Side hustles are a great way to earn extra money, but not all of them are created equal. Over the years, I’ve tried my fair share of side gigs, hoping to make some extra cash, but some of them just weren’t worth the effort. While others may find success in them, I learned the hard way that certain side hustles simply don’t work for me. Here’s a list of eleven side hustles I’ll never try again, and the reasons behind my decision.
DoorDash or Food Delivery
When I first heard about food delivery services like DoorDash, I thought it would be the perfect side hustle. I could work when I wanted, earn money on the go, and see instant results. But the reality was different.
Between the long wait times at restaurants, the cost of gas, and unpredictable tips, the hourly rate wasn’t great. Plus, spending hours in my car for just a few dollars didn’t feel worth it in the long run.
Selling on eBay
I once spent a lot of time sourcing and selling items on eBay, thinking I could make a decent profit. While it started well, I quickly got frustrated with the time it took to photograph, list, and ship items. On top of that, I had to deal with returns, lowball offers, and unpredictable sales.
After a few months, I realized that the time commitment wasn’t worth the returns, and I decided to move on.
Network Marketing
Many people swear by network marketing as a way to build a business, but I found it wasn’t for me. The pressure to constantly recruit others, coupled with the upfront costs to buy inventory or start-up kits, left me feeling overwhelmed and drained.
Instead of feeling like a business owner, I felt like I was stuck in a cycle of constantly selling to friends and family. It wasn’t sustainable for me, and I chose to look for other opportunities.
Freelance Graphic Design
As someone who enjoys being creative, I thought freelancing as a graphic designer would be a fun side hustle. But after a few projects, I quickly realized that clients often have unrealistic expectations and low budgets.
While design work can be rewarding, dealing with difficult clients, tight deadlines, and minimal pay made it more stressful than enjoyable. I decided it wasn’t the right fit for me and shifted focus to other gigs that were more fulfilling.
Affiliate Marketing (Without a Blog)
I gave affiliate marketing a shot by promoting products through social media and hoping for sales. While it works great for some people, I found that without a platform, like a blog or YouTube channel, it was difficult to get traction. I didn’t have the audience to consistently make sales, and the returns weren’t enough to justify the effort.
In the end, affiliate marketing felt like a gamble without a solid foundation, so I moved on to more reliable ventures.
Mystery Shopping
TriangleProd via Deposit Photos.
The idea of mystery shopping sounded fun: get paid to shop, give feedback, and make extra cash. However, in reality, it was more of a hassle than it was worth. Many mystery shopping opportunities had low pay for the time and effort required, and the reimbursements for purchases weren’t always enough to cover the costs.
I realized that it wasn’t a sustainable or profitable side hustle for me, so I gave it up.
Renting Out My Car
I tried renting out my car on platforms like Turo, thinking it would be an easy way to make some extra cash. However, I ran into multiple issues, including dealing with cleaning fees, insurance hassles, and untrustworthy renters.
The inconvenience of coordinating with renters, cleaning up after them, and worrying about damage made it more stressful than profitable. Renting out my car just didn’t feel like a good use of my time or resources.
Pet Grooming
As much as I love animals, I quickly realized that pet grooming wasn’t the right fit for me. The physical demands of washing and trimming pets, dealing with difficult animals, and working with owners who had high expectations made it more challenging than I anticipated.
The time, energy, and equipment needed to offer quality service didn’t make it worth the return. Pet grooming was one hustle I decided to leave behind.
House Flipping
Flipping houses can be lucrative, but it requires a lot of upfront investment, time, and expertise. I initially got excited about the idea of buying, renovating, and selling houses for profit, but I quickly learned how risky and expensive it is.
From the initial cost of buying the property to unexpected repairs and lengthy timelines, the process was more stress than reward. For someone without experience in construction or real estate, house flipping wasn’t the right side hustle for me.
Online Surveys
Taking online surveys seemed like an easy way to make some extra cash, but I quickly realized that the pay was incredibly low for the time spent. It wasn’t uncommon to spend 30 minutes on a survey and earn only a few cents. The effort-to-reward ratio just didn’t add up.
While some people may enjoy this as a quick and easy way to make a little cash, I found that my time could be better spent on other side gigs.
Personal Shopping
Personal shopping is often portrayed as a fun and glamorous side hustle, but for me, it was more stressful than enjoyable. The constant need to find the perfect outfits for clients, dealing with high-maintenance customers, and the time-consuming nature of the work made it feel like a job rather than a hobby.
While I understand that personal shopping works for some, it simply wasn’t the right fit for me and I decided to step away from it.
Learning From My Experiences
Not every side hustle is a good fit for everyone, and that’s okay. The key takeaway here is that it’s important to experiment, but also to recognize when something isn’t working. Through trial and error, I’ve learned which side hustles just aren’t for me. The important part is finding something that fits your skills, interests, and lifestyle. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to side gigs—take your time, try different things, and figure out what works best for you.
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Have you ever thought about turning your hobbies into a moneymaker? With the recent popularity of side hustles, countless people are cashing in on their passions and talents without giving up their full-time jobs. There’s a whole world of opportunities out there waiting for you to discover them. Exploring side hustles can be the key to making extra income while doing what you love can be both rewarding and financially fulfilling. 10 Lucrative Side Hustles That Will Pay You for Your Passions
