The First Step Toward $4,000
Let’s dive into my January earnings from my side hustles. As you all know, one of my big goals this year is to earn $4,000 in side hustle income. Sounds a little crazy, right? But I’m taking it one step at a time, focusing on just one to three income streams each month. Now, it’s time to break down what worked in January, what didn’t, and my plans for February.
January Earnings Breakdown
For the month of January, I focused on three income streams: banners, Like to Know It, and my blog. Here’s how it all panned out:
- Total earnings: $271
- Goal for the month: $333
- Shortfall: About $60—not too worried about it, though!
Let’s break it down further.
Banner Business: Growth & Lessons Learned
- Total earnings: $271
- Orders fulfilled: 6 banners
- Expenses:
- $14 on paint supplies
- $6 on backdrop materials for better Instagram photos
- $28 on shipping
- $46 on a branding outfit (totally worth it!)
- Amount applied to debt: $148
While I wish all of that income went straight to debt, some of it had to go back into the business for supplies and improvements. January was a big month for growth—I created a Facebook page (Preston Jo Creative) and an Instagram account (@prestonjoe.creative) for my banners. I also got my branding photos done and gathered advice from Facebook groups on how to expand my business in my area.
A big focus this month was efficiency. I invested in a better backdrop and improved my photography setup so I can showcase my work more professionally. Banners take time, which is why I’m also looking into income streams that are more passive. Speaking of passive income…
Like to Know It: Slow but Steady Progress
- January earnings: $3.63
- Total pending earnings: $16.84 (need to hit $25 to cash out)
- Plan for February: More consistent posting
Okay, so this one isn’t bringing in much yet, but I know it takes time. One of my biggest takeaways for January is that I need to post more consistently and diversify what I link. I’ve mostly been sharing my outfits, but I can also link books I’m reading, cooking supplies, my water bottle—anything that’s on Like to Know It!
Eventually, I’d love to have an Amazon storefront, but I’ve heard the payout isn’t great compared to Like to Know It, so I may just stick with what I’m doing and link Amazon items there. It’s all about finding what works.
The Blog: A Work in Progress
- January earnings: $0 (still waiting on ad approval)
- Posts published: 2
- Goal for February: Get ads approved, start pinning on Pinterest, post a blog weekly
I didn’t make any money from my blog this month, but that’s okay—it’s all part of the process. Google hasn’t approved for me ads yet, but I’m making sure my site meets all their requirements. When ads do go live, I promise they’ll be placed in a way that doesn’t disrupt your reading experience—no pop-ups here!
Another big goal for February is to start using Pinterest to drive traffic to my blog. Pinterest is a free platform with so much potential, so I need to start scheduling my pins for the month and getting more eyes on my content.
What’s Next for February?
For February, I’m keeping my focus on banners, Like to Know It, and my blog. If I introduce a fourth income stream, it will be digital downloads—just uploading them to Etsy and sharing them through Pinterest.
At the end of February, I’ll check back in and see where we’re at. So far, I’m at $271 out of my $4,000 goal. Let’s keep going!
