Over the past year I have been able to interview several people who are making money by doing things a little differently. They are doing their own thing and rocking at life.
Hopefully, you had the chance to read their interviews on my blog, but in case you missed any of them, I have created a roundup so you might find something that sparks your interest.
Some of these are work from home jobs and businesses, others allow you to travel the world, but the most important thing is that there are options for everyone.
The careers and jobs below include:
- Selling on Amazon
- Becoming a virtual assistant
- Traveling the world as an au pair
- Making money as a grammar nut by proofreading
- Bookkeeping even if you have no experience
- Using your voice as a voice over actor
- Creating an ebook
- Starting a successful freelance writing career
- Becoming a transcriptionist
I’m always looking to add to the list, so if you know of anything, please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email.
Sell on Amazon
Jessica Larrew, of The Selling Family, explains how selling on Amazon may be a possibility for you. She is a friend of mine, and I am blown away by her success!
The first year that Jessica’s family ran their Amazon FBA business together, working less than 20 hours a week total, they made over 6 figures profit!
If you are looking for a new job, or even just a side hustle, this may be something that you want to look into. For more information on how to work from home selling Amazon on FBA, check out the interview below.
In this interview, we talk about:
- How Jessica started selling on Amazon FBA
- What exactly Amazon FBA is
- How to choose what to buy and sell
- How much a person can expect to earn
- The positives of selling on Amazon, and more
Learn more at How To Work From Home Selling On Amazon FBA.
Become a virtual assistant
Virtual assistant tasks may include social media management, formatting and editing blog posts, scheduling appointments or travel, email management, and more. Basically, you can get paid to do any task that needs to be done in someone’s business, but doesn’t need to be done by them.
Gina is a professional writer and virtual assistant. In just six months, she was earning over $4,000 per month as a writer.
In our interview, she explains how this can be a possible career or side hustle choice for you.
In this interview, we talk about:
- How Gina became a virtual assistant
- Who the typical clients are
- How much you can expect to make
- The positives of virtual assisting, and more
Learn more at Make Money Online as a Virtual Assistant.
Travel the world and be an au pair
In 2016, my sister was an au pair in Italy. It was an interesting experience, and she shares how you can become an au pair and travel the world in her blog post.
In this blog post, Alexis teaches you:
- How much au pairs make monthly
- The benefits of becoming an au pair
- The negatives of becoming an au pair
- How to find a host family
- Questions you should ask the family before choosing them, and more
Learn more at How To Become An Au Pair And Travel The World.
Grammar nut? Try proofreading for a living
In 2014, Caitlin made slightly over $43,000 by being a freelance proofreader, while also going on several fun vacations.
If you are looking for a new job, or even just a side hustle, this may be something that you want to look into. Check out the interview below for more information on how to make money proofreading by becoming a court transcript proofreader or a freelance proofreader.
In this interview, we talk about:
- How to get started as a proofreader
- Who the typical clients are
- What kind of income can be made
- Whether anyone can be a proofreader or not
- What kind of training you need, and more
Learn more at How To Become A Proofreader And Work From Anywhere.
Caitlin has put together a FREE 76-minute workshop, where she answers all of the most common questions about becoming a proofreader, and she even shows you how to use the most popular tools used by proofreaders around the world. You can sign up for free here.
Related: 20 Best Online Proofreading Jobs
Become a bookkeeper
Ben, founder of Bookkeeper Business Academy, explains how becoming a bookkeeper may be a possibility for you.
Ben helps people start and grow their own bookkeeping business with his online bookkeeping course.
And, guess what?
You don’t have to be an accountant or have any previous experience!
In this interview, we talk about:
- What a bookkeeper is
- The typical clients a bookkeeper has
- How much new bookkeepers earn
- How to become a bookkeeper
- The positives and negatives of bookkeeping, and more
Learn more at Make Money At Home By Becoming A Bookkeeper.
Use your voice
A voice over actor is the person you hear but rarely see on YouTube videos, radio ads, explainer videos, corporate narration, documentaries, e-learning courses, audiobooks, TV commercials, video games, movies, and cartoons.
In 2014, Carrie replaced her salaried day job to become a full-time voice over actor. People are constantly asking her how she got her start and how they can too.
So, she created a six-week online class, and it sold out. Several of her students booked voice acting jobs before the class was even over!
In this interview, we talk about:
- How Carrie got into this interesting career field
- Who the common clients are
- How much money a beginner voice over actor can expect to make
- The positives of this job
- How to find your first job
- The costs, and more
Learn more at How To Become A Voice Over Actor And Work From Anywhere.
Create an ebook
My friend Abby, from Just a Girl and Her Blog, explains how creating eBooks may be a great income source for you.
Abby made over $110,000 from sales of digital products (such as eBooks) in 2015, and she is on track to crush that in 2016. She started 3 years ago knowing nothing about blogging and now makes six figures a year, due in large part to her eBooks. She is now teaching others the process she uses to write and launch profitable eBooks, and you guys, it is genius!
In this interview, we talk about
- How Abby got into creating digital products
- Why she decided to write an ebook
- How much money she’s made from ebooks
- Whether it’s easy or hard to create one
- How much money the average person can make
- The positives of creating an ebook, and more
Learn more at How To Create A Profitable Ebook With Abby Lawson.
Start a thriving freelance writing career
A freelance writer is someone who writes for a number of different clients such as websites, blogs, magazines, and more. They don’t work for one specific company, rather they work for themselves and contract out their writing.
Catherine Alford is a full-time blogger, freelance writer, and has a course- Get Paid To Write For Blogs. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Time, Lifehacker, AOL, and more. She has also landed amazing appearances on Good Morning America, Fox News, and Huffington Post Live.
She was able to quit her full-time job due to her successful freelance writing career, and she gets to work from home and see her two-year-old twins all the time. She also started her freelance writing career at $10 per post, but now receives several hundred dollars per blog post and earns a great living from freelance writing.
In our interview, she explains how this job can be a possible career or side hustle for you.
In this interview, we talk about:
- How Cat found her first freelance job
- What a freelance writer is
- How much a beginner freelance writer can expect to make
- The positives of freelance writing
- How to find your first freelance writing job, and more.
Learn more at How To Start A Successful Freelance Writing Career.
Become a transcriptionist
In 2007, Janet started working from home as a medical transcriptionist. Shortly after that, she started a successful general and legal transcription business.
While running her business, the idea of a course popped up. Janet now teaches others in her online course how to transcribe online, while working from home as a transcriptionist.
In this interview, we talk about:
- What a transcriptionist is
- How you can get started as a transcriptionist
- What kind of money you can expect to make
- The type of training you need, and more
Learn more at Make Money At Home By Becoming A Transcriptionist.
Related content: 20 Of The Best Entry Level Work From Home Jobs
Do any of these ideas interest you? What would you like to learn more about?
Natalie @ Financegirl says
I quit practicing law and have been able to use freelance writing and blogging to supplement the pay cut. The best part is that my earning potential far exceeds my potential as a lawyer!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Awesome!
Kate @ Cashville Skyline says
It’s amazing how many remote / work from home opportunities there are now! I manage social media for a tech company and I can do the job from anywhere. Blogging and freelancing provides even more flexibility because you can work the hours that are most convenient for you! I don’t think I could go back to the 9-to-5 office lifestyle.
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Yes, it’s definitely amazing! I had no idea just a few short years ago.
Holly@ClubThrifty says
Thank goodness for the internet! Without it, so many remote jobs wouldn’t be possible. I am happy that I am able to work at home and on my own terms.
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Same here 🙂
The Green Swan says
I have been reading these articles or guest posts lately and am always amazed at how people can make good money working less and doing something they enjoy. That’s the name of the game! I’m especially intrigued by the transcriptionist role. Might need to look into that one more!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Do it! 🙂
Jason says
There are a lot of good opportunities out there. You just have to find out their best for you. I’m truly amazed that someone made $43,000 as a proofreader.
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Thanks!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Yes, for sure!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Welcome 🙂
Vicki@Make Smarter Decisions says
These posts are definitely awesome! So many teachers (my former job!) do the “traditional” side gigs of tutoring & summer school, camps or painting houses! There is such a big world out there and these are excellent examples of what can be done – side gig or full-time! Thanks for sharing Michelle!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Thank you Vicki!
Amanda says
Great list, Michelle! I’m going to go back and read a few of them again! I’m particularly intrigued by the proofreading (I must have missed it previously!).
Hope you’re enjoying Colorado! We are on our way home from Grand Lake – it was beautiful!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Yes, the proofreading one is a great one! And, awesome. I love Grand Lake!
Lorin @ My Story Defined says
This is awesome! It is nice to see people who have experience with each of these options. It’s a perfect example of “If I can do it so can you!”.
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Yes, for sure!
Tess Wicks | Words + Money says
I secretly want to become a voice-over actor SO badly! I’m totally checking out that interview. Thanks for the great piece!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Do it!
Michelle says
It’s not so secret anymore! 😉 Good luck!
Lynsey says
This was a great list! I’ve been looking at ways to move away from my full-time job to being self-employed gradually, so these ideas will help me get started. I’m particularly interested in freelance writing and creating e-books. If you have any more info on how to be successful working for yourself, keep it coming.
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Thanks!
Stacey Ventimiglia says
This is a great list! How about direct sales? Direct sales has come a long way over the last few years and I know many people who have replaced and surpassed their full-time income. I’m able to be a stay-at-home mom thanks to my side gig with Rodan + Fields. In addition to being able to stay home with my kids it also allows me to still feel a sense of self worth, interact with people, and help people feel more confident in their skin!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Thanks!
Finance Solver says
I love that you have a nice list of ways to make extra income and organized in a way that I could go back to them in the future. I’m always looking to make some extra cash (starting with company incentives to give me an extra $800/year for being physically active) and now I will be implementing side incomes from your blog!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Wow, that’s nice!
Colin Ashby says
I really loved the virtual assistance interview with Gina. I’m a regular reader of her blog now and participated in her freelance writing course! I’m currently teaching English in Thailand right now and loving it. Trying to make sure I cover the financial aspect of it as well as the travel aspect.
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Yes, I love her blog!
giulia says
I love this list and I’ve earned some extra money as freelance writer/proofreader…most of my friends say that I have a good voice so maybe in the future I could try to use it as side hustle:D
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Do it! 🙂
Lindsey says
When I first was looking for a way to earn a little extra money, I was surprised by how much fun some of them are! I love writing, so freelance writing naturally sounded like the perfect way to earn some extra cash. I love using ebates and swagbucks to earn cash back on my purchases and even do a little VA work from time to time. I totally get why some people make their side hustle their full time job :).
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
Haha definitely!
Josh says
I’ve been able to supplement my income through freelance writing. If I had known about this stuff back in college in 2008 I can only imagine what the income potential could be today.
Beth says
Great list! I want to try selling on Amazon but I wouldn’t know what to sell…so therefore, I have been lazy and not even looked into it. I know that I can overwhelmed with trying to decide on something when there are so many options. Bad quality of mine.
Kelsey @ Tealmama says
I love all of these success stories. There is a big movement away from the traditional 9-5 and this is proof. I am freelance writing and plan to eventually write an ebook. Both I would have ever imagined a few years ago! And you know what – your blog has been a huge inspiration for me. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda-LivingFullyandFree says
I love this post! I am really wanting to become a freelance writer to help increase my income so I can quit my full-time job and devote all my time to blogging and side hustles! The voice acting thing is something I’m also going to check out!
Thanks Michelle!
Amanda
Kayla @ Shoeaholicnomore says
This is a great guide! I will have to share this with my brother as he is looking into becoming a voice actor.
niah says
why do I feel you tell us the same stuff in all your blogposts in a different way?
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says
This post is a roundup as I said in the opening paragraphs. I don’t do them often but I didn’t want anyone to miss these great interviews. Does that answer your question?
Amanda @ Minimalist Finance says
This is a motivational post! I would love to someday be able to work from home and it’s encouraging reading about people who are already doing it. My dream job would be to make a good living selling home made goods. Thanks for taking the time to put this together 🙂
Little House says
These are awesome examples of people making money from anywhere, and without relying on a full-time job from an employer. I think having side hustles is so important in any economy. That way you aren’t totally screwed if your employer cuts back on staff.
Jess Valentine says
Great post!
Leah says
This is a great post! Perfect for someone on the road trying to make this adventure last as long as possible! Freelancing has been a game changer. More great ideas here, too!
simon says
Does Amazon offer any remote (work from home) positions?