With a little creativity, you can enjoy the perks of being a stay-at-home parent while still earning a little extra money to pad your budget. The key is finding gigs that fit with your schedule and that are a good match for your skillset. By doing so, you can find that you can work while still being present for your kids. Here are five of the best side gigs to consider if you are a stay-at-home parent.
Freelancing Gigs
When looking for how to make extra money on the side, be sure to look into freelancing. If you have any sort of professional certification or specialized skill set, there is big money to be made in freelancing. There are various online platforms that make it easy to find jobs to fit your talents.
This is a good idea if you have a skill for writing, graphic design, coding, or computer programming. With a freelance gig, you can keep your skills in your field fresh without having to commit to a set amount of work. This will give you ultimate flexibility in your schedule as a stay-at-home parent while still keeping you connected to your profession.
Delivery Driver
One of the most popular side hustles is the delivery driver. While you will not make loads of cash, it is perfect for someone who needs maximum flexibility in their schedule. You can work as many or as few hours as you want, fitting it into your schedule when it works with your parenting duties.
Driving for a company such as UberEats or GrubHub also does not require a specific skill set or past experience. All you need is a reliable vehicle and a few extra hours in your week to get to work. Most of these companies also pay weekly, making this is a good choice if you want a regular paycheck.
If you don’t want to work for companies like GrubHub or UberEats, you can always work part-time for a restaurant like Domino’s. Delivery drivers for companies like this often make more than the people working in the store because they keep their tips.
Tutoring or Teaching English
If you have a background in education or a particular area of expertise, you may be a good candidate to tutor students or to teach English. Tutors are in especially high demand these days as many schools continue to stay in the online model of education. You can offer up your skills to help kids to navigate this new way of learning and to take some of the burden off of busy parents. You can choose to go through a corporate tutoring company or try to drum up your own clients by advertising your services and through word of mouth.
There are also various platforms that hire native English speakers to teach the language to people all over the world. This is a great gig if you want to work from home for just an hour or so at a time. You will need a reliable internet connection and computer.
Get Crafting
If you enjoy crafting, there is a wealth of opportunity in the creative space. While there are a number of ways that you can approach this, the most common avenue is to open an Etsy shop or by advertising on a local online marketplace. Once you make a name for your business, this can be very steady work.
Ideas to consider making include printables, handmade jewelry, homemade soap, and home decor. It may take you a bit to get into your groove with the production and shipping process. However, once you get into a routine, you will find a way to make this side gig work with your job as a parent.
Online Surveys
The online survey market is booming. While you will not make a large amount of money participating in these surveys, they are a good way to earn some spending money without having to spend a lot of time or leave the house. Good portals to consider include Swagbucks, MyPoints, and Survey Junkie.
Some of these surveys will also lead to opportunities to participate in higher-paying focus groups. This is where you can make some higher paychecks if you are willing to commit more time to the effort.
These five gigs will all put a little money in your pocket each month while still giving you the chance to stay home with your kids.
