8 December 2025
Hey there, Hiveians!
I just want to share a little update about what I’ve been working on lately. This year has been both challenging and productive. It's been a mix of learning and trying to survive without a stable job. I'm not used to that. And now we are on the last month of the year, I can't help but look back. I tried many things, and I admit some worked, but some didn’t. One thing is for sure, though, I'm still here and still moving :).
Business Update
This year, I opened a small snackhouse inspired by other small entrepreneurs in town, but honestly, it hasn’t been stable. I mentioned before that the location doesn’t get many customers, so some days are good, some days are bad. With recent weather issues, even hit by typhoons, sales are getting low. My main goal in reopening our old store building was to make it active again instead of letting it sit empty. I've been thinking of adding more products, not food-related, but the taxes and permits might hold me back. It's still in the planning stage.
I don't like relying on one source of income only, because I have bills to pay, which are things that cannot be changed in adult life, for sure. That's why I’ve been exploring more online gigs and side hustles to help me earn more. The idea of working abroad again is also in my mind. Although I can return to working in the hospital where I worked back then, with the minimum salary in our province and a high inflation rate, I would rather work from home. Transportation and city rental would cost me a lot.
Content Creation and Affiliate Marketing
I'm still active on social media, hoping Meta will notice me again. It feels like after I took a break early this year because of my side hustles, Meta pushed me somewhere near bottom, lol. Along with content creation is affiliate marketing. It's been a few months since I've been doing it, and I'm starting to see little signs of progress. It isn't much, but as they say, "growth takes time." Besides, I'm still learning, experimenting, and figuring out which strategy works best for me and which products give better results.
After seeing my sales this week, higher than my usual sales, I feel more motivated to create content that aligns with affiliate marketing. It also makes my time on social media feel more productive. Our small shop even benefits from this because some of the items I buy give me commissions, and I get to promote them too. My goal now is to save money to get a better camera.
SEO and News Writing
These two were my main gigs this year, although both contracts have already ended. They weren’t fully stable, but they make me flexible to try other side hustles like affiliate marketing and take care of our shop whenever my sister is busy with her child.
By the way, I’m open to writing gigs, so feel free to reach out. 🙂
Creating Digital Products on Canva
I was only using Canva for making thumbnails and cover photos before, but it turns out it has so many things I can explore. I’ve been practicing making digital products like coloring books, story books, ebooks, and posters. But the market is too saturated, so I'm not earning from it yet. Some products are already posted on Gumroad. It’s not perfect, but I want to keep improving. I'm hoping this can become another income stream someday.
Christian Skits Generation
This is a new gig I worked on recently. I had no idea of making skits back then, but who knows, I could make one, of course, with the help of AI and writing tools. It's actually a fun task that I can only do in a few minutes. Easy money. And I loved the theme I worked on, the Christian Christmas skits. While making the skits, I was reading and imagining the characters performing the scenes. That made my task enjoyable.
DM Setting
I'm not spending time on social media just scrolling for nothing, (yeah, sometimes 😅). But lately, I'm using social media, especially IG, to find leads. This is my side hustle at night, which I don't enjoy doing. It is repetitive and boring, and my patience is really tested. Imagine not getting replies and being ignored by your leads. But when they reply, it's a big achievement. I actually didn't understand why I even attended a paid training online just to get this skill. Now I regretted my decision.
Wikipedia Writing
This was something I never imagined doing because every time I read a Wikipedia page, it looks complicated! But the experience in writing and blogging slowly helped me navigate the platform. My interest in Wikipedia started when a blogging friend asked me to edit a small part of a page. That’s when I learned the basics. Recently, I’ve been practicing full-page creations. It isn’t easy at all! It requires in-depth research, data gathering, writing, editing, proofreading, and following strict guidelines. I’m still learning every day.
I have already created some biographies, and I am hoping they will be reviewed soon. I believe Wikipedia is a skill that really pays off once you get familiar with it. Payment is per page, depending on the complexity. And the best part is, I don’t need to learn heavy coding, just the basics, and of course, guidelines familiarity.
So, if you are looking for a Wikipedia writer, just let me know :). It sounds like I am promoting myself here, lol.
Year-End Thoughts
I actually don't like doing this. It isn't the end of the year yet, anyway. But it's already December! I realized I still haven't achieved the goals I set at the start of the year. I keep reminding myself, "slow progress is still progress," isn't it? What matters is, I keep going and trying my best.
But oh, Christmas boxes are still empty, I need to work harder 😂.
How about you??
Thanks for your time.
Jane is a Filipina wanderer in a foreign land who finds comfort in nature and freedom in writing. She loves watching raw picturesque landscapes, listening to the symphony of nature, breathing in drops of sunshine, walking through scenic trails and cityscapes, tasting new culinary flavors, capturing pretty little things, venturing into hidden gems, and dancing with the flow of life.
Her new experiences, adventures, challenges, lessons, small successes, and joys are colorful paints that fill up her canvas of life. She hopes to see it beautifully painted while she can.
Join her on her quest for self-discovery and wanderlust. If you like her content, don't hesitate to upvote, drop a comment, reblog, and follow for more wonderful adventures.
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