The post 25 Best Side Hustles for Single Moms appeared first on Millennial Money.
A man is not a financial plan. And even as a mom, you certainly don’t need a man to bring home the bacon!
Even if you’re working full-time and raising kids, you can bring in extra income for you and your family by starting a side hustle.
This article discusses the 25 best side hustles for single moms, including how to get one started and why you absolutely should.
Best side hustles for single moms to make money
There are so many different side hustles out there that it can seem overwhelming to start. We’ve narrowed it down to the best 25 side hustles to consider.
- Work as a virtual assistant
- Become a social media manager
- Sell your designs on Amazon Merch or Etsy
- Teach English
- Sell unwanted items
- Care for pets
- Be a freelance writer or designer
- Rent out your space on Airbnb
- Rent your car on Turo
- Translate
- Transcribe audio
- Provide customer service
- Babysit
- Clean houses
- Invest
- Plan events
- Wholesale real estate
- Run a neighborhood garden
- Provide IT support
- Model fashion or makeup accessories
- Try peer-to-peer lending
- Shop for groceries with Instacart
- Drive for Uber or Lyft
- Bartend
- Take surveys online
1. Work as a virtual assistant
There is currently heavy demand for people with great communication skills to work as virtual assistants.
Virtual assistants provide a range of services, from scheduling meetings and answering phones to sending emails and coordinating interviews.
Working as a virtual assistant is great because you can do it from your own home. If you do a good job, you can receive steady pay. And oftentimes, the work is flexible enough to do as a side hustle.
At the same time, working as a virtual assistant can expose you to people who can potentially advance your career or help you get more work. You can also learn great new skills working as a virtual assistant and use those skills to get better-paying jobs.
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2. Become a social media manager
If you’re the type of person who commands attention with your social media posts and also knows how to attract followers and build an online presence, it might be time to try your hand at becoming a freelance social media manager.
Suffice it to say that these skills are in high demand. You can work with local small business owners that need to bolster their social media presence and drum up business online. You can also visit sites like Fiverr or Upwork for the chance to work with companies around the world.
3. Sell your designs on Amazon Merch or Etsy
Maybe you like to draw and make art but you don’t want to go through the hassle of putting your designs onto shirts, hats, or mugs. That part of the process is expensive, difficult, and time-consuming. Worse, it often results in having excess stock sitting on hand, making your house feel more like a factory full of boxes than a home.
Instead, check out sites like Amazon Merch and Etsy, which let you sell your designs for money. Simply upload your image, and if someone is interested, you get paid. This makes it easy and painless to sell your artwork.
4. Teach English
From older working professionals to young students, the internet is full of people trying to learn English.
You could bring in some money on the side in a flexible way by working for a site like VIPKid. To work for most sites, you’ll need a TESOL/TEFL certificate, a computer, and an internet connection. Some sites also require a college degree.
Teaching English requires a lot of patience and an ability to communicate well with others. If you possess these skills, you could make a lot of money helping others improve their English capabilities. You’ll also meet all sorts of interesting people, making the job fun and rewarding.
One of the coolest parts about working as an English teacher online is that you never know who you’ll work with. The person you teach English one day could grow up to become a successful CEO, a world-famous celebrity, or a doctor who saves lives every day.
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5. Sell unwanted items
If you have kids, you probably have a lot of items around the house you don’t use anymore: from old televisions to toys, games, and DVDs.
You can sell your old items on sites like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Nextdoor. You can also head over to Decluttr, a site that specializes in selling unwanted tech and media.
Decluttr covers shipping costs, and they’ll send a box right to your door. As an added bonus, Decluttr wipes old electronics of any data so that they can be safely recycled or resold in their online marketplace, giving you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your private data is protected.
6. Care for pets
It doesn’t matter what kind of animal it is—dogs, cats, horses, snakes, rabbits—if it has a heartbeat, you’ll care for it.
If this describes you, then you should consider working with animals as a side hustle. You can make a lot of money on the side by walking dogs, pet sitting, playing with cats, or even tending to livestock like chickens, pigs, cows, horses, or goats. If you don’t know where to start, check out sites like Rover.
Caring for pets can be very rewarding and something you can usually work into your schedule for flexibility.
If you have space, you may even be able to have people drop their pets off at your home in the morning and pick them up at night. Most pet owners would be glad to have the help.
You can also make extra money by offering grooming services if you’re ambitious. Just make sure to check with your local government before offering this type of service in case any licensing or certification is needed.
7. Be a freelance writer or designer
Freelancing as a blogger or graphic designer may look easy. But it can actually be pretty challenging. You need impeccable skills, and the job often requires working late nights or on weekends.
If you really need the money, consider giving freelancing blogging or graphic design a shot. But just be wary that freelance writing and graphic design are highly competitive industries, and companies are able to hire talent from around the world.
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8. Rent out your space on Airbnb
This one might be more challenging for single moms with multiple kids. But if you have the room, consider renting your space on Airbnb to bring in extra cash.
This may involve bringing your kids to stay at a friend’s house or relative’s place while someone uses your space. Or you may have enough room in a large house and can afford to rent out a bedroom.
Renting your space on Airbnb may feel a bit invasive at first. But it can actually be a great way to bring in extra cash while meeting interesting people.
If you do this at least once a month, you can generate cash to make rent easier or pay down your mortgage faster.
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9. Rent your car on Turo
It may be easier to rent your car during the day than with your house or apartment. If you have a vehicle you’re not using, head over to Turo and put your vehicle up for rent.
This is an excellent option for people with large cars like trucks, vans, or SUVs. You’ll have full visibility into the person renting your car, and the site also offers insurance to protect your property.
Putting your vehicle on Turo is one way to pay for gas, car payments, and maintenance.
And the best part is it requires absolutely no work on your part other than transferring the keys and keeping your vehicle clean, safe, and presentable.
10. Translate
Opportunities abound for people proficient in other languages.
If you are skilled in a popular language like Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, or Portuguese, you should strongly consider heading over to a site like Translate.com and looking for companies willing to pay someone to translate for them.
Translating text and audio is fun and easy if you’re fluent. Plus, it’s a solid way to keep your language skills sharp if you’re primarily speaking English every day.
11. Transcribe audio
You don’t have to know another language to make money transcribing. You can also make decent side money by taking audio and video files and turning them into text documents.
For example, this may include working with podcasts, client interviews, marketing videos, or even phone calls. Companies often use transcription services, but they’re expensive and don’t always do an accurate job.
If you have a great ear and the patience to sit through a recording for half an hour to an hour at a time, you should consider looking into transcribing.
12. Provide customer service
In the past, you typically had to go to a call center to provide customer service. But today, you can do it right from your living room.
In fact, many companies across the world are now outsourcing customer service positions to home workers.
These types of jobs tend to be in the highest demand around the holidays when there is a large influx of customers dialing in with questions. However, you can find customer service jobs year-round.
One thing to keep in mind is that these jobs tend to be highly driven by analytics, and you usually have to stick to a script or a list of best practices… especially when working in highly regulated fields like finance or healthcare.
However, if you have good people skills and an ability to help people solve problems and work through challenges, this type of job could be a good fit as a side hustle.
13. Babysit
As a single mom, you’re already caring for kids of your own. Consider scaling your childcare by offering daycare services to a couple of other parents, too.
To make it easier, you can even partner with another local mom or two in your neighborhood and take turns watching the little ones.
For people who enjoy spending time with kids, babysitting is the perfect side hustle. You get to teach kids new things, watch movies, and play. There’s also nap time to give you a much-needed breather!
If you decide to become a babysitter, you’ll get paid to do things around the house that you normally would while keeping the kids safe and out of trouble.
Head over to Care.com to find sitter jobs or ask around your network to find people looking for support with their kids.
This could be a great money-maker while lots of people are working from home and struggling to get their work done because their kids are running around the house.
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14. Clean houses
Cleaning houses isn’t the most glamorous work. But sometimes it’s just about making ends meet and providing a valuable service.
When cleaning houses, you can either bring your own supplies or use your clients’ supplies. You’ll work this out with individual customers, who will have their own preferences about the products and materials you use.
If you’re good at cleaning and do a thorough and consistent job, you can potentially start your own business and land steady pay as a cleaner.
15. Invest
The more you work, the more your money will pile up. You can generate even more by putting it into investment accounts and collecting passive income.
Consider opening a brokerage account for short-term investing and a retirement account for long-term, tax-advantaged investing. If you make wise investments, your money can potentially double or even triple over time—perhaps to the point you no longer even need a side hustle!
Investing doesn’t take a lot of time out of your day, making it a great side hustle for busy working moms.
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16. Plan events
Busy working professionals often don’t have the time or expertise to plan large-scale events like weddings. Instead, they often hire private consultants to manage the process for them.
If you have experience planning weddings, consider offering your services to friends and family members or people in your community. This requires having a great eye for design, bargaining skills, and lots of organization.
At the same time, if you’re a natural, it’s something you can do from your kitchen table.
17. Wholesale real estate
Selling real estate requires having a license or certification. However, you don’t need one to sell real estate wholesale.
In a wholesale real estate transaction, you find sellers and help them locate buyers. Then you act as a liaison, negotiating the price and helping work out a deal. In the end, you get a cut of the commission. Not a bad way to earn cash if you’re good at bringing people together.
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18. Run a neighborhood garden
If you have a nice plot of land, you may want to consider starting a community garden for your neighbors. Plant seeds, grow vegetables, and either sell them to your neighbors or ask people for donations. Seeds don’t cost much, and after the initial setup, a small garden won’t require a lot of maintenance.
As an added bonus, gardening can be a fun and relaxing activity you use to unwind and bond with the kids at the end of the day. You’ll also soak up Vitamin D by being in the sun more often.
19. Provide IT support
If you’re computer savvy, you may want to look into providing IT support. You’ll need a fast computer, a phone, and the patience to walk people through technical problems.
If this sounds like something that interests you, start by putting up advertisements on local bulletin boards or job boards. You can also offer your services online through social media and job sites.
20. Model fashion or makeup accessories
You can also consider working with local organizations as a fashion model.
Often, you don’t need much or any experience to do it, and you can learn everything you need to get started through a site like Udemy. There is also an abundance of content offering tips and training on sites like YouTube.
Another way to get started is to pick up the phone and call a local modeling agency to see if they are looking for new people. You never know when you might make the right phone call at the right time.
21. Try peer-to-peer lending
If you have a bit of a financial cushion, you may want to consider lending some of it as another potential way to generate income. Look into peer-to-peer lending sites like LendingClub, which can connect you with borrowers who need small loans.
Peer-to-peer lending is somewhat risky, as there is always a chance the person won’t make good on their loan. However, you can usually gain visibility into who’s borrowing your money. Plus, you can determine your own interest rate.
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22. Shop for groceries with Instacart
If you have a reliable car and are up for it, why not head over to Instacart and launch a side hustle to help local community members with grocery shopping?
Instacart shoppers get paid to buy groceries and deliver them to people around town. Customers will place orders, and you can even chat with them while collecting their items.
It’s an easy way to make a few bucks on the side to help pay for your own groceries.
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23. Drive for Uber or Lyft
Another way to put your car to use is to drive for a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft.
Driving for a rideshare service is flexible, as you can do it at any hour of the day or night. Consider driving exclusively while the kids are in school or on your way to do errands. You’ll receive a commission for each passenger you pick up, and you can earn tips, too.
By driving for Uber or Lyft, you can make money to pay for gas, car repairs, and car payments, while hopefully having some leftover to pad that emergency fund. Plus, you’ll be your own boss and can work whenever you please.
24. Bartend
Working as a bartender can be difficult, especially if you’re a single mom. It will most likely require hiring someone to babysit or asking a family member to help out a few nights a week while you earn money.
Either way, bartending can be steady work, and you can bring in a lot of money in tips. It’s also a great way to socialize while you work and network with your patrons. This is another job that can open doors and further your career.
Just be careful not to burn out when bartending, as the job usually requires working long hours late into the night.
25. Take surveys online
Believe it or not, you can earn extra cash right from your living room sofa by taking online surveys through a site like Swagbucks or Survey Junkie.
These online survey sites offer cash rewards and gift cards for doing everyday tasks—like filling out forms, watching videos, and completing online activities.
It’s fun to fill out surveys, and you can rack up rewards in the process. You won’t become a millionaire overnight. But you can definitely bring in some cash.
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Why start a side hustle?
A side hustle is a job you take on in your spare time to supplement your full-time income and earn extra money. You can work one side hustle, or you can have several.
Here are some of the top reasons to start a side hustle.
Build emergency savings
As a single mom, you need to be able to cover any emergency situation. No easy task for a busy mom struggling to put food on the table.
Working a side hustle can help bring in extra cash. Over time, you can stockpile money to earn passive income through investments, and build a robust emergency fund to handle unexpected situations.
Pay for food
Food is expensive. But it’s a lot easier to afford when you have multiple sources of income.
And if you think paying for food is tough with a child or toddler, just wait until your kids become teenagers. They’ll eat you out of house and home.
Pay for clothing
No sooner do you buy a new pair of pants than your kid has a growth spurt. They grow out of clothes as fast as you can buy them. And these new clothes cost good money! It’s exhausting.
But with a solid side hustle idea, you can make sure you always have enough to cover trips to Target without going into debt.
Put money aside for college
Eventually, your kids may want to go to college and start a career. And with college tuition historically expensive, even with grants and scholarships your brilliant kid might need financial support to pay for school.
The more money you save up now, the easier it will be to pay for college down the line.
Have more fun
As a single mother working and taking care of little ones, it can seem like you’re always working. By working side hustles, you can save up a little more for occasional trips out with your friends without feeling guilty about it—which is essential for your mental health and well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to have a side hustle as well as a full-time job?
Yes. It’s legal to have a side hustle if you’re working full-time. However, it may be against your employer’s rules. If you suspect there may be a conflict, check the rules before starting a new endeavor to avoid getting fired or sued.
Is Craigslist safe for finding side gigs?
Craigslist has some legitimate opportunities. At the same time, the site is also loaded with scams. Be extra cautious when finding work on Craigslist and always meet people in public before working for them.
Can blogging make you money?
Starting your own blog can be fun. But it’s going to take a lot of work before it starts to bring in serious money. For faster results, look into affiliate marketing and setting up ads through Google AdSense so you can get paid when people click on your links and buy things.
Is it normal to work from home?
More people than ever are working from home today, so rest assured that it’s perfectly normal. If you look around, you can find great opportunities to make money online right from the comfort of your own home.
Is Rover good for walking dogs?
Rover is helpful for finding dog-walking opportunities. But like most online platforms, the site takes a cut for every job you perform. If possible, try to work out arrangements directly with local dog owners. That way, you won’t have to pay the middleman.
The Bottom Line
If your purse feels light at the end of each month, consider looking for ways to earn more. It doesn’t have to be a massive commitment and helps ensure that you and your kids have everything you need to live a healthy and happy life.
Stay-at-home moms might want to look into home jobs that you can do while keeping an eye on the kids. If you have someone to watch your kids, look into jobs that you can do outside the home that spark your interest.
The perfect side job is the one you enjoy doing that fits into your busy schedule and pays well. You never know where your next lucrative side hustle will come from… and how it might transform your financial situation before you know it.
The post 25 Best Side Hustles for Single Moms appeared first on Millennial Money.
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May 04, 2021 at 06:32AM
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