How can you be Frugal and Still Make Money on the Side When you are Sick?
If you get sick, how will you manage?
Time off work, medical bills, inability to do your usual frugal habits all add up.
We aren’t talking about a few days of basic illness, although that can upset things enough for many.
What if you were sick or injured for a long period of time?
How would you and your household manage?
Disclosure – this post may contain affiliate links.
How to Make Money on the Side When Sick
Depending on your illness, requirements for health etc you might not be able to make as much on the side as normal.
Or you might not be able to do some of the things you planned.
Also, you could be required to do nothing and simply rest.
What you do is up to you but be sure to follow medical advice and only do what you are capable of doing.
Be realistic
Before deciding what to do or committing to too much, be realistic about what you are capable of doing.
Online Surveys
They get a bad rap but for most people, even if bedridden, you can do some surveys.
You can read a full review of the best online survey sites for Aussies to see which to use and which to avoid.
Online surveys also work well as they can be done any time from anywhere.
You don’t have the pressure of dealing with clients (compared to being a freelance writer or virtual assistant for example).
Cash Back
Not technically earning but since you are likely ordering online now, cash back can help.
Shopback: Join Shopback for free and get a bonus after your first purchase. Get even more cash by doing online surveys, joining challenges, uploading receipts and utilising upsized cash back offers.
Honey: Slightly different, Honey offers cash back but also scans for discounts and coupon codes. Join Honey for free here.
Swagbucks: Best known as an online survey site, they also have a cash back program with the cash being awarded in points you accrue and cash out. Join free here.
Remote Work
If you are up to it, there is plenty of remote work. Some ideas include how to become a freelance writer, how to be a virtual assistant or 19 ways I’ve made money from home and remotely.
Rent Stuff
Can you rent out your garage if you aren’t using it? Whether it is your garage, a garden shed, caravan, baby gear, tools or similar, so many things can be rented with little effort from you.
Bank Bonuses
ING offer $100 to new customers with a few steps, Up Bank offers $15 instantly, and uBank offers $10 to $30.
How to be Frugal When Sick
Menu planning, cooking in bulk, shopping around etc are all easier when you have your health.
Firstly, check out this article about how to afford medical expenses when you are on a low income or Centrelink.
Go Easy On Yourself
You are sick which makes it much harder and some expenses go up.
Compare All Your Expenses
Read how to do an annual financial review and what you can do to save money.
How we reduced our expenses by $18,790 last year is also a good read.
Sign up for Birthday and Other Freebies
There are so many out there but you need to be signed up at least a month before your birthday for most of them.
We’ve got a huge list of Aussie birthday freebies you can check out.
Also, another list of freebies, in general, can be found here.
Enter Competitions
You never know what you might win. We’ve entered quite a few lately and while we haven’t won much recently, previously, we won an Airfryer and friends have won cars, holidays etc.
Find the best Aussie comps and giveaways here.
Review VIP/Loyalty Programs
Check all the programs you are a member of and see what discounts, cash out or bonuses you have sitting there to use.
You might be surprised and have a few which can save you money right now. There is a list of VIP/loyalty programs here.
Get Those Discounts
We’ve already discussed cashback and reward programs. But there are more ways to get discounts and coupons in Australia.
Read this to find out how to get coupons and discounts then check out this to find out how to get a discount on everything.
Get up to $200 off with HelloFresh, spread across your first 6 boxes for new and returning customers. Conditions apply.
Get easy meals from $2.19 per plate with this discount from EveryPlate.
45% off your first box with Marley Spoon and further discounts.
Up to $140 off Dinnerly, spread across your first few boxes.
Use The Time Wisely
If you are stuck in bed or sick, depending on what is wrong there might be ways you can use the time to grow in other ways.
For example, read books, listen to podcasts, connect with friends and family through email etc.
Books We Recommend
If you can’t do much, why not read or listen to books? I prefer to read actual books but when I can’t, the Kindle app is great plus if you search low to high in terms of pricing you can get heaps free. Other people prefer Audible.
12 books to improve your life in 2026
12 books to improve your wealth in 2024
52 books I am reading in 2021 here.
Specific Health Matters
When you are sick, especially if it is a chronic illness or something you have for a while, it can be easy to neglect your overall health.
Here are a few tips to help.
Nutrition
Grabbing junk, ordering takeaway or eating empty calories is easily done when we are sick but it won’t help us get better.
Remember to focus on your nutrition and eating as healthily as you can while sick to help your body heal.
Speak to your doctor or a nutritionist/dietician for specifics based on your condition.
Exercise
Depending on your condition, there may be some simple exercises you can do such as walking, Tai Chi, yoga etc.
Always check with your health practitioner as you don’t want to make anything worse.
Where possible and approved by your doctor or specialist, keeping up some simple exercises can help with recovery and prevent other health issues.
Your doctor will be able to refer you to the right specialist based on your condition.
Community
Stay connected to your community. You might not be able to get out and about as much as possible but staying connected and keeping your spirits up can help with getting better.
Having people visit where possible, doing video calls, messaging, connecting in any way you can helps.
If your condition allows you to volunteer or continue with some of your usual hobbies and events, try to do what you can.
Obviously, if you are contagious, that is not an option and please don’t go out or spread it so look for alternatives to in-person connection.
Anything that isn’t contagious though, do what you can to stay connected to your community in-person as well as through phone, video etc.
Mental Health
Be sure to take care of your mental health as well as your physical health.
Eating well, exercising and keeping connections are all important, therapy can help too.
Sometimes we need to talk things through with someone, reframe what is going on and see it from a different perspective or simply have support from a mental health professional.
It takes courage to get help for your mental health so don’t be afraid to reach out to someone.
You can also keep your mind focused with books and podcasts as, mentioned above, games designed for your brain, crossword puzzles etc.
Laying around doing nothing but watching shows will negatively impact your mental and physical health and make recovery harder.
Look at what you can do to keep your mental state healthy.
Dental Health
When managing health and wealth during illness, it’s crucial not to overlook dental health, particularly if your condition affects your oral well-being or your confidence in your smile.
Conditions such as chronic illnesses or even certain medications can impact your teeth, leading to discolouration or other dental issues.
Take It Easy
The most important thing you can do is focus on recovery.
While the above outlines things you can do and tips, it is extremely important you do whatever you need to for your health.
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Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for help with meals, child care, housework etc.
So true! People generally want to help but they don’t always know what to do.