14 Side Hustle Stories That Turned Into Outrageously Exciting Opportunities

Ever feel like just throwing in the towel with your side hustle?

You’re putting in the hours, you’re paying your dues, you’re pouring your hopes and dreams into this project that has a really special place in your heart, and yet still… nothing much at all is happening.

No one’s even reading your blog, or the only emails landing in your inbox are rejections, or the sales are coming in nowhere near as thick and fast as you’d like.

You know that these things take time and patience and a good old dose of hard work, but still… Sometimes, you wonder whether you’re ever going to make it.

I’ve been there, and so’s everyone else who’s ever embarked on the journey of pursuing an extracurricular passion project.

But what I know for sure about side hustling is that you can never be certain what’s just around the corner, and sometimes, it’s something so exciting and unfathomable that you could never have seen it coming – and in that moment, you realise that the hard work was all worthwhile.

To prove what’s really possible, and as testament to the fact that sometimes you need to just keep going, I asked 14 of my fellow money bloggers to share the most exciting and unexpected opportunities that they’ve stumbled upon, that all started with a side hustle.

Here they are…

1. CLARE AT MY MONEY COTTAGE

“I started matched betting as a side hustle in 2014 when I was pregnant with my youngest child. At the time it was an incredible way to bring in extra money and kept our heads above water! I used Profit Accumulator and eventually went on to be an unpaid moderator for them.

8 months after my son was born, I applied for a job with Profit Accumulator and I’ve been working from them from home ever since. It’s made a huge difference to our lives and enabled be to be home with our three children whilst still bringing in a decent income.

I now work for them 25 hours per week. I have time in the afternoons for my other side hustles and we don’t need to pay for childcare. It’s been a complete lifechanger for us.”

2. OR AT CORD BUSTERS

“A few years ago I started writing, as a freelancer, for an entertainment/viral news-type website. At the time, I wasn’t confident enough with my writing, but it was a paid job, and the editor was satisfied, so I gave it a go.

Some time later that website shut down, and I started looking for similar jobs. Then, I suddenly had an epiphany – if I can write these things for someone else, why not write them for myself? So I started a similar website of my own, ran it for a couple of years, and not only made money with it – but also learned to do so much – things that have led me to open more websites and turn it into a full-time job.”

3. HOLLIE AT THRIFTY MUM

“I started mystery dining and shopping as a side hustle just for the free meals, then started to charge a fee too. I loved reporting on how restaurants and shops could improve their customer service etc.

This landed me my amazing job leading a team for a large Local Authority to redesign their processes, making them more efficient and save them millions.

I’m now working on my next step which is setting up my consultancy business as I want to expand what I deliver into the private sector.”

4. KATY AT KATY KICKER

“When I started my blog I never imagined it would lead to my family enjoying a free holiday to Bluestone Wales!”

5. LAURA AT THRIFTY LONDONER

“I started an embroidery tshirt side hustle by opening an Etsy store, and it lead to one of the top bars in the world commissioning some embroidery from me for a couple of events which was amazing!

The events counted guests such as the producers of Harry Potter so I was very pleased and never could have predicted that that was going to come of making an Instagram account for my t-shirts!”

6. JO AT JOLEISA

“Leisa and I started our blog to get out of teaching! We made a Facebook page for it and we were contacted to appear on the Channel 5 show Shop Smart, Save Money. The finances aside, we have met some amazing people and love the idea that this might lead to even bigger things.”

7. EILEEN AT YOUR MONEY SORTED

“I never dreamed that I would be presenting workshops for big brands such as Virgin and giffgaff. These opportunities would never have come up if it hadn’t been for starting my Your Money Sorted blog”

8. CHARLOTTE AT LOOKING AFTER YOUR PENNIES

“My husband had an idea for dice boxes (think Dungeons and Dragons). He advertised it on Kickstarter and I helped him promote it across the internet.

As a result he made enough money to take 3 months off his day job and then work part time for another 9 months. This all coincided with my maternity leave for my youngest daughter so we had some really lovely time together as a family.”

9. ADAM AT MAGICAL PENNY

“I started my blog because I had started investing in the stock market and wanted to share my interest and what I had learned with my friends. Soon I had readers all around the world asking me questions about their money and it inspired me to work towards professional exams and change my career to work in financial planning. My blog changed the direction of my life!”

10. KIRSTY AT THE MONEY SAVING MUM

“I was offered my dream job as a social media manager from my blog/vlog. Never EVER did I ever imagine I would be doing what i’m doing today and it started with a coaching call in January with Lynn at Mrs Mummy Penny who was helping with my blog but saw my potential elsewhere when I didn’t.”

11. EMMA AT MUM’S SAVVY SAVINGS

“So many amazing opportunities have come about because of my blog. I never thought I’d have the freedom to work from home around the needs of my children. Also never thought I’d get to sit on the This Morning sofa!!”

12. HELEN AT THE COMPLAINING COW

“Started the blog as a hobby didn’t think two years later I’d have a book remaining a bestseller 4 years on or being asked for expert views and advice for money! Only doing what I’ve been doing since a kid!”

13. VICTORIA AT LYLIA ROSE

“For me the side hustle became the opportunity! My blog has gone from a hobby, to a part time wage and now to my full time living! It amazes me every day that my website brings in a full time income and I get to do something I love every day.”

14. KATIE AT STUDENT SKINT

“The fact I have a blog has helped land me a great new job despite only having my blog for one month. I’m a Marketing Exec now focusing on content and communications due to my practice of blogging and writing.”

STILL WAITING FOR YOUR OWN RIDICULOUSLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY?

I know it can be frustrating when someone tells you to just keep going. But sometimes, that’s the advice that you need to hear. Sometimes, it really is just a case of buckling down, putting in the hours, and getting shit done.

No one can legitimately promise you overnight success and riches, but the benefits are there for the taking, and sometimes, you don’t even see them coming.

I hope that these stories here inspire you to consider what really could be possible, and to know that however hard things might feel right now, your own breakthrough could be just around the corner.

Do you have your own story of an exciting opportunity that stared with a side hustle? However big or small, I’d love to hear about it – drop a comment below and let me know about the unexpected places that your journey has taken you.