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5 Easy Ways to Earn Money on Valentine’s Day

5 Easy Ways to Earn Money on Valentine's Day

Earn Money Instead of Spending It

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and for many people this means expensive gifts and dining. However,  there are others who prefer not to become victimized by the commercialism. They take advantage of this holiday to make some extra cash rather than spending it. Here are 5 easy ways to earn money on Valentine’s Day.

Easy Ways to Earn Money on Valentine’s Day

1. Get Busy Creating

Valentine’s Day is a huge money-making day for anyone working in retail, flowers, or confectionery goods. Small businesses can make a killing by attracting new customers with discounts and themed pieces. Therefore, this holiday is the perfect opportunity for the artistic and crafty types to get to work.

If you are a baker, start whipping up your favorite desserts to bring in some extra cash. If you’re an artist, perhaps greetings cards or commissioned work will earn you some additional income. For the musicians out there, consider learning some popular love songs and try your hand at busking. There are endless possibilities for finding the perfect gift, so get your name out there! Use your talents as an easy way to earn money on Valentine’s Day.

2. Throw a Singles Party

It’s no shock to hear that many singles dread Valentine’s Day. However, you can bring people together and celebrate your status by throwing a singles party. Whether you are looking for love or simply want to meet new people, a party is a great way to mingle. Choose a location and charge a flat fee to cover the expenses for food and beverages as well as your time. With the right theme and entertainment, you could create an annual event people look forward to and talk about the rest of the year.

3. Babysitting Services

Offering childcare services is a great way to capitalize on this holiday. If you prefer to stay in anyways, ask around to see if someone could use a night away from the kids. Babysitting rates usually range from $10-$15 an hour, although you should ask for more past midnight. Rates also vary based on the number of children and years of experience.

There are also agencies and periodicals you can work through if you don’t know anyone who is looking for a sitter. Try listing your services on sites like nanno.com or browse job posts on care.com. If you enjoy kids, this is a great and easy way to earn money on Valentine’s Day.

4. Photography Service

If you have an artistic eye and quality equipment, photography and videography are great ways to make extra money. Many couples celebrate anniversaries, engagements, and weddings on Valentine’s Day. You can be a part of their special day by capturing and immortalizing these moments. With the right lighting and editing skills, you can provide couples with a priceless gift they can treasure forever.

5. Date Planning

The fact is romance does not come easily to everyone – some may even need some help from something like True Pheromones when it comes to making sure that they are giving off exactly the right impression, no matter how nervous they may be. Event planning is the perfect opportunity for the hopeless romantics to really shine on Valentine’s Day. To spare someone the agony of planning an unsuccessful evening or a disappointed partner, you can put plan a romantic date for various budgets. Come up with a variety of packages that include locations, restaurants, photographers, and entertainment.

Transportation is another, less involved date service you can provide for the happy couples. Many people will be working since the holiday falls in the middle of the week. This means they will need delivery services during the day. At night, you can be certain people will need a ride home after all the bubbly. You can sign up with a taxi-hailing company or app if you have your own car, or drive with a fleet if you have a valid driver’s license.

The Bottom Dollar

If you decide to capitalize on Valentine’s Day, there are tons of easy ways to earn money. Play to your strengths and customize your marketing approach. There is someone out there who is looking for exactly what you are offering. Thanks to the internet, it is now bringing people together in new ways. If you have an idea, get out there and find your niche.

 

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Gig Economy: Which Generation Is Doing The Gig Work?

gig economy

Recently a news report has been making the rounds about how baby boomers are the generation making the most as workers of the gig economy. However, the report was based entirely on one company’s workers. Therefore, I got curious and wanted to dig deeper into this.

Are Baby Boomers Doing Best in the Gig Economy?

The Mercury News was just one of many sources that shared the news recently that baby boomers are thriving in the gig economy. Based on this report, baby boomers:

  • Took the most gigs
  • Earned the highest ratings from customers
  • Tend to do more of the physical labor jobs rather than admin work
  • Made the most money, out-earning millennials by $200+ monthly

The information comes from Wonolo, a company that gig workers can use to find jobs. The report revealed that workers range in age from 18 – 80+.

Why Baby Boomers May Thrive as Gig Economy Workers

If it’s true that baby boomers are the generation thriving most in the gig economy, then what’s causing that? There could be a any number of reasons.

First of all, if you’re Baby Boomer age and looking for work then perhaps you’re very motivated. Maybe you lost your job recently and find it hard to get new traditional work because of persistent ageism. Or perhaps you’re struggling as you support both your adult children and your elderly parents, so you have to take on extra gigs. Either way, you’re motivated to work a lot and earn as much as possible.

However, there could be more to it than that. Some suggestions in The Mercury News article include:

  • Maturity leads to a stronger work ethic and willingness to put in the effort
  • Experience means that you’re able to do the work effectively and efficiently
  • Baby boomers as a whole may be more reliable workers
  • After working other jobs for years, they find the work particularly enjoyable, so they put in the effort
  • With more experience, they may be able to command higher prices even in the gig economy

Are More Millennials Working in the Gig Economy?

The recent report indicates that Baby Boomers are doing better than other generations in the gig economy. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they make up a majority of the side hustle workforce. CBS News reports that nearly half of all working millennials have engaged in gig work for extra income. In contrast, less than 40% of Gen X and barely more than one quarter of Baby Boomers have taken gigs.

Gig Economy Differences Between the Generations

Members of Gen Z, Gen X, Millennials, and Baby Boomers are participate in the gig economy. Therefore, the question might not be who is doing the work but rather what’s the difference between their experiences. Fortune reports on twokey findings:

  • Baby Boomers often take gig jobs for better work-family balance. In contrast, younger generations seek to make more money with gigs as a “second job.”
  • Baby Boomers are most affected by, and worried about, the lack of benefits that come with working in the gig economy.

Deloitte Insights adds some additional information:

  • Millennials in the gig economy often rely on others (such as parents) to help pay some of their expenses. Those who choose the gig economy over a traditional job (instead of in addition to it as a side income) make less than their full-time employed peers.
  • Whereas Baby Boomers tend to get physical gig jobs, millennials often get jobs in admin and the arts. That said, maintenance is also high on the millennial gig list.

It’s also important to recognize that there are many different types of gig work. Some people participate mostly in the sharing economy (driving for Lyft, for example). In contrast, others take contract work in offices or do freelance jobs. The generations may vary in their job choices as well as their reasons for joining the gig economy.

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