Gig Stacking: How to Take Advantage of the Gig Economy and Still Work Full-Time

Whether you aspire to invest, start a business, or earn extra cash to pay down debt, the gig economy—especially driving—offers a promising avenue to increase your income. Like any venture, it's crucial to weigh the risks against the rewards. I work as an engineer with a flexible schedule, allowing me some freedom in the mornings for gigs, provided I don't have early meetings.

Strategic Driving Times:

- Early mornings before work

- Evenings, if I have at least 2 hours free

- Weekends

My gig stack includes Uber, Walmart (referral code FG84KA2Y), Curri, Senpex, Roadie, & Point Pick Up. Driving a sizable SUV with a trailer hitch, I can transport passengers, cargo, and tow larger items within the vehicle's weight limit. I run all apps concurrently, ensuring my vehicle, which gets at least 17 miles per gallon, is used efficiently.

To manage expenses, I monitor gas prices through my BJ's account; for instance, today's price is $2.95 per gallon, translating to a driving cost of $0.17 per mile.

Minimizing Deadhead Miles:

In trucking, 'deadhead miles' refer to the distances driven without compensation, which should be minimized to protect profits. I use a Google Sheets calculator to track and optimize my vehicle's movements for maximum profit.

Daily Routine
Mornings: I wake up around 4:00 am (sometimes 3:00) and activate all apps, prioritizing Uber due to its 24-hour operation and my proximity to airports and commuter rails. I meticulously record all mileage, limiting travel to a mile between pickups and destinations. Trips are selected based on the estimated deadhead miles, bypassing any that cost more than 20% of the potential revenue. My gig activities cease between 7:00 and 7:30 am, when I proceed to my day job.

Evenings: If my schedule permits, I activate all apps about 15 minutes before leaving work, using Uber to find rides along my route home. Without family sports commitments, I might extend my gig work for 2 to 3 hours before returning home.

Weekends: Family comes first. My weekend mornings mirror weekdays until the children's sports activities commence. I choose the most advantageous day for gig work based on available hours.

Conclusion:

Sacrificing TV and leisure time for earlier nights and smart scheduling can yield an extra $1000 per month without necessitating a 7-day workweek. 

For a copy of my Excel calculator, click HERE and request a copy. We will email it to you promptly.

We hope that this information has been beneficial to you! Thank you for reading!

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We are small business owners and not financial advisors. This information was provided free of charge with the intent of helping you based on our personal experience and research at the time of publishing. Please do your due diligence and research on this information and more for yourself and consult a professional financial advisor before making any decisions that could have major impacts on your financial well-being.