Making ends meet as a single mother is often much tougher than most people can imagine. Many single mothers find that they need a way to bring in money that is flexible and adaptable; these side hustles are perfect for single mothers because of that.
If you are in this situation, you may find that a side hustle can give you the flexibility and money you need. Here are ten side hustles that can be really good for single mothers.
Being a single mom is a call to responsibility, not just for yourself but also for the young ones you watch over. Being a single mother is being a superhero, but it is HARD. The good thing is that with so many flexible options, you can find a side hustle that may make your livelihood a little less stressful.
Starting up a side hustle is about more than just getting some extra money in your wallet at the end of the day – it is also about tapping into your talents, personal resilience, and entrepreneurial ability.
Luckily for all of us, the internet makes this easier than ever before. So today, I’ve gathered ten solid side hustles for single mothers that I think will help you take your life to the next level.
Don’t forget to check each side hustle carefully to ensure that your side hustle isn’t a scam.
10 Side Hustles for Single Mothers
Start a Blog
Starting a blog isn’t the most immediate path to success, but it can pay off big time if you work it the right way. It allows you to convert your passion into profit. Second, it is something that you can do even if you have a full-time job.
First, you need to decide on a niche, preferably one that you know something about. From there, you need to develop a content strategy and a way to get in front of your potential audience.
As far as making money goes, you can sell ad space, of course, but you can also promote other products such as t-shirts, courses you teach, or books you have written. For example, if you’re a musician, you could sell your music online or if you’re an artist, you could have people commission you through an inquiry form on your blog.
Similarly, if you enjoy writing, you can consistently upload articles that can inspire other single moms out there struggling. You might be amazed at how much traffic you can generate from sharing a message of hope through your blog content. We all know that in today’s world, traffic is potential money.
Money will always follow value, so provide a lot of it. Your website is a medium to exchange value for money. The possibilities are literally endless, depending on how far you choose to go with it.
Gig Work
The increase in gig economy jobs is due to demand and the ease with which people can sign up for them. Sure, some require specialized skills or training, but most do not. You could become a personal shopper for someone or even work for Uber or Lyft.
Some sites let you offer your specific talents, such as office work, writing, accounting, or even programming. You will not have to look too far before finding these platforms where you can exchange your skills for money because the gig economy is no longer a secret.
With online platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Craigslist, and so on, it is a lot easier to showcase what you are good at and have people pay for your service around the world. Indeed, it is a side hustle for single mothers that you don’t want to be left out of.
If you are concerned about sitting at the computer all day to manage your orders and communicate with your clients, the good news is you can still do all these from the comfort of your handheld device.
Like many things with the internet, you are only limited by your own imagination and the amount of time you have to put forward towards the project. Many single mothers have met with great success in the gig economy – so much so that their “gig” job has become their full-time work.
I recommend sticking to something you know because that’s where you will find the most success in the long run, but I also advise you not to shy away from things like personal shopping and the like for an extra buck here and there when time allows.
The key here is diversity if you want to make them more than just a side income. Refuse to be held back by any excuse. You have what it takes, so go for it.
Teach Online
Do you have a specific skill you could teach? Or maybe you would like to teach English online (or any other language)? With the explosion in online teaching, the demand for skilled help is expected to increase similarly. If you have a skill that you know you can teach others, then you owe it to yourself to check out the world of online teaching.
There are lots of people out there who will be willing to learn what you already know. You can work with a firm and, as you gain experience and clients, you can even branch out on your own.
Like many options on this list, what you do with it is largely up to you, but there are countless possibilities for growth and progress in this area. You might not think of online teaching as a lucrative profession, but you will be amazed at how much some teachers and tutors bring in every month.
In-demand subject areas include computer programming, foreign languages, and even personal life coaching.
Run an Online Store
Next up on the list of side hustles for single mothers is to run an online store. There are various ways to make money in this segment, but some of the most common include drop shipping and handcrafted objects like those sold on Etsy. You can also start a store on eBay.
As with many of these suggestions, you don’t need much experience; you just need some persistence when running a store online. Your success counts on making sales over and over again.
Some tactics used by people who sell things online include going to retailers and buying items at a discount to later flip online for a higher price or yard sales and flea markets to find things. Some people even buy used furniture and, through the magic of a little elbow grease, transform it into a new piece with some paint or finish and sell that for a handsome profit.
With the aid of targeted ads, you can choose your target audience based on their country of residence, age range, occupation, etc. However, if you are unwilling to invest a few bucks into targeted ads, there are other free online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and so on that you should take advantage of.
Having an amazing online storefront is not a guarantee for conversion; ensuring your product is seen by those who require it is what makes the difference.
While the Internet has made making money easier than ever before, it still hasn’t made it easy, but running an online shop lets you use your talents to meet an immediate market need.
Consulting/Contracting Work
If you are transitioning out of a full-time career, then maybe you should consider making your skills a part-time aspect of your life. In other words, you don’t have to give up your job entirely.
Working as a consultant or working on a contract allows you to continue using your skills but with a more flexible schedule and environment that fits your lifestyle. Depending on the expertise you offer, you could also command big bucks and possibly even more than you did at your own job.
For single mothers who want the clout of their former job and want to be their own boss, there’s no better route than consulting and independent contracting. While you do have to handle many of the logistics your former employer may have handled yourself, the opportunities for growth and change are tremendous.
For example, when working for someone else, your pay raises and bonuses will always be limited to a small percentage of your overall pay. But when you are your own boss, you could experience pay increases magnitudes beyond what you would ever get working for someone else.
After all, with the extra risks of going it solo come the extra rewards of making more money for doing just that very thing.
Create Printables
Are you creative? Are you artistic? Do you spend hours making worksheets, templates, games, and other printables? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then look into selling some of your digital creations on Etsy or Teacher’s Pay Teachers.
This is a great way to make money and use your creative juices at the same time. If you have any experience teaching or are currently homeschooling your kids, you can sell your materials on the Teachers Pay Teachers website.
Another idea is to create printables and sell them on Facebook groups to bloggers and other content creators to use. It’s a quick, easy way to make some extra cash with very little overhead.
Take Surveys Online
Taking surveys online can make you some money if you do it properly. It takes a lot of time as each survey pays relatively little, but you can do them while your kids play. Brands are always looking for moms to give their opinions on all sorts of mom-related items like baby gear, kid’s toys, and other family items.
By finding suitable sites and the right focus groups, you can make quite a nice amount of money helping these brands out. You don’t need many things to get started- a phone or a laptop is enough. You can do these surveys while you are waiting in line or if you have breaks during work. It’s a great way to make some extra cash online.
As a mom, you are a key demographic that various brands will be courting- search for these surveys, and let’s make some extra cash!
Get started with the 13 Best Surveys you can do from home
Daycare/Babysitting
Once you are watching your own kids, what are a few more? The state regulates In-home daycares, so make sure to check out local laws before starting a daycare. Watching other people’s kids in your home, alongside your own, is a great stay-at-home mom job.
You can do set hours or babysit on demand. This is a particularly great side hustle for a single mom as you may find yourself tied at home more than most. This way, even when you are with your own kids, you can still make some extra money to help pay the bills.
Freelance Writing
Do you like writing? Are you good at it? Establishing yourself as a full-time freelance writer may take some time, but it can be a solid side hustle to supplement your income. Check out freelance writing sites and marketplaces like Fiverr or Upwork to sell your services.
You could also reach out on Social Media to people and groups who are looking to hire. Be a good writer, professional and punctual and you will be sure to get hired again and again.
BabyQuip
Do you have some extra baby gear just sitting around that another parent could use? BabyQuip rents out baby supplies and gear to travelers who need them. If you have extra baby gear that you aren’t using, you can rent these out to help out other parents. As a mom, you probably already have a lot of this gear- take advantage of that to make some sorely needed cash.
Knowing what to do to improve your financial state is not the same as doing it. These are just a few side hustles for single mothers that you can do. You can have all the nicest suggestions and ideas and still be in a financial mess if you don’t take action.
Make a decision today that nothing will hold you back from expanding your stream of income. Then, act on the tips that I just shared with you.
Read More:
- 30 Side Hustle Ideas To Diversify Your Income
- 23 Side Hustles You Never Considered That Make More Than Your 9 to 5
