7 ideas for supplemental income during coronavirus times

Are you looking for ways to earn supplemental income amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic? If so, use the ideas below to inspire you, starting today.

The uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic

Life has slowed down on account of the coronavirus pandemic, and we’re still just processing it. That means different things for different people, but one thing we’re all struggling with is dealing with the uncertainty that lies ahead. Besides not knowing how long all of this will last, a large part of that uncertainty lies in dealing with various changes regarding our professional lives – and it’s a lot to take in.

But, we have to take it one step at a time and focus on what we can control. There’s tension regarding the economy, but there’s also opportunity in this time of self-isolation. Fortunately, the internet still offers a lot of possibilities for working part-time, from home, and with more flexibility.

So, whether the current situation has endangered your job or you’re looking for something extra to do while you’re stuck at home, here are some reliable side-job options.

1. Sell things you don’t need for supplemental income

The simplest way to earn money is by selling the things you don’t need – and now is the perfect time to do it. Depending on how long you’ve been practicing social distancing, you’re bound to wake up one day with a willful desire to declutter your home.

Maybe you’ve been planning to do it for ages but always had “something better” to do, or maybe being at home so much has got you feeling cramped. Whatever the case, once you get to decluttering, you’ll notice that you have many items you never use.

Some examples include:

• Clothes you never wear
• Clothes your kids have grown out
• Old furniture
• Jewelry
• Tools

And then there’s the home-gym equipment you bought on impulse as part of a New Year’s resolution. You can organize a virtual garage sale through social networks or sell your stuff through platforms such as Amazon, Craigslist, eBay, etc.

2. Do online surveys and participate in focus groups

Many companies pay well to learn the opinions of their target audience, and that’s certainly not changing now when businesses are grasping for data to help them position their strategy.

Online surveys are something you can do from your home whenever it works for you. You don’t even have to devote your full attention to it.

It allows you to multitask, and one survey doesn’t take more than 30 minutes of your time. The average earning is about $10 an hour.

Online focus groups work similarly, but they require more patience and attention. They also pay more, and you can earn approximately $500 a month.

3. Get into trading options

While trading is down in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, as unreal as it seems, this crisis will end at some point and things can improve. In the meantime, you can use the opportunity to learn the ropes around trading options and slowly get started, so that you’ll be standing on firm ground and ready to grab lucrative opportunities once the market is more favorable.

This is by far a more complicated way of making additional income than the previous two, so you will have to seek advice for options trading online or from professionals. Still, there’s no denying that options traders can make significant amounts of money with little effort invested when they implement proper strategies.

4. Sell your crafts for supplemental income

Do you have a craft or hobby that you’re now finally able to dedicate more time to? Crafts are very in-demand, so if you know how to sew, do decoupage, or something similar, you could sell your creations on Etsy.

Your handmade products may also do well on e-commerce portals and niche websites. These types of items are valued highly online. So, you could earn some money while doing something you love.

Even if you’re not good at crafts, such as knitting and crocheting, there are easy crafts that you can learn in a short time. Beading jewelry is relatively simple and less time-consuming than other crafts. To get started, you’ll need to get an assortment of quality beads, beading tools and materials, and beading guides and patterns.

5. Freelance writing or blogging

Content-based marketing is one of the most effective ways for people to sell their products. Because of that, many businesses are paying heftily for blog articles.

And, fortunately, the gears on this machine haven’t stopped turning, with business continuing as usual in the digital sphere. While you don’t have to be an experienced writer to do this, you do need to be skilled with words.

You’ll also have to do a lot of research and reading to gain insight into specific niches you’ll be writing for online. After all, it’s not the same if you’re writing a fashion blog or covering a business topic.

Two places to start are freelance copyright platforms such as Upwork and Textbroker. You can also get your own blog going – And YES that’s still a great thing to do today!

There’s an extra benefit of getting into freelance writing, besides the profit: it can help you acquire the knowledge and skill that you will be able to use for your business later. A similar temporary career you can decide on is freelance article editing.

6. Need supplemental income? Use your voice

In 2018, the audiobook revenue grew by more than 24 percent and totaled $940 million. Consequently, publishers need narrators and voice actors. If you can picture yourself in such a role, you can audition for reading.

Imagine earning about $2,000 for a 10-hour book. Depending on your contract, you will probably get a couple of dollars per download, as well.

Just be aware that some retailers take a big chunk of audiobook profits from creators. Find out more about the underbelly of the audiobook industry before publishing yours.

7. Sell your knowledge

Mentoring and tutoring are always in-demand, particularly when it comes to foreign languages, but other types of knowledge and skill can also be shared for a fee.

Some examples include:

• Dancing
• Mathematics
• Accounting
• Photography

In fact, opportunities within the online tutoring world are bound to expand. Many people will use this time in self-isolation to learn something new, while those who attended physical classes are now switching to distance learning in an effort to keep up their routine.

If teaching sounds appealing to you but you’ve never done it before, don’t let self-doubt get in your way. Take the time to brush up on your skills and find the right platform for you.

Final words

We’re faced with a lot of confusion at this time, and the pressure is harder when you’re burdened by a lack of a paycheck. The supplemental income options listed above can serve as an inspiration for finding your unique method to earn some money on the side without compromising your sanity.

Stay safe, don’t give in to pessimism, and take it one day at a time. Good luck!

About today’s writer

Caitlin is a bookworm and recreational dancer. She is also a medical student in love with science in all its forms. When she is not trying to find the meaning of life and the Universe, Caitlin is researching and writing about various health-related and well-being-related topics.

She is happily addicted to art in all its forms, grilled tofu, and hiking. To see what Caitlin is up to next, find her on Twitter.