5 Side Hustles for the Stay-At-Home Mom

I read an article recently that claimed that 75% of stay-at-home-moms are actively looking for a way to make money while at home with their children. I’m actually not surprised at this high percentage. Most mothers were active in some type of work force before they had children. Leaving the work force to stay home full time can make many mothers feel adrift and anxious about their budgets.

This percentage also shows that there is a definite need for legitimate ways of making money from home. Side hustles seems to be an elusive idea that many moms feel are out of reach for their current situation or they seem too good to be true. Let’s be real, after you have a night of broken sleep, changed your 3rd diaper of the day by 8 am, been spit up on twice, made breakfast that no one wanted to eat and barely pulled yourself together, it can be absolutely intimidating to put any more thought or effort into a side hustle. 

Momma, don’t give up too quick! 

Here are my favorite ideas for extra cash flow:

1. Tutoring 

Online tutoring has really picked up in popularity lately. These jobs have very flexible timing and the pay is excellent. Depending on the company you work for, you may specialize in certain subjects or just choose to teach conversational English. If teaching is one of your passions, then check out VIPKID, QKids and VarsityTutors. 

2. E-Commerce

Online shopping is changing the retail world and now is the perfect time to jump on this train. It can be as big or as small as you like it to be. You can sell items you have in stock or drop-ship your items from your suppliers. I would highly recommend taking a class to cut down on the learning curve. This is my favorite and most affordable online class to get started; Ecommerce & Prosper (not an affiliate link) 

3. Virtual Assistants 

Have you ever wondered how retail establishments get all their products on Pinterest or always have the best Facebook and Instagram? They have a VA. It is, by far, one of my most favorite side gigs that is super flexible. No need to have someone in office to run these social platforms when you can hire someone for a few hours from home. Here’s a great read on becoming a Pinterest VA. You could also source yourself out to local retailers that you know. You won’t know if there’s a need if you don’t look for it! 

4. Selling on EBay

Tried and true, this is an amazing way to make extra cash. Gather up all those things you keep meaning to get rid of and list them on Ebay. Never is the saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” more true than when it comes to Ebay. I would suggest figuring out a work flow and stocking your shipping supplies before hand. 

5. Editing / Proofreading 

There are always companies, writers, bloggers and small businesses looking for someone to go over their documents. Starting a proofreading side hustle can be easy, especially if you have an eye for errors. Check out this free online course to help you get started. 

Wrapping it up 

Dedication and resiliency along with a disciplined work ethic have really help me to succeed with my current side hustles. Finding something that you are passionate about or enjoy can make you feel fulfilled in a work role and bring in the extra cash flow you need. Most side hustles are flexible, you can make your own hours, and if you have a sick day you never need to look for childcare. 

As a business woman turned stay-at-home-mom turned freelancer / photographer / online store owner, I’m here to tell you that it’s absolutely possible. I personally spend about 8 to 12 hours each month out of my home on client sessions / meetings and the remainder I do at home with my toddler. Is it feasible? Yes. Does it pay off? Yes. It fulfills my need to have my own identity along with contributing to our monthly budget and purchasing extras. 

Not sure one of these is best for you but your curiosity is peaked?

Check out The Side Hustle School Podcasts for more inspiration!  

Carlie
Carlie is a divorced mom of five. She moved to Lafayette 22 years ago from a small town in-between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. She has four young adult children from her first marriage that ended after 19 years, Christopher, Cara, Clay and Cade. She has a one year old daughter, Poppy Mae with her significant other, Joey. She is a work-at-home mother who is a freelance writer and photographer/owner of Carlie Anne Collective. Organized chaos and tons of lists are her style. Carlie loves to workout, travel, visit with her friends, bike with Poppy Mae in their neighborhood, attend outdoor concerts, eat out at local restaurants, walk aimlessly through stores looking for good deals and swing in her hammock while chatting about her BST addiction with her online friends. She keeps an active Instagram account as a photo journal of her days.