If you’re having trouble making ends meet these days, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic and are worried about making the next mortgage or rent payment. Millions more are also struggling with debt and trying to figure out how to send more than the minimum monthly payment on their credit card bills. One way to address some of these challenges is by taking on side gigs from home. Side gigs, also called side hustles, are part-time jobs you can use to supplement your income and meet current or long-term financial goals. Thanks to the internet and the way the overall economy is shaping up in the 21st Century, it’s easier than ever to find this kind of work, too. Here are some great side gigs from home you can take on for a little extra cash.
1. Writing and Editing
If you’re a proficient writer, you could work from home as a writer or editor. Thousands of companies and entrepreneurs need part-time writers and editors to do work for them. Some of this work may involve ghostwriting for blogs or other online publications; occasionally, you may write content for websites or social media, or even create product descriptions for Amazon or other online catalogs. Writing for web-based publications is the perfect fit for a side gig from home, and top online freelancing websites such as Upwork or Fiverr are great places to start looking for this type of work.
2. Customer Service Representative
Working from home as a customer service representative is a great side gig with flexible hours. As a virtual call center agent, you’ll likely be responsible for talking to people over the phone, chatting online, or responding to emails. Call center agents may help solve customers’ problems, take orders, or coordinate meetings and appointments. Since all types of enterprises require customer service representatives, from financial institutions to online stores to nonprofits, these positions are in demand and could be a great fit for your situation.
3. Teaching
One way to make a little extra money on the side is to teach from home. With the onset of COVID-19 and so many learning institutions adopting distance learning, this is a timely side gig for making a little extra cash. If you have a degree in education or some sort of expertise in a career field, you could work as a distance-learning educator for a university or technical training program. Hundreds of these institutions already have distance-learning programs, and you could run one of their online courses for them. Additionally, if you’re adept at math, chemistry, or some other subject, you could work from home tutoring other students in a particular subject.
4. Drop-shipping
If you have some entrepreneurial flair, drop-shipping could be a side gig from home that appeals to you. With drop shipping, you identify a niche, hard-to-find item that you can obtain from a wholesaler or otherwise inexpensive supplier. You market that item or items to your customer base; when you sell an item, you then order and have it shipped from the cheap supplier. Your profit in this side gig is the difference in cost between your price and the supply source, along with your shipping and other expenses. The real positive with drop shipping is that you don’t have to invest in inventory that may not sell, or put the time and effort in to develop and manufacture your own product. When you sell an item you’ve marketed, you simply have it shipped to the customer and realize a profit.
5. Social Media Manager
Another great side gig to consider taking on is being a social media manager. Social media managers oversee companies’ accounts on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. They’re often responsible for posting and editing new content on these sites, managing comments from the online community, and making plans to drive greater viewership and reach. If you’re already a digital native and spend much of your free time on these sites anyway, this could be a perfect side job for you to indulge your passions and make money while doing it. Depending upon your level of responsibility, you could manage the social media presence of several organizations simultaneously. The freelancing sites mentioned earlier are great places to look for this kind of work.
6. Rent Space
If you don’t have the time or ability to work any of these side gigs, you may still be able to earn money outside of your full-time job. One way to create an additional revenue stream is to rent out some space that you aren’t using. For example, if you can rent a room in your home that isn’t currently in use, you could increase your monthly income and save some additional money. You could also consider renting your home or part of it occasionally on a site such as Airbnb. Additionally, if you have an outbuilding or garage, you may be able to rent that space to people to do work or store things. So, if you have a little extra space available in or around your home, put it to work earning extra cash for you.
Take Advantage of the Side Gig Explosion
If you’re worried about having enough cash to pay the bills, cover the mortgage, or get out of debt, any of these side gigs from home are great ways to earn a little extra cash and improve your financial situation. Do a quick self-assessment and try to determine if one of these part-time jobs is a good fit for your situation.
