Millions of Americans are feeling financial pressure this summer, and for many, a side hustle has become about more than extra spending money.
According to SurveyMonkey, nearly half of Americans say they need a side hustle to survive financially, one-third rely on gig income to pay bills, and 72% of workers either already have a side hustle or are planning to start one.
For many households, this trend is less about ambition and more about making monthly expenses work. But for others, a side hustle is simply a smart way to bring in a little extra — and Tessa Bullock is a perfect example.
Bullock is a teacher heading into her 10th year in the classroom. She isn’t struggling to make ends meet — she just knows that a little extra cash never hurts, especially when it can help with everyday bills.
So she tutors on the side, doing what she already loves.
“I’m a teacher. I’ve been teaching, this is gonna be my 10th year that I’m going into. So I’ve always worked with kids, obviously, and I must like kids if I work with them in the classroom and then want to do it outside of the classroom,” Bullock said.
Bullock tutors year-round. In the summer, she earns about $600 a week. During the school year, that number dips — but the extra income still makes a noticeable difference.
“It does help. I mean, when there’s a week where maybe somebody isn’t going to be there, or I cancel or whatnot, you do notice a difference,” she said. “I mean, it’s not like it’s thousands of dollars a month that I’m making, but you do notice a difference when one or two sessions get missed.”
For Bullock, it started as fun money — and it still is, while also helping with the day-to-day.
“My salary went towards my bills and then this became like my fun money,” she said.
For those unsure where to start, Bullock’s advice is simple: find something you love.
“Find something you’re passionate about. I mean, there’s a market for everything nowadays. You know, if you like animals, dog walking, or go work at a doggy daycare or something like that,” Bullock said. “If you are really good with computers, code, or you know Canva or something. I guarantee you everybody has something that they’re good at and that they like doing.”
Ashley Avery, marketing manager at First Florida Credit Union, says the surge in side hustles isn’t surprising given today’s economic climate.
“What’s happening is the cost of living has really kind of skyrocketed, right? Wages really aren’t keeping pace with that. A lot of people are just turning to side hustles to help make ends meet,” Avery said.
But earning more money is only part of the equation. Avery says tracking it matters just as much.
“One of the best ways to make the money work for you, too, is to just do a simple income tracker. That way it keeps track of how much money is coming in, and you have a really clear visibility on whether this side hustle is actually working for you,” she said.
Avery outlines three simple steps for managing gig income:
- Open a separate account for side hustle earnings
- Track every deposit for a few months to spot patterns
- Set aside 25-30% of earnings for taxes
That last step, she says, is where many first-time gig workers get tripped up.
“Thinking about the taxes is actually really important, and it’s a pitfall that first-time gig workers fall into — not saving the money for taxes,” Avery said. “25% is pretty safe, but sometimes when your household income is a little bit higher, it could edge closer to that 30%. And that keeps that big shock away when tax time comes.”
The good news, Avery says, is that managing gig income doesn’t require a financial professional.
First Florida Credit Union also recommends not budgeting based on last month’s side hustle earnings. Instead, build essential expenses around the lowest amount earned over the last three to six months — so a slow week never becomes a financial crisis.
Avery says keeping finances clean also helps workers see clearly whether the extra effort is worth it.
“When you’re keeping your finances clean, too, when you are doing the side hustle by having that separate account, it gives you really clear visibility to even see — is this side hustle moving the needle for me?” she said.