Article by: Rufus Carter
When it comes to the advice you get during recovery, you hear a lot of familiar things. You’re supposed to establish a routine that keeps your days full. Start cooking healthy meals and exercise to maintain sobriety. Establish a support system including a primary care physician and a counselor who can help with any co-occurring mental health issues.
Amongst all this advice, you’d think there’d be something that addresses how to bounce back financially. After all, a lot of people experience money problems while dealing with their substance use disorder. Sky-high hospital bills, legal woes, and feeding a drug or alcohol habit can really drain a person’s savings.
But people tend to be hush-hush when it comes to money because they see it as a sensitive subject. A survey conducted by Wells Fargo found that 44 percent of Americans see personal finance as the most difficult topic to discuss with other people. That means people have a harder time talking about finances than touchy subjects like death, politics, and religion.
If you are trying to bounce back after struggling with a substance use disorder, it may take some time before you find that perfect job. However, those with real financial struggles can’t necessarily wait that long. People need some source of income to help make ends meet. Luckily, the gig economy makes it easier for people in-between jobs to make money in the meantime.
Pet Sitting
If you have an affinity for taking care of cute critters, there are people in your neighborhood who can use your help. More and more people are adopting cats and dogs as sort of “starter children” before they commit to having kids. When they travel or have a busy workload, they rely on pet sitters to swing by daily and make sure their furry friends’ needs are met.
Among the compelling things about this particular gig is how spending time with pets can help someone in recovery. Dogs and cats help reduce stress and anxiety. Spending time with animals can even lower blood pressure, heart rate, and heart-disease risk. Taking dogs for walks is an easy way to include more low-impact exercise into your day, and sitting with a purring cat in your lap can provide comfort when you are feeling low. Even after you find that perfect job, you may want to continue pet sitting as a side gig just because it is so enjoyable!
Selling on Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace where people can sell handmade items, vintage items, and craft supplies. While it takes a fair amount of work to list your goods, once they are up you can sit back and wait for the money to roll in. Of course, if you want to increase your Etsy sales, there are things you can do if you’re willing.
Ideas for items you can sell on Etsy include:
- Artwork
- Doll clothes
- Handmade toys and games
- Edibles
- Handmade or vintage jewelry
- Knitted items
- Soaps and toiletries
- Digital templates
- Scrapbook layouts
- Vintage clothes, shoes, and accessories
Teaching Music Lessons
If you know how to play an instrument, teaching music lessons is a great way to make some serious money in your free time. Focus on finding kids as clients. Not only are they more adaptable than adults, but you can find parents willing to pay top dollar for their child’s benefit. Make your lessons fun for kids, but stay in contact with the parents as they are the real buyer of your services. The most popular instruments for private lessons are guitar, drums, piano, and bass — so if you can teach these, you’re golden. Advertise your services on sites like Craigslist, Nextdoor, and Thumbtack to find people in your area.
There is a lot of advice out there for people in recovery, but a lot of it avoids the topic of money. Drug and alcohol misuse can leave a person financially hurting, and it may take a while to find that perfect job. Make money in the meantime by parlaying your skills and passions into a profitable venture into the gig economy.