How to make money with a side hustle

At times when you are strapped for a cash, a good idea you can consider doing to bring some side income is to make money with a side hustle. Whether it’s to help you pay off a debt, or simply to supplement your income. Starting a side hustle is a fun and resourceful way to make extra money on the side, in your spare time.

So, if you’ve got a particular skill or talent that people would be willing to pay for, you might be able to make some money from it. That’s why we’ve created a list of possible side hustles that might be perfect for you and your skillset.

Get paid to do surveys

This isn’t a side hustle that is going to make you rich, but it could a few extra bucks on the side. Survey Junkie is a great one because they pay you straight away directly into your pay pal account. Another great website to do surveys is http://www.mysurvey.net.au/.

Basically, the way it works is you get paid for taking the time to fill out a survey. This is where you’ll be asked a series of questions, but be warned, the surveys are often quite long. You just register with the website, which will ask you some demographic details such as age, gender, sex, etc. That way you’ll be matched with surveys that are appropriate for your demographic.

Become an Uber driver

The ultimate way to make money with a side hustle is apparently being a driver for Uber! Uber has been the result of changes in technology. It has revolutionised the way that people get around. Since 2016, Uber has had more than 18 million registered users. That means that the demand for drivers became incredibly high too.

It means it has also brought about changes in the ability for people to do part-time work. It means that those wanting to make money outside of their regular full-time job can do so easily. Since many Uber trips take place at night, it makes it a perfect platform for people to earn money and supplement their income.

Teach English from your own home via webcam

As a first language English speaker, an easy way for you to make money online is to be an English teacher via webcam. Since English is the international language, there is a huge demand for non-English speakers to learn from native English language speakers. To make money with a side hustle like this you just night a computer with a webcam and a decent internet connection.

Rent out a room in your house with Airbnb

If you’ve got a spare room in the place that you’re staying in you could make a little extra money on the side by renting it out. You could rent it out via Airbnb to either holiday goers or for short-term stays. Some people even make money with a side hustle such as Airbnb, while they are living abroad!

Sell your photos on stock photography

If you’ve got a knack for taking good photos, you might be able to capitalise on this and make money with a side hustle by selling your photos to stock photography. Stock images are becoming increasingly popular as they are used for all kinds of commercial, editorial, entertainment and artistic purposes. It’s largely to do with the fact that stock images have a larger impact on audiences rather than just the written content it is used with. The following is a list of websites where you can make money from your photos.

  • 500px Prime
  • SmugMug Pro
  • Deposit photos
  • Deviant Art
  • Redbubble
  • Shutterstock et al
  • Etsy Scoopshot

Write and publish an ebook

Publishing an ebook is another great way to make money with a side hustle. If you are particularly knowledgeable in an area or have any valuable knowledge you’d like to share you, you could write an ebook and sell it online. It’s virtually cost-free. You can even create a self-published ebook, completely free with Kindle.

Sell hand-made items on Etsy

If you’re particularly crafty or artistic you could make money with a side hustle where you create goods and sell them online. Etsy is an e-commerce site designed specifically for the creative to sell their creations to people who are looking to buy beautiful creations.

Tutoring

Another great way to make money with a side hustle is to do some tutoring. You could either tutor primary school students, high school students or even university students, depending on what subject you are particularly strong in. The great thing about tutoring is that its virtually always in demand.

Web design

If you know how to design websites, this would be a great way for you to make money from a side hustle. That’s because web design is an in-demand skill. Many people want to create websites for themselves and/or their businesses but don’t have the skills to do it.

Graphic design

Again, if you are talented with creating things on your computer, making money from graphic design would be a great side hustle. You could either take on online projects as a freelancer or you could sell digital files that you create online.

Virtual assistant

This is a side hustle that has come about with the technological era. Virtual assistants allow professionals to outsource some of their daily activities so they can spend their time working on their core activities. A virtual assistant can help to shave hours of an employee’s workday, allowing their business to run more efficiently.

Some of the tasks a virtual assistant might need to do is manage and filter emails, set up autoresponders, book appointments with clients, follow up with clients and customers with a reminder email, answering some phone calls, calendar managing, booking flights and hotels, research on certain topics for blog posts or newsletters, plus various other activities. So, if you are a very organised person this could be the perfect side hustle for you.

Start a blog

If you’re a decent writer a good way to make money with a side hustle, would be to start a blog. It’s very easy to start a blog and you don’t even have to be very technologically savvy to start one. The way that you make money from blogging is to start by creating useful content. Once your blog starts to build up readers this is when you can start making money in a variety of forms. The following website explains the different avenues through which you can make money from blogging https://problogger.com/make-money-blogging/.

Proofreading

Another way to make money with a side hustle is to do some simple proofreading. While it might seem like a basic task, it’s something that many people and businesses need. If you have a good grasp of the English language and have the patience and attention to detail to read long pieces of text and pick out mistakes, this would be the perfect side hustle for you.
A great place to look for Free-lance proofreading jobs is here: https://www.freelancer.com.au/jobs/proofreading/.

Start freelance writing

If you’ve got good writing skills, why not put them to good use? As a Freelance writer, you’ll be able to work from home and choose your own schedule. As you get better at writing, you may be hired by a major publication or a local business to start writing content for their website. If this is a side hustle you think you’d be able to make money from why not check out this website to find out more about it https://earnmorewriting.com/?affcode=70083_mzsqlbem

Do SEO for businesses

If you’ve got SEO skills, this is something companies are willing to pay big money for. There are plenty of jobs for you if you know how to SEO. Many companies and businesses are looking for people to help deliver their products and services online but don’t have the resources to do so. If you want to make SEO your side hustles reach out to local businesses who might need your expertise.

Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping side hustles can be done either online or in a physical location. Nevertheless, bookkeeping jobs are readily available. If you’ve ever worked as a bookkeeper, and know how to use bookkeeping software such as MYOB you’ll have no problem making money from this side hustle.

Edit videos

If you’ve had a hobby of editing videos in your spare time, it could something you could make money out of. If you’re very creative and you’ve got video editing skills, you could make a great side hustle out of it. The great thing about making money from a side hustle like this is you can easily do it from the comfort of your own home. If you think that making money from video editing could be a side hustle for you check out this website for some tips https://fstoppers.com/bts/12-tips-how-work-home-freelance-video-editor-46486.

Sell at farmers markets

Another fun side hustle you could consider making some money from is selling produce at farmers markets. Whether its food you grow, or selling baked goods, a farmer’s market could be the perfect side hustle if you’re interested in the culinary side of things. At farmers markets, people also sell handmade items, speciality foods, dips and sauces as well other creative knick-knacks.

Sell your designs

This is great for websites that sell T-shirts homewares and other bits and pieces. It’s great because you can do this all online. Some of the different websites where you can advertise your stuff online include:

  • Creative market
  • Design Cuts
  • Art Web
  • Big Cartel
  • This is a limited edition
  • Threadless
  • Society 6
  • Etsy
  • Zazzle
  • Redbubble
  • In Print

Repair computers

If you know how to tinker with electronics, fixing computers is something you could make money from.

Create an online course

If you been gifted with the ability to teach and have a skill that you could pass on to others. It might be a good idea for you create an online course. People can pay for the course and they can follow it. It’s a great way to make money from a side hustle in the form of a passive income.

Become a voice-over artist

These are the people you hear on the radio or on TV commercials. So, if you have an attractive voice this could be a great opportunity for you to make money from a side hustle such as a voice-over artist. If it sounds like something you’d be good at check out this website that gives you a guide to how to find voiceover work: https://voicebunny.com/blog/voice-over-work-how-to-get-started/.

So, there you have it. A list of ways for you to make money with a side hustle. In the meantime, if you need a little extra financial help before you start earning income on the side, you can always get a loan with personal loan pal, and make your side hustle goals a reality.

The guide to financial Planning

loan market

There’s a saying that goes a little something like this: ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail’. We’ve found that this quote rings true throughout all aspects of life. It’s especially true when it’s comes to financial planning. Managing your finances is arguably one of the most important things you can do. It helps to setup a secure future for yourself. However, research shows that 80 percent of Australians do not use or intend to use a financial planner.

Many Australians understand the benefits of using a financial advisor. However, they would prefer to conduct big financial decisions on their own without seeking advice first. Though, since financial advisors are professionals they are the best people to speak to when it comes to making those big financial decisions. So that’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to financial planning. We aim to clear up any reservations people may have about hiring a financial planner, and highlight the benefits that financial planning can bring to your life.

Remember, we aren’t financial advisors ourselves and this blog post is meant to highlight some of the things you could consider looking into. It’s always worth getting the input of a professional before taking any action.

What is financial planning?

It’s worth starting with a good definition of what exactly financial planning is. Financial advice is help you can get from a certified financial planner to assist you with achieving certain financial goals in life. Essentially, financial planning with a financial advisor starts with an evaluation of your current financial situation. Then the financial planner will help you to set up achievable financial goals for your future.

What do financial advisors do?

  • Show you what you need to do differently
  • Tell you how much you need to save
  • Look at which retirement accounts to use
  • Help you consider whether to finance your mortgage or not
  • Weigh up the type of insurance you need and how much
  • Figure out how much you need in your emergency fund
  • Help you figure out how to achieve your financial goals over a given time frame
  • Establish whether you should downsize later in life
  • Look at what level of investment risk you should take

Why is financial planning important?

There are many reasons as to why investing in a financial advisor is a good idea. Financial planning helps you to remain in control of your finances and achieve your future financial goals. Here is a list of the ways in which financial planning is important:

Assess your income

financial planning allows you to look at your income and decide how much you can allocate to spending, saving and to paying off debt. It may also highlight whether it would be a good idea to increase your income level. This might be an incentive to go for that promotion or look around for a higher paying position.

Manage your cash flow

financial planning will help to highlight areas within your spending habits that need improvement. You may find that find that you spend way too much money on something as little as coffee and find that you could otherwise be putting this into a savings account and making a big difference to your overall financial well being.

Decide what investments you want to make

financial planning is also an excellent tool to help you decide what investments to make and increase your overall net financial wellbeing.

Helps to provide your family with security

another incredible benefit of seeing a financial advisor is that they help you to make your sure family is protected by advising you on the best insurance policies to cover your family in case the unexpected was to happen.

Give you a better financial understanding

seeing a financial advisor provides you with general knowledge about finance that you may not have already known. Just having access to this valuable information might help change your whole mindset towards finance and perhaps even make it less intimidating.

Manage your assets and liabilities

one great benefit of financial planning is that it allows you to determine the actual value of your assets and cancel out your liabilities.

Helps you to set up good savings habits

financial planning is another great tool to help you to put your money aside in the form of savings or to make investments.

You give yourself a source to receive ongoing advice

when you receive financial planning advice from an advisor you set yourself up with a source of financial knowledge that you can refer to if you need further advice in the future.

When should I do financial planning?

Financial planning can be done at any stage in your life. Though since there are many different life stages, the financial advice you receive will be different depending on what stage you’re in. Here is a list of the various life stages where you might want to speak to a financial planner:

Between 20 – 39: this is when you are in your young to midlife age. Financial advice at this stage of your life will be advice regarding building up your career, starting a business, getting married, starting a family or buying your first home.

  • Between 40 – 49: during this life stage, this is when you are looking to achieve a comfortable lifestyle for yourself and want to manage your long-term future.
  • Between 50 – 65: this is when you will be planning for your retirement. You may be wanting to focus on eliminating debt, protecting your assets and wealth management.
  • 65 and onwards: this is a time when you want to be enjoying yourself, making time for hobbies and going on trips. You might be thinking of aged-care planning or passing on wealth to other family members.

Where can I find a financial advisor?

Once you have made the decision about getting a financial advisor the best places to look is to find a financial planner with the Financial Planning Association (FPA) or the Associate of Financial Advisors (AFA).

Myths about financial planning

The fact that so many Australians do not use a financial planner or have the intention of using one in the future, may be because there are so many myths out there about financial planners. However, we are about to bust those financial planning myths so you can the truth about financial planning once and for all.

It’s just for the wealthy

Many people think that financial planning is only for the wealthy. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Anyone at any stage of life, with any income level can get a financial advisor. Your financial goals will be different but it doesn’t mean they aren’t as important.

Advice is general and not specific to the individual

When you speak to a financial advisor an important part of their role is to get to know and understand you. This allows them to tailor advise specific to your needs and your circumstances. They want to help you to create goals that are going to suit you.

It’s risky to trust putting your financial future in someone else’s hands

Many people can be very sceptical when it comes to showing their finances to someone else. However, the financial advisory industry is heavily regulated and advisors must meet a very high industry standard. There are industry rules that advisors must follow.

There’s plenty of time to sort out my finances

For many of us at least at some stage in our lives, retirement seems like it’s forever away. However, important financial decisions come throughout life, and aren’t just when it comes to retiring. It can be when it comes to buying your first home or making a career change. Financial planners can be especially helpful when it comes to navigating through these difficult life choices.

What about financial planning for millennials?

When it comes to financial advice for millennials there are some specific tips for them. This is because they are having to manage their finances during a time when it’s more difficult to find a job, they have high student debts to pay off and may have to face moving back in with their parents because rent is simply unaffordable. So here is some specific advice for millennials when it comes to financial planning.

Save

When you first start earning when you get a real a job it can be tempting to spend your money having fun, but it’s worth developing a good habit of saving at this early stage in your careers.

Pay off debt

you may have a student debt, car loan or perhaps credit card debt. The sooner you get these cleared, the sooner you’ll be able put this money towards saving. Plus, the longer you have debts outstanding the more interest you’ll have to pay.

Avoid new debt

when you land your first job credit will be much more easily available to you. Though it’s important not to get too tempted. You don’t want to get into new debt that will get in the way of any savings goals you may have.

Develop a good credit rating

The importance of your credit rating is not something that is openly taught in school. But the earlier you can start building a good credit profile, the better.

Start saving for retirement

it’s never too early to start saving for retirement. That’s because the earlier you start, the more time your fund will have to grow.

Set up automatic savings

when you schedule for your savings to come out of your account automatically it will help you to build up your savings more quickly to achieve your financial goals.

Build up an emergency fund

as millennial no longer dependent on your parents it’s a good idea to build up an emergency fund to ensure you are prepared for the unexpected.

Develop a plan

finally it’s important to make a plan. When you start making your first financial commitments like buying a house and starting a family, you’ll want to be prepared. That’s why it’s a good idea to develop a plan so you’ll be ready for when those key life moments occur.

Great financial advice websites for financial planning

While there’s no doubt that getting advice from a financial planner will be beneficial in helping you work towards achieving certain financial goals, there are some great website some great pieces of advice for when it comes to financial planning

Millennials Money Man

The is a great website and blog that gives advice targeted towards millennials on finance. It’s perfect for graduates and young professionals who want to start out on the right financial foot.
https://millennialmoneyman.com/blog/

Frugalwoods

This blog is based around the benefits of being frugal, and the idea of early retirement. It is written buy a family whose aim is to live a financially independent life.
http://www.frugalwoods.com/

Blonde on a Budget

Another great blog for millennials. It was started by a young girl who wanted to document her debt repayment journey. In the end, the blog has turned into a financial resource for other millennials. She blogs about a variety of finance topics, as well as her recent adoption of a minimalist lifestyle.

Afford Anything

This an excellent finance blog that serves the purpose of inspiring readers to effectively use their money to pursue their passions.

Final thoughts

To sum up, there’s no denying that planning your finances is good practice. It’s also great to see a financial advisor to do this. They’re the professionals, so they’ll be able to use their knowledge and assess your financial situation to push you in the right direction towards achieving your goals.

There are some myths out there about financial planning, and hopefully we’ve cleared some of those up for you. In addition, there’s no harm in checking out some of the great websites and blog are filled with plenty of useful financial info. So what are you waiting for? Start planning!

Teaching your kids about money: 5 great money games for kids

money games for kids

Teaching your kids about finance is one of the most important things you can do for your child. The earlier you teach your kids about finance, the more prepared they will be when it comes to dealing with their personal finances as adults. Many parents never to speak to their children about money. They would prefer not to get them involved or want them to worry. Parents might feel that finance is an adult matter and don’t think it’s necessary for kids to know about it. However, finance can be made understandably for children too by using various money games for kids.

So, what happens when you don’t teach your kids about managing their finances from an early age? By the time they are adults, they will have no idea how to manage their money and might get themselves into financial trouble.

Teaching your kids about money doesn’t have to be boring. It can be a lot of fun and a way for you to bond with your child too. Therefore, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 money games for kids so you can teach them about finance. In addition, we’ve created a list of 5 tips for teaching kids about money.

5 money games for kids

There are plenty of money games for kids you can use to teach your children about the value of money. Fun money games are great way to teach kids about finance, especially when your kids are young. You can even play money games with kids as young as toddlers.

  1. Pretend Shop Game – this is one of the best money games for kids and is particularly good for toddlers. You can set up a pretend shopping cashier and shop with products that have price tags. Let your child have some money that can be used to pay for products in the store. They will only have a certain amount of money they can spend. It means they will have to select a few products (or toys) with the money they have. It will teach them to budget, and to understand the concept that you need money to pay for things that you want.
  2. Money matching game – this is one of those great money games for kids for after they have learnt to count and are starting to develop basic maths skills. The way the game works is you use real money – a mixture of gold and silver coins, as well as notes. Create cards with a financial value then get your kids to match the value on the card using real money. This is a valuable skill as it will re-enforce the mathematics skills they are beginning to develop.
  3. Monopoly – for when the kids are a little older, teaching them about money can be done using board games. One of the most famous money games for kids is monopoly – and it is a fun money game to play with the whole family. There are a few key financial principles that monopoly teaches kids which includes: the importance of keeping cash on hand, managing cash flow, having an emergency fund, basic math skills and the art the of negotiation.
  4. Pay day – this is another board game that teaches kids about using money. It’s one of those money games for kids that teaches them about budgeting and encourages entrepreneurship. The way the game works is it is played over a 2-4month period (which lasts 1-2 hours in real life), and all players start the game with the same amount of money. They can take out one loan at any time of the month. Cards are picked and payments are made, and the aim of the game is to have the most money remaining at the end of the period.
  5. Online money games for kids – you can find some great games online games that teach kids about finance. Some popular ones are called Piggy Bank, Money Word Games and Changer Maker. The great thing about these games it that they are free! And they are fun interactive money games that allow kids to really grasp the concept of finance.

5 tips for teaching kids about money

1. Get them involved in real life money situations

When kids get involved with real life situations, it is like practice for them. When the time comes for them to do things themselves they will have a lot more confidence in handling certain situations.

  • Let them pay for something themselves at the shop – this is something you can do with toddlers. Introduce them to the concept of needing money to pay for things.
  • Teach them how to use an ATM and how it works – teach kids how to take out money from an ATM. Explain to the them the concept of a bank account and introduce them to putting money in the bank. Particularly when children are very young, it’s important to explain that money doesn’t just come out of the wall.
  • Tell them about deals and discounts they can get at the supermarket – get them involved with shopping in the supermarket and teach them about how to choose between products. Show them how to shop around and find the best price for a product. It’s a good way to teach kids about making healthy choices too.
  • Teach them about paying bills – when you receive a bill, whether it’s in the mail or via email, tell them about what the bill is for and why it needs to be paid. You can tell them about the importance of paying bills on time, and how it’s paid for through your salary.
  • Involve them in planning the family budget – don’t be afraid to get your kids involved with planning the family budget. Kids are much smarter than we often give them credit for, and if they understand the concept of budgeting, not only will this help them in their future, but they may be more helpful in helping you to stick to your household budget.

2. Let them earn an allowance

The key word in that sentence is “earn”. Teaching kids that they need to earn their allowances will help them to appreciate the value of money. Teach your kids they must do their chores first before they receive their money. There are some things that the allowance shouldn’t cover such as cleaning their room or washing the dishes. These should be things they are expected to do, and it’s important that they understand that contributing is a part of being in a family.

The allowance should reward them for doing other chores such as folding the clothes, mowing the lawn, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the windows, or any other household duties. You can then pay them after they have done their chores, this will fill them with a great sense of pride. If they haven’t done their chores then they won’t get paid. This will ensure that they feel proud of the money they’ve earnt and are less likely to spend it frivolously. This is an invaluable lesson to teach your children that they will carry with them throughout their lives.

Tips for giving children allowances to teach them about finance:

  • Don’t obsess too much over the amount you give them – it doesn’t matter how much you give them. The most important this is to use their allowance to teach them about money management.
  • Start giving them an allowance from an early age. Experts say that starting to give children an allowance as early as 5 years old – as soon as they have learnt how to count – is a great way to lead them into responsible money habits.
  • Pay your boys and girls the same way

3. Teach them how to save

This can be done hand in hand with giving them an allowance. Teach them that a portion of their money should be saved. This will teach them that they need to save up for items that they want. It will also help them to develop a savings habit.

One way you can do this is to give them 3 money jars, one labelled save, one labelled share and one labelled spend. Get them to put 10-20% of their allowance into the save jar. Then help them to divide the rest between the other 2 jars, depending on what they are working towards.

The jar idea is great because it gives them a visual to work with. Getting them to use a bank account is something you can start introducing to them at around 10 – 12 years old. Once they have a bank account you can pay their allowances here and teach them to transfer 10-20% into their savings account.

4. Teach kids about investing

One important concept not to overlook when teaching kids about money is the importance of investing. In fact, it’s never too early to teach your kids about investing, because the earlier the better. To gain the most out of investments, you must do it overtime, because the longer you have been investing the bigger your gains will be.

If you’ve been teaching your kids how to save, teaching them about investing is a similar concept.  Teach them the difference that investing makes in helping you to build up a return on the money that you put away. One way to teach them about investing is to use money games for kids (e.g. computer games). They are meant to introduce kids to investing and making it fun and easy for them to understand. One great money game is called “The Stock Market Game”. It is one of those interactive money games that specifically teaches kids about investing.

5. Teach kids about credit

This is not something that you need to teach toddlers, but a good time to start introducing kids to the concept of credit is around the time they start using a bank account. The reason why it’s so important to teach your kids about credit, is to ensure that they don’t get themselves in trouble with credit as adults.

Teaching kids about credit can be done by lending them money to buy something they want, then they repay it to you at a pre-determined interest rate, with their allowance. In addition, here is a list of some money games for kids you might like to use to teach your kids about the concept of credit:

  • Thrive Time for teens – players must make decisions about buying cars and managing expenses
  • Beat Debt – the aim of the game is to pay off all credit card debt as soon as possible with your disposable income
  • Charge Large – the game involves purchasing buildings and businesses with both cash and credit
  • Credit Safe – it’s an online game that allows you to use 3 credit cards to pay for different projects of your choice

Money games for kids that teach them about using credit responsibility will help to convey these important lessons that children should understand as early as possible:

  • That you shouldn’t rely on your credit card
  • There is a limit to what you can buy with your credit card
  • It’s not your money, you are borrowing it and must pay it back
  • You will be charged for missing payments
  • Credit mistakes could last years
  • The way you use credit impacts your credit score

In summary, teaching kids about money is important, and it’s never too early to start. On the other hand, it’s never too late either. Even if your kids are teenagers, it’s better to introduce money concepts to them before they enter the real world. Better late than never, right? Money is incredibly important, and will have a massive impact on their lives. Thus, the earlier your kids understand the concept of money, the more prepared they will be to handle their finances in the future. To conclude, here are the key take away points from this blog:

  • Teaching kids about money can be fun – there are plenty of money games for kids
  • Teach them about the value of money by getting them to earn an allowance
  • Involve them in real life money situations so that get to experience it
  • Teach them about savings and investing
  • Help them to understand how credit works