Hustle City - Colin Tries the Humble Side Hustle

Cosplay can be such a fun hobby! You get to be creative, dress up and show appreciation to some of your favourite characters. But if you are anything like us cosplay can sometimes come with a pretty hefty price tag. The current rising cost of living crisis can make it tough to justify spending money on costumes and props. 

However fear not, with a little creativity, there are plenty of side hustles that can help you pay for your cosplay addiction! We got busy, scoured the internet and tested a whole bunch of "money-making hacks" so you don't have to! Here are 5 of our favourite ways to make a little extra cash to help fund that cosplay addiction. 

Furniture flipping 

If you have a little bit of time and some basic handyman skills, furniture flipping might just be the hustle for you! Furniture flipping is when you take furniture people are throwing out or giving away for free, fixing them up and reselling them for a pretty penny. We found this hustle to be one of the most effective for making a quick buck. To do this we recommend having a scroll through Facebook marketplace for furniture that is free or dirt cheap and just needs some basic repair, eg repairing a handle on a draw, fixing a wonky leg or even something that just needs a really good clean! Give the item it's needed facelift, take some cute styled pics and resell it on Facebook! One man's trash is another man's treasure! 

Airtasker 

Do you have a skill in photography?  Graphic design or even just know how to mow a lawn? Airtasker can be a great place to do some odd jobs for people in your area on your own time. We logged on, made an account and within minutes applied to some listings for people hoping to have some proofreading done after an hour or so we had our first few jobs lined up and ready to go. There are a range of jobs listed daily so there is something for any skill set! One of the biggest downsides to Airtasker is some jobs can be quite competitive and Airtasker does take 20% of the money earned from new users. But if you have some extra time and want to make some extra cash it can be a great all-round platform to do it. 

Focus Groups

Focus groups can be a great way to earn some extra money on the side. And, best of all, you get to share your opinion on products and services while you do it. But what exactly are focus groups? In a nutshell, focus groups are usually small discussions that companies hold in order to get feedback on their products or services. The people who participate in focus groups are typically paid for their time and opinions. Often listed online and in Facebook groups and paying sometimes up to $150 for a 60-minute session, focus groups can be a great way to make some extra cash. However, it is important to note you do have to be at least 18 or older to participate. 

Content Creation

Do you have photography or videography skills and a flare for creativity, then content creation may be the side hustle for you. Not to be confused with influencing work content creation is when you get paid to make content for a brand without the need to post on your own social channels. This means you don't need to have a big social media following to do it. To get started all you need to do it create a mini portfolio of your skills then jump online and apply for content creation ads either through Seek, Facebook or even Airtasker. There are also a range of online platforms to connect brands and content creators such as The Right Fit and Tribe. 

Selling Chekis 

If you love cosplay and have a polaroid camera why not sell Chekis? Chekis are decorated polaroid pictures of you in cosplay! Often sold through Instagram or Facebook to friends, followers or fans Chekis can be a creative way to combine your passion for cosplay with your side hustle endeavours. To do this simply get into cosplay, take some polaroids, decorate and advertise on Instagram, Facebook or even Tik Tok!