If you read the previous post, you’ll have seen the rough roadmap for the year. January was meant to be the first gentle test of that idea. In reality, January did what January often does.
We were away for two and a half weeks — something we do every year. It’s brilliant, relaxing, and very needed. It’s also absolutely terrible for earning side hustle money. The whole premise of this project is about weaving micro-tasks into normal days. You simply can’t do that on holiday. And honestly, nor should you. Mental breaks matter, and I’m aware that having the ability to take them is a privilege.
January’s official task was upgrading surveys into market research. I tried both Prolific and Respondent. So far, both have yielded exactly nothing.
Prolific waitlisted me, then invited me to complete a slightly odd timed video interview. Respondent felt more promising at first, I completed the quick screeners, but nothing has materialised yet. There is learning here though. My background is fairly niche. I suspect these platforms work better for people in ICT, procurement, tech, and other “in-demand” sectors. That said, I’ve probably only put one or two hours of effort in so far. This is very much a “check back later” situation rather than a verdict.
Where the Energy Actually Went
Instead, much of January went into this blog and into learning more about social media. Partly out of interest, partly out of necessity. I failed a promotion process this month. While that stung, it’s also made me think carefully about how I market myself more generally. There’s real crossover between building a side project online and being more intentional about career visibility. That’s not something to underestimate.
I’m also at a crossroads career-wise, with limited time to plan my next move. That may mean sacrificing some “hustle time” to make sure I’m secure in that respect. Not everything can be optimized at once.
The One That Surprised Me
When I got back from holiday on the 20th, work hit like a truck. Unexpectedly though, Pokémon card sales also picked up.
Previously, I’d only listed higher-value cards. That little burst of sales motivated me to push on with a proper clear-out, especially bulk lots. While scanning cards marked for bulk sale, I found several of reasonable value. This discovery forced me to rethink my whole approach. I got through around 1,000 older-generation cards and listed a decent chunk. One day alone brought in £109 — a genuinely great start to the year.
I still have roughly 1,000 newer cards to sort, which feels motivating rather than overwhelming. Because this is also a hobby, I’ve started looking more deliberately at upcoming releases too. A word of warning if you explore this: Pokémon releases are heavily scalped. Research matters, and paying over value rarely ends well.
Quiet Wins Matter Most
Matched betting (the word I can’t use on social media) is getting harder, with diminishing returns. January brought in about £80, compared to £300–£400 previously, largely because I was away. Interestingly, the sites didn’t even work through a VPN. If I’d known that, I’d have parked the cash in my interest account instead. It might’ve earned 50p. Not exactly life-changing.
So In Summary
When I step back and total it up, January looks better than it felt at the time. eBay reselling brought in £190, interest and dividends added £22.05, cashback came to £84.17 (including the Santander incentives via TopCashback), and matched betting contributed £89.97. None of this happened evenly. Much of it arrived in short bursts rather than steady streams. Together, it reinforces why I keep doing this. These numbers aren’t headline-grabbing. Yet, they quietly shift your baseline over time. They cover costs, ease pressure, and create options. It was a month shaped by travel, rest, and a heavy return to work. That feels like a solid, honest start to the year.
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