Cutting costs not enough? Here's how to start a side hustle that works

financialpost.com:

Household finances continue to be tight and most families are scrimping and saving everywhere they can, which begs the question: What can you do if you’re struggling to make ends meet, but can’t cut your spending any more than you already have?

You’re not alone if this question is keeping you up at night. Reaching for your credit card is not the answer. That might get you by for a few months, but your debt will get even harder to manage in the long term because your minimum payments will skyrocket. There’s no easy answer for fixing a disconnect between your budget and your spending, but you likely have more options than you think.

One choice is to go through all your expenses again — yes, again — and scale them back like you did for your emergency budget at the start of the pandemic. A lot of people came up with extremely thrifty ways to get by. Those habits could come in handy again now, especially if combined with increasing your income.

But if taking on extra shifts at work, changing departments to get a raise or finding a second job aren’t possible or don’t net you enough extra cash, it might be worth considering a side hustle to increase your household income.

A quick search online will turn up countless articles dedicated to side-hustle ideas. Sift through the various blogs with an open mind and jot down anything you might be able to do. Then, create a short list of your top two or three realistic options. If your goal is to generate extra income sooner rather than later, this will help you focus on bringing to life the ideas that best align with the talents and strengths you already have.

Next, think about how much time you have to commit to a gig. Consider what it would take to get it up and running, how much