…And no, you do not have to join and MLM!
What’s the one job which comes with unlimited hours, constantly having to move around, being on-call 24/7, no breaks longer than 5 minutes, and no 401(k) (or even a salary)? That’s right, it’s called being a parent. And being a stay-at-home parent is the most underpaid and undervalued job in the world.
Most stay-at-home parents will tell you that they still cherish this “job” because they get to spend a lot of time with their kids and be there for all their milestones. Plus, this is the only job that allows you to wear pajamas to work! But they wouldn’t deny that it would be nice to see a little money for all the work they put in.
If this is you, the good news is that you definitely can build up a side hustle even if your day is packed with kid-related duties. Thankfully, this does not involve joining an MLM. So, go ahead and hit delete on those messages we all know you get from that long-lost friend or colleague.
Here are 6 legitimate ways for stay-at-home parents to make money on the side.
Watch Videos During Naptime
Let’s be honest, you’re doing that already, so why not try to make some money while you’re at it?
It may seem too good to be true, but it absolutely is! A website called Inbox Dollars pays you to watch short video clips online and answer a few quick questions about them afterward. And you don’t have to end up watching boring videos because you get to choose what you want to watch.
While it’s not exactly a full-time job, you can end up making up to $225 per month watching these videos – 56 million others have already cashed in! Signing up takes less than two minutes and you get a bonus of $5 to get started!
Get Gift Cards Every Time Your Grocery Shop
Grocery shopping with kids in tow is nothing short of an adventure. If you manage to make it back home with everything on the list, plus all the kids in one piece, you deserve a treat – and a gift card!
A free app called Fetch Rewards will help you do just that. You can get gift cards for buying over 250 products, ranging from toilet paper to frozen goods. All you have to do is take a picture of your receipt showing your purchase of a brand or item listed in Fetch and upload it to the app. In return, you will earn gift cards to places like Walmart or Amazon. Fetch Rewards has already been downloaded over a million times, so hurry up and get on the bandwagon!
Earn Diaper Loyalty Rewards
If you’ve got kids who are still in diapers, you know that those dirty nappies can really take be a real stinking problem to your bank account. Don’t even try calculating how many of those you end up using throughout the year. Trust me, it will make your head spin.
The good news is that you can at least try to cut down on diaper costs by joining loyalty programs. Lots of popular brands have them, offering discounts and coupons, or even cash! For example, joining the Pampers Club app can help you earn cashback points for each diaper or wipes code you scan. You can even earn up to $50 for filling up your diaper pail!
Dig Around Your Budget for Extra Money
Remember how excited you got as a kid when you dug around the couch cushions and found a few coins? Well, digging around your budget is the adult version of that.
There are always adjustments and amendments you can make that will help you save a few bucks. Maybe you no longer use that streaming service which you subscribed to because your child insisted on watching only that cartoon that was available on it at the time, or maybe you can cancel that gym membership you signed up for in the determination of losing those pregnancy pounds but never have the time to actually go to.
You can also save money on things like car insurance payments by shopping for options every 6 months or so. There are several websites that help you compare car insurance prices in your area. Doing so regularly has helped some people save around $500 a year!
Become a Minimalist
Or, you know, just clean out your closet. The one which is filled to the brim with things you don’t use anymore – clothes and toys your kids have outgrown, kitchen utensils that you didn’t unpack the last time you moved, miscellaneous junk, and etc.
Throw a garage sale or sell it online on the Facebook marketplace – whatever medium you choose, it’s time to get rid of all that stuff! There are also several apps and websites where you can sell your used stuff. You will be freeing up some space in your home and making some dough at the same time. What’s not to love about that idea?
Have a Side Hustle
Let’s be honest, having a side hustle when you have young kids at home can be challenging for stay-at-home parents, but that does not mean it’s impossible.
Your lack of free time may make those multi-level-marketing schemes seem desirable, but don’t give in to the temptation! There’s little to no chance of making any reasonable amount of money in an MLM unless you’re pretty high up the corporate chain. And spending money to make money is only a good idea if we’re talking about the stock market (or business).
If your kids are in school or daycare for part of the day, you could consider side gigs like driving, food shopping, or delivery. But if that’s not the case, you can still rustle something up if you look hard enough.
If you’ve got qualifications and/or experience from your pre-kid days, that’s the best place to start! Look for freelance or part-time jobs in the industry you are familiar with. The good news is that more companies are offering such jobs these days than ever before. This way, you can set your own hours and make a good enough earning from it too. If you don’t have any “special” skills, you can still go for freelance jobs like data entry, copywriting, contact tracing, etc.
