Hey there, automation lovers!
I’m crammed into this tiny apartment. Coffee mugs stacked high. My desk a mess of tabs and tools. Muffin the cat giving me that “set it and forget it” approving stare while I chug my brew to stay sharp.
For months, I’ve been chasing extra cash. But daily grind? No thanks.
I wanted digital side hustles that run mostly on automation. Set up once. Let tech do the work. Earn while I sleep (or binge shows).
Especially after a curry spill turned my counter into chaos (Muffin zooming like he’d won the lottery), I was ready for hands-off money.
This is my real, unpolished story. No “daily posting” hype. Just me, my automated experiments, and a cat who loves the quiet earnings.
Let’s dive in!
Before: The Manual Hustle Burn
I’m slumped at my desk. Light sneaking through my tiny balcony window. Staring at failed hustle tabs.
I tried freelancing. Blogging. Social media management.
All needed constant input. Daily posts. Client replies. Endless tweaks.
Life got busy. I paused. Progress died.
Earnings stopped the moment I stopped working.
I felt trapped. Wanting income. Hating the tether.
Spicy curries and lazy snacks fueled late nights. But wallet stayed flat.
Manual hustles demanded manual time.
I needed digital ones that automate. Run themselves. Forgive breaks.
My goal? Test mostly-automated side hustles. Earn passively. Reclaim my time.
Muffin curled up beside me. Eyeing me like a fail reel. I grabbed my laptop and started building systems.
Could this actually run without me?
The Automation Plan
These hustles are 80%+ automated. Setup heavy. Maintenance light.
I tested seven ideas. Initial work. Then mostly hands-off.
Startup cost? Under $100 for most.
I ditched daily-touch plans. Focused on self-running ones.
Here’s what I built:
1. Etsy Digital Downloads
Created planners, worksheets in Canva. Uploaded listings. Automated delivery. Sales ping my phone.
2. Print-on-Demand Store
Designed tees/mugs in Canva. Uploaded to Printful/Redbubble. Platforms print, ship, pay me.
3. Stock Content Empire
Shot phone photos/videos in batches. Uploaded to Shutterstock, Adobe Stock. Royalties auto-deposit.
4. Evergreen Affiliate Blog
Wrote timeless posts on free WordPress. Added Amazon links. SEO + pins drive traffic forever.
5. Automated Pinterest Traffic
Pinned evergreen content to The Digital Hustle Hub. Tailwind scheduled pins. Affiliate clicks roll in.
6. YouTube Evergreen Channel
Made “how-to” videos with screen record (no face). Optimized titles. Ads run automatically.
7. Gumroad Digital Products
Bundled ebooks/templates. Uploaded once. Gumroad handles sales, delivery, payouts.
I built in bursts. Dodging Muffin’s paws on the keyboard. Designed when inspired. Set automation and stepped back.
That curry spill? I cut takeout to fund tools. Let systems run—mostly.
Muffin purred during downtime—automation cat!
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Setup notes. Passive checks. Napkin earnings.
Week 1: Heavy Setup
Etsy listings created. 10 products live.
Stock batch of 50 photos uploaded.
Pinterest boards filled. Tailwind scheduled.
Score: 3.5 to 5/10. Work intense.
Week 2: First Automation
Etsy sold 4 downloads—$28 passive.
Redbubble royalty $12.
YouTube video hit 500 views. $5 ads.
Score: 5.5 to 6/10. Earnings while resting.
Week 3: Hands-Off Test
Took a full week off—no touch.
Still earned $45 from old content.
Blog post ranked. $18 affiliate.
Score: 6.5 to 7/10. Proof it runs alone.
Week 4: Automation Win
Resumed with new batch. Combined $220+.
Old stuff kept paying.
Score: 7.5 to 8.5/10.
Month end: Systems running mostly solo.
My Take: Wins, Woes, Tips
Not instant riches. But automated money worth the front-load.
Wins
- Mostly hands-off: Life interruptions didn’t stop earnings.
- Real cash: $220+ with minimal maintenance.
- Scalable quiet: Add once, earn forever.
Woes
- Setup grind: First weeks heavy.
- Approval delays: Stock sites slow.
- Distractions: Muffin knocked laptop during builds.
Tips
- Front-load hard: Create batches.
- Use auto-tools: Tailwind, Printful.
- Track passive: Napkin notes show magic.
- Diversify: Multiple streams survive dips.
- Be patient: Momentum builds over months.
MVPs? Etsy downloads and stock content—true automation kings.
Wallet fuller—systems running while I chill.
The Real Bit
Manual hustles tie income to time. Automated ones tie it to setup.
Heavy start. Light forever.
Consistency isn’t daily—it’s building systems.
Automated assets can add $200-800 monthly with low touch—my bank agrees!
Twists, Flops, Muffin Madness
Wild ride. Curry spill? Muffin knocked my mouse. Cleaned up grumbling.
Flops: Long approval waits (boredom!). Zero during full off-week.
Wins: Built with niece—her laughs made it fun.
Muffin’s nap on laptop added chaos and cuddles—my automation buddy?
Aftermath: Worth It?
Month on, income steady on autopilot.
Habits forgive my life. No daily chain.
Not perfect—setup fatigue real—but systems run.
Low startup, mostly automated. Beats constant grinding.
Want hands-off cash? Try it. Start with Etsy or stock.
What’s your automated hustle? Drop ideas or flops below—I’m all ears!
Let’s keep the cash coming—on autopilot!