Skimm Money: Side Hustles, Meeting Creep, And Airfare Prices

Building a side hustle on top of your 9 to 5 takes work. For deets on how to get started and avoid burning out, Daniella Flores, of I Like To Dabble, shares their wisdom below. 

How do I know if my skills are up to par for freelance work?

Depending on what you want to freelance in, there are online tools you can use to familiarize yourself with the work you want to do. Talk to other freelancers, too, because your connections are going to matter more than your experience in landing some of those first gigs. Dive in now, and figure it out as you go.

How do I balance my 9 to 5, my 5 to 9, and my personal life?

Take care of yourself and your personal life first. Really look at the time that's actually free for you to work on your side hustle. Then, consider the times you're most engaged. Ex: If you're not a morning person, don't work on your side hustle in the morning. Communicate with your family about what you're trying to do, too. They can help you juggle some of your responsibilities.

Any words of wisdom for people on their side hustle journey?

1. List your accomplishments. This will remind you that you're on a roll and making progress toward your goal.

2. Have somebody to lean on for support. This can be a friend or a family member. Or a business mentor or somebody in an online community. Or, if you have access, a therapist.

3. Remember, you’re not alone. Your favorite online creators — who look like they know exactly what they're doing and are killing it — didn’t know what they were doing on day one. And I bet they don't know exactly what they're doing now, just like everybody else. 

Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity. 

Some employers are hiring older workers because they think young employees are disengaged… 

They’re not entirely wrong. 

AANHPI women, on average, make 80 cents for every dollar a white man makes…

Some earn even less.

Feel like you spend most of your workday in meetings?

Companies are pushing back against meeting creep.

Waiting for airfare prices to drop to book that vacay?

Don’t. Google might guarantee the price of your flight.

Millennials are struggling to buy homes…

Thanks to Boomers.

Spring cleaning is upon us. And if you really like keeping things spotless, you’re going to want to scroll on. Ahead, Anne Helen Petersen, writer of the newsletter Culture Study, tells us about a splurge-worthy purchase that makes cleaning a whole lot easier.

Tell us about a recent purchase that felt like an investment.

My power washer.

How much did you spend on it?

$167.86. It’s available on Amazon and at some hardware outlets.

Why do you consider it a worthy investment? 

I live on an island in the Pacific Northwest where we get a ton of storms, moss, algae, and saltwater accumulation. I could either stare at it and be annoyed, or I could get a power washer and have truly the most satisfying time cleaning everything from my deck, fence, and car every few months.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.