副業熱再一次卷土重來。
在最近一個涵蓋2300人的調查中,超過三分之一的美國受調成年人士向Bankrate透露自己正在從事副業。副業的收入也變得越來越高。2023年,主業之外的副業每月帶來了810美元的額外收入。今年,這個數字將增至891美元。
每個人在副業領域的參與度各不相同:男性在這方面的參與度要高于女性,年輕人則更有可能高于年長人士。(與在主業就業市場一樣,男性在副業中的收入亦高于女性;男性在副業中的平均月收入為1034美元,而女性為735美元。)
在這一方面,Z世代以大幅優勢領先:在18-27歲的受調對象中,近半數(48%)向Bankrate透露自己在從事副業。這一比例在X一代中僅有三分之一,嬰兒潮一代人更少,比例為四分之一。
可能并不讓人感到意外的是,各個年齡段和背景的員工依然在繼續通過其他渠道來掙錢花。畢竟,盡管令人痛苦的高位通脹出現過幾次小幅回落,但無論哪位總統候選人在11月當選,它在今年回歸正常的可能性甚小。
這意味著,像房租、汽油和食品這類生活必需品的基礎生活費用將繼續增長,有近半數勉強維持生計的美國員工可能會變得更加步履維艱。(Bankrate發現,父母從事副業的概率比非父母高得多。)
然而,Bankrate高級分析師泰德?羅斯曼對《財富》雜志說,受調對象實際上并沒有通過副業來支持其基本必需品開銷,而是將這些額外收入用于自主性支出,也就是購買非必需品。
近40%從事副業的受調對象稱,他們至少會將一部分額外收入用于自主性支出,比例緊隨其后的是正常生活開支。僅有31%的人稱,他們至少會將一部分額外收入存起來。僅有20%的人稱,他們會使用這些額外收入來還債。
非必需品開支謎題
可能這種隨賺隨花的習慣是員工們從事副業的動力。盡管如此,三分之一的副業從事者向Bankrate透露,他們有必要“一直”從事副業,這樣才能實現收支平衡。不過,他們似乎也意識到了其副業的不穩定性:僅有16%的人稱,他們倒是希望其副業成為其主要收入來源。
每個人都想賺更多的錢,但在過去,付諸行動人并沒有像現在這樣多。羅斯曼對《財富》雜志說:“2017年,僅有19%的美國民眾有副業,如今達到了36%。我們看到,大量的副業從事者是不得已而為之,他們覺得需要額外的收入來實現收支平衡。不過今年,大多數人稱,他們做副業是為了買自己想要的東西。”
以前并不總是這樣。羅斯曼指出,去年,必需品開支是副業收入的首要用途,而且去年的副業從業人數要略高于今年。
他還表示:“這個局面并不穩定。盡管經濟在表面上一直還不錯,但我卻略有不安,因為有這么多的人如今還需要從事副業。這一現象讓我對未來感到擔憂。”
羅斯曼隨后還提到了其他令人擔憂的數據:大多數家庭都處于月光狀態,而且大多數美國民眾連1000美元的費用都付不起。即便如此,羅斯曼稱,他希望“更多的人在未來能夠將[副業]賺來的錢用于儲蓄、投資和還債。”
為了進一步說明這個問題,羅斯曼表示,近半數的受調對象每個月都欠有上個月的信用卡債務。這些人要負擔25-30%的利息。與他們的處境形成鮮明對比的是,那些每個月還清賬務的人可以拿到返現獎勵、酒店積分和航空里程。他說:“這是一種非常系統化的現象。我倒是覺得,副業是解決信用卡債務的好方法。”
然而對于那些使用副業收入來購買新鞋或進行豪華旅行的人來說,此舉是否真的值得呢?人類最寶貴的資產就是時間,而像從事優步司機或Doordash送貨員這類工作每周會耗費不少的時間。
作為一種替代方法,人們可以徹底拒絕從事副業,不去花這個錢,并加大在儲蓄和投資方面的投入,這對于從事副業最多的年輕員工來說尤為適合。
德州休斯敦投資公司Sanders Morris董事長喬治?波爾對《財富》說:“早期存的錢在今后會變成巨額財富。”波爾鼓勵年輕人將收入的10-20%用于投資,哪怕此舉會讓其感到手頭拮據。“如果投資的錢需要靠副業來掙,那么從事副業也是值得的。今天投下的一美元將成為數十年后舒適生活的保障。”
內布拉斯加Bellwether Wealth公司總裁兼首席投資官克拉克?貝林同意上述觀點,稱應將10%的收入用于投資。貝林對《財富》雜志說:“即便人們一開始每個月只能省出50美元,這比等到30或40多歲才開始投資要更好。從長遠來看,投資回報或將相當驚人。因此,如果只有在從事副業之后才能有錢盡早進行投資,那么在20多歲就開始從事副業也是值得的。”(財富中文網)
譯者:馮豐
審校:夏林
副業熱再一次卷土重來。
在最近一個涵蓋2300人的調查中,超過三分之一的美國受調成年人士向Bankrate透露自己正在從事副業。副業的收入也變得越來越高。2023年,主業之外的副業每月帶來了810美元的額外收入。今年,這個數字將增至891美元。
每個人在副業領域的參與度各不相同:男性在這方面的參與度要高于女性,年輕人則更有可能高于年長人士。(與在主業就業市場一樣,男性在副業中的收入亦高于女性;男性在副業中的平均月收入為1034美元,而女性為735美元。)
在這一方面,Z世代以大幅優勢領先:在18-27歲的受調對象中,近半數(48%)向Bankrate透露自己在從事副業。這一比例在X一代中僅有三分之一,嬰兒潮一代人更少,比例為四分之一。
可能并不讓人感到意外的是,各個年齡段和背景的員工依然在繼續通過其他渠道來掙錢花。畢竟,盡管令人痛苦的高位通脹出現過幾次小幅回落,但無論哪位總統候選人在11月當選,它在今年回歸正常的可能性甚小。
這意味著,像房租、汽油和食品這類生活必需品的基礎生活費用將繼續增長,有近半數勉強維持生計的美國員工可能會變得更加步履維艱。(Bankrate發現,父母從事副業的概率比非父母高得多。)
然而,Bankrate高級分析師泰德?羅斯曼對《財富》雜志說,受調對象實際上并沒有通過副業來支持其基本必需品開銷,而是將這些額外收入用于自主性支出,也就是購買非必需品。
近40%從事副業的受調對象稱,他們至少會將一部分額外收入用于自主性支出,比例緊隨其后的是正常生活開支。僅有31%的人稱,他們至少會將一部分額外收入存起來。僅有20%的人稱,他們會使用這些額外收入來還債。
非必需品開支謎題
可能這種隨賺隨花的習慣是員工們從事副業的動力。盡管如此,三分之一的副業從事者向Bankrate透露,他們有必要“一直”從事副業,這樣才能實現收支平衡。不過,他們似乎也意識到了其副業的不穩定性:僅有16%的人稱,他們倒是希望其副業成為其主要收入來源。
每個人都想賺更多的錢,但在過去,付諸行動人并沒有像現在這樣多。羅斯曼對《財富》雜志說:“2017年,僅有19%的美國民眾有副業,如今達到了36%。我們看到,大量的副業從事者是不得已而為之,他們覺得需要額外的收入來實現收支平衡。不過今年,大多數人稱,他們做副業是為了買自己想要的東西。”
以前并不總是這樣。羅斯曼指出,去年,必需品開支是副業收入的首要用途,而且去年的副業從業人數要略高于今年。
他還表示:“這個局面并不穩定。盡管經濟在表面上一直還不錯,但我卻略有不安,因為有這么多的人如今還需要從事副業。這一現象讓我對未來感到擔憂。”
羅斯曼隨后還提到了其他令人擔憂的數據:大多數家庭都處于月光狀態,而且大多數美國民眾連1000美元的費用都付不起。即便如此,羅斯曼稱,他希望“更多的人在未來能夠將[副業]賺來的錢用于儲蓄、投資和還債。”
為了進一步說明這個問題,羅斯曼表示,近半數的受調對象每個月都欠有上個月的信用卡債務。這些人要負擔25-30%的利息。與他們的處境形成鮮明對比的是,那些每個月還清賬務的人可以拿到返現獎勵、酒店積分和航空里程。他說:“這是一種非常系統化的現象。我倒是覺得,副業是解決信用卡債務的好方法。”
然而對于那些使用副業收入來購買新鞋或進行豪華旅行的人來說,此舉是否真的值得呢?人類最寶貴的資產就是時間,而像從事優步司機或Doordash送貨員這類工作每周會耗費不少的時間。
作為一種替代方法,人們可以徹底拒絕從事副業,不去花這個錢,并加大在儲蓄和投資方面的投入,這對于從事副業最多的年輕員工來說尤為適合。
德州休斯敦投資公司Sanders Morris董事長喬治?波爾對《財富》說:“早期存的錢在今后會變成巨額財富。”波爾鼓勵年輕人將收入的10-20%用于投資,哪怕此舉會讓其感到手頭拮據。“如果投資的錢需要靠副業來掙,那么從事副業也是值得的。今天投下的一美元將成為數十年后舒適生活的保障。”
內布拉斯加Bellwether Wealth公司總裁兼首席投資官克拉克?貝林同意上述觀點,稱應將10%的收入用于投資。貝林對《財富》雜志說:“即便人們一開始每個月只能省出50美元,這比等到30或40多歲才開始投資要更好。從長遠來看,投資回報或將相當驚人。因此,如果只有在從事副業之后才能有錢盡早進行投資,那么在20多歲就開始從事副業也是值得的。”(財富中文網)
譯者:馮豐
審校:夏林
The hustle is back in style.
In a recent 2,300-person survey, more than one in three U.S. adult respondents (36%) told Bankrate they have a side hustle. The side-hustle craze is only becoming more lucrative. In 2023, extra work aside from one’s primary income resulted in an extra $810 per month; this year, it’s up to $891.
Not everyone is equally invested in the practice: Men are bigger side hustlers than women, and younger workers are more likely to side hustle than older folks. (Men also outearn women in side hustles, as they do in the primary job market; the average male side hustler earns $1,034 per month, while women $735 on average.)
By a wide margin, Gen Zers are leading the pack: Nearly half (48%) of 18- to 27-year-old respondents told Bankrate they have a side hustle. Just a third of Gen Xers said the same—and fewer than 1 in 4 boomers.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that workers of all ages and backgrounds are continually invested in extra avenues for spending money. After all, despite tiny dips, painstakingly high inflation is set to remain stubborn this year—regardless of which presidential candidate is elected in November.
That means the price of basic cost-of-living essentials like rent, gas, and groceries will continue to shock, and respite for the roughly half of American workers living paycheck-to-paycheck may remain ever further off. (Parents were markedly more likely to report having a side hustle than non-parents, Bankrate found.)
However, Ted Rossman, a senior analyst at Bankrate, told Fortune that respondents aren’t actually using their side hustles to support their basic necessities. Rather, they’re using the extra cash for discretionary purposes—shopping for non-essentials.
Almost 40% of respondents with a side hustle said they use at least some of their extra earnings to fund their discretionary spending. Close behind was regular living expenses, and only 31% said they save at least some of their side-hustle money. Only 1 in 5 hustlers say they’re using their extra cash to pay down debt.
The non-essential spending conundrum
Perhaps that habit of spending right away is what’s keeping workers working so much. All told, about a third of side hustlers told Bankrate they expect they’ll “always” need to have a gig on the side in order to make ends meet. But they also seem to recognize the precarity of their position: Only 16% said they actually want their side hustle to become their primary source of income.
Everyone wants more money, but the efforts haven’t always been this widespread. In 2017, only 19% of Americans had a side hustle, compared to today’s 36%, Bankrate senior analyst Ted Rossman told Fortune. “We see a lot of people doing this out of necessity, feeling they need extra income to make ends meet,” he said. “But this year, most people said they were doing it for discretionary money.”
That’s not always been the case. Last year, essential spending was the number-one use of side hustle earnings—and last year there was slightly more side hustling going on than this year, Rossman pointed out.
“It’s a tenuous situation,” he added. “Even though, on the face of it, the economy has been good, i do worry a bit if this many people need a side hustle now. It makes me worried for the future.”
Rossman then rattled off other concerning stats: The majority of households live paycheck-to-paycheck, and most Americans couldn’t pay for a surprise $1,000 charge. Even so, Rossman said he wishes “more people were getting ahead, using this [side hustle] money for savings and investments and debt payoff.”
To illustrate the problem, Rossman noted how half of people carry a credit-card balance from month to month. Those people, saddled with a 25% or 30% interest rate, are in a starkly different boat than those who pay off their bill each month and reap the rewards in cash back, hotel points, or airline miles. “That can be very systemic,” he said. “And I actually think a side hustle is a great way to fix credit-card debt.”
But for those who use their side-hustle earnings to buy new shoes or take a fancy trip, is the juice worth the squeeze? The most valuable asset humans have is time—and side hustles like driving for Uber or delivering for DoorDash can take hours each week.
Perhaps an alternative would be to nix the side hustle altogether, forgo the spending, and double down on saving and investing—an especially good choice for the younger workers who side hustle the most.
“Money saved early becomes a mountain of money later,” George Ball, chairman of Sanders Morris, a Houston, Texas-based investment firm, told Fortune. Ball encourages young workers to save between 10% and 20% of their earnings for investments—even if they feel the squeeze. “If it takes a side hustle to stash away that much cash to invest, it’s worth it. A dollar invested today becomes a comfortable lifestyle in the decades to come.”
Clark Bellin, president and chief investment officer of Nebraska-based Bellwether Wealth, said the same, down to the 10% savings benchmark. “Even if you can only set aside $50 per month at first, that’s better than delaying your investing journey until your 30s and 40s,” Bellin told Fortune. “Investing returns can be so powerful over long periods of time, that it does justify working a side job in your twenties if that’s what it takes for you to be able to start investing early on.”