things i've done for money and how i feel about them

part-time administration job

benefits: not having to figure out my own taxes and deductions; dedicated workspace; social contact; set schedule. drawbacks: even with a flexible workplace, i am beholden to someone else's schedule; salary negotiation; social contact.

honestly, this is the most basic thing that every adult is expected to do once in their life and i feel guilty for struggling with it. i think if i had a very simple job that i could do from home, i would be fine. i have yet to prove this.

consulting on individual projects

benefits: semi-regular schedule; specialised roles; higher pay than regular administration roles. drawbacks: pay negotiations; unsteady employment; have to do your own invoicing, scheduling, and bookkeeping.

the biggest problem i had doing this is that my anxiety doesn't want to just let me live. i fold so easily under pressure, but it regularly can get so bad that making simple decisions, such as whether to get dressed or what to eat, can be overwhelming. how does this stop me doing my job? imagine you feel terrible every time you speak to someone, and you can't write a simple text message without having a crying breakdown.

cleaning

benefits: stay fit; there's always work; little socialising. drawbacks: exposure to chemicals; people treat you like trash; my body extremely dislikes the physical nature of it and i am in pain the whole day after doing just 3 hours.

dog walking

benefits: exercise; meet dogs; set your own schedule; set your own rates. drawbacks: low pay unless walking multiple dogs or petsitting in addition; getting paid can be difficult; unsteady employment; the commute is killer.

pureprofile surveys

benefits: can do it on your own time. drawbacks: it's maybe a few dollars a day if you take all the surveys available and have a really in-demand profile.

i've been doing this for a while, but not consistently enough to consider it a real side hustle. usually i put on a movie and grab my phone and go through any available surveys. some sites will glitch out and mean i can't complete the survey, but that's a minority of surveys. i have been able to withdraw money to my bank account at least twice, including the last time i logged in for 2025. i would definitely recommend it to anyone who has the time, and if you're interested please consider using my affiliate link.

affiliate marketing

benefits: passive. drawbacks: you have to be an influencer of some kind or a trusted voice on a particular topic.

back when i was more active on social media, i had a few affiliate links i kept in my bio. i don't remember getting any commission, despite getting a fair few clicks every now and again.

but then i am a shitty artist, didn't have a lot of followers and just was really friendly. so i guess that kind of explains it.

centrelink

benefits: guaranteed minimum payment; reporting and paperwork has become easier; concession cards. drawbacks: the forms can be hard to navigate; not enough to live off exclusively; mutual obligations are hard to navigate if you don't have a regular employer and you're looking or if you're a seasonal worker.

ETFs

benefits: passive; fairly easy to invest if you have an account with a major bank; regular dividends. drawbacks: ties up your savings; highly dependent on the market; if you haven't been doing tax returns you're going to have to learn fast.