Hi everyone,
Thanks to all of you for your valuable inputs (I know it takes time to write these lengthy comments).
For now, I am not doing anything. As I stated earlier, the internal rules of my company state that if one has a side gig he has to inform the employer by filling a specific form. I did not find that form in our intranet (but I did not spend time to look in the other two languages - I already faced that problem in the past: some forms are not available in all languages). I am not ruling out informing my employer. I will just wait a little before deciding.
Meanwhile, I am starting a new blog. In case I inform them and they ask more detailed questions about my site, I will show this new site. I would understand if they asked about it: for example, to ensure I am not using my knowledge from the company to earn money on the side. I do not want to divulgate my first site as I am mentioning personal issues I do not want to reveal.
One of my colleagues (which I am not very close to) mentioned once that he has been doing consulting work for third parties. He’s a director in our firm and I expect him to earn quite a lot and I have been very surprised that he mentioned that side gig so casually. I will try to get the opportunity to ask him, in the coming weeks, if he declared it to the company. His consulting work is based on the same knowledge he is using for his main job, which is not the case for my website. If he asks questions about my site, I will have the new site to show.
Let’s be honest. That small side gig earned me $25 in January, $37 in February and is getting towards $60 in March. It’s growing slowly, but it’s growing. Now that I got a taste of it, I want more. I will grow this thing.
My primary focus is my day job. I work hard, I am getting results for my employer, and I am grateful for the pay and the opportunities that have been given to me so far. But, in face of uncertainties and in order to get closer to FIRE, one needs to multiply its sources of income.
Even if it’s not much, I push for income stream diversification (real estate, that side gig). Except from my 3a pillar, I am currently out of the stock market (but I am ready to jump in once things settle a bit).
I will probably inform my employer in the course of the year. But it’s not a sure thing.
If this site is still growing, I will certainly create a LLC next year in order to have it manage that side gig. At that point I might outsource some of the work in order to grow it more passively.
That’s the plan.
Things never go as planned. But once you have a plan, you can review it and adapt it (based on the data you gather).
My website is also helping people (it’s not all about money). I feel a little proud about that.
And I am not entirely greedy (at least I hope I am not). I gave a few hundred bucks for Ukraine charity last week (more than I will earn this year with this side gig, which will not be deductible) because I am really depressed when I see what happens over there.
The earnings from that side gig are for more security (and possibly resilience in face of possible hard times to come).
Anyway, thanks for your inputs and comments. I appreciate it.
It’s a great community.