One negative outcome of the COVID-19 lockdown being enforced in the country is that it required almost all businesses to halt operations. As such, many families found themselves short in funds. If you are in the same predicament, here are some ways to boost your home income and cope up with the challenge of the home quarantine.
Lockdown home income booster no. 1: Do online selling
Even before the COVID-19 lockdown hit, online selling has already been a popular business venture for people wishing to boost their home incomes. And with everyone not able to do their usual shopping runs during this time, the demand for online sellers have significantly increased.
Another great thing about being an online seller is that you don’t need an elaborate website to get started. Facebook is one of the popular channels that home-based sellers use. They only need to set up a page and post the products they sell. The transactions are then conducted through chat.
Another popular option is through online shopping apps like Shopee and Lazada. While these require a bit of training, they offer better features like multiple payment options and lower shipping costs. These make life a lot easier for even first time sellers.
Running your online store
One thing you need to think about is what to sell during the lockdown. Food items are still the most popular option here but you should consider how they will fare during transport. Cooked and fresh foods are more likely to spoil during prolonged transport, so you want to offer these only to nearby areas. On the other hand, properly secure preserved food items to prevent damages during transport to farther locations.
Medical supplies are another category of products you can sell online during this time. A particularly popular product is cloth face masks and face shields used as substitutes for disposable ones. Be sure to keep the price reasonable for these to avoid riling up your customers.
Another question you might have at this point is how to deliver your goods. Luckily, several of the popular quick courier services like Grab and Lalamove are still operational. But you should be aware that there are areas they would not deliver. If you are doing delivery meetups, choose meetup places just near you to avoid unnecessary travel. You should also follow quarantine regulations closely, such as having a duly assigned quarantine pass and practicing social distancing.
Lockdown home income booster no. 2: Online jobs
Another great way to augment your home income during the coronavirus lockdown is by taking online jobs. There is a large variety of online jobs available for home-based workers. These range from specialized positions that require higher credentials to general ones open to everyone interested.
Of the latter group, online teaching is one of the most popular. In particular, there is a large demand for online English teachers during the COVID-19 outbreak since schools in many countries are closed down as part of lockdown measures. What’s great about this job is that you don’t need a high level of English proficiency, as many of the jobs focus on basic and intermediate English. However, it would help your chances of landing the job if you acquire a TEFL certification beforehand.
Another popular online job to try out during lockdown is being a virtual assistant. As the name implies, you assist companies and businesses by doing clerical tasks online. Some of the tasks you will do include:
- Making phone calls
- Data entry
- Scheduling appointments
- Email management
The job has an even easier entry point, as you don’t need any special certification to qualify. But you do need to have good management skills for most of the tasks. Do note that if you are handling more niche-specific tasks for the company, you will need to learn a few specialized skills. The company itself will often be the one to provide the training.
Depending on the online jobs you will be getting, you only need a stable internet connection and a fairly decent computer. If you are required to participate in video calls, get a webcam and headset with a microphone as well.
Lockdown home income booster no. 3: Do errands
If you don’t have the necessary setup for doing online jobs, then you need to find work offline. One of the simplest is doing chores for neighbors. Due to the quarantine regulations, a lot of people are not able to run their own errands. You can offer to do it for them for a small fee. Some of the errands you can do for neighbors include:
- Buying their groceries
- Delivering goods
- Cleaning cars
- Trimming grass
- Washing clothes
When choosing the types of errands to take in, consider your situation. If you are not the one holding your household\s quarantine pass, then buying groceries or delivery is out of the question. You also need to schedule these chores so that they will match your own and lessen the hassle.
Another offline job opportunity is being a delivery rider for companies like Grab or Foodpanda. Note that you do need to have a motorcycle for the job but the online registration and training are fairly quick. One thing to keep in mind is that the companies have stricter regulations due to the ongoing lockdown.
Make money during lockdown using these tips
With the COVID-19 lockdown being extended yet again in several provinces while others still have certain regulations on outside work, your home income is likely reaching its limits. While these tips are not going to support you completely, they will help you last out longer. Try them and let’s hope that everything finally goes back to normal soon.