Sooner or later, most of us reach a point in life where we realize we’re just not earning enough. Perhaps you have debts to pay or you need more money to support your family. Maybe you’re saving up for something or you want the freedom to take some time out and go traveling. Whatever it is, you’ll be pleased to know that there are ways you can increase your earnings, even if you’re young and inexperienced or an older person concerned that your skills are getting out of date. You will need to put in some work – people who tell you that you can do this for free should not be trusted – but the rewards could be considerable.
Increase your experience
If you’re new to the job market or you’re returning to the workplace after an absence, boosting your experience and skills can make a big difference to the way employers see you and will help you get access to much more lucrative opportunities. Volunteer work can count for a lot regarding experience, especially if it gives you the chance to make an impressive show of your talents or involves supporting a cause that is dear to a would-be employer’s heart. You can often do it alongside a regular job, and it can also give you access to valuable mentoring.
Improve your skills
Finding a mentor is an excellent way to improve your skills in any role and is useful in extending your network of contacts. To really refine what you do, though, you can’t beat formal education. If you check out these Bryant & Stratton videos you’ll see that there are lots of ways you can fit this around your existing commitments, and Bryant & Stratton run a wide range of business courses that are useful across multiple sectors. Find out if your employer has any support schemes for employees who are studying – you might even be able to get financial help to get yourself into a position where you can command a higher wage.
Take on extra work
If you need to make money quickly and don’t have time to implement one of the above strategies, the simplest option is to take on extra work. Ask your employer if it would be possible to take on extra hours. Ask yourself if you have any professional skills that you could use for contract or freelance work. Consider selling your artwork or crafts online. You could also take on one of the many low skilled jobs that are frequently available to people working from home, such as stuffing envelopes for advertisers, repairing clothes or manning a phone line. If you’re well educated, a particularly well paid option is tutoring, either in person or online.
Rent out property
If you own somewhere else as well as the place where you live, such as an apartment you’ve inherited from a relative and haven’t yet managed to sell, renting can be a great option. Renting to long-term tenants keeps fuss to a minimum but isn’t especially lucrative, especially if there’s still a home loan to pay off. Vacation lets are a lot more lucrative but require more day to day work keeping up with cleaning and maintenance. If you have a spare room, taking in a lodger could be an option. If you live in a city where there are famous festivals or similar events which mean the supply of accommodation is really strained at certain times, you could even make money from renting out your couch.
Learn to negotiate
Whether you’re dealing with renters, contracting extra work on the side or petitioning your boss for a raise one thing that will always stand you in good stead is learning how to negotiate effectively. Most people are not naturally good at this. When you’re worried about getting or keeping a job it’s easy to pitch too low and sell yourself short. Developing your skills in this area will make it easier for you to sense what the person you’re negotiating with is prepared to give you, and then work from there with persuasive arguments of your own. It can also help you to increase your confidence which will make employers perceive you as being more valuable to them.
Using some or all of these methods can help you to improve your lot in the short term and make positive changes to your life in the long term. When you’ve been struggling to make ends meet for as long as you can remember, it’s great to start planning for a future in which life will be financially easier.
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