We’ve all heard the age-old advice: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Especially when it comes to investments—split your money across stocks, gold, real estate, FDs, your chitti group… the works. Diversification, bro! Even your LIC agent says it like it’s gospel.
But here’s the twist no one talks about: why don’t we diversify our income too?
We diversify everything else in life.
Think about it: your friends’ group? Pure chaos. There’s the one who only talks politics, the one who ghosted you for six months and now wants pani puri, and that one Sharma ji ka beta type you secretly hate but still call for weddings because he brings gifts.
Even your fridge is a living example of diversity—broccoli right next to a packet of Haldiram’s samosas. And that’s just balance, right?
So why, oh why, does your entire life depend on one thing—your salary?
You slog for 17 years through school and college just to graduate and marry… one salary. That’s not a career plan. That’s an arranged marriage with your bank account.
Now I’m not saying you have to become Elon Musk’s competition. But hey, income doesn’t mean only “salary”. That ₹14 credited by the bank as “interest capitalized”? Yep, that’s income. Cashback on your Amazon purchase? Income. That unexpected freelance payment from helping your cousin’s friend’s dog walker design a poster? Also income.
We ignore these little amounts like they’re that one cousin who always shows up late for weddings but eats the most. But guess what? Water those small plants, and they grow into trees too—ones that might give better shade than your monthly salary.
There’s this whole drama around “moonlighting” lately. People act like it’s a crime to earn a little extra. Bro, if you’re doing your job sincerely and not working for your company’s competitor at night while wearing a hoodie and typing furiously like it’s a Netflix thriller, you’re fine.
I mean, what’s wrong if you’re an IT guy by day and an event organiser on weekends? Or a voice-over artist who also bakes cakes for birthdays? (Yes, that’s a thing. And no, it’s not weird.)
The point is: don’t be loyal to just one source of income like it’s your 90s cable TV. This is 2025. You have Netflix, Prime, Hotstar, and someone’s cousin’s login for Sony LIV. Your income needs multiple channels too.
Help a non-profit with reels. Sell that banana bread on Instagram. Give tuition for Maths. Start a YouTube channel teaching Excel shortcuts. Charge for your skills. Don’t call it moonlighting—call it enlightenment.
Or as I say—moonlight, torchlight, sunlight… any light that helps you see a better life, just bloody go for it.
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