The Furlough Flip – Turning Free Time into Immediate Five Figures
Furloughed = paid vacation with a delay. Treat it like a startup sprint.
Week 1: Teach what only you know
Record a 3-hour “How to Respond to a DoD Sources Sought in 2024” course → sell on Gumroad for $499 (100 sales = $50k)
Run in-person DAWIA / FAC-COR bootcamps on weekends ($1,500–$2,500 per student, 15 students = $30k weekend)
Week 2: Harvest your clearance
List yourself on ClearanceJobs with the tagline “Shutdown Special – Can start tomorrow.” Contractors are panic-hiring because their cleared staff just got furloughed too. Average offer: $20k–$50k sign-on bonus just to show up.
Week 3: Liquidate government perks
Sell your unused transit benefits (SmartTrip loaded with $300+/month) on Craigslist
Rent out your POV parking spot downtown (many agencies still require you to pay even when furloughed) — $300–$600/month easy
Flip leftover office furniture you “borrowed” years ago
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