Back-to-school season is here, along with the financial pressure a new school year brings; new clothes, school supplies, school fees, etc. And just when you think you can take a break to let your wallet cool off a bit, here comes fall with all of its festivities and the holiday season quick on its heels.
Before time gets away, as is common at this time of the year, consider picking up a side hustle to ease your money woes.
Here are some business books, most of which can be checked out from Richland Library, to get you inspired and ready to launch a side hustle this fall and holiday season.
Money-making Mom: How Every Woman Can Earn More and Make a Difference by Crystal Paine
While this list isn’t a ranking, I highly suggest starting your side hustle journey with this book. The advice in it is practical, relatable, and inspiring. This is very much a business book in how Paine guides her readers through the process of starting their own small businesses, but she also emphasizes the non-monetary success of being able to give back to your community and help others. It’s a feel-good book that you’ll want to keep around for motivation and to remind you why you wanted to start your side hustle in the first place.
100 Side Hustles: Unexpected Ideas for Making Extra Money Without Quitting Your Day Job by Chris Guillebeau
An easy read, you can jump around to the chapters that interest you (like I did). Although, you may find that these real experiences of small business owners so interesting that you will read the whole book (also, like I did). This is a good book for both people who are considering turning their skills or hobbies into a money-making venture, and people who have no idea what they want to do to make some extra cash.
1001 Ways to Make Money If Your Dare by Trent Hamm
This book is both entertaining and helpful. While the title may be intimidating, and there are indeed some wild ideas, most of these side hustle ideas range from doable (become a virtual assistant) to quirky (be a birthday magician) to the less than practical (become a movie extra). Unfortunately, this book isn’t available at the library, but you can definitely find it online and support an independent bookstore in the process. I found my copy for less than five dollars online through an independent seller.
Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days by Chris Guillebeau
Side Hustle by Chris Guillebeau, in my humble opinion, is the answer to the question, “I want to start a side hustle; now what?” Guillebeau does a brilliant job of breaking down the process of starting a side hustle into easily absorbable bits of information and steps that can fit into a busy mom’s schedule. In fact, you can have weekends off because the timetable is set up into five-day weeks with room for bonus steps. Fortunately, this gem can be checked out from the library in three formats: hardcopy, ebook, and eaudiobook.
If you decide that starting a side hustle is in the very near future for you after checking out these books, I hope you experience much success and fun, too. Involve your older children and turn it into a family project, if you can. My hot glue gun skills came from helping my mom with her arts and crafts side hustle that she used to pay for our summer vacations and gifts alongside her teacher’s income. Whatever you decide to do this fall, your side hustle is for the side so that you can enjoy your main job as “Mom.”
