It’s no secret that raising a family is an expensive business. For most households, relying on one income just doesn’t cut it – but what’s a mom to do when she needs (or wants) to be at home with her kids? Fortunately, the Internet has opened up a whole host of moneymaking opportunities for stay-at-home moms, most of which require minimal effort and can be achieved while juggling nappy changes and school runs. Here are four smart ways to make money as a stay-at-home mom, without going back to work.
Make an Investment
If you have savings set aside, the best way to create passive income is to invest your cash wisely. Don’t just let those savings sit in a basic savings account for the next five years; instead, talk to a financial advisor about high-interest accounts you could transfer to, or look for businesses or fixer upper properties to invest in. If you haven’t invested money before, then it’s best to consult a financial planner before making any decisions. If you don’t have much set-aside, but you’d still like to earn some interest on your savings, you can even make micro-investments with Internet sites like Acorn.
Sell Old Clothes and Toys
Let’s face it: kids get through an impressive amount of clothes and toys. In the interest of keeping your home organized and your kid’s closets clutter-free, you’ll want to shift some of those used items to make way for new ones, and the best way to do this is to sell their old stuff online.
Set aside a few hours each couple of months to go through your children’s toy boxes and closets and box up clothes and toys they’ve outgrown. (Top tip: it’s best to do this when they’re not home, so they don’t suddenly develop an attachment to an item they haven’t touched for three months!) You can then sell the items at a yard sale or on the Internet using a site like Craigslist or eBay.
Rent Our Your Stroller
If you have old strollers and car seats that you don’t want to sell in case of future additions to the family, don’t let them go to waste. Smartphone app GoBaby is essentially like Airbnb for baby gear. Families in need can rent cribs, strollers and car seats, and parents can make up to $50 a day. It’s a pretty handy way to make some extra money from your existing purchases.
Download Money-Making Apps
From getting paid to take surveys to watching videos for cashback, there are plenty of things stay-at-home moms can do online to make money, starting with smartphone apps like Swagbucks and ShopTracker. These apps won’t make you rich, but they can put a little extra income in your pocket in exchange for minimal effort. The Nielsen Panel app, for example, pays users $50 per year to run the software in the background so they can collect data for research purposes – that’s passive income at its finest.