3 Ways To Make Money on Your Own — Without a Fancy Title or a Big Budget
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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The job market might appear bleak to some right now, especially if you are trying to break into a competitive market or go for a high paying position. You might feel like you should aim for a role as director or manager, yet might not have the title or past credentials to earn a job at that level. Or you could try going the DIY route with starting your own business, only to crunch the numbers and find you do not have a budget that’s feasible.
Don’t worry, though, because there are plenty of ways to still earn a great income on your own terms. Best of all is that you can do them from your home or in your community.
Looking for some suggestions for how to generate a healthy income stream? Here are three ways to make your own money without a fancy title or big budget.
Utilize Local Resources
That includes your city, your state and yourself. According to Erika Kullberg, a financial expert and the founder of Erika.com, the best place to start is by listing out your skills.
“If you’re organized and good at planning events, you could offer freelance services on sites to find projects creating slide decks, editing and proofreading documents or reviewing AI output for accuracy,” Kullberg said.
“If you want to start local, put your local knowledge to use — for example, if you know all the best spots in your town, consider creating a listing on Airbnb Experiences,” Kullberg added.
Sell Your Own Products
You do not have to have a factory or warehouse to make products to sell. In fact, you can often start right out of your kitchen, garage or basement using household items you already own or that are fairly cheap to buy.
“If you are crafty and can create products that people want to buy, you should build an inventory and then start selling at local farmers’ markets and craft shows,” said Melanie Musson, finance expert with InsuranceProviders.com.
“You can also sell your products on Etsy,” added Musson. “Make sure you have business cards available for people stopping by your farmers market table, so they can check out your inventory online.”
Join the Gig Economy
If you need a side hustle that allows for schedule flexibility, MarketWatch Guides personal finance writer and researcher Laurie Sepulveda suggested that it is worth investigating various jobs in the gig economy.
“While popular apps like Uber, DoorDash and TaskRabbit get a lot of press, you might also consider gigs like Instacart for delivering groceries, Rover for pet sitting or BestMark for secret shopping,” Sepulveda said.
She said this type of gig allows you to choose when you work, so they fit your schedule.
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Sources
- Erika Kullberg, Erika.com
- Melanie Musson, InsuranceProviders.com
- Laurie Sepulveda, MarketWatch
