Single moms are the unsung heroes when it comes to hard work and hustle. Balancing jobs, childcare, and parenting are stressful and no one knows the rigors of this better than a single mother. It takes a lot to provide a household for your children because, let’s face it, kids are expensive.
Having a job and being able to count on a regular paycheck is wonderful, however, sometimes it’s not enough to get by. Perhaps your job just doesn’t pay you enough, or maybe they aren’t providing you with enough hours. Whatever the reason, getting a second job may be the necessary next step.
There are several things to consider when thinking about getting a second job.
Before You Take on a 2nd Job
Check Your Spare Time
Your time is valuable. Finding extra hours in the day might be a challenge you face. Perhaps at night after the kiddos are in bed is all the extra time you have. Or maybe you work nights, so you’re free most of the day.
Figure out how much time you have to develop a second stream of income and try to stay within those parameters. Don’t commit yourself to something that requires more time than you have to give, you will set yourself up for failure. Know your limits and stay true to them.
If you’ve gone through your day and just don’t see where you have any spare time, then it may be time to re-prioritize your routine. According to Business Know-How, there are several things you can do to create extra time in your day.
- Make a to-do list the night before so you don’t get sidetracked with things that don’t matter. A mom planner is your new best friend.
- Avoid social media. This is a hard one but social media is one of the biggest time wasters out there.
- Learn how to say NO. Don’t burn yourself out with obligations that take away from your new priorities.
Don’t Overwork Yourself
The point of a side hustle is to earn extra money and improve the lifestyle for you and your children. If you find yourself putting in lots of hours with minimal compensation then consider changing something.
For example, let’s say you make jewelry and sell it online. If it takes you 5 hours to make a bracelet but you sell it for only 20 dollars, you aren’t actually making any money. You would have to raise your prices. This may take some trial and error until you find a balance that works for you.
Pick Something You’ll Enjoy
It’s hard to want to work every day if you don’t enjoy what your doing. For this reason, pick a second job that you genuinely enjoy doing, it will feel less like work. If you are an introvert, don’t apply to be a bartender. Or if you love meeting new people, maybe stay away from jobs where you work at home on your laptop all day.
Get a Support Network
Single moms shoulder a huge responsibility. Because of this, it’s vital that you have people around you that you can trust and count on when you need help. A good group of friends or family can be wonderfully helpful for moms who do it all and can use helping hands.
Support groups are also great places to make connections. Search websites like MeetUp and Facebook, where you’ll find local groups to provide support, make new friendships, or even just commiserate.
Job Considerations for Single Moms
Is It A Scam?
A good rule of thumb is if you see something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Scams like these can be spotted in a number of ways, here are some things to look out for:
- The promise of a large paycheck while requiring minimal work
- Vague descriptions of the job position
- You are asked to invest a small (or large) amount of money upfront
Unfortunately, scams are out there and they prey on those desperate to make extra money. Don’t be fooled by them.
What About MLM’s? (Multi-Level Marketing)
Most people at some point have been invited by friends to MLM parties. Whether it be in-person or through Facebook for things like cleaning products, clothes, and even food.
Should you get involved in an MLM? Well, the jury is split on this one. Some swear it’s a legitimate way to earn extra income, while others warn of its manipulative nature. If you are unsure where you stand, here is an article that explains in detail how MLMs work.
Before you sign on to any do your research and understand fully what you are getting yourself into. If the prospect of asking your friends and family to host parties for you doesn’t sound appealing, then this probably isn’t the job for you.
Is It Long Term or Temporary?
Something to think about is whether this job is a long-term solution or a short-term fix. Maybe your long-term goal is to have your side hustle transition into your full-time job? Or perhaps you’re in a tough financial spot and just need a temporary boost? Figuring out what needs this job is meant to fulfill is important to know before you start your search.
If you’re having trouble figuring out what the best route for you is, there are some ways to help sort it out in your mind. Be clear and honest with yourself.
- Work backward. Where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years? What steps need to happen to get you there? What type of job do you need right now today to start the ball rolling? In this situation, a long-term job would likely be best.
- Are you in a good place? If you’re happy with where your life is, then maybe your goals aren’t on such a large scale. Paying off some debt or buying a new car, etc. are great reasons to get a short-term second job.
Is It Flexible?
Single moms understand the importance of flexibility when it comes to raising kids while also holding down a job. If you’d like to spend more time with your children then look for jobs that allow you to work from home or bring your kids along with you.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If your parents live nearby they may love the chance to watch your little one so you can work in the evening. Look for jobs that fit your unique situation and allow you to work the hours you need.
Who’s The Boss?
There are perks to working for a company such as receiving a steady paycheck, having predictable hours, and being able to tap into their benefits or discounts. While those are all nice, perhaps you’d rather use this opportunity to start your own side business. Being your own boss and deciding your own hours makes this an appealing option for a lot of moms.
You will find pros and cons for both options. Do you prefer the security that working for a company provides? Or do you want to venture out on your own? If you want to start your own business but you don’t know where to begin, you can find inspiration through other moms who have been already successfully done it.
Where to Look for a 2nd Job
Lots of places provide job opportunities, here are a few good places to start.
- Fiverr is a great option for flexible short-term jobs. It’s especially good for digital or freelance jobs. Create a profile describing your skills, and clients hire you. Look at different popular profiles to see what makes them stand out. Try to follow their formula.
- Craigslist is a good place to find local jobs. These are mostly temporary, seasonal, or trade-type jobs.
- LinkedIn is one of the best places to look for jobs. Your contacts can be a great resource if you put your job skills out there and let people know you’re looking. Being able to search for any job both locally or remotely makes LinkedIn an appealing choice.
- Indeed, CareerBuilder and Monster (as well as other job engines like these) are fantastic options. Simply upload your resume and start your search.
- UpWork and Bark are the ones to use if you are committed to freelance work. These sites cover all types of freelance work – from writing to bookkeeping to being a virtual assistant.
- Google Job Alerts are easy to set up and it does most of the legwork for you. Search your desired job and turn on the ‘alert’ function, it will notify you of any jobs found throughout the internet.
- FlexJobs caters to those looking to work remotely. As the name suggests, most of the jobs listed have flexible work hours, which is perfect for a second job.
- Idealist offer jobs that give back. Get an internship or work for a nonprofit. There are also volunteer opportunities on here as well.
- RealMatch is similar to a dating site. They gather your info and pair you with your best job match. Your perfect match awaits.
- Women For Hire is a site with a special level of support for women. Many of these jobs also offer child care.
- Word Of Mouth is often underrated but it’s one of the best ways to get your name out there. Someone somewhere has the means to help you achieve your goal, they just have to be able to find you.
The Top 29 Side Jobs for Single Moms
Here is an extensive list of varying types of jobs that would make good side gigs. While there are many more options out there, this is a good place to start to get your creative juices flowing.
English Language Teacher
If you have a college degree of any kind, you can teach young students one on one via the internet how to speak English. There are companies such as Vipkid or PalFish (PalFish does NOT require a degree) who pair you up with children from China for 30-minute teaching sessions.
Follow prepared lesson plans for each child, teaching as many or as few sessions as you want. Because of the time difference between the USA and China, teaching hours take place very early in the morning before your own children wake up.
Before and After School Child Care Provider
If your own children take the bus to and from school, it wouldn’t be hard to take on a few extra kids in the morning and afternoon for an hour or so. As long as there are working parents there will be a need for before and after school care. You won’t have to look too far to find families in need of this. Post on your neighborhood Facebook page or put the word out on your street.
Care.com is another option to try if you are interested in child care. Offering overnight or weekend child care is a way to work it around your current job.
Customer Service Phone Rep
If you don’t mind talking on the phone this might be for you. Most big companies employ people to answer incoming customer service calls. While there are call centers for this, more and more places such as Capital One or Jetblue are hiring and allowing employees to do this work from home. Some positions even provide you with a laptop if you don’t have a computer.
Due to varying time zones and depending on where you live, being a customer service phone rep could fit perfectly around the hours of your day job.
Etsy Store Owner
If you have a passion for making things, starting up an Etsy store is a great option for some side income.
Upcycler
Take something old and make it new again. If you have an eye for finding free or cheap furniture, give it a facelift with a fresh coat of paint and resell for a profit. Facebook marketplace or Craigslist are great places to sell things like this.
Personal Stylist
Do you consider yourself a fashionista? Companies like StitchFix hire fashion-savvy folks as personal stylists to put together outfits for customers based on their preferences.
Baker
If baking is your outlet, consider making money doing it. The beauty of this job is you can take on as many or as few orders as you have time for. Birthday cakes are always in demand.
Event Center Staff
Convention centers, hotels, or concert venues need lots of help when they hold big events. Helping people find their seats to being a ticket taker are some of the jobs you can do. Pick and choose which events work best with your schedule.
A perk of working big events like this is you can usually stay and watch it for free.
Part-Time Server
Restaurants and bars are busiest during the evenings and weekends. If you love meeting new people and don’t mind being on your feet, consider being a server.
Food Deliverer
Having food delivered right to your front is popular these days. Companies like Door Dash and Uber Eats are in high demand. Pick your own hours and even bring your kids along with you.
Grocery shopping and delivery is also a big business with places like Instcart or Shipt.
Petsitter or Dog Walker
If you’re an animal lover then you should think about petsitting or becoming a dog walker. Both of these are always in demand especially during the summer months and around holidays. This is also a great job to involve your kids in and expose them to different types of animals.
House Cleaner
Some people really enjoy cleaning and organizing. If this sounds like you then this might be the perfect side job. Cleaning houses is something you can do on your off days or weekends. Another option would be to clean businesses after hours.
Virtual Assistant
Do you know your way around basic technology? Become a virtual assistant for busy business owners who don’t have enough time in the day for everything. Some tasks include answering emails, scheduling social media posts, make travel arrangements, etc.
Freelance Writer
This is a great option if you enjoy writing. Work it around your daily schedule. Find a topic you are passionate about and start writing. Search websites and magazines that cover topics you find interesting and inquire about becoming a writer for them. Plus, as long as you have a laptop, you can work anywhere, making it a very flexible option.
Photographer
This may require a small investment if you don’t already own a camera. There are lots of niches you can specialize in, like newborn photos, family photos, wedding photos, etc. ‘Mini sessions’ for children are also popular these days and can easily be done on weekends.
Medical Coder
Work in the medical field by interpreting and turning medical records into codes for insurance company billing purposes.
Closed Captioning/Subtitle Producer
New video content is produced every day in every genre. The need for writing closed captioning and subtitles is out there.
Online Teacher
If you have a marketable skill, consider making money by teaching it to others. Websites such as Outschool or Udemy make it easy to create courses on any topic you can think of. Are you amazing at basket weaving? Create a class to help someone else learn it. Are you a fly fishing expert? Share your knowledge while also making money.
Substitute Teacher
Substitute teaching doesn’t require a degree, although you may be asked to take a class or two depending on your district. Accept only the jobs you want and pass on the ones you don’t.
Notary
Notaries are important and needed for all types of documents. Although this can’t be counted on as a steady form of income, it will likely be sporadic and infrequent. However, it’s a good skill to have under your belt that you can use wherever you go.
Disney Vacation Planner
If you consider yourself a Disney buff, this is perfect for you. Disney hires and pays people to help families plan their entire vacations. Job responsibilities include: find and book lodging, organize and schedule activities, and offer tips for making a Disney trip more enjoyable.
Online Tutor
Companies like Tutor.com or Tutorme.com offer online tutoring for anything from Algebra to piano lessons and everything in between. Get paired with a student and facilitate regular online sessions with them.
Survey Taker
Get paid for your opinions on sites such as Usertesting.com. You are required to watch or read something then answer questions about it. Get paid up to 10 dollars per 20 minutes, so the more surveys you take the more money you make.
Amazon Driver
If you’ve ever ordered anything from Amazon you’ll know they deliver packages at all hours of the day. You can set your own hours and even use your own car.
Car Advertiser
Make a little passive income with wrapify.com. Temporarily wrap your car with a company name and drive around town as an advertisement for them. This would be a good option coupled with a job that has you driving a lot.
Clothing Resale Specialist
Online consignment stores are becoming more and more popular these days. Apps like Poshmark and Mercari are both great places to showcase and sell your clothes for a profit. You can also sell children’s clothes, shoes, and jewelry as well.
Uber or Lyft Driver
Drivers are in demand especially in bigger cities or around airports. You can make your own hours and drive your own car with companies like Uber and Lyft.
Landlord
If you have a spare bedroom in your home and you feel comfortable doing so, renting it out is a great option. College students or professional working adults often prefer renting a room from someone rather than pay for an apartment. Use a thorough screening process when considering prospective tenants, so you and your kids feel comfortable.
Another great option if you have space is to register with Airbnb or VRBO. Make your space available to those who are looking for a short-term rental.
Bookkeeper
Most companies need bookkeepers to help keep their records straight throughout the year. This is a job you can do in your spare time and on weekends. Take on as many or as few clients as you want.
Conclusion
There is no shame in needing a second job. Side hustles are becoming increasingly popular these days with people wanting to make extra money doing something in their spare time. Plus, the extra money lessens your financial stress and helps you provide more for your kids.
Having more than one income is actually a very smart way to live according to Passive Income M.D, who encourages people to have several streams of income coming in. This also helps ensure that when you fall on hard times or perhaps face losing your job, you are still able to get by.
Hopefully, all his information helps you with your efforts to have a little more cash flow every month!
