Yes we are a month into 2012, and the war in Iraq is over. However, we are still in a recession, many folks are either out of work, working reduced hours, or haven't seen a pay raise since George W. Bush was in office. Plus it is a presidential election year, making things more iffy financially.
Being that I always have to find ways to earn extra money and stay above water, I have been looking into side hustles. This means additional but legal and amazingly practical sources of income. What will follow will be a list of what would be considered odd but practical legal side jobs. They don't include gambling, selling drugs, pipe dreams, or cheating the IRS. They have been proven to put extra cash in your pocket without often having to punch a time clock.
1. Sitting (children, houses, and even pets)
All of these can be extremely lucrative, even pet sitting and pampering. I have a friend in St Louis, MO that started with just pet sitting and now runs her own pet pampering business full time. Plus I know someone personally that house and pet sat for the last week of December and pocketed $600. Not bad, eh? Now opening a daycare is one thing. I'm talking about simple, routine, sitting and caretaking
2. Sports referee.
Many guys I know referee and umpire sporting events year round. Like some of the jobs on this list, a test is required. But once that test is passed and you build your reputation, you can have some change in your life. It's an added bonus if you love sports and can handle hostile crowds.
3. Test proctor
A former employer put me onto this. Many standardized tests (SAT, ACT, LSAT, GRE, etc) are administered every weekend. These tests need folks to proctor them, i.e., monitor them, and get paid for it.
4. Blogger
Yes you can get paid for what I currently do, mostly from ads and/or TV shows and entertainment sites. Believe me, I don't plan on writing for free my entire life!
5. Personal trainer
These are especially popular during this time of the year. Certification, and obviously being in superb physical shape, is a must. But if you regularly work out, this is also a good way to bank some dollars while doing something you already do on the regular
6. Network marketing
Now many of these companies have been called "pyramid schemes" and overall the name makes most screech. However, there are many reputable ones, such as Mary Kay, Avon, Tupperware, and even Pure Romance. Even if you fail to turn a profit from a business such as this, it makes an awesome tax write off
7. Repair services (TV, home, car, computer)
If you possess natural and trained skills on how to fix and repair various items, you can almost name your own price, provided you are skilled and reputable enough.
8. Lawn/yard care
Landscaping companies have long been known as "prison schemes" as a way for parolees to make money when society doesn't roll out the welcome wagon for them. Hey, don't knock the hustle. With a riding lawn mower, weed eater, pressure washer, and a few other garden tools, you can be spending your spare time making spare change.
9. Tutor
Now many services offer free tutoring in many subjects. However, for advanced academic subjects such as law, computer skills, accounting, creative writing, art and music, it pays to know how to help others.
10. Bounty Hunter
This is for the thrill seekers out there who aren't afraid to bring in bail and border jumpers. You can collect the reward and go. Dog and Beth don't have to be the only ones getting paid from this dirty job.
11. Event Planner
This has become really popular among women, especially the super organized that love weddings and other extravagant events. Hundreds of dollars can be made on a single weekend for planning a great event or party
12. Car detailing
Different from repairing and beyond washing cars, someone whom details cars vacuums, cleans, waxes, and basically cleans parts of the vehicle you may not know to clean. The pay is small/vehicle but enough clientele can add up.
13. Chauffeur
This is mostly driving folks around that don't have their own transportation, and competing with and even overcompensating for lack of public transit. There are instances where you must have a chauffeur's license so check into this.
14. Boarders
If you have an extra room in your home (assuming you own your home), rent that room out for a few hundred dollars to someone you trust. They get a place to stay, and you can apply the money directly towards the mortgage or other bills.
15. Photographer
Buy yourself a nice camera, start small, and you would be surprised how much you can make working certain contracts and events. Weddings, parties, even setting up at a nightclub a couple of nights/week is where its at far as the photography game. It is competitive so if you're good with the glass eye and have good connections, use them!
There are many others, but most fall in the same category of having to be certified, licensed, and otherwise qualified. Notice that some of these jobs can be worked on a part time basis, on a contract, typically legal.
So get to researching these and other side jobs. Your tax refund won't last forever, and you may be able to make your own full time job or business from something as small as one of these "hustles"
