When money gets tight, a second job may be helpful to make ends meet. But sometimes, that extra work can put a strain on family life and your free time.

Many people are now turning to direct selling to earn extra cash; and it's not just your old-fashioned Tupperware parties anymore.

When you put good food and friends together, you've got a party. But for Jenna Beebe, it's also a good business opportunity for direct selling.

"I like to try to do one or two parties a week," says Jenna. "I've kind of slowed down a little bit lately, but because I want to. That's a convenience of doing a business like this."

Jenna's husband works and she's a stay at home mom of two with one more on the way. She sells food preparation items from a company called Tastefully Simple.

"This was definitely an opportunity for me to get out of the house and also make a little extra money. So I don't go insane cause I'm a stay at home mom other than that," says Jenna.

Jenni Nunemaker is a direct seller for a company called Scentsy. The fragrant waxes and warmers help her make a couple hundred dollars extra a month.

"It just supplements," says Jenni. "Just gives me a little extra play money. Pay the car payment pay bills."

Jenni has a full time job and at one time was working a second job that she didn't like.
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"It's very helpful," Jenni says. "I'm not as stressed. I'm much happier than I was when I was working the second job, because I'm able to do what I want now. And I'm having fun doing it."

Lots of women feel the same way. In fact, according to the direct selling association, 80 percent of U.S. direct sellers are women. They like the flexibility and the social life, but in tough times, experts say it's the money that draws people in.

"The entrepreneurial spirit soars during times of recession," says Christine Pochert, associate professor at IUSB. "So as unemployment goes up, so does entrepreneurship, home based businesses, more people doing things out of their homes that they may not have had the time to do."

Christine teaches an entrepreneur and small business development class at IUSB. Before starting with direct selling, she advises people to do their homework and don't expect to get rich.

"People have this fantasy, 'I'm going be my own boss and make a million dollars.' That doesn't always happen," says Christine. "You're going to work hard, and you might be very profitable, but you should do your background checks, do your homework."

For these women, it's worked out well. They're making sales and having fun.

"It's not a party where you have to sit and watch a big show. It's a really interactive party," says Jenna.

"It's not as hard as I thought it was going to be," says Jenni. "People are getting to know Scentsy. They know they like it, so, they make the time and the money for it."

If you'd like to look at a list of direct sales companies, we have the Direct Selling Association website link on the Big Red Bar.

And by the way, we have an update on Jenna, the first woman featured in our story. She recently gave birth to a baby boy, and she's taking a short break from direct selling, but she says she'll be back soon.