'Spiderman saved me from a boring nine-to-five job'

Nate Frindall used to have a job in a supermarket, but he says his outlook on work changed the day he visited the cinema dressed as Spiderman "for a laugh".

"When I walked in, someone shouted 'do a flip,'" the 19-year-old said. "I did one, and everyone started clapping."

And so he decided - with his parents' encouragement – to turn this impromptu performance into a 'side hustle' as a superhero impersonator.

Frindall is one of a growing number of people making a living from multiple jobs - a trend observers say has increased due to the cost of living crisis and dwindling amount of jobs with stable contracts.

The teenager from Dorking in Surrey invested in an "expensive, custom-made" costume and started working evenings and weekends as Spiderman.

He soon quit his job as he got the same pay for one hour as Spiderman as an eight-hour shift at the supermarket.

"When I got paid at the end of the month, it felt like it wasn't worth what I put in," he continued. "I was not happy there.

"Time went so slowly."

Now Frindall is looking to hire more impersonators and expand his business.

He said the Spiderman gig has allowed him to pursue his passions and other money-making activities, such as producing music and performing gigs.

"I love having multiple jobs," Frindall told the BBC.

"I don't have much interest in getting a nine-to-five."

However, he said he can end up working far more hours than before since he now needs to do unpaid promotional work and advertising.

"It really does take up a lot of time," Frindall continued.

As Dr Matthew Cole, assistant professor of technology, work and employment at the University of Sussex, said Frindall is among a new generation who are turning to side hustles due to the cost of living crisis.

"If people earned higher wages and things cost less, they wouldn't be working as much", he told the BBC.

According to him, this was partly because real wages had not recovered since the 2008 global financial crisis.

But he added there also are not as "many decent jobs" with stable contracts and career paths as in the past.

"Side hustles are a coping mechanism," said Cole, adding that many people were not working extra "out of passion".

But others have had different experiences.

Amber Vellacott, from Folkestone, Kent, told the BBC she started side hustling to get more variety in her life.

The art marketing consultant went part-time and started freelance social media work and pet sitting - doubling her income in the process.

"One day I'm marketing to sell original Banksy works - the next I'm walking a dog and scooping a cat's litter tray," she said.

Vellacott said switching between activities can help avoid the monotony of a nine-to-five and can improve her wellbeing by offering variety.

"It is good to spice things up," she continued.

But the 30-year-old warned juggling multiple jobs did carry the risk of burnout.

"I've definitely overburdened myself at points and had a little cry," she said.

Cole, the academic, warned those with multiple jobs could end up with less free time for their families, friends and hobbies.

One 2022 survey of 4,000 UK workers shows 16% of respondents had taken on an additional role to help pay for cost of living increases.

Amy Baldwin told the BBC she began side hustling alongside her NHS job to pay for a family holiday

She said she started selling clothes online, doing paid surveys and mystery shopping.

Eventually, the mum-of-three from Hastings said she could take redundancy and side hustle full time.

Her husband has also since quit his job to help with reselling - their main income.

"I got a buzz off... providing things for the kids that I wouldn't otherwise be able to provide," she said.

"We were both working full time just to survive.

"That just didn't seem right," she continued.

Baldwin added that she has also gained the freedom to adjust work around her children.

She said she likes the freedom of not having to ask a boss "to go to sports day or a nativity".

"I manage my own time," she said.

Still, Baldwin told the BBC she has less security than a regular job.

"It is a constant worry", she added.

Working for herself was also "addictive", which could make it difficult to draw boundaries, Baldwin continued.

"It's hard to switch off."

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