Moms do it all.
Recent reports from the Pew Research Center found that US moms spent, on average, 25 hours a week at paid work in 2016, compared to just nine hours in 1965. They also spent 14 hours on childcare week, which was 10 hours a week in 1965.
As a single mom, you already know how difficult it can be to balance work and family life. That's why we've compiled a list of the most flexible side jobs to help you make extra money.
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Babysitting/childcare service
As a single mom, you already know what you're doing when it comes to childcare. Now you can put these skills to work for you by offering babysitting and childcare services.
According to a 2018 survey by Care.com, after-school caregivers earned an average of $242 per week in 2017. This increased from $232 per week in 2016. These rates are only expected to increase in the coming years. If that sounds good to you, it gets better.
Childcare allows you to multitask. For example, you already have your children to care for, so adding a few more to the mix shouldn't be a big deal, right? You can even improve your salary as a caregiver by offering extended services. These include:
- Overnight babysitter
- Babysitting while their parents are on long trips
- Caring for children and working with children with special needs
- Offering tutoring in addition to your babysitting services
Once you figure out what you want to offer, you'll need to spread the word about your services. You can do this by:
- Talk to friends and family. Word of mouth can be a great starting point for getting the word out. Customers will feel more comfortable when they meet someone who knows you. This can help you build a reputation.
- Local advertising. You can advertise in local publications or post ads around town. Either way, you can't go wrong getting the word out.
- Set up a profile on Care.com. This site allows you to set up a profile for free. You can then search for jobs that fit what you're looking for and are located in your location. Once you find the ones that seem worthwhile, you can apply them. People looking for a babysitter can also view your profile and contact you. To get an estimate of what you can earn, check out Care.com 's child care rate calculator. This calculator takes into account: your location
- How much experience do you have in childcare/babysitting?
- The number of children you will be monitoring.
- how many hours per week
Blogging
We all have different interests and areas of expertise. As a blogger, you can write about any topic that fascinates you.
Bloggers can enjoy the convenience of working from home while earning a lot of money. In some cases, bloggers have been able to earn a full salary by producing content. For example, Glassdoor reports that bloggers can earn between $20,000 and $55,000 a year.
The true profitability of blogs comes after gaining popularity. Once you have a large following, you can partner with affiliate companies and advertisers. It is through these partnerships that your blog can be monetized. As a monetized blog, you may be required to provide your audience with:
- Links to company products or services in your content. Companies will pay you for each link you include.
- A written review of a company's products or services. Companies pay bloggers with large audiences to discuss their products or services in detail.
- Discount codes for company products. For purchases that come with your code, you will receive a payment from the company.
In addition to links, reviews, and discount codes, companies may want you to include ads on your site. These ads earn you revenue based on the number of views your page gets. Sometimes you can even earn money on the number of people who click on the ads.
As you consider your options, know that the benefits of blogging are not limited to getting paid. Bloggers can create flexible work schedules. So if you feel like working at 5 am, you can. Or if you work better at 11 pm, go for it.
To start your blog, follow these quick steps:
- Choose a blogging platform and domain. Popular blogging platforms include WordPress, Wix, Medium, Squarespace, and Ghost.
- Register a domain name. Choosing the domain name for your blog is important. You want it to be easy to pronounce, short, and without numbers or hyphens. Domain names ending in “.com” are generally recommended, as opposed to “.net” or “.biz”. You can register your name on sites like Namecheap, 1&1 IONOS, or GoDaddy.
- Buy web hosting. Purchasing web hosting allows you to access your blog on the Internet. You can buy it through providers like GoDaddy, HostGator, Bluehost, and 1&1 IONOS.
- Design your blog. This is the fun part. You can configure your blog however you want. Which theme or theme you choose is completely up to you. However, you will want to keep your target audience in mind. Try to choose a theme that suits them. This can help keep them coming back for more of your content in the future.
- Create your content. Once you've got your blog set up, you can officially start writing and building that loyal following.
Freelance Writing
Blogging isn't the only sideline you can do if you love to write. If you are an expert on a subject or have writing experience, you may be qualified to be a freelance writer.
According to Indeed, freelance writers in the US, as of November 2018, earn an average of $30.14 per hour. Depending on the writer's level of experience and the type of content, what freelance writers charge typically ranges from 10 cents to $1 per word. This means that if you write a 1,000-word article for $1 a word, you would earn $1,000. That is for one item only. If you wrote one article a month at that price, you'd make an additional $12,000 a year.
Earning extra money isn't the only benefit of freelance writing. You'll also have the flexibility to control your schedule. This allows you to care for your children and prioritize their needs. Aside from a flexible schedule, freelance writing won't cost you much in startup fees. All you need is a computer, good high-speed Internet service, a place to write, and the time to do it.
To land jobs as a freelance writer, you'll want to create a portfolio of your work and writing samples. These can help you land worthwhile writing jobs. If you don't have any samples, consider writing for a local publication or community. For example, you could write for your child's preschool website. Any experience you can show will be helpful.
Sites where you can find freelance writing jobs include:
Rent your house
Do you have a spare room in your house that is rarely used? If so, consider putting that room to better use by renting it out.
Renting a room can usually earn you an extra few hundred dollars a month. Rental prices will vary based on your location, room size, and use of common areas in your home. For example, let's say you rent a room for $500 a month. That's an extra $6,000 a year. In many places, you will be able to charge more than that. For example, rooms in New York City are frequently rented for $800 and up.
To determine your price, you'll want to use sites like Craigslist. Here you can see what others are charging in your area for comparable rooms. Generally, the smaller your room, the less you should charge.
Evaluate your home. You will want to determine the spaces in your home that tenants are not allowed to enter. You'll also want to make sure you have enough space for another person in your home.
Prepare your house. To prepare, you'll want to put your valuables in a safe, fix anything that needs repair, and put locks on the bedroom doors.
Determine a price. You can compare prices with listings on other sites to determine the best price for your area. These prices will be based on your location, the size of your room, and the type of room.
Find out your requirements. These requirements may include:
- How long do you want tenants to stay
- if smoking is allowed
- Be comfortable with pets
Check the credit of your applicants. You can easily do this with Cozy.com. This site is designed with owners in mind.
Draft a rental agreement. This should
- spell: How much will the rent be?
- When the money is due
- If utilities are included
- How community spaces, such as the fridge, can be managed or shared
- Your cleaning requirements
- parking accommodation
- When the quiet hours can be
Sites you can post your room to include:
Bakery Business
It doesn't matter if baking has been your lifelong passion or if you just started cooking recipes, you can make money doing it.
How much you earn depends on how much time and effort you put into selling your baked goods. You can usually make a couple of hundred dollars a month selling baked goods, but the more orders you fill, the more money you make.
Before you start selling baked goods from home, there are a few key items you won't want to overlook. These include:
The laws of your state. Different states have different laws about food sold from home.
The time commitment. Baking can take hours. You may need to sell a lot of baked goods to break even.
The capacity of your kitchen. Let's say your business takes off. Will your kitchen be able to handle cooking for your family while you take their orders? Sometimes there just isn't enough space. You will also need space to store your ingredients.
Your knowledge about dietary issues. You'll want to brush up on how to keep baked goods free of certain allergens. Common allergens are peanuts, gluten, and milk.
Your pastry reputation. Building a reputation can take time. For starters, you can advertise on social media and use word of mouth.
How much do you need to charge to make a profit?
You can calculate prices to sell your baked goods using online calculators like BakeCalc and Pricing Baked Goods. You can also calculate prices by hand. To accurately calculate your costs, you'll want to factor in ingredients, household utilities, and equipment depreciation. So you want to sell at a higher price so you can make a profit.
House Cleaning
As a mom, you probably have a lot of experience cleaning, whether you're happy with it or not. That said, you can put these skills to work for others and get paid for them.
According to HomeAdvisor, the national average hourly rate for home cleaning services is $25 to $45 per person per hour. This means that if you clean a house for four hours, you could earn a minimum of $100.
To get hired, you'll want to advertise your cleaning services. Sites like Care.com are a great option for this. Signing up is free and customers can easily find your profile.
In addition to signing up for Care.com, you can also:
- Send email to potential customers
- Advertise on social networks
- Post a classified ad
Housekeeping/dog care
Housekeeping can be one of the easiest side jobs yet. The pay isn't bad either.
As a housekeeper, your role will consist of:
- Taking care of pets. Pets need food, water, and walks. Cats also need to change their litter boxes.
- Taking care of the home. This implies regular cleaning and maintenance. It can also include watering plants, mowing lawns, and shoveling snow. Home keepers should remember to bring the mail and newspaper every day.
Home care jobs can be hard to find. However, there are sites online that are helpful. These include:
Sometimes busy professionals need someone to watch their dog while they're on vacation or traveling. Or they may need someone to walk their dog during the week while they are at work. Either way, pet sitting can make a profit. According to PetSitter.com, the average cost of a pet sitter in 2018 is $16.80 per hour. However, the range is $14 to $19 per hour in most areas.
You can find dog-watching jobs at:
Substitute Teaching
Moms are skilled at teaching their children and focusing on their needs. These are skills that teachers also need. This means that substitute teaching can be perfectly suited to you.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, substitute teachers earned an average of $13.59 per hour in 2017. Throughout the year, they earn an average of $28,270. For many, this pay, coupled with part-time and flexible hours, makes it a worthwhile side hustle.
In most states, you will need at least a high school diploma. Other states require a minimum of a bachelor's degree. The National Education Association provides a state-by-state summary of the guidelines and requirements to be a substitute teacher.
To find a substitute teaching job, check out job boards like Indeed.com. You can also check directly with your local school district.
These are just some initial suggestions for earning extra income as a single mom. There are hundreds of side businesses for single moms that can be lucrative. You just need to take advantage of her skills and find the side hustle that best fits your schedule and family commitments.
As a single mom considering adding an extra hustle to your already busy schedule, what concerns do you have about launching what is your own small business? Share in the comments below.
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