Side Stepping the Hustle

Everyone has a side hustle these days. It's doing the thing you're passionate about, after you come home from your day job. Instead of your nine to five, it's your five to nine. The little something on the side. For the most successful of hustlers, the side gig becomes their main gig. And maybe, it even results in more money...along with the additional autonomy, fulfillment, and whole days spent in yoga pants and flip flops.

So when I look at my income and realize how little of it is "on the side", I feel a little left out. Just like in high school, I never got the invite to the party, and don't know what to do with myself after five on a Friday night.

Dunning-Kruger and Other People's Money

When it comes to other people's problems (O.P.P.), I'm always an expert. When a friend is flummoxed over a new job offer, and whether he should stay put or jump ship, I can give cogent advice on the spot. Unsure how to deal with a family issue? Ask away. I've got you covered. And when it comes to money, it's a whole 'nother ballgame. Despite having no formal training or certifications whatsoever, I'm happy to opine on all sorts of financial matters. With anyone. Strangers, even. At length.

Why should I be so confident when helping with other people's problems? For one, because we all are pretty confident in those situations. It's always easier to see the clear answer to someone else's problems. They can't see the forest for the trees, but we can. They're working under a variety of biases, and often don't realize it. But we, their trusted friends and advisors, see them clearly and can guide them to an optimal solution.

Middle Class Wealth

Last week we took a peek at income quintiles for American households: if you lined up each American household from richest to poorest, and broke them into fifths. The results were fairly shocking for me. The main lesson? We could really benefit from earning more. Sixty percent of U.S. households are making less than $66k per year.

Luckily, a lot of Done by Forty readers are doing better. Let's take a look at the poll results: