Amid soaring living costs and increasing job pressures, more people are taking on side hustles alongside their full-time jobs. From jewelry design to creative writing, these ventures have become more than just a way to supplement income — they offer a path to pursue passions, explore creativity, and find renewed personal value.
According to online marketplace and finance site LendingTree, nearly 40 percent of Americans now have a side hustle, with more than 60 percent saying they couldn’t make ends meet without one. Similarly, in the U.K., research from banking retailer NatWest shows that 45 percent of Britons plan to start or expand a side hustle.
The trend is especially strong among women in their 30s and 40s. Many already have established careers and stable family lives, yet they choose to branch out into new territory. Motivations range from boosting financial security and preparing for the future, to filling what some call the “midlife gap” with new energy, to simply following curiosity and creative passions.
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From passion to action
Three women — Paulomi Debnath, Cassie Brooks, and Ivy Ngeow — have each carved their own niche in jewelry design, children’s literature, and novel writing. Their stories reveal not only the challenges and rewards of side hustles but also the broader search for self-expression and identity that resonates with so many modern women.
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For many, the hardest part of starting a side hustle is simply taking the leap.
Paulomi Debnath, 45, is a London-based mother and seasoned professional with more than two decades of experience in global event management. She had always been passionate about jewelry — collecting and styling pieces over the years — but never had the chance to pursue it seriously.
Making space for creativity
“When I turned 40, I decided it was finally time to honor my lifelong passion,” she recalls. At first, she had no business plan or blueprint — only enthusiasm. Inspired by her Indian heritage, her love of color, and her interest in traditional crafts like knotting and tassel making, she began experimenting with organic cotton cords.
Initially, she designed pieces for herself, but friends and colleagues soon asked to buy them. That spark then ignited her entrepreneurial journey.
In 2020, she founded her brand, Handmade by Tinni, and used the “forced pause” of the pandemic to focus deeply on her craft. “When the world slowed down, I was unexpectedly gifted time itself — to explore, to design, and to build,” says Paulomi.
