By: LaTrecia Doyle-Thaxton

As a stay-at-home wife, homeschooling mom, and resilient entrepreneur, I’ve dived into the world of side hustles headfirst.

Today, I’m here to share my journey with my fellow melaninated Empresses, teen moms, and all the incredible women striving for financial independence and positive change in their lives.

Especially if you are tired of seeing posts about side hustles time and again that never pan out.

Here are four tried and true side hustles that I have done and made money from to feed my family and invested in other opportunities because of:

1. Crafting a Success Story on Etsy

My first foray into side hustle was launching an Etsy store. Etsy is a vibrant marketplace for creative souls where unique, handcrafted items find their home. It started with beautiful ankh earrings to Afro-Boho-styled crafts, my store has been a canvas for my household creativity. The key to success here? Authenticity and understanding your niche market. Last year, I decided to mirror my book Fibromyalgia: Is Trying to Take Over My Life, but It Will Never Take My Coffee with pillows, coffee mugs, bags, t-shirts, and hoodies. This idea came to me as a lot of people may not be interested in reading an want to support or have fibromyalgia and love coffee!

2. The Joy of Crafting

Crafting isn’t just therapeutic; it’s profitable too. I turned my passion for crafting into a lucrative venture by creating and selling personalized journals, planners, notebooks, and stickers. The trick is to find your signature style and market it effectively on social platforms like Instagram and Facebook, where visual appeal drives engagement. I loved doing this. This is something I love to do, I love planners and make sure I purchase them as well as calendars every year, so creating them was definitely something I had no issue doing. I also created totes to match if the opportunity presented itself.  

3. The Power of Self-Publishing

As an author, I’ve embraced the world of self-publishing. Platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing have democratized the publishing industry, allowing indie authors to share their stories without traditional gatekeepers. The key is quality content, a captivating cover, and smart marketing strategies. It was here that I discovered that I was more than just a writer! I fell in love with Canva! I began to create my covers and content for marketing. This is a whole new niche in itself!

4. Navigating the World of Options Trading

Options trading was a game-changer for me. It’s not just for Wall Street experts; with the right strategy and education, anyone can start investing in stock options. Start with a solid understanding of the basics and a risk management strategy. Platforms like E*TRADE or Trading View offer user-friendly interfaces for beginners. I strongly suggest finding a mentor that would encourage waiting before trading and not just trying to get you to spend your hard-earned money. I was able to learn and earn money weekly.

Final Thoughts

Each of these side hustles has contributed to my goal of creating multiple income streams while managing life’s challenges. They’ve allowed me to blend my passions with profitability, and I believe they can do the same for you. Remember, the journey to financial independence is unique for everyone. Start small, stay consistent, and don’t be afraid to take that first step.

I hope that these words encourage someone today and if this has helped please sign up for for my email list to receive weekly updates from this blog.

Sending positive energy

Keywords: Profitable side hustles, Etsy success tips, Crafting for profit, Self-publishing, guide, Options trading for beginners, Financial independence, Entrepreneurial journey, Work from home ideas, Creating income streams, Empowerment through business