In today's economy, our dollars do not seem to stretch as far as they used to. So many people are losing their homes, cars, etc... and there seems to be no shortage of news reports about another round of layoffs at local companies.
One great solution to this epidemic is creating wealth for yourself via a side job. This "side job" is something that you become the boss of, and something you can do on your own terms while keeping your day job. This could be a great opportunity for you to see if there is something out there that you're good at, and it could possibly turn into a full-time profession.
The great thing about starting a business of your own is that you do not have to worry about someone coming y and handing you a pink slip, or telling you that your position is being absorbed.
Here's the process I use to come up with ideas for ways to come up with extra income:
First, I write down a list of things that I am passionate about, and that I'm good at. I then look at this list and see if there is a nagging problem that people involved in these areas, and I try to solve that problem. For instance, I enjoy doing small projects around the house, and in my town there are a high number of retirees or elderly citizens that do not enjoy this as much. So, this is a great area to advertise your services to this segment of your community. You could easily get some business cards printed out, and offer to paint, change doorknobs and other small projects without having to be a licensed contractor.
Once you decide on what problem you're hoping to solve for someone, you should then focus on how you will market your services. If you're just beginning, i do not recommend expensive Yellow Page ads and the like, I suggest you use good old fashioned shoe leather, and build a network of friends in the areas that you're interested in entering into.
Your city likely has a Chamber of Commerce, a Rotary Club, or you could visit somewhere that your target market assembles, and ask if you could post a flyer. Social Networking Sites like Facebook and Twitter are also free resources that allow you to reach a wide market without having to pay the big advertising costs.
Always check with your local professionals regarding licensing, taxes etc... Good Luck with your future endeavors and I hope create a side job and earn lots of extra money!
