When you become a parent, you are inundated with advice from friends, family, acquaintances, and even random people in an airport. Ask me how I know. ? They will tell you everything you need to know about changing diapers, sleepless nights, potty training, temper tantrums, etc. What everyone fails to mention, is just how much it costs to raise a child. Diapers, wipes, food, extracurriculars, and more adds up to quite a bit. When you add in the price of daycare, these days, more often than not, it’s more cost effective to be a stay-at-home parent. That said, quitting your day job does not mean your income has to stop too! It’s very possible to earn extra money when you’re a full time parent.
We’ve all heard that money can’t buy happiness. However, it can help eliminate the stress of wondering how you’re going to make ends meet with less income than before. All the more reason to give a side hustle a try! It’s not only a great way to reduce stress, but also a way to line your pockets and help you prepare for any emergency that might come your way. With that in mind, here are a few ways you can earn extra money as a stay-at-home parent.
Start A Blog
Did you know that was the first thing I was going to say? Haha! Starting a blog about a topic that you’re passionate about is great way to earn extra money on the side. It’s also a wonderful way to connect with the outside world while you’re stuck at home with your kids. I love the creative outlet blogging offers me.
Work The Stock Market
Have you seen the news lately about what happened with Game Stop and the stock market? Wow. Just wow. So many people made so much extra money in just a few days. If you have experience in stock market trading, forex trading, or cryptocurrency, you can put your knowledge to the test. I’m moving out of my comfort zone with those suggestions, but I’ve heard MT4 (Market Trader 4) is a great platform to use if you’re just getting started. It has an easy-to-use interface that makes it one of the most popular trading platforms worldwide helping countless people earn extra money on the side.
Sell Outgrown Clothes
Children grow so quickly, meaning as soon as they’ve worn a new outfit once or twice, it’s time to shop for more. You’ll probably end up spending more money on clothes than anything else. Reselling gently used clothes online or at consignment shops is far better than letting them gather dust in your wardrobe!
Start Your Own Business
This sounds so daunting, right? You can do it! Launching your own small business is another great way in which you can earn extra money as a stay-at-home parent. Start small, and focus on something that truly interests you, something you’re passionate about. I have several friends and family members who have done just that! It can baking, arts and crafts, coaching; the list goes on.
Photography
If you’re a talented photographer – or have captured the odd lucky shot once in a while ?, you can earn money by selling photographs to stock photo companies. This also means that more people get to see and enjoy your photographs. If you want, you could focus on building a business around photography too!
Online Focus Groups
This can be a really fun, because you essentially get paid for voicing your own opinion. You can do things like virtual market research, secret shopping, surveys and might even receive some free products to try out too! Do a quick Google search for ‘online focus groups’ and you’ll find a ton of resources to get you started.
Work Remotely
Keep an eye out for online positions – which seem to be growing in availability over current months due to the popularity of remote working. While some positions are full-time, many companies are also looking for part-time or freelance staff to support them with administrational duties and tasks. This is the kind of work that you could typically complete when your kids are sleeping or taking a nap!
Whatever you decide to do to earn extra money on the side, make sure it’s something you enjoy. It’ll be much easier to keep yourself motivated and pushing onward if your side hustle is something you’re really passionate about. You may end up feeling like you’re getting paid to just do what you would normally do anyway!
Talk soon!
