490. Financial Freedom Through a Side Hustle

Tracey Minutolo

Like many young people, Tracey’s credit card debt and relocations around the country got added to her college debt. Then when her employer reduced everyone’s salary by 20%, she took charge and entered a debt management program. Three years later, finally coming out of debt, she vowed not to slide backwards.

Tracey Minutolo is a side hustle coach and financial freedom fighter. She helps motivated nine-to-fivers to choose, launch, and grow side businesses that they love. When she’s not coaching, she’s probably playing with microorganisms at her day job, out enjoying the San Diego sunshine, or checking out the latest craft beer release.

How Did You Start Using Your Talents?

Growing up in northern New Jersey, she was often out helping her mom weed her garden or helping her dad mow the lawn. “I was always the kid with her face in the grass, looking for bugs and other moving things. My favorite insects were ladybugs and lightning bugs. Biology was always my favorite subject in school. I was fascinated with what was out there and, more specifically, but my I couldn’t see. A friend and I would collect samples of water from a stagnant stream behind our house. We’d take them to school and our teacher would let us stay after to look through the microscope and would explain what we were looking at. It opened up a whole world of possibility that stuck with me into Rutgers University, where I got a biology degree.”

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

“A big turning point was when I decided to quit my job in New Jersey. It was my first job out of college and I had been there for about four years. I decided to move out to Spokane, Washington, and try new places and different work.” From there, her wanderlust kicked in. “I’d always had a fascination with San Diego, California. As I was driving down Interstate 5 with my moving truck, looking at the palm trees, I felt like I was home. It was an awesome feeling. It was everything I had wanted it to be.”

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

“Many people use a side hustle as a bridge to leave their full-time career, and maybe turn their side hustle into something full time. For me, I think there is value in keeping something on the side. I think it is possible to have a side business and a full-time job. My big vision for the side hustle community is to create some awesome resources to connect side hustlers and make it easier for nine-to-fivers to get their feet wet, so they don’t have to spend so much time on the sidelines wondering how to get started.”

Steps to Success from Tracey Minutolo

1. Be conscious of what makes you happy and focus on how you get more of that into your life.

2. Look at all areas of your life, even into your childhood, to discover something that makes you happy. It might be a hobby or a part of the work you’re doing. You might find it in your volunteer work.

3. Free yourself from debt. Use a debt counseling service to help you work a plan. There’s freedom in being debt free.