[US] Looking for some ideas for freelance work / "side hustle" - eviltoast

Title. I found out recently that I need some major dental work in the near future and I don’t have a damn clue how I am going to raise the extra money. I want to explore any realistic options for increasing my earnings before I have to resort to taking on debt, and I suspect that soliciting ideas in a semi-public place like this will turn up a lot of ideas I would never have considered myself.

I’m not very physically fit, but I am pretty good with computers generally, and I’ve picked up a little bit of programming in my free time this year, though I wouldn’t sell myself as a freelancer in that department or anything. I am also pretty good at proofreading / nitpicking things, my regular job is in QA.

Thank you in advance for any input.

    • PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Yup. Collecting rent is passive income. But you actually need to be rich enough to own the property before you can collect rent.

      Interest is passive income. But you need to have enough money to actually make the interest payments worth more than a few cents.

      Investment returns are passive income. But you need to have enough invested, in a broad enough portfolio, to reliably pay dividends or return growth. To the point that a market dip in one sector won’t kill your investments.

      And all of these already require a lot of money.

      • metaStatic@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Find an exchange traded real estate investment trust and throw every spare dollar you have at it, now you’re collecting rent without owning property. Typically paid quarterly unlike dividends which are usually every 6 months.

        Currency is toilet paper, turn it into assets as fast as you can.

        Time in the market > Timing the market

    • subignition@fedia.ioOP
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      1 year ago

      Maybe that was the wrong choice of words. What would you suggest? I guess I can edit that to “side hustle” instead if that’s more appropriate…?

      • Tb0n3@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Honestly the best side hustle is to better yourself and ultimately find a better primary hustle. Side hustles don’t do much more than steal your already limited leisure time.

        • subignition@fedia.ioOP
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          1 year ago

          Well, you’re entirely right, but unfortunately that doesn’t help me much in the moment. I appreciate your response regardless. <3

    • hahattpro@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      yeah cool. Thank for remind me being rich can also create a stream of income without do anything.