Submitted by Aggravating-Name-914 t3_10mh4x8 in washingtondc

Hello, does anyone know any ways to make some extra money on the weekends? I’m active duty and stationed in the DC area and would like to make some extra money on weekends to help pay off credit card debts, etc. Thanks in advance!

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DJNickiBlake t1_j63tqni wrote

Do you like animals? Maybe pet sitting or walking via Wag or Rover?

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Travler18 t1_j64vmrs wrote

I'd also recommend this if you are good with pets, especially dogs.

Common to see $40-$55 per day, per dog for overnight dog sitting. I.e. someone drops their dog off with you and then picks them up a few days later.

The sitter I use regularly has 2-3 dogs at a time.

Walkers can easily charge $20-$30 for a 30-minute walk. If you can find a couple of clients in the same area, you could easily knock out 2 or 3 of these in a 2-hour window.

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Playful-Translator49 t1_j63m06b wrote

almost every bar and restaurant are hiring. Perhaps a beergarden or something like that might be easier depending on your experience.

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Aggravating-Name-914 OP t1_j646brc wrote

im not 21 yet so i don’t think I can do that unfortunately

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MidnightSlinks t1_j64bqza wrote

You can probably get hired as a server. DC allows employees 16 and up to handle alcohol as long as there is supervision on premises from someone 21+, which functionally means you need your bar tenders and manager to be 21+ but servers can be younger as long as they're just carting drinks to tables.

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Playful-Translator49 t1_j65dkx4 wrote

Yep I just asked my friend who is a bar manager she said under 21 is fine. She suggested for more $$ less frustration bar backing on the weekends at busier places would be good cash without having experience. They stay open later than restaurants etc

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Existing365Chocolate t1_j6adctr wrote

I think under 21 can still pour beer/wine and serve people as long as one employee is over 21 to supervise, just not make cocktails

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reddit466 t1_j63hshl wrote

NIH studies, or research studies at one of the local universities

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Aggravating-Name-914 OP t1_j646p8z wrote

interesting, never thought of this one

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reddit466 t1_j64fmt0 wrote

This was a fairly lucrative side hustle for me when I was a grad student

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tehruben t1_j65zchy wrote

I did this when I was an undergrad and averaged $500+ per month. More than enough for beer money.

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DCGinkgo t1_j66f9qr wrote

Yep, most big cities have univ. researchers looking for subjects. In the Boston area, some sleep studies would pay some serious money usually because...they wanted you to sleep on site...

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joebobjoebobjoebob12 t1_j63ye5q wrote

A lot of farmers market vendors need people to work their booths on Saturdays and Sundays. I know a couple of people who do that and get $100 for the day, cash under the table.

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NPRjunkieDC t1_j64edke wrote

I signed up to volunteer. Our local FN is cheaper so keeps costs low

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merpderp33 t1_j643ucd wrote

Ohhh this sounds intriguing - how do we contact them/ gauge openings?

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zi9g t1_j64oevn wrote

I did this for several years before covid. Typically if there was a vendor you liked, you could just show up and ask them about openings, if they didn't actively have signs posted for help. More will probably be looking for help in a few months, since many run a slower schedule or are off completely during winter. Check the vendor lists of market websites to see what looks interesting (do you want to do veggies? dairy? pre-made foods? etc) and reach out to them on social if they're off season.

In my experience the cash thing is rarer than it used to be 5+ years ago. I'm sure there are many vendors that still pay cash, but mine really formalized their business during the time I worked with them and everything was payroll/automated official by the time I stopped (for other reasons, day job became too much to also have a heavy side gig).

It was a great way to get to know a neighborhood and feel connected to the community. I made some great friends. And it was such a change from my desk job to do something physical and outdoors and learn about a completely different industry that was very mentally healthy for me. I may have left DC if I hadn't found this. I found it great for reasons beyond just extra pay.

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joebobjoebobjoebob12 t1_j6464ni wrote

The people I know were regulars at their local farmers markets and eventually they were asked by the operators of certain stalls if they were interested in picking up shifts. So I guess you could go to your local FM and ask around? Sorry that I can't be more helpful than that!

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NPRjunkieDC t1_j630xit wrote

Door Dash deliveries

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Aggravating-Name-914 OP t1_j632cov wrote

no car atm

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BansheeLoveTriangle t1_j63glf1 wrote

Can bike, just have to pick the right area and be selective (not the guy that accepts a delivery for a 20” pizza on a bike)

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ortsed t1_j644vx3 wrote

Biking avoids the wear and tear on the car, parking issues

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BansheeLoveTriangle t1_j645upo wrote

Traffic as well, last delivery on bike was pretty fast for me, beat the estimate by a ton

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NPRjunkieDC t1_j63394b wrote

My son made some good extra cash delivering on one of these. $70 in 2 hours , another time $40.

Inmotion V5 / V5F Electric Unicycle, Portable One Wheel for Beginners, 14" Pneumatic Tire Electric Scooters, More Exciting and Challenging Than Hoverboard https://a.co/d/882oA7Z

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Rugrats-theme-song t1_j637m3t wrote

Bouncer?

Security guard? But I think you need a license for this one

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NotaninternDC t1_j655jwi wrote

There are overnight security guards who sit in museums/offices. Highly recommend. Boring, bring a book

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uncheckablefilms t1_j640f9n wrote

OnlyFans/Certain Reddit forums.

Jk

Um, lots of local restaurants are looking for servers. Pretty much every one I walk by has a help wanted sign.

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k8freed t1_j64asi4 wrote

Moving support or furniture assembling? I've shelled out tons over the years for people who can lift and move heavy things/put together IKEA pieces that test my patience.

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MidnightSlinks t1_j64c49r wrote

IKEA has an official partnership with TaskRabbit these days, so that's where I'd partner with to do those kinds of jobs.

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ortsed t1_j6468zp wrote

Bike courier used to be a huge business in DC for law firms sending documents. Easy to join, mainly just commuting around k street offices. Paid more than food delivery. But i think its totally gone. But might be worth looking into.

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zi9g t1_j64ou9t wrote

I would imagine these services are less needed on wknds, if that's OP's only availability for gigs. Though I recognize lawyers work gross hours...

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iwaslikehey t1_j64aqxi wrote

You can try signing up for market research studies. I’ve done a few for Shugoll research

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MidnightSlinks t1_j64c0kb wrote

Heads up to OP that these are almost exclusively weekday evenings.

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Kappa113 t1_j64gac9 wrote

Can you expand on this. What type of things do you do, how much do they pay etc?

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iwaslikehey t1_j64l8ik wrote

It depends on the study. Pay can range from $50-$300 depending on how long the panel is. But usually most of these panels happen during weekday evenings.

The panel is usually a range of questions and then you discuss why you picked a certain answer etc.

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CPAMemes t1_j642nrg wrote

wash peoples cars

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Aggravating-Name-914 OP t1_j646kal wrote

ahh i forgot about this

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CPAMemes t1_j64fvcu wrote

buy a bucket, car soap, wash mitt, tire wheel brush, three MF Towels, spray wax, and MF Drying Towel. Detailing business right there. Same thing i did but i stopped since i got a full time job

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mmeeplechase t1_j64c663 wrote

Maybe the wrong season for it, but youth soccer refereeing can be a sorta fun way to be a little active and make some cash!

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NotaninternDC t1_j655wtv wrote

Youth sports in general-ref, coach, concessions. Indoor sports for winter

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M3L03Y t1_j64d6y4 wrote

When I was in college I worked my way up through the under-the-table ranks of a bar in AdMo. We employed a lot of guys from 8th/I and the Honor Guard as bouncers/doormen.

If you were to go to Adam’s Morgan tonight around 7:00-8:00 when things are not busy at all just go in and speak to a manager/someone acting like a manager and let them know you’re currently active duty.

Try Shenanigans and ask for Ted or Bobblehead*.

    • seriously. He won’t react to any other name.
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johnbburg t1_j65885p wrote

Sell old junk on Facebook/Nextdoor/Craigslist. Ask your friends/family if they are trying to get rid of anything, and try to sell it for them for a cut.

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Professional_Yam5208 t1_j640cyn wrote

Bartending. Check out Arlington Bartending School. Upon graduation they do job placement plus send weekend event gigs where someone is looking for bartenders for an evening

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lettuce-be-cereal t1_j64gcp0 wrote

As a longtime bartender in this city... if you're interested in working behind the bar, don't go to bartending school. It could be useful for picking up some basics if you have very little knowledge to begin with, but don't put it on your resume or bring it up in the interview. Instead, start as a server or barback and let management know that you're interested in working your way up. Much more practical experience, real people experience, and managers will take you seriously.

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jj3449 t1_j64d5zj wrote

It might be tough getting weekend shifts in the restaurant industry with no experience.

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lettuce-be-cereal t1_j64fq7n wrote

I'm not sure what the age requirement is for different places (18+ or 21+), but consider working as a bouncer or as a security guard at bars, nightclubs, or music venues.

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tsfliss16 t1_j64h646 wrote

If you don’t have an issue with needles, you could donate plasma. Believe you can go a couple times a week and it’s around $50 per session. Takes about an hour each time you go.

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johnbburg t1_j658em3 wrote

Wait, people get paid for that? I was donating to the Red Cross free for years.

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app_priori t1_j65daw3 wrote

Donating blood plasma is different than donating blood. Donating blood plasma is much more invasive and you do come out of each session a little fatigued. Blood plasma is typically used in scientific research and there's a shortage of it, hence why people are paid to donate.

Blood's much easier.

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johnbburg t1_j65i6hm wrote

I’m pretty sure I’ve donated plasma, it’s a much longer process, takes a couple of hours, and the let you watch a movie during it. It’s been a few years since I did it, but I was never paid.

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tsfliss16 t1_j65dtaj wrote

Huh I didn’t even know the RC took plasma donations (assuming you’re not talking about blood, like the other commenter mentioned). But yeah, you can sell your plasma to other companies.

The Red Cross does great work, though (I donate blood to them as much as I can), so it’s not like you were donating it to some shady company at least.

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johnbburg t1_j65ispo wrote

I'm pretty sure it was plasma, since I've done regular blood before as well, and the procedures are very different. Yeah, I couldn't keep up taking three hours out of every other weekend to donate after I had kids.

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CountDuFour t1_j64j94y wrote

It wouldn’t be immediate (have to get certified, etc.), but refereeing/officiating Youth or high school sports. I’ve heard volleyball pays the best.

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DesaturatedRainbow t1_j64p56b wrote

up reffing in volleyball is so stressful haha

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CountDuFour t1_j65ocg4 wrote

Haha. I haven’t done volleyball, so can’t say for sure. But I would guess the more scholarship and parent $$$ at stake, the higher the stress.

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z_drive_resonance t1_j64w0hj wrote

You and everyone around might hate this one but do some bullshit that looks good on an eval like voulnteering, become an amazing paper sailor (as we called it in the navy, someone who does a lot of extra bullshit but isnt necessarily good at their jobs) and speed up your promotions. I went from E1-E5 in 2 years and 1 month WITHOUT doing any of this and there are people around me who did it even faster. The pay difference in unbelievable. Most E5 make over 60k a year all pays considered, possibly more but rarely less, depending on BAH

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Grouchy_Speech5780 t1_j66mnek wrote

This might seem crazy but: receptionist! Lots of businesses get extra busy on the weekends. Receptionists make a decent amount of money in DC if you’re in a higher end store. Just look nice and walk in! It’s one of the last remaining jobs where walk in applications work

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MiniAceBoogie t1_j67bk5d wrote

I did rover and instacart (in store shopping only) for extra money to do the same thing you’re doing. It was intense there for a moment but mission accomplished. Good luck!

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