If you’re a single parent, cash is often in short supply. You’re in reduced circumstances, relying on one salary after perhaps years of two salaries and plenty of resources for living a comfortable life. Adjusting to a new financial reality can be difficulty, and plenty wonder if a side gig for single parents might help ease the burden.
Many people try to settle and just get used to it, but if you possess born-business owner personality traits (including being adaptable, being a problem solver, a risk-taker, and tenacious), you may be the perfect candidate to grow a profitable side business and even turn a skill into a career. In fact, if you have a particular skill or hobby, you’re almost guaranteed a way to make decent money from it. This can be a real godsend if you’re trying to get ahead of your finances.
Let’s take a closer look at some viable opportunities.
1. Writing
Have you discovered you really enjoy writing and have a knack for it? That’s great news for you and your family because there are innumerable ways to make good money writing as a side gig for single parents. There are plenty of websites that look for quality web-based marketing content on a variety of subjects they can sell to their clients. Some sites don’t pay a lot at first, but it’s a good way to put together some good writing samples you can use to market yourself.
Blog content is another excellent way to establish yourself as a writer. Some sites may even pay you a bonus if you’ve written a post or content that makes them a lot of money. It could even be the start of you contracting.
2. Website design
Gen X’ers and Millennials have grown up with the Internet and, for many of them, writing code and creating their own sites is second nature. You can turn this skill into a profitable side gig by marketing yourself online. Don’t forget using business or social media contacts to spread the word too.
Web design is always in demand, by companies and individuals looking to set up their own Internet-based businesses. You can use this ability to market to a niche, such as non-profit organizations that need help developing affordable websites.
3. Say ‘cheese’
Photography has undergone some changes in recent years with the advent of high-quality smartphone cameras. There’s no longer a huge need for laborious photographic equipment if you want to take really good photos. However you take them, there’s a definite market for good pictures if you’re a natural shutterbug. Many people with full-time jobs make money on the side by taking wedding photos and videos. You can also cash in online by selling your a photos to sites such as Pixabay.com and Shutterstock.com, which make photos available to the public with no need for citing credits. They buy your photos, though once you’ve sold them they become the sole property of the site.
4. Calligraphy
Are you the kind of person who gets compliments for your handwriting? Are you pretty sure that John Hancock would’ve been envious of your signature? Why not take advantage of your handwriting by doing calligraphy for sites such as Etsy.
These sites will pay for hand-addressed envelopes and up to $50 for signs. Try marketing yourself on Facebook and Twitter as the wedding season gets closer. It’ll pay some bills and then some, and it’s easy work that won’t require you to be away from your family for an extended period of time. These are just a few examples of possible side gigs for parents looking to boost their bank accounts.
One final thought
What’s important when considering a side gig for single parents is to find the right fit for your time and energy. One that doesn’t leave you feeling depleted or like you’re ignoring your family. Once you land on the right choice, see if you can find multiple ways to make this work for you.
Who knows? You may even discover you’ve found a whole new career. One that’s more personally and financially rewarding than the job you’ve been relying on.
