A reader emailed me to ask: How do you make money now without a day job?

Good question! If all this “giving up your day job” talk is making you drool, the reality is that I still need money to live. I still have bills and pretty things I want to buy. We didn’t win the lottery and I’m not the governor’s daughter.

It got me thinking about all the alternatives to a day job – things I could jump into if needed, or even if down the road when I need a new adventure.

Here’s what I came up with:

Provide in-home childcare. About 80% of my friends have young children. Childcare is a constant stress – it’s expensive and the idea of letting a stranger care for your new baby makes most new moms weak with guilt. (Just to be clear, I am NOT offering this, but it’s an idea that could make some money and benefit the people around you, too.)

Freelance. I was able to stay on as editor for YOU magazine on a freelance basis. If you want to be a freelance writer or photographer, start by getting to know your local newspapers and magazines. There are two really effective ways to get your foot in the door. 1) Know someone that’s already “in” and ask them to recommend you to the editor. Or 2) be really helpful. My go-to photographer guy was a no-name until he sent me “free” photos from a local event. His talent was obvious and had no strings attached. Since then, he’s built a steady stream of income from that simple act of helpfulness You can also head over to elance and set up a profile.

Clean houses. If you don’t mind cleaning, there are plenty of people who do. Charge $20 to $30 per hour and do it on your own terms. I find cleaning very satisfying and wouldn’t be “above” it if we needed the money.

Live on less. This is how I was able to quit my day job. Mr. Right’s income more than supports our family – But it wasn’t always like that. When we first got together, we spent more money than we had and went into debt. Today we are debt free and save our extra money rather than spend it.

Sell a product. Turn your hobby into a source of income. Woodworking, jewelry, paintings, you fill in the blanks – there are lots of  venues that support local artists. Get your name out there by displaying art at local coffee shops and bars. Ask the local boutique to sell your jewelry on consignment.

Organize a networking group. STUN Photography Group is a really cool example of this. Former marketing man Mark Anderson created the group when he left his day job to fly solo as a freelance photographer. The photographers and models of STUN are able to expand their portfolios using genius locations (coordinated by Mark) like the local high school or a metal warehouse. Local salons donate talents for hair and makeup the day of the shoot. I love this idea because it centers around collaborating, not competing. Mark gains a few new clients and helps other freelancers do the same. To cover venue expenses, he sometimes charges a participant fee.

Learn something new. For instance, start a blog. In the beginning, blogging rewards are many, but not necessarily monetary. In time, you can expand into income streams like affiliate links, advertising and use it as a platform to sell your products. If you need a place to get started, check out the A-List Blogger Club. (Full disclosure – by joining the club, you would help to support this blog. I’m sharing the idea because 1) I personally belong to/love the club and 2) I really believe it can help you.) It’s a group formed by epic blogger Leo Baubata with his trusty German sidekick, Mary Jaksch. The collection of practical how-to’s and inspiration will blow you away.

To your success.

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Photo by DavidDMuir