Jobs are hard to find as they are few and far between, right now, and you need cash to care for your family, to make the ends meet. So, if you lost your job, what are you going to do?
People respond to job-loss in different ways, especially if people are depending on you to provide for them. There are many ways to make money in lieu of a paycheck. Some people might consider a life of crime. Depending on how desperate you feel, you might consider selling drugs, stealing cars, robbing convenience stores or banks. You might try other ways to collect cash, like selling your plasma, panhandling, or standing on a busy street corner with a cardboard sign.
You and I? We are more likely to attempt to start a business, one where others are entitled to pay us for services rendered. Assuming you and I have no money to start a business, we would not let this stand in the way of our survivability or exploring all the possibilities to support our families.
Remember back in the day when you were a kid and you really wanted something that you didn’t have enough money to buy, but you still really want it. You found a way to make it happen. Right? You didn’t have to lie, cheat, steal, or kill. You babysat neighbor kids, set up a lemonade stand, washed cars, mowed lawns, walked dogs, whatever you could do to get the money that you needed to get what you wanted.
A little different approach is necessary for an adult, but not much. Take a look around and ask yourself, “Are other people doing it?” Yes, just as always.
Offline
I checked out bulletin boards at the corner store and the gas station, and sure enough, there are all kinds of services being offered by locals in exchange for cash. Just to give you an idea, here are some of the offerings that I found,
| Local Bulletin Board | Housekeeping |
| Firewood for Sale | Handyman Services |
| Landscaping | Auto Repair |
| Beauty Supplies & Services | Massage Therapy |
| Pet Grooming | Aromatherapy |
| Tarot Card Reading | Assorted Business opportunities |
As old school as physical bulletin boards are, they still exist and are used regularly, though the trend is to see these postings moving from the physical boards to the Internet.
Online
You will find them online in places like Facebook Marketplace and Craig’s List.
Some of the listings I found online included,
| Painting Services | Guitar Lessons |
| Yoga Classes | Educational Tutors |
| Web Site Design | Computer Virus Removal |
| Ghost Writing | Social Media Marketing |
| Pet Sitting | Dog Training |
| Wedding Photography | Catering |
| Pressure Washing | Seamstress Alterations |
| Laundry Services | and other odd jobs |
With these resources, if you know how to do something, that someone else doesn’t know how to do, doesn’t have time to do, or doesn’t want to do, this could easily end up being cash in your pocket.
When you are just starting out, and in need of emergency cash, your prices may be relatively low, but once you get established and build a reputation, you can increase your price and move from doing part-time gigs to owning your own business.
Start small and grow.
It may have started out of desperation and the struggle for survival and turn into a thriving business.