I’ve struggled with the idea of a 9-5 job for a large part of my adult life. I’ve tried it before, but I just don’t think it’s for me. When you don’t have a steady income, it’s imperative to work as much as possible so you can financially support yourself. Since returning from my 6-month journey to South America and Southeast Asia, I have been predominantly working part-time at a restaurant so I can direct my energy on other passions such as my personal finance blog The Budget Babes.
With this choice I had to figure out alternative ways to supplement my income as the restaurant gig was only bringing in $2000-$2500 each month. I’d like to share those alternative streams of income with you now in case you’re looking to make a couple extra bucks to help with bills, savings, or anything else you’re interested in purchasing.
Maybe It’s Time For A Cleanse
Have you ever taken a step back and thought about how much stuff you have but never use? When I got back from my trip, I went through everything I owned and put a ton of stuff up on Craigslist, LetGo, Kijiji, Bunz, Facebook Marketplace, and took part in a sidewalk sale that my street was hosting. I sold clothes, kitchen supplies, electronics, sports memorabilia, candles, toiletries, and jewelry. Not only did it feel amazing to get rid of everything, I also made $500 in 2 months. One person’s trash really is another person’s treasure!
Freelance
I’ve been working on-and-off in the live events industry ever since graduating from George Brown College with a Sports and Events Marketing certificate. The events industry is small, and I now have an awesome network of connections that can often find me weekend work or smaller contracts. Although the hours are usually long, the money is quite good and the people you work with are great. And there are always events going on in every city. My advice? Reach out to the organizers to see if they need any help with ticketing or backstage work. It’s a great way to make some extra coin, and you’ll get to work in a new field that’s fun and exciting.
Sell Things
I know someone whose 18-year-old cousin went to Thailand last year and bought a ton of fidget spinners for 10 cents each. He then created a Shopify account, sold those fidget spinners for $4.00 each, and is now sipping Pina Coladas on the shores of Tahiti. Ok, the last part isn’t true, but still! He found a product that he believed in, bought in bulk, and created a small side business that made him some serious extra cash. I wasn’t that thrifty, but I did make an extra $600 this year selling new electronics that I bought in bulk.
Create a Side Business
Have you always dreamt of owning your own business? I had. So this past year, I grabbed the bull by the horns and became an Arbonne consultant to supplement my income and do something different. It’s nice to make an extra $100-$300/month working 8-10 hours on your own time when you’re passionate about a product. On top of that, I started to do social media for Minicards Toronto. This extra money can be put into my savings and invested. Which brings me to my last point…
Invest
If you’ve read any of my other articles, I am constantly talking about investing. It’s one of the most valuable tools that I’ve taken the time to learn about and has also been the most lucrative. Creating a passive income that you don’t have to work too hard for is so rewarding. For those of you who are new to the investing world and don’t know where to start, Wealthsimple is a really great platform. They will set you up on a plan that works for you depending on your goals, and will teach you the basic principles of investing along the way. If you use this link, Wealthsimple will waive the management fee for the first year, which could save you $100’s (depending on how much you’re contributing).
With all of my side businesses, freelance work, investments, and restaurant income, I’m currently sitting at just over $45,000 in after tax income as of October 2017. One of the best parts about it all is that I get to make my own hours (for the most part). You just have to be smart with your money and think of some alternatives outside of the typical 9-5 job. If you want to learn more or just reach out to say hey, you can check out my personal finance blog The Budget Babes.
Do you have any other suggestions on how to make more money now? Share them in the comment sections.
Featured Image: Flickr/Ryan Morse
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