Tips for Earning Money on the Side After Being Laid Off
If you’ve recently lost your job, there’s a good chance you’re looking for ways to pay the bills and keep the lights on. Finding a new full-time job can take months. In the meantime, it’s crucial that you find ways to make some money. Fortunately, there are several ways to replace at least a portion of your missing income while you navigate the process of job searching. From using your musical skills to freelance in the music industry to starting your own ecommerce business, DCR L.L.C. is here to share some money-making tips to help you get back on your feet.
Monetize Your Talents
Start by evaluating your existing talents and see if you can come up with a way to monetize these skills. For example, if you’re fluent in another language, such as Korean, you should be able to find remote work as a translator. Get started by creating a profile on a freelancing platform and start applying for job postings requesting Korean translation services. Keep in mind that potential clients will view your profile, so make sure your experience, reviews, and hourly rate reflect your skills appropriately.
Another option is to find work freelancing in the music industry. Musicians possess a number of soft skills, including self-discipline, adaptability, memory, teamwork, and communication that set them up for success in a freelance role. You could find freelance work teaching music lessons, managing social media accounts for artists, or DJing at weddings. By leveraging your existing skills, you can start earning money right away!
Get Paid to Play Video Games
If you enjoy video games, consider monetizing this interest and finding ways to get paid for your game time. Side Hustle Nation lists several realistic ways to make money playing video games. For example, you could start a video game YouTube channel sharing helpful gameplay tips, tutorials, and game reviews. If you go this route, be sure to brand your gaming channel with a custom logo and YouTube banner to help set yourself apart from all the other gamers out there. You can use free online graphic design tools to create an attractive YouTube banner with your own images, fonts, and design assets.
Start a Business
Starting a business is another way to make money while you look for work. Consider launching an ecommerce store selling products to people online. You don’t even have to invest in inventory to get started with ecommerce. If money is tight, try dropshipping or selling digital products like courses and ebooks. These ecommerce business models require very little upfront investment. All you need is a website and you’re ready to start selling!
Of course, you’ll also need to tackle a few legal tasks before launching your ecommerce business. Start by choosing a business structure and registering with your state. Forming an LLC may be a good idea, especially if you plan on growing your business in the future. Rocket Lawyer explains that an LLC will protect you from personal liability related to business debts and lawsuits, so forming an LLC is generally a smart move for growing businesses. Just be sure to review your state’s specific rules around forming an LLC. Once you know what it takes to set up an LLC in your state, you can skip the legal fees and use an online formation service to file your paperwork yourself.
Don’t let job loss get in the way of your financial goals. Consider starting a business of your own, monetizing a language skill, or getting paid to play video games. With a little hard work, you can create your own source of income that will help you overcome this setback and maintain your financial security!
Have you always dreamed of working as a professional musician? DCR L.L.C. offers a variety of artist services, from marketing and management to website design. Contact us today so we can chat!