Just wondering if anyone has any ideas on how a non-EU person can make some extra money on the side, other than by teaching or by selling myself on the calles, that is.

Has anyone had any luck doing eBay auctions? I've been told that selling to Britain can be lucrative if you know what to sell.

What about computer programming? I'd love to be able to freelance and work at home but I doubt that is a reality. Shoot, even housekeeping just for a change of pace, even.

Just thought I'd ask.

Happy Holidays everyone,
jar

Jar.

I got this in an e-mail so maybe it will become another possibility:

quote:

The ESL Teachers Board is launching a new site for native English speakers who want to work in non-ESL positions overseas: Find Travel Jobs at http://www.findtraveljobs.com

You are welcome to post resumes and job offers for non-ESL positions in these fields: medical, technical, office, hotels, casinos, cruise ships, dive shops, excursions and others including teaching non-ESL topics. It's free.

For ESL jobs, please keep using the ESL Teachers Board http://www.eslteachersboard.com

Best wishes for the Holidays,

Sarah
The ESL Teachers Board
http://www.eslteachersboard.com
eslteachersboard1@gmail.com

I wish I could say DJing is an easy option, but it's been tough for me. Every once in a while something lucrative comes through, however.

I've had better luck as a writer (answered an ad in In-Madrid for a freelance writer and have gotten steady work for most of the year) and as an editor/translator for medical researchers who are trying to get their articles published in English language journals. I have a public health background which helps for that. I put up some home-made ads at a local hospital and got started with that. I think there is a similar need in other fields such as law and other sciences, dunno if that sort of thing would interest you? None of these has required EU citizenship.

There are possibilities!

great topic!

hmmmmm... i edited you $ to a € in the topic title since we b in europe girl!!!

the best way is to find a nich and run with it.
start your own thing!

ok, easier said than done but i really believe that the only way to get ahead here in spain (for both spaniards and foreigners) is to start ones own biz.

yes, you can do it as non-eu! Jar, your freelance programming comment brought me back to my beginnings here over 8 yrs ago (or is it 9, lose track).

i had a good client base when i was doing freelance web design. i marketed myself to the ex-pat business owners (a lot of language schools mostly). i figured designing websites for the academies was bettet than teaching for them so i started offering multilingual web designs, hosting and maintenance. it went pretty well. not sure why i stopped doing it, think it was because i found a better gig in the cell phone market.

by the way, i did all my freelance computer stuff without papers as non-eu. it was cash in hand then but not sure that would fly these days.

ebay: i sell some of my products on ebay.co.uk and they do well but i only do it in the slower months when normal sales are down (winter).

yes, if you find a good product (the hard part), ebay could be good.

saludos,
jer...

My backup plan was selling baked items, but now I'm so busy teaching I only bake when theres a reason, like friends birthdays, parties, etc. Or if I get a hankering for chocolate then I almost always have the supplies on hand to whip up a batch of choc. chip cookies or brownies (as Kara can attest to).
Yum!

I'm with Jer, find your niche, for me it was teaching english to children and now I'm turning people away because they all want the same hours. If you want childrens classes let me know. They all want between 5:30- 7 p.m. though.

Cheers,
Bonnie

If you have any building experience, you could always head for the Costas and ask around. There's been a lot of building/renovation work going off, and I've been told that it's easy in certain areas (where Brits are investing in properties) to get work.
Alternatively work in bars - Irish pubs in Madrid, expat bars on the costas.
Another idea is to approach those publishing companies that produce EFL material and see if they need any proof-readers, publicists, voice-over etc. It may be they already have enough contacts but at least you can speak to people who've been in Madrid a while and get more info. Similarly go to Language Schools and see if there's anything going. Some of them may use you to hand out flyers - potentially illegal but a way to earn your money.
Another option is to contact Dean on this board - he often had need of Sales type people in the past and may have some contacts.
Good luck, and let us all know if you come up with something.

quote:

Another option is to contact Dean on this board - he often had need of Sales type people in the past and may have some contacts.

nota bene: those were unpaid gigs

saludos,
jer...

Thanks for all the advice, y'all!

I shall spend my few remaining vacation days pondering my niche... I wonder if i can mix my inexplicable interest in Harry Potter w/ life in Spain..hmmmm.

Well, off to Dogmanay here in Edinburgh (yes, I said Dogmanay).

Happy New Year everyone!!

jar

hey jar.

maybe you can think of a nich related to the AMAZINGLY AWESOME anti-tabacco law that went into action today in spain.

i know you smoke but can't help but think there has to be ideas and money to be made out there related to smokers and/or non-smokers.

saludos,
jer...

p.d. by the way, did i mention the new law ROCKS!!! just had a lovely smoke-free meal at a great restaurant for ena an my 8th anniversary (of the day we met).