SAVVY SCHOOLBOY
I make £2k a month with side hustle inspired by Fortnite… my phone’s blowing up with work but I won’t spend a penny
Akito Media was set up from an iPhone he got for his 15th birthday
A SCHOOLBOY is now raking in £2,000 a month from a Fortnite inspired side hustle - but he won't spend a penny.
Shakir Hussain,15, has built a successful design agency from his bedroom - creating artwork based on the videogame - and makes more in a day than his dad makes in a week.
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Fans are happy to pay for masterpieces via PayPal, into an account under his dad's name.
The teen, from Birmingham, remains humble despite the windfall from his side hustle at such a young age.
He told the : "It's amazing that I'm making so much money.
"I love playing Fortnite and it's awesome that this hobby has given me a business as well as lots of fun.
"I love seeing the money come in and piling up in my savings."
Beaming dad Amjad said he and his wife were "incredible proud" of their son.
"He's helped me with charity fundraising since he was very young," added Amjad.
"I certainly wasn't earning that at his age and I still don't - he's earned more in a day than I do in a week."
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The savvy schoolboy still keeps up with his studies while pocketing the extra cash.
He began making Fortnite inspired graphics on his computer last year and flogged them on a platform called Fiverr.
Shakir was earning a few quid per piece of artwork - a long way off where he is now.
The young lad, who lives with his dad, mum Rifat Bibi, and little sister, decided he would be better off running his own agency.
I was 20 and at uni when I started my side hustle… now it’s worth £3 million, I’ve bought a house & a Tesla
Akito Media was set up from an iPhone he got for his 15th birthday.
Shakir then started paying other artists for their pieces and took commissions when they sold.
The entrepreneurial teen has seen £2,000 roll in each month this year.
He has kept all the money in savings for now, as his sights aren't set on any big purchases yet.
What is Fortnite?
FORTNITE is an online video game played by up to 250 million people across the world.
In it, 100 players compete on their own or with a small group of pals to grab weapons, gather resources and build defences, before fighting it out to be the last man (or team) standing.
Matches take about 20 minutes, and you can drop into a new game within seconds of your previous one finishing.
It's bright, it's cartoony and it's fiendishly compelling.
Skill is rewarded but luck also plays a huge role, meaning no two games are ever the same and everyone feels like they have a chance of winning.
Fortnite has also made its developer billions.
In Europe it's rated 12+, meaning it's suitable for those aged 12 and up.
The battle royale mode is free to play, but there is also a story-driven single player and co-op mode called Save The World that players have to pay for.
Pop culture crossover events are very common because of the game's huge audience.
These involve players being able to buy themed outfits for the movie, TV show or brand, as well as getting some themed activities in-game to do too.
These might be new places to explore, new challenges to complete to win themed accessories, or new game modes that are loosely related to the theme of whatever is being crossed over with
Amjad recalled how he saw payments flood in after his son's agency was born, and "it went crazy."
The biggest sale has been £280, and the proud dad is happy Shakir is saving.
It comes as a savvy mum who started her side hustle at McDonald's kids' parties has revealed how she can now rake in up to £300 an hour.
Plus, another woman shared how she uses five minutes of each day to make an extra £60,000 a year.
Rachel Jimenez’s side hustle requires no experience to get started - just some market research and clever timing.
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Meanwhile, a 23-year-old showed how she started her side-hustle for next to nothing and she brought in nearly £100,000 last year.
Do I need to pay tax on my side hustle income?
MANY people feeling strapped for cash are boosting their bank balance with a side hustle.
The good news is, there are plenty of simple ways to earn some additional income - but you need to know the rules.
When you're employed the company you work for takes the tax from your earnings and pays HMRC so you don't have to.
But anyone earning extra cash, for example from selling things online or dog walking, may have to do it themselves.
Stephen Moor, head of employment at law firm Ashfords, said: "Caution should be taken if you're earning an additional income, as this is likely to be taxable.
"The side hustle could be treated as taxable trading income, which can include providing services or selling products."
You can make profit of up to £1,000 a year tax-free via the trading allowance, but over this and you’ll usually need to pay tax.
Stephen added: "You need to register for a self-assessment at HMRC to ensure you are paying the correct amount of tax.
"The applicable tax bands and the amount of tax you need to pay will depend on your income."
If you fail to file a tax return you could end up with a surprise bill from HMRC later on asking you to pay the tax you owe - plus extra fees on top.
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