It is well-known that cost of living is high in Singapore. Research has shown that Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live, in ahead of Paris, Zurich, and Hong Kong.
The city-state is the most expensive place to buy and run a car thanks to the Certificate Of Entitlement (COE) which can go up to S$50,000. Clothing, housing, food, internet, domestic help and education all come with a huge price tag. Working adults spend a large part of their income on food, clothing, housing and parents rush to give their children expensive tuition and the best resources. Even a bottle of wine that costs $11.90 in Paris costs $23.68 here.
Although the latest statistics from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in November 2018 saw a rise in the median income to S$4,400, most Singaporeans still find themselves needing to supplement their incomes to make ends meet.
Below are some of the most popular jobs Singaporeans who work full-time are engaging in to make some extra cash every month.
1. Private Tuition
Singaporeans are making money on the side as private tutors in subjects they are experts in or in subjects that they have good grades in. According to a recent survey conducted by The Strait Times in conjunction with Nexus Link, 7 in 10 Singaporean parents take their children for private tuition. With Singaporeans’ kiasu mentality, parents definitely do not want their children to lose out in school. They want their children to be able to keep up with their peers and score better at national exams. Getting into better schools such as Hwa Chong Institution, Raffles Institution or Nanyang Girls’ High School is a must for many parents.
Education is a lucrative industry in Singapore. Studies have shown that the median monthly amount parents are spending on tuition for secondary school is S$260, for primary school is S$205, and for pre-school tuition is S$155. The amount could be higher depending on the number of subjects and sessions. Tutors making an average of S$25 each hour. With a single student and two 2-hour sessions per week, this translates to a cool S$200.
There are several sites that prospective tutors use to find students close to where they live, some of the popular platforms are TuitionPortal.sg and Smile Tutor in Singapore. Word of mouth also remains one of the most effective ways of getting students for private tuition. If a student finds your tutoring effective, they and their parents may share your contact with their classmates and friends, bringing more students for you.
2. Freelance Services
With the growing gig economy and technology, Singaporeans are offering freelance services in large numbers today. The most common websites they are using for this are:
- Upwork
- Freelancer
- Hubstaff Talent
- AsiaWriter
- Fiverr
- ZomWork
- PeoplePerHour
The different websites offer freelance opportunities in different fields. As an example, Freelancer is ideal for those looking for freelance opportunities like branding & advertising, education and tutoring, cloud computing, web design, SEO, graphic design, translation, Java programing, PPC (Google Adwords), and software architecture among others. On the other hand, AsiaWriter is dedicated to those who want to do translation, resume writing, and copywriting.
Joining some of these sites is free of charge while some require interested freelancers to pay a monthly membership fee. Some are open to everybody while some only admit people who meet certain criteria or have certain certificates.
3. Selling/ Renting Items Online
The guitar that’s been sitting at the corner for ages or clothes that you no longer wear. Used items, goods that you’ve bought but do not like or things that have been sitting around collecting dust for ages. You could sell them on platforms such as eBay and Carousell! Sale of old books, music instruments, tools and clothes are commonly seen on these platforms. For craft supplies, vintage crafts, accessories and clothes, you can set up an account on Etsy.com. You could also lease items out on such peer-to-peer online renting portals such as Renttycoons.com. Selling or renting your items not only brings in extra income, but also clears up space for better and newer items.
4. Blogging
Blogging has come a long way over the past few years in Singapore and indeed across the world. Popular blogs in Singapore are Daniel Food Diary, Lady Iron Chef, Miss Tam Chiak and Pale Division. Some of the blogs are so popular that their thousands of followers make daily visits.
Starting a blog is free of charge. However, to make money, bloggers need to pick an idea they are passionate about and create quality, interesting content regularly. Bloggers stand to make money from promotion of affiliate products, selling ad space, offering services (like catering in a food blog), writing sponsored posts, teaching online courses, hosting sponsored giveaways and contests, and offering consulting services, among others.
5. Pet Sitting & Pet Walking
Attention all animal lovers! Walk a few dogs during breaks or take care of animals while their owners are overseas to make extra income, all while enjoying the company of the lovable furballs! Pet sitters get to make money while having fun at the same time. Pet walking can make one around S$15 per hour while pet sitters usually make between S$10 to S$45. People also offer their homes for dog boarding to make money. Interested pet sitters or walkers can register on platforms such as Pawshake.
6. Babysitting
Singapore is a very vibrant city with people always on the move, be it for business purposes or for entertainment. As everyone is so busy, parents might not be able to look after their children all the time. Parents, especially young couples prefer to seek the help of babysitters to care for their kids. Babysitters in Singapore make around S$25 per hour, which adds up to a lot of money since parents usually go out for several hours each babysitting session.
7. Online Surveys
Participation in online surveys is a quick and easy way to make money in Singapore. This does not require major skills or effort. Sites like Toluna, AIP Online Surveys, and Your Voice pay people to give their opinions, mostly in the form of points that can be redeemed for vouchers or gift cards.
8. Selling Homemade Food
If you love to cook or bake, then this job might be just right for you to make extra money. Foodies can monetize their skills and use their recipes to make pies, brownies, noodles, and other foods to sell. Homemade cookies, cakes and lunches are popular in Singapore and one will be able to make a sizable amount. Most home bakers or cooks would sell their food to friends and get more business through word of mouth. Some will also choose to build their own website to reach a greater audience.
9. Running Errands
Singaporeans are usually very busy with many lacking time to run errands. This presents an opportunity to make money running errands. Errands like grocery shopping and picking kids from school pay handsomely and are great for people looking for low commitment jobs. Simply work whenever you are free or when it is convenient for you while bringing in extra income.
All In All
With the high cost of living in Singapore, it is normal for many Singaporeans and foreigners to look for extra income while having a full-time job. Sometimes, we just need a little more cash to get by or for financial emergencies. If you are in a financial pinch and require urgent help, U Credit offers quick loans to help you tide through this tough period. U Credit provides loans of low interest rates and we are able to approve of the loan within 24 hours, should all the necessary documents be provided. Speak to us today!
