Side job/side hustle ideas/recommendations to supplement income

[cowgirl836]

Dang! 40K is more that my wife brings in a year (she works as a full time substitute teacher).

Ugh, teaching is rough and so underpaid imo. I'm presuming Iowa - I'd think there'd be room for her to upgrade to regular teacher or even pivot to another field. Teachers are in high demand in our area with so many retiring or leaving the field during covid and such.

 

[BCClone]

Work in the ag industry right now so I'm thinking of maybe helping a farmer with field work and such, but that can be a little seasonal. Not super handy but slowly getting better.

Basic lawn care and landscaping work. You may be surprised what these people charge. I hire quite a bit of ours done since I just don't have the time to do it and/or care to do it anymore. Local schools are quite often looking for someone to sit on a mower or do afterhours work so they can avoid OT. Commercial businesses are the same way and most of these will provide the mower. If you have a mower, pickup, trailer, then you can start making quite a bit more. That allows you to do some basic landscaping also. There are tons of houses that are looking for easy stuff to do.

Powerwash houses, spend $300 on a cheap powerwasher and you can make that up in a couple houses. Winter jobs are tougher unless you like moving snow.

I do have an Ag company I do a little work for that pays decent for part time jobs (although they may require more hours than you are willing to give up) and can pass that along to you.

There are a lot of jobs that people don't care to do or are unsure of doing but are pretty simple work. They just require physical work to be done.

 

[ScottyP]

Ugh, teaching is rough and so underpaid imo. I'm presuming Iowa - I'd think there'd be room for her to upgrade to regular teacher or even pivot to another field. Teachers are in high demand in our area with so many retiring or leaving the field during covid and such.

Sadly, she doesn't have a teaching degree and when we looked, she needed about three years more of college to get that degree. Her degree is sociology but she went to a private college out of state and many credits wouldn't translate to Iowa schools. The college did not help at all when it came to career planning.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Work in the ag industry right now so I'm thinking of maybe helping a farmer with field work and such, but that can be a little seasonal. Not super handy but slowly getting better.

That sounds like the natural thing, and there's no better way to get handy than to dive right in and do the work.

 

[MJ29]

Yeah our bill was just over $40k for two kids last year. If you don't have family nearby willing and able to assist or want to sacrifice one parent's career to stay home early on, having kids is becoming untenable for many. We're probably 70/30 against having a third and the $$ is a big part of that. Another 80-90k in daycare with very little social support for all the sick days and juggle that creates or enjoy an upgraded lifestyle/max out savings and retire sooner.

I feel this. Part of the reason we are one and done. We can't afford more than that, and we both have good jobs. I don't know how people do it.

 

[ScottyP]

That sounds like the natural thing, and there's no better way to get handy than to dive right in and do the work.

It would be best if I could just work with a handyman on the side to learn some of it with some guidance and then take on smaller jobs that they don't want to mess with.

 

[Peter]

What medication do you take and how much does it sell for on the black market?

 

[cowgirl836]

I have one calendar year to use up the sixteen weeks (however I chooses). Baby is due in May so I'll probably take a month off then. And take off through September to save on daycare. Would continue into October but that is a busy time of year at my job.

does your daycare require a specific starting point, like beginning of the month? Could play it a bit by ear and if Oct 1 things will immediately be busy, then go ahead and start up but if it's more like Oct 7, 10th, could push back start til the last moment. Of course then you'll want some paid leave saved to the side for the onslaught of sickness that will hit shortly after

And - obviously you know your job and impact of decisions best so take this fwiw - it's your management's job to make sure they have staffing for busy season. I would not leave paid bonding time on the table for the benefit of your company. I would figure out the scenario that is financially best for your family first and if that means they are missing you for a few weeks (I know it's not simply that easy and ag in October and all) I would consider that. But I know there is still stigma against men taking their full leave and though retaliation for protected leave is illegal, we all know it happens in big and small ways. Financially though, you are a man and a bit better protected in that manner. Men often get raises/promotions after having kids. Just some additional thoughts obviously without knowing the full context of your role and how those decisions could impact your position long term.

 

[CascadeClone]

As far as a side hustle, cowgirl is on the right track. Selling crap online works. Plus you can usually do it cash basis (ie no tax) depending on what site you use.

I parted out my old car and got about $5k out of it over a couple years.
Had some electrical work done, replaced the old panel. Sold the old circuit breakers for a couple hundred $.

Find some area of expertise you have (car parts, old toys, tools, anything) then go buy those at estate sales, garage sales, whatever, and resell online. There is a learning curve to it, but it isn't steep.

 

[BCClone]

I have one calendar year to use up the sixteen weeks (however I chooses). Baby is due in May so I'll probably take a month off then. And take off through September to save on daycare. Would continue into October but that is a busy time of year at my job.

If the baby is due in May, how much sick leave does your wife have? I know teachers who had a kid the last week or two of school, used the two weeks then and then 10 weeks the start of school as their 12 weeks.

 

[KennyPratt42]

I'd look really hard at your wife getting a job at a good day care center that provides a discount for care for employees' children. I would guess you would come out ahead versus paying full cost daycare for two and having her substitute teach. I'd also run the numbers on her taking a pause on substitute teaching and stay at home with the two kids until at least you are down to one at daycare. If she's making under $40k either option might be viable. Particularly if either of you can supplement with a little part time work (just don't over do it and burn yourselves out).

 

[yler4cy]

They are very fortunate to have you. Daycare costs are crazy.

Daycare is just getting stupid. We had our 2nd child start Kindergarten this fall. We were excited because that meant that we had 2 kids in school allowing for less daycare cost. NOPE!!! Our daycare raised their rates so much that we are paying the same amount now as we were when all 3 kids were at daycare full time this past summer. Talk about a nut punt!

 

[ScottyP]

If the baby is due in May, how much sick leave does your wife have? I know teachers who had a kid the last week or two of school, used the two weeks then and then 10 weeks the start of school as their 12 weeks.

Because she is not a certified teacher (full-time substitute) she pretty much doesn't get any paid leave. She will get the summer off and will start back in the fall.

 

[cowgirl836]

Sadly, she doesn't have a teaching degree and when we looked, she needed about three years more of college to get that degree. Her degree is sociology but she went to a private college out of state and many credits wouldn't translate to Iowa schools. The college did not help at all when it came to career planning.

Ugh, that's really rough. Obviously she's got other things going on right now but she may want to think about what she enjoys for the long term. She has a degree and experience in a field just *filled* with skills employers are looking for right now. Corporate trainer comes to mind immediately. Project management would be another she could probably easily do. The ability to teach and wrangle 20 crazy el ed kids and get them to focus and learn translates very well to the corporate world.

 

[HititHard]

You cant save your way to prosperity. Driving income is the key. What are you uniquely talented at?
If it’s a soft skill a product like ebooks or online courses have been successful for some. For me it was more technical so I started an e-commerce store to sell physical products while I was still in general practice.

The three step plan is:
Identity your thing
Create a product
Always error on the side of action when it comes to launching and marketing it.

 

[cowgirl836]

Because she is not a certified teacher (full-time substitute) she pretty much doesn't get any paid leave. She will get the summer off and will start back in the fall.

yeah this is a horrible aspect of teaching - even in states with paid leave like New York. Teachers are often carved out of paid leave programs these which is just an obscenely obvious way they are trying to cut out a cohort who often carry and birth children.

 

[Beernuts]

As someone who raised three children, you need to now realize they outnumber you. Your time with them is much more valuable than 95% of side hustle jobs will generate.

Step 1: Take a good look at your current employment positions and honestly evaluate your future - get serious now about being the best employee your company has. Time is valuable, do not waste it.
Step 2: Update your resume and actively search for advancement.
Step 3: (most important) Watch every expense. Do not buy a new or expensive car. Only go out to eat on special occasions. Fix things yourself.
Step 4: Enjoy every day. I was guilty of at times looking past the busy years with kids and thinking when they grew up life would be better. It is not. Enjoy this time of your life. Nothing is better than a hug from your kids.

 

[cowgirl836]

I'd look really hard at your wife getting a job at a good day care center that provides a discount for care for employees' children. I would guess you would come out ahead versus paying full cost daycare for two and having her substitute teach. I'd also run the numbers on her taking a pause on substitute teaching and stay at home with the two kids until at least you are down to one at daycare. If she's making under $40k either option might be viable. Particularly if either of you can supplement with a little part time work (just don't over do it and burn yourselves out).

This is a really solid idea on looking at daycare positions. Have the ability to see 2 of the kids regularly as well.

 

[CYCLNST8]

I remember this profitable "cooking" show...

 

[pourcyne]

I see you are in Urbandale. Otherwise, I would recommend you get a side job driving the Amish (no, seriously, that is a big gig where I live). I googled side gigs in Urbandale. Got this...

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