Ever heard of the gig economy? No, it’s not a micro-economy sustained by overworked musicians and promoters. The gig economy is a thriving industry that people are turning to in droves to make a little extra cash or pay off their debts. Yes, we’re talking about those side hustles we do in our free time that complement our pay checks.
Not Quite the Nixer
The good old nixer is when you use the skills that you use at work for a quick off-the-clock job. The side gig is a little different. Yes, it can be related to your job, but in most cases, it’s something out of the ordinary. In fact, for many people, it tends to be a hobby that somehow started to make money.
And it’s the Millennials (who society loves to mock) that are the most likely to have a good side gig that is bringing in some cash. While no surveys have been carried out here in Ireland on the topic, the information below taken from Bankrate’s side hustle survey of young Americans in 2017 gives us an idea of the stats.
Infographic by The Cashlorette
From playing in bands on the weekend (yes, musicians still do count) to painting landscapes, there’s a myriad of ways to make a little money on the side. And fortunately for those of us without a creative streak, you don’t necessarily have to be an artist to bring home some extra cash.
Here are some of our favorite side gigs that you can start today (although some may take a little preparation).
Become a Local Guide
There are some things that we can count on: the sun rises, it will rain on a bank holiday and tourists will flock to Ireland. Tourism accounts for a significant part of our economy, and as citizens of the Emerald Isle, we’re all entitled to a slice of the pie. Now you could rent out a room on Airbnb, but not everyone is comfortable doing so. Besides, you need to have a room to rent out in the first place. For this reason, we prefer the tour guide approach.
Of course, this side gig will work better if you live in an area that’s popular with tourists, but it’s worth trying out anywhere. Offer private guided tours of the local sights or better still, create a specialised tour. For example, a walking tour of the local pubs like the Literary Pub Crawl in Dublin or a food tour of the area. You can even set tour times to suit your own schedule. You’d be surprised how many tourists would jump at the chance of an evening tour of local historical sites.
Play Poker Online
Online poker is booming, and it’s easy to see why. For many people, a night out at the casino is a night out that they just cannot afford. But grinding in online poker rooms costs little in comparison. And what’s grinding? It’s when you play a tight, low-risk poker style, using small edges to make a consistent profit. Sounds good, right?
It’s not quite as simple as it sounds as you will need to study up on the rules along with memorizing a few strategies for low-stakes poker. However, once you have a handle on your strategies, it can be a fun way to make some money.
The best thing about this side gig though is that you don’t need to leave the house at all and can play whenever you like. You’re also not dealing with people in any way, making it a perfect opportunity if you like the idea of making money alone and in your pyjamas.
Walk Dogs
Don’t laugh; this is a genuine way to make some real cash, particularly for those that work evenings or nights. Think about how many of your neighbours have dogs and how many of those leave the dog at home all day. Dog owners will do anything for their pets (remember how well these dog jumpers sold before Christmas?) and most would jump at the chance to have someone they trust to take their pooch out for a stroll while they’re at work.
Then you also have other folks that may not be fit or mobile enough to take their dogs for a good run. Again, if you offer a fair and affordable rate, they may be eager to have a dog walker pop by a few days a week. You could even offer the same service for cats though we’re not quite sure that one would be much of a money spinner.
Create an Online Course
Have you ever wanted to take a photography class but didn’t have the time or had an idea for a book but didn’t know how to get started? Nowadays, there are online courses for just about everything you can think of and some things you’d never even heard of. There’s a growing demand for high-quality content that solves people’s problems. Whether that’s learning a new language or taking the perfect photo is neither here nor there. The fact is that there is likely something that you know how to do, and that other people want to learn.
Online learning platform Udemy offers courses on a wide range of subjects, and it’s easy to get up and running selling a course. This side gig will take a fair amount of time to set up, but once your course is live, then it generates a passive income for you. And if it’s a good course, it will continue to do so for years to come.
Your course doesn’t have to be creative. It could be about writing the perfect business plan, team building, parenting or even walking dogs. It just needs to be clear and easy to follow and most importantly, deliver on its promise.
Tutor Students
Tutoring students is another possible second income, and while not everyone can do it, you’d be surprised at how many of us can. Even those of us without dedicated education degrees can still tutor students in second languages or help university students with their coursework or prepare for exams.
And don’t be too quick to assume that you can’t do it. These days, students studying niche subjects like art, IT and even woodcraft all require help with their work. If you make a name for yourself as the local who gives grinds in computers, then you won’t even need to look for students. They’ll come to you.
Whatever it is that you decide to take on as a side gig, the secret to success is to stick with it. Too many people try and then quit after failing to make any money in the first month when the truth is that it may take months before you make any money at all. Stick with it and have patience, and in the end, who knows, your side gigs could become your primary income, and you can kiss the nine-to-five goodbye.