Blog / Beginner's handbook / How to Make Money as a Stay at Home Mom: 10 Practical Ideas
Blog / Beginner's handbook / How to Make Money as a Stay at Home Mom: 10 Practical Ideas
There used to be a time when staying at home and raising children meant giving up on your personal career goals and depending on others for financial stability. But then came the digital age, changing job market dynamics and opening doors to online work.
The modern stay-at-home mom now has ample opportunities to earn money while managing household responsibilities. From freelance content writing to customer support or selling handmade items online, there are plenty of possibilities to earn a full-time income or just a little extra cash.
If you’re wondering how to make money as a stay-at-home mom, you’re in the right place. This article will guide you through various remote work options and help you identify the right strategy that fits your skills, interests, and lifestyle.
Whether you’re simply looking for a side hustle or want to pursue a lifelong passion and work full-time, there’s a wide array of jobs to choose from. Let’s explore the top roles that can help you make extra money and get back into the job market while staying home.
Did you have a knack for writing essays in school or college? Or maybe you’ve recently discovered a love for painting pictures with words or expressing your ideas in writing. If you nodded while reading this, freelance writing may be a great way to make money from home.
More and more businesses are looking for freelance copywriters, ghostwriters, and blog authors due to the increasing importance of content marketing. Despite the rise of AI writing tools, you can find numerous gigs writing for established blogs, websites, and magazines in a variety of niches, from wellness to finance and technology. Plus, the flexible schedule allows you to do the work on your terms.
You'll find the most success if you initially focus on a few specific fields you’re most passionate or knowledgeable about and gradually build up your portfolio. Also, consider the format you feel most comfortable with—would you like to write blog posts, ebooks, or short but persuasive ad copy?
Source: Unsplash
If you're unsure about the format, try writing about different topics in different styles. These writing samples will not only boost your confidence as a freelance writer but will also help showcase your writing skills when contacting particular sites or businesses.
Social media management is a booming industry, and it’s suitable for stay-at-home moms who know their way around different social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok—and want to earn extra income. Companies of all sizes need help managing their online presence and build audiences.
While it may not be always possible to create relevant content remotely, there are a number of other high-paying social media roles you could excel at without leaving your house. You can offer influencer management or consulting services, respond to comments and engage with followers, or create strategies and content from existing images or videos.
As long as you have a smartphone, some creativity, and a willingness to spend time on social media, this could be the remote job you’re looking for.
If you’re into crafts and love creating jewelry, knitwear, candles, or other cute gifts for your friends and loved ones, why not turn your hobby into a profit? Think about your talents and what you could offer to the world. Whether you enjoy knitting, painting, or baking, there’s a market for all kinds of unique, handmade items.
The best part of creating and selling homemade goods is that you get to do the thing you love, and also grow it into a sustainable income stream. There are numerous success stories of stay-at-home moms turning their hobbies into successful businesses.
Source: Unsplash
You can start by promoting your products and finding potential clients through social media or local markets. Once you’ve gained traction locally, you can also reach further and go for global audiences. With platforms like Etsy or Amazon Handmade, you can launch an online store in minutes without the need for a website.
Discover 20 trending products you could start selling online this year
Starting an online business is another way of making money as a stay-at-home mom. You can sell digital products, handmade crafts, print-on-demand items, or even create an e-learning course—the possibilities are endless.
Do some research to figure out what’s trending and what kind of business you’d be able to handle. For example, you could test your entrepreneurial skills by taking up an activity with a low barrier to entry, like selling custom t-shirts with the dropshipping company Printful or offering remote consulting services in the field you know best.
Having a small business presents several benefits for a stay-at-home parent. You’re your own boss, you can set your own hours, plus you can scale your business at your own pace while balancing family responsibilities. And if you decide to sell custom products by partnering with a dropshipping company, you won’t need to worry about managing physical inventory.
Working as a customer support representative is one of the most accessible remote jobs for a stay-at-home mom. Many companies hire remote workers to assist customers via phone, email, or live chat. These roles typically offer flexible hours and don’t require specific experience allowing you to gain all the necessary knowledge on the job.
If you have excellent communication skills and you love solving problems, customer support roles could be the ideal choice for earning extra income without leaving the house. Some companies even offer part-time shifts or the ability to set your own hours making it easier to work around your schedule.
Source: Ujet
If you’re looking for less time-consuming and mentally demanding activities to earn extra money, product testing could be a great (and fun!) alternative. Companies are constantly looking to improve their products and are willing to pay for honest feedback and consumer insights.
As a product tester, you can get paid and receive free products in exchange for your review. You may also be among the first ones who can actually try a new product as companies often need to do product testing before the official launch.
While getting free products and making money for writing about your experience sounds like an easy job to do, you will most likely have to go through a screening process each time you apply for a product testing gig. This way, companies make sure your demographics align with those of their potential buyers.
You’ll have a higher chance of getting to test a product if you sign up on product testing websites that match your interests. For example, a sports enthusiast could test activewear or running gear while a mom interested in makeup could register for makeup testing sites.
Teaching online is another great way to earn money from the comfort of your home. It’s particularly suitable for those who are passionate about a certain subject and love helping others and showcasing their expertise.
Moms have to teach their children every day, but sharing the knowledge and skills you spent many years building yourself can be equally as satisfying. From language lessons to marketing courses and baking classes—the opportunities are endless. You can also choose the most suitable format: pre-recorded classes or live teaching that offers a more personalized approach.
Source: Unsplash
For moms who enjoy working one-on-one, online tutoring could be a great option as well. Many parents look for educators who can help their kids excel in particular subjects. Unlike larger classes, tutoring allows you to focus on one student at a time, and tailor the lessons to their needs. This lets you follow their progress over time, which can be extremely rewarding.
Like with many remote roles, virtual assistance is another rapidly growing field that is perfect for stay-at-home moms. Many businesses are looking for a virtual assistant to help with a variety of routine tasks, like managing emails, scheduling appointments, doing research, planning trips, and even bookkeeping.
This job provides a lot of flexibility in terms of hours and workload, plus you can work for multiple clients simultaneously depending on how much time you have. Even though a virtual assistant is usually assigned simple yet time-consuming tasks, the more you specialize in a certain area, like project management or data analytics, the more you can charge for your services.
Moms who have a passion for travel and are great at organizing trips can find success in arranging adventures for others. Many people need assistance when planning vacations or business trips, and they’re willing to pay a specialist to handle the details.
As a travel planner or consultant, you can make money by booking flights, reserving accommodations, or simply planning itineraries on request. You can work independently fixing your own schedule and looking for deals on hotels and airlines, or partner with an established tourism company to gain wider exposure.
Just remember that your monthly pay will largely depend on how many clients you can take on and the total value of the trips planned, as travel consultants usually get their earnings from commission.
For more tech-savvy moms, offering web development or graphic design services on a freelance basis could be a lucrative way to make money while staying at home with your kids. Many small businesses or solo entrepreneurs need websites to attract clients but lack the expertise to build one themselves.
Source: Fusion 360
As a web developer or designer, you can create websites, maintain them, or redesign the original ones with improved functionality. This job combines creativity, logic, and a lot of flexibility, which can be ideal for stay-at-home moms looking to start a career in tech.
Even if you don’t feel like you’ve got the necessary skills, web design, coding, and user experience design can be quickly taught through online courses or YouTube videos. Tech professionals are in high demand so you won’t have a problem securing your first projects, and as you gain experience, you can also command higher rates than arguably any other job on this list.
Getting back into work mode as a stay-at-home mom can be stressful. However, with the right structure and mechanisms in place, you can successfully navigate both worlds and gain financial freedom.
Having a designated workspace is essential to staying productive and striking a balance between mom duties and work life. Try to find a corner or a separate room in the house where you can set up a work area free from distractions and with all the items you may need, like a comfortable desk, chair, laptop, stationary, etc.
Finding time to get everything done can be challenging and frustrating at times when you have kids at home. Creating a schedule beforehand will help you be more organized, work more efficiently, and avoid burnout while juggling several responsibilities at once. To improve your productivity, try to block out time for work during naps, before breakfast, or after the kids go to bed.
As you step into the role of working mom, remember to be gentle with yourself and set reasonable expectations. Instead of pursuing ambitious targets, like working eight hours right away, choose more manageable goals. Think about completing a specific task during nap time, for example, and then increasing your workload gradually.
Balancing work and motherhood can be overwhelming at times, and as you try to get back to working full-time, your health and your children should still be a priority. Make sure you take regular breaks and incorporate different self-care tactics into your routine, which will help you stay focused and motivated.
Source: Pexels
Unless you decide to go all in and launch your own business, remote job sites can really help in finding your first projects and starting your journey as a working mom.
Upwork is a leading talent marketplace and the top platform for freelancers, covering a wide variety of jobs like freelance writing, web design, and customer service. It’s free to use, intuitive, and allows you to bid on projects directly and showcase your own portfolio.
As the name suggests, FlexJobs is a job board dedicated to remote, part-time, and flexible jobs. It’s ideal for moms looking for legitimate remote work that fits their schedules. You can find listings in different categories, from accounting to sales and requiring different levels of experience.
Indeed is the largest job search engine out there, offering tons of remote work opportunities. Its advanced filtering options and keyword search function make it easy for moms to find full-time, part-time, or freelance roles across multiple industries. You can also read company reviews to ensure the job is the right fit for you.
Getting back into work life is no easy decision, but reading about your options means you’re already halfway to your goal. With so many remote work possibilities, freelance jobs, and online entrepreneurship opportunities available, you really shouldn’t worry about how to make money as a stay-at-home mom.
Whether you’re looking for a part-time position, full-time job, or just a side hustle, this list should help you find the role that fits your lifestyle and helps you achieve financial stability. Start slowly, adjust to a new routine, plan time for self-care, and you’re on your way to bigger, more ambitious goals. Who knows, a short-term project might eventually turn into a new career.
Agnese Zimele
Guest author
Agnese is a seasoned content specialist with a passion for running and traveling. She discovered her love for writing in high school and has helped multiple brands and individuals craft their stories ever since.
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