7 Side Gigs to Make Ends Meet While Recovering From Tough Times

Article by Tina Garcia of Ideas Inspired

Photo by Samson Katt

We’ve all been through the wringer the past year, but some people have had it tougher than others. If you’ve lost your job, had health issues, had family problems, or any other major stressor on top of our world turning inside out, recovering can be quite challenging — especially if you are also a recovering addict. 

Remember to use healthy coping skills so you can manage stressful situations, and be sure to practice self-care. Eating healthy, exercising, and taking time out for yourself are crucial when in recovery from tough times.

If you need to take on a second job to help make ends meet, or if you need to start a business to get back on your feet, here are a few side gigs you can try.

1. Get Crafty
Making crafts or products you can sell on Etsy is one good way to manage that stress. If you decide to turn your idea into a small business, remember to spend time researching the competition so you can price your products correctly. Focus on commonly used keywords when you’re labeling the product so it shows up often during searches. 

2. Drive On
It may not be your primary source of income, but depending on where you live, driving for Lyft or Uber is a nice way to bring in a little bit of extra money. If you’re a people person, this can be a nice gig where you can meet a variety of different people.

3. Try Housesitting
Some people have used house sitting as a way to do some travel or take a vacation for nearly free, but it’s also a good way to save money on rent. If you’re looking for a job, this can also take some of the stress off during the job-hunting process.

4. Share Your Home
If you own your own property, an alternative to housesitting is renting a part of it out to other tenants or posting it on a site like Airbnb. Most home-sharing options allow you to have the final say in screening visitors. Some sites including Airbnb offer protection options to the renter, so you can share your house with people who will treat it well. 

5. Dog walking
Some pet owners have busy lives. Why not become a dog walker? You can post up signs in your area and advertise yourself as well. The beauty of the internet is that there are many ways to find people who are looking for the kinds of service you offer. You can charge according to the time you spend, from a short 15-minute walk to longer times out.

6. Officiate local sports
Many people who officiate are drawn by two things: a love of the game and a desire to contribute in some way. This work is often on weekends or evenings, so if you have a day job, this might be a simple way to take on a side gig. This is easier if you’re already a part of a league or participate in community sports.

7. Teach music lessons
You might have some skills that you can teach, including music. Perhaps you grew up playing the piano or some other instrument and always took it for granted. You don’t have to be a professional to teach music lessons. Take on a pupil or two and see how much they learn.

Cover Business Essentials

Whatever direction you choose to take, a few business essentials will help ensure your success. Draw up a budget for your new venture, and create a business plan to map out your goals and how you’ll reach them. There are some great templates online that can walk you through these processes, and remember to set up a budget while you’re at it. 

Think about things like whether you’ll be hiring staff and how that will work as well. There are plenty of platforms for hiring freelancers, or if you plan to take on permanent people, there are apps like Quickbooks that will help you process payroll. The easier you can make things on yourself, the more you can focus on both your business and your recovery.

Making a little money on the side doesn’t require a huge bank account or lots of money. Side gigs will give you a chance to grow your network, diversify your work opportunities, expand your horizons and learn a couple of useful new skills. Making ends meet can require a lot of work, but you’ve learned valuable coping and stress management skills that have outfitted you for life success and freedom from addiction.