Seasonal work

This work shows up at the same time each year and then stops. It pays well for a short run, and you plan around the end date from day one.

3 gigs.

Gigs that match

• Hang Holiday Lights on Your Own

  Priced by the foot or job

  You clip string lights to a roofline or wrap them on a tree for a homeowner. After the season, you take them down. You set your own price by the job. Nobody publishes what a self-employed installer takes home. You need a tall ladder and a plan for cold, wet roofs.

  • Car needed
  • On your feet
  • Phone helps
  • Over $200 to start

  First money: You can get paid the same day you finish a job. That needs a ladder and a first customer.

• Shovel Snow on Your Own

  Per visit, storm, or season

  You shovel snow and clear walks and steps for customers you find yourself. No company or app sits between you and them. A job is priced by visit, hour, inch of snow, storm, or the whole season. No one publishes what a self-employed shoveller takes home. This only works where real snow falls.

  • On your feet
  • Car helps
  • Phone helps
  • Under $50 to start

  First money: No waiting period. Once you own a shovel and a storm hits, you can get paid the same day. In months with no snow, there is no work.

• Work the Polls on Election Day

  $75-300 a day

  For one election day.

  You help run a polling place for one long day. Pay is set by your state or county, not by any national rule. In the places we checked it ran from $75 to $300 for the day.

  • Car helps
  • Some standing
  • No computer needed
  • In person

  First money: 3-6 weeks after the election, in the two counties that say.

All gigs and filters or how we check things.