In the wake of rising interest rates and high cost of living, more Australians are turning their hobbies into side hustles to earn some extra cash.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bendigo nurse and mother-of-two Johanna Sabaliauskas is one of those people.
After competing in race day fashion across the years, she turned her wardrobe of high-end fashions into a stable annual income of about $37,000.
What began as 10 dresses being rented via the online platform The Volte has evolved to 100 items of clothing for rent on Ms Sabaliauskas' own fully-fledged business, No Strings Bendigo.
"There's a massive void for clothes for women aged 25-50 who want to look fashionable but can't find anything appropriate," she said.
Her customers have grown right alongside her business too, ranging from Bendigo locals to celebrities, journalists, and Australians basking in the European sun.
"I post all over the world, I currently have a dress in London, people are taking holiday bundles- they've taken four or five dresses with them on a summer European holiday," she said.
"Instagram is going crazy, this summer is going to be hectic."
For those looking for extra money amid the rising cost-of-living Sabaliauskas recommended pursuing something they're excited about.
"People want to spend money on someone who can help them and be passionate with them.
"I can tell people that dress will look good on your or try this. And they often walk out saying, Oh, wow, I never thought I'd find something that I like," she said.
More than just a source of income
Extra income is not the only motivation for starting a business on the side.
For some, like NSW south coast resident Lee Gorman, side hustles are simply a way for him to spend more time doing what he loves - diving.
Mr Gorman kick started his side hustle - math tutoring both online and in-person - through Airtasker.
"I can go diving and then go back to a picnic bench and go tutor," he said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
What started as a side hustle on Airtasker has now turned into a serious venture for Mr Gorman.
"I work about six days a week and 50 per cent of that is clients from Airtasker," he said.
And he's not alone.
New data from the mobile marketplace has revealed a spike in demand for tutors, and not just for students looking to improve their marks at school, but also adults hoping to pick up new skills.
Jake Cargnelutti is one such skill provider.
The 13-year-old chess fanatic from Sydney is happy to impart his strategic and tactical knowledge to anyone interested.
"I started off by giving my younger brother free lessons just to improve his game and then my parents suggested I should try to find clients on Airtasker," he said.
Having been trained by a Grandmaster, Mr Cargnelutti teaches beginners all the way to intermediate chess players who want to improve their game.
"The plan is to continue doing this when I get older and turn it into a proper job," he said.
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found the number of working Australians who hold multiple jobs is currently at a record high.
In March 2023, 6.6 per cent of all employed Australians worked more than one job.
