Side Income Update 2025

It is that time of the year again where I do my annual side income update. If you have been following my journey, you would know that my side income has grown from $1,500 per month in 2022 to $2,200 per month in 2023, and then held at $2,200 in 2024 despite a drop in ecommerce income.

So how did 2025 turn out? Honestly, more of the same. And I have mixed feelings about it.

Rental Income: $1,300/month

Our HDB rental income stayed at $1,300 per month for my share in 2025. We had expected the rental market to soften further in 2025 and were mentally prepared for a drop, so holding at $1,300 is something I am quietly grateful for.

That said, I am not taking this for granted. The rental market in Singapore remains uncertain and I would not be surprised if we see some pressure on this in 2026. We will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Ecommerce: $200/month

No change here either. We have been stuck at around $200 per month for ecommerce income. In 2024 we had just gotten onto the TikTok marketplace hoping it would give us a boost. It did improved for awhile but sales slowly die off as competitions flooded in.

Honestly, me and my partner didn't put in the time and effort to push for sales as well since we are both occupied with our full time job. Still we are grateful to have this side income chugging along.

Interest, Dividends and Crypto: ~$700/month

This stream also held relatively steady at around $700 per month. The interest rate environment shifted in 2025 as rates came down, which meant slightly lower returns on my fiat cash parked in savings accounts and bonds. Increasing my savings and investment throughout the year helped offset the lower return to maintain a steady income of $700/month.

Overall this stream of income in 2025 continues to be my most consistent performer alongside rental. The importance of having your money work for you even when you are not actively doing anything cannot be overstated.

AI Freelance Work and Blogging

In mid-2025 I wrote about how I was using AI to build dashboards and automate workflows for colleagues and had earned around $600 in total from that. Unfortunately that did not develop into a regular income stream in 2025. It remained a one-off thing and I did not actively pursue more of it.

As for Grab hitch and blogging income, I have stopped tracking these separately. They were always a small amount and I found myself spending more mental energy counting them than they were worth. If anything comes from blogging or referrals it is a bonus, not something I plan around.

Total: $2,200/month. Again.

So for the third year running, my side income is sitting at $2,200 per month. In one sense this is a decent outcome. I managed to hold the line despite ecommerce stagnating, interest rates dipping, and not finding new income streams. The diversification across rental, investments and ecommerce helped absorb the softness in any single area.

But I would be lying if I said I am satisfied. Three years at the same level means I have not made real progress. The growth from $1,500 to $2,200 between 2022 and 2023 felt exciting. Staying flat since then does not. I want more and I need to be intentional about where the growth is going to come from.

What I Want to Do Differently in 2026

The area I am most focused on growing in 2026 is my dividend and investment income. Right now the $700 per month is a combination of savings account interest, bond returns, dividends from stocks, and some crypto yield. I want to grow this meaningfully.

The current market volatility from the US tariff situation and global uncertainty is creating some interesting potential opportunities. As a value investor, I do not rush in just because prices have fallen. But I do watch for moments where the risk-reward becomes genuinely attractive. When that happens, I plan to deploy more capital into dividend-paying stocks and global index funds that can compound over time and grow this income stream.

As for ecommerce and rental, I will maintain them as they are without putting in a lot of additional effort. They are steady contributors and I do not want to neglect them, but they are unlikely to be my growth engine in 2026.

Keeping the Goal in Sight

My long-term goal has always been to build a side income that can eventually reduce my reliance on my main job. Three flat years is a reminder that passive income does not grow on its own. It needs intentional action, capital deployment, and sometimes a bit of patience waiting for the right opportunity.

2026 is the year I want to break out of the $2,200 plateau. The goal is to grow my investment income meaningfully and inch the total closer to $2,500 or beyond. It will not happen overnight but I am committed to being more deliberate about it this year.

Thanks as always for following along. If you have your own side income journey going on, I would love to hear about it in the comments. What is working for you and what is not?

Happy Hustling!

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