Are there any other teachers who have another job ‘on the side’?!

[Redlocks28]

I don’t mean doing anything rude!

I’m part time in a school I love, in a role I love, but I just don’t earn enough money on the days I do!

There’s no scope for more days there, I don’t want to leave that school, I don’t really want to do supply and there aren’t any jobs in my role to do in addition to this locally.

I want to work another day a week/earn another £100 a week really-what on earth else can I do that isn’t crap?! I don’t want to sell juices or deliver Avon catalogues. I wouldn’t even mind working in a shop one day a week but I have no idea what that would pay and doubt anyone would want to employ me for just one day! Tuition is an option but that really doesn’t fit in with childcare.

Does anyone do anything ‘else’?!

I do instrumental teaching and music theory work as well as online surveys. When the kids were small I also did mystery shopping.

The pay isn't great but lots of the mystery shopping required a child (e.g. getting shoes fitted in Clarks then having the fit checked the next day - I could keep the shoes or get them refunded). I have had shopping and haircuts paid for by mystery shopping companies, so whilst I might have only received a few £, I got a nice haircut in a very nice salon which was worth a lot more.

Online surveys are ok but again I don't make a lot from them - probably now about £50 per year. However, I am only registered now with 2 organisations. I think there is a forum on MoneySavingExpert where you can research all this. My dad used to do a lot of focus-group work. You can't do this with a child in tow but it is quite lucrative. I don't know how you get onto someone's books, but keep asking/looking.

I've a dozen or so clients who are teachers with "on the side" businesses, usually internet related.

A couple of them have photography businesses, one doing weddings/portrait photography, another with a website showing off his nature photos from all over the world (income from affiliate marketing and selling his images).

Quite a few are ebayer/amazon sellers, some have their own e-commerce websites, selling all kinds of different things. One sells baking stuff (cookie cutters, piping bags etc). Another's hobby is model railways and he sells various railway layout accessories.

For non internet businesses, one client is a 11+ tutor and another is a freelance journalist.

Lots of opportunities these days for pretty decent small business start ups which can be based around a "proper" job, and also potentially for growth/development into something bigger for those wanting to give up permanent employment, take early retirement, go part time, etc.