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Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How This Marine Vet Future-Proofed His Career Without Spending A Dime
Developing a growth mindset will protect you in career emergencies Many of us wait until we're threatened with a layoff or we're worried about the likelihood of AI taking over our jobs, before we start thinking about future-proofing our careers and building financial resilience. But not Craig Burnley, a Marine Corps veteran from Atlanta, Georgia. He didn't wait for an emergency to strike his secure job before deciding to be strategic about his career; instead, he was proactive and made two smart moves that took him from his 9-to-5 hybrid job as communications engineer, to a fully-remote position as a structured cabling designer (the latter pays an average of up to $70,000 a year in the U.S.). Burnley started as a Marine Corps veteran and worked in consulting engineering as a telecommunications design professional. 'I was a full-time employee, working long hours, and had peaked in my role,' he says. But Burnley wasn't content with where he was in his career. He desired more. Coming from a non-traditional educational background, the cabling designer says he would always seek to expand his skill set, and consistently prioritized lifelong learning. Because he had built this habit, 'it seemed logical to me to upskill or reskill when the opportunity presented itself,' Burnley says. To begin with, he started a side hustle and began driving for Lyft outside of his regular work hours. "I started driving for Lyft because I wanted to have control over my schedule and more from my 'off-time' outside of my 9-5," Burnley reflects. More than half of Americans currently have a side hustle. The rise of the gig economy in the United States can be attributed in part to the growth of technology, high consumer demand, and more professionals becoming disillusioned with the 'stability' of the traditional job model. If you're worried about how secure your job and finances are, it's your smartest move to begin a side hustle now, even if you're not directly threatened with loss yet. Even if it's something as small as offering your services on TaskRabbit, launching an Etsy store, or providing consulting services online, it's better to have a backup plan and multiple streams of income that you can fall on, than to not have anything outside of your primary job at all. Beyond picking up extra income and meeting new people in his spare time, Burnley didn't realize he was in for a surprise that would take him from his hybrid role to a fully remote job with higher earning potential: 'I received a message in the Lyft app about enrolling in the Merit America program to expand my knowledge, gain new skill sets, and grow into a new career,' he says. So, naturally, he jumped on the opportunity. Detailing his experience with the workforce development nonprofit program, Burnley relates: 'For many working Americans, the barriers to transitioning into a tech-related job are too high. For example, they may lack the required skill sets and connections, college is too expensive, and bootcamps and online programs don't always provide the flexibility or support required to kickstart a new career while working a day job.' Burnley knows this from experience. After all, he studied at Penn State but recalls that he 'didn't do too well' and had to end up pursuing his bachelor's degree later in life. While on the program, he was paired with a coach for extra support, and had a team of coaches dubbed 'job success specialists' to help him find and land a role according to his new skills and interests. 'I selected the data analytics program which allowed me to obtain the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate," he shares. But Burnley didn't stop there. He joined their alumni program, where he's currently working towards completion of the Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate. Ultimately, what leads to career success is not sheer luck, or even needing to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars. It's having a strong hunger and passion for continuous learning, a growth mindset, and an attitude of resourcefulness, that enabled Burnley to move from a job where he was just barely content, to his current role where he has a strong career outlook, six-figure earning potential, and a fully remote position. One might assume that the Marine Corps veteran from Georgia would have stopped driving for Lyft, now that he's achieved his goals and is progressing his tech career. But he has no intentions of quitting his side hustle any time soon. Always have more than one income stream; never depend on your job alone 'I still drive for Lyft because I enjoy driving and for the human contact,' says Burnley. "I like helping and meeting people from all walks of life, and I get to make money while doing it."
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
15 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job
Earning extra money or having a steady stream of passive income on the side can be easy when you know what types of opportunities are out there. Whether you want to pay off student loan debt, start saving for a big-ticket purchase or build up a fund for the future, finding one of the best side gigs out there is a great way to reach your goal. Consider This: For You: Many money-makers in the gig economy pay so well that you might even consider giving up your full-time job. If you need a side gig to create extra income, read this list of viable options to create your own schedule and break out of the 9-to-5 grind. Average Salary: $55/hour Sign up as a vendor with GreenPal, a lawn care service and app that CEO Bryan Clayton describes as 'Uber for lawn care,' and make money mowing lawns. 'Many of our lawn care vendors are part-timers — some are firemen, some are teachers that use our app in the summer to make extra money; others are college students that work afternoons and weekends, and it is the perfect way for them to make extra money,' Clayton said. 'Our average vendor makes around $55 per hour mowing lawns on our system.' Average Salary: Set your own rates Become a Tasker and earn money by completing everyday errands and tasks for people in your area. All it takes is a visit to where you can select tasks you are willing to accomplish. After getting matched with individuals requesting service, you can proceed to do the job — and getting paid. When you pick a task, the website will show you hourly rates for the most qualified taskers. You will then be able to set your own price. All jobs require a minimum time commitment of one hour, and payments are made securely online. According to Time's profile of elite taskers, they have been paid up to $70 an hour to fold shirts, $65 an hour for heavy lifting and $80 for moving services. Trending Now: Average Salary: $80 to $150/project The side gig of frequent flyer specialist is perfect for those who travel often and understand how to maximize frequent flyer miles to receive the best deals. If this sounds like you, consider using your skills to help other travelers plan their itineraries. Experienced frequent flyer specialists can charge clients up to $150 for planning just one itinerary, according to a profile of a frequent flyer specialist on Budgets Are Sexy. Average Salary: $24/hour With this side gig — which typically pays $24.03 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter — your duties can include performing bank reconciliations, payroll needs and creating financial reports. Providing bookkeeping services to more than one company at once can increase your earning potential. If you have a bit more experience in this field, a senior accountant can make an average hourly pay of about $40. Taking accounting gigs can be a major moneymaker, and the job will require preparing statements and audits, documenting transactions and performing end-of-month tasks. To earn the high salary of a senior accountant, you typically need five years of experience, according to FlexJobs. Average Salary: $42/hour Share your knowledge with the world — remotely and on your own schedule — by becoming an online instructor. Computer and IT skills courses are especially in demand, according to FlexJobs. Average Salary: $32/hour Licensed sign language interpreters are hired by businesses and other entities to facilitate communication for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The average pay is $31.59 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. Average Salary: $33/hour If you're a teacher looking to start a side gig outside of the classroom, consider becoming a curriculum writer. These professionals are hired to develop curricula and teaching guides. It's a gig that can pay $33 per hour, according to FlexJobs. Average Salary: $30/hour This gig involves conducting or teaching workshops, seminars or courses, as well as evaluating participants and developing the curricula for what you teach. According to FlexJobs, the pay starts at $30 an hour. Average Salary: $28/hour It's possible to find executive assistant positions that are remote and part-time if you already have a few years of experience under your belt, according to FlexJobs. You can often work as an in-house or virtual assistant and duties can include setting up meetings, responding to emails, tracking appointments and more. Average Salary: $100/hour Turn your area of expertise into extra money in your pocket with consultant work. These professionals are hired by an organization to review its processes and provide advice to improve its performance. According to FlexJobs, IT is a particularly lucrative field for consultants. Pay varies widely between industries. Average Salary: $49/hour You don't need a full-time job to put project management skills to use. Seek out freelance positions that take advantage of these skills, such as overseeing timelines, tracking budgets and coordinating team members. You can make close to $50 an hour without going into an office every day, according to ZipRecruiter. Average Salary: $26/hour Social media has become a powerful selling tool for businesses and brands, and these companies depend on marketing specialists to make sure their social media campaigns are successful. These individuals create campaigns, develop strategies and write social media content. Average Salary: $54/hour These developers are responsible for maintaining and updating apps, testing automation design and troubleshooting software issues. This tech side gig pays an average of $53.77 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. If you want to stay in tech, but in a broader field, web designers can make an average of about $45/hour. An eye for design and a background in tech come together with this gig. Web designers will generally need knowledge of platforms such as CSS, WordPress or jQuery, according to FlexJobs. Average Salary: $45/hour Many individuals and businesses use WordPress for their websites, so having a mastery of the platform can make for a high-paying side job. These developers create and edit themes, set up and utilize plugins, and write code. The average pay is $45.26 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. Average Salary: $40/hour Having an eye for a bargain can make you rich as a reseller. Whether your passion is clothes, shoes or something more obscure, selling items for more than what you paid for them on eBay, Craigslist or apps like Poshmark can be a lucrative side gig. Alexandra Marquez, a thrift store pro who resells the items she finds on Poshmark, told Business Insider that she left her $50,000-a-year corporate job at a marketing company to focus on her reselling business full time. She now makes $5,000 a month. Caitlyn Moorhead, Autumn Rose and Nicole Spector contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates Surprising Items People Are Stocking Up On Before Tariff Pains Hit: Is It Smart? Are You Rich or Middle Class? 8 Ways To Tell That Go Beyond Your Paycheck This article originally appeared on 15 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
7 Ways To Make Money Fast When In A Pinch
There are plenty of ways to make money, but not every opportunity is suitable when you're in a pinch. To make money fast, you need a side hustle that requires little to no experience, can be started immediately, and pays out instantly. This article covers seven ways to make money when you need to do so urgently. Gig economy applications let you find short-term jobs that typically pay per task, allowing you to receive payment instantly. Some popular examples of these apps include TaskRabbit, Fiverr, Upwork, and Uber Eats. The hourly wage offered by gig economy applications widely varies depending on your work type. However, based on RoadWarrior's data, delivery food drivers working on platforms like Uber Eats earn around $18.74 per hour, while completing odd jobs through TaskRabbit can pay up to $25 per hour. If you have a car and want extra passive income, consider renting your vehicle to others through platforms that connect car owners and people who need to rent cars temporarily. For example, Turo, a car-sharing marketplace, lets you rent your car to a prescreened customer base and provides insurance for your vehicle while renting in exchange for taking a small share of your income. According to Turo, the average annual income of car owners on the platform is $10,868. Walking dogs or babysitting is another in-demand service that can make you money quickly when in a pinch. Apart from asking your friends or relatives if they need these services, you can use platforms such as to find babysitting opportunities or Rover if you prefer walking dogs. Indeed's data shows that, on average, dog walkers earn $20.85 per hour on average, and babysitters earn $15.86 hourly. Monetize skills you already have or want to develop by doing freelance work online. Popular in-demand freelance skills include video editing, web designing, and copywriting. Almost every skill has a place in the freelance market. Freelance platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr are excellent starting points for finding potential clients. You should also leverage personal connections and social media platforms to expand your reach. If you want to make money in less than a day, hosting a yard sale is one of your best options. Depending on your state, you might need to obtain the necessary permits for this process, but they are usually inexpensive. Find any unused stuff at home, come up with a reasonable price for every item, and set up a garage sale in your front yard. Depending on the items you sell, you can earn hundreds of dollars in one sitting by hosting a yard sale. If you're good at crafts or baking, try selling your creations to make extra money. Start by asking family and friends if they're interested, then branch out to your local community. How much you can earn through this venture varies depending on how much you sell and your prices. If successful, you can grow this one-time gig into a full-blown business. Some website owners are willing to pay money to hear honest insights about the functionality of their sites. Some free-to-join website testing platforms online include UserTesting and Userlytics. Often, you only need to pass a short test and answer some screening questions before being allowed to test websites and earn money.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
4 Times When Spending Extra To Save Time Is Worth It, According to Rachel Cruze
Doing things yourself to save cash makes sense when you're on a tight budget or working on goals like paying off debt. But if your financial situation supports it, having someone else do the work can give you more time to do enjoyable things like exercise or visit loved ones, and reduce your stress. In a recent YouTube video, personal finance expert Rachel Cruze discussed four times she's found it worth spending extra to save time and have more balance. She recommended considering these ideas once you're debt-free with emergency savings. Cruze said hiring a house cleaner is great for reclaiming time, especially if you've got a busy schedule. She started with a monthly service and eventually moved to a weekly cleaning once her budget allowed for it. According to Angi, you can expect to pay about $25 to $80 an hour for a house cleaner, depending on your house's features and the level of cleaning. You might get a better deal if you set up more frequent cleanings or work with an individual cleaner. While the cost might seem high, not needing to buy certain cleaning equipment and supplies anymore can help offset the expense. There's also the satisfaction of having a clean home. Cruze discussed how ditching the lawn mower and hiring a professional gave her husband more time to enjoy Sundays with the family. She said, 'He still will do stuff for sure in the yard himself because he just likes it, but to get his time and energy back, it's worth it.' Besides saving yourself from doing a tiring outdoor chore, you wouldn't have to worry about maintaining a mower or buying fuel. Plus, using a professional can pay off when a nice lawn improves your home's curb appeal and market value. Angi noted that Americans pay $123 on average for a lawn mowing visit, with yard size playing a major role. Try getting quotes from local landscaping companies and checking service marketplaces like Thumbtack and TaskRabbit, which might be cheaper. While you might already pay for child care when you're working, Cruze said it was nice to have someone watch the kids occasionally at other times. You could use that time to run errands, go out with your partner or simply relax. A few options include hiring a babysitter, using a drop-in care center or sending your kids to special day programs. Consider your budget since care costs widely vary. The 2025 Cost of Care Survey found that parents paid $21.07 an hour on average for an after-school babysitter. However, your location, the care arrangement and other factors will affect the cost. Don't just go with the cheapest care option. Carefully vet any person or care center so that you know your kids will be safe. You can also ask your loved ones for trusted child care recommendations. Cruze said, 'This is one that I started during COVID, and I was using Instacart to do all my grocery deliveries.' While she's enjoyed saving time and avoiding stressful Costco runs, Cruze explained that cost concerns have led her to use delivery services less often. After all, you're not only paying for delivery or subscription fees, but you also must account for tips and potentially higher prices. To save some money, consider ordering directly from stores like Walmart and Kroger, which mentioned they don't mark up prices online, and look for deals and coupons. You can also compare service fees and check about promotions that waive fees on orders above a certain amount. More From GOBankingRates Here's How Much Cars Made in the US Cost Compared to Mexico, Canada and China I'm a Retired Boomer: 6 Bills I Canceled This Year That Were a Waste of Money 4 Grocery Items To Buy Now Before Tariffs Raise Prices This Summer The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing Sources Rachel Cruze (YouTube channel), 'When Spending Extra to Save Time Is 100% Worth It' Angi, 'How Much Does Professional House Cleaning Cost? [2025 Data]' Angi, 'What Are the Average Prices for Mowing Lawns? [2025 Data]' 'How much to charge for babysitting' This article originally appeared on 4 Times When Spending Extra To Save Time Is Worth It, According to Rachel Cruze
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The One Piece of Parenting Advice That Deserves a Permanent Time Out
The internet is full of parenting advice—some of it helpful and some of it, well, not so much. But one unlikely corner of the internet that is full of seriously great, no B.S. tips? Social media's favorite no-filter parent, Caitlin Murray of @bigtimeadulting fame. A mom-of-three, Murray has gained close to 2 million followers on Instagram for her funny, no-nonsense insights into parenting (if you're not familiar, see her video about "travel sports becoming a real kick in the tit" as an example) . So when I recently caught up with Murray about all things parenting and her partnership with Prego, I just had to ask her—what's the one piece of parenting advice that needs to go? 'Just the overthinking of all of the feelings all of the time,' she tells me. 'You know, I want my kids to be open, and to want to come to me with everything that they want to talk about. But we pay, because of all of the information out there about parenting styles and parenting trends and how to raise these really well-adjusted, happy kids.' And yep, I can totally relate—parents often feel the pressure to do everything just right (lest they screw up their kids forever!) and as a result, worry, obsess and overthink things. All that overanalyzing, she adds, pulls you out of the actual moment. 'Just live your life! Just be!' When I confess that I sometimes find myself parroting whatever parenting script I recently saw Dr. Becky or another millennial parenting guru share on the 'Gram, Murray doesn't miss a beat, saying, 'Scripted parenting is just not for me.' She adds that whenever she attempts to copy the latest parenting script her kids end up confused. 'Like, where is mom? Like, what is this alien talking to me right now? Saying this random thing? That doesn't sound like her!' Murray's keeping it real in her partnership with Prego, too—she's helping launch a giveaway where parents can win a family meal kit delivered to their door, plus a $100 TaskRabbit credit to lighten the load just a little. So what's the takeaway? Sometimes the best parenting advice is to stop trying so hard to follow all the advice. The 5-Word Phrase That Can Help the Next Time You're About to Go Apesh*t On Your Kid, According to a Psychologist
