With the cost of living continually increasing and income growth seemingly stagnating in many industries, you’re not alone if you find you’re struggling to make ends meet with your regular 9 to 5 job.
If you’re looking for a way to relieve some of the pressure and start to get ahead, you may be considering ways you can earn some extra cash on the side with a second job.
In today’s marketplace, this can be easier than you may think. There are plenty of options out there for people who want to generate a secondary income that are relatively easy to get started with.
Read also: The definitive 5 step plan for investment success
Here are my top 5 picks to get started.
1. Freelancing
Are you a good writer? Do you have web development skills? Or maybe you’ve got some graphic design skills up your sleeve? Why not put your skills to good use by taking on some freelance work in your spare time.
The freelancer writing market is booming and there are a wealth of freelancing platforms out there to help you get started (source: Freelance Writing Blog. Sites like Fiverr, Freelancer, Upwork, and Guru each provide platforms that can connect you with businesses and entrepreneurs looking for freelancer writers to complete a variety of jobs.
2. Blogging
If you’re a passionate writer, blogging is another great way to earn some extra cash if you’re smart about it.
Firstly, you’ll need to work out what your strategy is. Consider things like what you know and enjoy writing about, how you’ll develop your content, how many others are competing in that market, where you’ll generate traffic from, and how you’ll monetize it. Once you’ve formulated your strategy, you can follow these six steps to starting a blog in under 30 minutes to get started.
3. Catering
Are you handy in the kitchen? A catering side business could be a great fit for you!
Whether it’s baking cakes or cookies, preparing canapes for parties, or offering buffet or spit roast hire, because the majority of demand for catering hire will be on weekends and holidays it can make for an ideal side job to fit in with your existing work commitments.
4. Specialist Services
If you don’t have any special skills in areas other than what you currently do for work, why not develop a new one?
Consider if you can do a short course to get qualified in a particular field where customers will typically want your services outside of standard business hours. It could be completing training as a hairdresser or becoming a personal trainer or yoga instructor.
Once you’ve built the skills you need to get started, ask family and friends to put the word out to help you find your first few customers then look at ramping up your marketing activities to bring in new clients when you’re ready to take it to the next level.
5. Odd Jobs
There are the usual options of taking on some extra work as an Uber or Ubereats driver, but if you’re looking for something a little different, check out sites like Taskrabbit.
These allow you to browse and accept a range of odd jobs posted by people who need a hand doing anything from hanging artwork, furniture assembly or setting up electronics, to handyman jobs, rubbish removal, tidying up a yard or running deliveries.
Whatever type of work you find most appealing, just make sure you choose a path that will offer you the flexibility to work around your existing work commitments and avoid burnout. Before you know it, you could find yourself with that bit of extra cash in your pocket each week that you’ve been craving!
