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The kids go back to school this week here in Ontario. It’s a great time to make some extra money, and here are five ideas to get you started.
With the start of the economy, every little helps. You can do a few side gigs and make an extra $1000 per month, and that can certainly go a long way.
No, you don’t need to do OF if you don’t want. This could work for some, but there are other options out there. It’s all about figuring out what works for you around your children. As the kids go back to school, now is a great time to add a side gig or two, but what should you do? I have five ideas that are completely legitimate to get you started.
Offer your pet-sitting services on Rover
One of my favorite ways to make some extra money is by offering pet services in Rover. I offer a range of services from pet-sitting to dog walking. It’s really whatever the client needs.
You will need to go through a background check, and that is $25. I made that money back with my first service and from that point I started making a profit. While Rover does take a 20% cut, it offers a safer space to make sure you’re paid for your services and the app will help to promote your business.
You’ll still want to do your own promotions, though. I’ve seen a few Rover people get clients through word of mouth on Facebook groups, so you either want to be one of those or you want to put yourself out there.
Be a delivery driver for Uber, Instacart, or more for extra money
There are a few apps that offer the opportunity to be a delivery driver. You will need to have a full license for this. While there are options to do it by bicycle, a lot of customers hate this because food ends up cold. You really should have a vehicle.
I’d recommend signing up to multiple apps and working through them each day or night that you want to work. Keep in mind that during the evenings or early mornings is when you’re going to get the most offers, though, which could affect your childcare needs. You wanted something while the kids are in school, right?
I haven’t tried this personally. I know people who did it in the past and loved it.
MORE: Can social media help you find new clients for your business?
Become a virtual assistant
This one is going to take a little more work than the two above. You’ll need to set up a website and some social media channels. However, once you have them set, you could have a job that you can turn into a full-time career.
Virtual assistants do a lot of tasks like organizing calendars and meetings, update social media channels, and answer emails. All of this can be done from your own home, which is why you’re a “virtual” assistant.
You can set your own packages to make this one work. You will need to promote yourself, but it’s worth it for the extra money you can make.
Create products to sell online for extra money
I hate the whole “broke and lazy” trend on TikTok right now, but they can offer some good ideas if you’re willing to work at it. One of those is to create products that you sell. These are digital products. You don’t want to do a lot of your own shipping or printing. The aim is to create something that sells over and over again with little input from you.
Planners are a great options. You can also create journals, t-shirts, stickers, and more. Find something that you enjoy putting together on your computer and then head over to Amazon or Etsy to start selling them. Remember that those “broke and lazy” TikTokers are missing out the commissions that Amazon and Etsy take, though!
This isn’t the get rich quick scheme that TikTokers make it out to be. You need to promote your product, and you need to create something that is in demand but also very different to everyone else’s out there.
Handle insurance and investments
If you have some money that you’re willing to invest in a potential bigger business, you’ll want to turn to insurance and investments. There are a few companies that will help you do this, and I can help you out if you want to chat about potential options. Some of them can sound MLM-y, so do watch out. Look out for those where you don’t need to create a downline to make money—you can make money via commissions from your clients’ investments.
The investment costs here are into your licenses. Yes, you will need to be licensed before you get into this business due to it being in the financial industry. One thing that I love about this is that you can handle your own investments. I have full control over my retirement income and my kids’ college funds, but it’s not going in blind with the likes of WealthSimple or Questrade. Managed accounts aren’t as evil as those companies make them out to be.
MORE: Now is the time to diversify your income as a WAHM
What do you suggest to make extra money while the kids are in school? Let me know in the comments.