My Side Hustle
Every so often I make mention of my “side hustle” here on DFA and how it earns money that enables us to repay debt much faster. Recently several DFA readers have contacted me wanting to know exactly what my “side hustle” is and how I earn money with it.
Well, you’re reading my side hustle now… DebtFreeAdventure.com is the side hustle that is brings in our extra income. How much extra? I don’t really want to list specific numbers but suffice to say that it earned enough this month to cover our 1st and 2nd mortgage payments!
Make money blogging
Luckily it is not necessary for me to write a detailed run down of how to start a blog or how to earn money with a blog because others have already done it. In fact, I would be remiss if I didn’t point you to an awesome new resource to help you do this yourself… if you so desire.
For the last several months Pete over at BibleMoneyMatters.com has been busting his butt to compile a guide that aims to help people make money blogging. Why listen to Pete? In just 2 short years he catapulted himself from blogging beginner to a blogger earning enough to replace his wife’s full-time job.
In his own words,
“Over the past 2 years I’ve been blogging 5-6 days a week, generating over 800 pages of content, 6000+ comments and over 1.5 million page views. My site has become more popular than I ever dreamed it could be, and I feel blessed that the site has grown to a point where it is now able to replace my wife’s day job income. That means we’ll be able to afford for her to stay home with our children, which is even more important now that we have our first child on the way!“
Benefits from of earning money blogging
Earning money from blogging is not easy, but it affords you some very rewarding benefits… like:
- Freedom to work from anywhere – I can work from anywhere, as long as I have a computer (or even a smartphone) with an Internet connection.
- Control over your own income – The amount I earn is in direct proportion to how hard I work… this is not the case with my full-time job where I earn the same amount regardless of effort.
- Income diversification – The alternate income acts as a hedge against possible job loss… losing your current job will hurt less if you have developed alternate sources of income.
- Build savings and/or repay debt faster – Our debt is disappearing much faster thanks to the earnings from DebtFreeAdventure.com.
Another non-monetary benefit is that DFA also allows me to write about my passions. Even if the site was earning nothing I would continue to write… the money is just a bonus. Writing about personal finances helps me learn more, stay focused and accountable to our debt reduction plan, and help others along the way.
How can you get started?
Have you been wanting to do what Pete has done, and what I’m doing? Are you passionate about a subject, eager to learn more, help others, and earn money along the way? If so then buy Pete’s ebook and learn in one day what it took Pete 2 years to nail down.
If you want to get started blogging for money, check out Pete’s Blueprint For How to Make Money with a Blog.
I have read the ebook myself and highly recommend it to people looking to start an earning blog of their own.
That’s awesome, your doing great. I don’t earn quite enough to cover a mortgage from my frugal site but I have a site network and work full time online… I can always learn more so definitely checking out his series. I love the freedom of working online!
Thanks.
First, congrats on the success you’re enjoying.
I completely agree. Pete’s resource is a must-read for anyone who wants to make money blogging.
Great job Matt,
I bought the resource the day it came out. I’m just starting to implement 🙂
Thanks guys, I appreciate your kind words – it was a lot of work to put the resource together, and I’m confident that it can help people!
I’ll have to check this out. I’ve just started reading Bible Money Matters recently, but it seems like a great resource so far.
Matt, how long had you been blogging before you saw any income?
Yeah, Pete has put together a great resource here. Um, for me it was a solid 6 months before I even made $100 total. I always tell people that if they want to make money with a blog they have to be willing to work full-time for 6 months for free before they see any income! 🙂
Matt – that six months thing seems to be an unwritten rule. The first six months was a labor of love toward an uncertain future. The daily revenue was measured in PENNIES!
Now it graduated, and we’re measuring daily results it in ice cream cones and Happy Meal equivalents. Long way to go to reach being able to cover the house payment, but the progress is coming, slowly but surely. Probably the best single piece of advice is not to give up! 2nd is observe, study and tweak…
You’re exactly right – NEVER give up. I think the stats say that around 75% of bloggers will quit by the 6 month mark due to discouragement/lack of earnings…
6 months is a benchmark – and one that most bloggers never reach. Stick with it, it takes a lot of hard work, but it can be done.
i completely agree with the above advice as well – observe, study and tweak! See what the big boys are doing, what they’re writing about, how they place ads/etc and emulate them They make a lot of money for a reason!
Those pennies you talk about will soon turn into dollars, and then soon enough, if you focus on the right topics in the right niche – you’ll be paying your mortgage with your blog!
I’m using my blog to force me to think through personal investment issues in depth before I post. If I read a lot and then am able to write a thread on it hopefully it means I’ve understood. I’m then acting on what i read through my retirement investing strategy.
I could only dream of making the kind of money that you imply. However, maybe it’s because I write about what I enjoy and that’s just a bit to eccentric for most.
I love the idea of paying for a mortgage out of blog income. Unfortunately after two years blogging I’m still not even half close (perhaps I should move town! 😉 ) but there’s something elegant about the idea that really appeals.
Thanks for the kind words everyone… being able to speed debt repayment and diversify income are great things. I encourage everyone with debt to create a side hustle – if not blogging then delivering pizzas, or semi-pro badminton… whatever you enjoy and whatever pays speeds debt freedom! 🙂
Just bought it, starting to read it tomorrow.
I too love the idea of paying for a mortgage via blog income, that must be a great feeling.
Awesome, I have read the guide and trust you will benefit greatly from it. Let us know what you think by commenting again after reading!
I like the term ‘side hustle’. Sounds like a fun dance! 😉
Great resource! I look up to DFA, BMM and Christian PF as the big boys in the Faith and Finance niche and all three (Matt, Pete & Bob) have been awesome resources, very approachable and very patient as I’ve asked a few questions here and there.
I’m glad Pete put his thoughts down on this! I wished this was out when i first started blogging!!
You’re far too kind Jason, thank you for the gracious compliment. I have a lot of respect for Pete and Bob, and am honored to be named among them. For as hard as you work R2 is bound for success man, keep up the great work!
Wow, that’s a lot of blog income money to cover your entire mortgage! Inspiring. Keep up the good work.
Good read. Glad to know it can be done.
“800 pages of content”
That is a load of work.
Blogging can indeed bring in some extra cash for an individual. But for it ti happen may require some hard work and dedication. So, it may be extremely important that the subject of your blog be something of real interest to you. This would make it less of a work, and more of a hobby. As you said, the money just becomes the bonus.
Those are great numbers. I’ve been going at it for a couple of months and I’m excited to see that all I need is to keep pushing. Eventually I’ll be able to make a decent income out of it. Examples of success are definitely inspiring.
Hard work and perseverance are your best friends!