• Sell items you no longer need on online marketplaces like eBay, Amazon, or Facebook Marketplace. That’s not regenerating income, so it’s important not to spend it on something non-productive, but to use it to pay down credit card debt or put into savings right away. 
• Take on a second job. Wait tables, or take on a job as a barista or cook. Most places need someone who can work weekends or odd shifts. I wouldn’t bother with online applications, unless you already have an in, or you know they’re hiring en masse. The best way to find these jobs is to dress for success, print out some resumes, walk in a business you’d like to work at, ask for the owner or manager, and ask if they’re looking to hire great people. You’ll be way ahead of the online applicants. 
• Rent out a spare room on Airbnb—if your lease allows.
• Offer pet-sitting or dog-walking services.
• Freelance as a writer, designer, or photographer.
• Offer tutoring or coaching services in a subject you excel at.
• Take on odd jobs or gigs through platforms like TaskRabbit or Fiverr.
• Drive for Uber, Lyft, or Doordash. 
• Rent out your car on Turo, Aura, or SWYFT.
• Start an online business. 
• Participate in paid focus groups or surveys.
• Offer house cleaning or organization services.
• Rent out your parking space or driveway on JustPark.
• Sell handmade or vintage items on Etsy.
• Offer music lessons or performance services.
• Musicians: Walk into possible performance venues, ask for the owner, and book some gigs! Have some videos ready to go. Solo artists, be prepared to “audition” on the spot. 
• Rent out your camera equipment on ShareGrid.
• Develop and sell your own digital products, like e-books or printables.
• Offer meal prep or personal chef services.
• Participate in medical studies or clinical trials.
• Give Plasma to OneBlood.
• Rent out your bike on Spinlister.
• Offer landscaping or lawn care services.
• Get paid to do focus groups. Try User Interviews, Respondent.io, or Recruit and Field. 
• Rent out your tools or equipment on RentMyEquipment or GoEquipeMe apps right on your smart phone.
• Offer home repair or handyman services.
• Play an instrument? Go busking! 
• Sell stock photos or video footage online. Try Alamy, 500px Licensing, SmugMug, and Getty Images. 
• Help businesses master AI technology. 
• Offer virtual assistant services to busy professionals.
• Sell handmade or vintage clothing on Depop.
• Offer car washing or detailing services.
• Rent out your camping gear on Outdoorsy.
• Start a wedding and events band business and promote it. 
• Offer event planning or coordination services.
• Participate in paid taste-testing or sensory panel studies.
• Offer voice-over or audio recording services.
• Sell unused tech gadgets on Swappa. 
• Sell your artwork or designs on Society6 or Redbubble.
• Got a boat? You poor sucker! Rent it out Boatsetter until you can sell it. 
• Start a mobile car detailing business. 
• Offer makeup or hair styling services.
• Get paid to referee youth sporting events. 
• Sell your own products via your own online store on Amazon, Shopify, Bonanza, eBay, or Handshake.
• Rent out your storage space on Neighbor.com. 
• Offer personal shopping or styling services.
• Participate in paid online surveys through sites like Swagbucks or Survey Junkie.
• Rent out your parking spot or garage on SpotHero.
• Offer language translation or tutoring services.
• Sell your old textbooks or study materials on BookFinder.

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Career Wisdom from a Freelance Legend: Tommy Tedesco

Tommy Tedesco was a legendary studio guitarist in Los Angeles and Hollywood in the 1960s and 1970s. He was a member of the famous “Wrecking Crew” of regular studio musicians, and played on thousands of recordings of all kinds. He was a reliable “first call” studio hand for television and movie soundtracks and all kinds of recording projects.

“Diversify your income streams. Don’t rely solely on one type of work, because the music business can be unpredictable.”

                        – Tommy Tedesco, studio musician

Tommy Tedesco was never a household name. But he was a consummate musician and a first-call, go-to person for the people who were household names at that time, and he made a great living as a musician for many years.

He was also very successful at creating multiple independent streams of income  for himself.

He received studio fees (he made double- or triple-union scale for much of his career)

He received royalty payments from thousands of recordings. Every time a rerun of M*A*S*H came on, or The Rockford Files, Green Acres, Batman, or Bonanza came on TV, the TV networks or production companies sent money to ASCAP and BMI, and those agencies sent him a check.

The same thing happened when any of the thousands of records he played on sold another new copy, or received radio play.

It might have been a few cents a play. But over a 40 year career, they steadily added up. 

Think big sellers, too, like Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, Frank Sinatra, and many more. He played on all their records.

He also received additional income from doing clinics and workshops for music schools and colleges, and from book sales—which are great reading for anyone who seriously wants to pursue a career as a professional guitar player.

And his advice above, about diversifying your income streams, is great advice for anyone in any industry. 

In his book “For Guitar Players Only,” Tedesco advised young musicians that any gig should have at least one of four things going for it: 

• good money
• fun
• learning
• connections for the future

If the gig doesn’t offer at least one of these four things, Tedesco said, “move on.”

Decline the gig.

Without at least one of these four criteria, you’re better off working on your own project and developing your own business rather than working for someone else.

Also, what might be a crap gig for you might be a great opportunity for the next kid just starting out.

Let him have it!

Now, I’d add two more criteria to the list: 

• a good cause
• opportunity to teach, lead, and mentor or give back.

But I’ve found that if a job or gig has those two elements going for it, it’s almost invariably fun and personally rewarding. And good charity events almost always have lots of connections for the future, too.

So I’d say, as your career develops, stay very much involved in charity events and fundraisers. And as you gain experience and wisdom, don’t miss the opportunity to mentor and teach young people coming up.

It will come back to you sevenfold. 

The post How To Make a Living as a Freelancer: Lessons from a Legend appeared first on BucksFU.

Here are some of the other drains on millennial finances, according to the Bank of America survey: 

• subscription services: $91/month
• entertainment (concerts, etc) $95/month
• technology-related expenses (Internet, smart phones, devices). $139/month
• clothing and accessories $161/month
• alcohol $262/month
• travel  $124/month

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• 8 percent of Gen Xers are living paycheck to paycheck. That’s even worse than the Millennials are doing (57 percent)!
• One-third of U.S. consumers say they aren’t currently saving any money; 

• 61% of U.S. consumers—about 120 million Americans—say they are living paycheck-to-paycheck as of April of 2023. 

• Of this group, 60% have no significant savings.

• 57% of Americans don’t have enough in savings to cover a $1,000 emergency expense.

• 40% of Americans who earn $100,000 or more per year say they are living paycheck to paycheck. 
• Six out of ten people can’t cover a $1,000 emergency.

• Of Millennials who make over $100,000 per year, 60 percent of them say they are living paycheck to paycheck, according to career management company Zippia.

• Less than 4 in 10 Americans have at least three months worth of expenses saved up.  Looked at another way, the average American cannot survive 90 days of unemployment.
• 22% of Americans have no emergency savings at all.

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