At 43, I’m starting to think differently about how I earn money and what I want my life to look like.
As a single mother, homeowner, and someone who’s spent years working in healthcare, I’ve learned that having a reliable income is important. But I’m also realizing that I want more control over my time and how I make money.
That’s one of the reasons I’ve been experimenting with different income streams.
Some experiences have been better than others. And after what happened with DoorDash and Airbnb, I’m learning an important lesson about building income on platforms I don’t own.
One thing I’m learning while creating different income streams is that I don’t want to depend on just one source of income, especially when I don’t own or control the platform I’m using to make that money.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I still believe platforms like DoorDash, Airbnb, YouTube, and other gig economy apps can be great opportunities to earn additional income. I’ve used several of them myself.
But what happens when the platform you depend on decides you can no longer use its services?
That’s something I’ve had to think about after a few experiences of my own.
And instead of spending all my time focusing on what these companies could have done differently, I’m starting to focus more on what I can build for myself.
My Experience With DoorDash Was a Wake-Up Call
I’ve tried delivering food with DoorDash, and I’ll just say the experience wasn’t ideal.
For one, I wasn’t a huge fan of the app in general. But the situation that really changed my perspective was an encounter with an angry driver who followed me to my destination.
It was an uncomfortable situation, and afterward, DoorDash suspended my account.
That was my first real wake-up call about depending on someone else’s platform to make money.
Here I was trying to earn some extra income, and suddenly my ability to use that particular platform was gone.
Now, imagine if DoorDash had been my only source of income.
What would I have done?
That’s the part that stuck with me.
When you’re earning money through an app, you have to understand that the company controls your access to its platform. You might have your own vehicle, pay for your gas, and put in the hours, but the company can still determine whether you can continue earning through its app.
And that’s something worth thinking about.
Airbnb Taught Me Another Lesson About Platform Dependence
My experience with Airbnb has also been interesting.
I’ve hosted several guests, and while some experiences have been fine, I’ve also dealt with questionable guests and situations that made me reconsider how I wanted to operate my rental business.
One guest left a hole in a bedroom door.
I’ve also dealt with a guest I believe was attempting to scam me, who left a negative review that I disputed.
I reported the issue several times, within what I understood to be the appropriate timeframe. However, Airbnb ultimately told me I was outside the window to have the review addressed.
That was frustrating because I felt like I had done what I was supposed to do.
And then there were other situations involving guests not following house rules.
The thing about hosting is that I’m the one providing the property. I’m responsible for maintaining it, cleaning it, furnishing it, paying the expenses, and making sure guests have a place to stay.
But when I use Airbnb, the company still has a significant amount of control over my access to customers and how disputes are handled.
That’s the trade-off.
Airbnb provides a marketplace where people can find my property, but I’m still depending on that marketplace to connect me with customers.
And I’ve learned that those are two different things: owning a rental property and controlling how you acquire customers.
I’m Not Giving Up on These Platforms. I’m Learning to Depend on Them Less.
I don’t think the answer is to stop using every platform that has its shortcomings.
That wouldn’t make much sense either.
These companies have spent years building technology, attracting customers, and creating systems that make it possible for people like me to earn money.
There’s value in that.
But I also think there’s value in building something of my own.
Instead of depending entirely on Airbnb to find renters, I can learn how to market my rental property independently.
Instead of depending on a delivery app to make extra money, I can continue exploring other ways to generate income.
And instead of depending only on social media platforms to reach people, I can build my own website and email list.
The goal isn’t necessarily to stop using these platforms. It’s to make sure I’m not completely dependent on them.
That’s the difference I’m beginning to understand.
Why I’m Building My Own Website as an Income Stream
One of the first ways I know how to build something of my own is through a website.
Actually, you’re reading one right now.
This is my personal website, Keioffa, and one of the things I like about having it is that I can share whatever I want.
I can write about my experiences creating multiple income streams, working in healthcare, running a rental business, gardening, trying new recipes, or simply figuring out life.
It’s my space to share what I’m learning.
Of course, owning a website doesn’t mean there are no rules or expenses. I still need hosting, a domain, and other services to keep everything running.
But unlike a social media profile, I have more control over my content, my website, and how I choose to build my business.
If one social media account gets suspended, my website doesn’t automatically disappear with it.
I can also back up my content and move to another hosting provider if I need to.
That flexibility matters to me.
How Can a Personal Website Make Money?
Now, you might be wondering how a website actually becomes an income stream.
There are several ways to make money with a website, but I think the most important thing is understanding that the website needs to provide value to the people visiting it.
For me, that starts with sharing my experiences.
Maybe someone is interested in starting a side hustle but doesn’t know where to begin.
Maybe someone is thinking about renting out a room in their house.
Or maybe someone is trying to figure out how to earn additional income without working another full-time job.
I can share what I’ve tried, what worked, what didn’t work, and what I would do differently.
Over time, that content can create opportunities to earn income through:
- Affiliate marketing: Sharing products and services I use and potentially earning commissions when someone purchases through my links.
- Display advertising: Earning advertising revenue as the website attracts enough visitors to qualify for an ad program.
- Digital products: Creating guides, templates, ebooks, or other resources based on what I’ve learned.
- Sponsored content: Partnering with brands that are relevant to the people reading my website.
- My own products and services: Using my website to connect with people who may want to work with me or purchase something I’ve created.
But here’s the thing.
Just because I create a website doesn’t mean it’s automatically going to make money.
I still have to create content, learn how to attract visitors, and give people a reason to come back.
It’s another business that requires time, money, and effort.
The difference is that I’m putting that effort into building an asset I have more control over.
Building an Email List Is My Next Step
Another thing I’m working on is growing my email list.
I like the idea of being able to communicate directly with people who are interested in what I’m sharing.
For example, maybe I find a really good deal on a product I use.
Or I try a new recipe at home and want to share it.
Maybe I discover another way to earn extra income, or I have an experience that could help someone avoid making the same mistake.
I can share those things through email instead of hoping a social media algorithm decides to show my post to someone.
And the people on my email list have actually chosen to hear from me.
I think that’s pretty valuable.
An email list can also support a business because it gives me another way to connect with readers, share content, recommend products, and eventually offer my own resources.
Of course, I still have to use an email marketing service to send those messages.
Which brings me to another lesson I’m learning about building income streams.
The Cost of Running a Business Matters
I’ve been using Kit for my email marketing, and I actually like it.
I already have things set up, and it’s ready for me to start building my list.
The problem isn’t really the software.
It’s the monthly expense.
My plan has been costing me around $30 a month.
Now, $30 a month isn’t necessarily a lot of money for a business tool, especially if that tool is helping you make money.
But last month, I spent most of my extra money covering expenses for both homes.
And when that happens, some expenses have to be cut.
That’s just where I am right now.
So I started thinking about switching from Kit to Mailchimp because Mailchimp offers a free plan for smaller email lists, subject to its current limits.
It sounds like a simple decision, right?
Why pay $30 a month when I could potentially use something for free?
But then I started thinking about the time it would take to move everything over.
Sometimes Free Can Cost You Time
I’ve already spent time learning Kit and setting up my account.
If I switch to another email marketing service, I’ll have to spend time learning that platform, moving my subscribers and forms, and making sure everything works the way I want.
And time is something I also have to consider.
That’s one of the things I’m realizing as I try different income streams.
Every business has a cost, and that cost isn’t always money.
Sometimes it’s the time you spend learning a new platform.
Sometimes it’s the hours you spend creating content.
Other times it’s the money you spend on subscriptions, equipment, or advertising.
So while switching to a free email marketing service might save me money every month, I also have to decide whether the time it takes to switch is worth the savings.
For now, I’m considering keeping Kit because I’ve already done the work to set it up.
But I’m also learning that just because I like a tool doesn’t mean I have to keep paying for it if it isn’t serving my business at the moment.
Monthly vs. Annual Business Expenses
Something else I’ve been thinking about is how I pay for the tools I use.
When I first signed up for Kit, I was testing it out.
I didn’t necessarily want to pay for an entire year because I wasn’t sure whether it was something I would continue using.
And I still think that was a reasonable decision.
When you’re learning something new, it can make sense to start with a monthly subscription instead of making a larger commitment.
But once you know a tool works for your business, paying annually might be a better option if the company offers a discount.
For example, a $30 monthly subscription costs $360 over 12 months.
If an annual plan offers a meaningful discount, it could save money over the year.
It also means I wouldn’t have that particular monthly payment to worry about.
However, I still have to pay the annual expense upfront, and that’s money I can’t use for something else.
So I don’t want to purchase annual subscriptions just because they’re cheaper.
I want to purchase them when they’re necessary, when I know I’m going to use them, and when I have the money available without creating another financial burden.
That’s a lesson I want to carry into every business I build.
Multiple Income Streams Still Require Money and Time
I think sometimes when people talk about creating multiple income streams, we focus so much on the money we could potentially earn that we forget about what it takes to create those streams.
For example, driving for a delivery app requires my vehicle, gas, insurance, and time.
Hosting guests requires a property, furniture, utilities, cleaning, maintenance, and customer service.
Building a website requires hosting, content creation, marketing, and possibly software subscriptions.
And even something like YouTube, which can eventually earn money from videos you’ve already created, still requires time to record, edit, upload, and learn what people want to watch.
None of these income streams are completely free.
And not all of them are passive.
Some require me to physically show up and do the work to get paid. Others allow me to create something once that may continue earning income later.
That’s why I’m becoming more intentional about where I invest my time and money.
I don’t just want more ways to stay busy.
I want to create income streams that support the lifestyle I’m trying to build.
The Difference Between Earning Income and Building an Asset
This is probably one of the biggest things I’m learning right now.
There is nothing wrong with using gig work to earn extra money.
Sometimes you need money today, not six months from now.
And that’s where delivery apps and other opportunities can be helpful.
But I also want to build income-producing assets that have the potential to earn money without requiring me to trade an hour of my time for every dollar.
My rental property is one example.
My websites are another.
Digital products, useful content, and an email list can also become valuable parts of a business over time.
That doesn’t mean they won’t require work.
They absolutely will.
But I like the idea of putting my effort into something that I can continue building instead of starting over every time I log into an app.
I also understand that owning an asset doesn’t guarantee income. I still need customers, readers, or renters, and I still have to manage expenses.
For me, it’s about having more control and more options.
What I’m Learning About Building Income Streams
If there’s one thing these experiences have taught me, it’s that I need to think beyond how much money a platform can help me make.
I also need to think about how much control I have, what it costs to participate, and what happens if that opportunity is no longer available.
DoorDash taught me that access to an income opportunity can disappear.
Airbnb reminded me that owning the property doesn’t mean I control every part of the rental business.
And building my website is teaching me that ownership comes with responsibilities and expenses of its own.
I’m still figuring this out.
I’m learning about affiliate marketing, creating content, managing rental properties, and finding ways to turn the things I already do into opportunities to earn income.
Some things are working better than others.
And some things I’m still trying to understand.
But that’s part of why I wanted to create this website.
I want to document the process, share what I’m learning, and hopefully help someone else who’s thinking about doing something similar.
I don’t have everything figured out, and I’m not pretending that I do.
My goal is to create multiple income streams, but more importantly, I want to build income streams that I have more ownership and control over.
Because at the end of the day, I don’t want my entire financial future depending on whether someone else’s platform decides to let me participate.
Let’s Keep Learning Together
If you’re also trying to create additional income streams, I’d love to know what you’re working on.
Are you using gig apps to earn extra money? Building a website? Starting a business? Or trying to turn something you already enjoy doing into income?
Share your experience in the comments.
And if you’d like to follow along as I continue building my own income streams, join my email list.
I’ll be sharing what I’m trying, what I’m learning, useful resources, and some of the everyday things happening along the way.
Because building income streams isn’t just about making more money.
For me, it’s about creating more options for how I want to live.
