This holiday season there were hundreds of requests for assistance this Christmas. Many are single mothers barely making ends meet. For one reason or another, there wasn’t enough money to make ends meet, not to mention buying gifts and food for Christmas. Some moms are sick, disabled, or underemployed. The tragedy is that her children faced a bleak Christmas and it was not their fault.
Fortunately, there were many Good Samaritans who helped these families through difficult times. Most children wake up on Christmas morning with toys and clothes under the tree and a table full of hot food due to the kindness of others. It will be a memorable vacation for everyone, but that single mom has yet to face the reality of the other 364 days of the year. How will you do the remaining days of the year? What will next year bring? What can I do to improve my life and that of my children?
The answer is to find a way to earn extra money by getting a second (or third) part-time job or by finding a way to earn money at home using the skill she already has. Here are seven alternative methods or ways to earn extra money for temporary or long-term financial needs.
Baked goods – Most moms can bake cookies, brownies, or other desserts. Use your skills to make some profit by baking your special items and selling them to the people around you. Many people cannot bake and would pay you to bake, especially during the holiday season.
Vacation helper – The holiday season is the holiday season and the party hosts need your help. It can be hired to help with party planning, decorating, and post-party clean-up. Place an ad on Craigslist, your local buyer’s newspaper, or in the newspaper that offers your services. You can hire your services throughout the year for upcoming holidays.
Errand service – People are busy and often need a second pair of hands and feet to attend to their basic needs. Dry cleaning pickup and drop-off, paying bills that require in-person contact, ordering supplies for parties, personal needs, or for a sick family member. Buying food, gifts or tickets are also valuable services. Let everyone know you offer this service and / or place an ad in the newspaper. Hang flyers at the local grocery store, gym, or anywhere the pros hang out.
Pet Services – If you like pets, you can provide valuable services to people who need to walk dogs, take care of pets or handle waste. Pets are like part of the family, so people will pay a premium to make sure their pets are well cared for. Walking dogs is essential for the health and well-being of the animal. When owners leave for the weekend, they don’t always want to leave their pets at a boarding point. You can have the pet in your house or go to the owner’s house. Waste management is something that nobody particularly cares about, but it has to be done. Whether it’s for a backyard dog, cat litter box, hamster cage, or bird cage, your pet’s waste collection service would be an easy way to earn extra money.
Special cleaning – When people think of cleaning service, they think of cleaning an entire house or office. What most people who consider this service don’t realize is that most cleaning services don’t clean everything. There are some things that it takes a special person to tackle. Cleaning a refrigerator, oven, garage, or attic can be a monumental task. The customer requesting the service has probably put it off for some time and would be happy to pay you handsomely to take care of it. You can outsource your work to cleaning services, inform your family and friends, or place an advertisement and brochures in the appropriate places.
Beauty Service – If you have talent in the area of beauty, you can earn a considerable amount of money. Women around the world are constantly looking for beauty. Your talent for hair, nails or makeup is in demand. You can specialize and cater only to older people (who also want to be beautiful), children, or certain types of hair or skin. The options are endless.
Typing – As simple as it sounds, writing is not a skill that everyone possesses. If they have the skill, they may be too busy to hit the keyboard right now. Typing jobs can range from the simplest to the most complex. If you have a computer and printer, then you are in business. Clients can be students (any level), small businesses, individuals, and professionals (lawyers, doctors, and many others). You can write directly from notes or correct content by formatting, reviewing, or editing. Charge more for additional services as well as quick response service. If you are asked to print and deliver a hard copy, that is another fee to charge. In tough economic times you don’t have to suffer in silence. Put on your thinking cap and start thinking of ways to earn extra money. Not only do you help yourself, but you also show your kids how to be creative, innovative, and self-reliant!
