I recently got into a situation where I needed to come up with $1,500 quickly. Bills just seem to snowball out of nowhere. Then, I had to have minor emergency surgery. There are many times when I miss being a young person. When we are young, we don’t have to worry about making a living. Sometimes, problems and expenses have a way of piling up, and it just feels like too much to deal with.
Most gig-economy workers make an average of about $15 to $20-an-hour. However, depending on the amount of work available, that is not a lot of money when one has to consider expenses. That is not good news for gig economy workers when you consider that over 57 million Americans work in the gig economy on a part-time or full-time basis.
The situation gets more serious when you consider the fact that over 63% of Americans in the gig economy must dip into their saving at least once a month. Imagine how bad it is for people with minimal or no savings.
There are numerous gig economy and freelancer websites like Fiverr, Craigslist, UpWork, and Freelancer. However, gig workers are applying blindly for work, the pay is usually low, and it takes time to find reliable employers with steady work. What many people don’t appreciate about gig economy work is that a lot of jobs are just seasonal, one-time gigs, or as-needed opportunities.
I needed money quick, so I decided to try out a new gig-economy website called $idehusl. I got some quick delivery gig work and made most of the money that I needed.
How $idehusl Works
Sidehusl, which is also stylized as, “$idehusl,” specializes in creating directories of gig economy websites and reviewing them to take the guesswork out of looking for gigs. The site rates and reviews over 250 freelance and gig earning opportunities in three platform categories – work, sell, or rent. You can also subscribe to the site to get alerts for new opportunities or the latest reviews.
Kathy Kristof, a noted finance journalist and consumer interest writer, launched Sidehusl. The site differentiates itself with this business model, especially considering that there are hundreds of other such gig economy websites. Opportunities on Sidehusl are rated by “$,” symbols. More “$” symbols mean it’s a better opportunity for gig workers looking for paid work.
Sidehusl work opportunities usually pay anywhere between $20 to $50 an hour. You can rent out your home, car, or parking space, or sell things. You can also look for work opportunities. Sidehusl partners with numerous other companies, work websites and directories in this venture, like Indeed and Kango, for example. Or, Sidehusl can help you get contractor work delivering packages for Amazon via the Amazon Flex work program.
However, even the founder of the site notes that after expenses are deducted, pay rates may look better than they are. How much you earn is determined by the job, your skills, business demand, and your hustle.
Strategically Monetize Your Skills
The best way to make money in the gig economy is to find a way to monetize your skills efficiently. For example, you can wrap your car in advertisements for a local business while also driving for Uber, Lyft, or making deliveries. If you telecommute, research which skills are in high demand. You can make money quick, perhaps even on your own terms, if you know how to hustle.
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Allen Francis was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years with no money, no financial literacy, and no responsibility when he had money. To him, the phrase “personal finance,” contains the power that anyone has to grow their own wealth. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including focusing on your needs instead of your wants, asking for help when you need it, saving and investing in your own small business.