Looking for an extra income in the comfort of your home? 💸
Would you believe me if I said you can earn using your phone or laptop?
Can you imagine yourself receiving a sales notification on a random evening while sipping a warm coffee?
It sounds TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE until they become your reality.
This is not a pyramid scheme.
Definitely not an overnight success.
No AI, prompts or whatsoever.
Just pure creativity, hard work, consistency and effective social media marketing.
I started posting content in 2019 and became a freelancer in mid-2022.
Ever since then, my life has changed in 180°. No jokes!
I worked with popular brands such as CapCut, Wondershare Filmora, Canva and Notion featured my account on its YouTube channel in 2024!
My profile was mentioned at 3:19. You can watch the video here.
Who would have thought that a random 20-something INFJ-coded daydreamer like me who makes ✨ creative content ✨ online would get noticed by these BIG brands, right!?
But before I start blabbering about my freelancing life with so much enthusiasm in this blog post…
Here are 4 legit side hustles you should try at home:
- Digital Products
I see this suggestion a lot on social media, whether that’s on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram or Facebook.
But I never believed it.
I mean, it felt time-consuming and extra effort was required for marketing.
Not until I launched three FREE Notion templates on my Gumroad shop in October 2023.
I expected donations based on an e-book I read.
LOL.
Then, I went on a hiatus for a while out of discouragement when I didn’t get any…
In the meantime, I focused on my freelance work as a video editor and graphic designer.
Scrolling through X (former Twitter)…
I realized I wasn’t getting any sales like other Notion template creators.
Some were earning $15 or $25 per template.
Meanwhile, my brand was unknown, with fewer than 100 followers.
Until 2 months later, my freebie received a donation on a cold late-December.
My jaw dropped.
I stared at the sales notification on my phone in awe. “Someone donated $10 to my free Goals Tracker!?”
That moment altered my brain chemistry.
I’m not even joking!
Whoever you are… (I’m gonna look through my old emails to find your name!)
You changed my perspective about digital products and gave me hope to continue marketing my Gumroad shop…
…Especially when I needed it the most at that time.
Awww 🥹
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, supportive hooman! 🫶
✨ Your generosity just changed someone’s life. ✨
Okay, going back…
3 days later, I launched my first $5 Life Planner Notion template in early January 2024 and promoted it on Facebook groups.
Then BOOM. 🤯
My sales notification kept coming in.
In one month, I made $75.
It’s not that much but it’s nothing either, it was PROOF that you can make money online.
Of course, LEGALLY.
3 years later and my community is still growing.
My free/paid Notion and Canva templates gained 30k+ organic downloads on Gumroad with positive feedback.
I also passed the Notion Essentials Exam this year. 🎉
I’ll talk about this on a different blog!
Also, surprisingly?
I make $700+ from digital products per month without ADS.
Now, I have happy clients from across the world who pay me $70 to create Notion dashboards for their business.
Sometimes, I even get an extra tip!
Unexpectedly, my TikTok grew from 0 to 11k followers and I even collaborated with Canva last year!
My biggest takeaway…
As long as you provide valuable content to your community, good things come back to you three times.
2. Freelance Service
As a digital creator, I never thought that I would get custom Notion dashboard orders.
Imagine doom-scrolling on your phone and a notification randomly pops up…
You realize that a potential client is asking if you can create custom dashboards or Canva designs for them.
Since you love your job so much, you immediately negotiate and receive an upfront payment.
BOOM.
CLIENT SECURED.
But how do I attract clients?
Simple.
I create Canva and Notion tutorials on TikTok and cross-post my content on Instagram, YouTube and Threads.
I’m basically everywhere.
Definitely not someone with massive popularity where my face is printed on every billboard. Haha!
But a creator who consistently posts videos on social media with a specific niche and consistent branding.
Do I cross-post my videos?
YES.
Each platform generates a different number of views, engagements and traffic.
In short, a video might get 700k views on TikTok… but only get 20k views on YouTube Shorts.
Or vice versa.
Here’s a formula I follow:
Online Visibility + Valuable Content = More Opportunities 🤩
Some of my clients come from my:
- Etsy Shop
- Threads
- TikTok
- YouTube
It really depends.
They either send me a DM or an email.
However…
Being a freelancer has CONS and PROS.
Sure, all you need is skills and proper marketing of your portfolio to attract clients.
But that means that SOME people might also think you have a suspicious work, especially if your life started leveling up with a new house, car or whatever! 😆
Imagine earning US dollars inside your bedroom with a laptop.
Their minds would go, “WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY DO FOR A LIVING!?”
As if you just committed a mortal sin. Haha!
Little do they know, you’re actually designing Notion dashboards, Canva layouts, posting creative tutorials or working with popular brands as a content creator.
But that’s alright!
It means that the industry still has so much opportunities in 2026.
IMAGINE…
20 years later, everyone is doing freelance work—your neighbors, 9-5 co-workers, exes, etc.
It would be harder to find clients.
So, what are you waiting for?
Before it becomes the norm, you might as well start freelancing as early as today!
3. YouTube AdSense Monetization
It was a warm summer in July 2019 before another school year started when…
I found myself watching an MCR lyric video on YouTube after watching Umbrella Academy Seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix
My cousin recommended that show to me and surprisingly, I liked it!
Until I stumbled on an aesthetic lyric video with millions of views as a curious 18-year-old-semi-emo-gurlie-pop.
If I can still remember it clearly…
It had aesthetic rose bushes and a blue sky background image… possibly from Pinterest. 🥀
In my head, I was screaming maniacally, “What if I start a YouTube channel?!”
Ever since that day, I have been posting videos for fun.
From 0 view… I hit my first 100 views.
Unfortunately, my lyric videos got copyrighted (which I already expected), so I switched to aesthetic app and game recommendations.
Until I got monetized in October 2020.
I got my first $100 paycheck in February after receiving the Google AdSense code, mailed to my address within 3-4 months to verify my account.
During the pandemic, one of my videos hit 1 million views and my channel gained 50k+ subscribers.
Most of my content got thousands of views and hundreds of comments from my very supportive viewers.
In 2026, I promised myself I’d revive my YouTube channel by posting niche-related videos again.
One of my recent tutorials seems to be doing well… a popular brand I’ve worked with before even emailed me!
They paid me to put their software link in my description box.
*Cha-Ching!*
Surprisingly, my revenue has increased lately and I got my $100 YouTube payout!
It’s not that much but I’d say it’s a good side hustle along with my business and freelance creative projects.
If you like content creation, start monetizing your videos on YouTube!
4. Collaborations
This is one of the best.
Honestly.
My collaborations are usually short-term but the payments are givinggg 💅
During the pandemic, my YouTube channel was active.
I’ve worked with brands such as:
- Doratoon
- Wondershare Anireel
- Wondershare DemoCreator
- Wondershare Filmora
- And many more!
For a dedicated review video that’s 5 minutes long (I didn’t even have to film myself, just screen recordings!)… I’d usually get paid $150 via PayPal.
As a girl who simply loved creative content creation, it was a BIG DEAL to me.
It mattered more than any flowery words I could say in all of my blog posts combined.
Last year?
Canva reached out to me and paid me $XXX to use my viral tutorial on TikTok to use it ADS on their platforms.
Sometimes, you receive FREE gifts too!
As part of the Canvassador program, Canva sent me this gift last year!
I received a brand-new Kodak digital camera along with other Canva goodies! 🥹💖
My heart was so happy because earlier that year, I wanted to purchase a second-hand digital camera and thought it was too expensive.
But I got one for FREE from Canva!
Yes, CANVA!
The GOATED graphic design software we all know. 🤩
Please excuse my Gen-Z slang language. I know I sound corny. Hehe.
In 2024, I received a gift from BRIXITY to promote their mobile game!
That game was developed by the DEVSISTERS Corp.
Yes, the Korean company that created the mobile game COOKIE RUN!
It’s available on the App Store and the Play Store for free. You should try it! 🫶
ALSO…
Want to pursue content creation this year?
TAKE THIS AS YOUR SIGN, DIVA! ✨
Don’t hesitate.
My content is faceless as an INFJ since I’m not a lifestyle creator.
I started in 2019.
It’s been like 7 years already.
Most of my content is Canva, Notion, CapCut and Filmora tutorials.
But I’m genuinely happy to be noticed by my favorite brands!
Imagine the possible opportunities if you start creating niche-based content.
It can change your life and lead you to unexpected job opportunities.
Imagine the different possibilities…
Since you reached the end of this blog post, which side hustle would you like to try in 2026? 🧚
Let me know in the comments section.
Got questions in mind, send me an email: gracedigitalss.co@gmail.com
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