Hustlin’ At One’s Fingertips

I was shocked when I heard that a majority of Americans invest more in coffee than their retirement savings. Despite my guilty pleasure for Starbucks, I did not want to fall into the habitual financial trap of spending more than I earn.

After skimming through a Dave Ramsey course and clicking on a few enticing YouTube links my main takeaway was that I needed to start hustlin’, and now. I knew that my young self was capable of doing so much more than working part-time at the local restaurant. Especially since I decided to take a gap year after graduating high school, I still have plenty of time to make some bank before my first fall semester at Biola University. 

Speaking of Biola, I also had to consider the costs of college and how I will save before jumping into an exciting new journey. With all that stated, what are my easy yet extremely efficient side hustles?

Daring DoorDasher

As soon as I turned 18 in November of 2022, I unlocked my phone and downloaded the DoorDash app. No, not for me to order delivery for a slice of birthday cake. Instead, I opened a personal small business. Just a few days passed, my background check was verified, and I was officially hired as a Dasher. The adrenaline rush kicked in when I pushed the “Dash Now” button, and it was only minutes until I received my first order from Jersey Mike’s. I slipped on my Platform Converse and zoomed away in my Chevrolet Bolt. The little red car made a swift transport from sandwich pick-up to the customer’s front door, and just like that I made my first $9.25 through DoorDash.

I realized that I had to take better advantage of these delivery orders if I wanted my DoorDash business to be successful. I was already fortunate with a couple of benefits under my belt. First off, I live in an area that is flooded with food chains. Not to mention I am a stone’s throw away from the Brea Mall, in other words, a teenage girl’s lottery, which is also dense with food pick-up stations. Secondly, I am blessed to be sharing an electric vehicle with my dad. I love the little red Chevy Bolt, not only does it match DoorDash’s signature colors, but it is speedy and affordable compared to any gas car (and eco-friendly). But even with these handy perks, I would occasionally get ripped off by California traffic, long restaurant delays, confusing apartment directions, and all that hassle over a rude customer that did not bother to leave a tip. My worst experience was earning only $5 within a full hour, simply because I was delivering to a street infested with Christmas lights and holiday traffic. Time is money, and I wanted to make the most out of every second.

I scavenged the internet and came across DoorDash vloggers. Gathering useful tips and information about the algorithm, I was learning how to accept profitable orders and navigate time management. I made rules for myself, such as avoiding orders under $10 or committing to earning at least $2 for every mile driven. Keeping these boundaries in mind, along with providing the quickest possible service, I have earned up to $35 per hour using DoorDash. My most rewarding trip was a double order from Crumbl Cookies and Stonefire Grill, two costly locations within the same parking lot. For a fifteen-mile drive, I earned $40 plus a cash-in-hand tip of $10.

To this day, I am still navigating how to beat the algorithm and what rules perform best in my zone. Occasionally it feels like some sort of a scavenger hunt game. And what better way to spend your time than to blast your favorite music in the comfort of your car, all while making money?

Pugs and Kisses!

I have yet to meet a person that hates puppies, and when I do I have a bold argument on why dogs are just bundles of joy and loyalty that humanity does not deserve. For someone that has never owned a dog or even a cat to herself, I am very much a strong animal lover. Due to my rental situation, I am fortunate to have gotten away with a couple of guinea pigs as pets, and I adore my miniature potatoes with all my heart. Still, I await the day I move out and start my own family. A family of rescued dogs, of course, not children.

I had set up a caregiver account on Rover and Wag! shortly after starting DoorDash. Both apps are pet care platforms with similar layouts. I learned that I can become my own boss and work on my own schedule with pet sitting, drop-in visits, and dog walking. I was certain to make my profile look polished and professional, reassuring any pet parent that I am trustworthy. My first service was with the sweetest husky named Mookie, and he is now one of my favorite regulars.

He lives just 3 miles away from me, and we go on frequent walks ranging from twenty to sixty minutes. My earnings from this client alone range from $15 to $20 depending on the length of the walk, plus a nice tip of about $5.

I would be more than happy to take care of dogs for free, so why not earn extra money while doing so? Many pet parents are super generous with tips, which is very beneficial on my end. The most popular service request is a dog walk, so along with being a financial win, this has benefited my health physically and emotionally.

From pit bulls to corgis, these dogs have acted as therapy for me. Walking with them as a side hustle has been an amazing way to get paid while exercising. I have completed over thirty services using Rover and Wag! in the last two months, and I plan to continue hundreds of more bookings.

Multi-Apping = Multi-Billionaire

Here is what my usual work day looks like with all my side hustles combined:

I wake up around 8:00 AM and start my day walking a shiba inu named Doji. The owner of Doji contacted me through Rover the previous week explaining he needed someone to take the dog out on morning walks because of his conflicting work schedule. Since Doji lived only a ten-minute drive away, and I was overtaken by the cuteness of the pictures and the cleverness of the name relating to a meme on the internet, I gladly took the offer. Doji and I enjoy a refreshing morning walk, and for only thirty minutes of my time, I earn my first $15 to get my day going.

From there, I have plenty of time to head to my morning shift at Rubio’s Coastal Grill which is an easy walking distance from my house. With Rubio’s offering dine-in service in contrast to other fast food chains, the tips I earn are substantially abundant. In addition to dine-in, any transaction offers the guest to tip regardless if the order is online or for take-out. These are considerable benefits of working for minimum wage, not to mention the unlimited chips and salsa are a nice touch. My six-hour shift plus tips sum up to around $100 for the day at Rubio’s.

I return home later in the afternoon and wind down searching the internet for scholarships to pay off college. While doing so, I activate my DoorDash app and wait for any pricey deliveries to come through. I have proofread and submitted an essay by the time the dinner rush starts. For the next couple of hours, I am driving around jamming to 80’s tunes. Lucky for me, Outback and Yard House were popular menu items today, so I earned an easy $60 for five orders delivered in under two hours.

I make my one more restaurant stop and I hear a familiar notification from the Wag! app. Mookie the husky is requesting an evening walk with me, which I happily accept. I deliver my last DoorDash order and make my way over to the dog’s apartment building. An hour is well spent watching the sunset with Mookie strolling beside me. A handy $20 to end the long day, plus a $5 tip.

Helping Out My Future Self

In one full day, I can gain over $200. This will go to my college savings account; I am making an effort to maintain self-control and not go on a nightly shopping spree. Working part-time and making the best use of my time with side hustles has been a significant bonus for me. I highly encourage other undergraduate students to consider these side hustle apps. I know that when I enter college I may not have the time or energy for a part-time job. With my side hustles, I have much more freedom and effortless access from my phone.

Overall, I am having fun making money and that is all that matters. Thank you for the time to read my story and your generosity towards supporting education.

About The Author

Malia Swanson plans to attend Biola University.