I was drowning in £12.5k of debt but paid it all off in a year by going to the shops
365 DAYS – that’s all a money-savvy mom needed to pay off her monster debt, all thanks to very easy but clever side hustles.
Like many cash-strapped Brits, Lisa Danielle (@sidehustlesister) struggled to make ends meet, especially since she had to find the money to pay back $12.5k in loans.
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After watching videos on social media shared by others making money from their jobs ‘on the side’ – also known as side jobs – the 43-year-old decided to take the plunge.
And they were so remarkably quick and easy to connect that mother-of-three Lisa managed to pay off her significant debt within a year.
From flogging mystery boxes to earning cash in return for family days out and trips to the supermarket, she even earned enough to treat herself to the trip of a lifetime.
She says: ”It really adds up, so it’s all about consistency.”
The more Lisa, from Manchester, delved into side hustles, the more she bombarded with videos.
Others claimed they had made a fortune in various ways – from creating random products to writing product reviews.
However, this was a strange world for Lisa, who had to pay more than £5.4,000 in tuition fees, as well as another £6.8,000 for a car loan.
“I’ve always paid my student loan on time, but the interest got stuck,” says Lisa, whose “day-to-day” job is internal communications.
”It just felt like it was time for me to get rid of it; it has been more than half my life since I graduated from college,” she explains.
“I just really wanted to be debt free, it felt like this was the right time.”
The beginning of the debt-free journey
Last year, Lisa turned to TikTok to make money, but none seemed feasible.
”One of them was a lady trying to make £100,000 in a year, and the other was a bloke trying to turn £20 into £200,000,” says Lisa.
”I loved it, but it seemed so far out of reach for me.
”So then I focused on paying off my £12.5,000 worth of debts.”
After sharing her first video online, Lisa – who now has almost 60,000 followers on TikTok and goes by the name The Side Hustle Sister – received tons of suggestions on how to make money.
Make money with used stuff
Lisa became hooked, and to kickstart the challenge of paying off debt, she turned to sites like Vinted, Facebook Marketplace and eBay, where she sold various second-hand items she found at home.
Then she bought mystery boxes online and sold things she didn’t want.
Some of the best known survey sites to try as a side hustle
- I-say
- Swagbucks
- Crowdology
- Curious cat
- Google Opinion Rewards
- PopulusLive
Side hustle that ANYONE can do
She then turned to survey sites, including Attapol and Survey Pop, where she was paid to share her opinions, earning between $100 and $200 extra money per month.
”I still do surveys. They are not for everyone; you certainly won’t become a millionaire if you do them,” explains Lisa, who completed them while her children were asleep.
”But it’s something that absolutely anyone can do. I would turn on the TV and then just sit down and finish a few,” she adds.
“I’ve had so many messages from people saying they didn’t have money for dinner for the kids, so they filled out a few surveys.”
Secret shopper
The money-conscious mum then went on a secret shopping spree – a ‘fun’ way to bring in some extra cash.
This involves going to a store and taking a photo of a particular aisle or refrigerator.
Lisa says: “I’m asked to comment on specific issues such as stock levels or if I think something is missing,
“The options are virtually endless, especially since there are so many services available.”
Lisa earned between £3 and £20 from each store visit and did the same at local leisure centers and pubs – where she could also enjoy a completely free meal while she was there.
”I also took the whole family to the secret shop,” she recalls.
“I was once given a budget of £60 to go bowling, play crazy golf and get something to eat in exchange for my opinion.”
Do I have to pay tax on my additional income?
MANY people who feel strapped for cash increase their bank balance with a little extra.
The good news is that there are plenty of easy ways to make some extra income, but you have to know the rules.
If you are employed, the company you work for takes the tax on your earnings and pays HMRC, so you don’t have to.
But anyone who makes extra money, for example by selling things online or walking dogs, may have to do it themselves.
Stephen Moor, head of employment at law firm Ashfords, said: “Caution should be exercised if you earn extra income as it is likely to be taxable.
“The sideline activity may be treated as taxable trade income, which may include providing services or selling products.”
Through the trade deduction you can earn a gross income of up to € 1,000 per year tax-free, but you usually have to pay tax on this.
Stephen added: “You should register for a self-assessment with HMRC to make sure you pay the correct amount of tax.
“The applicable tax brackets and the amount of tax you must pay depend on your income.”
If you fail to file a tax return, you could later receive a surprise bill from HMRC asking you to pay the tax you owe – plus additional costs on top of that.
Go digital
In addition to raking in money through TikTok Shop and getting paid for her content on the massive platform, Lisa is also boosting her bank balance by selling digital products like music, ebooks and online courses.
“I’ve just launched a masterclass where I have 50 students and I’m teaching them how to create digital products – and the success has been absolutely fantastic,” she reveals.
”I have people who work in HR, I have people who want to quit teaching, I have people with children with additional needs.
“The spectrum of people involved is absolutely fantastic.”
Which turned out to be a total waste of time
While several side hustles proved lucrative, some others did not go to plan, including Printing on Demand (POD)
It involves designing products, like a travel guide or a meal prep plan, and a POD partner prints and ships to customers on the seller’s behalf, but it’s competitive.
Lisa says, “It’s easy for anyone to get started, and you don’t have to invest a lot of money into building your business. But keep in mind that this isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme.”
Lisa, who runs The Side Hustle Sisterhood page on Facebook and treated herself to a trip to New York just a year after paying off her debts, adding: “My biggest tip when it comes to side hustles is to think about what you do and what you enjoy – And don’t be discouraged if a survey only pays you a few cents.
“It really adds up, so it’s all about consistency.”
