You Asked, I Answered: Clarifying the Big Questions from My Last Post. Offense or Defense In Busy Seasons
A response on readers’ feedback on side hustles, time scarcity, and what really counts as financial advice.
Our last article prompted a lot of DMs: some much appreciated feedback about what lands and is helpful, but also quite a few questions asking for clarification about one particular sticky point. These messages came primarily from millennial readers who find themselves in a very busy life stage, handling jobs, young children, and a host of demands on their time. Since this article triggered several pointed questions, I thought it's best if I address them in this clarifying post. This will provide answers whether you asked or just thought of these questions.
Here are the most pertinent concerns expressed by readers:
Q) I've noticed that in a few posts you've given examples of people building wealth by starting a side hustle. Trying to think about this from someone with my POV (one newborn, one toddler, on maternity leave atm). It sounds like you're frequently suggesting people find other ways to generate income apart from their 9-5.
A) You're absolutely right. I do bring up side hustles or passion projects whenever I mention increasing income (such as 20 Proven Strategies to Play Both Offense and Defense With Your Money), along with several other options. And I can see how that might feel overwhelming when you're already managing so much. Also, it’s not just about time, but also mental energy: you can’t run two startups (your family and a side hustle) at once. I get it.
So let me clarify: if you're juggling a newborn and toddler while preparing to return to work, you're already doing incredibly valuable work. The fact that you're thinking about your financial future during this intense season shows you're being thoughtful, not falling behind.
Here’s what I should have emphasized more:
There are seasons for offense (growing income) and seasons for defense (optimizing what you already have). Both are valuable. Both build wealth. You get to choose which makes sense for your life right now.
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Q) I'm wondering how this fits into your definition of financial advice/planning. Is financial advice incorporating the topic of increasing income via any means, including side hustles? It also sort of falls outside of what I think the average person would consider financial advice. I think when people think advice from a FP they think of advice around investing, not "go create another job."
A) This is such a smart question, and it gets to the heart of what financial planning really is versus what people think it is.
The traditional view is exactly what you described: investing, tax optimization, estate planning—the technical stuff. That's absolutely part of it.
But here's what I learned in practice: people trusted me with their life savings, and that trust extended to other money questions that kept them up at night. They'd ask about budgeting, about whether they should take a new job, about whether their spouse's business idea made sense. These weren't officially part of our engagement, but they were real needs.
Another thing: most of my clients had completely embraced the traditional playbook: go to school, get a job, save 10%, invest, work until 65. But they had this nagging feeling that maybe there was more they could do on the income side. They wanted to discuss this with their financial advisor, and frankly, why wouldn’t they.
Some examples that worked:
One client loved baking cakes. I mean, she was obsessed: studied them like art, gifted them constantly to friends. After years of giving them away, she realized she could sell wedding cakes at $800+ each. Her best year brought in $80,000 from something she was already doing for free. For someone earning $60K, that was life-changing money that she invested.
Another client started sharing traditional recipes on a website she created to raise funds for a cause she cared about. That turned into bestselling cookbooks and five websites that now support her entire extended family.
The key differentiator: these weren't people forcing themselves to drive for Uber. They were monetizing something they already loved doing.
So yes, discussing income-increasing options is part of comprehensive financial advice because extra money can wipe out debt and turbocharge investments. But no, it's not for everyone or every season.
Q) Your last post sort of contradicts the "time is your most precious resource" point because obviously building a side hustle takes a lot of time. And that isn't something most people my age with young kids can afford easily.
A) You caught a real tension there, and I should have addressed it head-on.
Time IS your most precious resource. Which is exactly why no one should waste it on things that don't move the needle during a season when time is scarce.
Here's what I mean:
If you've got 30 minutes of free time, you're better off learning about investing than clipping coupons for $7.50 in savings. You're better off taking an online course to upgrade a skill than scrolling social media. Small time investments in high-value activities compound over time.
But let's be real about life stages:
Maybe starting a side business isn't realistic with a newborn at home. That's not an excuse. That's wisdom. You're in a maintenance season, and that's perfectly fine.
However—and here's where it gets interesting—there will always be demands on your time. We're all busy with something, at all times. The question isn't when you'll have unlimited time (spoiler: never), but when you'll have slightly more bandwidth than you do right now.
What you can do in maintenance seasons:
Play defense hard: Optimize your current income and savings as efficiently as possible. Get your investing automated. Minimize taxes. Cut unnecessary expenses. This alone can be wealth-building.
Plant seeds for later: Think about what you're naturally good at. Notice problems you solve that others struggle with. These observations can become future opportunities when you're ready.
Invest in future earning power: Use small pockets of time to upgrade skills. Read about commission-based roles (the ultimate income hack if you can handle the uncertainty). Take a course during parental leave. Anything that upgrades a high-value skill..
The non-linear growth reality:
Here's something that might change how you think about time investment. Growth isn't linear—it's exponential once you hit momentum. One 22-year-old worked consistently for three years on his own idea before his income trajectory looked like this: $150→$1,500→$7,000→$120,000→$250,000→$500,000→$1,000,000.
The initial time "cost" becomes a time "investment" that pays dividends for decades.
Small offense moves that work:
Some side projects have immediate payoffs without massive time investment. Example: a dog owner who walks their dog daily anyway. Add two neighbor dogs to that same walk, and according to Rover , that's $21,000-$36,000 per year of extra investable income. Same time expenditure, different outcome.
Q) What do I do if in this stage of life with young kids I just can't start a side hustle?
A) You focus on defense, and you give yourself permission to be in this season without guilt.
Defense can be wealth-building too:
Automate your savings and investing
Optimize your tax situation
Cut expenses that don't add value to your life
Make sure you're getting any employer matching
Refinance debt at lower rates
Use cashback credit cards responsibly
Think of it this way: Defense is allocating your current income and savings as efficiently as possible. Offense is bringing in more money. Both build wealth. You don't have to do both simultaneously.
Our post 20 Proven Strategies to Play Both Offense and Defense With Your Money will give you more ideas and a tool to map out your thoughts for when you are ready.
The mindset part:
What I really want you to consider is moving from "I can't do anything right now" to "I'm optimizing what I can control right now, and I'm keeping my eyes open for future opportunities."
That's not about judging where you are. It's about staying curious about what might be possible when circumstances shift, even slightly.
When you're ready for small offense moves:
Look at skills you're developing as a parent (organization, efficiency, problem-solving) that others pay for
Notice services you wish existed but don't
Consider if any of your regular activities could generate income
Think about problems you've solved that other parents face
The beautiful thing about side projects is they exist on a continuum—from answering surveys online to building something that supports your entire family. You can pick what fits your bandwidth.
And if you’re worried about failing, remember—not every idea has to be a leap. You can run tiny, low-stakes experiments (like selling one cake, tutoring one student, or testing one online gig) to see if it has legs before you go all in.
The safest way to explore income growth is through small experiments—you don’t need to build a business overnight, you just need to test one simple idea and see if it sticks. And if it sticks, run with it as soon as you have enough bandwidth.
The bigger picture:
Every extra dollar you can generate—whether through defense (optimization) or offense (income growth)—compounds over decades of investing. Someone who can invest an extra $200/month from age 30 to 65 ends up with roughly $380,000 more at retirement (assuming 7% returns).
That could come from better budgeting, a small side project, or both. The path matters less than the consistency.
But let’s be honest: some of the tension here isn’t just about time. It’s about energy, about guilt, about feeling like you’re already behind because social media makes it seem like everyone else is crushing it with their businesses while you’re just trying to get the kids fed and keep your head above water. There’s also that quiet fear of missing your kids’ childhood while chasing more income. I want to name that because it’s real—and if that’s where you are, it doesn’t mean you’re behind.
It means you’re human, and you’re wisely protecting what matters most right now.
A Note on Financial Advice vs. Life Advice
You might notice that discussing money inevitably leads to discussing life choices, values, and priorities.
That's because money-care is a form of self-care. Money is part of our overall well-being, just like of our health.
In my years of practice, I learned that money touches everything that matters.
You can't separate financial decisions from life decisions.
When clients asked me about budgeting, career changes, or whether to start a business, they weren't really asking about money. They were asking about how to build the life they wanted.
I am not a life coach, but I also can't ignore that financial well-being and life well-being are deeply connected.
I recognize financial choices are life choices, and ignoring that would be incomplete advice.
So yes, sometimes we'll talk about mindset, priorities, and life stages, because that's where money decisions actually get made.
As I say in my About page: Money isn't everything, but it touches everything that matters.
What I Want You to Take Away
You're not behind. You're not making excuses. You're being realistic about your current capacity while staying thoughtful about your financial future and taking care of your most precious mission: your children.
There are always two levers: defense (optimize what you have) and offense (grow what comes in). Both work. You can pull one, both, or neither—depending on your season.
Timing matters. Some seasons are for maintaining and optimizing. Others are for growing and building. Both contribute to long-term wealth.
The risk of not thinking about it is as real as the risk of never trying anything different. But thinking doesn't require time investment—just mental space.
Growth is rarely linear. Small, consistent actions compound in ways that will surprise you years from now.
Most importantly: we live in an era of unprecedented opportunity. When you're ready—whether that's next month or next decade—there are more ways to create value and generate income than ever before.
You get to decide when that is.
Thank you to everyone who shared their questions and concerns. This kind of dialogue makes the writing better and more useful for everyone. As always, please share your thoughts—I'll do my best to address them.
Thank you for reading,
Elizabeth
Wealth GPS
Disclaimer: The content in this publication is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It reflects the personal opinions of the author and should not be considered financial advice, recommendations, or a solicitation to buy or sell any financial products. Posts are written for a general audience and do not consider your specific financial situation. The author is a former financial planner and does not offer financial planning or advisory services through this publication.
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To add to your first point, having only one source of income (e.g., a salary from a 9-to-5 job) is a concentrated risk. Building other sources of income through side hustles, investing, etc., makes sense from a risk management perspective as well. I have seen people get fired, be made redundant or be forced to retire without any warning. If they have not diversified this risk in advance, an unexpected loss of their sole source of income becomes a huge source of stress not only for themselves but also for the people they provide for.