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Note: This post was submitted to Student Caffé by Joyce Wilson. We would like to thank her for her submission and credit her as the author of this blog post.
Both the sun and school are out—it’s summertime once again! While the season certainly calls for some rest and relaxation, it also provides an opportunity for teachers to revitalize their bank accounts by taking up a side gig that they can do in their free time. These side gigs don’t just have to be for the summer, either. A lot of them are easy enough to take on during the school year as well, in addition to teaching.
Online Tutoring
For a lot of students, the biggest obstacle to tutoring is confronting the unfamiliar. With online tutoring, kids get to learn in the comfort of their own homes. Online tutoring works for teachers because it provides them with a larger database of students in need so they can have steady work with children who respond to their teaching methods. The only equipment you need is a camera-capable computer, a high-speed internet connection, and a dedicated workspace or home office. If you are tutoring with a teaching certificate or additional teaching qualifications, you’ll find that the rates can get pretty competitive. Plus, you will be teaching students who want to learn, which is always more enjoyable.
There are thousands of tutoring services looking for educators like you to join their ranks. Your best bet is to apply with the tutoring sites you know students want to use. You can also look into starting your own online tutoring business with a focus on standardized test preparation. When it comes to picking up online tutoring, there are very few limits.
Flipping Furniture
If you figure yourself quite handy, flipping furniture is a fun and creative side gig that allows you to exercise parts of your brain and body that teaching does not. Flipping furniture involves scouring flea markets and thrift stores for cheap but great pieces that could use some love, providing that love, and selling the furniture for a profit. As far as equipment goes, you will need various tools and a work area where you can complete your projects.
It’s not the gig for everyone. If you don’t know how to reupholster or paint for the life of you, there is a good chance you can’t cut it. However, for those with the skills, you get the satisfaction of a creative outlet plus the good feeling of reducing landfill waste by giving a piece of furniture a second chance. In fact, furniture is the number one least-recycled item in a household, and it contributes 9.5 million tons of household waste a year.
Pet Sitting
You care for hundreds of kids all day during the school year. Taking care of pets on the side is no sweat in comparison. If you are an animal lover, there are dog and cat owners in your neighborhood who can truly use your services when they are unable to be at home. As an educator, you also have the benefit of being a “trusted citizen,” so people feel comfortable letting you into their houses. Pet sitting has various benefits:
- You really don’t need any equipment, since most of the time the owner will provide you with what you need. However, having your own things, such as leashes, portable water bowls, treats, and poop bags, is helpful.
- You can either advertise your pet sitting or dog walking services through a site that does the marketing work for you (like Rover), or you can work independently. Posting your availability on an online bulletin board like Craigslist and Nextdoor may get responses, but they don’t provide the security of other petcare services.
- Pet sitting helps you get to know your neighbors! In a society where we are more and more interpersonally disconnected, this helps build community.
- Working with pets has various health benefits. Walking dogs gets the body moving and outdoors, a welcome change from the stationary lifestyle and indoor environment that comes with teaching. Furthermore, being around pets can help relieve anxiety, lower blood pressure, and even prevent heart disease.
When it comes to side hustles, teachers need something that doesn’t take over their lives. Online tutoring taps into the skills teachers already have. Flipping furniture provides the opportunity to use skills and parts of the brain teaching does not. Pet sitting provides awesome health benefits and connects people with their neighbors. All offer the opportunity to earn some extra money.
What do you do on the side?
