Posted on Dec 19, 2019
What, if anything, do other E3s of any other branches do for money as side jobs?
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Responses: 63
You mean, besides managing their money better by not blowing all their pay on silly things like booze, strippers, and super decked out new cars at 38% interest rate?
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SN (Join to see)
So you are aware, I do not drink, never been to a strip club, and my car is 4 years old and a pretty low payment with an APR of 1.99% sooo
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MSG (Join to see)
SN (Join to see) - It's called a joke with sarcasm thrown in. Statistically, those things are what the majority of E3s from ALL branches lose their money on, soooooo
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
SN (Join to see) Do you think you could adapt to the military culture exposed in the responses?
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PO1 Lyndon Thomas
SFC Thomas Livingston, you nailed it Sir! I was a command financial counselor at one point, and the conversations I had with some of our E4 and below...Priceless! Jet ski's cars more alcohol than any 10 human beings should be allowed to consume on a weekly basis, they drank every weekend. Then there's the Fan favorite....You're being deployed...Who's gonna keep my stuff? Excellent question. do you have any family nearby, relatives who can hold it for you? No, In walks "Mary Jane", the princess he met three months ago, and she's being given a partial Power of Attorney to keep his place and all his possessions. Two months into said deployment, Mary Jane realizes the "Power" in POA stands for "I can sell all your stuff" Legally. She does, sends a "Dear John" letter and runs off with the next E3...See the pattern forming. Sucks, but happens almost every day!
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- sell plasma
- uber/lyft
- Grub Hub
- Pizza Delivery
- Upworx
- Computer builds and repairs
- a guy ar FT Carson hand paints artillery round tumblers (metal travel mugs painted in ammo markings of your choice, very cool). I think he's a SSG.
- something your rate does that translates, like if you know how to and enjoy fixing outboards. My Dad had turned that into his fishing money/ hobby in retirement.
Really depends on what you are willing to do, what you can do, and what your command approves you to do. I imagine your CO has to approve moon lighting.
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- uber/lyft
- Grub Hub
- Pizza Delivery
- Upworx
- Computer builds and repairs
- a guy ar FT Carson hand paints artillery round tumblers (metal travel mugs painted in ammo markings of your choice, very cool). I think he's a SSG.
- something your rate does that translates, like if you know how to and enjoy fixing outboards. My Dad had turned that into his fishing money/ hobby in retirement.
Really depends on what you are willing to do, what you can do, and what your command approves you to do. I imagine your CO has to approve moon lighting.
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LTC Jason Mackay
CPL Joseph Elinger but if you have a misguided understanding of the market value it is easy to end up in the hole fast. We ran a short lived antique operation. It’s lots of weekends combing estate sales. You also have to be prepared to bear holding costs and shipping
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CW2 (Join to see)
Computer builds are a great way to get some side cash. It's pretty damn easy and way cheaper than buying an assembled one.
Especially recycling old cases and dvd drives. I just built a sweet desktop for a total of like $300 for processor, RAM, power supply, and motherboard. Everything else was recycled from older laptops and desktops I had.
Especially recycling old cases and dvd drives. I just built a sweet desktop for a total of like $300 for processor, RAM, power supply, and motherboard. Everything else was recycled from older laptops and desktops I had.
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SPC Michael Dugan
Locally Colonel we have a Gyrene, doubtless with some link or with Camp Pendleton, who does the same thing, makes beer mugs out of artillery round cases, his business's slogan being, "Ain't No Party Without Arty"
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If your an E3 you really should be focused on learning your job more than expanding your wealth. However, if you are fixated on extra income the easiest way that will not get you into trouble with your chain of command is to learn how the stock market works, setup a trading account and trade stocks in your spare time with money you have saved. Possibly at most 1-2 hours of your time per day that you can spend during just about any portion of the day on a PC or laptop in your Barracks room and it is a skill that will benefit you a lifetime. The best part is you can take a break for a few days or weeks from the activity while waiting for your investments to grow in value. So your never in danger of it monopolizing your time.
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SPC Erich Guenther
PO2 Nick Burke - Actually I disagree, long and short term. You'll find that despite comments to the contrary most of our avowed long term investors also invest for the short term. Including Warren Buffet in Omaha.
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PO2 Nick Burke
Yes they do. They are not however trying to make extra spending money. They can also absorb the losses much more easily.
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“In the day”, I was a projectionist in a movie theatre on North Ft Lewis.
The pay was ? $50 a month, but all you could popcorn was included!
The theme song to start a movie was: “I’ve got your love to keep me warm”.
Not being a musical type, waiting for the right “chord”? was the stressful part of the job. Now, it comes to mind instantly!!
The pay was ? $50 a month, but all you could popcorn was included!
The theme song to start a movie was: “I’ve got your love to keep me warm”.
Not being a musical type, waiting for the right “chord”? was the stressful part of the job. Now, it comes to mind instantly!!
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Depends on what your specialty is and where you are. I was an ET, and when I was on Nantucket and Long Island (Group Shinnecock back then), I made side money installing and fixing electronics, mostly on fishing boats. Do a good job and the word will get around. When I was at LORSTA Spruce Cape, a lot of guys got pretty good money unloading crab boats at the cannery. I never did it, as we were short on ETs, so the best I had up there was port and starboard 24 hr duty. For a while it was port and report, LOL. Needless to say, I valued any time I had off to just be off.
Look around, and see what there is that you know how to do and would enjoy doing.
Look around, and see what there is that you know how to do and would enjoy doing.
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SN (Join to see)
Working on it, it’s old and only recently got back on it now that I’m in, don’t have access to my email until next week when I have duty to verify my account
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I build furniture and other woodworking projects. It's expensive to get into but I had a nice career before the Army to fund the big purchases. You can get away with buying tools as you need them. It's also a great way to hone a bunch of skills that will help you put down the road. Whether it be to save money renovating your future home or making it into a career, it is definitely a beneficial trade. I was a diesel mechanic before the Army so I also make some money doing side jobs on vehicles. If you are in the barracks you may have to get creative on your side hustle.
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Back in the day, I delivered pizza on and off base. Work Friday & Saturday nights - lots of tips from the partying barracks rats!
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SGT William Nixson
Domino's was the only one delivering back in "the day"
I guess now it"s pretty much a traffic jam!
I guess now it"s pretty much a traffic jam!
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I would prepare tax forms for guys in the barracks. I also had a commo hooch, I would sell soup, cigarettes, and other things while in the field.
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