These Are the Best Side Jobs for Moms Right Now
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Being a mom may be the best job out there, but the pays not so great. So if youre looking for part-time jobs for the weekends or need extra cash in your wallet, you may want to pick up a side gig. The good news? There are tons of jobs out there (even some Amazon work from home jobs) with flexible hours that fit into moms busy schedule. So whether you want to plan tween slumber parties or rent out your used baby gear, youve got options. Scroll down to see the best side jobs for moms right now.
1. Organize Sleepovers
Wait, you thought throwing a tween-savvy sleepover meant tossing cushions on the floor and turning on a movie? Think again! "Luxury sleepovers" have become big businessand at least one of those businesses, Elite Teepees, is letting entrepreneurial moms (and non-moms) join in on the venture. The company is offering licensing opportunities that allow people to use its exclusive designs, business system, business name and logo; all they have to do is buy (there's a licensing fee of $995 and an annual license renewal fee of $600) and pay startup feesthen 100% of the revenue goes straight to you.
What it pays: Earning potential could be up to $109,000 to $225,000 annually according to Elite Teepees founder Nikki Kay. Note, the estimated startup fee is about $7,000 plus $2,500 of estimated costs to open a business in your geographical area.
For more information, go to: Eliteteepees.com/jointhetribe
2. Be a Census Taker
2020 is a census year: Up your good citizenship ante, and get a job as a census taker! It's important work, considering that Census data helps determine how much money is allocated to your state, as well as the fair number of U.S. representatives your state has in Congress. Since the Census is taken only every 10 years, the office needs major help when the time comes, and is now hiring thousands of people across the country for short-term help. Most of the jobs require door-to-door information-collecting, but there are also jobs as temporary recruitment assistants, supervisors and back-office staff. According to the U.S. Census website, most of the positions offer flexible hours and workdays. The majority of the jobs involve going door to door collecting and updating address and map data.
What it pays: About $15 per hour.
For more information, go to 2020census.gov.
3. Store Other People's Stuff
We get that you may not want to rent out your spare rooms to strangersbut how about storing their stuff? Neighbor.com lets you list your garage, driveway or basement exclusively for the purpose of storing other people's things (like their cars, storage boxes, bikes, etc.). Listing your space is free: Just set a price, post some pics, then wait for people to e-mail you. It's easy money, especially if you've got an extra parking spot in a city where parking is sparse.
What you can make: $100 to $300 a month
Find out more at Neighbor.com.
4. Rent Out Your Car (without having to be a driver)
If you're nervous about being a Lyft or Uber driver because you don't want to pick up strangers and drive who-knows-where, how about letting someone else do the driving and just getting paid to supply them the car? Sites like Turo or Maven let you list your car or truck for other people to rent (it's like Airbnb for cars). You lay the ground rules for what you do and don't accept (no dogs, smoking, etc.), set a calendar for when your car is available, and wait for prospective renters to roll in. It's a great option if you're, say, going on vacation and not going to be using your car. Worried about your car getting damaged? Don't be. Turo and Maven screen all renters before allowing them to book and all drivers must have insurance (either their own or the plan offered by the company) before renting.
What you can make: An average of $700 per month, according to the Turo website. (Note: This is only if you can rent out your car regularly.)
5. Open a Home Daycare
If your little ones are at school and you're longing for the all-day pitter-patter of little feet, you can earn money tending to throngs of busy kiddos! You've got to meet your state's eligibility requirements (usually this means a health and criminal background check), as well as get the proper licensing (which may require training or certification, depending on your state), inspections, insurance and community permissions, but if you're up for the task you can earn up about $250 to $300 per week, per child (of course, overhead costs will mean you can't keep all of this). Keep in mind that starting a business isn't cheap: Startup costs range in the $2,000 to $5,000 rangemore if you're also hiring staff or buying new furniture.
What it pays: $10 to $15 an hour according to CareerTrend.com
Find out more here.
6. Sell Your Clothes
You don't have to sell the clothes off your back ... but how about the clothes in your closet? If you've got cool outfits just collecting dust, now's the time to unload! Just send your unwanted threads to secondhand clothing companies likePoshmarkandThredup, and they'll pick and choose what's good enough to sell (they can send back your clothes or donate the things they don't choose). The company gets a piece of your sale, but you won't have to do all the hard stuff, like packaging and sending out goods to the customers.
What it pays: Varies, but more if you've got designer duds to sella Gucci handbag, for instance, will get you 90% of the listing price (about $286) on Thredup; whereas a pair of Old Navy jeans will only get you about 5% (that's about 55 cents in your pocket).
Where to apply:Poshmark;Thredup.
Note: If you'd rather trade your clothes at an actual brick-and-mortar store, there are plenty of places to go. Stores like Uptown Cheapskate, Buffalo Exchange, Clothes Mentor, and Plato's Closet all have locations across the country and accept men's and women's clothes. Got kids' clothes to unload? Check out our ultimate list of online consignment stores for kids.
7. Test Websites
If you've only got a few minutes to spare, but want to earn extra coffee cash, be a website tester! Web analytics companies hire testers to explore various websites and report back on what works and what doesn't. Usually, the job entailsvisiting a website and performing a variety of tasks (add a few items to your shopping cart, for example). Testers can take on as much or as few as they wantwhich means you can work as little as 10 minutes a day if thats all you have available.
What it pays: $10-15 per test. Each test takes about 10-20 minutes.
Apply here:Userlytics.comorIntellizoom.
8. Rent Out Your Gently-Used Baby Gear
If you're like most parents, you've probably got loads of baby gear piling up somewhere in your home. While you could sell it all on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, why settle for a one-time payment when you can rack up some dough by lending it out again and again?
Enter GoBaby, a peer-to-peer site that has been called "the Airbnb for baby equipment." You simply log on and list your new or gently-used baby stuff (cribs, strollers, baby tubs, high chairs, rockers, bouncers, etc.), and wannabe renters contact you when they need gear on-the-go.
What it pays: It depends on what you're listing, but you get 100% of the rental fee (goBaby makes money by charging a 10% transaction fee), so if you list your stroller at $20 a day, you'll get $20 a day. Not bad for doing nothing.
Where to apply:Gobaby.co
9. Do Other People's Grocery Shopping
You know that feeling of freedom you get when you're at the grocery store ... alone? Turn that glorious solo time into pocket cash by becoming an on-demand grocery shopper for companies like Instacart and Amazon Fresh. The perks? Flexible hours (work whenever you have free time), a fairly easy job and quick direct deposit of your earnings. To be eligible, you just need to have a car, a valid driver's license (and insurance) and be able to lift between 30-40 pounds without help.
What it pays: $10-25 an hour, according to this Huffington Post article.
Where to apply: Instacart; Amazon Fresh
10. Be a Customer Service Agent
Are you good on the phone? Do you have the patience to cheerfully engage a not-so-cheerful caller? Companies use customer service agents for a variety of tasks, including answering customers' questions, making travel reservations and providing tech support. All you need is a phone line and good internet access.
Good to know: Amazon is always hiring for its "Virtual Location" jobs, which include customrer service gigs as well as remote sales jobs. Apply here.
What it pays:$17/hour or about $35000 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Where to apply: Browse customer service jobs onIndeedorRemote.coor look through the plethora of virtual job opportunities onAmazon.
11. Unload Your Stuff
Want to get rid of your CD or DVD collection? Got an old cell phone or video game console you've long since abandoned? Time to unload!For CDs, DVDs and video games: Try sites like Decluttr,Selldvdsonline.com, or Eagle Saver, where you can sell your old DVDs and Blu-Rays without having to worry about shipment costs or listing the items yourself. For electronics: Decluttrbuys cell phones, tablets, video game consoles and textbooks (in addition to CDs and video games); and Amazon's trade-in program accepts things like cell phones, Kindle E-readers, tablets, video game equipment and books. Amazon pays for the shipment costs and lists your item for you. You get paid in Amazon creditor use your trade-in to upgrade to new Amazon devices.
What it pays: Varies, depending on what you're selling and how much you've got to sell. At Amazon, for instance, you'll be paid via an Amazon gift card equalling the appraised value of your device (plus you may get credit toward a new, upgraded device).
Where to apply: Amazon.com; Decluttr; Selldvdsonline.com; Eagle Saver
12. Be a Freelance Writer
There's a huge demand for written content all over the web. Whether you want to write about your personal experiences or be assigned topics as needed by the publication (there are even a few writing jobs open right here at Red Tricycle), look for jobs at job sites like Indeed.comand Remote.coor on media-specific sites like Mediabistro.
What it pays:Varies by publicationfrom as little as $4 per story to $250 or more for full-length articles.
Where to apply: Browse listings for "Writer" or "Freelance writer" onFlexjobs,Mediabistro,Indeed.com and Remote.coor look under the "Jobs" sections of your favorite websites.
13. Type Your Way to a Paycheck
Are you a fast typer? Use your skills for extra income! Sign up to be a transcriptionist atTranscribe MeorSpeakwrite.com, both which will pay you to transcribe audio clips. You can work as little as an hour or twowhenever you've got the time. It's monotonous work, but an easy job.
What it pays:$12-20 per hour.
Where to apply:Transcription specific sites includeSpeakwrite.comorTranscribeme.com; or search onFlexjobs.com.
14. Teach English Online
You don't need to know another language to teach English, and most online ESL companies provide complete lesson plans to make your job easy. All you need to do is apply, sign on and start connecting with kids from around the world. Note: This is a great gig if you're looking for something to do when your kids are sleeping, since your students may be in a totally different time zone.
What it pays:$10 to $20 an hour, according toThe Work at Home Wife.
Where to apply:Vipkid.comandQkids. Find out more here.
15. Deliver for Amazon
If you've ever used Amazon Prime Now, you know the wonder of needing a pack of diapers RIGHT NOW and receiving them on your doorstep in just minutes. The magic behind the on-demand service? Drivers who are willing to pick up your orders and get them to you, pronto. It's good for the drivers, too, who can work when they want (just turn on the app and start taking orders). As for pay, drivers get paid depending on which jobs they take, with more urgent items (those that need to be delivered in an hour or less) offering the highest pay. The only catch? You've got to live near an Amazon warehouse to get the gig. Find participating citieshere.
What it pays:Up to $25 an hour.
Where to apply:Flex.amazon.com
16. Get Artsy
Channel your inner artist, and sell your goods online at sites like EtsyandAmazon Homemade. Both sites take a commission, with Etsy taking a 3.5% commission as well as a 20-cent listing fee; and Amazon taking a 15% cut and a $1 referral fee (this covers payment processing, marketing, seller support and fraud protection).
What it pays:It depends on what you're making and how much of it you sell. ThisEtsy superstarreports making $53,000 in her first year of Etsy sales; however, Etsy forums suggest otherwise.
Where to apply:Etsy.com/sellorAmazon Homemade.
17. Self-Publish a Book
If you've always wanted to write the Great American Novel (or maybe just a cute bedtime story) Amazon makes it easy to do it on your own. Just get writing ... then log onto Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishingto upload your book. The sitewill convert your creation to an ebook and/or have it made available as a printed book. You don't have to pay a cent! Every book is printed only when it is ordered (so no need to prepay for books). You'll be a published author before you know it. The KDP site even gives you free tools to help you write, illustrate and organize your masterpiece.
What it pays: It depends on the price and size of your book, and whether it's in color or black and whitebut according to the site's royalty calculator, a 200-page 6X9 book without color will get you $2.75 per copy sold if you set the book price at $10. (which is, by the way, way better than the 10% royalty most mainstream publishers offer new authors).
Where to apply:Kindle Direct Publishing
18. Join a Direct Sales Team
Whether you're selling Monat hair products or LuLaRoe leggings, youre definitely not alone in your quest to start an at-home direct sales "business." We've all been solicited by friends online to buy something; maybe it's time you joined the sales club yourself. Direct sales jobs offer flexible hours; an awesome work/life balance and an excuse to throw product parties with your friends to show off your wares.
But be forewarned: While direct selling is a multi-billion dollar market, the average seller makes less than $750 per yearand that'sbefore expenses,according tothis article. Of course, there are exceptions, especially if you're uber-organized and good at self-promotion.
What it pays:Our guess is as good as yours.
Where to apply:A few of our faves:Discovery Toys(toys & games),Rodan and Fields(skin care),doTERRA(essential oils),LuLaRoe(clothing); Monat (haircare); Barefoot Books (children's books);Beauty Counter (safe skincare and cosmetics);Pampered Chef(kitchenware).
19. Give Expert Advice
Do you have a law degree? Are you a nurse or a doctor? Whether your know-how is in medicine, law, cars or home improvement, cash in on your knowledge by answering questions for Justanswer.com. Anyone can apply to be an expert; you make money if your answer is voted the most helpful.
What it pays:Anywhere from $20 to $100 an hour (but thats, of course, only if youre giving the best answers and lots of them).
Where to apply:Justanswer.com
20. Walk Dogs
Maybe you're not ready to hand your home over to the dogs, but did you know you can burn 200 calories an hour just walking man's best friend? Go! Cancel your gym membership, and spend your mornings palling around with pooches.
What it pays: Up to $25 an hour.
Where to apply:Rover.com
21. PetSit
Love all things sweet and furry? Get yourself listed onRover.com, and turn your home into a crash pad for pups (and maybe cats, too). You get paid by the day or hour, depending on the setup. Note: This job is especially lucrative if you live near a major tourist destination.
What it pays: About $20 per hour (and $1,000 a month, according to the site), depending on your availability and your chosen rate.
Where to apply:Rover.com
22. Babysit
Miss the kids while they're at school? Enough to get your baby fix elsewhere? List yourself on sitter sites like Sittercity or Care.com, and you'll be tending to a toddler in no time.
What it pays: You set your rate, but average babysitting rates range from $10-25 an hour.
Where to apply:Sittercity or Care.com
23. Be a Stylist for Stitch Fix.
If you're one of those stylish mamas who hasn't ditched the high heels and still carries a brand-name purse instead of a dirty diaper bagStitch Fix might be the perfect work-from-home job for you. Stitch Fix is a clothing delivery company that sends you personalized wardrobe choices based on your preferences, lifestyle and price point (you fill out a questionnaire to determine these bits).
Behind this service, of course, is a team of work-from-home stylists who pull together the outfits, client by client. Stylists get a rundown of the customer, then scramble to find something fabulous. Stylists must commit to working 15 to 30 hours per week and be available for an on-site training session in their city. Currently, Stitch Fix needs stylists in Austin, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco.
What it pays: About $15.50 per hour according to Glassdoor.
Apply here: Stitchfix.com/careers/styling
Melissa Heckscher
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Feature photo courtesy Pexels
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