I am becoming an Uber driver this week. My town, Portland, is one of the last major cities in the US to get Uber and Lyft, thanks to stringent cab laws here. I run a small business with my husband, part time, and am also a part time stay home mom. My daughter is now a teen and my business is pretty stable, so I need something to keep me occupied during my free time.

I have tried affiliate marketing, house flipping and selling on eBay. Those home businesses all were OK but each had problems that left me wanting to try something else. Uber offers the flexibility I want; I can work when I want and as often as I want, as long as I complete one trip per month.