This holiday season there were hundreds of requests for assistance for this Christmas. Many are single mothers barely making ends meet. For one reason or another, there just wasn’t enough money to make ends meet, let alone buy gifts and food for Christmas. Some moms are sick, disabled, or underemployed. The tragedy is that your children faced a bleak Christmas and it wasn’t their fault.
Fortunately there were many good Samaritans who helped these families facing difficult times. Most children will wake up on Christmas morning with toys and clothes under the tree and a table full of hot food thanks to the kindness of others. It’s going to be a memorable vacation for everyone, but that single mom still has to face the reality of the other 364 days of the year. How will you do the remaining days of the year? What will next year bring? What can I do to achieve a better life for myself and my children?
The answer is to find a way to earn extra money either by getting a second (or third) part-time job or by finding a way to earn money at home using the skill you already have. Here are seven side hustles, or ways to earn extra money for temporary or long-term financial needs.
Baked goods – Most moms can bake cookies, brownies or other desserts. Use your skills to earn some profit by baking your special items and selling them to the people around you. Lots of people don’t know how to bake and would pay you to do it, especially for the holiday season.
holiday helper – Christmas season is party season and the party hosts need your help. You can hire yourself to help with the organization of the party, the decorations and the clean-up after the party. Place an ad on Craigslist, your local penny shopper newspaper, or in the newspaper that offers your services. You can hire your services throughout the year for upcoming parties.
errand service – People are busy and often need a second set of hands and feet to take care of their basic needs. Pick up and drop off dry cleaning, pay bills that require in-person contact, order party supplies, personal needs or for a sick relative. Buying food, gifts or tickets are also valuable services. Let everyone know that you offer this service and/or place an ad in the newspaper. Hang flyers at the local grocery store, gym, or anywhere the pros hang out.
pet services – If you like pets, you can provide a valuable service to people who need to walk dogs, care for pets, or manage waste. Pets are like family, so people will pay a premium to make sure their pets are well cared for. Walking the dog is essential for the health and well-being of the animal. When owners go away for the weekend they don’t always want to leave their pets in a boarding house. You can stay with the pet at home or go to the owner’s house. Waste management is something that nobody particularly cares about, but it has to be done. Whether it’s for a dog in the backyard, the cat’s litter box, the hamster’s cage, or the bird’s cage, having your pet’s waste service would be an easy way to earn some extra money.
Special Cleaning – When people think of cleaning service, they think of cleaning an entire home or office. What most people considering this service don’t realize is that most cleaning services don’t clean everything. There are some things that require a special person to address them. Cleaning out a refrigerator, oven, garage, or attic can be a monumental task. The customer requesting the service has likely been putting it off for some time and would be happy to pay you handsomely to take care of it. You can outsource your work to cleaning services, tell your family and friends about it, or place an advertisement and flyers in the appropriate places.
beauty service – If you have talent in the area of beauty you can earn a considerable amount of money. Women all over the world are in constant search of beauty. Your hair, nail or makeup talents are in demand. You can specialize and cater only to seniors (they want to be beautiful too), children, or certain hair or skin types. The options are endless.
typing – As simple as it sounds, writing is not a skill that everyone possesses. If they have the skill, they may be too busy to hit the keyboard right now. Typing jobs can range from very simple to very complex. If you have a computer and a printer, then you are in business. Clients can be students (of any level), small businesses, individuals, and professionals (lawyers, doctors, and many others). You can write directly from notes or fix content by formatting, proofreading, or editing. Charge more for additional services as well as express delivery service. If you must print and deliver a hard copy, that’s another fee to be charged. In tough economic times you don’t have to suffer in silence. Put on your thinking cap and start thinking of ways to make some extra money. Not only are you helping yourself, but you are showing your kids how to be creative, innovative, and self-sufficient too!
