A woman unemployed for three months revealed how she managed to stay afloat with clever side hustles that “saved her”.
Sophie Hill was between jobs from January to March at the start of the year, while still needing to pay rent and make ends meet.
The 25-year-old has been a fan of side hustling – making extra money on the side of your regular job in various ways – since she was a teenager but fully shifted her focus to them while searching for work.
In a TikTok that went viral, garnering 985,000 views, Sophie shared the top three ways she could make enough money during the tough period.
And she says she continues to do them now, alongside her full-time job, earning up to an extra £200 per month.
“In January through to March I was unemployed, and these three things saved me,” Sophie, a social media manager based in Manchester, told Absolutely Business.
“I’ve had side hustles since as young as 14 when I used to design and make tops and sell them through Depop.
“But when I became unemployed, I had to turn to these, focus on them and ramp them up.
“They helped me, not only to keep busy and fill my days but to keep my bills being paid.
“Why sit and do nothing when you could be making a few extra quid on a survey?
“I made enough to cover my bills and ease the stress a bit whilst finding another job.”
SURVEYS
One way Sophie supported herself throughout her unemployment was by doing online surveys in exchange for cash.
She signs up to various apps online and then completes the surveys they task her with – which she describes as “one of the easiest” side hustles.
She said: “Surveys are such an easy way to just get a little bit of extra money.
“When I’m commuting or in the evenings, or any other time like that, I’ll sit and do some.
“I get around 10-50p per survey.
“It’s quite tedious but it’s so easy.
“You just answer questions and the money adds up.
“Even if it’s an extra £20-40 – that’s a food shop or petrol.”
Sophie recommends apps like Attapoll, Swagbucks, and Qmee.
MYSTERY SHOPPING
Her second favourite side hustle involves testing out products to help aid in market research – again, in exchange for money, as well as the product free of charge.
She said: “This one was fun.
“It takes more of your time but you usually get something out of it for free as well [as money].
“I did one for Victoria Secret where I got paid and I got a free bra.
“I did one for NARS where I got paid and I got a free foundation.
“The pay could go from £10-£30, but you get that freebie as well.
“I’ve seen ones for petrol, restaurants and gyms [too].
“It’s just a little form that you fill out.”
For this, Sophie uses websites including Serve First and Proinsight.
USER-GENERATED CONTENT
Finally, and the one she describes as “such a great way of making money, Sophie creates videos for brands to post on their social pages.
She said: “You don’t need a following or a social platform, you just need to be able to shoot nice videos.
“The brand will say what they want from you – whether they want you in the video or out of it, or just taking pictures of the product.
“I started doing this [after] searching in TikTok how to do UGC, and I went from there.
“I made a portfolio and I filmed some random videos of products I already had at home.
“It’s the most lucrative [side hustle of mine].
“[Opportunities are] fewer and further between, but the fee is higher.”
She says the three side gigs “saved her” and has continued to spend up to five hours a week on them, even while now employed full-time, and says she earns an additional £200 some months.
Sophie added: “I’ve carried on doing these things now I have a job again.
“It’s just a great way to get that little bit of extra income.
“I continue to do a few when I can around my 9-5.
“Having side hustles is extra work but it’s very rewarding.”
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