Hustle From Home: How to Earn Extra Money During Home Quarantine
In this post: Alyssa Hunt of The Life Hunt shares her tips to earn extra money during this COVID-19 crisis.
I’m thrilled to welcome Alyssa Hunt of The Life Hunt to The Massage Business Mama! When this whole COVID thing got real, my first thought was to introduce you guys to Alyssa. She is a wealth of knowledge on all things side-hustle related! I hope she gets you thinking outside the box for options to make a little money during this trying time! Welcome, Alyssa!
No one could have prepared for the fall out of the Coronavirus. It doesn’t matter how hefty your emergency fund is or how much toilet paper you have, the world was not ready to have schools shut down, businesses close, and a massive amount of unemployment.
COVID-19 has left many people asking, what now?
What do we do about work, money, food, and the general well-being of our families? While many steps have been taken to ensure that people are well cared for, there is still a huge issue of making money.
With almost all businesses closed, many employees don’t have the option to work from home. For those who cannot work at all, making ends meet is suddenly a panic. While it has been difficult to find a silver lining during this scary pandemic, there are always options to earn extra money on the side.
As someone who has dedicated my time to promoting the importance of having multiple streams of income, I firmly believe that during this time of mandatory home quarantine it’s a perfect time to start a moneymaking side hustle.
Now, the thing about starting a side hustle is that many people think they are a “get rich quick” scheme. In my experience, side hustles are not about getting rich quick nor are they schemes. However, a side hustle done right can provide a nice and steady income sooner rather than later.
If you’ve found yourself displaced by the Coronavirus, or simply in need of more money because of lack of work, consider starting a side hustle today. You will not get rich in the next 24 hours, but with a little bit of work, you will start to earn extra money. Who knows, the side hustle could even turn into something much bigger all thanks to this mandatory home quarantine.
Below I have put together a few of my favorite side hustles. The best part is that all of these can be started right now. After you read this article it’s time to get to work!
Online Surveys (that actually work)
Perhaps the best way to make some quick money is to do online surveys. The thing with online surveys is that most people tend to think of them as a scam. That’s not entirely false. There are a lot of scammy sites out there that claim to pay you for doing an online survey but actually don’t. That’s why it’s really important to pick a trusted site if you’re going to do this route.
Personally, I recommend using Survey Junkie. They are reliable and upfront with what each survey requires and the payment that will be received. You won’t get rich with doing online surveys but the extra money definitely helps.
Start a blog
This route will definitely take more time to gain money. However, it’s a great way to build up credibility, professionalism, and eventually passive income.
All you need to do is find a topic that you can talk about for days and days and days, register your domain with a reliable (and affordable) hosting platform, and get to writing. There’s plenty to do to make a blog successful, but the work, in the end, will be completely worth it. The best part about blogging is that you are 100% the owner and you can work on your blog from literally anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection.
Delivery Apps
I believe that the most reliable way to earn extra income, given the COVID circumstances, is through app-based sites such as Uber, Instacart, and Postmates.
Right now during home quarantine, many are relying on people to shop for them and pick up their groceries. This type of business model was already huge before the Coronavirus pandemic. Now, it’s even bigger and the need is rising daily. Below are some companies I recommend:
Postmates: food delivery service
Uber Eats: food delivery service
DoorDash: food delivery service
InstaCart: I store grocery shopping and optional home delivery
Uber: transportation services
Lyft: transportation services
When my husband needed to make extra money a few years back he worked for Postmates and DoorDash. It was a great experience for him and it helped him pay the rent each month. A lot of times I would even ride in the car with him. They turned into adventurous date nights!
Online Freelancing
Clearly, working online is the way to go these days. With everyone being forced to stay in home quarantine, our laptops have become a reliable way to work.
The following suggestions to earn extra money does take a bit of setting up and it won’t bring in tons of money right away, but they have the potential to earn hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars a month once things pick up.
Also check out: 80 Authority Websites Offering Legitimate Proofreading Jobs Online
Teach tech
Right now, people from all over the globe are struggling to learn how to use different online technology in order to adapt to the changing times due to the Coronavirus. This means that people are having to learn how to use Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, and tons of other online providers.
And, with parents having to homeschool, they are having to learn various systems in order to properly educate their children. I have personally seen numerous people asking for help on platforms such as Facebook desperate to learn these programs quickly.
Consider charging a reasonable fee to virtually teach people the basics of technology. The great news is that a couple of YouTube tutorials will make you feel like a professional. Also, each platform is easy to teach, especially to people who are desperate to learn. Below are some sites that you charge to teach people how to use:
I hope you have found something financially helpful in this article. This is an extremely difficult time for each and every person. A little extra money on the side will go a long way. Best of luck to you!
For more ideas check out: Side Hustles for Displaced Massage Therapists
Alyssa is the creator of The Life Hunt, a blog that helps busy hustlers work towards business success and financial freedom all while managing full-time jobs. She is currently working towards her master’s degree in English Literature and she teaches writing composition university freshmen.