From Pokémon cards to a $10K month


Most side hustles don’t start with a big idea. They start small — sometimes almost by accident.

Aaron’s story is a good example. Like me, he grew up collecting Pokémon cards, later got deep into vintage watches, and started selling a few pieces from his own collection. No website. No ads. No plan to turn it into a business.

Over time, that turned into something real. In a strong month, his vintage watch side hustle has brought in around $10,000 — largely by using Instagram Stories, understanding condition, and knowing which watches actually sell (and which ones quietly kill margins).

We just published his full story, including:

  • How he sources watches today
  • Why most beginners buy the wrong inventory
  • How Instagram became his main sales channel
  • What surprised him most once the hobby turned into work

You can read it here:
https://dollarsprout.com/vintage-watch-flipping-side-hustle/

If you’ve ever wondered whether deep knowledge in a niche can turn into real income, this one’s worth your time.

— Ben

Co-Founder, DollarSprout

DollarSprout

We help everyday people earn more on their own terms. Since 2015, our team has tested hundreds of legit side hustles, small business ideas, and income apps to help readers boost their income and gain more financial freedom. Join our 200,000+ community and get proven, actionable ways to make extra money online or offline — no fluff, no hype.

Read more from DollarSprout
a couple sitting in front of a christmas tree with their new french bull dog puppy gift

Hey Reader, If you’re feeling a little late to the game, you’re not alone. Most of us aren’t “planning ahead” anymore. We’re finishing shopping, dealing with shipping cutoffs, and hoping January doesn’t come with too much credit-card regret. The good news: there are still a few last-minute ways to save real money on Christmas, even if you’ve already bought some gifts. Here are the ones that actually still work: Cancel or pause quiet subscriptions. This is the fastest win. Every year, I find...

Man securing a large red bow onto a new bicycle on a decorated front porch, preparing a Christmas gift.

Every year around this time, my household starts to feel the holiday squeeze. Gifts, travel, random school events, food… it all piles up faster than I’d like to admit. And because of that, I’ve unintentionally fallen into this routine where my income always spikes in November and early December — not from some grand plan, just from habit. For example: My Pokémon flipping side hustle always picks up. Collectors buy vintage packs as Christmas gifts, and demand pushes prices up on the singles...

Woman in a bright home studio packaging handmade products for shipment, with a laptop showing order and sales growth charts beside her.

Hey there, If you’ve ever felt like you’re working harder on your side hustle but not earning more… you’re not imagining it. We just published a breakdown I think every gig worker and online seller should read: 👉 Who Really Profits From the Side Hustle Economy?https://dollarsprout.com/who-profits-from-side-hustle-platforms/ Platforms like Fiverr, Uber, Etsy, Upwork — they’ve made it incredibly easy for people to earn. But once you dig into the fees, algorithms, promotions, and “visibility...