Let’s face it. We’re living in the gig economy now. For better or worse, picking up gig jobs is one of the best ways to make money on the side to keep up with bills.
If you’re struggling to come up with money, or just want a bit of extra jingle in your pocket, you could get into driving for ridesharing apps. Here’s what you need to know.
Driving for Ridesharing Apps
The Pros
There are some benefits to driving for a ridesharing app. For one thing, you don’t have to worry too much about scheduling. When you’ve got some free time to make some money, you can turn your app to “driving” mode and pick up some fares. Then, when payday comes, you get some extra cash in your pocket.
Another upside to this type of work is that you don’t have to directly deal with a boss or coworkers. If you’re like us, there’s something nice about not having to deal with a superior face-to-face. One of the most obnoxious aspects of normal jobs is dealing with petty drama brought on by coworkers and managers. Well, when you drive for Uber or Lyft, you only have to deal with fares.
Another big plus for driving for ridesharing is that you can still interact with people, just not as coworkers. There’s something nice about getting to talk to a bunch of different people and just experience a swath of the population of your city.
The Cons
As you’ve certainly heard or gathered, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are some distinct disadvantages to driving for a ridesharing app. Notably, drivers aren’t really considered full employees. If you rely solely on Uber or Lyft for your income, you’ll need to cover your own insurance and benefits.
Another drawback to this type of work is the amount of wear and tear it puts on your car. You need to have a relatively new car to drive for these services, and then you’re putting miles on it just to make fares. You’ve got to keep gas in it, pay for insurance and the like, all of which are considerable expenses.
Finally, some people like having coworkers or an office to go into work. Dealing with the public can be a lot, especially when you’re not a very social person. As such, ridesharing is for everyone. However, if you don’t mind these drawbacks, there’s some money to be made through driving for Uber or Lyft.