Rappi and PedidosYa: Why “extra income” is actually screwing you over

They sell it to you nicely: “Work whenever you want, earn extra money, be your own boss.” Rappi, PedidosYa, Glovo — all these apps promise freedom and “flexible” income. But here’s the trap no one tells you about.

I know people working 60 hours a week on these apps. They grind nonstop, wear down their bikes, have no health insurance, and by the end of the month they’re left with around 150,000 pesos. Do you know how much that is per hour? Do the math: less than 600 pesos. Numbers don’t lie.

The myth of “extra income”

Delivery apps sell the idea of the “gig economy” as the future. The reality is you’re trading your time (your most valuable resource) for money that isn’t enough, with no benefits, no vacations, nothing. It’s like farming gold in a F2P game: you spend hours just to move forward a few millimeters.

Here’s what no one tells you: you’re not building wealth. You’re selling hours of your life for cash that disappears in daily expenses. There’s no accumulation. No growth. It’s a financial treadmill — you keep running but stay in the same place.

Why those who understand think differently

People who understand personal finance know something key: your time is worth more than any hourly rate. Every hour you spend delivering is an hour you are NOT:

• Learning something that multiplies your income
• Building a skill no one can take away from you
• Developing assets that generate money while you sleep

The delivery worker thinks about next week. The investor thinks about the next 10 years. The difference? One sells time, the other invests it. One ends up tired and broke, the other builds wealth.

If you’re 25 and working delivery full-time, in 5 years you’ll still be doing it (or worse, burned out with no savings). If you invest that same time into learning programming, design, digital marketing, or sales — in 5 years you could be earning 3x or 4x more while working fewer hours.

The “for now” trap

“It’s just temporary,” they say. But “temporary” turns into years. And meanwhile you are NOT:

• Investing in assets that grow over time
• Building an emergency fund that gives you options
• Developing skills that increase your value

Delivery isn’t a plan, it’s a patch. And patches don’t build wealth.

The Don Roi lesson

If you’re using these apps because you have no other option, that’s fine. But use it as momentum, not as a destination. These 4 rules still apply:

1. Spend less than you earn. Can’t spend less? Then you need to earn more.

2. Save and invest FIRST every month, before anything else. Even if it’s a small amount, keep something aside that no one touches.

3. Increase that percentage over time. Goal: 10–20% of your income. When things improve, increase saving — not spending.

4. With the rest: live your life. But only after investing in yourself.

Weekly tip

Do this today: calculate your real hourly earnings (total income ÷ total hours worked, including waiting time). Then find 3 skills that could double that hourly rate within 6 months. Dedicate 1 hour a day to learning one of them. In 6 months, reassess whether you’re still delivering or have moved on to something better.

Your time is your most valuable capital — don’t sell it cheap.

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Don ROI: learn personal finance by playing

At Don ROI, we believe learning about money shouldn’t be complicated. That’s why we create content and trivia about personal finance, saving, budgeting, financial habits, debt, beginner investing, and passive income — so anyone can improve their relationship with money step by step.

If you want to learn how to save better, organize your expenses, understand emergency funds, or make smarter financial decisions, explore more Don ROI content and join our weekly trivia.

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FAQ about personal finance and saving

How do I start improving my personal finances?

The first step is understanding how much you earn, how much you spend, and which financial habits you need to fix to start saving and moving toward clear goals.

What’s more important: saving, paying debt, or investing?

It depends on your current financial situation, but generally you should organize expenses, build a savings base, and understand your debt costs before making advanced decisions.

How can I learn about money in a simple way?

A good approach is consuming clear, practical content and reinforcing it with exercises, questions, or trivia.

What topics does Don ROI cover?

Don ROI focuses on saving, budgeting, financial habits, financial education, debt, economic goals, beginner investing, and passive income.