ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Many workers are thinking up creative ways to earn extra money with second jobs.

Neil McKinnon is smiling because he has the best of both worlds. He works at an insurance company, but he has taken on a second job renting out photo booths to make more money.

"My employers are great, but just to supplement my income in this economy, you know, to buy a house and to have kids and pay for their education, I just need to do something a little bit extra," he said.

More than 7 million Americans work second jobs to help make ends meet.

Two local Internet technology workers have turned into handymen on the side.

Peter Laitin and Peter Zalewski said they didn't want two desk jobs, so they created a handyman landscape business called "Man 4 A Day"

Zalewski works full time. Laitin is between government contracts but needs to keep food on the table.

"Business has been trickling in, because, again, I'm doing a lot of interviewing on the side, so it gives me flexibility, and Peter has a job, but he likes to do this stuff on weekends and the evenings, and the flexibility is there for us," said Laitin.

Career counselor Melissa Fireman said that when it comes to taking on a second job or a second career, flexibility and passion are important ingredients.

"Making sure this is really something that you love, something you're passionate about," Firemen said. "Being a business owner myself, I can say you live and breathe what you do."

McKinnon said he is excited about the opportunities his photo business presents.

"I see this as my future," he said. "This is something I want to build for my wife and my family so one day they don't have to work."

Zalewski and Laitin envision a whole new business of doing odd jobs born out of financial necessity.

"It's one of those things. When you need money, you're willing to do whatever it is," said Zalewski. "It's finding what people don't want to do and going out there and doing it."