The Gig Economy Guide: Top Tools and Resources for Side Hustlers 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Discover different apps for side hustlers
• Understand ways to use these tools 
• Learn how these resources help in the gig economy

Want to make your free time pay off? Side jobs are becoming very popular, even according to a Marketwatch survey, one in two Americans has a side hustle (51%), and in this data 72% are Gen Z. 

These days, people aren’t just looking for money, especially the new generation; they want to learn new skills, work on their passion projects, and test out new business ideas that are not quite possible in 9-5.

Side gigs have a different format; one can do them online and offline, and they can be related to tech or the creative side. All you have to do is make the right decision. Let’s dive into this article and learn more about it. 

The Best Time Management and Productivity Tools

A few years ago, I was a freelance writer. After working for a few weeks, I felt that managing these side jobs with other things was quite difficult, and I had to find something to solve this issue. And I found some good solutions. Here are some I want to suggest: 

• Trello: This tool helped me organize tasks and projects visually. Here you can create boards for different jobs and move them once they are finished. 
• Asana: Love to stay organized? Fantastic, that’s exactly what this tool is for. This tool helps in assigning tasks, tracking progress, etc. 
• Todoist: Want to make simple to-do lists? This tool is perfect for it. It helps in focusing on important tasks, too. 

The Best Financial and Invoicing Platforms

I’m mentioning this with my own experience; handling money in a side gig is quite tricky. With time, you will get to know how to manage them. These tools can help out: 

• Wave: If you are a student, just starting to earn and can’t spend much money, this tool is perfect, as this is free. Here you can get Invoicing, expense tracking, and even some accounting tools. 
• FreshBooks: I personally used this tool a lot. Small business owners can also use this tool. Its service makes it easy to create invoices, track time on projects, and give payment reminders.  

The Best Platforms to Discover New Gigs

Years ago, when I was finding side gigs, it was quite difficult to find one, but now it’s a whole other story. It became more difficult than ever. But there are some platforms where you can still find some good gigs: 

• Upwork: Looking for freelancing work or want to get clients for writing or design projects? Just go for this platform because it will be helpful in both. 
• TaskRabbit: Want some manual, hands-on work? This platform is exactly what you need. Here you will find tasks like cleaning, assessing furniture, which means one can choose when to work. 

The Best Marketing and Branding Tools

Want regular work? Make your work profile look professional. Apart from branding, focus on marketing to get work with the help of a social media profile and personal website. Remember, clients look for strong, positive profiles to work with. Don’t know how to do that? No worries, read this carefully: 

• Hootsuite: Even if you are good at handling social media, give this app a try; it will help to manage social media, schedule posts, and check how well they perform. 
• LinkedIn: You might have heard about this one. I used this app to make my online presence professional enough to connect with potential clients. You can do that too.

The Best Ways to Minimize Personal Costs and Monetize Space

There is a famous quote by the father of the US, Benjamin Franklin: ‘A penny saved is a penny earned.’  Side gigs provide a lot of learning, and one of them is saving. These apps can help in cost-cutting:  

• SpareRoom: Have a spare room in the house? Why not turn it into money? SpareRoom will help connect you with people who are looking for a room to rent. 
• Saving Apps: Use apps like Honey and Rakuten. It will help find cashback and deals on your daily purchases.  

Final Thoughts

If you are someone who has spare time, especially a student. Don’t just waste it on playing or scrolling reels. Find a gig according to personal interests, skills, or the amount of time you have. 

At the start, it might feel challenging, but with the help of the above tools and apps and time, it will become easier. So buckle up and start your side gig. 

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