9 to 5 job alternatives – How to Make Extra Money – The Freedom of a Choice
- December 24, 2019
- by
- Lia
Are you looking for a way to get out of the corporate world and find alternatives to the 9 to 5 job you’re currently working?
Want to Learn How to Make Extra Money During The Pandemic?
Well, you are not alone. So don’t feel guilty if you reached that point you feel “enough is enough”!
It is not wrong to want to earn more money or get paid for a service you enjoy.
We need to survive, so we need to work, but it is not always necessary to run after money like crazy neither work in something that does not makes you happy.
Sometimes less is more. It is a choice one needs to make to find the right work life balance between and your lifestyle.
At the end of this post, you will see my selection of 11 different options to escape the 9 to 5 grind, be your own boss, even work from home doing your dream job.
Make a Change
Perhaps you find yourself in a situation that you just want to try something different, learn a new skill, earn extra money, or want to research other opportunities outside your 9-5.
If you think living outside your 9 to 5 office job is just a dream, you need to look around and ask yourself ‘why are so many people doing it?’ and how did they manage to do it?
Well, the answer is easy:
Take the First Steps!
Many people are living outside the 9-5 because they were simply tired of it! And to get where they wanted to be, they just kept trying and put themselves out there!
They took the first steps, and that’s the most critical part of the swap!
Saying yes to the unknown
If you keep doing the same thing again and again, it will be difficult to see opportunities that are in front of your eyes.
Think about it.
If you are not making a change, you will never discover new opportunities that other people may already be doing. You will only know what is inside your bubble and maybe that is what makes you feel safe.
What I mean is, if you work for a company for many years, in the same position, you feel safe, right? You might think that nothing is going to happen and you will have your job forever.
Well, in today’s corporate world things are changing fast, corporate owners are selling or restructuring the companies, or even getting out of the 9 to 5 themselves!
So, what happens to the workers?
We simply don’t know the answer to these questions anymore. No one is saying that your boss in this situation or they are a bad person. They are just looking to do the best for their business or for themselves and pull away from the stress of this modern corporate world.
Looking for alternatives to the 9 to 5 Job?
Therefore, finding a way out of the office job or changing the work routine you don’t like, is a process.
Whatever your reason is to be looking to get out of the 9-5 trap, there’s a high probability that what made you start searching is because you want a different lifestyle, a new job, something that makes you happy.
You might be looking for alternatives to the traditional 9 to 5 schedule job that gives you the freedom from pressure and competitiveness or want to earn extra money doing something you really want to do.
Earning extra money via alternative routes other than working in large a corporate, are not something new, and nowadays loads of people have started doing and making money from it! Especially during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020.
Looking for new ways of earning money, change jobs, or just having some extra money to top up your income is entirely possible.
There are loads of opportunities out there. Knowing where to look and having an open mind might help you find that open door that you need.
An open mind to look for Opportunities
From a young age, we heard that we need to go to school, go to college, and get a job.
With that kind of pressure, most of us are conditioned to live our lives and have jobs that we don’t like. We might be working or doing things that we hate.
The worst part is that to “keep” your job, sometimes you need to be fake and to comply with “rules” imposed by others even if you don’t agree. Some can deal with this very well, but others don’t.
Why live like a robot if we can live life to the full and being ourselves? We just need to find alternatives to those corporate 9-5 jobs!
Some will be too scared to take the risk, but life is all about taking risks, and if, for example, you have already lost your job because of the recent worldwide pandemic what you are going to lose by trying something completely different?
Wouldn’t you love it if you were able to choose “who”, “when” and “where” to work? In a job that gives you the satisfaction you deserve?
Life is made up of choices, so choose it wisely.
Everyone has bills to pay so we cannot just throw our jobs out of the window. It is not a wise decision, especially if you have a family and children to take care of.
But think outside the box. There are other alternatives.
Don’t Rely on One job!
With today’s uncertainty, we cannot rely on just one job! Things happen from one day to the next.
Who knew the pandemic would occur and cause so much disruption for the whole world?
We never thought that the safest companies in the world would shut down overnight. But now this has become the reality!
So, wouldn’t be better to have two part-time jobs than just one full-time? It is also easier to find job opportunities as a part-time/contract than full time/permanent. These jobs have become quite rare recently.
Have you thought about having two part-time jobs? If you lose one, at least you have the other as a backup. What about take on a lower position and have the freedom and less stress?
Open your mind, keep your job options open. Having two part-time jobs could be completely different from each other. Maybe start working in a position that you never have done before.
Or, if you are thinking in start your own business, taking a part-time job could free you up to dedicate your precious time to “your business”.
You might want to start your own blog and earn money online. So, you will need time to invest!
Research, Plan, and Start taking actions.
It is possible to be your own boss by making changes and not giving up if you fail the first time.
It would be wise if you have a job not to make the jump without having something that is working as a second plan. So, start small, trying things out to see what works.
When you start looking you are going to feel motivated as you will notice the sea of opportunities out there and, how working hard “for yourself” is an accomplishment and rewarding.
Once you start seeing the results, you will want to do more and more, and eventually “working for yourself and be your own boss” would be your full-time job!
Imagine doing things from the comfort of your home and have a work-life balance. It is possible; you just need to take that first step.
So, there’s no time to waste! Start researching now is the first step.
Below, I have selected 11 different options to escape the 9 to 5 grind. But, before you start reading, you need to throw away old perceptions and see any challenge as an opportunity.
Sometimes getting a different type of work means you might be earning less, but hey, it is a job! And if you need it and you do not have a job, why not take it?
It might be temporary, or you might have a chance to progress and develop in your new role. You never know.
There are always jobs available, and you just need to know where to look and be humble to accept, this might be the opportunity you need.
Be brave and take Action Now
Alternative career training:
Nine Alternatives to a 9 to 5 Job
1- Working in Supermarkets (delivery driver, online shopper, etc.)
UK:
https://www.tesco-careers.com/search-and-apply/
USA:
https://www.traderjoes.com/careers
2- Online extra money – Answering surveys, trying free samples
https://www.swagbucks.com/g/paid-surveys
3- Freelance Jobs – Voice-Over/narrator
https://www.mandy.com/jobs/auditions/uk/voiceovers
https://www.upwork.com/freelance-jobs/voice-over-british-accent/
https://www.peopleperhour.com/freelance-audiobook-narrator-jobs
4- Content writer
5- Join Etsy
-Sell your skills
Are you good at crafts? why not sell your expertise? teaching / make downloadable tutorials (cooking, photography, crafts, parenting, painting, foreign language)
-Sell Handmade and Vintage Items
Etsy is a place to sell. It is easy to join and start selling. Think outside the box and sell:
- books that you don’t want any more
- second-hand clothes and shoes
- anything really, look around your house and be creative when you describe your item! Click here and start selling and earning!
6- Apprenticeship
Did you know that apprenticeship is not just for young people? Why not change your career path altogether, learn and earn at the same time? Check it out:
UK
https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships
https://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/
USA
https://www.apprenticeship.gov/career-seekers
7- Working within your community
Love animals? Why not dog walking for money? or do some outdoor cleaning, painting and decorating, DYI?
https://www.dogwalkingnow.co.uk/jobs
https://www.petbacker.com/dog-walking-job
8 – Temporary Position / Flexible Hours / Part-time Jobs / Contract Jobs
Covering someone on Maternity Leave/holidays, Sign up with temp agencies, Working in a specific project
https://www.mystery-shoppers.co.uk/
https://www.totaljobs.com/jobs/temporary
https://www.charityjob.co.uk/?source=nav
9- Ready to Go Opportunities – Alternatives to a 9-5 Job
Note: This list is not static. I will be adding more opportunities as I found them! So, keep checking this post, so you don’t miss out!
- Preloved – Sell your trash (clothes and objects you don’t want) – It is now time to get rid of these to “adorable” clothes that were fashion a long time ago. People are looking for vintage clothes, accessories and objects!
- Depositphotos – You might not have money, but I am sure you have the best and more up to date phone in the market! Well, why not make use of them and get extra money? Most of the new mobile phones have amazing photo cameras and photo editors. So, why not sell your Images?
- It is easy to join, but you need to answer some questions, so they know you are who you are and have the right to sell your photos and not infringe copyright. This is just to protect themselves and your pictures too.

They something different, you never know, you could be starting your dream job within just a few weeks.