The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the world for a loop, and everyone has been left scrambling for a way to cope. People have lost jobs and opportunities that they still haven’t been able to replace, and businesses have had to make sacrifices or even shut their doors. The economy has suffered so much that moms have begun looking for ways to help support their families in any way they can. These days, moms have started turning to the gig economy to help supplement the family income. No matter if you plan on starting your own gig such as with mobile cleaning services or simply use the many apps available. There is no shortage of selections for moms who want to get to work right away, provided they meet the requirements. If you’re a mom that enjoys grocery shopping, you can work for apps like InstaCart, a grocery delivery service. To work for this service, you’ll need to be able to carry 40 pounds and have a reliable car. The company will provide you with a credit card to do the shopping with, then all you have to do is sign up for a timeslot. The app will ping you with an order. Then you’ll need to shop and deliver to the customer. Alternatively, you may choose to work for food delivery apps like Uber Eats, Door Dash, and Postmates. Working in food delivery can be easier since all you would have to do is pick up the food from the restaurant and deliver it to the customer. There’s also the option of working for ridesharing services like Uber or Lyft instead if you’d rather just drive people places. Driving for a ridesharing app can be somewhat easier since there are no orders to get wrong, and there’s no need for you to go shopping for your customer either.  

A Few Things to Remember

If you’ve decided that you want to try your hand at gig economy-type jobs, there are a few things you might have to look at a little closer. As easy as these jobs may seem to be, there can be a learning curve until you can figure out how to be the most profitable.

1. Get Comfortable with Doing the Math

When it comes to choosing which gigs you want to accept or decline, you’ll have to get comfortable with doing a little bit of math. A few factors go into whether a gig is profitable or not: the cost of your gas, the length of time you’ll spend driving, and how far you’ll need to drive. Sometimes, a gig may not be worth taking if driving to the location (often an unpaid endeavor) will take too much time, cost too much gas, or take you through an area with heavy traffic. Seet a minimum amount you’re willing to work for and do your best to stick within these boundaries.

2. Be Careful with Rejecting

There’s a delicate balance you’ll need to manage when you’re choosing which gigs to accept or reject. Although you can reject gigs when they come in through the app, it’s not always advisable to do since some apps can penalize you if you decline too many gigs. Most of the time, unless a gig will really be unprofitable or even cost you money, it’s a good idea to accept.

3. Look Closely at Grocery Orders

If you choose to work for InstaCart, it might be a good idea to look closer into orders before you accept. In some cases, you might end up with massive loads you may struggle to carry alone, such as multiple cases of water or canned beverages.

There May Be Hidden Costs

When you start working for gig apps, you might find yourself running into some surprise expenses. Regular maintenance and repairs on your vehicle may end up costing you money since the daily use of your car can cause wear and tear, and accidents can cost you even more money. You can protect yourself from sudden expenses by having the right insurance policies. Some gig apps don’t provide insurance policies to their drivers, so you’ll have to find your own. Although there are some options for cheap insurance, as an independent contractor, you may need your own individual policy instead. This is just something to keep in mind and look out for as you decide which app you wish to work with!