In recent years, an increasing number of Singaporeans have been motivated to kickstart their own ‘side hustles’, turning their passions into additional income streams and stretching beyond their 9-to-5 jobs. Increasing flexible hours and companies adapting to new work schedules have made freelancing and running side businesses increasingly feasible.
The Straits Times and CNA have recently spotlighted a variety of aspiring individuals like Muhammad Irfan Azman and Andrew Lim who have broken conventional work moulds and turned towards ‘serious leisure activities’. Here, we delve into their stories and the wider implications of this rising side hustle trend in Singapore.
Freelancing and Side Hustles: The New Normal?
Many Singaporeans have begun to favour flexible work schedules that lead to an improved work-life balance. With the rise of the gig economy, a myriad of opportunities have opened up for those willing to take the plunge. And, some Singaporeans, like Muhammad Irfan Azman, an 18-year-old polytechnic student studying computer engineering, are not wasting time seizing these flexible working options.
During weekends, Irfan trades his coding assignments for hair clippers and plays the role of a freelance barber. It’s a perfect example of young side hustles enabling individuals like Irfan to capitalise on their skills and passion outside of their regular occupations. And, interestingly, he isn’t alone in this trend.
A Mother’s Love: Transforming Obstacles into Opportunities
Oftentimes, it’s the lack of understanding in our traditional systems that spark the most profound innovations. Aine Wong, a mother of dyslexic sons, encountered just such a situation. Dissatisfied with the lack of attentiveness and understanding from swimming coaches towards her children’s needs, she decided to offer her own dyslexic swim lessons.
She stated, “A lot of people don’t understand dyslexic kids. If the teachers are not strong enough to capture their attention, they will not learn.” This was her driving force to take matters into her own hands and make a difference. Now, she’s not only making an impact on her children’s lives but contributing towards a bigger cause, potentially inspiring other swimming classes for dyslexics to follow her approach.
Channelling Grief into a Valuable Service
Side hustles sometimes originate in the most unexpected circumstances. Last year, Andrew Lim was faced with his father’s potential heart attack. It was a wake-up call, prompting him to conceive a unique venture called Apart.sg.
Andrew Lim began offering sentimental cremation rings, created using objects of sentimental value provided by clients, as a means to preserve the memories of their loved ones. Apart.sg embodies the value-added economy trend and epitomises how personal interests can be monetised, providing not just monetary, but emotional value to the economy.
The Personal and Economic Impacts of the Side Hustle Revolution
The growing acceptance of side gigs as legitimate income sources isn’t just about money—it’s about pursuing passion-based side hustles that bring satisfaction. For instance, Kenneth Tan, a freelance football writer, shares, “I don’t think of it as a job, I think of it as going to watch a football game and writing about it.”
Ambitious and passion-driven millennials are spearheading this revolution, leveraging available technology to create viable business models with relatively low entry barriers. This trend is reinforced by the pandemic, where many engaged in pandemic side hustles to diversify their income during the uncertain times. It highlights the resilience and creativity of the workforce in the face of adversity.
The economic ripple effects are promising as well. More than just creating added income, side hustles increase labour resources dedicated to economic activities, bringing additional value-added services to the economy and potentially stimulating local business ecosystems.
Finding Balance and Therapy in Unlikely Places
Affirming the concept of serious leisure activities, side hustles often offer therapeutic benefits too. As Haiqal Haffis, a home barber, put it, “It’s therapeutic for me because there is a methodology and steps that you have to go through. Outside of our job, everyone has a thing that pushes them—It’s an escape.” It’s not just about income—it’s about happiness, balance, fulfilment, and often, much-needed respite from one’s regular job.
This surge in side hustles—be it freelance barber services in Singapore, home-based barber services, or memorial cremation jewellery—is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Singaporeans in the face of changing economic landscapes.
What’s your side hustle? Do you find solace in turning your passions into opportunities? Share with us your unique ventures during these unparalleled times.
