Brianna McGurran, a columnist for personal finance website NerdWallet.com. (Courtesy: NerdWallet)
(Brianna McGurran, U.S. News) – “Ask Brianna” is a Q&A column from NerdWallet for 20-somethings or anyone else starting out. I’m here to help you manage your money, find a job and pay off student loans — all the real-world stuff no one taught us how to do in college. Send your questions about postgrad life to askbrianna@nerdwallet.com.
Q: I’d love to earn some extra cash in addition to what I make at my 9-to-5 job, but I’m not sure where to start. Any ideas?
A: Let me guess: You’ve already cut cable, sold your old cell phones and deleted the Seamless app, but your financial goals remain out of reach. While I feel for you and wish you didn’t need a side gig, upping your income is a great way to keep up with bills or achieve the debt-free dream faster. In fact, more and more people are looking for additional work to sustain them.
Last year, 4.1 million people on average held both a primary full-time job and a secondary part-time job, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That number has been on the rise since 2012.
You may want to try one of the many “sharing economy” apps that will connect you with gigs. But you don’t have to chauffeur people around if you hate to drive or take on work that won’t move you forward in your career. A side job can bring not only extra dough, but fun and fulfillment, too. Take these steps to turn your need for cash into a labor you can love.
