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From the Magazine

Helping Others With Chores Can Earn You Big Bucks — Here’s How

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Did you know you can earn money doing chores? These savvy women discovered they can make serious cash doing everyday tasks like shopping and laundry for other people. Find out how they did it so you can start earning today, too!  

“I make up to $22 an hour grocery shopping!”

“After I lost my job working for a company that supplied truck parts, I saw an ad on Facebook for Shipt.com, a company that hires people to grocery shop for others. I decided to look into it because it seemed like a fun and flexible way to make money.

“I filled out an application and answered some questions about how I would handle different customer-service issues, such as if a member requests raspberries and some are moldy. For one of the questions, I had to record a video of my response, which was easy to do with my smartphone. They also ran a background check.

“The great thing about Shipt is that I set my own schedule. When I’m available to work, I open the app and pick opportunities that are closest to me. I then put myself on their schedule, wait for orders to come in and choose the ones I want. For each job, I get the name of the store, the location and the member’s shopping list. Using a credit card that Shipt gives me, I buy the items and deliver them to the member’s home. If the store doesn’t have an item on the list, I text the member. They can either choose a substitution, let me use my best judgment or take the item off the list. I usually do grocery shopping, but I also go to convenience stores and pick up clothing, personal care items and flowers.

“Shipt pays me a base fee and a percentage of the total sale. I also get tips. I love that it’s so flexible and that I can work anywhere in the country. I work 25 hours a week and make $16 to $22 hour. The money I make pays the bills and allows me to take vacations—like a road trip I recently took through 10 states!”

”I bring home $1,000 a month doing laundry!”

“I used to work for a mortgage lender, but when I had my first child, I stopped working. Then one of my friends posted on Facebook that Laundry Ladies (LaundryLadies.com), a company that offers laundry pickup and delivery services, was hiring. I’ve loved doing laundry since I got my first place—it was the one chore my mom wouldn’t allow me to do as a kid! It’s a great feeling when everything is clean and organized.

“I contacted the owner of the company, had an interview, then paid a fee of about $250, which gave me access to marketing tools and support to help me grow my business. When a customer searches the Laundry Ladies website, they can see my profile, fees and the areas I serve. They fill out a request and tell me how much laundry they have. They choose their laundry detergent, which I purchase. I pick up their dirty laundry and wash and fold it in my home. I organize it in rainbow order, put a bow on it, like a present, and return it to them within 24 hours.

Laundry Ladies gave me recommendations for pricing, but I set my own prices. I charge based on weight: $3 per pound, or $2.50 per pound for clients who use my service weekly. “My clients are busy moms, professionals who don’t have time or don’t want to do their own laundry, seniors or people who need help after they’ve come home from the hospital. Some businesses like nail salons or medical practices also hire me.

“I love this business because I get to help people. Not having to work in an office and being able to work on my own schedule is priceless. I make about $1,000 a month, which I use to pay for extras like my kids’ activities, gifts for others or date nights!”

”I earn up to $625 a week helping people organize their homes!”

“For my day job, I offer wardrobe styling and home organization and decor services, but when business was slow, I was looking for a way to make extra money. When I was watching the news, I learned about TaskRabbit.com, an app that pays you to help people with various types of chores. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for me!

“I signed up, got approved, downloaded the app and completed an online orientation. I then added my availability, services and rates and people started to book me.

“I help clients organize their kitchen, sort receipts so they know how they’re spending their money and create spreadsheets of personal expenses and other data. My favorite task is when I organize bedrooms and closets. The people I work with are often overwhelmed by everything they’ve accumulated or just don’t have the time to keep it organized, but after we work together, they feel relieved and calm.

“I love this work because I’m passionate about organization, and I love making people happy. The best part is that it’s so easy for new clients to find me. I work 20 to 25 hours a week and make $25 an hour or $500 to $625 a week. The money I make pays the bills and lets me buy clothes and toys for my grandson!”

This story originally appeared in our print magazine. 

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