One of my favorite things right now? Side hustles. If you’ve been following along, you know I’ve been sharing my “Road to $4000” journey—where I’m working toward making $4,000 this year in extra income. Why? To help pay off debt, build up our savings, and just get into a stronger financial position. I posted my January and February recaps, and now that I’m in the middle of my third month, I can really see the progress. So, I figured it’s the perfect time to write about this.
Today, I want to share three reasons why I believe side hustles are the key to financial freedom.
1. Extra Money = Faster Debt Payoff
This is the most obvious reason, but it’s also the most powerful. Side hustle income isn’t tied to your 9-to-5 paycheck, which means it can go directly toward paying off debt faster. Imagine being able to make an extra car payment each month or knocking out that lingering credit card balance in half the time. That financial breathing room? It’s priceless.
For example, in January, we sent an extra $100 to our debt, which may not sound like a lot, but it shaved three months off one of our loan payments. Then, in February, I was able to send an extra $400! When we first started this journey, our estimated payoff date for one of our credit cards was April 2029. Now? It’s 2026! In just two months, we put an extra $800 toward debt, with over $500 of that coming from my side hustles—more than 50%! Even without that extra, we would’ve still knocked more than a year off our debt timeline.
Now, imagine what you could do with an extra $500 each month. Could you plan a summer vacation? Get season passes to a water park? Cover groceries if you’re a stay-at-home mom? Side hustles give you that financial breathing room and options.
2. It Keeps You Away from Impulse Spending
Another unexpected benefit? Side hustles keep you busy—and out of stores! I haven’t had the time to wander aimlessly through Target or Walmart, picking up random things just because I had a free afternoon. Instead, my extra time goes into working on my side hustles, which means I’m not impulse shopping. I’m not spending money just because I have a few free hours on a Saturday. Instead of dropping $100 at Target, I’m focused on growing my income and staying productive.
3. It Brings Joy While Making You Money
Side hustles aren’t just about money—they can be about passion too. Ideally, your side hustle is something you genuinely enjoy. In the past, I’ve tried side hustles that didn’t bring me joy, but now I focus on things I love, like painting. I get to do something creative and fulfilling while also making money from it. It keeps me focused on something positive rather than dwelling on things we’ve cut back on, like eating out.
And that’s the key—your side hustle can shift your mindset. Instead of thinking, Oh, we can’t go out to eat tonight, I think, I get to paint and watch my favorite show while working on orders. My focus isn’t on what I’m missing; it’s on what I’m building.
Final Thoughts
So, if you’re considering starting a side hustle, let this be your sign! The three biggest reasons why I think side hustles are the key to financial freedom are:
- They help you make extra money to pay off debt and save.
- They keep you from impulse spending.
- They bring joy while creating extra income.
If you’re thinking about starting a side hustle, let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear what you’re working on and share more ideas on great side hustles—especially for stay-at-home moms looking to earn extra income. Let’s get to work!
