All Work and No Play

I am no stranger to work. I have always had a second job, and a third, and a fourth.... In junior high and high school, I babysat, worked at a car wash, and umpired six-year-old boys' baseball games. Then, I worked three jobs all the way through college - at a daycare in the mornings before class, at the campus newspaper two nights a week, and at a shoe store on weekends. I liked being economically self-sufficient.

When I realized that teaching was my calling, I began to search for sensible ways to make a few extra bucks while still being able to spend time with my two kids, my husband and at least two of my favorite TV shows. I think I hit on a couple of good ones.

Online SAT grading. If you have taught for three years, you can apply to be an SAT on line grader. Go to the College Board website and follow the links. The pay is about $15 an hour, and I grade from home whenever I want. Freelance writing. When I have the time, I take on freelance writing projects. These companies need writers to ghost write articles, write keyword content articles, and many other types of things. You can also freelance art, if you are talented like that. I am not. Online Auction Sales. Occasionally, when my teenage daughter and preteen son tire of their trendy shirts or outgrow their jeans, I take a quick picture of them and list them on eBay. You would be surprised who will buy these things. Sometimes people who live in rural areas or are stationed overseas are ecstatic to have a chance to buy American brand name clothes.

You can find ways to make a few extra bucks at a second job that won't interfere with your teaching. For more ideas, please read my article Second Jobs for New Teachers