Many people dream of being able to quit the day job, open a laptop (or typewriter, if you’re old-school), and write a best-selling novel. But, to be honest, that’s a really tough ask. So, instead many aspiring novelists start writing short stories.

A recent 2023 survey revealed the average salary of a fiction author in the UK is just £7,000. Most people who are authors – even names you might recognise on the bookshelf – will have another job to supplement their income, or have a partner who can cover their expenses. However, with the rise of BookTok, Bookfluencers, and Bookstagram (yes, those are actual online things), and the massive success of huge books like the Fourth Wing series, being a reader is popular again. In fact, the printed book market grew in 2023 despite the same number of books being published!

However, writing a novel is a MASSIVE undertaking, and many of us don’t have the time to do it. It takes years of work before you can even think about finding a publisher or self-publishing it, and that means the return on your time investment is low. Short stories, on the other hand, can reap big rewards for less work.

In fact, there are competitions that pay out thousands of pounds to the best story!

To give you some help, here is our guide to making money writing short stories.

• Where do I begin with writing short stories?
• Places to sell your stories…
• How do I write a story that will bring in loads of money?
• Find peers to support you
• Tips from the professionals
• How much money can I make from my story-writing?

Where Do I Begin with Writing Short Stories?

Your first stop is to find out what opportunities are available.

Magazines are by far your best chance of finding a willing publisher for your short story. Places like Writers Online, the website for the largest UK writing publication, Writing Magazine, list competitions regularly.

Frankly, getting a book published has always been competitive, but submitting a short story to a print or online magazine is still one of the best entry points. You can make a career out of being a short story writer, or use your wins and accolades to build a writing CV and attract a literary agent for your novel.

If you’re hoping to make money at all from your stories, then fighting against the odds is something you’ll have to get used to – it’s one of the most competitive industries out there.

It’s for this reason that we should point out that you probably shouldn’t be writing short stories for the cash. Really, there are much easier ways to make money (just check out our make money section!) and if your heart isn’t in it, then it’s going to show in your writing.

You need to be passionate enough about writing that payment would be a nice bonus (rather than a necessity) to stand a chance of getting anywhere.

Places to Sell Your Stories…

Thankfully for those who do love writing, there are numerous magazines that accept submissions and run competitions.

Check out the Booktrust’s breakdown of magazines and this site for regular short story competitions.

Women’s magazines have a lot of short story opportunities. Magazines such as My Weekly, The People’s Friend, Woman’s Weekly, Prima, and Mslexia all accept submissions. If you’re a regular reader, then you’ll probably have a good idea of what they expect. The Moth magazine runs one of the biggest short story prizes each year, with a top prize of £3,000. Writing Magazine runs small contests each issue – some are open to anyone while others are for subscribers only, and the average prize is £200 with a Grand Prize contest once a year for £1,000.

Don’t worry if you don’t think the audience of women’s magazines will appreciate your fiction, as there are lots of other magazines that cater for plenty of genres.

Many on the list cater for a range of stories and others also specialise:

• Crimewave focuses on crime (you may have guessed!)
• and Albedo One focuses on sci-fi and horror.

It’s not a magazine, but the Bridport Prize is one of the most renowned and respected fiction competitions and runs each year with a top prize of £5,000!

You could also consider PenPee. Penpee.com is a platform like Netflix/Airbnb for readers and storytellers to read, write, and get paid for short stories.

Writers get paid for every qualified page of their stories read. With Penpee’s recent introduction of “Read and Rate”, storytellers want readers’ opinions and readers get paid when they write a review and rate stories they read at Penpee.com

How Do I Write a Good Short Story?

If you want to earn money for your stories, then you’re going to need to be a competent writer with a good understanding of narrative structure and characterisation.

• It can be hard getting an honest opinion, if you’re not sure how good you are at writing. Family and friends will almost certainly tell you you’re the next JK Rowling, so try and get impartial advice. Sign up to a writers’ forum and get feedback on your work.
• There are many good writers’ forums out there, but start by checking out writingforums.org or The Writer’s Digest forum.
• If you’re not good enough yet there’s a lot of information online that can provide a good foundation for improving your writing such as writersdigest.com and Creative Writing Now. You might also have some luck on forums like Reddit but it can be hit or miss.

There are also lots of useful videos on YouTube that can teach you how to write. If you have a bit of spare cash, the BBC Maestro and the Masterclass courses are led by household-name authors and writers with really interesting insights. Wait until they run offers, usually a few times a year – their January sales are usually the best time of year to nab a bargain. Or, if you’re one of those people who can never think of what to ask for as a birthday present, ask for a subscription!

If you’re really serious then you could take a writing course

…although you’ll probably have to pay for a good one. Still, if it’s a hobby and you can afford it, then why not?

Before you look at paid courses, learn the foundation skills with free courses. Udemy has some great basic classes, while the Open University has a useful course that’s free for anyone.

• There are many writing courses around and finding the right one for you will simply be a matter of searching for one that takes your fancy.
• Remember to research thoroughly before handing any money over. The Writers’ Academy is a good place to start because you can do online courses with top editors, bestselling authors and established tutors – although you will be looking at paying a few hundred pounds.
• For something a bit special, you could check out the Arvon residential creative writing courses. You get to surround yourself with beautiful countryside and get lost in your writing for a few days. It is open to people of all ages and of all ability, regardless of experience. As this is residential, there is a cost. However, the courses are supported by the Arts Council of England, and other donors,  so you can apply for a grant if you can’t afford the course. In some cases, all the course costs are covered and nine out of ten people get some grant support.

Find Peers to Support You

One thing any professional writer will tell you is to surround yourself with other writers. You probably have a local writing group near you – apps like NextDoor and Eventbrite are useful for finding events in your area.

If you prefer working online instead, Writers HQ and Jericho Writers are examples of online forums that build a support network of fellow writers. If you subscribe to writing magazines like MsLexia and Writing Magazine, they usually have an online forum to access, too. When you’re working in groups like this, remember it is as much about what you can give as what you can get. You’ll benefit the most from groups if you engage with them, voice your opinions, and try to help others as they try to help you.

Tips From Professionals

If you’re fairly confident that you can write, then there are things you can do to increase your chances of getting published and earn some cash.

• Write in a genre you’re comfortable with. If you usually write fantasy then you may struggle to write a romance story. Choose magazines to submit to that play to your strengths.
• But do compromise. While you should write for familiar genres, if you want to make money then you’re going to need to be flexible to appeal to a specific readership. Then, you can apply for more than one really niche magazine. Plus, there’ll be a lot of guidelines you need to follow, speaking of which…
• Stick to the guidelines. Make sure you follow the instructions provided by the site to the letter. Nothing will blow your chances of getting published faster than submitting a 4,000 word story for a competition that allows a maximum of 2,000 words. Some guidelines will specify what shouldn’t be in the story (e.g. explicit sex scenes), while others will go so far as to specify who the main character should be (for example, a women’s magazine may want a female character who their readers can relate to). Make sure you format correctly too. It is usually 12 point font with double-spacing on the lines, but check the entry terms for details.
• Do your research. Decide which magazine you’re going to submit to and read it regularly. See what sort of stories they usually publish and if there’s something similar between them, whether it be genre, tone or style, then you’d be wise to do the same (I know this might sound crushing to your creative and original mind but, as said above, you’ll need to compromise to make money. Save your genre defying masterpiece for when you’re a bit more established!). Make sure you have a good sense of the readership from the articles and adverts in the magazine, as they’re the people you need to be writing for!
• Don’t simultaneously submit. Your writing muscles are going to stay flexible with this: most competitions won’t let you submit a story if you’ve already submitted it elsewhere. Check the terms of entry to see if they allow ‘simultaneous submissions’ which means they will let you submit to other contests. However, if you place in one with that story, you need to withdraw from any contests you’ve entered it into unless they specifically allow previously published stories to be entered. This means it is better to submit single stories instead of one story to lots of contests. However, there is nothing stopping you from entering last year’s stories into different contests this year if they didn’t place! So after a year you can start cycling through the stories in your files to submit.

If you follow those steps then you’re increasing your chances of getting published.

How Much Money Can I Make Writing Short Stories?

Each magazine offers different rates for contests.

• Usually £500 or so for a short story would be the top end, while a few will go into the thousands. The bigger the prize, the more competition you’ll face.

When it comes to payment for short stories in magazines that are not contest based, the fee can vary wildly. A 2000-word story might net you £500 or more, while other magazines don’t pay at all.

Some magazines pay per word

• For example, Fiction Desk Magazine pays £25 per 1,000 words (as well as a £100 bonus for the best story in each magazine). While this might not sound like a huge amount, if you’re getting paid anything to write fiction, then you’re doing something right. You also receive two copies of the paperback anthology. Many prizes and magazines offering anthologies will offer copies as part of your fee.

The Writers and Artists Yearbook is any writer’s go-to book for information about which magazines take short stories (and, if you’re feeling non-fiction inclined, other articles) and will list how much the fee is. The website also lists regular writing contests alongside tons of writing advice, so it’s a great one-stop shop.

Competitions tend to offer greater amounts

• For example, the Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize offers £2,500 for their top prize.
• A runner up gets £200 and longlisted authors receive £50 book vouchers and a subscription.

We’ve mentioned the other big contests, like the Bridport Prize, in this article too. Writing contests change all the time, so make sure you Google ‘writing contest [YEAR]’ to make sure you’re not missing out.

A note on fees

There are some free entry writing contests and they are ALWAYS worth entering. However, most contests will need an entry fee which can be anything from a couple of quid to around £20. You need to weigh up your chances of winning, the confidence you have in your work, and whether you can write off that cash if you don’t place in the contest, before paying. Make sure the competition has an established track record, too: anyone can set up a writing competition, so make sure the judges are high quality, the prizes are decent (or if low that they have a low entry fee), and there are testimonials from previous years if it has run before.

One of the good things about submitting to magazines is you very rarely have to give up the copyright, so you’re usually free to resell any published stories to magazines in other countries. Imagine how good it would feel making money from the same story multiple times!

Sign Up – Newsletter

The post Make money writing short stories appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Planning for the summer holidays? Six weeks of keeping the little ones occupied can take a lot of preparation and even more money. There are loads of fun ways to keep the kids occupied on a budget during the school holidays, and this is made even easier thanks to Official London Theatre. 

This August, the company is bringing back Kids Week, where children can enjoy over 45 top London West End shows for free. On sale from 10am on 11th June, tickets are available for a huge range of shows for the whole family to enjoy.  

From exciting productions participating for the first time like Hamilton, Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, Guys & Dolls and MJ The Musical to established Kids Week favourites including Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors, Disney’s The Lion King, RSC’s Matilda The Musical, Mrs Doubtfire, Shrek, Wicked and The Wizard Of Oz, there is something for all the family to enjoy. 

Alongside the performances, shows are offering a range of free activities for Kids Week ticketholders, so look out for ‘Kids Week Curtain Calls’ where all Kids Week bookers in attendance can stay for a post-show Q&A or demonstration after the show, as well as more show specific offerings from dance and musical theatre workshops to puppet demonstrations. 

This year, Mastercard cardholders can unlock special Kids Week exclusives, which include the chance to win tickets to English National Ballet’s Nutcracker this Christmas and a free digital activity pack, including a theatre themed wordsearch, spot the difference, guess the show from emojis and more. Mastercard cardholders will also have exclusive access to two Kids Week activity events with RSC’s Matilda The Musical and Shrek The Musical. Tickets to these exclusive events will only be available to purchase via priceless.com and will go on sale on 11 June.  

Kids Week bookers with access requirements can complete the Access Priority Request Form before general on sale. The form will be available on the Kids Week website from 4 June to 9 June. Eligible bookers who have completed the form will be contacted by the theatre box office on the morning of 11 June. 

List of shows participating in Kids Week 2024 

The 13 Storey Treehouse 
The 39 Steps 
Back To The Future – The Musical 
Beauty And The Beast  
Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour 
Brainiac Live 
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book 
The Choir of Man 
A Chorus Line 
Errol’s Garden 
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World – The Musical 
Fireman Sam – The Great Camping Adventure 
Frankie Goes To Bollywood 
Fuerza Bruta: Aven 
The Gruffalo 
Guys & Dolls 
Hadestown 
Hamilton 
Harry Potter And The Cursed Child 
Hello Dolly! 
Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors 
An Inspector Calls 
Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder! 
Kiss Me, Kate 
The Lion Inside 
Disney’s Lion King 
Mamma Mia! 
Marie Curie 
Mario The Maker Magician 
RSC’s Matilda The Musical 
Milkshake! Live On Holiday!  
Ministry of Science Live! Science Saved the World 
Les Misérables 
MJ The Musical 
The Mousetrap 
Mrs Doubtfire 
Next To Normal 
Peanut Butter & Blueberries 
The Phantom Of The Opera 
The Play That Goes Wrong 
Queenz: Live In London!  
Rough Magic 
Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Ghosts 
Shrek The Musical 
Sister Act 
Six 
The Tiger Who Came to Tea 
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical 
Tweedy’s Massive Circus 
Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) 
Why Am I So Single? 
Wicked 
Witness For The Prosecution 
The Wizard Of Oz 
Your Lie In April 
Zog And The Flying Doctors 

The post Free West End shows for kids this summer appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

• Reduce Storage Costs
• Cut Label Printing Costs
• Look for Online Web Store Deals
• Hire Marketing Help Using Online Platforms
• Be Savvy with Packaging
• Automate Some Processes
• Negotiate Supplier and Shipping Costs
• Invest in Customer Retention

Reduce Storage Costs

One of the biggest outlays for an online shop is storage space. Whether you’re working from your living room or renting secure storage, minimising your storage costs can slash your operating expenses.

The fastest way to do this is assess your stock levels. What isn’t shifting? Do you have overly large single items that take up bulky space? Looking at what is taking up space and how fast you rotate through different inventory items is one of the fastest ways to assess whether you need to rent less space.

If you handle a large inventory or big items, dropshipping is an option to consider. This gives you less control over the quality of items and delivery dates, but it means you don’t need to store physical stock. While there is a boom in dropshipping eCommerce businesses lately, they take away the personalised aspect which can put customers off. You don’t have oversight of parcels as they are packed and delivered, and you can’t do things like add branded cardboard boxes or inserts into packages to promote deals.

Finally, if you rent storage space for your inventory, negotiate! Ask if you can have an introductory discount or if you can get a reduction for paying a few months up-front. Some places will also do referral fees so you could even discuss putting an affiliate link on your website to encourage signups.

Cut Label Printing Costs

It might feel like a saving to buy fewer printed labels for your products until you know what sells and what doesn’t. However, bulk buying products like postal labels, packaging inserts, and branded stickers will save you an awful lot of money. Labels are the kind of thing you’ll use far more quickly than you expect!

Once you have a strong creative brand for your business, you can save a lot of money on bulk buying branded labels, like the round ones used to secure a box. If you’re not into branding or haven’t quite settled on your designs yet, blank labels and security labels are also cheaper to buy in bulk and can be used at any time so it’s never a waste of money.

Look for Introductory Web Store Deals

If you’re setting up your own online shop, it’s important to shop around for the best deal for setting up your website. The cheapest deal might not be the best, so do some research before opting for the lowest price.

Look for website packages that include:

• Your domain name registration
• Email addresses
• 24/7 customer support
• Web hosting
• The ability to scale up easily as you grow
• Ecommerce templates for easy web design
• Integration with common payment types like PayPal

These things will make setting up your store much easier and help you build a website that grows with your business.

Hire eCommerce Marketing Help Online

Platforms like Fiverr are fantastic for finding people with skills that you don’t have. The art of running a business starts with being able to delegate. Focus on the tasks you know you can do, and hire people to do the things you can’t. It might not feel like a saving at the start, as you’ll need to pay some money. However, the time saving you get from having to learn a new skill (which can take years!) and getting a professional to help in days is well worth the expense.

It is worth noting, however, that sometimes online hiring platforms can be hit or miss. You may find that it is better to go for a service linked to a supplier. You may find a website designer also does branding, for example. Or perhaps your packaging supplier has a design service for branded boxes.

Put together a clear creative brief for whatever it is you’re looking for. Do you need someone to grow your social media following? Design your brand logo? Create a website? Whatever it is, be clear in the brief about what you need, when you expect it to be done by, and your budget. This will help to find the right people to help in a shorter time – saving even more cash as you can get started faster!

Be Savvy with Packaging

Instead of getting lots of small cardboard boxes of different sizes, it can be more economical to send things in medium and larger boxes with stuffing in. This way, you can bulk buy packaging like branded cardboard boxes and mailing envelopes as well as packaging. Doing that will reduce your overall cost per item to cut costs for your eCommerce business and actually increase quality as you send branded packaging.

Try to be as sustainable as you can, too. Cardboard always is better than plastic, and it is better to use the smallest box you can rather than using lots of excess stuffing. From letters to parcels, you should be aware of the size and weight you need to ship.

Automate Some eCommerce Business Processes

While many of us are aware of the incoming AI revolution with some trepidation, there are ways it can help automate your work processes to save you time. More than that, it can help you analyse your customer behaviour, so that you can work out the best way to maximise sales to increase profits.

Automation might be as simple as sending a follow-up email once an item has been delivered to make sure your customer is happy. This is a small-scale example of how to improve customer service, but gives a feeling of personalised service that will increase the chance of customers returning to buy more.

Automating processes that save you time can also include sending ‘items left in your cart’ emails, encouraging people to sign up to newsletters, and analysing stock and inventory levels. These are all straightforward tasks that can take you a lot of time as a new online shop owner, that will save you a lot of cash in the long term if you put automated processes in place.

You might not be able to automate everything, but being aware of how to manage your accounts well is another way to save time and money. Rather than spending on accountant fees, learning more about Making Tax Digital for businesses and what software you need to manage accounts will save a lot of time – and therefore money – in filing for your taxes!

Negotiate Supplier and Shipping Costs

If you use a local courier, talk to them to see how much you can negotiate on your shipping prices. You’d be surprised how much you could save!

Suppliers are also where you can cut costs for your eCommerce business. Bulk buying is one way to do it – but if you don’t have the storage space, don’t worry! Talk to suppliers to see if you can commit to buying a certain amount to achieve a discount, but receive the items in spread out shipments. This saves on your storage space while helping you take advantage of per-unit discounts.

Invest in Customer Retention

This one might feel a bit backwards, but stick with us on this. Investing in your customer service as you launch your eCommerce business is one of the best ways to cut costs in the long-term.

Customer retention could be as simple as printing package inserts with unique discount codes to thank them for their purchase, offering a discount on their next purchase. Or, as outlined above, sending thank-you emails after their item has been delivered. If you have a technical item, including user guides either as printed inserts or in an email will improve customer satisfaction, too.

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence. When investing your capital is at risk.

The post Cut Costs for Your eCommerce Business Without Cutting Quality appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

What Is Laser Engraving?

Why Start Now?

What Can You Make with a Creality Falcon2 Laser Cutter?

How to Choose a Laser Engraving Machine

How to Plan Ahead to Make Money at Christmas

Seasonal Ideas to Make Money All Year Around

Get a Discount on the Creality Falcon2

What Is Laser Engraving and Laser Cutting?

Previously restricted to industrial-size machines, laser engraving and laser cutting is easy to do at home. Laser cutters and engravers are multifunctional tools that enable you to create designs in a wide range of materials and even cut and build three-dimensional items.

A computer controls the machine, which uses a laser to cut or strip away layers of a material like wood or metal. When it cuts, clean pieces are created. When it strips the layers, that’s how engraving is made – the design is cut into the wood or metal, but not all the way through.

Some laser engravers also let you print a different colour on metal. This is called marking and is done by applying the marking solution in a design you want, and the heat from the laser bonds the marking solution to the metal to make the colour permanent.

Why Start Now?

Laser cutting and engraving covers the best of both worlds of crafting: creativity and speed. You can also replicate the same design over and over without variation. This means you can reliably recreate plenty of things to sell without lots of differences between each one.

Spring is a great time of year to start planning ahead on making money at seasonal craft fairs in December. Christmas fairs are the biggest sales opportunity for crafters, as it provides a high-footfall to stands with customers primed to buy. But, that means you need to have plenty of stock ready!

What Can You Make with a Laser Engraving Machine?

How long is a piece of string?! The possibilities of laser cutters and laser engraving are near endless, the only limit is your imagination.

Popular things to make include:

• Home decorations such as family name signs or wooden map art
• Acrylic or wooden planters
• Bookends
• Wedding welcome signs and personalised decorations
• Custom engraved jewellery like bracelets and necklaces
• Wooden mandalas for earrings, coasters, decor
• Personalised or unique design wooden trinket boxes
• Keyrings
• 3D puzzles
• Christmas ornaments
• Customised or seasonal rubber pads for ink stamping
• Engraving leather wallets or bookmarks

We love items that can be personalised for customers or add a little ‘something extra’ to the home. For example, you can engrave clear acrylic and place on a simple LED light stand for unique personalised lighting. If you’re selling at craft fairs, it’s a good idea to have lots of small things to sell for £5 or under, like ornaments, bookmarks, keyrings, and small trinket boxes, because these make great stocking stuffers.

However, you can also go very large and build furniture like stools and chairs and tables – which you can obviously sell for a LOT more money, too! Having a mix of small, medium, and large items for your Christmas craft fair stall will help you maximise your profits.

How to Choose a Laser Engraving Machine

One of the most important things to look out for when you buy a laser cutter or laser engraving machine is the power. They come in different wattages, such as 20W, 40W, and 60W. The higher the wattage, the more dense the materials it can cut. This means you’ll be able to make a much wider range of items.

The Creality Falcon2 is a powerful 60W machine, which means it can handle a wider variety of materials with ease. It also has an adjustment beam to 22W and 40W if you need a less powerful beam for a smaller or more delicate project.

The three in one power options allow you to create accurate and beautiful engravings and cuttings depending on your crafting needs. It’s done with a simple flick of a switch, meaning operation is simple to learn. With a 22W setting, you can cut 5mm baseboard and achieve fine engravings, the 40W power lets you cut 10mm baseboard with fast results, and the 60W is the fastest power that can easily handle 18mm baseboard for larger decorations and home furniture items.

What else should you look for?

It’s also important to look for ease of use. Things like a camera to automatically line up materials for an accurate product and air assist to make the cutting process easier are definitely must-haves to look for (and the Creality Falcon2 has both of these things).

Finally, safety is essential. Higher wattage open frame diode machines are really efficient but definitely not as safe. The Creality Falcon2 is the first 60W laser cutter with a closed frame, making it efficient AND safe to use.

How to Plan Ahead to Make Money for Christmas

So now you know what laser cutting involves, let’s take a look at your next steps to prepare to make money at Christmas fairs.

1. Learn to use your laser engraving machine

Learning a new skill takes time and practice. Don’t leave it to November to start using your machine! Read the instructions carefully and try out lots of different materials and techniques before you start to hone in on what you think you’ll make for your craft business.

2. Research projects to try

There are lots of instructional videos on YouTube which is a great place to start finding ideas. You can also research your competitors on sites like Etsy, to see what they do (and don’t) sell. You can either sell similar things at a competitive price, or look for what’s missing and choose a niche to charge more (but you may not get as many customers).

3. Experiment with different materials

Try everything out! You might find that you love working with metal but aren’t a fan of wood, or that acrylic taps into your creative side, or that leather gives you a way to tap into unknown markets.

Experimenting lets you learn what works best with different materials, so you know you’re going to sell a high quality product.

4. Decide how much you can invest

Aside from the cost of buying your machine, you’ll also have a few other costs involved to set yourself up. Materials, fees for stalls or online platform fees, and things like gift tags and bags for when you sell at craft fairs will all cost. Decide on a budget and stick to it: you can always boost your budget next year when this year is a success!

5. Find Christmas events to sign up to

Christmas craft fairs start advertising their seller opportunities as soon as July in some cases. Sign up to local venues (common places include town halls, racecourses, and community venues) to make sure you hear about events in good time to book a stall.

You can also find your local car boot sale for a regular stall, or look at flea markets or craft markets that are becoming popular as pop-up events throughout the year.

Remember, too, that online sales will boost your business if you can handle postage and packaging with ease. Platforms like Etsy and EBay offer great opportunities for crafters to make money all year around from their skills. You can even set up as a small business seller on Amazon!

6. Work on your pricing

Research your pricing by looking at competitors. It’s important to offer similar prices for similar products – unless someone is selling SUPER cheap, which is actually something that puts off a lot of customers because they doubt the quality of a product.

You need to make a profit, too. Add up the cost of materials and the time it takes to make a product plus at least 40% on top of that to find your price. Remember: selling crafts is a business so you’ll need to register with HMRC and report your income and expenses. Thankfully things like materials and fees for stalls can be classed as expenses.

7. Make your stock!

Now comes the fun part! Spend as much time as you can designing your products. You might want to make lots of different things or specialise in variations on just one or two items – it’s up to you.

The great thing about cutters like the Creality Falcon2 is that they’re designed for batch creating, so once you know what you want to make it is easy to produce plenty of stock.

8. Profit

Sell your stuff! It’s a good idea to look for a summer or autumn craft fair to test the water, too. Or, you could set yourself up online first to see what people like to buy and what doesn’t sell so well. This means you’ll have honed your business plan by the time you get to the Christmas selling season and hopefully you’ll see plenty of profit!

Seasonal Ideas to Make Money All Year Around

It’s not just Christmas that lets you make money with laser engraving or laser cutting, either. You can make a lot of money in the run-up to summer as wedding season kicks off, making signs, wedding favours, and personalised wedding gifts.

Halloween, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter and even Thanksgiving if you want to sell internationally are all examples of how you could make seasonal gifts and decorations with your laser cutter to make your hobby into a year-round business.

Claim Your Discount on the New Creality Falcon2 Laser Engraving Machine

The Creality Falcon2 launches on 24th May and to celebrate, you can take advantage of a discount. Between 10am on 24th May 2024 and 11.59pm on 15th June, customers will receive a 15% discount when buying directly from the product page (it can’t be combined with any other discount).

Hurry though, as this only applies to the first 200 units sold globally. If you’re one of the first 100 customers, you’ll also receive a free gift worth $199, and if you’re the 101st to 200th customer your free gift is worth $50.

The best bit? One lucky customer will have their order FULLY refunded! Buy your Creality Falcon2 now to get these amazing offers.

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.

The post Make Money with Laser Engraving at Christmas Craft Fairs appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Hairdressing and Beauty Therapists

Medical Professionals

Care and Support Staff

Construction and Trades

Theatre Staff

Performers and Performance Artists

Athletes and Fitness Instructors

Security Guards

Landscapers and Horticulturalists

Police and Support Staff

Hairdressing and Beauty Therapists

A hands-on job, people will always need to have their hair cut and seek out the latest styles. It’s hard to cut your own hair well, and many people enjoy the experience of going to the salon.

To become a hairdresser, you’ll need to take some qualifications. Many can be done as an apprenticeship, so you earn while you learn on the job. The minimum you’ll need is an NVQ Level 2.

When you’re qualified, there are further things you can specialise in to earn more money. You might specialise in hair extensions, for example, or hair dying techniques, for example.

Beauty specialists are in the same boat as hairdressers: their hands-on job can’t be replaced by a computer. People will always want to look their best! Again, the minimum qualification is usually a Beauty Therapist Level 2 Apprenticeship to get started, and then you can specialise in things like fillers, semi permanent makeup, or more advanced treatments to earn more.

Medical Professionals

Whether it is a nurse, doctor, surgeon, or clinical support staff considering locums tenens, the medical field is one of the few that will be integrating AI into various practices but cannot fully replace human jobs. AI can aid in the medical field with advanced technology for remote consultations or to map the body with scans, but the day-to-day healthcare and specialist areas such as surgery will always need staff.

How long it takes to qualify depends on what you want to do. Support staff may need GCSEs, right up to specialised surgeons who take over ten years of study to achieve their independent practice.

It helps to be good with people but being comfortable around bodily functions is probably the most important skill to get started!

Care and Support Staff

Another hands-on job, care staff will always be needed. Community carers who visit people in their homes to help with daily tasks are one example. Or care home staff or managerial positions, as well as live-in staff for residential homes to support those with physical and learning disabilities to live an independent life.

You don’t need qualifications to start out as care staff in many cases. Lots of roles will train you on the job. It helps to have first aid and health and safety certificates, to show you’re responsible and know what to do to work safely.

Some more specialised jobs will require more work experience with qualifications, such as live-in support staff. These can often be gained over a few years while you work.

Construction and Trades

Builders, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters will always be needed. AI might be helping in some area of construction but it will never fully replace people. Trades like plumbers and electricians will always be in demand, and as these areas are crying out for more people, now is a good time to consider switching careers.

You can learn on the job with apprenticeships with many roles. This is the best way to take practical skills and improve them while you train. When you’re qualified, you can then either be employed by a company or set up as a self employed tradesperson. Being self employed gives you more flexibility over when you work, the jobs you take, and what you charge. Employed roles are regular pay and you don’t have to find the work.

Theatre Staff

Here’s one that many people won’t think of. But theatres will carry on even as AI starts to take over the creative industries. More people are craving live performance, and there could be a boom in theatre attendance in coming years.

Theatre staff include front of house, such as ushers, creative roles like artistic director, and technical roles like lighting, sound, and costume.

Theatre is a tricky world to break into, and you may have to start off by volunteering with a local amateur dramatics group to get some experience. You can also study technical courses at college and university level, which opens doors for you in building networks to find work.

Performers and Performance Artists

This is a tricky one. AI is definitely encroaching on creative spaces – just look at Midjourney and DALI for the impact AI has had on digital art. However, live performance will always be something humans desire.

Musicians performing live will always beat a track made by a computer. Actors on stage (and on screen, if AI doesn’t take over totally) will always bring a more emotional performance than a computer-generated character. Artists who work across mediums will always have a space in creative places and on people’s walls at home.

You don’t need any qualifications to follow a creative endeavour. You might even want to learn more about AI to see how it can ethically be used in your art!

Athletes and Personal Trainers

There’s no way that competitions in how far the human body can be pushed will be replaced by AI! If you have a natural skill for a sport, keep going. Training to become an athlete requires total dedication and it is not for the faint of heart. But it can be highly rewarding (and when you reach the big time, sponsorships can bring in nice extra income).

If you’re not interested in becoming a competitive athlete but love health and fitness, consider personal training. While there are many ways people can get fit now such as apps and YouTube classes, some still need in-person training. This is true particularly for those new to getting fit and those specialising in improving in a sport like powerlifting or crossfit.

Security Guards

Yes, CCTV is everywhere now. Facial recognition software makes it easier to track suspects through crowds. But in-person security will always be an AI-proof job. At least in our lifetime – it’s going to be a while before robot sentinels become commonplace.

Guarding property is important for investors and for businesses. On-the-ground security staff can respond in real time to an incident rather than only reviewing CCTV after the fact. It’s not just about preventing crime, either: security staff can spot potential problems like fire hazards (or actual fire) for an immediate response that protects assets.

Landscapers and Horticulturalists

Whether you want to be a local gardener helping people with their lawns, or you want to design and maintain the greenery in public spaces, landscaping will always be required.

It’s another one of those hands-on jobs that could, in theory, be assisted with AI. But it’s an AI-proof job in real terms, as while jobs might be helped with robotic machinery to cut time or work in risky areas safely, there will always be a need for people to tackle the majority of the work.

If you’ve got a green thumb, becoming a horticultural specialist could also be your next career move. As global food supply chains change to tackle climate differences and population demand, there is also space for new jobs in advanced horticultural techniques like hydroponics.

Police and Support Staff

While some police work is computer based and will benefit from AI tools to be more efficient, it is still an AI-proof job. Unfortunately, crime will always happen. So, people will always need police officers. And police officers will always need support staff to help build a case, interview suspects and witnesses, and provide victim support.

You can become a police cadet during the ages 13 to 18, but after that will need some qualifications such as GCSEs or a Level 3 qualification. To be a police officer, you need to pass a fitness test, medical checks, and background security checks.

To become civil support staff, you will need a background check and some school qualifications. You may also be able to train on the job for more specialised work.

Some people start out as support staff by offering their services as an Appropriate Adult, too. This is a volunteer that sits in with interviews with children or vulnerable people to ensure due process is followed and that they have an advocate in the room. You don’t need a legal qualification to do this but you will need compassion and be able to support people who may have committed a crime through the interview process without judgement.

Can you think of more AI-proof jobs for the future? Comment below!

The post AI-Proof Jobs to Secure Your Financial Future appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

The General Election will be held on Thursday 4th July 2024. Many people don’t realise that elections are more than a chance to cast your vote — they are an opportunity to make money!

When you vote in any election, you’ll have noticed the poll clerks overseeing everything.

However, have you ever considered making a bit of extra cash as a poll clerk yourself? Can you make yourself free for the whole day?

If so, you can earn around £250 for a day’s work in a polling station. It’s a quick and easy money-making idea and ideal if you are retired or a student.

• Who Can Become a Poll Clerk?
• What’s Involved?
• How Much Can I Make?
• How Do I Apply?

Who Can Become a Poll Clerk?

Anyone is eligible to act as a poll clerk, providing they are over 18, literate and numerate and not have worked for a candidate standing in the current election. You must also have the right to work in the UK. There are some things you need to declare on your application form too, including whether you are a member of a political party, you’re an active campaigner in the elections, and if you’re a close relative of a current candidate. This may not go against your application chances, but it must be declared.

The only other requirement is that applicants must be on the electoral roll – if you’re not, you really should be. Not being on the electoral roll can damage your credit rating!

If you’re not on the electoral roll you can register to vote on the Government’s official website. You can also find your local Electoral Registration Office by clicking here. Alternatively, give your local authority a call. 

What’s Involved?

As a poll clerk, you are there to set-up the polling station and make sure correct procedure is followed throughout the day, including after voting closes.

Your duties include checking people are eligible to vote, checking and marking electoral numbers, stamping and issuing ballot papers, and, crucially, making certain that votes are cast in secret and put into the ballot box. For the first time ever, all in-person voting requires photographic ID at all polling stations in the UK for Parliamentary elections – so you’ll need to have a good eye for faces, because you’ll be checking voters’ IDs to confirm their identity.

You answer to the  Presiding Officer, who is the official in charge of a polling station.

It’s a long day, usually from early morning (usually 6am) till at least 11pm when the voting finishes.

You can also apply to help count the ballot papers in the evening, but be aware that this is, as you can probably imagine, pretty frantic work. You’ll need to be able to work well under pressure and also focus in busy environments.

For more information on the duties of a poll clerk, and the requirements to become one, look at the Handbook for Polling Station Staff here.

How Much Can I Make?

The amount you earn varies from council to council so it depends on where you apply.

You should be getting at least £150 for the day and councils who pay the most will offer £250 or more.

To find out how much your local council pays, simply visit their website and search ‘poll clerk’. For a list of local authorities in England and Wales, click here.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that if you have worked at a polling station on at least two other occasions, you can apply to become a Presiding Officer, which means more money! (For example, a Presiding Officer in Herefordshire makes over £350 while in Merton, London, it is £430. 

There are other roles available which may not require you to be available for the full day. Bristol Council has some great videos and leaflets describing the different job roles and expectations.

How Do I Apply?

Usually, poll clerks have worked for their local council, but this experience is not a prerequisite. Most councils and local authorities have information on how to become a poll clerk on their website. Either visit their website and search ‘poll clerk’, or simply Google ‘become a poll clerk’ followed by your town, city, or council. For a list of council websites, click here. 

Alternatively, you can call your local authority and ask for the Elections and Registration Office, or send them an email telling them that you’re interested. They’ll send you a form if they need clerks. Don’t leave it until a week before an election to apply because the positions will probably already be filled – it’s better to apply sooner rather than later.

Some local authorities recruit all year round so you can keep applying and be put on a waiting list for the next election.

If you are selected as a poll clerk you will attend a training/briefing session and then be sworn in the day before the election.

On Election Day, a Presiding Officer oversees the whole station and will supervise and instruct you.

Have you ever made money as a polling clerk? Do you have any other good money making ideas? Let us know in the comments section below – we love to hear from you!

The post Make money from the General Election – be a poll clerk appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Making money doing nothing…imagine that!

To be able to sit back, relax, put in no effort and still see the money coming in might sound like a fantasy, but there really are ways you can make money doing nothing.

Alright, we’re not promising you can earn a full-time income while you lay back on the sofa and watch TV all day, but there are ways to earn a bit of extra cash which require very little of you.

Read on for our 10 ways to make money doing nothing…

• Bed testing – get paid to sleep on the job!
• Get paid to queue
• Get paid to download an app 
• Make money testing food
• Make money listening to music 
• Make money house sitting
• Make money by not wasting money
• Make money waiting for deliveries 
• Make money being a friend – seriously!
• Get cashback for shopping online

1. Bed Testing

Can you imagine getting paid to sleep?

That really would be getting paid to do nothing.

And, unbelievably, some lucky so and so’s get to do just that!

Bed testers get to test out a whole range of beds, from budget to super luxury, and then report back on the night’s sleep they’ve had.

Unsurprisingly, it’s a pretty difficult job to get because of the competition for such a position, but there’s no harm in keeping your hopes up.

If you’re looking for a bed testing job and are willing to brave the competition, keep your eyes on big companies which, for whatever reason, will have/need a lot of beds. It might be a hotel chain or a superstore like John Lewis, or look out for bed making companies themselves, particularly those who supply to hotels.

It’s not impossible to become a bed tester, so why not give it a go?

Could you imagine? Well, we can always dream (although, unlike some, we won’t be getting paid for it!)

2. Get Paid to Queue

Have you ever been told you don’t get paid to stand around and do nothing? Well, here’s a job that actually pays you to do just that.

You can get paid to stand in queues (otherwise known as ‘line sitting’).

You’ve seen the long queues as people wait in line to be the first to get their hands on the latest Apple product, even staying the night during relentless rain.

Chances are there’s some damp soul in those queues who would rather pay someone else to be sat there.

There are also people with work or family commitments who are eager to get the latest iPhone or the newly released concert tickets but are unable to, or those who are too ill or have disabilities that make queuing for long periods impossible. These people too may be willing to pay you for queuing for them.

Whilst popular in the US, not many people are aware of ‘line sitting’ in the UK so you may have to introduce the concept whilst you’re drumming up business.

You’d be able to set your own price, either at a fixed rate or an agreed amount per hour/half hour.

For example, you could charge a fixed rate of £100, or agree on £12 an hour.

The amount you make will depend on how much people are willing to pay and how often you get the work.

Advertise your services on Fiverr, Gumtree and on any social media platform you use.

3. Get Paid to Download an App

How would you like to get a £5 Amazon voucher just for downloading an app onto your tablet or mobile?

All you have to do is keep the app active on an Android device for a week.

This is what MobileXpression offers.

It really is money for nothing. Most sites like this offer vouchers rather than hard cash, but it’s often for a universal online store like Amazon which means you can easily spend them.

If you like to earn for downloading apps you should also check out Nielsen Online Panel. You won’t get paid for downloading it, but you will be automatically entered into a monthly prize draw to win £250 – so there’s potential to make a LOT of money doing nothing.

4. Make Money Testing Food

If you’re a foodie and think you’ve got a refined sense of taste, this one could be for you. Research companies employ food testers so that they can get views on their food products.

After tasting the food you’ll be asked for your feedback – this might be as part of a focus group or you might simply just have to give it a score in a questionnaire.

You’ll get a palette cleanser in between each food sample, such as a cracker and water, so you’re ready to go for the next taste.

Tasting sessions last around an hour or two, but if you’re taking part in a focus group it may take longer.

It’s a great way to supplement your income, with the potential to earn between £5-£55 depending on whether you’re just completing a questionnaire or if you’re taking part in a focus group.

Click here to find out more about getting paid to test food.

5. Make Money Listening to Music

Another great way to make money doing nothing is to listen to music.

Ok, you have to review the music as well, but still, it’s a fun little money maker!

Slicethepie.com gives you the chance to earn money writing reviews of music produced by aspiring musicians who are trying to get their tunes out there.

It’s not a way to earn big money by any means; you’ll only be earning a few pennies per review. But if you like listening to music and giving feedback then a little bit of money is better than no money at all, right?

6. Make Money House Sitting

Imagine making money doing nothing whilst relaxing in a luxurious home. That’s what house sitting can offer.

House sitting is a growing phenomenon, many people who own more than one house are away for long periods of time for business trips.

Such people often prefer to have a trusted house sitter take care of the house than leave it at the risk of burglars or squatters.

Often it might involve pet sitting, so if you’re an animal lover then looking after an adorable pooch or feline won’t feel like work at all.

It’s not a way to earn lots of money; pay for long-term house sitting starts at £10 a day. That said, it’s a good way to save on some of your day-to-day living costs – just think of how much you could save on rent, utility bills, food etc. whilst you’re house sitting.

Click here to find out more about house sitting.

And if you want to make your own receipts, and are not doing it through a housesitting site, you can use a receipt template so it still requires little effort.

7. Make Money by Not Wasting Money

This one might sound like a cheat, but really, not wasting money is doing nothing – and you can save a lot of money by doing this.

To begin with you can try to negotiate a little more in everyday life. Over time the little savings you can make by being frugal/cheeky will really add up and, at the end of the day, why pay more than you need to?

We have a great article here on how to save money by haggling. There really are two prices in the world – one for those who negotiate, and one for those who don’t.

Equally, there are plenty of ways many of us waste money which we could easily cut down on. For example, do you really need to buy that cleaning product or do you have products in your home that will do exactly the same job?

Do you need to buy the most expensive brand, or will a discounted brand be just as nice?

Are you shopping around for things like your current account or your energy bill? Or are you just accepting the prices you’re given?

Find out more about making money by not wasting money here. 

And don’t forget to sell on and recycle things you no-longer need. For example, did you know you can get money for your old phone?

Don’t throw it away, find out how much you can make by reselling and recycling here.

Not wasting money means you can save more – and that makes your cash word hard for you. Savings rates are looking good right now, so the more you can squirrel away the better.

8. Make Money Waiting for Deliveries

This really is how to make money by just hanging around!

It’s similar to house sitting, but it’s an easier and quicker way to earn money than staying in someone’s home for a long period of time.

We all dread those horrible time-windows given to us by delivery companies or the plumber when you need something fixed. Sometimes you really are expected to wait in the whole day!

Well, some people are willing to pay you to sit in their house and wait instead.

Pay can actually be quite good, you can earn between £8-£10 an hour, and you really are doing nothing but waiting! It’s ideal for people who can work remotely from a laptop or for students looking for some extra cash,

Look out for potential jobs – or advertise your sit-in business – on places like NextDoor, Facebook Marketplace and even Gumtree.

9. Make Money Being a Friend

Yep, you really can earn money being a friend.

Sometimes, people want to be shown around a new area, while others want someone to go to the movies with. Some want a workout buddy and some people even want a wingman!

To get started you should sign yourself up to Rent a Friend.

You don’t have to pay anything, only people looking for a friend have to pay to sign-up.

If someone likes your profile and wants you to be their friend, you can charge £5-£30 an hour for your time, so there is good money to be made.

It’s a really good way to make money doing nothing!

Click here to find out more about making money being a friend.

If you have a caring personality, you can also look for local befriending services. These pay you to visit people in their homes to provide company for a few hours a week, and you might help with a few basic chores like the washing up or making lunch. You could also be asked to run errands for people, like taking them to hospital appointments.

10. Get Cashback

Cashback sites are such an easy and straightforward way to make money. By joining a cashback site, you’ll get a bit of money back on everything you buy.

All you have to do is sign-up (absolutely free) and shop through the cashback site’s portal. It’s exactly the same as online shopping any other way, but they’ll be able to track where you make your purchase so both they and you can get paid for it.

Two of our favourite cashback sites are Top CashBack and Quidco, both of which are absolutely free to join. If you know a friend who already uses cashback sites, remember to ask them to refer you and you’ll often both get a bonus for your sign up!

You really are getting money just for shopping as normal – why wouldn’t you sign up?

Read more about cashback sites here.

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.

The post 10 Ways to Make Money Doing Nothing appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Win money online. At MoneyMagpie we have a strict no gambling policy – we won’t work with any gambling sites. Therefore, when we write about making money online, it’s strictly not going to be casinos or anything that is a risk to you spending more than you have.

You will be pleased to know that there are however lots of opportunities that we can suggest. So read on to find out our top 5 suggestions to help you win money. (NB. Some do have a small cost).

Sign up to Good Life+

Good Life+ are currently offering a one week trial FOR FREE to be entered into their incredible daily prize draws. Good Life+ also offer a whole host of perks – from monthly free movies, to incredible deals in thousands of restaurants (many of which are 2 for 1) – you not only never need to pay full price for a meal again, but you also get entered into the daily prize draw to win some absolutely amazing prizes. Plus, best of all – a portion of the money you pay for your subscription goes to an array of worthy causes.

To be a member of Good Life + you can get a 35% discount from their  Platinum package at 12.99 per month – but you can make that money back in food deals alone.

Sell competition prizes for cash

Online competitions are an easy way to earn money from home and win free prizes with very little effort. If you don’t want them, they are also a way you can technically “win” some cash – by simply selling them on. 

Entering can be fast and fun and your chances of winning big prizes are much higher than you’d imagine, especially when you subscribe to Good Life+. They offer an amazing array of competition prizes and they run daily giveaways: With prizes from cars to experiences to cash, there is a lot of opportunity to make a bit of money. 

If you do win, but don’t want the prize you win, you could always sell it on, making your prize a cash one. 

To do this, follow the best market for the prize, whether it be eBay, Facebook, private sale or auction – MoneyMagpie offers plenty of ways to help you sell absolutely anything. Obviously always check T&Cs of any competition to double check you are allowed. 

Cashback

Another oldie but a goodie is shopping through cashback sites. Most offer a small sign up fee and then you basically get a bit of money back, every time you spend some. Follow our guide to find out the best ones here.

Do Surveys and Win Cash

We are a big fan of doing surveys online at MoneyMagpie. 

If you have some free time in your lunch break or a spare half an hour in the evenings, why not fill in a few online surveys for money?

Paid surveys are simple, effective ways to make some cash, and some online surveys even let you win prizes.  

Whilst doing online surveys for money won’t provide you with a steady, substantial income, paid surveys are a great way to make cash for very little effort. Lots of our readers find the best paid online surveys are the ones they can put towards the bill for their summer holiday – not bad coming from the odd half an hour in front of a computer.

Many providers also enter you into a rolling prize draw for holidays, amenities or even cash. 

Check out our guide for the best free surveys here.

Charity Raffles

Lots of charities make your donations count. So if you are a fan of doing good and want to give back with your winning then charities often offer raffles and cash prizes for the price of a raffle ticket. Whilst this could be seen as gambling,  it is technically “giving to charity” and not purely about the prize. Two charities that do this regularly are British Heart Foundation and Age UK. 

However for this feel good factor Good Life+ also give back. Every month some of your sponsorship money goes to backing British athletes, so whilst you are doing good, you can also be winning prizes. 

This post is sponsored by Good Life+

You must be over 18 to enter. If you are under 18 your ticket will be void and refunded.

Their prize draws are in no way sponsored or endorsed by Facebook or Instagram.

Draws will be made using independent verification software, all ticket numbers will be entered and the number drawn will be matched with the numbers on the entries to determine the winner of each prize draw. In some draws where stated, an independent verification company will be used.

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.

The post Top Ways to Win Money Online – That ARE NOT Gambling appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Swiftonomics Explained

Make Swift Money: Rent a Room

Make Swift Money: Rent Your Driveway

Make Swift Money: Make Friendship Bracelets

Offer to Pet Sit

Make Swift Money: Get Social

Make Swift Money: Grab a Promotional Job

Swiftonomics Explained

Taylor Swift’s Eras tour is already a billion-dollar tour: with an average audience of 72,000 each performance, that’s around $17million EVERY PERFORMANCE. Over 4.3million tickets have already been sold in the US since the start of the tour – and now she’s going worldwide. Now, of course most of that is profit for the venue and for Taylor Swift – but the knock-on effect of sellout events at venues with tens of thousands of people has a macro-impact on the local economy around each stadium.

There will be an estimated $5bn (yes, BILLION) of consumer spending worldwide thanks to Taylor’s tour. This covers everything from hotels to taxis and other transportation, to restaurants and hospitality venues, even to merchandise. When Swift comes to town, the local economy booms.

This isn’t an entirely new thing – the Rolling Stones used to be ‘the only show in town’ with everyone talking about it, hotels fully booked, and the local hospitality industry thriving. But in today’s world of social media, the megastars are truly huge – it’s not just Taylor, either. The Beyonce Effect is credited with a noticeable and traceable 9.7% boost to Sweden’s economy in May 2023.

So, how can you make the most of being near to a Taylor venue in the coming months?

Make Swift Money: Rent a Room (Or Your Whole House)

Accommodation is at an absolute premium for Taylor Swift tour locations, and you can benefit from it. Whether you want to offer your spare room to a couple of people or can escape elsewhere to let them hire your whole house for a few days, it’s one of the quickest ways to make a LOT of money.

Even better, doing this when you live in a stadium town (or an area with a large concert venue) means you could rent your room or house on a regular basis whenever a big-name star comes to play or a sporting fixture is on. Platforms such as Air BnB are the obvious route for anyone planning to regularly rent out their space for concert goers, but if you want to start off with just the Swifties then it’s worth promoting on your social media platforms to let friends and friends of friends know that you have a space available.

There are some risks to renting out your whole house – you won’t be able to control noise or damages – but you can get a much higher fee for doing so. Advertising through a platform like Air BnB or Booking.com also gives you some protections from difficult customers. The flip side of this is staying in the house and renting out rooms – you need to put up with disruption to your usual routine, but can ensure your guests are well-behaved. There is a security issue letting strangers into your home, so secure valuables out of sight and try to not be alone in the house with your new guests.

Rent Your Driveway

Parking is always at a premium in cities anyway, and prices easily bump up when a popular act like Taylor Swift sells out the biggest venue in the area. Make the most of it and rent out your parking space for some quick cash!

Use a platform like JustPark or Park Let to promote your parking space. These platforms take a small fee of a booking, but make it really easy to reach thousands of people looking for parking in your area. Again, this is particularly ideal if you have a spare space and live near to a stadium as you could make cash every time someone big comes to perform. Check the rates for parking closest to the stadium, by hour and overnight, and set yours a little lower to make sure you look like a good deal!

Make Friendship Bracelets

This is a very specific Swift money maker! Taylor Swift fans (Swifties) will make and exchange friendship bracelets with each other at her concerts – even with people they’ve only just met! But for those who haven’t had the time, a last-minute option to buy some friendship bracelets will be a lifesaver for them.

Friendship bracelets aren’t too time intensive and the raw materials (usually cotton thread and alphabet beads) isn’t expensive either. You can make a LOT of bracelets with a small amount of thread, and add any beads or buttons you have stashed in your craft collection.

When you’ve made them, promote on a platform like Etsy or eBay, as well as on your local NextDoor and Facebook groups. If you’re really savvy, talk to local businesses near to the venue to see if they’ll let you sell from their premises if you give them a small percentage – or see if a restaurant or pub want to run an offer giving free Swiftie bracelets away on the night to each customer and buy from you in bulk!

You could also find ways to make other related Swift merch but be VERY careful about breaching any copyright (for example, don’t use her image or artwork from her album on anything). You can, however, use words – so making banners for people to hold up at the event, or tote bags that refer to being a Swiftie from (X town you live in) are a couple of ideas to start with that could make you money without getting you tangled in copyright infringement cases.

Offer to Pet Sit

Of course, Swiftonomics isn’t just about the increase in visitors to a town where she is playing – there are loads of fans who live near you, too! You could make an easy £20-£50 for a night of pet sitting in your local area. The amount depends on how many pets and the time needed – a cat that needs to have a quick visit and be fed might be £10 while two large dogs in need of an evening walk and sofa cuddles while their owners are out could be £50.

Post on your local online groups like NextDoor and Facebook groups to find out if people need your services. If you can put in some leg work, you might find you can manage a few pets in one night – visiting three cats for a feed and litter check, plus walking a couple of dogs, for example. If you want to be a sitter more regularly, check out our article on how to become a pet sitter and make extra money while enjoying the benefits of being around animals.

Get Social

Make the most of a true phenomenon coming to town and get busy on your social media. Follow the crowds, interview them, find out what they’re most excited about – and find the most dedicated Swift fan in the crowd. This is particularly ideal if you’re a social media influencer (or want to be one) making money from your social content, because it’s the type of video and photo media that could quickly go viral.

If you want to be a TV presenter, it’s a great calling card to practice your interview skills, too! And local TV and newspapers will also be on the lookout for unique photos and clips of the huge event that is a Taylor Swift circus (and the Swift fandom) which could net you some cash, too.

Find a Promotional Job

You’re not the only one who wants to make the most of Swiftonomics and earn extra cash while she is in town! Your local restaurants, pubs, bars, and shops will want to take advantage of the huge increase in footfall. Offer your services for temporary promotional staff – handing out flyers with exclusive offers, posting on local social media about deals, and helping businesses tap into the Swift crowds.

These are just some of the ways you could make money with Swiftonomics – can you think of any others? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments section!

The post How to Make Swift Money: The Power of Swiftonomics appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Online freelance writing is a great way to earn additional or full-time income, and you don’t even need to leave your home to do it.

There are countless opportunities out there, you can work as little or as much as you want and you can make in excess of £100,000 a year if you develop a good marketing strategy and work hard. The first few years will be tough as you find your feet, but the flexibility of online freelance writing and the higher fees you can charge when you’re established make the work worthwhile.

Here’s everything you need to know to make money online freelance writing.

• What is Freelance Writing?
• What Are Freelancing Platforms?
• What Do You Need to Get Started?
• What Will It Cost Me?
• What Can I Earn?
• Portfolio
• Finding Jobs
• Staying Employed
• Long-Term Clients and Long Term Success
• Alternative Income Streams

What is Freelance Writing?

Simply put, a freelance writer is someone who writes for money but isn’t tied to a single organisation. A freelance writer offers their services to anyone who needs some writing done, and will often work for several companies at a time.

It’s often said that freelancers are their own boss and that no one dictates what they do. This is true, to an extent. But freelancers actually have many different bosses. And they need to meet deadlines and to work to specifications just like any other employee.

Online freelance writing jobs come in a variety of forms. The most common job is content writing. There are are over a billion websites out there and they all need content. A freelance writer is often the one tasked with creating that content.

Other jobs include:

• Novel Writing: Ghost-writing personal memoirs, fiction/non-fiction for publishers.
• Script Writing: Everything from TV pilots and film scripts, to commercials and animations.
• Marketing (also called copywriting): Press releases, brand stories, slogans.
• Academic Writing: Academic non-fiction, peer reviewed study write-ups, essays.
• Technical Writing: Instruction manuals, how-to guides.
• Legal Writing: Terms and Conditions, privacy policies, long-form contract writing.
• Editing/Proofreading: Correcting all of the above.
• Critiquing: Providing advice on personal projects (novels, short stories).
• Consulting: Providing guidance on publishing, writing, SEO and more.

What Are Freelancing Platforms?

When it comes to the concept of online freelance writing, it usually revolves around something known as a “freelancing platform”. This is a service that acts as a bridge between the client and the freelancer. These sites include those like Upwork, Guru and Freelancer, but not all should be judged equally as many are hard work for little reward (and some are downright scams).

You can use a freelancing platform to showcase your abilities like you would on a CV, and you can also use them to find jobs.

Clients post job availabilities, writers apply to these, and the clients interview them. All of this is done through the platform, including the interview itself. And when the writer is hired, the platform continues to act as an intermediary.

If the freelancer and client agree a fee of $100, then the client must pay that $100 upfront. The platform will then hold that money in an escrow account, sitting on it until the job is finished. Upon release, the platform takes a small percentage as their fee and the writer gets the rest.

Watch out for red flags, which include: sites that ask you to write articles in the hope of selling them (ie they only pay you if it sells); sites that require a monthly fee; platforms which have negative reviews on sites such as Glassdoor; very low fees for writers (such as those offering just a couple of dollars for a hundred words).

What Do You Need to Get Started?

There is very little you need to get started as an online writer (apart from talent!). Basically you need:

• Computer: You don’t need anything flash. If it connects to the internet, it’s good enough.
• Word Processor: Clients will usually expect to receive work in .doc or .docx form. However, most word processors can convert, so you don’t need MS Word. There are free alternatives out there, like Google Docs. If you’re sharing a Google Doc with a client, always paste your work into a new document when you send it – that way, the client can’t see your edits and writing process while you work.
• Planner: When the jobs roll in, it’s easy to lose track. So, make sure you stay organised. A wall planner and a paper planner are both useful – carry one with you and keep the wall planner above your workspace at home to quickly refer to for deadlines.
• Bank Account/PayPal: You will need a bank account for clients to pay you, or sometimes a PayPal account to receive payments. Stripe is a useful payment platform if you want to write for international clients, as it gives you an IBAN number to take (for example) US payments as if it’s a US bank, which helps keep transfer and conversion fees down.
• Zoom: Many clients will want to connect with you via Zoom to talk through projects.

You’re also going to need to sign up to online freelance writing job platforms like UpWork. This will take a bit of time, especially as you create your sample articles or upload previous work to show clients your portfolio, so make sure you leave plenty of time for this as it will be what makes a client choose you over someone else.

What Will It Cost Me?

Online freelance writing job platforms like UpWork will take a percentage fee. This might be the same percentage for whatever you’re paid (5% whether you’re paid £5 or £5000) or it can vary by price brackets so the more you earn, the less you give the platform overall.

These platforms aren’t the only way to find work, either. You could invest some money in placing strategic advertisements in trade magazines if you specialise in copywriting for a particular industry, for example. You could also benefit from attending local Chamber of Commerce business networking meetings (or similar – most towns and cities have several business-to-business events you can attend to meet business owners) so set aside some money for these, too.

What Can I Earn?

When you’re starting out, you will find your rates start around £25-30 an hour. With even six months’ experience, you can rapidly increase your rates. The most senior freelance copywriters earn up to £2,000 a day. It is easier to get to these kinds of rates if you already have specialist knowledge in a particular industry, and you target specific niche clients in this area. Specialising is the quickest way to earn more, as people will value your experience and knowledge in the field.

Despite online freelance writing being remote and worked from anywhere in the world, you will have an advantage to increasing your daily rates if you can sometimes travel to meet a client. People who live in London, for example, can charge a higher rate (because London) and visit offices for in-person meetings, which helps clients feel like they’re getting more value from you. If you don’t usually travel to meet a client but one requires you to, make sure you have a stipulation in your contract that they will pay for travel and accommodation expenses on top of your daily rate.

When setting your rates, it’s really important to build in time around your quote. If you think writing a 500-word blog will take you three hours, assume it will take four. This is because, sometimes, you might only take a couple of hours and sometimes it will take you six – so it needs to average out to include the time it takes you over a number of projects rather than a specific one. Building in spare time into a rate quote also covers time you’re not writing – such as back and forths with the client about the project brief, which is easy to forget also counts as work.

Creating Your Freelance Writing Portfolio

Your online portfolio is your CV – it is what will make clients choose you over others, particularly if you’re using an online freelance writing job platform. Use articles, pamphlets, instruction guides or whatever else you’ve written for businesses to date (without including any confidential business information). If you have never written for businesses before, you can write sample articles ‘in the style of’ as examples of how you can change your tone and writing type for each different client.

However, strangely, you will also need to make sure your online portfolio is visual. Photos that represent your work (such as screenshots) can sometimes be required to create a visual portfolio that then leads a client to request your samples to read.

Your portfolio needs to be visual. You’ll be prompted to upload documents and writing samples, but no one pays attention to these. In fact, if a client wants to read a sample they will expect you to send them one during the interview.

Also, see our article on how to make money writing short stories here

Staying Employed

Freelancing will open a lot of doors. It will introduce you to publishers, publicists, web-masters and business owners. If you stay connected to all of these, using social media to keep them close, then a simple job could lead to something massive.

Work will dry up on occasion, but the good thing is that this rarely happens once you have an established profile. Until you get to that point, here’s what you can do to keep the work coming:

• Ask: If a client promised more work that they didn’t deliver on, ask them about it. If a client who gave you a lot of work in the past suddenly stops messaging you, email them. It’s best to give them a friendly nudge in the form of a catch-up message, following it up with a simple, “If you need anything done, you know where to find me”. You’d be surprised at how often this works.
• Focus on one site: It seems counterintuitive, but if you focus on one online freelance writing platform you’ll have more work. The effort you put into a single platform shows, and this is what prospective clients want to see.
• Keep applying: It doesn’t matter how many projects you have right now, you should always find time to send more proposals, apply for more jobs and sit through more interviews. You might be busy now, but soon you’ll meet those deadlines and collect your money, and then you’ll realise you have nothing else to do. Build time into your weekly schedule to do marketing outreach, both keeping in touch with previous clients and also finding new ones.
• Lower Your Rates: If you’re struggling to find work, reduce your rates slightly to get the ball rolling again. It’s better for work at a reduced rate than not to work at all. You can always kick that project to the curb when a better one comes along (just make sure you finish it first).

Long-Term Clients and Long-Term Success

Not only will a good client continue to provide, but they’ll introduce you to other clients and open many doors.

Whether you work on an online freelance writing platform like Upwork, or you do all of the legwork yourself, keep the following in mind:

1. Always go out of your way for a client you respect. Never take liberties and apologise profusely if you make a mistake.
2. Always be prepared to strike a deal. Offer cheaper rates for bulk jobs in the hope they will increase your workload.
3. If you haven’t heard anything for a few weeks, send a message to enquire if they have anything available. In a competitive marketplace, freelancers can be forgotten.
4. Give them advice. You’re the expert here, so if you notice an area of their site that could be improved or added to, tell them. They’ll appreciate it and you’ll get more work.

Alternative Income Streams

The work isn’t always going to be there. It’s important to keep trying, because it’ll get easier. But there are also other ways you can make money.

So, if you have the time but you don’t have the jobs, and if you’ve done all you can in terms of applying and being interviewed, you can try some of the following:

• Search “write for us”: More and more web-masters are turning to online freelance writing platforms to source content, but there are still sites that wait for the content to come to them. These sites typically pay well, and if you Google the phrase “Write for us”, you shouldn’t have an issue finding them.
• Websites/Blogs: If you don’t know anything about SEO now, take your downtime to learn all about it. It will add an extra string to your online writing bow, and help you produce content that delivers trackable results for clients when you get them.
• Flipping Sites: Flippa is basically eBay for websites. You can buy and sell all kinds of blogs, high-profile domains and established online businesses. You can buy poor-quality sites, rewrite the content, do some more and sell them on. It’s just like Homes Under The Hammer—if you have the capital and you can cut costs by doing the work yourself, you’ll turn a profit.
• Contribute: Contributors to sites like Huff Post do not get paid. However, they are allowed to write what they want (within reason) which gives them an opportunity to embed links in their articles. There are countless clients on online freelance writing platforms seeking freelancers who can get a single link on Huff Post. If you’re a contributor to this site, you can get anywhere from $200 to $500 for that link, and you only need to write a short article in order to post it. Forbes pays even more and works in much the same way.

The post Online Freelance Writing: Make £100+ An Hour Writing for a Living appeared first on MoneyMagpie.