Side income ideas that helped me transition from pharma into a full time traveller
I’ve been reading posts here for some time and noticed many folks struggling financially. After spending most of my career in Pharma, I recently began traveling with my wife and needed ways to support our new lifestyle. Below are some side gigs I’ve taken on to keep our finances steady while exploring new places. Hopefully, these spark ideas for some of y’all!
- Freelance pharmaceutical consulting, mainly editing reports for smaller companies. It’s familiar work but intermittent ($50/hr when available). This is probably specific to people in pharma though (but might be applicable to other industries?)
- Uploading POV GoPro footage to scalerecord.com. I record hikes, city walks, or scenic bike rides and sell the clips. It’s straightforward and pays ~$40-$60 per clip, depending on quality. This has honestly been a great experience so far!
- Bartending at tourist-heavy venues. I worked at a coastal bar in Portugal for a few weeks ($15/hr plus tips if you can speak english + portugeuse). Basic bartending skills suffice, and the atmosphere is lively. I’m going to Bali in a couple of weeks and want to do this here too!
- Renting out unused camera equipment through platforms like Sharegrid when we’re home ($100-$200/month, depending on demand).
- TaskRabbit odd jobs, like furniture assembly for new residents in cities we visit ($15-$25/hr). Work varies but keeps things flexible, and it is fun to talk to folks from a bunch of places .
- Selling odd conference things (pens, notepads, etc.) on eBay. It’s minor, but I cleared $150 last month from leftover office items.
I don’t do all these simultaneously, but they’ve allowed us to travel without draining our savings (too much). Lmk if helpful!
Posted Aug 7, 2025, 12:54 AM UTC
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