Just a few years ago, many people thought I was crazy for leaving my day job as a financial analyst to pursue my blogging side hustle full-time. At the time, most saw my side project as a hobby rather than a legitimate business. Some questioned the security of my decision, wondering why I would leave a stable career I had prepared for in college. I understood their concerns — becoming a full-time blogger was an unconventional path that most people didn’t fully understand.
Back then, the idea of making a living online was unfamiliar to many, which led to confusion, skepticism, and unsolicited financial advice from coworkers and supervisors. I did have a great job: good pay, benefits, and a generous annual bonus. I could have stayed there indefinitely. But the truth was, the work was slowly killing my enthusiasm for life. I wasn’t simply indifferent — I dreaded going in each day and felt increasingly unhappy and stressed.
This post isn’t meant to convince everyone to quit their job and start blogging. Instead, it’s about recognizing when your current situation isn’t working and taking steps to improve your life. I once believed that unhappiness and stress were just part of adulthood. I learned they don’t have to be.
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How I knew it was time to leave my day job and focus on my side hustle full-time
I believed in my side hustle business.
I started Making Sense of Cents almost six years ago. Since then my blog has generated significant income — more than $2,000,000 overall and over $1,000,000 in a single year. But it didn’t start that way. I launched the blog on a whim after reading about personal finance in a magazine. It began as a hobby to track my finances and find a supportive community; I had no plans to monetize it and didn’t even know people could earn money blogging.
After a few months, a friend in the blogging community connected me with an advertiser and I earned my first $100. That small win sparked my curiosity and set me on a path to learn how to make extra money online. By the summer of 2012, roughly a year after starting, I was earning about $1,000 per month. A year later, that number rose to around $10,000 monthly — and that’s when I decided to quit my job and blog full-time. I knew being a business owner involves unpredictable challenges, but I believed in the potential of my side hustle to grow.
My side hustle income eventually surpassed my day job salary.
When my side income exceeded my day job pay, my motivation for the latter vanished. Balancing both roles had left me exhausted — at times I was working more than 100 hours a week. I realized I couldn’t sustain that pace and had to choose. I chose Making Sense of Cents.
I enjoyed my side hustle.
Before I discovered blogging, I never imagined I would enjoy it so much. Over the years, writing, helping others with their finances, and connecting with readers became deeply rewarding work. Waking up excited to work replaced the dread I used to feel on Sunday nights. Blogging offered ongoing challenges and learning opportunities, and I genuinely looked forward to each day.
I was able to help others.
As my blog grew, so did my ability to help readers. My content offered practical ideas for improving finances, managing life, and finding ways to earn extra income. Over the years I received many heartfelt messages from readers whose lives improved because of my posts. That feedback made the hard work worth it.
I became my own boss.
Running my own business gave me control over my schedule, goals, and the kind of work I wanted to do. In contrast, my day job left me feeling constrained and uneasy, even though the people I worked with were kind. Becoming self-employed allowed me to build a flexible schedule, pursue projects that mattered to me, and shape my business direction.
My business let me travel and manage my time differently.
At my old job, I had limited vacation — about two to three weeks per year — and time off rarely felt like a real break because work piled up while I was away. Now I travel much more freely and can take time off when I need it. Although I sometimes work longer hours than before, I have far better control of my work-life balance and enjoy the flexibility that entrepreneurship brings.
I saw others around me miserable in their jobs.
After starting my professional career, I noticed how many colleagues were unhappy and how their dissatisfaction controlled their lives. I didn’t want that for myself. Seeing the opportunity in my side hustle gave me the courage to pursue a different path — one that felt more aligned with what I wanted from life.
It wasn’t fair to keep working there.
My heart wasn’t in the work, and continuing would have been unfair to my employer. The role required someone engaged and committed; I realized I couldn’t give that anymore. Quitting allowed the company to find the right person for the position and allowed me to stop wasting company time and my own.
I dreaded Sundays and Mondays.
Sundays were dreadful because they meant returning to work the next day, and Mondays were even worse because I had to face a job I found uninspiring and stressful. The social environment didn’t help either — I often worked alone or met with clients who weren’t peers, which made the experience isolating. Since switching to full-time freelancing and blogging, I look forward to each day. I enjoy contacting potential clients, serving existing ones, and connecting with fellow freelancers, friends, and family.
There were many reasons I decided to leave my day job. It’s been several years since I made the switch, and I can’t imagine going back. Blogging has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. While not everyone should become a blogger, the message I hope to convey is this: if you feel stuck, unhappy, or unfulfilled, seek out what you love and take steps to create a life that fits you.
Do you have a side hustle? Do you enjoy your career?
Recommended reading: How I Made My Side Hustle My Full-Time Dream Job