My $400 side hustle plan that actually cost me $600 in the first month

I thought I had it all figured out last spring. I bought a used pressure washer off Facebook Marketplace for $150 and figured I'd make bank cleaning driveways and decks on weekends. Started telling my neighbors I'd do their patios for $50 each. First two jobs went fine but then the machine died on the third one and I had to buy a new wand and hose for $80. Then I realized I needed proper safety gear because bleach spray kept getting in my eyes so that was another $40. By the time I paid for gas driving around and bought a better nozzle set, I had spent $600 and only made back $400 from five jobs. The worst part is I still have three people on my street asking me to finish their driveways and I keep making excuses because I'm honestly too embarrassed to tell them I gave up. Has anyone else jumped into a side gig without actually checking the math first?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_rowan16d ago

$400 for five jobs doesn't sound that bad honestly.

laura_chen4116d ago

My cousin bought a whole set of car detailing supplies and then remembered he hates cleaning cars.

anna49114d ago

Got a buddy who did this exact thing. Spent like $300 on a clay bar kit, some fancy microfiber towels, a dual action polisher, the whole setup. Used it exactly once on his old Honda, realized he'd rather be fishing or literally anywhere else, and now the stuff just sits in his garage collecting dust next to his unused camping gear. Told me he'd rather pay someone $50 to do it than ever touch that clay bar again.