If you think there are no other ways of making alternative income in Bhutan and you are suffering to make ends meet, probably you must have not gone out of your house and walked beyond your backyard lawn. If you really try to read things around you, there are many sources from which you can make good alternative income.
So today I have come up with a list of methods through which you can make good side income. There may be more. But I don't want to explain things I haven't experienced. So this list shall be a list of genuine alternative income making methods.
#1 RICBL Sales Executive Membership
You must have heard this before. There are 2000 plus Bhutanese working as part time Sales Executives with RICBL. It’s a commission based. You will be paid depending on the number of people you have helped in getting insured – just like referrals of any blog monetization program.
If you can insure more people, higher will be your commission. It’s very much simple. But they have different commission rates for different insurance policies. However it guarantees a continued income. Once a person you have recommended gets insured, you’ll be receiving commission until his policy gets matured.
I am also one such Sales Executive. I have attended training conducted by RICBL sometimes in 2014 and got certified. Till now, I have insured around 24 people (mostly my relatives and friends) fetching me monthly commission of Nu.3,500 per month. If I can insure more people, my commission will increase.
Since this provides an opportunity of making good money, some of my friends have resigned from their jobs and are into doing full time Sales Executives. They are earning as high as Nu.80,000 commission in a month.
#2 Freelance Tourist Guides
If you know how to communicate in Chinese, Japanese, Thai or Korean languages, you’ll get part time job as local tourists’ guide to guide tourists from those countries in and around Thimphu/Paro during weekends.
My office colleague Singye earns more than USD 100 per day by doing part time guide during weekends and government holidays. He has studied his bachelor degree in Japan and knows Japanese language well.
#3 Tuition Works
In town there is always one or two parents who want their children undergo tuition after school or during weekends. You can take one or two from your neighborhood and start the tuition in the subject where your capabilities lie. If you can do well, you will get more number of tutees in coming days thereby increasing your side income.
But it’s quite cumbersome. You have to study before tuition, prepare lesson plans and collect study materials to deliver valuable tuition. It’s best for teachers.
#4 Accounts Preparation
If you are good in book keeping, accounts preparation or Bhutanese tax computation policies, there will be someone who would love to have you handling their commercial works’ accounts. You can target travel agents. There are many travel agents who scratch their heads during annual BIT and PIT filing. You can grasp such opportunities.
You must know some people who are into such line of business. If you don’t, it’s never too early to start building relationship. My friend earns more than Nu.15,000 in a month out of handling accounts of petty businesses in and around Thimphu.
#5 Web Designing Works
If you have studied computer science, BCA or knows web designings and wants to make some alternative income, you can design websites and sell. You can focus travel agents.
They won’t look much into technicalities and professionalism. Many of my friends who are making side income from such works are just customizing WordPress themes and delivering to them. It’s not very difficult.
#6 Blogging & Affiliate Marketing
If you have a good blog with unique contents and good number of visitors, then you can start integrating it with various content monetization programs.
You can sign up with
Google Adsense,
VigLink,
Bidvertiser,
InFolinks and more to start earning some extra income out of your blog/website. You can read my recommended
blog monetization programs for Bhutanese.
#7 Facebook Group/Page Maintenance
I am sure you must have come across the second hand stuffs trading group in Facebook. I am not talking about other copied versions of Passang Passu Tshering’s Facebook group. I am talking about
B-bay founded by
Passu Diary.
If you ask Passang Tshering on how much and how he earns from this group, you’ll get convinced that Facebook too can be a source of alternative income. But you must have good number of members or followers in page/group you can access.
#8 Website Contents Writing
Some travel agents are paying to update their websites with tourism related updates and happenings on regular basis. If you have good command in English and online marketing skills, you will surely get one or two travel agents who will be willing to pay for your services.
It’s not only travel agents, some new firms will also offer you with money to write reviews of their products or services to penetrate market.
#9 Freelance Photographer
Just like people of other countries, more and more Bhutanese people are becoming but who love being photographed in good dresses and during special occasions.
If you have passion in photography and also own good camera and accessories, people who want to photograph family photos, banner photos, ads photos, cover photos, content photos, album and visual are many.
#10 Other Sources
There are also many genuine ways of making alternative income in Bhutan. If you are passionate of paintings, drawings, wood carving, you can also make good side income during weekends. Your passion will remain lit as well as you will get paid.
Some of my friends are also making side income by selling cars or land plots of others for agreed rate of commission.
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However, it doesn't mean that I am encouraging you to remain materialistic and go after money all the time. You should also give time for your children, parents, loved ones and friends. Money is not everything.
