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Millions of people feel frustrated by how little they earn when working entry-level jobs because the minimum wage hasn’t kept up with the rising cost of living. Although Congress is trying to change the situation by raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, it is unclear when this will happen — or if it will even help. You might also feel stuck between a proverbial “rock and a hard place” if you are between jobs.
If you find yourself in a difficult financial situation because you lost your previous job during the economic slump caused by the pandemic, you might feel a little discouraged at how hard you are now struggling to pay the rent and to put food on the table for your family. While receiving a third stimulus check is a nice boost, it only helps offset a month of expenses or helps you catch up on your bills if you’ve fallen behind.
One solution to get out of this bind is to earn extra income through a side hustle. Here are some ideas on how to earn more money each month if you have a low-paying job or are between jobs.
Earn Money With Your Car
Companies like Uber and Lyft have become incredibly popular because they help people with their transportation needs, providing a more flexible option than waiting for taxis, buses, or trains. Another popular trend is home-delivery grocery services.
If you decide to become a driver working for a company like Uber or Lyft or to deliver groceries to customers for a company like Instacart, it’s a good idea to get rideshare insurance if you are not protected by company insurance. How much is rideshare insurance? It depends on your car and your route. Online guides can help you determine the best coverage for your needs.
Earn Money Online
If you don’t have a car or don’t want to use it to earn an income, you can earn an income online. For instance, freelance writing is one of the best side hustles you can use to generate income.
Still, you don’t have to have specialized skills to earn money online. Many online opportunities help you leverage skills you’ve picked up from previous working experience. Here are some examples:
- If you are familiar with more than one language, then you could earn money online as a translator.
- If you are familiar with office-related tasks, then you could earn money online as a virtual assistant.
- If you are familiar with typing, then you could earn money online as a data entry operator.
- If you are familiar with surfing online, then you could earn money online by testing website usability.
- If you are familiar with talking to customers on the telephone, then you could earn money online as a customer service assistant.
- If you are familiar with shopping, then you could earn money filling out online surveys.
Many Ways to Earn Extra Income
In the past, the biggest barrier to earning an income was not having a job. But in the modern age, if you have a car or a computer with an internet connection, you can earn extra money to supplement your income from your job or as a way of making a living until you land your dream job.
You may decide to earn an extra income because you need to supplement your earnings from your current job.
You may also decide to earn an extra income because you know you can command a high salary based on your professional qualifications and experience and just need some money to take care of all your expenses before you land your dream job.
Sometimes, too, your side hustle could pay so well that you decide to make it your full-time job.
