Let’s be real—not every hustle hits.

With so many people trying to supplement their income, especially in high-cost places like Hawaiʻi, the hustle culture is strong. But for every successful gig, there’s one that flopped, fizzled, or flat-out drained your energy for little to no reward.

Today, we’re flipping the script and asking:

What side hustles have you tried that turned out to be a waste of time?

This post isn’t about discouraging the grind—it’s about learning from it.

🚫 Common Side Hustles That Didn’t Work for Everyone

Here are some examples people often say didn’t live up to the hype (though your mileage may vary):

1. 

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Schemes

High upfront costs, endless recruiting, and very little return. Many found themselves spending more than they earned.

2. 

Low-Paid Survey Sites

Spending hours answering questions for pennies? Many realized their time was worth more.

3. 

Dropshipping Without a Plan

It sounds passive, but without marketing, solid branding, or niche focus, most dropshipping stores never make a sale.

4. 

Trying Every Gig App at Once

Juggling Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, AND Rover? Burnout hits fast—especially if you’re not tracking expenses and mileage.

5. 

Print-on-Demand Without an Audience

Setting up a POD store is easy, but getting traction without a niche or loyal following can be tough.

🙋‍♀️ Why Talk About Side Hustle Fails?

Because the lessons are valuable.

• You learn what you enjoy (and what drains you)
• You get smarter with your time, money, and energy
• You discover what type of hustle fits your lifestyle, skills, and schedule
• You might even pivot into something better (some of the best businesses were born from failed side gigs!)

💬 Share Your Story

Which side hustle was a total bust for you—and why?

Did you learn something? Would you try it again differently?

We’d love to feature your story in an upcoming post.

📲 Drop your comments below or use the hashtag #HustleBabyHI to join the community conversation on social media.