How do people earn extra money?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2003
How do people earn extra money?
9
Tue, 09-07-2004 - 10:43pm
I'm new here, but have been lurking for a bit. Great info! Just wondering what types of second jobs people do to earn extra cash? I have a full-time job, which keeps me in the office during the week and often after hours, but would love some suggestions for ways to earn extra money to put towards bills.

Thanks for any suggestions!!

P.S. I'm definitely going to start snowflaking this week.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Tue, 09-07-2004 - 11:50pm
Right now I'm looking for part time jobs in retail. Christmas will be here soon and holiday help will be hired soon. Other people take up newspaper routes or take extra kids in after school. I have found that it is usually easier to cut expenses but you can only cut so much.


-Stephanie

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2003
Wed, 09-08-2004 - 7:41am
Hi there,

part time jobs or second jobs I held included

- transcriptions: if you can type it this a good way to make extra money from home, especially if you have some first degree in social sciences, psychology or the like and now how to transcribe interviews done for research (market or otherwise). Usually paid per page of transcript

- language teaching: not only foreign languages, but you can try to find a job teaching new immigrants or esp. women from immigrant families your own mother tongue. Usually paid by the hour or by client.

- homework helper: Helping kids who have trouble keeping up with the rest of their class with getting their homework done and catching up by giving them the extra teaching they need.

- night shift or weekend jobs at shops, gas stations, video rentals etc.: Good thing if you only work partime anyway; not good at all if you have to get up early the next day.

- bring home service for our local apothecary/pharmacy: A lot of sick and elderly have trouble carrying all their stuff home, so our local pharmacy offers a bring home service (sometimes including collecting the prescriptions or clarifying hastily scribbled down instruction with their doctors). Needs a car or bike and one or two hours per day to do the delivery rounds.

- tourist guide: If you have experience with herding groups of any kind around and staying friendly no matter what happens, this might be an idea *grins*

... this does not really feel complete, actually, but reading it all I am a bit overwhelmed at seeing befpr my very own eyes how many jobs I already held ;-)

Hope it might give yousome ideas and help you find a sutiable extra income for you!

Greetings, Jordis

ivy_jordis

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Wed, 09-08-2004 - 1:09pm
In addition to my full time job (i'm a chemist) I work part time for a company called "Mad Science."

It's a huge company with franchises all over the USA and Canada. They do a lot of birthday parties, school workshops and theatrical productions. I have been doing birthday parties for them for about 5 years. I love kids and it's fun, easy work. Usually I get tips on top of what they pay me, my tips are my food and gas money for the week. Plus they usually offer me pizza or cake at the parties so I don't really have to buy lunch out when I'm working.

I've also been a waitress and a bartender, but the hours are too late to be able to get up early for work.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-30-2003
Wed, 09-08-2004 - 5:01pm
Welcome here-glad to meet another 'flaker', LOL!

I'd say this would be the time of year that Seasonal retail jobs are really opening up. I know my DH got his at Target right in October/November last year. They hire seasonal help, and any that show promise are kept on after the holiday rush is over.


I'd just try anywhere, but try to apply for those that suit your personality. I know that high schoolers can't work full time, but they get jobs that work around their schedules.

Lisa

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-08-2004 - 5:48pm

Off topic but I know of the company you speak of and am thinking about doing it for my DS party - just not sure it's real appropriate for a home setting with just a few kids (like about 4-6?).

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2003
Wed, 09-08-2004 - 7:11pm
Taking this even further off topic...I had this group in for my DS 9 year old birthday celebration in late March. We did it in the back yard plus the rocket launch in the driveway for approx 12 kids including DS. They loved it, he got so many great "reviews from his friends. If I remember correctly it was a certain rate for up to 12 (??) kids so we aimed for that number. I thought it was a great idea and the college student who did our party made a big fuss over my son.

And back on topic! I make my extra money by doing mystery/secret shopping, I usually end up with $150-$200 month with each shop paying $9-12 each or a reimbursment of purchase for $10. I like it because I can schedule it at my convenience and limit it to my local area so minimal gas costs. I did not pay to "join" the company I work for, it is an independant contractor deal so I am responsible for the taxes.

Katarina

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-08-2004 - 8:37pm

Hmmm...sounds interesting although with January - backyard is pretty much out of the question (unless of course an experiment involves snow!

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 09-08-2004 - 11:16pm

I've worked P/T as a vet tech - not a whole lot of money, but great fun!


I've also done the holiday help/retail thing - worked for the Discovery Store one fall/winter.

All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2003
Fri, 09-10-2004 - 1:56am
I did that when I was a bit younger, but I found that in my area, they had moved away from hiring people who knew science, into people who were more entertainers.

Which was good for the birthday parties, but when I had them come to the school that I worked at to do a show, the Mad Scientist corrected a kid in front of everybody, when the kid was actually right, it was just his answer was using scientific terms.

But it was a really fun job. I did shows in front of 300 kids, and birthday parties for 10 - 12 kids, and people were really nice.