I encourage you all to do the Hustle…No, you don’t have to get up and dance to the 1975 classic disco hit, but here it is if you want to.
There are as many avenues of earning out there as there are mirrors on a disco ball.
You probably won’t be able to buy a yacht with your earnings, but you can pay off some debt and build up your savings. Read more on the importance of Emergency Funds here. Check out these side gigs:
For the crafty crew:
- Try selling your creations on a website like Etsy. You can set up a virtual shop with ease. Making items can be done in your down time. My mom likes to crochet while she is watching television, so she has a creative outlet while she is relaxing. Small, lightweight items are great to sell online because shipping costs are low. Nora and I tried selling our chalkboards and trays, but we found that the cost to ship them wasn’t worth it.
- If you create bulkier items, try selling them at craft fairs. Nora and I had more success doing this, as most of our creations were larger. These take a bit more dedicated time, usually a full weekend, including transporting inventory and displays, but they are a great way to connect with other crafters. Almost all fairs have a booth fee and usually ask for a donation of something from your inventory to raffle or give away.
For those with a specialized skill set:
- Get paid for your knowledge, experience, and skills doing contract work in accounting, bookkeeping, graphic design, and other specialized fields.
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- Become a tutor. This can be done online or in person. Tutor.com is a good online option with a lot of flexibility. One of the most rewarding programs we have found is VIPKid*, an online English school for Chinese children (current enrollment is over 300,000 K-12 students) that focuses on keeping learning fun and creative. Lesson plans are provided through VIPKid, so the teachers can focus on helping students 1 on 1. This is a fantastic year-round opportunity to earn $14-$22 per hour. Requirements include having a bachelor’s degree, one school year of full-time teaching experience or equivalent hours in similar educational activities (home-schooling, tutoring, etc.), who is eligible to work in the US or Canada. Some stay at home moms do this year-round for a few hours a day. Some teachers spend their summers involved with VIPKids. Find out more about VIPKids here.
For those who love helping people:
- Several companies offer home-based customer service positions. Check out some of the companies that offer home-based employment in this article by dreamhomebasedwork.com. Requirements usually include having a quiet, dedicated area of your home from which you can work. (It may be considered unprofessional to call a company for help and hear barking dogs or crying babies.)
- Delve into direct sales. Basically, that means that products are marketed and sold by reps to people without going through a retail store (think Tupperware party). There are so many different companies that offer flexible working hours and self-driven income potential. RealWaystoEarnMoneyOnline.com has a list of some of the most popular direct sales companies. By far, the best opportunity I have seen in direct sales is through Rodan+Fields, an incredibly effective skin-care company that empowers their team to grow their own business and achieve great personal and financial success. If you would like more information, read more about Rodan+Fields here. As a customer, I have seen amazing results with sun damaged reversed, fine lines minimized, skin brightened, and even longer and thicker eyelashes.
- Babysit or become a nanny. When my kids were little, I helped watch my nieces and nephews while their parents were at work. It was a great way to spend time with some little sweeties and earn some extra money. We still laugh today about my 3 year-old niece (who is now in college) telling her mom that she wouldn’t put her shoes away because her mom wasn’t the boss of her, and that I was! Sometimes families just need some help getting kids to and from school and extra-curricular activities. There are plenty of opportunities to help other families. Neighborhood Facebook pages and Care.com are great places to look.
- Pet sitting or dog walking are wonderful ways to make some extra money, help families, and enjoy time with some furry friends. Our neighborhood Facebook page always has announcements of people willing to take on these tasks. You could ask a vet’s office if you could put up a flyer offering your services.
For those with time to kill:
- Participate in online surveys. Most don’t pay much, but they can be completed while you are watching TV, listening to music or podcasts, or spending time waiting for an appointment. Swagbucks and 20|20 Panel are popular. The Penny Hoarder has a great list of paid survey sites.
- Fiverr is a digital marketplace where people can offer services from graphic design to proofreading to relationship advice.
For those who like to drive:
- For deliveries, try Favor Delivery, Task Rabbit, and Door Dash.
Depending on skills and available time, there are so many earning opportunities out there. Good luck with your side hustle! Share this with your friends and let us know how you make some extra cash!
