YOU ARE YOUR OWN RESOURCE

A few years ago I started reading finance books. To be honest, I had to. I’d gone through a separation and while I’d always been prudent with money, I suddenly felt that cold hard fear that I was now entirely responsible for myself.

What was surprising about those books is they all had one thing in common: each pointed out that if you wanted more money there was another option other than buying a lottery ticket. In short, you could earn it.

Whether taking on a second job or making use of the freelance gig economy, all the authors pointed out that seeking extra income was a worthwhile pursuit.

In recent years my industry has been digitally disrupted but I took the advice and started branching out beyond my usual contractors. I sent ideas, brainstormed new outlets and the great thing is I’ve earned a bit more money while also increasing my skill set and my contacts book.

It’s advice I recently gave my 19-year-old daughter as she was saving up to go overseas. She had a job working 35 hours a week but through Airtasker, she found other small jobs. At one stage she was earning $15 taking a weekly photograph of the avocado display at a local supermarket for a quality control company.

Plenty of teens I know earn money by hiring out their formal dresses and clutches on websites such as Rent a Dress. Likewise, I know plenty of baby boomers who have put their granny flats or spare rooms on Airbnb.

With statistics showing that seven per cent of working Australians are finding jobs through the gig economy this is a trend that’s only going to increase.

As Queensland University of Technology’s Paula Mcdonald said: “It’s possible now for a really wide variety of work to be undertaken through platforms from caring to writing and translation, to web design, computer programming, to odd jobs and maintenance and skilled trades work.”

For me, seeing myself as my greatest resource has not only improved my bank balance, it’s improved my confidence.