I’ve been working remotely as a product manager for an AI startup in New York City since 2017. While the flexibility of my job is great, like many New Yorkers, I’ve been feeling the squeeze of inflation. My salary has increased over the years, but it hasn't kept pace with the rising cost of living.
Now in my 30s, I have big financial goals: I want to buy a home and travel more. Lately, those dreams have felt increasingly out of reach. On top of that, the looming threat of tech layoffs has made me nervous. Watching colleagues get let go made me realize I desperately needed a financial safety net. So, about two years ago, I started side hustling.
My first—and most lucrative—gig is dog-sitting through Rover. I host dogs at my place for about 20 to 25 nights a month, charging $65 a night. That brings in roughly $1,000 a month. But the financial boost is just a bonus. Because I walk the dogs in my neighborhood, I’ve actually met my neighbors and built a local community. It also forces me to step away from my screen. When I'm drowning in back-to-back remote meetings, having to walk a dog gets me outside for a much-needed mental break. Plus, it cures the loneliness of working from home.
During the pandemic, I was living in a house with nine roommates and desperately needed an escape. I took up ceramics, joining a local studio where I could unplug, get my hands dirty, and calm my mind. I love creating pieces with an earthy, Cyclades-inspired aesthetic. I eventually opened an Etsy shop and have sold about 15 of my handmade snack plates for $60 each. It’s not a massive income, but it’s an incredible creative outlet.
To document my journey, I also run a TikTok where I share tips on preventing burnout and showcase my side hustles. Surprisingly, my online presence led to unexpected LinkedIn messages asking for product management consulting. I’ve taken on a few of those gigs, picking up a few hundred dollars here and there.
I originally started these side gigs hoping they would help me figure out what truly makes me happy and alleviate my financial anxiety. Ironically, they’ve left me feeling more confused.
I still struggle to find deep fulfillment in my 9-to-5—which is why I'm currently transitioning to a new senior product management role to shake things up. Meanwhile, I struggle with the reality that the things that actually bring me joy, like ceramics, don't pay the bills yet. My ultimate dream is to become a full-time ceramicist or run a handmade art business, but I'm not quite there.
I thought experimenting with different income streams would give me clarity about my future. Instead, it just showed me how many different paths are possible, leaving me with a lot more questions than answers.