2021 seems to be the year of reevaluating what you want out of life. For many, that means leaving an old career path for a new one. While the change may make you feel excited, this may be a time where your income decreases or disappears. Or perhaps your new career journey involves starting your own business, which might need some funding to get off the ground.
Here are a few ways to make money while in between incomes.
Create
Crafting
One of the most popular ways of busting our potential quarantine blues was through picking up a new hobby. Why not take this newfound talent and turn it into a bit of cash? Sites like Etsy prove that people love homemade goods, knowing their product had real love and care put into it. With those sites as well, it has never been easier to find that customer base for your products.
Who knows? This little side business could turn into your new career path as it did for Katie White-Carson, the founder of Royalty Soaps. She started making soap when she was only 16 at her homeschool co-op. Finding she had a real passion for it, Katie soon started selling her soaps on Etsy. It only took five years for her to gain enough customers, leading her to the creation of her own site. What started as a simple hobby soon allowed her and her family to join in and create a thriving business. So, if you have a creative hobby that you have been doing in your spare time, maybe it’s time to take the plunge and do it for profit!
Writing
In a world where we are constantly consuming online media, maybe you’d like to throw your hat into the ring of freelance writing? Or maybe you finally need that push to start the blog you’ve been wanting to write. Either way, these can be two great ways of getting a bit of extra cash. With freelance writing, creating an account on a freelance writer work marketplace can help find reputable job seekers quickly and easily. You can find jobs writing about anything from fashion to mechanics, and from casual readers to technical manuals.
However, what if the idea of starting your own blog is more your style? The money bloggers make comes mainly through advertiser partnerships and paid promotion. This can take a lot of site traffic and many followers to get the big sponsorships knocking on your door. If you already have been blogging as a side hobby or are willing to wait for the money to start rolling in, don’t give up! Either way, writing is a skill that people are always looking for so if you fancy yourself a writer, look towards content creation online.
Reduce
Selling
Perhaps this career change is requiring you to move and downsize, or maybe the past quarantine made you realize just how much unnecessary stuff you may have. (We’re looking at you, the dress we bought for a hypothetical party). Selling your items will not only bring the money in but will reduce the amount of clutter you’ll have to worry about in the long term.
Of course, in this day in age, it may not be as appealing to go out on your front lawn and start up an old-fashion garage sale (which can be a choice for some) so you may want to look at sites like Facebook Marketplace or even Craigslist. However, going on to one of these sights can be overwhelming if it’s your first time as a seller. Look into some online selling tips to help you seem like a professional and get those more serious buyers.
Flipping
Maybe the things you have and are willing to sell aren’t up to your standards, or the years of use are really starting to show and you’d like to up the value of the said item. If this is the case, consider looking into the world of flipping. ‘Flipping’ is when someone takes a well-used item, usually furniture, and does some restorative processes to bring back to good as new. This can not only be a very profitable hobby, but you can really let your creative side shine.
Some flippers prefer to get as close to the original design of the item. While some will make the items look brand new, others do a whole update to breathe modern life into outdated products. Whichever way you decide, this can be a fun way to make some extra cash and even be eco-conscious in the process.
What if you don’t have access to items to actually flip? Check out Ebay and Craigslist for products that people no longer want, which can go for pretty low prices. That’s what Rafael Ilishayev, co-founder of Gopuff, did when he needed to fundraise to get his then small business up and running. This cycle of buying, flipping, and selling office furniture was able to bring in over fifty-thousand dollars for him to finally kickstart his real passion. With a bit of creativity and a keen eye for deals, flipping could be your answer to some in-between job cash.
Provide
Transportation
Are you the kind of person who loves to take long drives? Do you enjoy finding new and exciting sites in your city you may have never known about? Are you already used to ferrying around friends and family? Then maybe you should look into the world of driving for a delivery or a rideshare app. Whether you use Uber, Lyft, or any of the dozens of drive-based apps, you get a flexible working schedule and a bit of extra money. Anyone who has looked and applied for a job knows that it can feel like a full-time position just job hunting. Having that flexibility driving for Uber/Lyft would be great if you don’t have your next career already lined up.
No car? No problem! Some of the apps will allow you to rent a car from them for company use. There’s no worrying if your car is yours, either. These apps usually offer to work with insurance companies to keep you covered in case of customer damage or an accident. Just make sure your driving record is clean and you’ll be good to go. Need some more detailed accounts of what the job is actually like? Check out our previous article about one person’s personal experience with working for a rideshare app.
Caring
Getting you a little nostalgic for the good old days? Why not use that inspiration to fuel your side hustle idea? Maybe it’s time to delve back into the world of babysitting! Child care will always be in demand. Parents are itching to get back to date nights after a year of being cooped up in the house. Getting into this business could be as easy as letting family and friends know you’re available for date nights. On the other hand, you could take it a step further and set up an account on Care.com. This has the added benefit of also offering senior and pet care if you don’t care for children.
Teaching
Along this same avenue, you may want to look into substitute teaching. Most states have their own requirements for joining their pool of substitute teachers, so do a quick Google search and see if you qualify. What’s great about that avenue is you choose when you’re working and what age group you’ll have. So, if you find yourself more comfortable with older kids, you have the luxury of taking jobs in high schools and avoiding preschool age.
Don’t forget tutoring! Master of language, art, or music? Lend your mastery to others by offering lessons.
Making money in between jobs
Spending a period of time without a steady income can be an unsetting time for anybody. However, with a little bit of creativity and a whole lot of dedication, you can still make money in the interim. If this money-making endeavor turns into your new career, remember you can use Nav.It as a small business owner. Now, go make those money moves!
Related Reads:
Side Hustles
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