I want a fun hobby job. And I need your help. I understand that a whole 2 ½ people read this but I’m hoping those 2 ½ come through and I get their opinion :)
Rules for my hobby job:
1. It must be fun
2. Ability to create my own schedule
3. Little to no paperwork
4. Small amount of schooling
This isn't overly demanding, right? :) But my current job is none of the above with the exception of number 1. I laugh every single day. I can’t imagine leaving teaching any time soon. However, I realized today that I have never even thought about making money any other way besides teaching. Growing up, it was the only thing I ever wanted to be and now I have my dream job (just not my dream paycheck :)) Eventually, I would like to have babies and have the option to stay home/create my own schedule. You can see how these rules conflict with teaching. And here lies my dilemma.
Here are the three options I have floating in my head:
1. Cosmetologist
a. Pros
-Something I have always been interested in
-Free haircuts and color? Yes, please
-A fun way to be artistic
b. Cons
-Long time in school
-and the lots of $$$ it would cost to be in school
2. Zumba Instructor
a. Pros
-I heart shakin my booty and getting my groove thing on (see earlier post dedicated entirely to Zumba)
-One 8 hour day and 225 dollars later, you are certified
-I get to exercise and get paid at the same time!
-It is the only exercise I have willingly stuck with for over a year and still genuinely enjoy
b. Cons
-I may or may not have to pay 30 bucks a month to remain certified?
-I not only have to be confident in my dancing ability, I need to be confident in my teaching abilities (but then again, I teach 3-5 year olds language, so really. How hard can it be to teach a bunch of 20-70 somethings how to dance?)
3. Photographer
a. Pros
-Who doesn’t want to take pictures of pretty things and people? So creative and artsy! I love capturing beauty in life!
- I don’t care to get into weddings. Just senior pictures, preggo pictures, etc.
- If I turned out to be a natural, no schooling needed!
b. Cons
-I have ZERO experience and no camera. And that costs mucho dinero. (Although I will have a big girl camera at some point in the next few years. I like taking pictures too much).
-I may or may not have an artistic eye for people.
-Everyone and their uncle is trying to become a photographer nowadays.
4. Other ??
Are there any other options? I know. I’m being picky.I was thinking blogger but then realized I need to write more than, oh you know, once every couple months to make money. Oh! I should also mention this. Nobody get too excited. No baby plans for a couple years (at least that's our plan for right now), but I thought I would get the ball rolling on this whole fun hobby job and be pretty solid by the time we enter "the baby phase" of life. It is kind of exciting to think I might be able to get into something else I truly enjoy.
Pretty much it boils down to this. I am still an eight-year old girl who is dreaming about what they want to be when they grow up.
And now I need the older, bigger kids help.
I would look around etsy to get some ideas. A lot of people sell stuff on there I wouldn't think of [homemade hooded children's towels, anyone?]. If you can sew, options are wide. There are cloth diapering companies that look for SAHMs to do stuff from home, for example.
ReplyDeleteIf you are looking to get out of the house, there are community centers, gyms, etc. that do "Mommy & Me" type classes you could instruct for a little side money and that wouldn't require a sitter. Same with doing mother/child swim lessons, etc.
I would definitely do zumba. I do think you have to pay to stay certified, but if you can get two classes a week (even if it's at two different places) that will well make up for it. Also, most of those places have free daycares, so you stick the kid in there for an hour and a half, and voila! Also, the fitness industry is fantastic. I bet you would find something other than zumba that you love and would get addicted to. You would have the ability to pick up more classes or less classes as you see fit, pick up different certifications, etc.
ReplyDeleteMy mom's friend got into fitness after she had kids, and she made up her own type of African drumming workout, and she now holds classes in her basement, how great is that?
I also think Lani's suggestion of doing "Mommy and Me" type courses is a fantastic idea.
What about some kind of private tutoring for kids with special needs (or not)? You already like working with kids, you already have the schooling, you would be setting up your own appointments, and you would get to decide the amount of paperwork necessary (if any).
Or...and this I can't promise wouldn't be without it's hassles...find something you love and build the job around that. My friend Seth loves bacon, and he and his friends are the founders of Baconfest Chicago, which is a one day even with everything bacon. Then again, I don't think they have started to make much profit yet, that's more of a slow-starter idea.
Another thing you always wanted to get into (I recall) is interior design. I bet you could do that with just a couple of courses (I know they have a bachelor's degree...but why would you need it)? That's also a slow starter, because you'd have to start with, like, making friends let you design a room for them, and then work your way up to build up a client list.
What about selling make-up like Mary Kay or Avon? That way you can do it on your own time. And you could still help girls and women learn how to properly apply make-up and you get to use and try some of the new products and colors.
ReplyDeleteZumba instructor sounds way fun and I think you'd be really good at it!
ReplyDeleteThanks friends! Lots of things to consider!I'll probably go with the handmade hooded childrens towels. Definitely the most practical.
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