Building a Side Income as a Woman

Anna dives into the empowering potential of side hustles in this Wealthwise Woman Podcast episode, highlighting how they help women close the gender pay gap and achieve financial flexibility. She explores various side hustle options, from low-commitment tasks like online surveys to entrepreneurial ventures like e-commerce, tailored to different skills and schedules. Practical steps include starting with minimal investment, leveraging free platforms like Upwork or Etsy, and scaling through reinvestment and marketing. Anna addresses barriers like time constraints and imposter syndrome, encouraging women to start small and persist despite societal pressures. A side income, she emphasizes, is a powerful tool for financial independence and personal growth.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to the wealth Wise Woman podcast. I'm your host, Anna,
and as always, a quick reminder, this podcast is for
educational and informational purposes only. It is not financial advice.
Always do your own research and consult with a licensed
professional before making any financial or business decisions. Today, we're

(00:21):
diving into an empowering and practical topic, building a side income.
As a woman. In a world where the gender pay
gap persists and women often juggle multiple roles from careers
to caregiving, a side income can be a game changer.
Whether you're looking to boost your savings, pay off debt,
or gain financial independence, a side hustle can help you

(00:43):
take control of your financial future. This episode is all
about finding the right side income for you, starting small
and scaling up with confidence. In this six part episode,
we'll cover why a side income matters for women, types
of sideh hustles that suit different skills and lifestyles, How
to start your side income with minimal time and money,

(01:06):
Overcoming barriers and societal pressures, Real world examples of women
thriving with side hustles, Tips for scaling and sustaining your
side income. Let's get started and explore how you can
build a side income that fits your life and goals.
Part one Why a side income matters for women. A

(01:30):
side income, often called a side hustle, is any work
you do outside your primary job to earn extra money.
For women, it's more than just a paycheck. It's a
tool for empowerment and financial security. Here's why it's so
important closing the gender pay gap. Women earn on average,
eighty two cents for every dollar a man earns, leading

(01:52):
to a lifetime earnings gap of hundreds of thousands. A
side income helps bridge that gap, boosting your savings or investments.
Financial flexibility. Extra income can fund goals like paying off
student loans, building an emergency fund, or investing for retirement.
It's also a buffer during career breaks or unexpected expenses.

(02:15):
Independence and confidence. Earning your own money outside a traditional
job gives you control and reduces reliance on a single
income source, which is especially critical for women in unstable
job markets or relationships. Skill development side hustles let you
explore passions, learn new skills, or test entrepreneurial ideas without

(02:36):
quitting your day job work life balance. Many side hustles
offer flexible hours, which is ideal for women managing caregiving
or other responsibilities. Example, a dollar five hundred slash month
side income adds six thousand dollars a year invested at
a seven percent return that could grow to over ninety

(02:58):
thousand dollars in twenty years, a significant step toward financial
freedom for women. A side income isn't just about money,
It's about creating options, building resilience, and owning your financial story.
Part two. Types of side hustles for different skills and lifestyles.

(03:20):
The beauty of side hustles is their variety. There's something
for every skill, set, schedule, and interest. Here are some
popular options tailored to different lifestyles. Low time commitment hustles
five ten hours lash a week online surveys or micro
tasks platforms like swag Bucks or Amazon Mechanical turk pay

(03:43):
for tasks like surveys or data entry. Ideal for busy
moms or students. Earnings five dollars dollar twenty slash hour.
Pet sitting or dog walking. Use rover or local networks
to care for pets. Great for animal lovers with flexible schedules.
Earnings fifteen dollars dollar thirty slash hour delivery or ride

(04:04):
share drive for Uber lift or deliver for door Dash
if you have a car and a few hours. Earnings
ten dollars dollar twenty five slash hour after expenses. Creative
or skill based hussles ten twenty hours a week. Freelance
writing or editing, write blogs, social media posts, or edit

(04:26):
content via upwork or fiver perfect for those with strong
communication skills. Earnings twenty dollars dollar one hundred slash hour.
Graphic design or social media management. Create visuals or manage
accounts for small businesses platforms like Canva make design accessible.
Earnings twenty five dollars dollar seventy five slash hour. Tutoring

(04:49):
or teaching offer in person or online tutoring for example
prepletutor dot com in subjects like math, languages, or music.
Earnings fifteen dollars dollar fifty slash hour. Entrepreneurial hustles twenty
plus hours on a week, higher potential e commerce sell handmade

(05:10):
goods on Etsy, secondhand items on eBay, or drop ship
products via shopify. Ideal for creative or business savvy women.
Earnings one hundred dollars one dollar zero zero zero plus
slash month content creation. Start a blog, YouTube channel, or
TikTok focused on a niche for example, parenting fitness monetize

(05:31):
through ads, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing. Earnings fifty dollars five
dollars zero zero zero plus slash month. With growth, consulting
or coaching leverage expertise for example, career coaching, fitness training
via one on one sessions or online courses, earnings fifty

(05:51):
dollars dollar two hundred slash hour. Passive income hustles digital
products create and sell ebooks, printables, or online courses on
platforms like gum Road or Teachable. Requires upfront work, but
earns passively earnings one hundred dollars one dollar zero zero

(06:13):
zero plus slash month. Rental income rent out a spare
room on Airbnb or storage space via neighbor ideal if
you have extra space, earnings two hundred dollars two dollars
zero zero zero plus slash month. Choosing the right hustle,
consider your skills, available time, and goals. If you're time strapped,

(06:36):
start with low commitment options. If you're passionate about a skill,
lean into creative or entrepreneurial hustles. Passive income is great
for long term growth, but requires upfront effort. Part three
How to start your side income with minimal time and money.
Starting a side hustle doesn't require a big budget or

(06:59):
endless hours. Here's a step by step guide to launch
your side income today. Step one, identify your strength and time.
List your skills, for example, writing, organizing, teaching, and passions
for example fitness crafts. Assess your schedule. Can you commit
five hours a week, ten evenings or weekends. Example, if

(07:23):
you're a teacher with strong communication skills and evenings free freelance,
writing or tutoring could be a great fit. Step two,
choose a hustle and platform. Pick one hustle to start.
Don't overwhelm yourself. For example, try freelancing on upwork or
selling crafts on Etsy. Research platforms upwork for freelancing, Rover

(07:45):
for pet sitting, Shopify for e commerce. Check reviews for
user friendliness and fees cost. Many platforms are free to join,
though some charge fees, for example twenty percent on upwork.
Start with free tools like Canva for DESI or Google
Docs for writing. Step three, set up your profile or product.

(08:06):
Create a professional profile on freelance or service platforms. Highlight
skills and include a friendly photo. For e commerce or
content creation, set up a basic shop or social media account.
Use free tools like Instagram or TikTok to promote. Example,
a ten dollars Canvapro subscription can help you create polished

(08:28):
graphics for an Etsy shop or social media posts. Step
four market yourself. Start small. Tell friends, family, or colleagues
about your services. Post on x or local community boards.
Offer a discount for your first few clients to build testimonials. Example,

(08:48):
if tutoring, post in local parenting groups or on nextdoor
to find students. Step five. Manage your time and finances.
Set a schedule, for example, two hours every evening to
avoid out Use tools like Google Calendar to stay organized.
Track income and expenses with apps like QuickBooks or a
simple spreadsheet. Set aside twenty thirty percent for taxes. Reinvest

(09:13):
early profits into tools, for example, a better camera for
content creation or savings. Step six Start small scale later,
begin with one client product or post. For example, write
one blog post for a client or sell one Etsy item.
Use feedback to improve and gradually increase your hours or offerings. Example, Lena,

(09:36):
a thirty year old office worker, starts freelance writing on Upwork,
spending zero dollars to join. She lands one fifty dollars
article in her first month, then to the next, earning
dollar one hundred slash month with five hours slash week.
Within six months, she's earning dollar three hundred slash month
by raising rates and adding clients. Part four. Overcoming barriers

(10:02):
and societal pressures. Women face unique challenges when pursuing side hustles,
from time constraints to societal expectations. Here's how to overcome them.
Time constraints, women often juggle careers, caregiving, or household duties.
Choose low commitment hustles for example surveys, pet sitting, or

(10:25):
batch tasks for example, create multiple blog posts in one session.
Imposter syndrome. Many women feel they're not qualified to freelance
or start a business. Start small to build confidence your
skills are more valuable than you think. Societal expectations, women

(10:45):
may face pressure to prioritize family over personal goals. Communicate
your hustle's value to loved ones, and set boundaries. For example,
I work on my business Sunday seven nine pm. Financial risk.
Avoid hustles with acquiring big upfront costs for example inventory
for reselling. Stick to low cost options like freelancing or

(11:07):
digital products. Fear of failure. Failure is part of growth.
If a hustle doesn't work, pivot to another. For example,
if a blog flops, try tutoring instead. A gendered perspective,
women are often expected to do it all without prioritizing
their own financial goals. A side hustle is a way

(11:28):
to reclaim agency, proving you can earn money on your
terms while balancing life's demands. Part five, Real world examples
of women thriving with side hustles. Let's look at three
hypothetical women to inspire your journey. Maya, twenty seven single
graphic designer. Maya started creating social media graphics on fiver,

(11:51):
charging dollar twenty slash design with ten hours slash week.
She earns dollar four hundred slash month after a year
using free tools like Canva. Her income funds a roth Ira,
boosting her retirement savings. Sarah, thirty five, stay at home mom.
Sarah sells handmade candles on Etsy. Starting with fifty dollars

(12:13):
for supplies, she spends fifteen hours slash week and earns
dollar six hundred slash month after six months. The flexibility
lets her work during nap times and the income covers
family vacations. Priya forty two part time teacher Priya Tutor's
English online via prepley earning dollar twenty five slash hour

(12:34):
for eight hours slash week, dollar eight hundred slash month.
She started with no upfront costs and uses her earnings
to pay off student loans faster. These stories show that
side hustles can fit any lifestyle, from busy moms to
career women and deliver real financial impact. Part six Tips

(12:55):
for scaling and sustaining your side income. Once your side
hustle is off the ground, here's how to grow and
maintain it for long term success. Increase rates gradually as
you gain experience, charge more. For example, a freelance writer
might raise rates from twenty dollars to dollar fifty slash

(13:17):
article after landing five clients. Diversify income streams add related hustles.
A tutor could create an online course or an Etsy
seller could offer digital printables. This reduces reliance on one platform.
Invest in tools. Use profits to buy time saving tools,
for example, a dollar fifteen slash month Canva Pro subscription

(13:40):
or a one hundred dollars course on SEO for blogging,
build a brand, create a simple website or social media
presence to showcase your work. Use free platforms like Wix
or Instagram to start outsourced tasks. If your hustle grows,
hire help, for example a virtual assistant via upwork to
hand admin tasks, freeing you to focus on high value work.

(14:04):
Protect your time avoid burnout by setting limits, for example,
no work after nine pm. Use apps like toggle to
track hours and insure balance. Save and invest earnings. Put
a portion of your income into savings or investments, for
example an ETF like vo. This compounds your hustle's impact.

(14:25):
Stay legal, Register as a freelancer or small business if required,
check local laws. Consult a tax professional to maximize deductions,
for example home office supplies. Example, a freelancer earning dollar
five hundred slash month could save one hundred dollars, invest
one hundred dollars in an ETF, and reinvest three hundred

(14:48):
dollars into marketing or tools. In ten years, the invested
portion could grow to two dollars zero zero zero plus
at a seven percent return while the business grows. A
gendered perspective, women often face pressure to prioritize others needs.
A side hustle lets you prioritize yourself, building skills, confidence

(15:09):
and wealth. Celebrate small wins like your first one hundred
dollars to stay motivated. Building a side income is a
powerful way for women to take charge of their finances,
close the pay gap, and create flexibility in their lives.
Whether you're freelancing, selling products, or creating content, there's a
hustle that fits your skills and schedule. Start small, leverage

(15:33):
free tools, and don't let fear or societal pressures hold
you back. With consistency and smart strategies, your side income
can grow into a significant source of wealth and empowerment.
Here's your action plan to start today. Identify one skill
or passion and pick a hustle that matches, for example, tutoring, freelancing.

(15:55):
This week, sign up for a platform like upwork, Etsy
or Rover with no upfront costs. Land your first client
or sale with a ten dollars fifty dollars investment for example,
supplies or ads. Set aside two five hours slash week,
and track your progress with a spreadsheet. Tune into next

(16:17):
week's episode for tips on turning your side hustle into
a full time business. The best day to start your
side hustle was yesterday. The second best day is today.
Don't wait for the perfect moment, take that first step
and build the financial future you deserve. Thanks for joining
me on the wealth Wise Woman podcast. If this episode

(16:37):
inspired you to start earning extra income, share it with
a friend who's ready to hustle. Until next time, keep
building your wealth wisely.