Ask HN: Income on the Side?

#1

Post by dryicerx » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 4:31 AM UTC

What do you guys do for income on the side?

I am devoting my entire time working on a startup (bootstrapped so no income yet), and completely living off savings, I am sure a few others here have done the same.

I'll start. I usually aim at very low time commitment tasks.

  Photo shoots for people (just with a simple dSLR)
  Fix Computers/Networks and IT guys for local businesses.

Share your ways, helping your fellow HNers ease their bank drain.

Re: Ask HN: Income on the Side?

#2

Post by redorb » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 4:42 AM UTC

design a few websites and help local business's get found on the web - more "best practices" that others are selling under the name SEO - which is starting to make me feel dirty.

Re: Ask HN: Income on the Side?

#3

Post by secos » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 4:56 AM UTC

I also do basic IT work, but try to keep more to development oriented work. So, small-medium projects are my ideal.

Re: Ask HN: Income on the Side?

#4

Post by pxlpshr » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 5:03 AM UTC

iPhone apps and consulting work.

From a boot-strappers perspective, I had hoped for more sustainability from iphone sales, but we make far more building apps for other people (for cold-hard cash) than we do from our product sales. Nevertheless, it's a nice global gumball machine that we're participating in. Hopefully AppStore makes some much-needed changes in the near future.

Animosity aside, I'm still very bull about the mobile market. You can build it and put it out there for nothing.

Lastly, MEANINGFUL income on the side == full time job. Sorry to break it to you but there are no shortcuts outside of luck (or perseverance).

Re: Ask HN: Income on the Side?

#5

Post by quellhorst » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 5:11 AM UTC

I do Ruby On Rails and internet marketing/seo on the side.

Re: Ask HN: Income on the Side?

#6

Post by timwiseman » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 5:14 AM UTC

I write articles about SQL Server. The pay is minimal but the practice writing and solidifying what I think I know is far more valuable to me than the income.

Re: Ask HN: Income on the Side?

#7

Post by cliffdickerson » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 5:17 AM UTC

This strikes me as slightly funny/ironic. As a sysadmin/IT person I do small programing jobs for side cash. :) When possible I try not to contribute spaghetti into the wild.

Re: Ask HN: Income on the Side?

#8

Post by PStamatiou » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 5:39 AM UTC

I write articles (about various tech) on my blog, albeit my startup has definitely decreased my rate. Used to post stuff everyday, now its more along the lines of every 3-6 days, but with much more substantial articles. Obviously, I have some ads on there. Pays the rent, utilities and most of my health insurance.

Supposed to be doing consulting for a local ISP for 5-10 hours per week sooner or later, just waiting on their CTO to get back to me.

Re: Ask HN: Income on the Side?

#9

Post by cperciva » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 5:41 AM UTC

I occasionally do FreeBSD / security / cryptography / algorithms consulting; it doesn't make much money, but I find that it's worthwhile just for the sake of helping keep me aware of what's going on in the world around me (if I'm interested in something and not too busy, I'll normally offer to spend an hour or two listening to people and throwing out ideas for free).

It's not really about easing the bank drain, though -- I take consulting work when it comes up, but I don't chase after it.

Re: Ask HN: Income on the Side?

#10

Post by quizbiz » Fri, Jul 31, 2009, 5:47 AM UTC

   - adsense
   - istockphoto & shutterstock
   - freelance  web design / consulting