Many people of all ages are looking to combine work with freedom.
Maybe you already have a full-time job, but you want to increase your income. Yet you don’t want your friends to spot you making burgers at the Golden Arches or delivering pizzas. (Though, I should point out – delivering pizzas is a well-paid part-time job. If you go to an affluent neighborhood, the tips add up.)
Or you’ve already kissed that full-time job goodbye – and you refuse to return to the 8/5/40 grind. Or the rush hour traffic or abusive bosses.
You want a part-time gig that brings in useful extra cash but doesn’t control and dominate your entire life.
According to the Retirement Equity Lab at the New School for Social Research, workers over age 55 are three times more likely to be working in the gig economy than those under age 35.
In the modern, complicated, “sharing economy” world, there are more ways than ever for an enterprising person to make money on the side. You wouldn’t want to depend on many of them to keep the wolf away from your door, and they won’t make you rich, but they’re great for extra cash.
And I’m leaving out money-makers that are really businesses, such as blogging, creating YouTube videos, taking freelance gigs, and affiliate marketing. Like all businesses, they can take months or even years before you succeed. And you have no guarantee you ever will.
Here are 5 gigs that will pay you as you go:
1. Driving for Uber, Lyft, and the other ride-sharing companies.
Do you have a reliable, fuel-efficient car and a safe driving record? If you enjoy driving and meeting new people, you can join the many ride-sharing drivers.
The majority of Uber drivers work less than ten hours a week. Some work 70. During slow periods, you won’t get paid just for being available. Do factor in the expense of buying extra gasoline and the accelerated wear-and-tear on your car.
Hint: Because you’re an independent contractor, you can increase your odds of getting a ride by being available for Uber, Lyft, and all the other ride-sharing companies at the same time. Just make sure that when you’re busy with a ride from one company, you turn the others off, or they’ll penalize you for missing calls.
Hint: Stay close to airports or other places where many people need a ride.
2. Work at home as a “GoodStart Mentor”
During the first 100 days, when a patient is prescribed medication, it’s critical they take it as prescribed by their doctor. Unfortunately, many patients do not do so. Sometimes they get confused about whether they’ve taken it or not. Or they don’t like the side effects and stop.
Pleio pays you to call people and remind them of how and when to take their prescribed medications properly. It does require empathy and good listening skills.
You could make an extremely important difference in the health of many people.
3. Mystery shopping
If you enjoy shopping and eating out, this is a way to get paid to do so. Businesses will pay you from $8-$25 to test out how a business treats ordinary shoppers. You report on the results, good or bad.
A long-time mystery shopper on the Penny Hoarder blog reports they usually make $400-$500 per month.
The one problem with mystery shopping is avoiding the many scams. This is a legitimate way to make money, but the con artists will try to take advantage of you.
The FTC advises you to look for jobs on the Mystery Shopping Providers Association’s web site. Never pay a fee to join a mystery shopping company or for the right to look at a list.
You don’t need to pay for a certification either.
And never send money to someone via Moneygram or Western Union to “test” their service.
4. Completing tax returns
The extensive and extremely complicated tax code of the United States has created a large industry of people who profit by knowing the rules and regulations.
You don’t have to be a Certified Public Accountant. H&R Block is the most famous firm completing tax returns, but many other companies and single individuals do so as well.
Your local H&R Block will probably give an inexpensive tax course around August of every year. That’s your best opportunity to learn the job. You may want to work for them at least one tax season (January through April 15), or at another firm.
The need is highest during the regular tax season, but many businesses and self-employed people need help all year, so you can stay busy as you become more qualified and experienced.
5. Tutoring people online
You don’t have to be a teacher, certified tutor, or professor. You just have to know the subject you’re teaching or helping students with. Simply knowing how to speak and read English is a skill that’s highly valued by many people around the world who didn’t happen to be born in an English-speaking country.
If you have business experience in accounting or marketing or running a retail store, you can answer questions about your specialty.
With Course Hero, Chegg, and Tutor, you help teach students in your chosen field, including maybe answering homework questions.
With Education First, you teach English online to people around the world.
With VIPKid, you teach English online to Chinese children.
With QKids, you teach English online to children around the world.
