Making extra money doesn’t always require starting a traditional business, getting another 9-5 job, or waiting for someone to hire you. Gig work gives you another option! The best part about it, you are able to earn money based on the time, skills, transportation, and resources you already have.
I’m pretty sure I’ve talked about it quite a bit, gig-work has been my bread and butter for the last 4 years. Let me give you some tips so you can run it up an extra $1000 a week or within a month!
The goal isn’t simply to “work more”. The goal is to work strategically, track your numbers, and treat your time like a business resource.
#1. Get on MULTIPLE platforms
Apply. Apply. Apply. Apply! There’s so many different apps you can try from ridesharing, food delivery, grocery delivery, field inspections, home/rental cleaning, pet sitting, handyman services, mystery shopping, freelance services, etc.
We live in a time period where anything that someone could possible need is offered as a service for convenience. Use this to your advantage!
You want to have multiple apps you can work with for many reasons. Every market is different so it’s good to change up which app to work on depending on your area. I’ve traveled nation wide using Instacart, Roadie, Amazon Flex, and UberEats. Some places I was able to depend solely on Instacart to hit my goal. Other places required me to use extra apps to make up the difference. Get me? Also, there are moments where an app may be having technical issues and you still want to hit your daily goal; you can switch apps and keep going.
#2. Use Facebook Groups to Find Clientele
Granted, this isn’t gig-work but it’s skill-work related. Local websites and groups are another good way to come across work. You can find kids to babysit, pets to walk, and adults that need assistance with something. Hair cuts, hair braiding, mowing the lawn, writing assignments, music/language lessons, cooking, cleaning, mechanical needs, etc.
You name it, it’s there! Don’t cancel this option out too quickly. Remember, there’s a generation of people who are NOT tech-savvy at all. Word of mouth travels fast and so does the referrals.
This route you have the opportunity to set your own price and schedule. You’re using your skill and talent as a service. This will utilize more of your entrepreneurial skills or strengthen in! Knowingly and unknowingly, you’ll get into marketing, outreaching, customer service/communication skills, and more. It does come with a bit more work but very worth it.
#3. The $1000 Goal
$1000 can sound like a huge goal to hit. Let’s break it down so it’s easier to process.
If the goal is an extra $1000 per month, that’s $33 per day or $250 per week.
If the goal is $1000 per week, that’s $200 per day (5 work days) or $143 per day (7 working days).
Once you know the daily and weekly amount, you can reverse-engineer your goal. Ask yourself: which apps can realistically get me there?
#4. Work the Apps
If your doing this full-time, freely, with no other work commitments: lock in and work the apps like a 9-5. Clock in at a certain time, set your break time, and have a non-negotiable cut off time. My friends trained me with this saying and I’m going to train you the same: Stay outside and on the apps until you hit your goal!
If you’re doing this part-time, create a daily goal. This could look like aiming for $50 daily after you get off work. Or on your day off, make $100-$150. You want to get into the habit of completing a few gigs consistently. It will add up.
My rule of thumb is pack your own snacks and food, make your gas money back, PLUS some more. It has to make sense financially. Granted, some days you may break even or right under your daily goal but you can try again the next opportunity. No worries!
#5. Track Your Progress
One of the biggest mistakes people make with gig-work is focusing only on the income and not monitoring the expenses. It’s important to track:
- How much you made?
- How much did you spend? (gas, food, parking, tolls, etc)
- How many hours did you work?
- How many miles did you drive?
- What did you accomplish?
- Which apps work best?
On a weekly basis, review your numbers! This will help you determine if you’re on track. If you need to make changes, switch apps, adjust your strategy, etc. You’ll be able to see how your time produced income. I’ll share my work tracker at the end!
#6. Mind Your Mental
Doing this kind of work can get boring, or even discouraging, if your not hitting your goal. It’s not hard work, but it’s active work. Be mindful not to talk yourself into moods that turn away the money.
For starters, have your playlist, interviews, sermons, or podcast episodes ready. It makes the day better when you have something good to listen to as you work. Secondly, how you do one thing is how you do everything. What I mean by this is show up and do a good job regardless of how much your getting paid. If you’re working an app that’s tip based, customers change tips all the time. 1 person may not tip, but the next person may tip so much more that it no longer matters who didn’t tip. Get me?
Let’s recap:
There are many ways to make $1000 without quitting your primary job, having to complete rounds of interviews, and most of all, you can do with your kid/s. $1000 can be equivalent to 40 Instacart orders, 13 field inspections, 10-12 Amazon Flex routes, 5-6 cleaning gigs, 4 lawn services, or however you have to break it down***. Depending on the type of gig-work you choose, the essentials that’s needed: a phone, passing a background check (for some apps), reliable transportation, and gas money to start off. & remember: Be strategic with how you work, especially if you work multiple apps.
*** These are examples based on different earning amounts per job or assignment- not guaranteed earnings. Your actual numbers will depend on your location, demand, platform, expenses, and the type of work you choose.
Click the link below to get your FREE 30-Day Gig-Work Income and Expense Tracker
