Business
Bengaluru Techie Tried Rapido As A Side Hustle For 4 Days: Here’s What He Made
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The rider chose to work mostly after ten at night. Rapido offers a 20% incentive for rides between ten pm and six am, making late-night slots more rewarding than daytime hours.
Over four days, he rode mainly at night, sometimes starting in the evening and continuing past midnight. Image: X
It began as a simple experiment. A Bengaluru resident, curious about the buzz around gig work, decided to spend a few late nights riding for Rapido to see if the money really matched the hype. He was not looking to switch careers or become a full-time rider. He just wanted to know whether a few spare hours after work could actually make a difference to his monthly finances.
Four days later, he had more than just an answer. He had numbers, experiences and a reality check that soon went viral on Reddit, sparking a wider conversation about part-time work in the city.
Why he chose Rapido and the night shift
The rider chose to work mostly after ten at night. The reason was practical. Rapido offers a twenty percent incentive for rides between ten pm and six am, making late-night slots more rewarding than daytime hours.
Another detail that caught attention was his claim that Rapido was not charging any commission on rides at the time. While he admitted he was unsure if this was permanent or linked to regulatory issues around bike taxis, the zero-commission factor clearly boosted his take-home earnings.
For him, the goal was simple. Test whether a few hours on the road could actually translate into meaningful extra income.
How the four days unfolded
Over four days, he rode mainly at night, sometimes starting in the evening and continuing past midnight.
On the first day, he worked from six thirty in the evening to nine at night and earned Rs 170. Later, between eleven at night and one thirty in the morning, he earned another Rs 460. His total for around five hours of riding came to Rs 630.
On the second day, he stayed online for about five hours and earned Rs 750.
On the third and fourth days, he rode for roughly three to four hours each night and earned Rs 420 on both days. He noted that these days were slightly slower, with fewer ride requests compared to the earlier shifts.
By the end of the fourth day, he had enough data to calculate what part-time riding really meant in practical terms.
The final numbers
Across four days, the rider clocked a total of seventeen working hours. His gross earnings stood at Rs 2220. From this, he deducted fuel expenses of around Rs 400. That left him with a net profit of Rs 1820 for the entire period.
In simple terms, he earned just over Rs 100 per hour after accounting for petrol. For some readers, that sounded modest. For others, especially those struggling with stagnant salaries and rising living costs, it felt like a useful safety net.
When the internet joined the debate
The Reddit post quickly filled with comments from people living similar double lives.
One user shared that he works in an IT firm from two in the afternoon to ten at night, earning Rs 24000 a month. After his shift, he rides for Rapido from ten pm to six am. According to him, the money he makes on the bike often matches or even beats what he earns at his desk job.
Stories like these pushed the conversation beyond one person’s experience. They raised bigger questions about whether flexible gig work is slowly becoming more attractive than low-paying formal jobs, especially for young workers.
Who this kind of work suits best
The Bengaluru rider ended his post with a grounded conclusion. Rapido and similar platforms may not be perfect, but they work well for students, people from economically weaker backgrounds and those who have free hours late at night.
Lower traffic, higher incentives and the freedom to log in and log out without long-term commitment make gig riding easier to fit around studies or a regular job.
At the same time, he did not romanticise it. Long hours, physical strain and rising fuel costs remain real challenges. This is not easy money. But for many, it is better than having no extra income at all.
A glimpse of Bengaluru’s changing workforce
This four-day experiment reflects a bigger shift in the city’s work culture.
Bengaluru is no longer a place where one job defines a person’s identity. Today, the same individual can be a software employee by day and a bike captain by night.
The story of this part-time Rapido rider is not just about earnings. It is about how people are stitching together livelihoods in a city where ambition often moves faster than paycheques.
And in those late-night rides through quieter streets and glowing phone screens, many are finding not just fares, but a new way to stay afloat.
January 09, 2026, 06:29 IST
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Housebuilding giants will be centre stage next week as Persimmon, Vistry and Taylor Wimpey publish trading updates that are expected to offer a fresh snapshot of the UK housing market.
The updates will be closely watched by Government ministers, who have pledged to accelerate housebuilding, and by investors looking for signs of recovery and the Budget’s impact on the housing market as the UK heads into 2026.
Persimmon is due to publish a full-year trading statement on Tuesday, while Vistry will announce its fourth quarter trading statement on Wednesday and Taylor Wimpey a trading statement on Thursday.
UK housebuilding activity has remained in its deepest slump since the start of the pandemic, while the wider construction sector has been in contraction for a year, according to the latest S&P Global UK construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) published on Wednesday.
The index rose slightly to 40.1 in December from 39.4 in November, remaining well below the 50-point level that signals growth, marking the 12th consecutive month of declining activity.
Survey respondents cited fragile confidence, weak demand and clients delaying decisions ahead of the autumn budget.
Richard Hunter, head of markets at interactive investor, said Persimmon “has been hamstrung by the wider factors over which it has little influence, including but not limited to a faltering domestic economy”.
However, Aarin Chiekrie, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, highlighted that Persimmon’s homes are typically valued around 15% below the new-build national average, which “offers some resilience to ride current market challenges” and should provide some relief on building cost pressures.
Meanwhile Vistry, formerly Bovis Homes, has benefited from supportive government policy towards affordable housing, with average weekly sales rates rising by 11% between July and early November compared to the previous year, according to Hargreaves Lansdown.
On Friday, figures release by HMRC revealed UK house sales were 8% higher in November than a year earlier, with around 100,350 homes changing hands, an indication of some optimism in the market.
Jason Tebb, president of OnTheMarket, said: “With the budget done and dusted, uncertainty at least has been removed and those who put their moves on pause are returning to the market, encouraged by lower mortgage rates from some of the big lenders, with others expected to follow.
“As January progresses, well-priced homes continue to attract interest.”
The number of jobs created in the US grew only modestly in December, as a weak year for the employment market in the world’s largest economy drew to a close.
Employers added 50,000 jobs in the final month of 2025, according to Labor Department data, which was fewer than expected. But the unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%.
Job gains last year were the smallest since 2020, when the Covid pandemic led to widespread cuts.
Businesses have been operating in an environment marked by US President Donald Trump’s dramatic policy changes, including tariffs, an immigration crackdown and cuts to government spending.
The US economy has held up in the face of these shifts, growing at an annual rate of 4.3% over the three months to September.
But the expansion – driven by steady consumer spending and a growth in exports – has not been accompanied by significant job creation.
On average, the US added just 49,000 roles per month in 2025, down from an estimated gain of two million a month the year before.
The Labor Department said the US also added 76,000 fewer new positions in October and November than previously estimated.
Retailers and manufacturers were among the sectors reporting losses last month, which were offset by hiring at health care employers, bars and restaurants.
The data underscores the mixed dynamics facing job-seekers in the US, where hiring has cooled markedly over the last year but fears of mass layoffs have not materialised.
The US Federal Reserve central bank has responded to the slowdown by cutting its key lending rate in hopes of giving the economy a boost, despite concerns that inflation is still bubbling.
But the central bank is divided about how much lower borrowing costs should go.
Analysts said the latest figures – which showed the jobless rate recovering to the 4.4% level where it stood in September – would do little to resolve those debates.
“Today’s report confirms what we think has been evident for some time—the labor market is no longer working in favour of job seekers,” said Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.
But she added: “Until the data provide a clearer direction, a divided Fed is likely to stay that way. Lower rates are likely coming this year, but the markets may have to be patient.”
Business
Tara Sutaria’s Car Collection: Her Garage Worth Crores Will Leave You Shocked – Have A Look
Tara Sutaria, the Bollywood star known for films like Student of the Year 2 and Marjaavaan, has built a strong career since her 2019 debut. She has steadily increased her earnings through films, brand endorsements, and other projects. As of 2025, her net worth is reportedly around Rs 25 crore (about $ 3 million USD).
She became well-known after her debut in Student of the Year 2 (2019) and later appeared in films such as Marjaavaan, Heropanti 2, and Ek Villain Returns. In addition to movies, Tara also earns from brand deals, public appearances, and her presence on social media.
Income Sources
Most of Tara’s wealth comes from her film salaries and endorsement deals. She reportedly earns around Rs 1–3 crore per film role, depending on the project. Endorsements also add significantly to her earnings, with deals for beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands.
Her annual income is estimated to be several crores of rupees, which has earned her popularity in the Bollywood industry.
Luxury Home in Mumbai
Alongside her earnings, Tara owns a luxury apartment in the upscale Pali Hill area of Mumbai. The neighborhood is known for its premium homes and celebrity residents.
(Also Read: Tara Sutaria-Veer Pahariya Break-Up Buzz: What We know So Far)
Car Collection
Tara’s car collection is one of the most discussed topics about her. During public appearances and airport visits, these luxurious cars have been captured on camera:
- Mercedes-Benz GLS – a luxury SUV worth over Rs 1 crore.
- Audi Q3 – a compact luxury SUV valued at around Rs 35 lakh.
- She also reportedly owns a BMW X3 and Honda CR-V in her garage.
Lifestyle and Public Image
Tara Sutaria maintains a lifestyle that combines work and leisure. She often shares glimpses of her travels, fashion moments, and personal experiences on social media.
Recent Concert Controversy
She recently grabbed headlines after a moment at AP Dhillon’s Mumbai concert turned into a big drama. She joined the singer on stage for a performance, sharing hugs and smiles that went viral. Social media clips showed the unhappy face of her boyfriend Veer Pahariya who watched from the crowd. Fans wondered about that concert moment and shared thousands of reactions about her relationship.
Tara quickly cleared the air. She called out fake PR tricks trying to ruin her image and confirmed that there is nothing like the buzz spread on social media platforms. (Image Credits: Instagram/tarasutaria)
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