15+ High-Paying Second Jobs for Single Moms to Make Extra Money from Home

Let’s face it, being a single mom (or dad) is not easy.

Being a single mom or a single dad is hard work, but we want to make things easier.

You are always short of time, you have no support for emotional or financial help, and you feel pressured to provide for your family.

You might be looking at starting a side job because you need to make extra money just to get by. You can put extra cash into savings, college funds, or your retirement. In fact, that’s why most single moms need to look for a second or third job. 

I hope to answer all the following questions through this blog: 

What can a single mother do to make money? What are the highest-paying jobs for single moms? How can a single mother become financially stable? How do single moms start making money? How can single moms survive without help? How can a single parent get a job? What are the ways single moms can earn money with a flexible schedule? 

How To Select The Best Second Job as a Single Mom

How To Select The Best Second Job As A Single Mom
How To Select The Best Second Job as a Single Mom

Having a side hustle while being a single mom will allow you to go stress-free when it comes to paying bills.

You can have a vacation you always dreamed of with your children without thinking about money too much. We all know about the many benefits of having a side hustle as a single mom.

What should be your criteria to select the best second job as a single mom?

Well, first of all, it should be child-friendly. It must sink in with your child’s schedule. You could 

It should either be low on investment or zero on investment. If you pick something that costs a lot of money, then why do it?

It must be as flexible as possible. You can’t be too strict with your second job because of the number of responsibilities. It should fit your schedule and let you work from anywhere.

It should pay you good money, that’s the bottom line. It needs to be worth it since you will be taking so much effort to fit it into your schedule.

20 High-Paying Second Jobs for Single Moms – Work from Home

Single moms often struggle financially and often need to make extra money, so these top 20 side hustles for single moms to start in 2022.

You may find yourself short on time, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the necessities. Instead, you’ll be pleased to know there are easy side hustles for single moms to earn a little extra money.

We’re here to share 20 ways to make extra cash as a single mom.

Read on, you might find the one for you which suits your schedule and interests like a dream.

1. Make Money From Your Hobby

Make Money From Your Hobby Baking Cupcakes
Make Money From Your Hobby – Baking Cupcakes

Often, moms forget what they really like doing.

Let me ask you, do you make time for things that make you happy? This is your chance to relive your interests and make money out of them.

It could be creating craft products. If art & crafts aren’t your things, what about baking? You could bake cupcakes and other delicious foods in your spare time and sell them to your friends and family.

You can work and create at your own pace (perfect for a single and working mom), plus you’ll have fun in the process. You could even make this a fun bonding hobby by including your kids in all the making & baking.

Pick up any hobby you have and then think of ways to make money out of it. If there’s something you’re really good at, you can teach that skill to someone, use social media to show your talent, or offer your service at a freelance marketplace. If it is a product or service, try to sell it online.

2. Freelance Graphic Designing

Freelance Graphic Designing Second Job For Creative Moms
Freelance Graphic Designing – Second Job for Creative Moms

If you’re a good graphic designer, then you can definitely leverage your talent into making more money. Advertise on many sites, especially in places you’re already getting traffic for other products and services you sell. 

Graphic design is definitely a field where there is a large need for skilled professionals. If you have a real talent for it, work hard and stick to it. 

There is definitely a market for graphic design. You can create and sell templates, take workshops or webinars, design fonts, work with different clients as a freelancer, etc. Once you’re done creating templates, you just need to market them.

It is easy to find graphic designing work on freelance job platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, etc.

4. Start Your Own Etsy Store

Ecommerce Business Popular Second Job For Single Moms
Ecommerce Business – Popular Second Job for Single Moms

If you’re creative and can make your own jewelry or clothing, then this could be the perfect side hustle.

An Etsy shop can start off as a side hustle and then turn into a full-time gig, as it has for thousands of creative entrepreneurs. 

What can you sell on an Etsy store? You can sell Jewellery, handmade items, craft supplies, clothes, vintage products, home/party/wedding-related items, paintings, stickers, etc.

Just find something which is easy for you to procure or make and open your Etsy shop.

The investment required for an Etsy store is Zero. Here is a step by step guide to starting an Etsy store.

Online platforms like Shopify & Etsy make it easy to build a beautiful eCommerce website in minutes. Whatever you decide, making and selling is a great side hustle for single moms.

5. Get Paid To Talk To People Online

Get Paid To Talk To People Online
Get Paid To Talk To People Online

We are not joking. You can actually get paid for talking to people online. 

These days people are more connected to technology than to people around them. They often feel lonelier than ever these days, but technology doesn’t make them feel any better. They need someone to share their feelings with and you can become that ‘someone’. 

It seems that there are many different platforms for helping lonely people meet new virtual friends. You can get paid to provide advice, help people, and give them a chance to vent here. The most popular options among them are Rent a Friend, and Fiverr

6. Become A Virtual Assistant

Virtual Assistant - Trending Side Hustle For Single Moms
Virtual Assistant – Trending Side Hustle for Single Moms

We’re all unique and have special skills, talents, or areas of expertise.

You can make a lot of money if you’re good at what you do. 

Being organized or communicating well is one of the best traits of a leader. There are many jobs online as freelance virtual assistant jobs. Being a virtual assistant is quite high in demand these days.

A virtual assistant would usually do tasks such as scheduling appointments, making phone calls, making travel arrangements, and managing email. It could also include creating a poster, proofreading a blog, or reviewing a product

Upwork is one of the top freelance platforms. It makes it super easy to find jobs you can work from home.

Setting your own pay rate is the key to making more money and can fulfill one of the criteria mentioned in deciding on the best second jobs for single moms. You post the jobs you want to complete and the fee you want to charge.

7. Put Your Writing Skills To Use and start Freelance Writing

Put Your Writing Skills To Use And Start Freelance Writing
Start Freelance Writing

Write. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to monetize your writing skills will vary depending on your interests and experience.

However, some possible ways to monetize your writing skills include writing for online publications, ghostwriting, providing writing services to clients, writing textbooks, or write & sell short stories. 

With a little practice, you can also edit other people’s work and even write speeches for yourself.

If there’s a hidden teacher in you somewhere, then you can even consider tutoring people on how to write. Maybe you could also create a course including step by step guide on how to write good content and sell it online. Some people might want to pay you to get better at it 

Similar to proofreading, freelance writing is also one of the popular ideas single moms are interested in nowadays.

You can easily find a freelance writing job on online platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, etc. Freelance writing job is one of the best side hustles single moms consider for extra money. 

8. Sell Your Stock Photos Online

Sell Your Stock Photos Online
Sell Your Stock Photos Online

I wish I had the skills to create stock images as beautifully as those on the website. I enjoy looking at things that are visually appealing, but I struggle with creating them myself.

If you know how to use a professional HD camera, creating and selling stock photos could be hugely profitable for you. 

Stock photos are not just beautiful but very useful. It could be a wildly profitable side hustle for single moms if you know your way around a camera. You can either sell your photos through a stock photo marketplace like Adobe Stock, Canva, Getty Images, Shutterstock, or Wirestock or set up your own website.

9. Fulfillment by Amazon

Fulfillment By Amazon
Fulfillment by Amazon

Fulfillment by Amazon can be used to make an additional stream of income if you have an online shop and if you have been selling on eBay or Etsy for some time.

In a nutshell, the strategy involves buying items at discounted prices and then selling those products at Amazon.com. When you’re shopping on Amazon, make sure to take a look at the buying options.

If you see an item that has a badge showing “Available from third-party sellers” odds are that’s an item sold through the FBA Program. The Selling Family is making a healthy income with Amazon FBA. This idea is different than other side hustles because it’s a good way to get started while you’re still in school.

10. Provide Proofreading Services

Provide Proofreading Services
Provide Proofreading Services

Want to make money reading? It’s easy to get started. You can work as little or as 3-4 hours a week. 

Whether you’re a single mom or a stay-at-home dad, you don’t have to be limited to one profession when you can have a side hustle. Proofreading is a side hustle that’s very flexible for single moms. It would mean having a keen eye for detail, but again, it isn’t something that requires a fancy degree to do. 

If you need to brush up on your skills, learn the basics of capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and grammar before you get started. 

Where could you find proofreading work? You can find proofreading jobs on top platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, ProofreadingServices.Com, LinkedIn, Lionbridge, etc. You could even make your own clients by approaching companies for proofreading work. 

11. Become A Consultant

Consultant - High Paying Side Hustle For Single Moms
Consultant – High Paying Side Hustle for Single Moms

If you’ve been working for some time now, you might have developed some expertise. Let your expertise benefit both people and you. Start offering consultant services. 

As a consultant, you can be a bit creative when it comes to generating passive income and try your hands on blogging, posting videos, and coaching.

You should also write at least one book on consulting – this shouldn’t be difficult if you’re an experienced consultant. Selling books may take a while but they are also a great way to impress your current and potential clients.

12. Social Media Management

Social Media Management
Social Media Management

You spend a lot of time on social media, and if you enjoy it, it may be very well that you can turn that hobby into a source of income.

Social media started out primarily as something of a cyber toy, but now it’s becoming a major marketing tool for businesses.

If you’re an expert in any of the major social media platforms, you can easily create a money-making niche for yourself by leveraging your expertise and knowledge to build a large following.

In today’s business world, you don’t need to be a full-time employee or in a traditional career path to have a successful social media management career.

It’s a career that’s expanding, offering new possibilities and options. When you’re just starting out in the business world, your job is just to learn the ropes – there is a lot of growth potential there.

13. Flipping Blogs/Domains For Cash

Flip Blogs Domains For Cash - A Perfect Side Hustle If You Have Surplus For Investment
Flip Blogs Domains for Cash – A Perfect Side Hustle if You have Surplus for Investment

If you don’t have time to start a blog or feel it’s an overwhelming job to do, you can flip blogs. It is kind of like flipping houses. You buy a domain at a discount and resell it for profit.

It sounds simple enough. But there’s something of an art to it. You need to be able to spot those domains that have the best potential to resell.

When you buy a blog, you just don’t sell it the way you received it. You must add some content, add plugins, renovate it, and promote the site on social media. Making that effort would be worth it.

You can buy or sell a blog/website on Flippa and consider selling a domain on Namecheap Market or GoDaddy Auctions.

14. Write and Sell ebooks

Write And Sell Ebooks
Write and Sell ebooks

You can make money easily by selling ebooks online. If you’re great at writing, this may be the perfect business for you.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a single dad, or a full-time working mom, a side hustle can be a way to earn money. 

Most experts who’ve had success have published at least one book.

Gordon Ramsay has published several cookbooks, Dr. Phil has penned quite a few books on psychology, and James McKinsey has written several books on accounting. It doesn’t matter what kind of expert you are – if you want to do well, you must get your book published. 

Even if you don’t generate much income directly from selling books on Amazon (or any other platform), it might help you indirectly when potential clients read your book, approach you, and then ultimately hire you for a highly paid project.

It’s never too late to write a book, but if you want to build a successful career in this profession, then you need to start now.

Writing books is a marathon. You do it because you love the topic, and hopefully, other people will benefit from your insights. It’s never an easy thing to make it to the finish line.

You can sell your ebooks via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

15. Mystery Shopping

Mystery Shopping - An Easy Side Job For Single Moms
Mystery shopping – An Easy Side Job for Single Moms

Shopping is an important part of many moms’ lives, from grocery shopping to buying for kids, and it’s something that you’re good at. You won’t believe it when I say that you can even make money by shopping. 

Wouldn’t it be great to make some extra money by turning your shopping skills into an opportunity? 

What do mystery shoppers do? They shop in a store to assess the customer experience.

Instacart & Shipt are sites that allow you to do the shopping and get paid for it and reimburse for what you bought. This means you don’t have to pay for what you bought and get paid for the act of shopping. Sounds like a dream job, doesn’t it?

The flexible schedules available make it a great way for working mothers to boost their income. 

Here are a couple of the best Mystery Shopping companies you should explore – BestMark, IntelliShop, Secret Shopper, etc.

16. Make Money by Babysitting

Make Money By Babysitting
Make Money by Babysitting

Babysitting may be your ideal way to earn some extra money, especially if you have some time on your hands.

Whether you’re raising kids or not, you’ll love having another baby around.

You won’t have to leave your house to order. It’s both a great way to earn some extra income, and also give your children some extra fun with some company.

It’s a win-win!

Word-of-mouth is the best way to find babysitting jobs. Tell your friends and family that you are available, as well as your mom’s friends at school.

Also, post an ad on craigslist and social media to get a lot of exposure. To make money from this side hustle, you need just a few loyal customers.

Want to earn even more money? Consider extending your babysitting duties to pet-sitting. If you live near a family that has a lot of dogs, you may be able to get paid to watch them.

17. Online Transcription Jobs – Get Paid to Type

Get Paid For Typing - Easy Side Hustle For Single Moms
Get Paid for Typing – Easy Side Hustle for Single Moms

If you prefer typing over reading, then becoming an online transcriptionist might be for you.

And you don’t need a lot of money or extensive training to get started as an online transcriptionist. All you need to have is a smoothly working PC, a headset, and a high-speed internet connection.

You could find the most lucrative transcription opportunities for freelance platforms like GoTranscript, Rev, Upwork, Fiverr, etc. Transcribing could really open a steady stream of income.

18. Make Money with Affiliate Marketing

Make Money With Affiliate Marketing
Make Money with Affiliate Marketing

“Affiliate marketing” is a marketing technique in which you earn a commission on marketing a product or service provided by another company.

Unlike a regular job that needs you to work regularly to continue earning, affiliate marketing allows you to make money when you sleep. With some initial investment in time and effort, you can earn big continually whenever someone buys through your link.

The best way to get started with affiliate marketing is to build an online community for your blog, create an e-commerce website, upload videos to YouTube, and have a strong social media presence. Find affiliate programs that align with your niche and expertise level.

19. Create And Sell Courses Online

Create And Sell Courses Online
Create And Sell Courses Online

We’re all qualified to teach someone to do something we want to learn ourselves.

You could sell knitting patterns, Tarot card readings, or maybe even teach a cooking class on making homemade pizza dough!

Of course, you have to work to make and create your course in the beginning, but once you have, you could continue selling it for years to come completely passively.

Creating and selling courses to make money is trending nowadays and one of the great business ideas single moms should consider for long-term income.

For example, if you are a business consultant who has worked in a Fortune 500 company for 10 years, you could create an online course to teach young graduates how to prepare for job interviews at Fortune 500 companies.

You can offer a course on any other topics which are related to your expertise.

Selling courses are always a good source of passive income because they are very easy to create and there is usually no need to update them. How to sell courses? There are platforms like Skillshare that allow you to earn money by selling courses, but the earnings are not fixed.

You can sell your course on SkillShare, or Udemy for a one-time fee, or even just charge a monthly subscription.

20. Consider Tutoring

Tutoring - Side Hustle Single For Moms
Tutoring – Side Hustle Single for Moms

If you’re looking for a way to earn more money with less effort, tutoring is one of the best side hustles for single moms who have a great deal of patience. 

If you’ve been helping your kids with their homework lately, you know what a hair-pulling experience that is. If you have a knack for helping your kids with math problems or anything else school-related, tutoring might be a great side hustle for single moms.

Online and in-person are the two ways to tutor. Online is often the most flexible for single moms.

You can choose which subjects you want to teach, set your own hours, and choose your rate. Tutoring is a low-maintenance side hustle, it’s low stress and low hassle.

Wrapping it up – Side Hustle for Single Moms

The possibilities are endless. Find a side hustle you enjoy, work at a job you’ve always wanted, or make that extra income as a working mom. When you have a solid foundation of side hustles, you’ll be prepared for any financial emergencies that might arise.

Have you started a side hustle or have any tips for single moms? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Editorial Team at TerraTale is a group of individuals and experts, who write about their experiences and learnings on a variety of subjects that anyone can connect with and reflect upon.

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