Despite the fact that the Nigerian economy is technically out of recession, many citizen still find it difficult to make ends meet, as many have either had their salaries slashed or lost their jobs, being the result of moves by their employers to cut costs.
Aside from the salaries earned from your ‘9am to 5pm’ regular/career jobs, financial managers have emphasised that it is important for you to do other jobs by the side, in order to make ends meet. So, the more time and energy you put in these businesses, the more money you make and add to your regular income. But if you are not proactive enough, then you are likely to go bankrupt, as your slashed salary may not last till the end of the month.
One must always have something to fall back on, because the economy is not sure, and situations can change anytime that one least expects
A former Director-General, Ekiti State Job Creation and Employment Agency, Dr. Folorunso Aluko, says it is advisable to earn extra income as long as the business does not affect the full-time job, because there is no way your salary alone can sustain you. So, using your extra hours productively will increase self-sufficiency.
Rather than waste your free time for leisure activities, it is better to invest the time so that you can get something more, since business or entrepreneurship is not all about buying and selling.
The Chief Executive Officer, Fund+Consult, Mr. Yinka Sobowale, says that one must always have something to fall back on because the economy is not sure, and situations can change anytime one least expects.
He adds that aside from having a regular white-collar job, you must have another thing bringing in money, so as to meet daily obligations, no matter how tedious one’s job can be.
To earn more, the managers suggest laundry services, cleaning services, freelance editing/script writing, make-up services, hair dressing, among others.
Home Laundry Service
We all wear clothes (most of the time), which, of course, makes the business of cleaning soiled laundry a hit. So, you can source for people, especially your colleagues at work, who find it stressful to launder their work clothes.
You can go to their houses to wash or collect them and take them home at your backyard for washing; it all boils down to how convenient the washing and ironing spree will be for you.
Home or party-based makeup services
If you have a talent for helping people look their best, and know how to mesmerise with eyeliners and turn heads with lipsticks, you can consider using your beauty skills to create a profitable side business. You can even go to events and help people to tie their headgear, because it is a challenge for most ladies to do, and also their makeup. Before the end of the party, you will realise that you have made pretty much income in just a setting.
Aluko says, “If you don’t have any time to run the business, you can hire one or two people to handle it for you. All you need to do is to conduct an impromptu check and stock-taking.
That’s why it is good to always start a business while working full-time, so that you can test your way into your new product or service; get feedback, validate the business idea, and start generating income before you quit your job.”
Freelance editing and proofreading
As long as there is still the written word, there will always be editors. Freelance editing and proofreading not only pays a decent commission wage, it also gives you the chance to read about potentially interesting topics too. With the access to the internet, you can find lots of job postings from companies and individuals in need of writing, proofreading, and editing services, which will also make it easier for you to work after the day’s job or weekends.
House cleaning
Most working-cIass people love to pay in order to get their house cleaned, mostly on weekends and public holidays; so this is an opportunity to make some extra income. House-cleaning services cover cleaning of rooms, floors, lawns, garages, windows, etc. And they require a whole range of cleaning tools, such as brushes, brooms and buckets, that you can easily lay your hands on.
