HOW TO BALANCE A 9-5 JOB WITH A PROFITABLE SIDE HUSTLE

At 6:00 a.m. in Abuja, Sarah squeezes into a crowded bus heading to the Central Business District. By day, she is a banker under pressure from demanding bosses and endless customer complaints. By night, she ties her apron, preheats her small oven, and turns her kitchen into a bakery. Between deadlines and dough, she is learning how to juggle a 9–5 with a side hustle.

Her baking business started out of necessity. Her salary barely covered rent and transport, and she hated having to ask her boyfriend for help with small expenses. At first, he supported her ambition, but he often complained that she was “too busy” and didn’t make enough time for their relationship. Sarah sometimes wondered if she was choosing cakes over love. But deep down, she knew extra income was her only path to freedom.

Discipline became her greatest tool. Even when office hours stretched late, she carved out evenings to bake and used weekends for orders and deliveries. She planned her schedule carefully—Instagram posts went up automatically, while customer payments came in through fintech apps. Her bosses may have controlled her weekdays, but her evenings were hers to build something of her own.

Still, the hardest part wasn’t logistics—it was emotional. There were nights she dragged herself home, exhausted, questioning if it was all worth it. There were weekends her boyfriend grew frustrated, wanting her attention. Guilt weighed on her: not giving enough to her job, her business, or her relationship. Yet the thought of financial stability pushed her forward.

Over time, the sacrifice began to pay off. Sarah built a loyal base of customers who returned for her moist cakes and pastries. She stopped borrowing money to get through the month and felt genuine pride whenever a customer praised her work. And as her confidence grew, so did her ability to balance. She set aside one evening a week for rest and dedicated Sundays to her boyfriend.

The turning point came when he decided to help instead of complain. He took charge of weekend deliveries and managed customer calls when Sarah was swamped. Working side by side brought them closer, and what once caused tension became a shared dream.

One Sunday evening, after delivering an order together, they sat down to enjoy a slice of leftover cake. For the first time, Sarah felt both her worlds—career, hustle, and love—aligning. Her 9–5 still paid the bills, but her baking gave her freedom, and now her relationship gave her joy. She had finally found balance.

Visit this page daily for your dose of financial sense to power up your wealth growth. Also, share with your family, friends and colleagues.