Shenton Way is not the only place where there’s money to be made. In fact, if you’re smart about it, you can make a significant amount of money without travelling more than 3 km from your home. Whether you’re a stay at home mum, unemployed or a bored student, adding to your income doesn’t have to mean an excruciating MRT ride to the city area. Here are 5 ways to earn to make some money from the comfort of your neighbourhood.
Rent out the rooms in your home
If you’re living with your parents or own your own property, renting out the rooms in your home is one of the easiest ways to earn a significant amount of cash with minimal effort. HDB rooms go for $500 to $1,000 a month, while bedrooms in condos can typically fetch up to $2,000. Singaporeans already pay for some of the world’s most expensive property, so it would be a shame not to make some money out of it.
Babysitting / nanny services
Despite Singapore’s low birth rate, the demand for childcare, infantcare and nanny services continues to be high as most mothers find themselves having to go back to work soon after giving birth. If a neighbour, friend or relative living in your area has a child that needs minding, becoming an ad hoc babysitter or nanny is a viable option.
Mothers who have just given birth might even consider engaging you to live with them for a period of time in exchange for money, food and lodging.
Dog walking / pet sitting
There are enough yapping dogs trapped in HDB flats to make a dog walking service one that would make many a frustrated pooch thank the heavens. Make a name for yourself as the neighbourhood dog walker or pet sitter and you could find yourself making a bit of spare cash on your morning walk around the neighbourhood. As a pet sitter, you’ll be saving pet owners the hassle of having to pay to keep their animals at a pet kennel when they’re on holiday.
Let people store their stuff in your home
Singapore is full of foreigners who come and go, or hop from one accommodation location to another. At times, they go back to their home country and then come back here. All this means that there’s a demand for storage space.
If you’re not a hoarder and your home isn’t already overrun with junk, you can make a bit of spare cash by offering your home as storage space for a fee. You can charge $30 a month for someone to leave a medium-sized suitcase and more for furniture or bulky items. Either way, there’s almost no effort involved on your part.
Become a private tutor
One of Singapore’s most popular home-based jobs is private tutoring, and the demand just keeps growing as kiasu parents enrol their kids in more and more tuition classes. Many tutors will attest to the fact that it is way more tiring having to travel to the kids’ house than it is to let the kid come to you. If you live within walking distance of a school you’re in luck, as you’ll have access to a steady supply of students who can stop by your house for after-school tuition sessions.
Have you ever made money from the people in your area? Share your experiences in the comments!
Image Credits:
Jnzl’s Public Domain Photos