So often we see people asking questions whether newly disabled and long term, wondering how they can earn some extra money either while on SSI or SSDI or without, where they can be flexible, work from home, and not have the demands of a nine to five position. We got you!
Here are some old and new innovative ways you can get some extra money in your pocket and help your fellow man.
Number 1: Rent out Rooms
Rent out space in your home to medical students, nurses, travelers, and anybody who needs affordable, safe, and friendly. Many platforms provide this as an option. Airbnb being the biggest, you can also plan trips on the website in your local community called “experiences” that are fully accessible, and you can be a tour guide.
Make sure you review your local city and county ordinances and read the rules for your community or association to make sure you can do it and if you need a license. If everything checks out OK and you feel comfortable renting, hop on the platform and create a welcoming and accessible room listing. You can even rent your whole house or apt and take a trip!
Rental income is not considered “earned income” for Social Security. It also provides an excellent way to meet new people, make new friends, and feel less isolated.
Number 2: Rent out your wheelchair-accessible vehicle
If you don’t use your vehicle every day or have more than one, you can list your vehicle for rideshare on a platform like Turo.com. There are others as well but Deborah J. Davis, our publisher decided to try her wheelchair vehicle in Fort Lauderdale, FL, which she was going to sell until she realized it was more useful to those who are coming into Fort Lauderdale airport and needed a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Turo provides the insurance coverage, does all the bookings and the marketing. You can earn easily $75 a day on a rental, if not more, depending on your city. Not to mention you’ll feel good when you know that you can help out your fellow Wheelers who have a tough time finding vehicles, especially those with hand controls and turn base driver seats.
Again, make sure you check with your insurance agent and that you have the proper coverage because your insurance may be primary to the Turo insurance, so while you drive it, you’re covered but while they’re driving it, they’re covered under Turo.
Number 3: Actor, Model, or Photographer
As you know, there are more and more opportunities for models and talent with disabilities. Even casting and management agencies specifically focused on this niche. You don’t have to be the perfect height, weight, or face structure either. You can be a stock image model or commercial model or actor. And it’s all about inner personality and energy that will get you the gig.
If you submit your images to PushLivingPhotos.com for example. The model will get a 30% Commission on every image that’s sold. And that’s forever. Unlike other stock image galleries where you sit, model, and get paid $100 to $300 & and hand over all rights. Photographers who take these photos get royalties as well. Sometimes up to 40% if exclusive.
You can easily create a modeling portfolio. On canva.com. And just. Start submitting it. Be careful of agencies that make you pay upfront. You don’t need to pay to play.
Number 4: Freelancing
Do you have skills as a writer, social media expert, editor, artist, graphic designer? Then get on some of the bigger networks like Fivver or Upwork and start getting customers and reviews and you can take as many jobs as you want or as few jobs as you want. You’re paid as a contractor. So, you have to be responsible for your own taxes and income reporting.
The most important thing about a side hustle is to ask yourself what you enjoy and what do you spend your time on every day? What do you like to focus on? Do a self-audit of where your attention goes.
So, if you spend your whole day reading about sports, maybe make something in the sports arena your side hustle. Create a podcast, YouTube, or blog about your favorite obsession or interest.
If you spend all day thinking about relationships and psychology. then maybe become a life coach. PushPassion.org is a nonprofit that is going to be training people with mobility disabilities as life coaches in exchange for them coaching others in the community for free. They can use this training to develop their own private coaching business that you can do well into your 90s.
So, get out there, be inspired, be inspiring and think about what you feel the most passionate about, and get hustling.
I hope this helps to give you some thoughts of what can be done, and you can create your own.
If you have any of your own ideas that you can recommend, please do in the comments. Or simply let us know what you would like to do and maybe your fellow friends and neighbors can help you create your Passion side hustle.
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