Four side gigs eased money stress and reshaped a product manager's plans

Jennifer Martinez, a 35-year-old product manager at an AI startup who has worked remotely since 2017, started side gigs to ease growing financial pressure. Prices had risen faster than her pay, and worries about layoffs and future job security pushed her to build a cushion while pursuing goals like homeownership and more travel.

Her first side hustle, dog-sitting, began two years ago and remains the largest earner. She keeps a dog at home about 20 to 25 days a month, charges about $65 per night, and brings in roughly $1,000 monthly on Rover. Beyond the money, the work has helped her meet neighbors, get outside for walks during long remote-work days, and combat loneliness.

Ceramics became a pandemic-era outlet. After taking a course and joining a studio, she began selling handmade snack plates on Etsy, moving about 15 plates at $60 each over the last year. She also shares her health- and wellness-focused side hustles on TikTok, and occasional product consulting inquiries on LinkedIn have earned a few hundred dollars here and there.

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