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33 Best Flexible Side Jobs: How I Made $2,300 at Home While My Toddler Napped

If you’d like to make extra money, side jobs are the way to go!  With a flexible side job, I made $2,300 at home while my daughter napped.  I’ll also share a big list of other flexible side hustles that will add money to your bank account.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Related post: Part-time Mom Jobs that Pay Well – 45 Brilliant Ideas to Check Out.

25 Flexible Side Jobs

I’ve been keeping an exciting secret for a few months…I have been working a flexible side job from home in my spare time.

Since I had my daughter, my thoughts have changed about income and working.

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Why I was looking for side jobs from home:

1. I wanted to increase my income

I would love to be able to save more money for our retirement, and make regular contributions towards our daughter’s education fund

Early retirement wasn’t ever a consideration until she was born, so it is one of the new financial goals for me. 

Suddenly it seemed like something I wanted to focus on and to see if it was possible for us.

Related post: Real Estate Investing for Beginners: How To and Best Insider Tips.

2. I didn’t want more time away from my daughter

I was looking for a great side hustle for my free time, not a full-time job.

I didn’t want to take more time away from Squish.  Since I already work part-time outside of the home, I don’t want to increase that before she is in school.  Whatever stay-at-home mom job I have, needs to fit into our life as it is right now.

I was very lucky with paid maternity leave.  I took an entire year off of work after she was born – no flexible job, no side hustle, I just (“just” – ha!) took care of her. 

Even though I have been back to work for a full year now, I haven’t fully gotten used to being away from her.  I really enjoy her as a little person and love getting to take care of her.  Don’t get me wrong, the days when I am the most exhausted are usually the ones after I have cared for her, not my work days! 

But I feel so fortunate to get to spend half the week days with my kid.  I know it’s a privilege not everyone has and it’s not something I take for granted.

If you’re looking for simple ways to earn extra money, don’t miss this post.

Here are small business ideas from home that you can start with no experience.

And 100 best remote jobs you need to know now.

My New Flexible Side Job: Search Engine Evaluator

I started brainstorming and researching side hustle ideas. 

There were many businesses that I was not interested in; they just didn’t fit with my values. 

Online side hustles where I could set my own hours for the most part was attractive to me.  It was important that it be a casual job – no rigid set hours for each week.

I ended up stumbling upon an article about being a search engine evaluator.  I had never heard of this job, but I was open to looking into absolutely everything, to see if it fit my criteria above. 

A search engine evaluator rates and improves search engine results for the top internet search engines. 

This sounded like the perfect opportunity for me to try.  It fit in with my goal to make more money, while at the same time not taking me away from my daughter more than I already am for my part-time work.

For pros and cons about this online side job, read my review on working for Appen as a search engine evaluator. And also the inside scoop from someone who worked for Appen work from home (and why I eventually left!).

Side Jobs from Home

Because there is no one perfect job out there for everyone, I put together an epic list of flexible side hustles you can do from home.

These are some of the best ways to make additional income.

If you are looking to stay home with your kids while making an income, I hope you find a side job here that fits you!

Related post: Appointment Setter Jobs: 24 Easy Online Jobs for When You’re Feeling Lazy.

1. Become a Remote Online Notary Public

So what exactly does a Notary of the Public do? A Notary is an official witness. They perform a (paid!) service administering oaths, authenticating legal documents and contracts, and witnessing declarations on legal matters.

Although many Notaries work in person, there is a way to become an online Notary Public to work virtually.

There are different requirements to become a Notary based on your state. The basic requirements for most states are that you are over 18 years old, are a legal resident of the state, and have no felony convictions.

You complete an application and pay the fee which can vary between less than $100 and a few hundred, depending on the state.

Some states require you to take a training course or pass an exam, and then you get sworn in as a Notary Public.

See this guide for details if you’re interested in becoming a remote online Notary Public.

According to Indeed, the average base salary for a Notary Public is around $15 an hour.

Related post: 20 Single Mom Jobs That Will Fit In With Your Busy Life.

2. Cambly: Become an English Tutor Online

With Cambly, you can get paid to help people learn and practice English via video chats.  You help people from around the world build English language skills in 1-on-1 lessons.

You earn money for literally every minute you spend chatting.

This is a GREAT side job for people who love talking. 😉 There are no minimum hours and you can work as much or as little as you want. You can also make your own schedule and work any time of the day.

Pay is weekly, which is pretty rare for most jobs including online jobs, and is through PayPal. The pay is $0.17/min ($10.20/hour) on Cambly and $0.20/min ($12.00/hour) on Cambly Kids.

Unlike some online jobs teaching English, you don’t need a teaching certificate or a bachelor’s degree to work for Cambly. You also don’t need to have previous teaching experience.

Teaching with VIPKid does pay higher than Cambly ($14-22/hour) but you need a bachelor’s degree and the hours you can work are more limited.

If you’re interested in teaching online with Cambly, check it out here.

>> Also check out 10 other online tutoring jobs you can start right away >>

3. Sell Your Products on Walmart Marketplace

I have been a seller on Amazon FBA, and have sold on Facebook Marketplace, but a side job selling on Walmart Marketplace is new to me.

There are 5 steps to start selling on Walmart Marketplace:

  • Fill out an application to become a seller
  • Sign the retailer agreement contract
  • Complete a Walmart Marketplace seller profile online
  • Add items
  • Request a review, then launch

With Walmart Marketplace there are no setup or monthly fees. A referral fee is automatically deducted from your payment for items you sell.

Just like selling on Amazon or through Etsy or Ebay, this is a flexible online side job. You can completely work around your schedule and as little or as many hours as you want. Of course your income will vary too and won’t be set like some of the other side hustle ideas in this list.

Find out more here.

4. Take Part in Focus Groups

Did you know you can get paid to take part in focus studies online?

Focus groups used to be 100% in person, but there are more and more online options via video.

I know people who have tried this flexible side hustle and love it! They also said they had to get a bit used to it. The first couple of video focus groups they took part in they felt shy or awkward talking to researchers on video. But they got used to it and the pay can be great for your time.

If you’re interested in taking part in online focus groups for money, follow this subreddit. They post up-to-date paid studies you can take part in.

When I looked there was a focus study looking for people who don’t have any chronic illness or disease, and they were paying $150. There was a second study that was looking to talk to people who have medical debt and were paying $75. A third focus group was paying $200 to gaming enthusiasts for a web interview about processors and computers used for gaming.

There were also study groups for toilet paper and people who have recently canceled Netflix!

Pretty eclectic! There will likely be a focus group you would fit into if you’re interested in this flexible and unique side job.

Related post: Jobs for Lazy People: 10 Best Jobs to Make Money Without Working Hard.

5. Online Wedding Officiant

Want to get paid to officiate weddings?

You can become a minister ordained online and marry people in person or online. Most states allow ministers ordained online to officiate weddings but there are a few exceptions, such as Virginia and some parts of Pennsylvania.

It’s pretty simple to become an ordained minister online. The main online programs that offer this are The Universal Life Church, American Fellowship Church, Rose Ministries, and Universal Ministries.

Just for fun, some famous people who have been ordained as ministers: Conan O’Brien, Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Lady Gaga.

The average pay for a wedding officiant is $300, with the range being $200-$450 (source).

6. Reader for Actor’s Online Auditions

I had no idea this was a thing about a week ago, but it is an actual online side job for some people. Pretty fun!

Some people make money from home as a Reader to accompany auditioning actors. You will get a script and you read your part, opposite whoever is auditioning for a part in a movie, play, commercial, T.V. show, etc. Sometimes you will read for one role, and sometimes you will play many parts, depending on the audition scene.

Some Readers that are hired are professional actors already, but many aren’t.

Your job as a Professional Reader for auditions is to support the actor. It can make a big difference to an audition to have a great Reader!

I searched and could not find anywhere what the average pay is for an audition reader. The only information I could find about income for this side job is that some Readers earn $1000s a month. If you know and would like to share, please let us know in the comments!

You can earn money online as an audition reader by signing up through WeAudition.

7. Side Jobs as a Truck Dispatcher

A truck dispatcher monitors where transport trucks are located, checks on how the deliveries are going, keeps truckers up to date on road conditions (weather, construction, accidents), deals with customers, finds the next freight assignments, and more.

To be successful at this side job, you have to be a great multi-tasker, work well under pressure, and be able to communicate clearly and effectively. It will be a lot of phone calls and emails every shift.

You don’t need any formal education to become a truck dispatcher. There are some programs and classes you can take, but you can also get hands-on experience on the job.

According to Salary.com, the average hourly rate for a truck dispatcher is $22, with the range generally between $19 and $25.

You can find truck dispatcher jobs on Indeed.

8. Answering Service for Contractors

If a contractor is busy or out working a job and misses a call, that can mean missing business. Many contractors don’t have their own dedicated receptionist, but more and more are using an answering service for contractors.

If you have excellent communication skills and would like a phone-based job, a side gig for an answering service for contractors might be a good fit for you.

Since there is a need for call center operators at all hours of the day, every day of the week, you can tailor this side hustle for when it fits with you and your family.

Some call center jobs want some experience, while others say no experience required.

When I searched, there was a range of pay for different call center jobs you could apply with. One was for a pipeline company and paid $12 an hour, while another was for plumbing contractors and paid between $18-$25 an hour.

You can search for the latest job postings for jobs with an answering service for contractors here.

9. Sell Used Furniture for Cash

This is one of the flexible side gigs that surprised me the most.

Not that you can sell used furniture, because that’s no real surprise. I have bought and sold used furniture myself.

But from reaching out to furniture flippers, the most popular used furniture items to resell were mattresses and couches! I would have thought those would be items that people wouldn’t necessarily trust used mattresses. I was wrong though – there is a HUGE market for reselling used mattresses and couches.

From people who furniture flip as a side hustle, mattresses are a top seller. They need a good clean to remove stains and freshen up, and then can be sold. They suggest getting a cheap steam cleaner as the most important tool for this side gig, and then you’re good to go.

One of the best things about this way to make money is that you can sometimes get the product for free! How many times have you seen a used mattress or couch on the side of the road? If you’re willing to do a small amount of work to clean it up, there is free product for you to sell.

Some of the best places to sell used furniture for cash online are Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Bonanza, Etsy, and OfferUp.

10. Teach Kids English Online

If you love kids and are a good communicator, why not look into teaching English to kids remotely? A lot of the companies hire English speakers from North America to teach children English in China and other countries.

Because of the time difference between North America and China, the hours for this side gig are often early-ish in the morning or in the evening after dinner. There is a wider range of teaching hours available on the weekends.

Some companies require a bachelor’s degree and/or teaching experience, but not all do.

The rate of pay for online English teachers is great – higher than many other of the flexible side jobs. For example, VIPKid pays up to $22USD an hour and you get to set your own hours.

Here are some popular places to find virtual English teaching jobs:

11. Sell Things on Poshmark

If you have clothing kicking around the house that you don’t wear anymore, why not make money selling used clothing?

Brand names do matter on Poshmark so this might not be one of the best side gigs for me (I already buy a lot second hand too!)

According to Poshmark, some of the popular brands to sell are Wet Seal, Forever 21, Lululemon, Nike, Victoria’s Secret, American Eagle Outfitters, Free People, and much more.

To sell things on Poshmark, you download the free app, take a picture with your phone of what you want to sell, share listings, ship with their prepaid labels, and earn cash for clothing.

Poshmark takes a $2.95 commission on all sales under $15. It takes a 20% commission on any sales above $15.

You can also flip clothing. Find deals at thrift stores or garage sales, and turn a profit by selling for more on Poshmark.

12. Side Jobs with Gaggle

Gaggle is an email provider for schools, and it identifies suspicious items in messages to help keep students safe. Working from home with Gaggle means you proactively identify students who are struggling, and provide support where needed.

Nearly half of Gaggle’s employees work remotely from home.

This remote job will take a special type of person and won’t be for everyone. You’ll have to be able to handle reading potentially disturbing emails. The flipside is you would be really making a difference in people’s lives, and helping prevent violence, suicide, and exploitation in students.

Some people who worked for Gaggle from home said there weren’t always a lot of work hours available. They said it was a good side hustle or supplemental income, but not full-time hours. This might not be an issue for you if you’re looking for part-time work while you stay home with kids.

The current job openings at Gaggle said that experience working remotely from home is a plus.

13. Online Surveys with Prolific

Prolific surveys are becoming known for being more interesting surveys, and also a fair and legit survey site.

Some survey websites are 100% legit, but that doesn’t mean they are not potentially frustrating to use. One of the biggest complaints I hear about survey sites is getting screened out of surveys too frequently during the screening process. People who take part in Prolific surveys for money say this doesn’t happen the same with this survey company, which is great news!

The types of studies you can take part in with Prolific are surveys, games or studies about scientific research, new products or public opinion from top universities and companies.

Prolific surveys pay you in cash, not points.

Getting paid for surveys will not make you rich, but it is a nice and easy side gig to do while you’re watching Netflix 🙂

If you’re interested, you can sign up here.

14. Best Side Hustle Ideas Using Your Phone: Dscout

Dscout is a legit market research app that helps companies gain insight from people like you in real time. All you need is a smartphone to side hustle with dscout. You are offered different “missions” and you can choose to accept them or not (don’t worry, your phone won’t self-destruct).

Each mission is looking to research a very specific topic. For example, there might be a mission to research vegetarian food preferences, so meat eaters shouldn’t waste your time applying to that one!

Before you apply to a mission on dscout, you will be able to see the pay for that assignment, and how many openings are available for that particular assignment. Each application is reviewed manually so it can take between a few days to a week or two to get accepted. Because of this, if you’re interested in side gigs with dscout, you might want to apply to several missions at once.

Dscout gets high ratings on the Apple app store and Glassdoor; the majority of its users seem to be happy. If you search on Reddit for dscout, users say that generally the missions are easy and don’t require much time.

As for pay, you are paid between $25 to $200 or more for completing the research missions, depending on how extensive the missions are.

Try out dscout for yourself here.

15. Amazon Online Jobs Work from Home

Want to work remotely for one of the top 5 biggest companies in the world? Seems like that would be a fairly stable job to me.

I used to sell used books on Amazon FBA, but that was a business. If you want to work directly for Amazon, they offer LOTS of work-from-home positions. They have full-time positions at Amazon and part-time jobs with Amazon too. Some jobs specify certain states even though they are work-from-home positions, and other Amazon jobs are open to anyone living in the U.S.

There is a huge variety of Amazon online jobs, from HR jobs to Amazon customer service, advertising, operations and technology, and web jobs.

Training is paid, and pay will depend on the job and your experience (exact amounts aren’t given online on Amazon’s job page).

Check out Amazon virtual jobs here.

18 More Side Jobs You Can Start This Week

Here are more flexible side jobs you can look into:

 

Final Thoughts on Flexible Side Jobs from Home

Search engine evaluation is a flexible side job and one of the best side hustles for moms with little ones.  I love that I can work while she is napping.  I get to be home with her on those days yet I still get to make money – sometimes in my pajamas!  Having a search engine evaluator job as a side hustle has allowed me to make more income, without taking any time away from being my daughter’s primary caregiver. 

I’m open to trying different side jobs in the future, including others from that list above, but for now this is working well. 

Update: I am now making money blogging! To see how, check out how I grew my blog traffic by 300% in one month

Also check out these 18 fun summer side hustles to make extra cash!

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25 Best side jobs from home that pay well (woman working at home on computer, dollar sign)
How to make money at home with these side hustle ideas - perfect for stay-at-home moms

Have you tried any flexible side jobs? 

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Cynthia Johnson

Wednesday 24th of May 2023

How do I get started

hazarat

Saturday 13th of February 2021

you have a great site , thank you

Daliatys

Monday 11th of January 2021

Thank you for this post. I am a mom too, and I didn't want to leave my child and return to work. I started a blog, but it takes so much time to see any traffic.!! But hey, here I am, still standing. Good for you that have made it!! Congrats! You give me hope.

Thank you

Patricia A LeVasseur

Friday 13th of November 2020

hi ive been out of work since march of this yr,i only know resturant work. trying to find something wfh. which is all new to me!!!! thanks covid. so im going to try surveys you had on here. thank you for this site!!!! fingers crossed !!! i want a replacement income but with no experience.... im not feeling confident... any suggestions? i finger type and middle aged. grad h.s. and joined the Navy, did 1 tour, came home and jumped right into resturant work, thats all i know. everything is now online... pretty scary......from doing manual work my whole life. thank you!!!!!

TheCuriousFrugal

Friday 13th of November 2020

That's a big change for sure Patricia! There are lots of different work-from-home jobs now though, it just might take some digging to find the right fit for you. I would also suggest taking a look at the ideas to make extra money in this post: https://www.thecuriousfrugal.com/earn-extra-money/. Good luck!! :)

Kathleen Aherne

Tuesday 27th of October 2020

CONGRATULATIONS: Our JULIE has chosen your informative post to be featured on the next Blogger's Pit Stop. Kathleen

TheCuriousFrugal

Tuesday 27th of October 2020

Thank you Kathleen and Julie! Glad you found this post on side jobs informative.

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