Kim, who grew up near Belfast, spent all her money trying to make herself happy, leaving her barely able to afford to buy proper food for her pet Jack Russell terriers, Roxy and Rex.

She says things hit rock bottom around the time she went on her first date with now wife Lyndsay.

She says: “I only had £4.20 in my pocket and I knew there was nothing else in the bank account.

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I only had £4.20 in my pocket and I knew there was nothing else in the bank account.
Kim

“I looked around and thought ‘is this what my life is going to be like forever?’ I had nothing at the end of the month.

“I’ve never been so embarrassed or so low. I was a band 7 mental health nurse, but I couldn’t buy good dog food. Right there I decided I was never going to be broke again. I had enough to get by, but I was still not happy.”

“I was rubbish at school and my teachers told me I wouldn’t do well, but I managed to pass my exams.

I was rubbish at school and my teachers told me I wouldn’t do well, but I managed to pass my exams.
Kim

"I loved helping people and you didn’t have to pay to do nursing, so I chose that.”

To try and make herself happy she joined a gym.

She says: “I thought, I’ll go to the gym and get a 6-pack, and when I’m in great shape I’ll be loveable.

So, over the course of two years, Kim, from Belfast, became a bodybuilder, entering a big competition in Northern Ireland.

Then she met her dream woman, Lyndsay, 40, at the gym - but she didn’t let on that she was struggling.

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“Lyndsay is a beautiful, stunning woman that worked for a big financial company, so I never told her I didn't have much,” she said. “I thought there’s no way I’m going to keep her.”

So, taking drastic action, Kim decided she would quit her job and fly to Canada for a self-development course.

But first she needed to save up money.

“I baked healthy treats and worked as a personal trainer as well as nursing,” she said.

“I didn’t tell anyone as I knew how it sounded to quit your job and go to Canada. There might have been an intervention.

Side hustles in numbers

Based on new research from Finder, an estimated 22.8 million Brits are using side hustles to top up their income.

Among those aged 18-23, 68 percent have a side hustle in 2024.

Those aged 24-42 aren’t far behind, with 65 per cent having an additional source of income.

Side hustles are less popular among older generations, with 40 percent of those aged 43-54 having one.

Whereas 23 percent of people aged 55-73 and just 7 per cent of those aged 74 and over are earning extra cash this way.

After working all hours to save a few grand, she flew to Canada and started the Bob Proctor personal development course, where she learned the basics of business.

Back in Belfast she set up her mentorship company Dynamite Lifestyle - which coaches people to reach personal and professional goals - and within a year she was making what she earned in a year as a nurse in one week..

“At the beginning it was tough and I worked all hours,” she said.

“Now eight years on I hit eight figures - over £10 million - I’ve got five companies and have customers in 65 countries. I go on 21 holidays a year and have my own house in Marbella, but I work less.”

Now eight years on I hit eight figures, I’ve got five companies and have customers in 65 countries. I go on 21 holidays a year and have my own house in Marbella, but I work less.
Kim

She and Lyndsay got married in 2018 and now live in a seven-bedroom mansion on the outskirts of Belfast with Roxy and Rex.