This International Women’s Day the World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap report tells us that gender parity is over 200 years away. And while we strive and push forward to close the pay gap, no woman has time to wait a couple of hundred years to be finally paid what she’s worth.
Alas, what’s a gal to do to make some money around here? Enter Canna Campbell, a divorced single mum who made $32,000 in 12 months outside of her salary. Yes, really.
Canna, a financial planner, set herself a personal challenge to make some extra cash. She discovered breaking down her big financial goals into smaller, more achievable ‘bundles’ she was able to reach her target easier.
In her book The $1000 Project, Canna, also the creator of popular Youtube channel SugarMamma.TV, demonstrates the simple and achievable financial strategy that helped her make that impressive five-digit figure.
Here, in an extract from the same book, the savvy finance guru offers 29 money-making ideas to kick-start your earning.
This is an extract from The $1000 Project by Canna Campbell, available now (Viking, RRP $34.99)
29 ways to make money outside of your job
Sell unwanted items through eBay, local Facebook groups, Gumtree, garage sales, etc. Free yourself from the clutter in your home and life and make some cold, hard cash at the same time.
Dog walk. This is a great way to get outside in the fresh air and spend more time with animals that get excited when they see you.
House-sit. Instead of paying rent, you earn rent! Plus, you get to explore your city and see what it’s like to live in other areas.
Babysit. Spending quality time with kids of all ages is always an eye-opening experience. They may even teach you something! And when I used to babysit on Saturday nights, I found that it was a double saving, as it stopped me going out and spending lots of cash on cabs, food and drinks.
Do tutoring. Helping kids learn, whether it’s a language, maths, sport or a musical instrument, is an enriching experience. You’re helping to build their confidence and self-worth, and you never know where they may end up thanks to you. I fondly remember all my tutors. (And yes, there were a lot of them, as I always needed a little extra help!)
In her book, Canna Campbell explains how to manifest savings and create extra money.
Take on weekend work. Find a second job that doesn’t clash with your normal working hours or study (for example, working in a cafe, restaurant, or at special events). On top of your wages, you may also pull in some good tips!
Do photography. Develop and sell your photography skills – for events, for art, and even for commercial content if you are particularly talented.
Rent rooms out to short-term rental companies. You can rent a room or your whole property – or you can work as a team with someone else to make it a more convenient option. I did this with a friend and we took it in turns renting our homes out: I would stay with him when my place was rented and he would stay at mine when his was rented. Just make sure that your personal belongings are secure, and that you check your guests’ reviews carefully before you accept them.
Offer experiences to tourists. Sell certain skills or expertise to people, such as giving tours, pottery lessons, art classes, surfing – the wide range of experiences is amazing.
Rent your car out. This is particularly good if you don’t use your car much or if you have a reliable public transport system handy. Again, be sensible and go through a reputable car renting service so that all the necessary checks and insurance are in place.
Start a rental business. If you’re passionate about fashion, you could rent out your dresses and handbags to people for special events.
Do market research. I did this a lot and always loved it. You get to talk with people about your experiences of and opinions on different products and services. Hearing people’s varying perspectives is always interesting, and you’re normally paid in cash at the end of each session.
Provide a selling website service. If you know how to sell on eBay and already have a store set up, you could offer to sell items for other people and charge a fee or commission. There are heaps of people who have wardrobes and garages filled with items they’d love to get rid of, but are too time-poor or don’t know how to do it themselves, and would happily pay you to do it for them.
Set up a small business. Obviously, starting any new business has its risks, so make sure you do your research first. Ask for advice from people who have set up a business similar to the one you have in mind. And start small: see what you can do in your spare time before making any major commitment, and learn as much as you can as quickly as possible. Also, do be mindful of any initial lump-sum investment needed to start the business, and how that might affect you financially.
“I really believe that having control over your money is easy – and, more importantly, so many emotional benefits flow from self-discipline in this area of your life,” Canna Campbell.
Join Airtasker. The amount of jobs listed on Airtasker by time-poor people is incredible, and some of them are quick and easy, such as moving furniture, putting together flat- pack furniture and painting rooms. All of these are within most people’s capabilities.
Deliver food. UberEATs, Foodora or even your local takeaway restaurants – if you have a bike or car, you are good to go!
Take on extra projects at work. Ask to take on additional jobs for which you might be able to earn a bonus, or which will work towards a promotion or pay rise. These things also improve your experience and knowledge, making you more valuable.
Ask for a pay rise. If it’s been a while since your last salary review, and your education and experience have increased your value to the company, book in a time for that conversation with your boss. Do your homework into what others in similar roles are being paid, and demonstrate clearly and practically how much you’re worth to the business. Worst-case scenario, they say no, and you can use the feedback you receive to keep building your skills and experience and have the conversation again at a later date. Either way, you have nothing to lose – and if you don’t ask, it may never happen!
Do proofreading work. Proofreading is great for people who need to be at home, as most of the work can be done online. If you have an eye for detail and excellent grammar and spelling, you may be of great assistance to someone.
Get paid to test apps. Before apps launch into the market, their functionality and user-friendly appeal need to be tested. Apps cost a lot of money to build, so developers really value feedback before taking them to the market.
Become an Uber driver. This isn’t for everyone, but I’m a huge fan of Uber and often chat with the drivers about why they decided to become a driver. They all love the extra cash, flexibility and meeting new people. If you have a car that meets the requirements, this is could be a good option for you.
Do labouring work. Love being fit and healthy and outdoors? Labouring work can be a great option if you’re happy to get your hands dirty!
Start a blog or write for blogs and websites. Blogs can take a while to monetise, however, so patience and dedication is required. While you build your own, you could approach other websites and offer to write content for them. Even if they can’t pay you, some will let you include links to your website, which will help build your traffic faster.
Work extra hours. This is especially helpful if you’re a shift worker and can get overtime rates.
Make something. Try anything that can be sold at markets or through online stores like Etsy, such as cakes, homewares, clothes, or arts and crafts. Having a creative outlet is also good for the soul!
Get some freelancing work. If you know how to do graphic design, social or digital media, use Photoshop, build websites, etc., you could pick up freelancing jobs that you can do in your own time at home.
Get some temping work. If you work part-time or are studying, you could make yourself available as a temp to do relief shifts or help companies when workloads are high. It can pay well, and you can choose which jobs you want to take. Plus, if the employer likes you, you never know what opportunities could open up!
Cook. Sell your culinary skills by making precooked meals for busy people.
Wash cars. Living in the inner city, I can’t park near a water outlet, and I definitely can’t get a power cord to reach the car to vacuum it. So my option is either to take my car somewhere else or to pay someone to come and clean it. Being time-poor myself – and having a three-year-old and dogs that are in the car every day – I really appreciate it when someone washes and cleans my car. It’s a huge help! Do a letterbox drop in areas where this service would be of value to people.
