“If your money is not making money you’re doing something wrong.” “You should be making money even when you’re asleep.” We’ve all heard these financial pep talks and come away wondering, “so what DO I do?”. While each of us has a set of skills, and while it may not be of the likes of Liam Neeson, it’s still something to work with. Here’s a list of things you can do to make money in India if you have the skill. That being said, all of these can be learnt, so if you have the slightest interest in any of these, you can quickly turn it into a stream of income.
Writing
If you like to write, we suggest you find your niche first. Not everyone can write all types of content and it would be easy for you to find work and keep it, should you nail down your strengths. White papers, product descriptions, technical writing, social media, copywriting, ad copy, blogs and user manuals are just a few examples of the kind of writing work that you can explore.
Writing – Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash
Within this you can find what you would be most comfortable with – health, beauty, fashion etc. Reaching out to media houses, content writing agencies, new local brands or signing up with sites that offer freelance work will at least give you some idea about the type of work that could come your way. While learning creative writing could be slightly difficult (but not impossible) there are a ton of courses out there for you to explore. Find your strength and hone it to your advantage.
Baking
Sourdough bread from scratch wasn’t the only thing baking during the pandemic. Lock down saw a lot of people go from baking just to kill time to running a fully functioning business two years on. From elaborate custom cakes to good ol’ cookies, there’s always a demand for baked goodies and the industry can never be too saturated. It’s one of those side hustles that can be done while holding down your day job. Find flavours that you can best work with and make that your forte.
Healthy, gluten-free, sugar-free, organic, and even those made with locally available ingredients are some ideas that can be explored. Start off by baking what comes easiest to you and then share it with friends and family. A good support system is very essential when starting off a home-based business and there’s nothing better than a close-knit community. Word of mouth from such a community can go a long way. Take feedback and advise positively and slowly grow our passion.
Language
Learning a foreign language should be a compulsory subject in school along with the state language. But knowing another state language in a country as vast as India can be a potential source of income. While French, German, Spanish and Italian are some of the most learned languages in the world, knowing Bengali, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati and Urdu apart from Hindi and English can be quite a lucrative avenue to make money. Translation services are in big demand and finding the right opportunity to put your language skills to good use can be a great way to earn a second income.
Gardening
If the pandemic taught us one thing it’s that you don’t need a large space to show off your green thumb. Apart from being a great stress reliever, growing plants also can help you find our creativity. Whether it’s terrariums, succulents, flowering plants or fruits and vegetables, being able to produce greenery is a skill that cannot be undermined. Set up an instagram account to show off your handiwork and slowly grow your fanbase. Be sure to add tips and tricks on how your followers too can grow plants themselves, to raise the credibility of your account. Once you’re assured of a loyal user base, you can start slowly shipping your plants.
Photography
Either you set up a great shot or a candid shot becomes your masterpiece. With smartphones equipped with great cameras and lenses, you rarely miss a moment. If your phone is chock full of photographs – nature, travel, architecture etc.- you should look at monetising those. As always, social media is your best pal. An instagram account of your best work, will give people a good idea about the kind of work you do.
Alternatively, explore online marketplaces like Etsy, where you can sell your photos for mugs, calendars, merchandise, tshirts etc. If you like interacting with people, you can make yourself available to shoot parties, children’s parties, engagement photoshoots and much more. You could also try selling your pics to stock photo sites like Alamy, Shutterstock, iStockphoto etc. Check out how else you can earn from your photos.
Cooking
Knowing how to cook isn’t a skill anymore, it’s a necessity. But when you are adept at something that is considered a specialty or you have a family recipe that has stood the test of time, you could very well use that to your advantage. With the pandemic, people found a new love and appreciation for home cooked meals and that has not waned. Even something as simple as pickles, chutneys, sauces, jams or even ghee can get you the extra income that you need. Plan your packaging and delivery carefully so you are prepared for any unforeseen situations. You could also teach cooking via Udemy or Coursera.
Fitness
Enjoy working out but would like to take it further? Fitness is one of the biggest industries in India and the career opportunities are vast. From posting daily workout routines, to talking to your followers about what makes you tick everyday, to simply showing them how you like to eat healthy, are all factors that can contribute to growing your follower base. Update your social media accounts regularly and consistently to ensure your followers keep coming back. Find your niche in fitness – cardio, yoga, high intensity, zumba – the list is endless.
