Yeah, it's been a while, and lately, my time is tighter than ever. However, if you're like me, there's always time to bargain shop or realize there's always a money corner worth cutting. And since I'm a gal, this skill is especially important since women have the unfair stereotype of being big or careless spenders.
The Scenario
I'm part of a family that believes in holding onto things until the wheels literally fall off. Cars are first on this list, and one of the spare cars needed a battery jump after sitting for a few months. My initial logic is to restart my AAA membership since I'm pretty much the only one in my family who drives regularly.
So, because I've been away and sharing membership with family members for the past couple of years, I gotta start from scratch. No deals to be found, but OK. So, after paying nearly $80 and printing proof of membership, I got a rather unpleasant surprise when I tried to schedule a battery jump the same day.
It's an additional $125 for a jump. Or wait 2-3 business days for payment processing. Bummer.
The Solution
Since I've been battling some slightly deep-rooted anger issues over the past year, I take a deep breath and realize everyone has to make money. Including greedy corporations who love to take hard-earned consumer bread before wondering if their services really live up to the hype. So, no hatred in my heart here.
However, I had to go into hood mentality. While the family mechanic is in the hood, they like to charge an arm and leg because they offer "complimentary" Uber services. I didn't know many places nearby, so off to Yelp I went.
The Relief
After setting up an alert, I got a few prospects in seconds. While the worst operation wanted less than $100, I managed to find someone for less than half the price. While he wasn't perfect (as in late), it gave me a thought.
Upon seeing his late model (yet low-end) sports car whiz around the corner, I'm amazed when I see this guy with a battery charger in his hand. Mfreaking genius. He gets the car going and leaves with cash in hand less than 15 minutes later.
The Side Hustle Idea
This car charging battery device costs around $30. Placing an ad on Yelp is free, but they use the cost-per-click (CPC) business model, which, if you offer a valuable service, pays for itself. Four-color business cards can run as little as $25. Throw in other mobile services like tire repair/replacement or auto detailing, and you can start a flexible, low-entry side hustle for probably less than $200
The Side Hustle Disclaimer
Now, I know little about cars, but I'm fairly certain there's a way to test the waters without doing the whole paperwork trail. If you're creative, you could probably list this as a hobby for profit on your taxes. Otherwise, if you think a roadside assistance business is for you, this could be a nice entry point.
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