Millions of people are out of work even after the coronavirus pandemic and are worried about making the next mortgage or rent payment. Millions more are also struggling with the debts and trying to figure out how to send more than the minimum monthly payment on your credit card bills or how to produce extra money.
One way to address some of these challenges is to take on side jobs from home. Side jobs, also called side hustles, are part-time jobs that you can use to supplement your income and meet your current or long-term financial goals. Thanks to the Internet and the way the economy in general is shaping up in the 21st century, it's also easier than ever to find this type of work. Here are some great work-from-home side jobs you can do for a little extra cash.
Writing and Editing
If you are a competent writer, you could work from home as a writer or editor. Thousands of companies and employers need part-time writers and editors to 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 option for a work-from-home side job, and major online freelance websites like Upwork or Fiverr are great places to start looking for this type of work.
Customer Service Representative
Working from home as a customer service representative is a great side job with flexible hours. As a virtual call center agent, you'll likely be responsible for talking to people on the phone, chatting online or answering emails. Call center agents may help resolve customer issues, take orders or coordinate meetings and appointments. Since all types of businesses require customer service representatives, from financial institutions to online retailers to nonprofit organizations. These positions are in demand and could be ideal for your situation.
Teaching
One way to earn a little extra money is to teach from home. With the onset of COVID-19 and so many learning institutions embracing distance learning, this is an opportune side job to earn a little extra money. If you have a degree in education or some experience in a career field, you could work as a distance educator for a college or technical training program. Hundreds of these institutions already have distance learning programs, and you could run one of their online courses for them. Also, if you are an expert in math, chemistry or some other subject, you could work from home tutoring other students in a particular subject.
Direct Shipment
If you have an entrepreneurial flair, drop shipping could be an additional work-from-home job that appeals to you. With drop shipping, you identify a hard-to-find niche item that you can get from an inexpensive wholesaler or supplier. You market that item or items to your customer base; when you sell an item, you order it and ship it to the inexpensive supplier. Your profit in this side gig is the difference in cost between your price and the source of supply. Along with your shipping and other expenses, the upside of drop shipping is that you don't have to invest in inventory that may not sell.
Nor does he spend time and effort to develop and manufacture his own product. When he sells an item he has marketed, he simply ships it to the customer and makes a profit.
Social Media Manager
Another great side job to consider taking on is being a social media manager. Social media administrators oversee company accounts on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. They are often responsible for posting and editing new content on these sites. Manage online community feedback and make plans to generate a larger audience 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 additional job.
This way you enjoy your passions and earn money while doing it. Depending on your level of responsibility, you can manage the social media presence of several organizations simultaneously.
Rent space
If you don't have the time or ability to work on any of these, you can still earn extra money. One way to create an additional income stream is to rent out space that you are not using. For example, if you can rent out a room in your home that is not in use, you could increase your monthly income and save some additional money. You might also consider renting out your home or part of it occasionally on a site like Airbnb. Also, if you have an outbuilding or garage, you can use it.