That morning, the sun had just begun to peek through the curtains of their bedroom as Adi made his way to the dining room. The aroma of vegetable-filled omelet and toasted whole wheat bread filled the air, breakfast prepared by Maya so Adi would have extra energy for today's packed schedule. Maya sipped a cup of warm green tea, her eyes lighting up with a supportive smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Side Hustler." she teased, lifting her glass in a mock toast.
Adi chuckled and took a seat on the wooden stool by the table. "Morning, Mrs. Budget Manager." He sliced a piece of bread and glanced at the pile of brochures and printed pages he had brought to the table, there were information sheets for part-time jobs, ghostwriting flyers, even leaflets for academic typing services.
After finishing his breakfast, Adi cleared the plates and picked up a brochure: "Ghostwriting Articles & Blogs – Rp 100,000 per Article."
"I found some interesting job posts last night," he said as he opened his laptop on the corner desk. Several freelance websites were already open in tabs. "First, ghostwriting. It pays a hundred thousand per article, with a weekly deadline. If I take two articles per week, we could add two hundred thousand to our household income."
Maya set down her cup and leaned forward. "That's great. But remember, we need balance: home, baby prep, and couple time." She patted Adi's arm. "So, what's your schedule?"
Adi nodded. "I've planned it out. Every Monday and Thursday, early in the morning before you wake up, I'll write one article. Then Tuesday and Friday nights, after the baby's asleep, another article." He opened his calendar app. "Here's the plan…"
Maya stood up, grabbed a marker and the small whiteboard that had been hanging in the kitchen. Right below the grocery schedule and prenatal class notes, she wrote:
Monday & Thursday: Ghostwriting Deadline
Tuesday & Friday: Ghostwriting Deadline
Wednesday: Monthly Groceries
Friday (6 PM): Prenatal Class
Saturday: Quality Time (Netflix & Chill)
Sunday: Rest / Weekly Prep
Adi double-checked. "Monday I submit a draft, Tuesday I revise it, Wednesday is groceries, Thursday I send the second article, Friday we have prenatal class, Saturday is for relaxing. It works." He closed the laptop and looked at Maya gratefully. "I couldn't do this without you."
Maya smiled gently and looked at another brochure. "Second, you've got graphic design skills. Remember the café logo you made in college? Here's a flyer 'Digital Invitation Design' goes for Rp 200,000 each. You could offer this through Instagram or WhatsApp Business."
Adi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Right. All I need is internet and my old portfolio. I can make a couple of sample invitations wedding, kid's birthday, or even baby showers." He opened the "Portfolio" folder on his computer. "I'll keep this as a backup option if ghostwriting slows down."
Maya hugged him briefly. "You're awesome, Di. Always creative with solutions. I'm so proud of you."
Then, they sat together at the dining table to discuss the third option: Part-Time Delivery. There was an app hiring motorcycle couriers during peak hours—morning, evening, and weekends. It paid Rp 30,000 per delivery, with daily bonuses for completing at least five trips.
"I could try Friday evening or Saturday morning shifts." Adi said. "But I'm worried it might clash with ghostwriting or prenatal classes."
Maya nodded thoughtfully. "If you do delivery, maybe try Friday night after prenatal class, or Sunday morning when it's still quiet. But remember, Sunday is also our rest day."
They wrote all the options down, giving ghostwriting top priority, followed by invitation design, and delivery as a last resort. The updated whiteboard now looked busier but organized:
Monday & Thursday: Ghostwriting
Tuesday & Friday Night: Ghostwriting
Friday Night / Saturday Morning: Delivery (Optional)
Invitation Design: On Request
Sunday: Rest / Groceries & Weekly Prep
Maya grabbed her small work bag. "Now it's time to implement. I'll help you set up a freelance profile and post the sample invitations on Instagram. Then we pray for lots of orders."
Adi smiled with renewed spirit. "Let's do it." He activated his laptop, created a new account on a reputable ghostwriting platform, and completed his profile with a catchy title: "Experienced Freelance Writer Articles, Blogs and Thesis Ghostwriting." He added a short portfolio and a made-up testimonial from a training buddy saying his past article had been featured on the campus blog.
Meanwhile, Maya turned on the lamp in their home office corner and opened a shared Google Drive folder with Adi. They created a "Freelance Projects" directory and moved Adi's outline for "Smart Grocery Shopping Tips" into it. They also prepared a simple ghostwriting contract template for future clients: including payment details, deadlines, revision terms, and bank transfer info.
Later, Adi posted two digital wedding invitation designs on his Instagram Story. one modern minimalist, the other bohemian with floral illustrations. He added the caption:
"Digital Invitation Design by AdiGraphic – Starting at Rp 200,000/set. Ready in 3 working days. WA 08xxxx for inquiries!"
Maya helped promote it in their family and friends WhatsApp groups, hoping someone would bite.
By noon, after hours on the laptop, Adi took a break. Maya brought him a snack slices of dragon fruit and a glass of iced cucumber. They sat side-by-side on the couch, enjoying the snack while discussing their first week's goals.
"This week's goal." Adi said with excitement in his voice, "is to write one article on 'Managing Household Expenses for Young Couples.' I've already applied. If it's approved, I'll start writing tomorrow night."
Maya nodded enthusiastically. "And invitation design goal: at least one order in the next two weeks. I'll help follow up clients on WhatsApp."
In the days that followed, Adi stuck to his schedule. Monday morning, before the sun rose, he sat at his desk under the glow of a small lamp. Calmly, he opened his outline and began the first paragraph, adding practical tips from their own life, with Maya buying from local markets, cooking in large batches and freezing, using store subscription promos, and tracking all expenses in a simple spreadsheet.
On Tuesday night, he reviewed and sent the revised article requested by the editor. The next morning, a notification popped up: "Your article has been approved and will be published tomorrow. Payment will be processed in 3–5 business days." His heart leapt seeing the Rp 100,000 notification.
That night, after their baby had fallen asleep, he completed a second draft: "5 Ways to Reduce Food Waste" for a different portal. Wednesday afternoon, they celebrated with fresh coconut drinks on the porch, imagining the extra money flowing into their savings.
As scheduled, on Friday evening, Adi rushed to his scooter and attached the delivery box. He delivered food packages around their neighborhood. Though exhausted, a smile spread across his face. Each completed trip felt like another win.
By Saturday afternoon, while enjoying some quality time watching their favorite series, Adi received a chat message: "Hi Adi, I saw your invitation designs on Instagram. I'm interested in digital invitations for my child's birthday. How much for 30 invitations?"
Maya sat beside him, helping with the pricing: "30 invitations x Rp 200,000 = Rp 6,000,000. We can give a 10% discount for large orders, so Rp 5,400,000. If they want a print-ready PDF, it's an extra Rp 100,000." They sent the formal quote, their hearts pounding as they waited for the client's reply.
By Sunday afternoon, they sat in their now neatly arranged living room, complete with a small arch for package drop-offs, a reading nook, and the updated weekly whiteboard. Adi exhaled deeply, reflecting on the whirlwind week of trials and wins.
"How does it feel to be your own boss?" Maya wrapped her arms around Adi's knees, her eyes glowing with pride.
Adi smiled broadly. "Amazing. I've learned to appreciate every minute of time and to separate work time, rest time, and family time. Time feels so precious now."
They exchanged stories, about the delivery that got lost, the editor who requested multiple revisions, and the client who wanted a unicorn-themed birthday invitation. Each tale made them laugh and feel more confident that their efforts would pay off, not just financially, but in the sense of purpose.
As twilight fell, Adi opened his banking app and saw the increased balance: Rp 100,000 from the first article and a few hundred thousand pending from delivery gigs. His eyes sparkled as he showed Maya.
"This is just the beginning. But it already feels… really motivating."
Maya gently touched his cheek. "You're amazing, Di. I knew you could do this. And most importantly, we're doing this together."
That night, before bed, Adi updated his digital calendar, adding tasks: "Follow-up Design Client" and "Check Ghostwriting Payment." Maya kissed his forehead and whispered, "Get some rest. Tomorrow's another new day."
And between the whisper of the night wind and the ticking of the clock, Adi closed his eyes in gratitude. He knew there would be tighter deadlines, unstable income, and a baby who'd need more care soon. But with Maya's support, hard work, and a steady routine, he believed they could get through anything. One small step at a time, they were building a resilient home while chasing big and small dreams—together.