30 Million Americans Unemployed in Six Weeks... Now What?

This MSNBC report relays the continuing huge number of people who have filed for unemployment in the last six weeks.  It's Sunday, May 3rd, as I'm writing this post, this report is from last Thursday.  

To put this 30 million number in perspective, in "normal" times, about 200,000 people a week fall file for unemployment.  So instead of 1.2 million people filing in the last six weeks, 25 times as many people are laid off and looking to unemployment checks.  There are roughly 160 million people of working age in the U.S., so 18.75% of that number have lost their jobs in just six weeks, on top of the official 3.5%  (roughly 4.5 million people) that were counted as unemployed.  So that's 34 1/2 million people, out of 160 million, not working right now.  Yes, most of these recent layoffs are expected to be short term, but we're in a situation where everything happening is largely unexpected.  There are also 7 million + more people who are unemployed, but not looking for work, but that's a whole separate issue.

So now what? Huge numbers, well beyond anything seen in most people's memory, are expected to keep being laid off, due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic.  What happens now?  One obvious thing is that millions of people will be looking for some other way to make some income, either temporarily, or perhaps from now on.  That's what this blog is about.  Finding new, and legitimate, ways to earn extra cash, find a side hustle, gig work, or start a micro business (1 person operation) or small business. 

I've got a long, but not epic, head start on all these people.  I was a taxi driver years ago (2000-2007), when that industry took a dive, even before Uber and Lyft entered the picture.  After filling out over 140 online applications over a couple of years, with no job offers at all, I started focusing on a weird, but unique, form of artwork I do, to earn money.  I've scraped by, sold a lot of drawings, but am not making a real living yet.  But I've learned a lot in that process. 

Yes, this post is pretty boring, but I wanted to set the tone, I'm someone who is also working on building a new way to make a living, I've had some successes, and made a lot of mistakes.  I'll share what I've learned, and also share videos and ideas from people who've been successful on many different fronts, and people who have good ideas.  Stay tuned, lots of ideas to come...

Laid off? Need cash quick? Here are some legit ways to make money

OK, Gary Vaynerchuk runs a $200 million digital marketing agency now, and a sports management agency, and a few other things.  But "flipping" stuff from garage sales, as a teen, is one of the ways he got his start.  It's the 21st century, the Information Age, and Gary Vee is one of the guys you need to listen to on a regular basis to keep up.  His content is everywhere.

In the last 4 weeks, during this economic meltdown (forget the word "recession," we're way beyond that already), 22 MILLION Americans filed for unemployment, after getting laid off.  Another few million will probably be added in tomorrow's numbers.  That's on top of the 65-ish% of Americans who couldn't and a $400 unexpected bill before the Covid-19 pandemic, and the financial meltdown began.  LOTS of people need cash quick right now.  Are you one of them?

You need cash quick?  
What do you do? 
Yes, everyone's supposed to be homebound at the moment, but that will end before long.  Here are some ideas to start with...

Flipping merchandise-   It's simple, Buy Low, Sell High.  Buy stuff one place at a good deal, sell it somewhere else at a higher price, and make a profit.  Garage sales, yard sales, auctions (online & physical), discount websites, store closeouts, mainstream store sales, these are just some of the places where you can buy stuff cheap.  Then you sell on eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, LetGo, Wallapop, your own store (online or physical), a swap meet/flea market booth, your own garage sale.  The key is to know a deal when you see one, AND pounce on it and actually buy the bargain.  Then, have a place to sell it.

Gig jobs- Yeah, lots of good and bad in the news about gig jobs these days.  Hey, I was a taxi driver for 6 1/2 years, one year of which that was actually a cool way to make a living.  Probably not a career for most people, but it may help tide you over financially for now.  Uber, Lyft, delivery services.  Google it and see what's possible in your area. 

Personal services- Do you have some skill that you can teach other people.  Any skill?  How to play the trumpet?  Teach grandmas how to work their new iPhones.  Tutor kids in math since you rocked it in high school.  Whatever.  We live in a very fast paced society, and one on one teaching, either online or in person, is big now, and will be a major sector of the economy going forward.  Just watch.

Help your neighbors during this quarantine-  I met a woman two days ago who said she's been making cash, and helping neighbors, using Nextdoor.  I didn't know this existed.  Check it out, be legit and responsible, and don't scam.  Help the neighbors, do some shopping, stand in a line the older people can't, and make a few bucks during quarantine, and afterwards. 

Give plasma- Yeah, You can make $100 or more in a week letting the scientific vampires suck your blood.  It's just like giving blood, but it takes a bit longer.  I've done this several times.  Google it in your area.  There are health restrictions, recent tattoos, illness, or lots of foreign travel may get you denied.  These places will open up again soon, and they'll need blood plasma, they always do.  Drink a lot of fluids, and take iron supplements, that's my advice. 

OK, it's a short list, but there are hundreds of variations of these few ideas (except plasma).  That should get you thinking...