thinks he can make a 'dent' in the industry.
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Speaking about his new venture that has seen him live in a house filled with sweets, Tom said: "I can’t go to the cinema without getting pick and mix, I’m just obsessed. A lot of it was I’m sick of getting ripped off, I wanted to make a business where if you’re getting sweets from me you’re not getting ripped off.
"There’s so many things I didn’t have a clue what to do. I didn’t know how to take product pictures for starters. I’ve had to spend four weekends on the bounce to take pictures of a sweet.
"For anyone who wants to sort of set up their own business, just have a go. "
A report by communications provider Plusnet has found that almost half (44%) of Brits aged under 35 earn extra income alongside their full-time job, more than triple the number of over-55s (13%).
And that number only looks set to grow with a quarter (22%) of under-35s saying they are actively searching for a side gig. Side hustles can also be highly lucrative with under-35s earning an average of £8,400 per year while one in 15 (7%) earn more than the national average wage of £31,096 from their side hustle.
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