Although the pain aspect of my endometriosis is less of an issue in my life now I still struggle with daily energy levels, especially since my most recent op. I can spend the day sitting on the sofa getting minor work tasks done and streaming tv shows and still be ready for bed by 8pm. Even my 'active' days don't come close to a traditional day of work. So like almost every other chronic illness sufferer I've spent quite a lot of time thinking of and trying out ways to make an income from home. I've yet to crack it so that the bills get paid without my main job (or even close for that matter!), but I have the small beginnings of income that lessen the burden on my main job and I wanted to share these ideas so you can try them too. Some of them I've tried myself while others are ideas friends of mine have done. :)
All of these ideas will work for anyone - you don't have to be a chronic pain sufferer! But they are designed to take very little energy, or capitalise on the 'good days' where you can invest some time and effort for future benefit.
1. Etsy
First up, the most well-known way to make money from home. People often think of making craft items as the way to make money on
Etsy, but you can sell a lot more than just handmade cards and headbands. You can sell your own prints, screensavers, mobile accessories, wedding supplies... the list is endless! The best way to get inspiration is to head over there and take a browse through existing items.
If you're selling physical items this option will require some energy investment on 'good days' to keep your shop stocked and ship items when they sell, or at least a willing friend who will help out. With digital products it's a little easier as you'll likely be spending time on the computer anyway.
2. Sell Your Graphic Designs
Are you talented on Photoshop or other design software? Ever wanted to see your designs come to life on t-shirts, mugs, tote bags etc? There are websites you can sign up with that will add your designs to any multitude of items to be sold to the public for a cut of the price. There are plenty of options to choose from! Why not check out this article on
selling your graphic designs?
This is a great option as if you're interested in designing you probably already have a back catalogue of designs that you can get started with. Plus as mentioned above you'll also likely be spending time online anyway.
3. Amazon Associates
Got a bit of a reputation as the go-to person for tech advice, film suggestions or new books to read? Why not become an
Amazon Associate? By signing up as an affiliate you can create your own unique links to products in their store and earn a percentage when someone buys through your link. The great thing is you get commission on everything that person buys within 24 hours of clicking, not just the product you sent them to. Commission rates vary from 5-9% depending on the items you recommend and how much you sell each month and minimum payout is £25.
The great thing about this idea is that you can create unique links in minutes and you get a generic link for the Amazon homepage too. Many of my sales have come from friends and family who have saved my link in place of going directly to the site and do all their usual shopping through that link.
4. Blogging
If you're passionate about a hobby or topic and pretty nifty with words (yes, I said nifty) then you could start your own blog - just like I've done! There are plenty of ways to monetise a blog from advertising (Google AdSense is the most common) to affiliate links and even selling your own e-books and products. Here's a great list of the
top ways to make money from blogging. Focus on good quality, interesting content and promoting it in the right places rather than for profit though. Profits are usually a side-effect of having a well-run blog!
Blogging can take energy and creative thinking, so if you find yourself in a writing mood it's best to try and get ahead on the weeks' posts. That way when you're too tired to write you'll have something to post anyway. This is something I'm still trying to work on as you might tell!
5. Game Streaming
This is a new one I've been looking into over the last few weeks and something I'm about to start doing with Tom.
Twitch gives gamers the capability of broadcasting their screens and audio/webcam for others to watch them play. There are a number of requirements to monetising these streams such as broadcasting regularly and having a large following, but that shouldn't be seen as a barrier if you're a serious gamer anyway.
The benefit to this idea is that if you're not feeling up to working/chores etc. people will often spend time playing games anyway, so why not make money from something you're already going to do?
All of these options require time and energy to build up - none are overnight money-makers. However with dedication and time they have the ability to completely replace a 9-5 income and they're a lot more flexible and understanding than a boss!
Have you tried any of the above methods for making money from home? Or do you have other methods you use that others could replicate? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments!
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