Orange County: Earn Money in Your Spare Time!

At certain points in life, you may want to supplement the income from your full-time job or in retirement. Good for you to keep your mind and body active (and the extra money helps, too, right?). There are many reasons why you may want to find a side gig or side hustle, but the real question may be: How can I do it? Here are a few ideas that you can use to make some money in your spare time. Google: make money in spare time

Blog

If you like to write on a specific topic, you may find some success writing a blog. What do you like? Gardening, Cooking, Cleaning, Accounting, Grandkids, College, Second Jobs, Couponing, Golfing, Sailing? A subject of interest to you is probably interesting to someone else, too. Share your knowledge. This usually isn't a get-rich-quick idea, but it's possible to see some growth over time. Plus, if it's something you like to do, it might not feel like work at all and blogging might connect you with new friends. Give it a try if you're a writer at heart! Google: how to blog, or watch some videos on YouTube, such as "how to make money with a blog for beginners youtube"

Freelance Writer

If you don't want to bother with your own blog, you may want to consider writing for clients online (or not) through a freelance website. You can take on articles when you have extra time and make some good money. Or contact magazines, newspapers or websites you enjoy and ask about freelance writing opportunities. Pitch some ideas and see where your new freelance career could take you. Google: freelance writing (or design) jobs

Drive for Uber or Lyft

Many people in Orange County (and beyond) earn extra money in their spare time by driving for a ridesharing service, such as Uber, Lyft, Carma and many more. Drive others around when it fits your schedule and actually get paid the same day. If you are a safe driver with a clean, reliable car and live in a more urban or suburban area, this might be a good option to consider. And, you may get to meet some interesting people while carting them around! Make sure you ask about all requirements, including insurance. Google: ridesharing companies

Sell Items You Make (or have sitting around, collecting dust)

Whether in Orange County or not, people love buying unique items. If you're crafty, you might be a whiz making and selling these items online through such websites as Etsy, eBay, Shopify, Amazon Handmade, Absolute Arts, Craftsy, etc. You can make a variety of items in your spare time at home, then set your own prices. By doing some research online, you may find effective strategies to help boost your sales and some of these sites are FREE! The entrepreneur in you might kick in and you may wrangle in some crafty men and women to contribute goods to your site, and share the profits! Google: sell crafts online or extra cash from home, etc.

Decluttering is good. Look around your house, garage and yard. You probably have some gently loved treasures that someone else would love to enjoy. Snap a photo, write a catchy description and post them on a selling site, such as eBay, and you might make a little pocket change. Google: best place to sell my stuff

Offer Consulting Services

Freelance consultants are people with particular areas of expertise, and they're found in almost every career field. Freelance consultants are hired by companies and organizations to tackle problems - large and small - and provide solutions. Perhaps you're very good at interviewing and hiring the right mix of people, or you are a good trainer or inventory taker. Many companies are looking to hire experts to do the job, perform a duty and move on. No commitment and no fuss. As an employer in Orange County, we're finding that could be a good time to be an "experienced" worker. There are a lot of things that you can do as a consultant that may be valuable for others in your local market, and it's a great way to continue doing something that you enjoy. Hiring freelance consultants save companies time and money, and the temporary expert job could put extra money in your bank account. Google: freelance consulting services

Become a Virtual Assistant

Do you have a few hours each day, week or month that you could devote to do a job? If you want to help people with tasks that could be done remotely, you may want to consider becoming a personal assistant (sometimes called a Virtual Assistant). You get to work from the safety and comfort of your home. From booking flights to scheduling meetings, typing meeting notes or creating sales quotes and more, this option is well-suited for a highly organized individual who can perform jobs accurately, on time and on budget. Google: virtual assistant

There are a lot of ways that you can make money in your spare time. The key is finding something that you like and then simply get started. If you find you don't enjoy the "job" anymore, stop and restart doing something you love. It's your life - be extraordinary.

Tell us what you do to put extra cash in your pockets. Do you complete surveys online, sell cool stuff, whittle cool Christmas figurines, take the neighborhood dogs on a walk? Let us know and we'll share your cash ideas with our client family. Enjoy today and be extraordinary every day - Stephanie Lawrence

_{The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as investment, tax, or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.}