This article was originally sourced from the document: 10 Side Hustles I Tried as a Mom.docx
10 Side Hustles I Tried as a Mom
Introduction
Let’s be honest—motherhood is a full-time job in itself. But like many moms, I found myself craving something more: a little extra income, a creative outlet, or just something that was mine. That’s what started my journey into the world of side hustles.
Over the past few years, I’ve tried everything from selling digital downloads to freelance gigs, surveys to social media work. Some were wins, some were complete flops—but each one taught me something valuable.
In this post, I’m pulling back the curtain on 10 side hustles I personally tried as a mom. I’ll share what worked, what didn’t, how much time they required, and the tools I used to make it all happen. If you’re exploring ways to earn from home, I hope this saves you time and inspires your own hustle.
Why I Tried Everything
When I started, I wasn’t just looking for money—I was looking for freedom. I wanted:
More financial wiggle room
A way to stay mentally stimulated
Flexible work I could do during nap time or after bedtime
But I didn’t have startup capital, fancy equipment, or a babysitter. I needed hustles that were low-risk, low-cost, and flexible.
And so began my experiment: try as many side hustles as I could realistically manage—and see which ones stuck.
Easy Hustles That Failed
Here are the hustles that seemed easy but didn’t pay off for me:
1. Online Surveys
I signed up for several survey sites like Swagbucks and InboxDollars. They were easy to join and use, but after hours of answering questions, I made maybe $20 in a week.
Why it failed: Low pay for time invested, repetitive, and sometimes sketchy.
2. MLMs (Multi-Level Marketing)
I tried selling skincare through an MLM. The startup kit was expensive, and selling to friends and family felt awkward.
Why it failed: High upfront costs, pressure to recruit, and little profit.
3. Reselling Kids’ Clothes Online
I used apps like Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace. While I sold a few items, the process of photographing, listing, and shipping wasn’t worth it long-term.
Why it failed: Time-consuming and profit margins were low.
What Paid Off
These are the hustles that actually worked for me:
4. Freelancing on Fiverr
I created a profile offering blog writing and Pinterest design. It took time to get traction, but once I had reviews, the gigs started coming.
What helped: Clear gig descriptions, fast delivery, and asking for reviews.
5. Affiliate Marketing with ClickBank
I started a niche blog and promoted digital products from ClickBank. With the right keywords and blog content, I earned a few commissions each month.
What helped: Blogging consistently and choosing products that matched my niche.
6. Amazon Associates for Product Recommendations
I started recommending products I already used—like toddler toys, kitchen gadgets, and work-from-home tools. I included affiliate links in blog posts and made a few bucks per sale.
What helped: Writing honest reviews and gift guides.
7. Virtual Assistant Work
I found a small client through a Facebook group and managed her email inbox and Pinterest account. It paid more than I expected, and I learned a lot.
What helped: Clear communication and using tools like Trello and Google Docs.
8. Selling Digital Products
I created a few printables (budget planners, meal plans) and listed them on Etsy. They sold passively over time, especially around back-to-school and New Year’s.
What helped: Using Canva and promoting via Pinterest.
9. Teaching Online
I tried teaching English on a platform that required no teaching degree (just a native English speaker). The hours were early, but it was consistent pay.
What helped: Good Wi-Fi, a quiet room, and prepping lessons in advance.
10. Starting a Blog (and Taking a Course)
This was my biggest win—but also the slowest to grow. I followed a that walked me through everything from setting up hosting to writing posts and monetizing with affiliate links.
What helped: Sticking with it and not giving up when the traffic was low.
Time Investment Breakdown
Here’s roughly how much time each hustle required weekly:
Surveys: 5–10 hrs/week, low payout
MLMs: 10+ hrs/week, emotional drain
Reselling: 3–5 hrs/week, inconsistent sales
Fiverr: 5–15 hrs/week depending on gigs
Affiliate marketing: 3–8 hrs/week once blog posts are up
Amazon affiliate: 1–3 hrs/week maintenance
Virtual Assistant: 10–20 hrs/week, paid hourly
Digital products: 5–10 hrs upfront, then passive
Teaching: 10–15 hrs/week, early mornings
Blogging: 5–15 hrs/week, long-term investment
Tools I Used
These tools helped me stay organized and grow:
Canva: For creating graphics and printables
Grammarly: To edit blog posts and Fiverr gigs
Trello: To manage tasks and client work
Google Workspace: For documents, spreadsheets, and email
Pinterest Scheduler (like Tailwind): To promote content
You can find many of these tools on Amazon or through affiliate bundles like those on ClickBank.
My Top Recommendation
If I could go back and pick just one side hustle to start with as a mom, it would be blogging + affiliate marketing.
Why?
It grows over time and becomes semi-passive
You can build it at your own pace
It aligns with promoting products like those on ClickBank and Amazon
It becomes a platform to sell digital products, courses, or services later
Starting a blog isn’t as hard as it looks, especially with the right course. I highly recommend for step-by-step guidance.
Putting It All Together
I tried 10+ side hustles over a couple of years. Some flopped, some earned pennies, and a few actually helped me build a flexible, fulfilling work-from-home income.
Here’s what I learned:
Not every hustle is worth your time
Starting messy is better than never starting
The long game (like blogging or digital products) often pays the most
If you’re ready to start, I suggest picking one hustle and going all in for 90 days. Track your time, results, and how you feel. Then adjust.
And if blogging’s on your radar, and consider signing up for or to start earning as you go.
Want more tips like this? Join my newsletter and get my free side hustle tracker printable!
You’ve got this, mama.
