What have you done to earn extra cash while in or out of the military?

COL Lee Flemming — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 02:46:36 -0400

Side jobs, working from home, small businesses...what ideas do you have for our community to put a little extra dough in their pockets while still holding a full time job?

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2016 6:47 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 06:47:36 -0400

Personally when I first arrived at my new station, I found myself living across the street from a little bar and ended up bartending there. It was a fun, relatively easy to learn, interesting job. It worked out great as I was on a swing shift so I'd get off duty at 2200 then head to the bar to help out. It was always interesting and rarely a dull moment. It also provided me an opportunity to keep an eye on possible trouble makers from different squadrons as the proximity to base made it a favorite for most military members that don't enjoy the enlisted club. It is important to always ensure proper paperwork is done through Commanders to ensure the off-duty employment is allowed and acceptable. But, Bartending was my go-to!

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 21 at 2016 6:52 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 06:52:13 -0400

While in the Army I delivered pizzas, served subpoenas, worked at a Gas and Rob, and pulled guard duty on the USS Coral Sea as it was being turned into scrap.

Response by MSgt Lionel (Leo) Rondeau made Sep 21 at 2016 7:40 AM

MSgt Lionel (Leo) Rondeau — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 07:40:41 -0400

Well, there was this street corner.... Just kidding. I delivered pizzas. Easy to do and the tips were great.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2016 8:26 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 08:26:10 -0400

I've done all sorts of things to earn extra money, hired out as a handy man, designed and installed computer networks. when times get tough its almost anything for a buck mindset. Survive!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2016 9:07 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:07:14 -0400

I was the guy everyone brought their computers and electronics to get fixed...to tell you the truth it wasn't a money making thing for me, but a way to keep my skills sharp. Most of the time I would only charge what it cost me to fix it....these days I am not sure what I'd do....however; lately I have been enjoying Landscaping & Gardening...and wouldn't mind helping out a small company doing that....Throughout my military career, many medical AOC's/MOS's can easily get jobs outside of their normal duties doing the same thing...the thing that you have to watch out for is the ODE Policy usually there is a limit of 16-25hrs...there are specific guidelines...if your ODE interferes with your normal duties then you have to cease. This is very important when you talk about a medical professional...b/c would you want a Doctor that just pulled an extra 8-12hrs that night... I would question the physicians quality of care and the risk of error increases significantly....

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Sep 21 at 2016 9:08 AM

SFC Christopher Perry — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:08:24 -0400

When I first went back in we had taken a pretty serious pay cut. I continued to run my credit restoration gig for a while. My wife took it over when it got to be too much. It gave us a few extra bucks. It also made me the person people felt inclined to ask about the ways in which to best manage their credit.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2016 9:15 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:15:40 -0400

Was more of a hobby - umpiring slow pitch softball.

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Sep 21 at 2016 9:21 AM

1SG Al Brown — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:21:41 -0400

As a Private in Baumholder, I ran the automotive car oscilloscope at the craft shop every Saturday when not in the field ($20 per car for an analysis), sold PBJ sandwiches to other SMs while on TDY and too far from the DFAC, sold cigarettes in the field when everyone ran out before we were done (I didn't smoke) and other small capitalist ventures. I lived off $50 a month while my wife and kids were in CONUS. As long as you didn't compete with "Tops DPP" you were legal. I had enough money to budget and pay my bills when I made E4.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Sep 21 at 2016 9:42 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:42:38 -0400

Its all here in other threads but the quick recap is..
Took the hobby of riding and racing motorcycles and turned it into a side buisness, hauling, storing and caring for other riders bikes.... post retirement that changed to a full time focused job as well as becoming an instructor teaching others to ride.

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 21 at 2016 10:03 AM

SFC George Smith — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 10:03:26 -0400

Ask my last ex-wife for the First half... the second 1/2 is rebuild and prepare for the BS Agenda 21 Project...

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Sep 21 at 2016 10:26 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 10:26:32 -0400

Well in the Army, the income was enough for me as back then I was a compulsive saver. Outside of th Army and after ETS..........Stock market investing with my Emergency Funds. Second source of income and one year it doubled my regular income (recovery from 2008) in which I was able to buy a nice new car for all cash just using the stock gain. Does not take a lot of time. Sometimes you lose money but overall net result each year is you make a nice gain. In my view, it is the easiest way to make money with just a little learning and tinkering required. You have to follow a set of rules though and not be so tight fisted with the money your investing (willing to take losses knowing you'll make up for them on future investments). Also, the losses are not a complete loss you can use them to shield part of your gains from taxes.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 21 at 2016 10:59 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 10:59:55 -0400

I know that this will sound like blasphemy, but I'd suggest living within your means. Taking on extra work, worrying over money, and all the other ills of living beyond one's means only serve to diminish the life you're trying to lead. Is that fancier car or home worth the time lost when you might have been enjoying what you do have? And when you consider the benefits of extra income, consider how much of it you'll get to keep. Back in the late 1950's when two income families began to appear, all of the added income was lost in clothing, etc. for the working wife plus the costs of child care and increased taxes. In the decades that followed, family income replaced individual income as the standard of wealth and quality of life suffered in inverse proportion. Think about it.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 21 at 2016 11:08 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:08:11 -0400

Funny thing is my wife "suggested" I get into refereeing soccer when I hung up the uniform as "it would be good for you". She used The Voice. Funny where it's taken me. They money takes me to Europe every year to, wait for it, referee more. I did a lot for Special Olympics and was the head soccer referee at the USA games a few years ago. So my referee and disability income is my mad money. If feels a bit like the MIL side as they pay you to exercise. Do I need to do it to make ends meet? No, but it keeps me more active than I'd be otherwise. Feeling it today after doing two Varsity matches yesterday though. Nothing wrong with us that youth wouldn't cure.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2016 1:13 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 13:13:00 -0400

I have a flip phone and don't drive the newest sports car. That's all the difference in the world right there

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2016 3:17 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 15:17:24 -0400

While I'm not a financial professional I used to (dude is a Jackass that runs the site) track my earnings/losses with my Stock and Options trading...

Anyways I gave classes about trading (I know I know, scold me for trading) and charged a $50 premium a month and had about 10 people on board.

I also dropshipped stickers... Example, I knew if I sent a SASE (Self addressed stamped envelope) to XYZ company, they will send me a pack of sticker everytime... So I sold them on ebay for $10, someone buys a pack from my store, I send a SASE (except the address to the return sender is the person that bought it on my store).. I made about $200 a month doing that.

I also grabbed a pack of 200 stickers from my recruiters office and sent them to Amazon fulfillment before I left for basic, I was selling each for $4 a pop so that was roughly around $720-ish give or take after fees.

Flipping items from the thrift store on ebay

Response by MSgt Shawn Sones made Sep 21 at 2016 6:24 PM

MSgt Shawn Sones — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 18:24:17 -0400

Delivered flowers, sold beer at minor league hockey games

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2016 8:11 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 20:11:27 -0400

Mow lawns, do carpentry, roofing, and masonry. Or pretty much any other labor someone will pay me for. I've grubbed land, and driven a couple wells.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2016 10:41 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 22:41:03 -0400

While in BCT I charged $5 to make bunks for people who didn't want to, I could do mine and 3 others each morning before DS showed up. Looking back I could have charged more, though I eventually stopped under the realization that I hated making bunks and still do.

I also got $20 for beating a guy in arm wrestling as well as him taking 3 fire guard shifts.

I know other guys made money doing basic gambling, flipping quarters and the like. 17-18 year old Privates with money for the first time.

When I got to AIT it didn't really happen, gambling, etc... There was more of your own personal time to fill. Not much but it was there unlike in BCT.

Then I got to my NG unit and I had to go back to work at a restaurant in between drills. I found I absolutely hate that now so I grab ADOS every time it's available, work part time in Security, occasionally work side jobs while I try to find better full time work in between Drills and Annual Training.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Sep 22 at 2016 9:36 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 09:36:14 -0400

Well I personally haven't done anything as of yet because I'm not really hurting for money. But I work a set schedule, so if need be, I could always pick up a night job to earn extra money even if it was minimum wages.
Now I don't know if it counts, but my wife also dabbles in photography and graphic design, so occasionally she might sell some of her work.

Response by 2ndLt Fulton Recepcion made Sep 27 at 2016 10:20 AM

2ndLt Fulton Recepcion — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 10:20:49 -0400

Since my latest defense contracts don't pay as much as before, I do Uber. One of the best ways to moonlight.

Response by SrA Chris Hunt made Sep 27 at 2016 11:31 AM

SrA Chris Hunt — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 11:31:43 -0400

I personally have a background in general contracting that I continue to use in my "off" time. I pick up small to moderate side jobs to make a little extra cash. I use my experience as well to volunteer at a veterans rehabilitation center to do building upkeep two to three times a week. That's a very satisfying feeling to be around all these great people trying to get back on my feet.
My own therapy is furniture building and woodworking which is another way I can make money.

Response by SGT James Murphy made Sep 27 at 2016 12:21 PM

SGT James Murphy — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 12:21:18 -0400

Two words...... Computer Skills!

Response by SPC Wanda Vergara-Yates made Sep 27 at 2016 1:28 PM

SPC Wanda Vergara-Yates — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 13:28:30 -0400

My last duty station, I met a nursing student with no computer skills and couldn't type beyond snail paced hunt and peck. I charged her $2 per page plus a new typewriter ribbon for each project because I ran out of ribbon either during a project or just after. By the time I left the military I had a small stable of freelance writing/typing clients I did work for. It kept me in pocket change. I've always had some sort of writing thing going on the side since then. If you need a flyer, graphic, write up from a bunch of notes, or whatever, I can do that too. The big difference is that you won't have to pay for a new typewriter ribbon because I do it all on the computer now and send you the file via pdf or format you need for yourself. HAH!

Response by SrA James Cannon made Sep 27 at 2016 2:11 PM

SrA James Cannon — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 14:11:34 -0400

While I was still on active duty, I got a job at the hobby store chain, Michael's. Currently, if I need extra money, I just work a lot of overtime.

Response by SPC John Weathers made Sep 27 at 2016 3:31 PM

SPC John Weathers — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 15:31:13 -0400

When I was with the 504th Mt. Co. in Bamberg Germany (76-79) I delivered pizzas for an ex military man who after ETS stayed behind in Germany with his German wife. They opened a restaurant and had delivery. I used the down time between runs to study.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2016 3:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 15:53:37 -0400

Worked a few odd jobs for extra cash when I was a barracks rat: bartender, waiter, store clerk, DJ, and a cool gig as a free lance photographer. Still occasionally tend bar at my local VFW for tips.

Response by SCPO Frank Carson made Sep 27 at 2016 4:38 PM

SCPO Frank Carson — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:38:10 -0400

Reservist, I always had two jobs and worked 24 years of 12 days straight every month with that drill weekend in there. Both worlds all good. When the economy tanked I would call my unit and say what do you have for me? They would say "can you go to the Philippines?" Sure! Spent the last 6 years on active duty logging 2500 flight hours flying around the world....

Response by SPC Douglas Bolton made Sep 27 at 2016 4:41 PM

SPC Douglas Bolton — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:41:33 -0400

I took up writing. I have one book published, and another nearly finished called, "Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life." Send me a message of you want to know more. Writing takes you away from the world around you and is very soothing and relaxing.

Response by SP5 Dave Forrest made Sep 27 at 2016 5:04 PM

SP5 Dave Forrest — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 17:04:05 -0400

In the late 1960's in Seoul, Korea I taught conversational English at an adult night school.

Response by 1stSgt Troy Seals made Sep 27 at 2016 5:23 PM

1stSgt Troy Seals — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 17:23:57 -0400

Bartender on the "O" club

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made Sep 27 at 2016 5:55 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 17:55:33 -0400

Stateside and overseas on any military base programs for sports activities need officiating IE baseball umpires, football referees, volleyball referees, basketball referees. contact the gym and find out their needs. Working all the activities can keep you working all year long. Stateside you can join sports officiating in your local community doing Little league, Pop Warner football, High school officiating football, baseball, basketball, mens and womens softball, flag football. Etc. It does require learning the rules but once done its a lot of fun and get paid for it.

Response by Sgt Ronnie Mack made Sep 27 at 2016 8:50 PM

Sgt Ronnie Mack — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:50:50 -0400

Executive Protection (Bodyguard), and or security.

Response by SGM Bill Johnson made Sep 27 at 2016 11:41 PM

SGM Bill Johnson — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 23:41:00 -0400

While on Active Duty I had two jobs. One was Freelance work building a training program for workers reviewing classified documents with the intent to declassify those that could be declassified in accordance with an Executive Order back in 1997. The second was working as a Reserve Fire Fighter/EMT for three years while I was the Deputy Commandant of an NCO Academy. Both paid decently and actually helped my Army career to progress.

Response by PV2 Glen Lewis made Sep 28 at 2016 3:29 AM

PV2 Glen Lewis — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 03:29:46 -0400

Mow, trim and weed yards, walking advertisement for pizza restaurant, pick boles (for those of you who don't know that's picking cotton) deliveries and just about anything else I had the fortune to run across that would increase my income. I did paint and drywall as my primary occupation but in the off-season I'd work in restaurants as a cook or whatever else needed, the other things listed above as well as the few paint jobs that would allow me to work weekends and nights. Computers and making money from them was something I knew nothing about until after I became disabled in a car wreck. The VA doesn't allow for much extra income per month and I don't really need it as I'm a stickler for needs before wants. I consider my computer a want. Shelter, food and clothing are needs. 'rest is gravy so to speak.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2016 6:13 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 06:13:51 -0400

Nothing can help put cold hard cash in your mitts faster than good old fashioned pizza delivery

Response by PO2 John Crutchfield made Sep 28 at 2016 11:46 AM

PO2 John Crutchfield — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 11:46:38 -0400

Prior to joining the Navy in 1987, I was an Aquatics Coordinator at a local YMCA for 5 years (pay sucked, but I loved it). In 1991, we changed home ports from Alameda, CA to Norfolk. I lived off the ship/base in Suffolk. The Suffolk Family YMCA was right around the corner from where I lived. I taught private swim lessons there during my off time.

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Sep 28 at 2016 6:50 PM

PO1 Scott Cottrell — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 18:50:07 -0400

Well, I work as a bar back at the Enlisted Club at NAS Miramar, did custodial work at the Enlist Club at NAS Pensacola also work as a cook and security at the Flora-Bama while at NAS Pensacola, worked security at Irish Kevin's while at NAS Key West.

Response by CDR Eric Ford made Sep 30 at 2016 12:27 PM

CDR Eric Ford — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 12:27:55 -0400

There are a few ways anyone can develop a business by working part time when they have time and eventually make it into their primary business after the military or just keep it a part time adventure. It depends on what your interested in doing, but you can help others while growing a business as a licensed Investment and/or Insurance Agent through Primerica. You can also help others by becoming an Advocare Advisor (If you watch college football, you are probably familiar with their sponsorships) and improve your overall well being at the same time. There are other ways as well, but I have found those two companies to have integrity, quality products, a great network, and outstanding core values in which you are part of a team and everyone helps each other to learn and be successful. If interested to learn more, let me know.

Response by TSgt Jim Gregg made Sep 30 at 2016 11:50 PM

TSgt Jim Gregg — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 23:50:14 -0400

I was a DJ when I was stationed in both Korea and Japan at the NCO clubs. I also did it for a little while stateside. I also tried Amway and Pre Paid Legal.

Response by SFC Quinn Chastant made Apr 11 at 2018 5:56 PM

SFC Quinn Chastant — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 17:56:26 -0400

Depending upon your training, use the skills you have. Mechanics can moonlight when off duty. I know Officers who taught in the evenings at the Base Education Center, Hobbies can come into focus as well. But I do not suggest that female service members moonlight as exotic dancers, ever. might be some OK money, but the risks outweigh the rewards. Additionally many service members in the nearby community attend a local Law Enforcement Academy and earn sworn Reserve LEO status. which depending upon accrediting is transferable to different localities of assignment in the future, and adds to their skill sets. I hold an Adjunct Instructor Position for a State Fire Academy, I've yet to utilize.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2018 2:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 14:00:28 -0400

I started freelancing doing online marketing gigs. Running Facebook/Google Ads and managing email marketing campaigns. It turned into a full time job offer by the time I was ready to ETS. (which is next week!)