While all products are rising in prices, students may wonder what their financial situation may end up like. Even beyond living concerns, students of all ages work to earn money in order to afford what they want, need or for savings. As platforms such as Etsy and Depop grow in popularity, even students are finding all kinds of side hustles to earn money, learning all kinds of life lessons with it.
For years, trends took consumers by storm, emptying their wallets and filling their closets or shelves. As such, different interests gain the attraction of many people, inspiring others and creating an opportunity to use skill and passion to earn money.
“During ninth grade, one of my friends asked me if I could make them a strap to go on their digital camera, so I did. That’s when I realized I could make a side hustle out of something I love doing, and my small business was born,” said junior Cici Huang.
Creating jewelry, baking, painting and tutoring are all kinds of skills that could, in present technology, generate a great consumer base for anyone who is able to produce quality products. While students stress over which major and career to follow in order to apply to a sustainable job, passions may be lost along the way. Starting a small business, while it is great for making one’s own money, can also be an outlet of personal interest that may not be applicable to the real world. Offering this relief is one of the many benefits starting a side hustle has.
A common misconception in starting any skill, and in this case, business, is that everything has to be in order from the get go. Huang explained that it should start small and easy to manage.
“[I started] expanding into Depop and started shipping to different places…I usually use my weekends or break times to create new products or enhance my business,” said Huang.
Starting a small business or a side hustle may seem daunting, but based on Huang’s experience, it is completely capable as long as one is willing to put consistent effort into keeping everything on track. For students who are still unsure if it is manageable, Huang shares her own schedule and organization skills she uses to keep her business in check.
“As for managing my income, I have a master spreadsheet for every single sale I do. I price my jewelry in a way where it’s a good balance between a practical price for people, and a price where I still make a profit after you deduct material costs,” Huang said.
Other issues for business willing students may be taxes. Thankfully, even that is taken care of on certain platforms.
“The good thing with Depop…is that you don’t have to pay for anything other than the selling fees that automatically get deducted per order you get…With things like shipping, Depop programs it so that the buyer pays for the shipping…I don’t need to calculate shipping costs into my final prices,” said Huang.
Overall, current platforms make it accessible to starting a side hustle. However, other than passion and monetary gain, there are still much more benefits in starting one’s own side hustle.
“I did start to get motivated by things that came from…trying to make a name out there, expanding my line of service to other people…[and] I think it is a nice addition to my resume. You can learn a lot from building a small business by yourself, like learning to save money, learning to buy what you need and not what you want, knowing how you can invest your money…[and] the organization and accounting skills that come with it,” explained Huang.
Independence is a hard pill for teenagers to swallow as they go from highschool to college. Taking on something as big as a side hustle can benefit one in that journey to independence.
“There is a lot of satisfaction in knowing that you have made a mark on the world, and that someone in Texas or Hawaii is walking around with a piece of something you made,” Huang shared.
This kind of revelation does not only apply to jewelry selling. Tutoring kids means one paved the future for dozens of lives. Commissioning art brings joy and inspiration. Baking goods can bring back homey memories. Makeup or nail artists can boost confidence in looks. No matter the skill, starting a side hustle could help one realize just how easily they can affect other lives.
This iceberg of side hustles, turns out to be more than just a couple of bucks coming from the side. It provides new experiences, a place and time for their passion to be validated in a world that may devalue it and a unique stepping stone towards independence.