A 25-year-old from Westminster is earning up to £3,000 a month on top of his salary through his storage removal side hustle.
Fahim Kasru, who lives with his parents, was struggling to save money due to rising living costs. He first discovered Airtasker, a local services marketplace, when a friend hired someone from the platform to do their flooring.
Working in storage, Mr Kasru saw an opportunity to offer removal services through Airtasker, as many people needing storage also require removals.
He started using the app a year ago and now completes up to 20 tasks a week alongside his main job. These tasks include waste removal, transportation, storage services, and small repair jobs.
Mr Kasru told Express.co.uk: “When I found out about Airtasker I didn’t know what to expect. It was only when I started doing tasks that I saw the opportunity to make more money.
“I’ve got a good work ethic, if I’m not busy, I work. Some tasks can be really quick. For example, if I’m in the area, a task might take five to 10 minutes to complete and earn me £20, earning that in a short amount of time all adds up.”
Mr Kasru said he has earned £16,000 since starting a year ago, with monthly earnings ranging from £500 to £3,000.
The desire to start a “side hustle” is growing increasingly common among Britons. New research commissioned by Candle Shack found that around 45 percent of the population is looking to monetise their skills in activities like selling clothes, house or pet sitting, and setting up online shops.
Asked about the biggest benefits of taking on a side hustle, 25 percent of respondents said it creates greater financial breathing room, while 30 percent believe it provides a chance to earn money from a hobby. The same number of respondents (30 percent) said it provides extra money for ‘treats’.
And with this year’s UK Savings Week unveiling a startling 14 million people have less than £100 to fall back on, it’s clear why so many are turning to extra income streams.
Duncan Maclean, co-founder and CEO at Candle Shack, said: “The situation may be improving, but factors such as high inflation and the increased cost of living are still causing people to feel the pinch, and many are looking to new ways to bring in additional income.”
Since the pandemic, Mr Maclean said that his company has seen a “significant rise” in people turning to candle making as secondary and primary sources of income.
He added that some see it as a ‘second job’, with the new ease of setting up an e-commerce business “removing previously held barriers”.
For Mr Fahim, the ease of the app has helped him make money on the side that otherwise, he “would have struggled” to make, adding the venture has offered him “peace of mind” and “comfort in paying my bills”.
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