Side hustle nation: One in three Kiwis earning extra cash

Friday, 14 May 2021

From dog walking to upcycling, a third of New Zealanders are making extra cash on the side, new research shows.

Financial research and comparison site Finder found one in three New Zealand adults are making extra money through a side hustle.

Almost one in five make extra cash by selling secondhand items like clothes or furniture, while 8 per cent work a second or part-time job.

Around 6 per cent bring in extra money by renting out a spare room or space in their home, and 5 per cent pick up freelance projects through websites like Upwork or Builderscrack.

New Zealand has the second-highest rate of pet ownership in the world, just below the United States.

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The research also found younger New Zealanders are leading the side hustle movement, with 44 per cent of Generation Y and Z having a second income stream.

Kevin McHugh, Finder’s publisher in New Zealand, said in some cases the pandemic may have been the “push” some Kiwis needed to launch their side gig.

“Having multiple sources of income is one of the best ways to ensure financial security. This extra cash can help you pay off debt quicker, grow your house deposit or even help to cover everyday costs like bills and groceries.

Aucklander Anne-Marie McKenzie turned her pet food business from a side hustle into a full-time job. (File photo)

“In some cases, a small side hustle can grow into a successful business,” McHugh said.

That was true for Aucklander Anne-Marie McKenzie, who was working in marketing when she started pet food business Brodie’s Raw Pet Food Delivery.

About a year after launching the company, often described as My Food Bag for pets, McKenzie decided to take the plunge and make Brodie’s her full-time job.

Many Kiwis have taken to upcycling as a way to make a bit more cash.

The business now has hundreds of customers, more than 90 per cent on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly subscription, and recorded 40 per cent growth in the year to March 2021.

While McKenzie was motivated by the changes she saw in the health of the family dog when she switched him to a raw meat diet, most respondents to the Finder survey had a more mundane reason for starting a side hustle, with nearly two-thirds saying they need the extra cash.

Around 15 per cent want to fill in their spare time, while 14 per cent say it’s a way to pursue something they’re passionate about.

Almost two thirds of women (65 per cent) with a side hustle are motivated by the need for extra money, while a little over half of men (55 per cent) are in the same boat.

Men (21 per cent) are more likely than women (11 per cent) to start a side gig to fill their spare time, the survey found.

McHugh said side hustles don’t always need a big upfront investment or specialised skills.

“If you’d like to earn some extra cash, take a look around you. What can you sell around the home that you’re no longer using?

“What skills do you already have that someone might benefit from? You could earn money as a freelance writer, or provide music or computer lessons for instance,” he said.

“You could also offer your services as a dog walker, lawnmower, cleaner, meal prep cook – anything that you’re good at or enjoy.”