Right now, close to 11 million single moms are raising over 20 million kids all by themselves. This statistic made me want to know more. I found out most of my thoughts were wrong. For instance, I thought single mom income would be half of a two-parent income. Wrong!
Most single moms make ¼ of what two-parent families earn.
I also didn’t realize there are so many dads out there not willing to help. According to the National Child Support Report, $39 billion (with a B) is owed in back child support to 29 million children of single moms.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 78% of all single-parent women are employed, and 45% of all single-parent women hold down more than one job.
Well, duh. If single moms are making less and not receiving child support, they must work one or two or more jobs. They need the money.
Because I know parenting can be a difficult job all by itself, I wanted to put together a list of side jobs that can help single moms make extra money but also allow them to keep their family as a priority.
Let’s start with the first idea for extra income, becoming a handywoman.
Handywoman
I chose the side job of plumbing because you are likely already fixing stuff in your home as a single mom. You’ve pulled toys from your toilet, unclogged drains in your sink and shower, and you can paint and hang pictures.
As a side job, handywomen can make $50 an hour. And you are in control of the jobs you take. If you aren’t confident laying tile in someone’s bathroom, you don’t have to. You can choose to take the small jobs that take little time but are easy for you to finish. What’s important is that you earn money from it.
You can work on small repair jobs outside of your regular job.
Your customer base can include other single moms, single dads, and the elderly to start. These groups would likely be happy to hire you to do the tasks they cannot do or don’t have the time to do. Your fee will always cost them less than it would if they hired a bigger construction company to do a small job.
Believe it or not, many bigger construction companies turn down small jobs. It’s not worth their time. This means there is a lot of opportunity for your side job to thrive.
You must check with your state regarding the requirements of certifications. Most states allow you to work as a handyman without a license if you earn below a certain amount of money. If you need training, you can check out online handyman training schools and associations.
All states will require you to obtain liability insurance and register your business with the government.
Make sure you purchase the right insurance for your handywoman goals. For instance, you don’t want to buy contractor insurance when you are doing quick jobs for your neighbors.
Handywoman jobs may lead you to think about becoming a home inspector.
Home Inspector
Becoming a home inspector is one of the good hustles for single moms. Home inspectors typically earn between $400 and $500 per inspection.
When someone is selling or buying a house, the buyer or the bank lending them money requests a home inspection. The home inspection helps buyers figure out costs that may appear due to needed repairs the homeowner may not have known about or disclosed.
It would be your job to inspect a home to make sure everything is built up to code and there are no hazards or structural damage that need repair. You will need to inspect the interior and exterior of the home, any buildings on the property such as sheds or detached garages, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Additionally, you will check everything from the roof to the foundation to accurately describe the residence. You can carry out a home inspection after regular work hours or weekends.
To become a home inspector, certification or licensure is required and, depending on your state, may require a few training courses. But with the earning potential within the industry, it is well worth the process.
Another lucrative full-time job within the same industry is locksmithing.
Lock Smith
Every time you pass a home, apartments, townhomes, commercial businesses, and hotels, think about all the doors in that building that require locks with keys.
As a locksmith, your average pay is $100 an hour. However, because you can earn a Locksmith certificate for less than $1000, you could recoup your investment with just ten locksmithing jobs.
Locksmithing jobs include helping people get into their cars when they have locked themselves out. You can also help people open safes when combinations are lost. Most of your jobs can come from families, landlords, building contractors, and realtors who need simple jobs in a short period.
To become a locksmith, you can complete an online program, like the one at Penn Foster. The course is self-paced, allowing you to complete assignments in your own hours. And you can have your certificate in as little as two months.
Drone Pilot
Drones are becoming a huge business. Farmers hire them to check crops, while brides hire them to take aerial wedding photos. Some people even hire drones to deliver packages. Real estate agents use drones to take 3D images to help them sell a home.
Your official job would be called a drone pilot. As a drone pilot, your fees will vary based on each job. But for many, $200 is their base fee, and it goes up from there.
This job sounds so cool. I mean, your kids can go to school and tell their friends you are a drone pilot. Better yet, you can take the drone to the school for in-person demonstrations.
Becoming a drone pilot is a lot easier than you may think. First, you will have to pay around $150 for a license and complete courses created and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Then, you can take the courses at an approved FAA testing center.
The FAA provides detailed instructions on becoming a remote drone pilot. They break the process down into three steps. First, Learn the rules. Second, get certified, and third, register your drone with the FAA.
Sitting
While getting paid to sit sounds awesome, this is not what it means. Sitting, in this case, means overseeing something important for another person while they are away. Pet sitting, babysitting, house sitting, and even farm sitting are some of the most popular sitting jobs.
Pet sitting is when you will either watch someone’s pet, no matter what type of pet it is, or ensure it is being fed, watered, and cared for while its owners are away. Dog walking is a part of pet sitting.
Babysitting is similar to pet sitting; only the baby is much more important than a pet. For this reason, some babysitters choose to get certified in CPR and First Aid. You can easily obtain these certificates at your local Red Cross or through the American Heart Association, which offers a pediatric-specific heart saver course.
Check with your local hospital for upcoming training if those aren’t available.
Some will prefer you to stay at their house while they are away when house sitting. This can turn into a nice getaway for you and your child, even if you are house-sitting down the street. In addition, House sitting keeps the home active while the homeowners are away, hoping to deter any potential thieves.
The same is true for farm sitting. However, you will likely feed the farm animals, which can be a little messier than pet sitting. So be sure and have a good pair of boots and get help from your kids. Farm sitting can be both fun and educational for you and your child.
Rent Property
If you have extra property lying around by some chance, find a way to rent it out. Even if it is land with no home, you can still rent it out.
You can lease wooded land to hunters and open farmland to hay or crop farmers. You can lease your land for wedding events and parties if it has barns. Additionally, you can rent land with homes to tenants.
Airbnb is quite popular these days, especially if you’re looking to make extra cash. Many see great financial rewards by renting out their property, whether one room, a whole house, or just a couch.
If you don’t have property, don’t invest in one unless you can pay cash. Going into debt to try and make an income will only become a bigger burden. I’ve learned the hard way. Debt is bad.
This doesn’t mean giving up, however. If you don’t have property, someone you know or don’t know may have something ready for rent. In addition, the owner may need you to manage their property, and they are willing to split the profits with you for keeping their property rented.
It becomes a side income for both of you.
Not all states require certification for those who manage properties. But you can check out programs like the Community Association Managers International Certification Board for ways to become certified. Having a certificate certainly sets you apart from the competition.
These are just a few of the hundreds of side hustles for single moms.
To find the best side job for you, one that works to benefit your family’s needs, take time to think it through. Do your research, get feedback from those already in the industry, and then decide on a side job.
Also, base your side job on your natural talents. Again, doing something that comes naturally will make the job feel more like a hobby and fun.
Some other extra income ideas I think could be interesting for single moms include:
Meal Prepper
If you have cooking skills, you can make money at any time. All those busy people you know would probably love to purchase a casserole or two to help them spend less time cooking during the week.
You cook it, freeze it, and deliver it to the customer. You can expand this to include full meals, including desserts.
Think about the amount of money people spend eating out. You will save people money and give families more time to spend together. The healthier meals you can create, the better.
You can go beyond your contacts and use online platforms to promote yourself. For example, social media platforms like Facebook marketplace and Instagram are excellent for showcasing your meals and attracting customers.
Rent Equipment
If you have the equipment, you can rent it to people who can’t afford to buy it. You can rent anything from a sewing machine to a lawnmower. Take inventory of the items you have around your house you can start renting today.
If you want to purchase equipment to rent, do so with cash. As mentioned before, debt causes stress, and you don’t want to be paying for a piece of equipment broken by a customer.
Plus, the less debt you have, the more money goes into your pocket.
Online Juror
Attorneys are clever these days, and to practice for big trials, they hire mock jurors to see how you would vote, based on the evidence they present. Of course, you can get paid for this. Crazy, right?
The side hustle ideas don’t end here. You can still do many things that take just a few hours daily and earn you a few hundred dollars.
Freelance Writing
Becoming a freelance writer is quite lucrative. You can earn big doing this and get to save money too. You don’t need a college degree in journalism, creative writing, or English to become a freelance writer.
So, what do you need?
You need basic writing skills, a niche topic you’re passionate about, a laptop and a decent internet connection, determination, and lots of patience. You can start searching for freelance writing jobs on freelancing websites if you have all these. There are several of them like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, etc.
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are in high demand these days and a great idea for stay-at-home moms. However, the average hourly pay is $20, depending on your employer.
Your job could be creating flyers, formatting newsletters, or writing email sequencing. You can also specialize, focusing on a particular niche. For example, you can go into social media management, become a data entry clerk, offer digital marketing services, or become a virtual administrative assistant.
Online Tutoring
Online tutoring is something you can do on your own schedule. If you are good at helping others learn and have a great deal of patience, this is for you. You can also tutor in person, giving you the flexibility you need as a single mom.
Ensure you pick the subjects you excel in and a time that works for you (like your spare time). Then, you can fix your rates but ensure your student can afford it. Aside from tutoring, you can sell online courses.
For instance, if you have gained experience in freelance writing, you can create courses for beginners. In addition, platforms like Udemy are great for an online course. Plus, by selling an online course, you make money online and will be on your way to financial freedom.
Sell Stuff Online
Another good side hustle for single moms is selling things online. You can sell things you no longer need and make good money from them. For example, you can make crafts or artwork and sell them on an online platform like Etsy. People shop online all the time, so making money selling online is a perfect side hustle idea.
Online Research
Online research may not be a very profitable side hustle, but it will fetch you extra money. Usually, this side hustle entails carrying out online surveys. You can try several survey sites, and you only need to spend a few minutes to a few hours there.
Social Media Manager
If you are a single mom searching for work and spend most of your time on social media sites, it’s time to convert it to money. You can handle one or more social media accounts. Most business owners who are not tech-savvy or very busy hire social media managers to promote their services and engage their customers.
The Takeaway
The key to finding the best side job for you as a single mom and earning money is to get creative. Solve a problem for people, even if they don’t know they have a problem. Make your family a priority, which means your side hustle should not interfere with family plans or relationships.
Think outside the “I’m a girl” box. You can do many jobs a man can do. And if you can’t, you can be the owner of a business that hires a man to do the job.
Start brainstorming today on side jobs where you can show off your talent, have fun, and increase your bank account balance. Show your ex what they are missing. Show your child how to be successful despite hardship. Show yourself you are a Rockstar because you are.
