With the tenth consecutive rate rise putting pressure on more families, local residents are resorting to second jobs and the flex economy to make ends meet.
Crippling interest rate hikes, rising bills and the spiralling cost of everyday items, such as fuel and groceries, are leaving many Peninsula families and household budgets under increased pressure.
Last month saw the tenth consecutive rate rise and, as the cost of living continues to climb, nearly one million Aussies have taken on a second job or side hustle, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Northern Beaches residents are resorting to interesting and unique ways to save and make money, such as renting out their under-utilised assets, including garages, space and even clothes.
Manly Vale seamstress Faith Hibberd, 53, has been struggling with the cost of living. She now makes anything from a few hundred dollars to $2,000+ a month on Airtasker.
The mum of 17-year-old twin boys has found her niche re-upholstering campervans and making and customising costumes, even duvet covers, from football shirts.
“Airtasker has been life-changing for me,” she says. “I love the flexibility of it and the people I get to meet. The jobs vary, and one of my favourite jobs was replicating the outfit Jared Leto wore to the Met Gala – carrying his head – for a local fashion designer.
“I’ve also tie-dyed scrubs for a Beaches dental hospital.”
Manly Vale’s Faith Hibberd can make up to $2k a month on Airtasker through jobs such as re-creating Jarod Leto’s Met Gala outfit for a fashion designer or tie-dying scrubs for a local dental hospital.
Faith, who won Airtasker’s ‘Top Tasker Award’ for NSW this month, plans to use the money she makes from Airtasker to help youths on the Northern Beaches.
“I really want to set up a youth early intervention creative centre for teenagers on the Northern Beaches,” she tells Peninsula Living.
“I’m currently looking for people who can maybe lend their space to us, and mentors who might want to share their skills – like cooking, music, art and making clothes.”
Collaroy veterinary nurse student Eloa Marins, 30, makes up to $1,000 a month renting out her designer frocks from the likes of Zimmermann and Aje on luxury dress rental platform The Volte.
“I love fashion and have lots of clothes, but you can only wear one outfit at a time and everything’s so expensive now, so we don’t go out as much,” she says.
“I figured instead of selling the designer dresses and only getting one sale out of them, it makes more sense to hire them out and get paid multiple times for them.”
Spare garages and car spots can also be turned into money-makers. While locals with permits can park for free, the Northern Beaches can be one of the most expensive areas in Sydney to park.
As a result, commuters coming in from outside the local government area (LGA) are looking for more affordable spots to park – and locals are cashing in.
Collaroy veterinary nurse Eloa Marins rents out her designer dresses on The Volte.
Manly student Angus Brain, 18, is leasing out his garage to a commuter who drives from Palm Beach and gets a ferry into the city daily. He makes $300 leasing his spare parking spot on peer-to-peer parking marketplace platform Parkhound – which provides underutilised car spots to those who need it.
“I work in sales around TAFE, but I love the gig economy and have a few side hustles on the go.
“Parkhound is great, as we have a secure garage with a key code so the renter has access whenever she wants, and I don’t have to do anything whatsoever!
“The money I’m making is going towards my studies and I’m also saving for a holiday.”
Brookvale’s David Ramirez, 34, also leases his garage on Spacer to a tradie who is using it for storage while he’s overseas, netting him $375 a month.
Manly student Angus Brain makes $300 a month renting out his garage to a Pittwater commuter.
Brookvale’s David Ramirez makes $375 a month renting out his garage on Spacer to a tradie.
“When COVID hit my work hours were reduced and when a friend told me about Spacer, where you can literally rent out your extra space, I thought I’d give it a go,” he tells Peninsula Living.
“It was booked within a week of listing it and has been booked solid ever since. The current guy is renting it until the middle of the year, which is a nice little earner.”
By Josie Peters