How To Make A Little Extra Cash In Chicago

Don't Jump!

READ FIRST! I promise, Chicago isn’t such a cold city. You just have to know where to look.

Be A Babysitter

If you don’t like children, you might want to skip this one.

Children are beautiful creatures, and you can get paid to just play for a few hours! I watch a 2 year old every Friday.

I leave every week with something splattered on my shirt, or smelling like child slobber, but charging $15-20 an hour ain’t so bad and it’s fun to be a child again!

Watch Free Shows

It’s always a good idea to work at Second City.
Especially if you love improv as much as I do!

Working the box office at Second City just once a week, or any improv venue, will get you in to the shows for free. Plus, you will be making a little bit of cash to stash.

Laughter is medicine, and who doesn’t need a good laugh? But getting paid to laugh… can’t beat that!

Second City Chicago. Go on, call ’em up!

Make Snow Angels!

This is what I do when it’s snowy in Chicago and I need a break from all of my many jobs.

Who knows, maybe someone will pay me to make the perfect snow angel one day. I’m pretty good at it!

Temp Jobs

Try out an interesting temp job. Find something that catches your interest. For example: wine.

There are some temp jobs available where you can sell or lead wine tastings! Check this NY Times article out: Temp Jobs At The Wine Shop.

Who knows, you might even land a permanent job from this temp part-time work. You might even ENJOY doing it! There are tons of temp agencies out there! Go on… take yer pick!

Shop Mysteriously

Well, you don’t have to LOOK like you are being mysterious! However, there are organizations in Chicago that will pay you to shop! Basically, you are anonymously shopping, while checking out the store without being noticed.

Yeah, sounds like some fun cash that would make me feel like James Bond. Ok, maybe that’s just me.

Chicago Mystery Shopping.

Just Be A Clown

This would be a last option for me, I must say. However, did you know that clowns are still high in demand? Seriously, they are! I’m not sure why, but you could actually pocket some under the table cash with this one.

Just try not to hit up kid’s birthday parties. I don’t know, maybe there are some higher class clown gigs out there!

Shovel Your Neighbor's Sidewalk

Ever heard the saying, “Treat your neighbor as you would like to be treated?” Well, snow shoveling could be just that, helping a neighbor out.

Only if they pay you of course! I hear they pay pretty well. Pick a price!

Charging a good $20-40 bucks per yard or square sidewalk is a good deal. I mean, it’s hard work shoveling that snow!

Walk Those Dogs

This week, I decided to make a little extra cash and walk my boss’ two dogs while she was away.

Little did I know, it would be a lot harder than I anticipated. Every time I would get over to the house, one of them would leave large brown friends on the floor for me to clean up!

In the end, I told myself all of that walking in the snow, scooping, and drool wiping was worth that extra cash in my pocket.

Check out:
Chicago Dog Walkers.

Stock Some Books

Businesses such as Borders, Barnes and Noble, and the Chicago Public Library, hire book stockers. I don’t know if that is the “technical” name, but that’s what they do! Stock books all day! Not bad eh?

Fix Some Bikes

Bikes catch your fancy?

Bike shops are always looking for bike tuners. This could be a fun, hands-on way to make some extra cash. Plus, you can use the tools you need to fix up your own bike!

Play with Flowers

Working at a florist can be a nice way to escape the piercing winds of the winter weather. Many florists need some extra part-time help, and Valentines day is approaching!

Flowers are pretty!

Gift Wrapping

Gift wrapping is not just for the holidays. Some people are a natural at making gifts look like works of art. I am not one of those people, but if I were I would definitely play with paper all day!

Many boutiques hire professional gift wrappers, who are on staff part-time. Could be fun!

Get Clean!

Before I moved back to Chicago, my friend approached me with the idea that we should make soap and sell it! It has been a nice little way to be creative, yet make a little cash on the side.

It is easy to make and fairly inexpensive to purchase all of the needed ingredients. Once your soap is made, sell it to local stores and markets in your area! Chicago is full of ’em!

How to make soap.