The coronavirus pandemic has put pressure on our finances like never before. According to Take a Break, a quarter of us are considering a second job in order to support our income.
But what second jobs are out there? And how do you go about getting one? We break it down for you.
How has the pandemic changed our attitude to finance?
There is not a person in Britain that hasn’t been impacted in some way by the Covid-19 pandemic. Social distancing restrictions, school closures and business closures have taken a toll on our finances.
Therefore, it’s not surprising that around 80% of us plan to be shrewder with our money in the future, according to research from Take a Break.
The survey of 1,257 people found that only 40% had enough money to get through the next three months if their income was to stop. And a third wouldn’t have enough savings to last a month.
It’s no surprise then that around a quarter of us would consider a second job in order to provide us with a bit of extra security.
If you need more information on financial help available during the pandemic, take a look at our coronavirus resources page.
What second jobs are there?
If you already work a nine to five role, you may be wondering what sort of job you can do as a side hustle. In this ever-changing world, there are now so many options for second jobs that can fit around your main gig.
Here are just a few of our suggestions:
- Driver
- Courier or delivery driver
- Virtual assistant
- Covid-19 testing assistant
- Tutor
- Warehouse operative
- Supermarket assistant
- Freelance writer
- Proofreader
- SEO expert
- Sales order processor
Where can I find second jobs?
Second jobs such as part-time roles, temporary roles or freelance gigs can be found on any job site such as indeed.co.uk, workingmums.co.uk or reed.co.uk.
Try searching for temporary roles, as these are likely to have the out of hours aspect you may need and also be more local.
If you have a role and a company in mind for a second job, then try going direct to their website. For example, if shelf stacking at Tesco could work well around your primary job, head to the Tesco website or inquire at your local store.
Meanwhile, if you are looking for something you can do from home, then try searching for online roles. Depending on your skillset, you may be able to find work as a virtual assistant or an online tutor.
What about a second job and tax?
While it may seem like a great idea to get a second job to boost your income, you do need to think about some of the implications of having two jobs.
First things first, check your existing contract to make sure if it allows you to take on a second job. If the job is working for a rival company or may bring your employer into disrepute, you could end up in breach of your employment contract.
Once you know where the land lies with your existing contract, you need to think about income tax. You are entitled to a Personal Allowance, which is £12,500 for the 2020/2021 tax year. It is best to use this for the job paying you the most.
The likelihood is that you will pay tax on all of the income from your second job. So maybe do the sums beforehand and see how much better off a second job will make you.
