A 21-year-old college student turned a sticker-selling side hustle into a $500,000-a-year business, enabling him to buy a home. Starting with minimal investment, he leveraged social media to grow his brand, customized products, and scaled operations. This article explores his strategies, financial planning, and how side hustles can lead to major financial milestones like homeownership.
From Stickers to Homeownership: A 21-Year-Old’s Side Hustle Success
In 2020, Jayson Siu, a 21-year-old college junior at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, started selling $3 custom stickers on Snapchat to fund car parts. By 2023, his side hustle, Invalid.jp, was generating over $500,000 annually, allowing him to purchase a home. His journey highlights how a low-cost side hustle, paired with strategic financial planning, can achieve significant goals like homeownership in a challenging U.S. housing market.
Siu’s side hustle began with a $20 investment in wholesale stickers, which he customized with unique designs and resold for a profit. He expanded into car accessories like LED-lined rearview mirrors and license plates, capitalizing on trending products. Using TikTok and Instagram, he posted daily content to build a customer base, emphasizing consistency to drive sales. His business now earns $40,000–$50,000 monthly, according to CNBC.
The U.S. housing market in 2025 remains daunting, with median home prices at $412,300, per the National Association of Realtors, and 30-year fixed mortgage rates averaging 7.1%, as reported by Freddie Mac. For young adults, saving for a down payment—typically 5–20% of a home’s price ($20,615–$82,460)—is a major hurdle. Siu’s success shows how a side hustle can bridge this gap. His strategy involved reinvesting profits into inventory, hiring contractors for content creation, and maintaining low overhead, starting with just $100.
Siu’s financial discipline was key. He allocated 60% of profits to business reinvestment, 20% to savings for his home down payment, and 20% to personal expenses. By 2023, he had saved enough for a 10% down payment on a $350,000 condo in Honolulu, where median home prices are $509,600, per Zillow. He secured a mortgage with a 6.8% rate, manageable due to his consistent income stream.
Side hustles like Siu’s are increasingly viable for homeownership. The gig economy has grown, with 36% of U.S. adults participating in side hustles, per a 2024 Bankrate survey, earning an average of $1,000 monthly. Platforms like Etsy, Fiverr, and TikTok enable low-cost startups. Siu’s approach—identifying trending products, leveraging free marketing tools, and scaling gradually—offers a blueprint. He advises persistence and testing products before large investments to minimize risk.
For aspiring homeowners, side hustles can accelerate savings. A $1,000 monthly side hustle could cover a 5% down payment on a $400,000 home in 20 months, assuming disciplined budgeting. Tools like high-yield savings accounts, offering 4–5% APY (e.g., Ally Bank), can grow savings faster. Siu also used budgeting apps like YNAB to track expenses and prioritize his home fund.
Challenges remain. Scaling a side hustle requires time management, especially for students or full-time workers. Siu worked 24/7 initially, packing orders from his parents’ living room. Market saturation and supply chain issues can also disrupt growth. Yet, his focus on niche products and customer engagement via social media helped him stand out.
Siu’s story underscores the power of side hustles in achieving financial milestones. By starting small, using free platforms, and maintaining financial discipline, young adults can turn side gigs into pathways to homeownership, even in a tough market.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Consult a financial advisor before making investment or home-buying decisions. Data sourced from CNBC, National Association of Realtors, Freddie Mac, Zillow, and Bankrate.
