One thing that can be said for the present job market is that, whatever one might say about the work itself, there is plenty of choice. If you’re looking for a way to make money in a hurry, there are always ways to do so. Not every available job will suit every job hunter, of course, but if you are prepared to stretch yourself and to move around, there are side hustles to make money and to raise funds for any project you have in mind.
A job that has become increasingly popular in recent years is delivery driving and courier work. Part of the fast-growing “gig economy”, it’s not always as well-paying as a full-time job, but it offers the opportunity to work as and when you want and to up your earning potential by doing a little more when it suits you. To make the most of it, though, you need to keep some things in mind; things we’ll look at now.
You need the right vehicle
Cycle couriers make up a large proportion of the delivery workers ferrying shopping, takeaways and just-in-time items to homes and businesses across the country, but if you want to make more money, you may need to move more items in a shorter time. If you can get hold of a van like a VW Caddy, then you can load up with dozens of deliveries and multiply your potential earnings. You can even look at ad-hoc deliveries of important items that need to get somewhere in a hurry – which can offer a bigger one-off payment due to the urgency and difficulty of finding the right courier.
Be ready to work different hours
If you’ve used delivery apps yourself, you’ll know that there is the potential to pay a tip to the person bringing the items to your home, and that if you make a lot of deliveries the tips can add up. Often these deliveries are more lucrative later at night, when people have fewer options for a late dinner and reach out to the apps. A driver who is prepared to work after midnight can benefit from surge pricing and more tips from grateful customers. Deliveries may be fewer and further between at certain times, so vary your times of availability in order to see which works best for you.
Don’t burn the candle at both ends
The more hours you work, the more money comes in – we’re all aware of that trade-off. However, while working all the hours you can may seem attractive as a way of maximising income, it’s not a good idea. And we don’t just mean in terms of your well-being, if you’re minded to take a hit to your health in the short term for long-term gain.
While your health is a good enough reason not to finish late and start early, the fact that you will be in control of a vehicle, and on a clock, are two very good reasons to rest between shifts. By missing out on sleep, you will be less efficient on the road and may get into accidents. Never mind missing deliveries as a result – which you will – you could also get seriously hurt and damage your vehicle.