Creative ways to increase income

[CharChar]

I didn't see that this has been addressed in detail yet. Besides the typical lists you find on Google about making extra money on the side (Recycling, selling on E-Bay, etc) what else can you think of?

I've cut my expenses like crazy and it seems my only option for improvement right now is to increase my income. Easier said than done. Let's see what we can come up with?

[greenmimama]

What are your talents and what have you tried so far? What would be your easy way to earn extra?

[JPinDC]

Here's a thread on what some Mustachians do or have done: http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/who-has-a-side-gigjob-that-brings-in-extra-cash-share-with-us!/

[CharChar]

Hmm...right now I work M-F and some Saturdays in a leasing office renting out homes. I have quite a bit of retail experience, including management. I took on a second retail job this last holiday season and it honestly wasn't really worth it. The mall and everything retail is on the other side of town and I only made a total of about $500 the whole season (about 3 months). It was NOT enjoyable. Now if I could find something closer or higher than minimum wage that would be a different story.

I also sell clothing online from time to time, but where I'm located, its difficult to be able to find wholesale or resell items. So my only option is to buy online, which sometimes ends up a complete waste of money because you don't really know what your going to get. That or drive 1 1/2 hrs to Kansas City, MO to DIG through thrift stores like looking for a needle in a haystack.

I have some dog walking/pet sitting experience as well, so that could be an option. But again, this will use up gas to get around most everywhere.

So basically all of my interests/skills lie within the realms of low-paying service industry jobs. I wish I could say I have computer skills or other hands on skills. But not so much :( I'm making $12/hr now (after just getting promoted with a $1 raise). So improvement there is not an option at this time.

[daveydinner]

I play guitar solo and with a band.

A few choice gigs really add up, especially when I don't have to split with a drummer. I do solo guitar... sort of a spaghetti western mix of old jazz standards, surf classics, cowboy/rockabilly stuff. Folks eat it up. A local art gallery calls me up and it's... i hope you're sitting down.... $400 for an hour of work, sometimes the drummer gets half. Playing oldies at senior centers was pretty lucrative in college too. You have a good time and make people happy. Granted I have to lug all my stuff over there and have it set up an hour before the crowd arrives, but I'm mostly just drinking free cheap wine and stuffing my face with free cheese during that time. I would never buy any of the paintings, ever. But the people there to buy art can tip too!

I busk (play on the street) and if you get the right person with the right tune, you'll get a $20 tip. For playing guitar on the street, which I'd be doing at home anyways.

-Davey Dinner

[netskyblue]

Pizza delivery driver can be a decent night job.  Or so I've heard from people who have done it.

[daveydinner]

I should mention that once, a birthday boy at his own party who asked me to play, gave me a $100 bill. He was wasted. His girlfriend (a friend of mine) came up right after that and said, "he didn't mean to do that."

I let her take it back. She gave it to him!

[Prairie Stash]

What are your talents and what have you tried so far? What would be your easy way to earn extra?

What hobbies do you have? Anything can be turned into money with a creative spin.

There was a cool ad on Kijiji recently (Canadian Craigs List), Buyer of embarrassing (legal) stuff. Basically the dude would buy you tampons, hemorrhoid cream, pregnancy kits etc.  I could see this expanding to buyer of stuff for shut ins, the infirm, people too busy to pick up their own dry cleaning etc. Not exactly a huge market but fits the side hustle criteria.

[Eric]

There was a cool ad on Kijiji recently (Canadian Craigs List), Buyer of embarrassing (legal) stuff. Basically the dude would buy you tampons, hemorrhoid cream, pregnancy kits etc.  I could see this expanding to buyer of stuff for shut ins, the infirm, people too busy to pick up their own dry cleaning etc. Not exactly a huge market but fits the side hustle criteria.

Google Shopping is a side hustle?!?  :)

[CharChar]

Well my BF and I do like to sit down and play/sing songs together (he plays guitar, we both sing). That would just be a matter of taking the time to learn some more songs. It could be fun if we could find places to perform. I know he use to play at coffee shops years ago.

Other than that, my biggest hobby in recent years has been selling clothing and other items online. This was fairly easy to do when I was living in California. Living in small town Kansas, not so much.

There are lots of things I would love to LEARN though, like furniture reupholstering or blogging if I had something to blog about. I love making lists and getting organized (including financially). But I haven't really found my big passion yet :(

It may just be that I need to really focus and pay off my debts completely before I focus my energy on anything else. I'm very antsy to do so and trying my best! I could do this in about 6 months if I throw all of my current savings towards them. However I am a new homeowner* and would be very nervous to not have that cushion there.

I like that idea about running errands for others. This would use up quite a bit of gas where I live, however, and there are lots of weird people here :O I've also thought about pizza delivery but my parents wouldn't shut up about how dangerous that would be for a girl in her 20's. And they are right, this is not a very safe town.

*I paid nothing to move into my house (got money back at closing) and my mortgage payment is less than $450/mo. This is the reason I'm staying in this town a while longer. I plan on making this a rental in 1-2 years time.

[Burgis81]

Hi there!

I like the idea of dog walking/sitting. How about if you do this for a select group of "VIP dogs" as a premium dog service for fancy dog owners? E.g with a little research you could find the following customer:

- female/male high income, dog owner, busy and a little guilty about the dog not getting enough attention/exercise/love etc.

You could then offer the following in your doggy VIP service:

- keeping an agenda and make sure you let the dog owner know about vaccinations, when its time to take vitamins, cut hair etc. (and organize it)
- doggy walking including exercise at a level suitable for the dog
- mental training / tricks training according to owner's goals/needs
- cuddling and playing with the dog
- cutting claws
- overnight stays e.g. during a vaccation
- playing with other dogs (if the owner wants it/the dog has doggy friends you can meet up with)
- you can ask if there are any special needs for the dog that you can make sure to happen/not happen: jumping up on children, chasing cats, special food, allergies etc.
etc. etc. as personalized/doggy-lized as possible ;-)

I'm pretty sure you could charge a decent amount on e.g. a monthly basis to be an "aunty" to a VIP dog :-) I think the trust thing is also big so if you have any personal references from other dog owners that would be great. I think a lot of dog owners don't leave their dogs to the cheapest possible dog sitter, for many its their baby and cost is not the most important thing..

I could go on :)

[ivyhedge]

Tutoring is my gig ... I've done it since 2004. Depending on your area and credentials it can be incredibly lucrative. I only use bike/public transit, so transit is easy, too!

[TJ79]

Uber / Lyft driving is an obvious choice if you live in an urban area where they're available and have a decent car. Choose your hours / customers. Work as much or little as you want.

[ivyhedge]

Hi there!

I like the idea of dog walking/sitting. How about if you do this for a select group of "VIP dogs" as a premium dog service for fancy dog owners? E.g with a little research you could find the following customer:

- female/male high income, dog owner, busy and a little guilty about the dog not getting enough attention/exercise/love etc.

You could then offer the following in your doggy VIP service:

- keeping an agenda and make sure you let the dog owner know about vaccinations, when its time to take vitamins, cut hair etc. (and organize it)
- doggy walking including exercise at a level suitable for the dog
- mental training / tricks training according to owner's goals/needs
- cuddling and playing with the dog
- cutting claws
- overnight stays e.g. during a vaccation
- playing with other dogs (if the owner wants it/the dog has doggy friends you can meet up with)
- you can ask if there are any special needs for the dog that you can make sure to happen/not happen: jumping up on children, chasing cats, special food, allergies etc.
etc. etc. as personalized/doggy-lized as possible ;-)

I'm pretty sure you could charge a decent amount on e.g. a monthly basis to be an "aunty" to a VIP dog :-) I think the trust thing is also big so if you have any personal references from other dog owners that would be great. I think a lot of dog owners don't leave their dogs to the cheapest possible dog sitter, for many its their baby and cost is not the most important thing..

I could go on :)

Make sure you have adequate liability coverage.

[Pollyanna]

This isn't a lot of $ but also doesn't have frequent demands -- I work for the Board of Elections as an official at my local voting precinct  during elections.  It's not a lot of money, but brings in a little extra since we get paid for our training time and also the stipend for working the election days.  It's basically May for primaries, maybe a run-off, and November.   Brings in a few hundred extra a year for minimal effort and the group I work with is great.