Yahoo Finance $8k per month: Aussie mum chasing six-figure side hustle from home
Aussies like Kate are taking on side hustles to keep up with the rising cost of living.
From navigating the rising cost of living to setting sights on big goals, earning extra side-hustle money on top of your main source of income is becoming increasingly popular with Aussies.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), almost a million Aussies now have a side hustle - anything from delivery driving to freelance creative work, and even dog walking. And they’re earning as much as $52.60 per hour, according to Preply research on average hourly wages for Aussie side hustles.
But this one Aussie is making big bucks using something she was born with: her voice.
Kate Reynolds tells me she banks between $3,000 and $8,000 a month doing voice-acting work without even having to leave her Sydney home. And this year, she’s on a mission to make six figures from her side gig.
A writer by trade, Kate was working as a radio writer, scripting ads and doing demo reads before the clients booked a voice actor. Unexpectedly, clients started wanting her to voice the ads.
First side hustle to have taken off
“[That was when] I started thinking maybe this is something I could start to take more seriously,” she said.
It’s her first side hustle to have taken off, she says, recalling a previous attempt in lockdown to sell handmade wallhangings. “I think I sold six, and probably lost money on that project!”
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But then, in 2021, she listed her first demo on creative marketplace Fiverr with the original intention of eventually pursuing representation through an agent. She’s had so much success, however, that she hasn’t needed to.
“I’ve never been just a 9-to-5 gal,” Kate said. “I’m a big believer in multiple sources of income.”
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This time, it was maternity leave that got Kate thinking about a side hustle.
“Because I have my side hustle, I’ve been able to slowly ease back into work at my own pace," she said. "I record and edit while [my son] sleeps or when my husband takes him out. It’s taken the pressure off of returning to formal work, and I get to enjoy these precious days with my little gumnut!”
Banking between $3k and $8k per month from home
When Kate told me she could make anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000 in one month with voice acting, my interest was piqued.
“The months where I make the most money are generally when I get a big order, like an audiobook or big e-learning courses. I find January is the slowest month. My biggest month is usually November.”
Kate returned to her day job part-time last year, but said working her side hustle gave her “the best of both worlds.”
She “cracked six figures in overall earnings last financial year”, which wouldn’t have been possible without her voice-acting gigs. Kate has now started a podcast called Six Figure Salary where she chronicles the journey of trying to earn six figures from her side hustle. Kate’s episodes discuss earning money on Fiverr, charging your worth, and monthly recaps of her hustle pursuits.
Kate’s top tips for making money with a side hustle
Kate’s best advice for anyone starting out with a side hustle is to know and charge your worth. “If you work for nothing, you’ll burn out fast.”
Kate suggests looking up industry award rates and talking to other freelancers to set a rate that is worth your time, effort and talent.
“It’s also worth knowing a little bit of SEO [Search Engine Optimisation] as this can help potential clients find you online.”
