Single Mom Side Hustles: 17 Ways For Single Moms To Earn Extra Cash
Challenging. That’s a word single mothers use to describe just about everything in their lives. And it certainly applies to their side hustles. Because while they’re beyond busy taking care of the house, kids, errands, and managing responsibilities at work, they’re also trying to eke out some extra money on the side — which usually means working nights and weekends, which translates into more time away from family.
And while the idea of having a side hustle is appealing, it can also be intimidating. In fact, many single mothers have thought about starting their own businesses but never quite got around to it — so they’re stuck in a rut.
So what’s a single mom to do? How can a woman who is already stretched thin find the time and energy to start a side hustle? Here are some side hustle ideas that may help.
Table of Contents
- Freelance writing
- Online tutoring
- Proofreading and editing
- Virtual Assistants
- Transcriptionist
- Data Entry
- Start a blog
- Self-publish books
- Babysitting
- Reward websites
- Taking care of pets
- Graphic Designer
- Make Money from Your Hobby
- Rent Out A Room In Your House
- Deliver Food for Cash
- Grocery Shopping for Instacart
- Cleaning Houses
- Takeaway
Freelance writing
If you’ve got a knack for writing, you can make some extra cash by doing freelance work for other people or businesses. Freelance writers get paid for every piece of content that they create, and some companies even offer bonuses for exceptional work. This is a great side hustle for single moms because it allows you to choose your own hours and write from home whenever you have free time. Many companies pay writers to create blog posts and other content for websites, so if this sounds like something that would work well with your schedule, you can start picking up writing gigs on freelance platforms like Verblio or Textbroker.
Online tutoring
If you’re good at math or science and have experience teaching others these subjects in person, consider becoming an online tutor. Many websites pay tutors to work with students from all over the world, and these can be great jobs for people who want to earn extra money with as little time commitment as possible. You’ll need to have a clear understanding of the material you’re teaching and an engaging personality, but if this sounds like something that could help you make some money on the side without leaving home, check out websites like Tutor.com or TutorMe and apply to be a tutor.
Proofreading and editing
Another excellent side hustle for single moms is becoming a proofreader or editor. You can find gigs on freelance marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr where you can set your own rate and hours and choose from a variety of editing and proofreading jobs, including proofreading academic papers and dissertations, editing business documents like reports, proposals, and memos, and proofreading personal essays, resumes, blog posts, and more.
Virtual Assistants
Virtual assistants can make up to $20 an hour working from home. This is a great option if you’re tech-savvy and willing to learn new skills like web design, social media management, email marketing, etc. These jobs usually require at least one year of experience in the field and an understanding of basic computer programs like Microsoft Word and Excel (or Google Docs and Sheets). As a virtual assistant, you can work remotely for clients worldwide. Some companies hire virtual assistants to handle administrative tasks like scheduling appointments, managing calendars, and email inboxes, updating databases, managing social media accounts, etc. You can find plenty of virtual assistant gigs on freelance marketplaces like Fiverr or Upwork.
Transcriptionist
A transcriptionist is someone who listens to audio files and types them up. Although it’s not as common as some of the other jobs on this list, it can still be a great way to make money from home while also gaining experience in a field that doesn’t require any previous experience or training. If you can type quickly and accurately, and listen carefully, then you can do well as a transcriptionist. There are several online platforms that offer transcription work that you can do on your time such as TranscribeMe and GotTranscript
Data Entry
One of the most common types of online jobs is data entry. This involves performing various tasks such as typing, copying, and pasting text from different sources into a database or spreadsheet or transcribing information from audio recordings into written form. This can be done on a freelance basis, with companies hiring people to work from home for them. It’s easy, simple, and can be done from anywhere with a computer and an internet connection. The best part about data entry is that you can work at your own pace. You can find many data entry gigs on freelance marketplaces like PeoplePerHour, Upwork, or Fiverr.
Start a blog
Starting a blog can be a great way to make money online. You don’t need any special skills or experience, and you can do it in your free time. Once you have a blog up and running, there are plenty of different ways to monetize it. You can sell ads on your site, start an affiliate marketing program, create products based on what you write about (like an e-book), or just make money through ad revenue if you have enough traffic. It takes time to build a following and make money from your blog, but you can get started today by setting up a domain name and web hosting for as little as $2.95 per month. Once you have those in place, it’s time to start writing content for your site.
Self-publish books
You can make money from your writing by self-publishing books. You can do this through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform, which allows you to write and publish e-books for free. If you want to sell physical copies of your book, you’ll need to use a print-on-demand service like CreateSpace or Lulu.
Babysitting
Babysitting is a popular way to earn some extra money. As a mother, your services will be much more in-demand by parents who are looking for someone to take care of their little ones. You can find babysitting jobs on Care.com, Sittercity, or Babysitter Jobs.
Reward websites
Reward websites pay you to take surveys, watch videos, and complete offers. You can earn anywhere from $1 to $50 per survey, depending on its length and difficulty level. Rewards include gift cards, cash, or points that can be redeemed for prizes like electronics and household items. Some of the most reputable reward websites are Swagbucks and InboxDollars.
Taking care of pets
If you’re an animal lover, you can earn extra income by taking care of neighborhood pets. You can either head outside and walk dogs or stay inside and offer pet sitting services. There are several, such as PetSit and Rover, that connect people who need help taking care of their pets with pet sitters in their area, so it’ll be easy for you to find work on your own time.
Graphic Designer
If you have a knack for design, graphic design might be a great side hustle idea for you. If you have a degree in graphic design or even just some experience with Photoshop, Illustrator, or another design tool you could start designing logos and other graphics for small businesses.
Graphic designers earn anywhere from $15 to $50 per hour, depending on experience and location. You can find freelance gigs on websites like Fiverr and Upwork. The nice thing about Fiverr and Upwork is that these platforms get your name out there so that when someone needs a graphic designer in the future, they’ll come back to you!
Make Money from Your Hobby
If you love doing something, why not turn it into a business? For example, if you’re an avid knitter or crocheter, you could set up an Etsy shop and sell your handmade creations online. There are roughly 95 million shoppers on Etsy who head to the platform for handmade goods, so its a perfect platform to set up your side hustle.
Rent Out A Room In Your House
If you’re okay with having a stranger in your home, you can rent out a room in your house to make some extra cash. Renting out a room on Airbnb is a great way to make extra cash if you have unused space. It’s also a great way to meet new people and have people over to your home. If you have a spare bedroom in your home, you can rent it out on Airbnb for about $70 per night.
Make sure that the guest area has its own bathroom, kitchenette, and laundry area so that guests will feel like they are staying in their own apartment rather than just visiting someone else’s home.
Deliver Food for Cash
Delivering food could be a great way to make extra money. Popular food delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats will pay you to deliver food to customers. If you live in a busy area with many restaurants, this could be a great side hustle idea for you! With Uber Eats and Doordash you can make between $18-$25 per hour. Plus, you can work as little or as much as you want, and work during the hours that fit the best in your schedule.
Grocery Shopping for Instacart
Instacart shoppers pick items from grocery shelves (and other stores) and deliver them to customers. You can sign up as an independent contractor and choose how many hours per week you want to work. Instacart shoppers who pick and deliver items to shoppers can make between $15 to $20 an hour.
Cleaning Houses
This ideal side hustle allows you to choose your own hours and work at your own pace. You can start small and work your way up as your confidence grows and your client base grows with you. This can also be a great way to make money if you’re in between jobs or need to supplement your income while working on other things such as school or other projects.
The best part about this type of side hustle is that it’s completely scalable, so no matter how much time you have available each week, there will always be clients who need their houses cleaned. You can find housekeeping works on several websites including Housekeeper.com and Care.com.
Takeaway
If you’re thinking about starting a side hustle, choose something that appeals to you, and be prepared to put in some time and effort. Thankfully, there are many websites available (like the ones we mentioned in this article) where you can quickly find work in your chosen field and begin earning some side hustle cash.
