I recently participated as an invited panelist on an Experian #CreditChat (on Twitter) titled “How to Make Extra Money During COVID-19.” Below are 10 key takeaways:
Make Yourself Visible
Pay attention to your social media accounts, especially LinkedIn. Post valuable content regularly to get noticed by others in your field. “Work Out Loud,” as career expert John Stepper advises — by discussing your skills and important projects online (in a non-bragging way) and post links to samples of your work.
Seek Out Job Information
Regularly network with colleagues and review online job postings via professional associations or trade groups. Many people also use online job search sites including ZipRecruiter, Fiverr, Monster, FlexJobs, and LinkedIn.
Consider Jobs in High Demand
Look for work where the jobs are. Examples include warehouse workers, package delivery handlers, contact tracers, election poll workers, truck and ride share drivers, as well as construction workers.
Beware of Job-Hunting Scams
Avoid anything that sounds too good to be true, especially work-from-home scams. Another red flag is any “job” that requires you to provide an upfront fee or bank or credit card information. For more details about job scams, review the Federal Trade Commission Job Scams website.
Start a Socially Distant Side Hustle
Make a list of income-generating activities that do utilize your skills and don’t require face-to-face contact. This basically means any work you can do from home.
Examples include: writing, editing, graphic design, building things, monetized blogging, designing websites, product testing, online research survey-taking, video tutoring, making/selling crafts, baking, woodworking, and mask-making.
Sell Stuff Online
Sell unneeded possessions via eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, Nextdoor, and more. In addition, some communities have online portals to facilitate sales among their residents.
Rent Out Stuff Online
Make a list of possessions that you could rent out for extra cash. Examples include tools, real estate, vehicles, clothing, and more on specialized websites.
Score Rewards Points
Use cash-back apps such as Ibotta, RetailMeNot, Coupons.com, Swagbucks, and Rakuten and others. Also, charge food, gas, and other necessities on a cash-back rewards credit card — if you have the discipline to pay your bill in full.
Triangulate Income-Generation Strategies
Use multiple methods of raising cash with a combination of cash-raising strategies discussed above. In addition, build your “human capital” by gaining new knowledge or skills that could result in a side hustle or a future promotion.
Get Help If You Need It
Call 211 or visit 211.org online for curated lists of local social services to find help from. Comprehensive lists of COVID-19 resources are available from Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center.
