Professionals in all industries are looking for ways to bring in extra cash, and that’s especially true of the teaching profession. With costs rising and salaries staying the same, many teachers are looking for ways to supplement their incomes with side gigs.
Happily, teachers are in a uniquely fortunate position when compared with workers in other industries when it comes to picking up side work. A teacher’s skills and expertise can be pivoted to a wide range of other paying jobs, while the amount of time off teachers have, especially during the summer, opens up plenty of possibilities for earning extra cash.
In this post, we’ll run through a few smart side hustle ideas that can bring in enough money to make a difference to your bank balance without doing significantly more work.
One-to-One Tutoring
Still have enough teaching energy after you’ve finished at school? Then offering one-to-one tutoring can be a highly effective way to top up your salary. You’ll find that you can make a decent amount of cash without having to commit huge amounts of time or effort. You can find private students by making your services available in your school, posting online, and sticking posters up around town. While how much you’ll earn will depend on your experience and the subject you teach, you should earn at least £30 per hour, and that can rise all the way up to £100 an hour.
Create a Course
Thought you had to be in front of a student in order to teach? Think again. The rise of online learning means that it’s more than possible to create and sell a course that students can complete at their own pace. It’s a passive way of earning an income that not only enhances your bank balance but also offers an innovative and engaging way to put your teaching skills to good use. You’ll need to put together quality content as well as choose a respected online course platform, but once you have, you’ll find that running an online course is more straightforward than you might think. Aside from periodically updating the content, engaging with students, and acting on feedback, you’ll mostly discover that you can simply let the course work its magic while you sit back.
Teach English
There are some 1.5 billion people across the world currently learning English, and many of them are looking for quality teachers to help them. As a professional teacher, you already know exactly how to communicate with students, and as a native English speaker, you know exactly what to teach them. You won’t make as much money from teaching English as you do from your day job, but it’s also a much more relaxing job. You can set your own schedule, choose how many students you take on, and well, that’s it. Plus, the nature of the teaching is different from what you do in the classroom, and the fact that there’s (usually) only one student makes everything easier. Create a profile on an online platform and see who reaches out.
Work With Homeschoolers
Homeschoolers work outside the traditional educational system, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t require help from time to time. Many homeschooling parents work with teachers to come up with curricula, assess the development of their child’s education, or just want some feedback. If you’re passionate and knowledgeable about education, then look at getting in touch with local homeschool groups to offer your services. You should find that you can charge around £30 per hour for this service; work with a few clients a few times a month, and you’ll have some extra cash to play with.
Go to Camp
Many teachers need a break from kids once the summer rolls on, but that’s not always the case. If you’ve still got some energy in the tank, then signing up to work at a camp can be a great way to earn extra money during the summer months. Plus, while you’ll very much be working during this period, it’ll also provide an opportunity to have a bit of an adventure during the summer, especially if you’re working in a scenic part of the UK or overseas. Another option is to get in touch with local cultural institutions, such as universities or museums, and see if they’re running any programs throughout the summer that you could assist with.
Walking Dogs
Love animals? Then becoming a dog walker could be an excellent way to top up your income, especially if you live in a busy area that’s populated with professionals. While teachers work long hours, they also typically have more flexible schedules than other workers, which means they can be available during parts of the day when other professionals are at the office. By becoming a dog walker, you’ll be doing the owner a great service, the dog will enjoy it, and you’ll have an opportunity to go for a walk and disconnect from the classroom for a bit, all the while getting paid.
Flip Products
Have an eye for quality products? Then flipping products, in which you buy used products cheaply and then sell for a profit, could be a viable option for boosting your bank balance. This approach can be more lucrative than you might think, especially if you focus on vintage fashion items and upcycled furniture. Even just by selling a few pieces, you might find that you can bring in several hundred pounds in a month.
Write a Teacher’s Survival Guide
Finally, if you’ve been a teacher for a long time, then you’ll likely have plenty of useful advice that new teachers would find valuable. If you have a talent for writing, then consider putting together an entertaining survival ebook for teachers. This can begin as a fun side project that turns into a decent amount of passive monthly income. Plus, you never know what might happen once your work is out there. If it becomes a hit, then it could lead to plenty of other, and fun, opportunities.
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