Sarah and Jamie McCauley are landlords, YouTubers, Walmart pallet flippers, eBay resellers and Amazon product reviewers — and those are just their active streams of income.

The McCauleys make their money by researching what makes side hustles profitable, testing them and teaching others how to do the same on YouTube. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based couple earned nearly $140,000 from eight streams of income last year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

They’re particularly good at two types of gigs, they say: anything involving real estate and their YouTube channel itself, where they share their side hustle exploits with at least 146,000 subscribers.

“If you’re looking to just make some extra money on the side, maybe pay off a credit card debt or pay for a vacation, I think that is doable for nearly everybody,” says Jamie.

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The McCauleys are part of a side hustle revolution, a growing number of Americans who supplement income with multiple jobs. More U.S adults — about 39%, according to Bankrate — have side hustles today than ever before, whether out of necessity, precaution or a desire to increase their earning power.

Ease of starting is at an all-time high: Platforms like Amazon, Airbnb and Fiverr offer instant access to paying customers. But with competition also rising, it’s hard to build a side hustle that regularly brings in revenue.

Make It spoke with a selection of Americans with successful side hustles to learn how they built their businesses, and used them to fund a wide variety of financial goals. Every respondent highlighted four common traits that helped drive their success:

No matter what you sell, you need people willing to buy it. Jenny Woo says her side hustle is successful for a simple reason: She researches her audiences intensely, and tailors her products specifically to them.

Woo is an adjunct lecturer at the University of California, Irvine, a freelance business consultant and the teacher of an online course about emotional intelligence. Her one-woman side hustle, called Mind Brain Emotion, sells 12 different emotional intelligence-themed card games.

It brought in $1.71 million on Amazon last year, according to documents reviewed by Make It.

Woo’s first deck of cards, “52 Essential Conversations,” was tailored toward parents who — like her — wanted to connect with their kids and build their emotional intelligence skills. She joined parenting Facebook groups and observed users’ posting, commenting and liking habits, she says.

After selling $10,000 worth of the game in a 2018 Kickstarter campaign, Woo kept researching. She conducted a survey of her consumers, and learned that “overwhelmed” teachers looking to support children’s social and emotional development made up a significant portion of her audience, she says.

Her second deck, “52 Essential Relationship Skills,” was built for those teachers. It didn’t sell as well as her first deck, but it taught Woo that she could broaden, and combine, her audiences.

Woo applied that lesson to her third game, “52 Coping Skills.” She started with her own experiences working with college students during the Covid-19 pandemic and combined it with her continued research on teachers and parents, she says.

It’s now Mind Brain Emotion’s top-selling game, says Woo.

Woo sells on Amazon, which has a broad reach, to collectively rope in Mind Brain Emotion’s hyper-specific audiences. Tim Riegel’s products have a more singular customer base, so he sells on Etsy, a marketplace known largely for homemade and handmade goods.

Riegel, a full-time general manager at a sheltered workshop, makes firepits from recycled tank ends in Lamar, Missouri, and sells them under the name Mozark Fire Pits. His average product weighs 225 pounds, and sells for $950.

Mozark Fire Pits brought in approximately $202,000 on Etsy last year, according to documents reviewed by Make It. Riegel maintains a 40% profit margin, he says.

Riegel chose Etsy over platforms like Amazon, Wayfair and Overstock because it felt more user-friendly, and a better fit for his personalized products, he says. He also sells on Facebook Marketplace, which costs him more in advertising — but less in shipping costs for customers within a 200-mile radius, he adds.

That kind of platform analysis is valuable, no matter what kind of side hustle you run.

If you sell a service, instead of a good, you might consider platforms like Fiverr and Upwork — popular among photo editors, marketing writers and voiceover artists — or Taskrabbit, known for labor-intensive side hustles like cleaning or repair work.

Or, opt out of those platforms entirely. If your gig is something that many other people also do, try finding marketplaces with more narrow niches like Contently, Skyword or ServiceScape, recommends side hustle expert Kathy Kristof.

“One of the problems I see with a lot of freelancers is that they go to the best-known online platforms … and those platforms are so saturated with people who have been there for, often, decades,” says Kristof, whose blog SideHusl has reviewed more than 500 different side gigs.

No matter your platform, you’ll need to stand out. A good listing can help: clear and concise, written for your intended audience, free of typos, with high-quality graphics and some search engine optimization (SEO).

Becky Powell, a kindergarten teacher based in Beaverton, Oregon, has a side hustle selling worksheets for other educators on an online platform called Teachers Pay Teachers. Many of her worksheets focus on her personal specialty, teaching children sight-reading skills.

Her side hustle didn’t take off until she embraced SEO. When she uploaded her first worksheets, she titled them, “Creating sight words with pattern blocks.” Sales slowly trickled in.

Her husband Jerome, who has a business background, suggested a simpler title, like “Hands-on sight words.” The sight-reading worksheets quickly became her bestselling products, Powell says.

Powell’s store brought in $125,500 in 2022 revenue, according to documents reviewed by Make It. Her husband also sells worksheets on the platform, and they’ve used their combined earnings to fund vacations and pay down their mortgage and student loans, Powell says.

“You have to have passion and knowledge,” she says. “You also have to have a business sense [and understand] SEO.”

Once you gain enough customers, work to turn your sales into positive reviews, so you appear higher in platforms’ search results, Kristof advises. Customer service, prompt shipping and quality control can usually earn you a good online reputation.

The McCauleys have a rule for their ever-changing collection of side hustles: “You either have to be one of the first to get there, or your approach has to be very unique and different to be successful,” Sarah says.

But being first or unique doesn’t guarantee long-term success. In 2020, the couple was early to a side hustle trend: pallet flipping. At local warehouses, they’d buy pallets of returned goods from Amazon, Walmart or Target. They’d unbox the pallets, discover their contents and resell the items for a hopeful profit.

From December 2020 to December 2022, the McCauleys made about $19,500 in pallet-flipping profits, they estimate. Their most popular unboxing YouTube video got 5.4 million viewers, translating to an additional $30,000 in advertising revenue, says Jamie.

Last year, more Americans hopped on the pallet-flipping trend. Pallet prices rose, resale values dropped and a slew of unboxing videos diluted the McCauleys’ viewership. “The pallets became not really worth our time … from the standpoint of time over money,” says Sarah.

Four years ago, the McCauleys would’ve simply moved onto their next side hustle. Now, they’re feeling the strain of constantly building new gigs from scratch, and starting to reorganize their income streams into a smaller number of longer-term projects.

Instead of flipping their current home renovation project in Northern Michigan for a profit, for example — something they’ve done multiple times — they’ll keep it as their own vacation house and part-time Airbnb rental, they say.

“We always knew [side hustling] was going to have an expiration date,” says Jamie. “It’s a young person’s game, to always be looking for what’s next.”

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Almost 60% of the caloric intake of the average American diet is coming from ultra-processed foods, according to a 2017 paper published in the journal Population Health Metrics — and that’s concerning to health experts.

“Ultra-processed foods contain ingredients that we generally wouldn’t find in our kitchen, and they often contain high amounts of sugar and salt,” says Jinan Banna, registered dietitian and professor of nutrition at the University of Hawaii.

“They may also contain additives, and they often are stripped of their nutritional values. So they may have very little vitamins and minerals [and] fiber.”

Eating ultra-processed foods often can lead to a higher risk of developing health conditions like dementia, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, according to doctors in the American Medical Association.

That’s why Banna limits her consumption of ultra-processed foods and encourages you to do the same. Here’s the highly processed food that she never consumes.

“Some [ultra-processed foods] I would never consume, such as soda,” Banna tells CNBC Make It.

“Soda doesn’t have any nutritional value other than just calories in the form of sugar. So they’re empty calories, which don’t give us any of the nutrients that we need.”

When you drink soda, it is digested very quickly and can cause you to feel hungry, she adds, which can lead you to eat more food than you planned to.

Instead of soda, Banna opts for different types of tea and water, still or sparkling.

“Sometimes I drink a cold hibiscus tea. Plain water, of course, is a great alternative,” she says. “Even coffee can be an option, of course, consumed in moderation.”

A recent preliminary study that was presented last week at a meeting held annually for the American Society for Nutrition took a close look at dietary data collected in 1995 from more than 500,000 Americans between the ages of 50 and 71. The data was used to determine if there were connections between dietary choices and mortality rates over the span of almost 30 years.

Out of 124 foods, ultra-processed drinks was the No. 1 food that people who had the highest intake of ultra-processed foods consumed.

“Diet soft drinks were the key contributor to ultra-processed food consumption. The second one was sugary soft drinks,” the study’s lead author Erikka Loftfield told CNN.

Beverages make up a significant portion of dietary intake. So, these types of drinks — like diet sodas and energy drinks — are the processed food that people seem to consume more than others, Loftfield said.

The study also found that the lifespans of those who eat a diet high in ultra-processed foods may be shortened by over 10%, according to CNN.

As a rule of thumb, Banna recommends using the 5/20 method when checking the nutrition labels on the foods you eat.

“You can use the daily value,” she says. “That’s an easy way to know whether the food is generally high or low in a particular nutrient.”

Check the daily value percentages of specific nutrients like sodium, sugars or saturated fat, Banna suggests.

“The idea is, if [it’s] 5% or less, then the food is generally low in that particular nutrient. If 20% or more, you can consider the food high [in the nutrient],” she says.

“So that’s just a quick way to glance at the label and know if a food contains a little bit or a lot.”

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These days, we could do with all the mental strength we can muster. 

Mental strength is the ability to productively regulate your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, even in the face of adversity. And adversity is in no short supply. If you want to overcome more challenges, achieve more success, experience more happiness and less stress — it takes mental strength. 

After spending decades studying mental strength and interviewing and surveying thousands of people for my recent book, “The Mentally Strong Leader,″ I have good news. The mentally strongest people tend to share certain habits we can learn from. There are patterns I’ve noticed when it comes to what they say (and don’t say) and what they do.

If you always do these eight things, you’re already mentally stronger than most. If you don’t — yet! — you can look to this list as a mini-playbook that will help you level up your mental strength.  

That adage about how you should “leave your emotions at the door” just doesn’t work. If you’ve tried it, you know it’s not that simple.

That said, while mentally strong people are aware of emotions triggered inside, they don’t let those emotions instantly flow through into words or actions. 

They catch their emotions, consider if they’re helpful to express, then decide how to respond. In other words, regarding unhelpful emotions, they catch it, check it, and change it (using the the 3 Cs of cognitive behavioral therapy).

We all contend with doubt. Even the most confident people I’ve interviewed experience doubt. 

Confidence, then, is your ability to manage your relationship with the doubt you’ll inevitably experience. 

The mentally strong have found the right middle ground between overconfident and paralyzed by fear of failure. They acknowledge doubt, but let it sit quietly in the background so they can focus on how they will accomplish something, not if they can accomplish it in the first place.  

Imagine a friend, clearly upset and in need of empathy, was telling you about a relationship they just ended. After listening, would you say: 

“How could you let this relationship fail? It’s all your fault, you jerk!” 

I doubt it. Instead, you might say:

“I appreciate what you’re going through and how much it must hurt. Try not to be so hard on yourself.”

You should take this more compassionate tone with yourself, too. 

When we face setbacks, we often try to go it alone, forgetting that one of the most important things mentally strong people do is to seek perspective and support. 

Know what your “resilience needs” are, and then draw on them. For example, when I experience setbacks, I call a sibling to laugh about it. My resilience need is to tackle challenges with humor, and I know my brothers or sister will recognize the comedy in the situation and make me feel better.

Others might need someone who will just listen, be a shoulder to cry on, or become an advisor. 

Whatever your resilience needs are, identify who in your network can help you in that way, and then call on them at the right moments. Resilience is a team sport.

Mentally strong people don’t get worn down as much by the daily grind. 

Whether or not they realize it, they engage in a combination of gratitude and mindfulness — a practice I call grindfulness. It means being present and mindful enough in daily life to notice the details and show gratitude for the positive aspects of whatever grind you find yourself in. 

For example, say you’re having a tough morning at work. You’re answering a string of emails that came in overnight, and you’re frustrated. But you stop to marvel at the fact that you can type a few words, hit a button, and within seconds, your thoughts are transmitted to someone halfway across the world. Amazing. 

Your appreciation for this mundane detail lifts your spirits just a little, helping your mood. That’s grindfulness. 

Mentally strong people recognize when to let go of preconceived notions. They know when to drop points of view and ideas that are no longer relevant or useful to them. They identify and ditch bad habits that prevent them from moving forward productively. They regularly challenge their assumptions. 

In short, they know they sometimes need to unlearn in order to learn. 

Start by identifying and exchanging your limiting beliefs. What unhelpful stories do you tell yourself that have become ingrained? What unwarranted labels are you applying? 

For instance, you might label yourself as less talented than your peers and tell yourself: “I’m not good enough to get promoted.” Replace those limiting beliefs with empowering beliefs like, “I have all the skills needed to get promoted.”

It takes mental strength to consistently be supportive of others, especially in the face of negativity, when others are doing the easy thing and jumping on the “Complain Train.” 

Even better than generic encouragement or positivity is informed encouragement, which is when you give praise or positive reinforcement that is specific in nature. Doing so shows you took the time and care to indicate exactly what deserves praise and why, making your words feel more authentic and meaningful.

In times of change, you can act like change is something bad that causes pain and requires unwanted effort — like it’s something happening to you. 

Mentally strong people, on the other hand, see change as something positive, a jumping off point that can improve personal and professional fortunes — like it’s something that happens for you. 

You can choose to see change as a personal software upgrade, a catalyst for growth, and another opportunity to exercise your mental strength muscles.  

Scott Mautz is a popular speaker, trainer, and LinkedIn Learning instructor. He’s a former senior executive of Procter & Gamble, where he ran several of the company’s largest multi-billion-dollar businesses. He is the author of ”The Mentally Strong Leader: Build the Habits to Productively Regulate Your Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors.” Follow him on LinkedIn.

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National French Fry is on Friday, July 12, and plenty of popular restaurant chains are offering freebies and deals to honor the holiday.

Whether they’re crinkle cut or curly, French fries are a favorite across the nation. The average American consumes around 34 pounds of French fries a year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The American staple now ranks as the second most popular dish after hamburgers, per YouGov’s latest poll.

The origin of French fries is unclear, despite the name, according to Britannica. President Thomas Jefferson is often credited with introducing the dish to Americans after returning from France with a recipe for “deep-fried potatoes in small cuttings,” per the Thomas Jefferson Foundation.

From Arby’s to Smashburger, here are eight places you can score free and discounted fries today, as well as throughout the weekend, the month of July and the rest of the year.

All July, Arby’s Reward’s members can get any size fries for $1 at participating locations.

On National French Fry day and every Friday for the rest of the year, members of Burger King’s Royal Perks loyalty program can score one order of free fries with any $1 purchase. This deal is not valid on delivery orders and is available at participating locations.   

Today and every Friday for the remainder of 2024, new and existing members of Jack In the Box’s loyalty program can get a free order of any size and style of fries as long as they spend at least $1. The deal is available for online orders and in-store at participating locations.

On July 12, KFC rewards club members can get a free order of large fries with any purchase made online or through the KFC app.

Through August 18, you can get a free order of Chili Cheese Fries with the purchase of a “sackful” at participating stores as a part of the restaurant’s Krystal Palooza promotion.

Rewards members can get free medium fries with any $1 purchase made in the McDonald’s app every Friday through December 31, 2024 at participating locations.

On Friday, July 12, you can score a free regular size order of Smash Fries with any purchase at participating stores.

Every Friday through the rest of the year, you can get a free order of any size Hot & Crispy Fries with any purchase made in the Wendy’s app at participating locations.

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In some of the largest U.S. cities, earning six figures isn’t a benchmark — it’s become the norm.

The median household income is over $100,000 in six cities, four of which are in California, according to a new analysis by GoBankingRates. In San Francisco, at least half of households make $146,872 — the highest of all cities.

Here’s a look at the 10 wealthiest U.S. cities, based on 2022 U.S. Census household income data that’s been adjusted to 2024 dollars:

1. San Francisco: $146,872
2. San Jose, California: $146,143
3. Seattle: $124,715
4. Washington, D.C.: $109,300
5. San Diego: $106,007
6. Oakland, California: $101,421
7. Boston: $95,858
8. Virginia Beach, Virginia: $94,066
9. Austin, Texas: $93,004
10. Portland, Oregon: $92,274

The median income among the largest 50 U.S. cities as a whole is $77,046, which is more in line with what most Americans typically earn. In 2024, the median annual household income is estimated to be $78,171, according to data consulting firm Motio Research. 

But the amount that people earn can vary widely between cities. In Detroit — which is ranked 30th in population size — the median income is $40,574. That’s the lowest of all cities and more than $100,000 less than the median in San Francisco. 

The disparity largely reflects how the wealthiest Americans tend to be concentrated in a few of the largest U.S. cities. In San Francisco, there are 305,700 millionaires, which is second only to New York City’s 349,500 millionaires, according to wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth.

The wealthiest cities also tend to offer a high number of well-paying jobs in technology, finance, entertainment or health-care industries. Land scarcity is a factor, too, as it restricts new housing developments and drives up property prices, which can exclude lower-income buyers from the market.

Below are the median household incomes for the 25 most populous U.S. cities, ranked from highest to lowest. The average household income for the wealthiest 5% of earners in each city is also included.

• Median household income: $146,872
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $1,007,363

• Median household income: $146,143
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $775,803

• Median household income: $124,715
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $773,332

• Median household income: $109,300
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $772,837

• Median household income: $106,007
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $614,755

• Median household income: $101,421
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $691,594

• Median household income: $95,858
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $727,746

• Median household income: $94,066
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $502,395

• Median household income: $93,004
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $607,976

• Median household income: $92,274
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $550,487

• Median household income: $92,249
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $625,097

• Median household income: $84,913
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $442,133

• Median household income: $84,880
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $457,729

• Median household income: $84,836
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $439,505

• Median household income: $84,489
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $565,658

• Median household income: $83,440
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $820,758

• Median household income: $82,314
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $746,353

• Median household income: $82,019
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $552,377

• Median household income: $81,924
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $667,861

• Median household income: $79,588
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $644,063

• Median household income: $79,327
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $453,412

• Median household income: $79,262
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $408,068

• Median household income: $78,144
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $436,906

• Median household income: $77,463
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $486,335

• Median household income: $77,080
• Average household income for top 5% earners: $385,600

Want to stop worrying about money? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course Achieve Financial Wellness: Be Happier, Wealthier & More Financially Secure. We’ll teach you the psychology of money, how to manage your stress and create healthy habits, and simple ways to boost your savings, get out of debt and invest for the future. Start today and use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off through September 2, 2024.

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