Great Part-time Jobs For Busy Parents
Posted by michelle on Dec 20, 2012 in Making Money | 43 comments
A few years ago, my husband and I had the best little side hustle hookup of all time. We found this small start-up that needed a part-time cd burner/distributor for their sign language certification company. This was the perfect job for me and Jeff to do after the kids went to bed for some extra cash. After a few months on the job, the owner realized she could use some part-time tech support as well. Since Jeff just so happens to be a coding genius (maybe an overstatement?) she was more than happy to add that to our list of titles and duties. Like so many other adventures in our marriage, this was a collaborative employment that I shared with my husband. We made $1000/mo and only worked 10-15 hours a week…in our spare time…sometimes while having a beer or two…sometimes while not even wearing actual pants. Seriously, this was a sweet hookup. We were so bummed when the owner sold the company and that the new owner found our services “no longer needed.”
Hook A Sister Up
It seemed like everyone and their mother wanted to know how we found this place, if they were hiring, and of course if they could take over for us while we were on vacation. Unfortunately, the place we found this gig just so happens to be crawling with scams. That’s right; we got lucky taking a chance on a craigslist posting. Because of the risks involved, I don’t recommend becoming a full-fledged craigslister troll looking for this unicorn of a side hustle. You likely won’t find a gig as sweet or as easy as the one we had. It might be worth a shot to check it out occasionally, but I would be very careful! There really are a ton of con artists out there. Definitely meet any prospective employer in a public place, and just use your best judgment. When a job description sounds too good to be true, it probably is. My cd-burning, label-popping, get-paid-to-play-on-facebook-in-your-underwear job wasn’t my first part-time rodeo, you see, so I knew what to look for. (I don’t really play on facebook in my underwear when I should be working, but you’re welcome for the visual.)
Retail Hell-o
When Jeff and I were new parents, I was going to school part-time and working retail part-time. It’s not the most glamorous job ever, but I got paid fairly well ($9.50/hr plus commission) for it being a brainless job that didn’t stress me out yet fit around my crazy schedule. Since Jeff worked full-time days, I had no choice but to work mostly 2nd shift. There’s a reason 2nd shift has been dubbed “the divorce shift” but you do what you have to do, right? With a limited variance of choices for busy working parents, I found myself sucking it up and kissing my husband a quick hello/goodbye greeting several days a week before rushing off to the mall in my high heels; everyone’s ideal choice of shoe when your job entails running on concrete and climbing ladders. If you find yourself in a similar situation of a limiting schedule, working a retail job isn’t a bad idea. Bonus: if you’re looking for just a little bump in your income around the holidays, they are always hiring extra hands at most retail stores at this time of year.
Warning for my shopaholic readers: Everyone who loves to shop has asked themselves at one point or another if they should get a job at one of the stores they frequent. Might as well get paid to shop, right? In reality, this is a truly horrible idea. Trust me. If you have trouble telling yourself no to clothes, it might be a good idea to look at stores you aren’t as into. Maybe if you’re a female shopaholic, you could look at selling shoes or cologne in the men’s department. The temptation might still be nearby, but at least you aren’t drowning in it.
Write Of Passage
There are so many jobs online for writers; freelancers, bloggers, copy editors, and so much more. My husband and I are working on our first ever ebook, a collaborative project with a group of other talented bloggers, and are very excited to be a part of it! Ebooks are a great way for a blogger to make a little bit of income with their part-time craft. With so many part-time employment opportunities available for writers online today, if your pen is mightier, the sky’s the limit!
No matter how hectic your schedule, there are plenty of money-making opportunities out there waiting for you. Remember: find something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.
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Good post Michelle! My wife can empathize with the working retail. She worked at Bath & Body Works for the Holiday season the second year we were married. We thought, hey she loves this stuff so it’ll be a great job. Well…I think she brought home maybe $50 when it was all said and done because she spent quite a bit of her earnings. I agree, there are many ways to bring in some quality side income, you just have to know where to look.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..5 Fun and Frugal Last Minute Christmas Gifts
My sister almost did the same thing, getting a part-time job at Bath and Body Works, but decided against it. Good thing, because she LOVES their products and would probably have spent her entire paycheck.
I agree, definitely do not get a job at a retail store that you are addicted to. You will spend so much money.
Michelle recently posted..Ways I’ve Made Money
For some, it wouldn’t be difficult to spend more than you make at those stores.
Good post. It’s interesting because my wife stays at home with the kids full time but in a few years when they’re both in school, the plan is that she works to generate some income. Nothing full time which takes a lot of possibility away, and also such that it would fit in the time where they kids are at school. It looks more and more like it might have to be some working from home opportunity.
Michael @ So You Think You Can Save recently posted..Keep The Outside Air Outside
Maybe by then you’ll have an established, successful blog to bring in some extra income
Yeah I couldn’t work in a mall it would drain me! I had a tough time wasting money at the pharmacy when I worked there- the crap I would buy just because it was there was foolish. I’d love to be able to work from home some days but then I think I’d miss the interaction with people and my patients, I mean I did go over 100k in debt for my education, I should probably use it right haha?!
Catherine recently posted..Understanding RESP’s
No Catherine, you’re not allowed to change your mind after all that!
You shared some great ideas in this post. It would be awesome to get hooked up with some sweet work-from-home side gig that you could do in your spare time. I’m not surprised that your friends and family were asking if they could get in on it!
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..5 Tips To Help You Save Money
I wish I could have shared with my friends and family. Maybe one day we will have a family business…then I will be able to!
I’ve worked side jobs in retail and it’s just an invitation to spend money! These days I’m focusing on my blog and staff writing as a part time job – and I absolutely love it.
Jordann @ My Alternate Life recently posted..Minimalist Christmas Gifts
Jordann, you are doing awesome at making an income doing a hobby you love. Great job!
Good post! I hated working in retail. I don’t think I could ever do it again. Yes, it was mindless but it was also incredibly boring!
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted..Christmas Shopping Budgeting Tips
It is definitely not for everyone!
OH god. I can’t work retail. I’d make no money–but I did enjoy the “work” itself, if you can call it that. Pretty easy, and lots of stuff to lust over while I Pass the hours.
L Bee and the Money Tree recently posted..Ask L. Bee-Greedy Bitches Edition
When I worked in shoes, it was pretty difficult to control myself at times.
I can totally relate to working retail. In college I worked at a clothing store where I got a 25% employee discount. And yes, I really liked their clothing and spent dam near half my paycheck the first couple months on updating my wardrobe. That is a great tip about trying to work at a store that you won’t spend a bunch of money in.
Stores always offer those tempting discounts to their employees knowing that they will end up spending more than they save. Tricky tricky!
If you work at a shop you love, at least you get employees discount!
Pauline recently posted..How much do you spend on gifts?
I’ve heard there are clothing stores in which the employees don’t have uniforms, but are required to wear new clothing from that store…but they get a discount. Depending on what store you work at, you could easily spend your entire paycheck that way!
Ewww…retail! I used to work in retail and hated it. Not for me. I always look around for possible side jobs to make up some more income. I have found a few things here and there, but nothing like your sweet side gig that you once held.
Grayson @ Debt Roundup recently posted..Where Does The Money Go When Raising A Child
We were really lucky to find that. It helped me get through school!
That’s a great side hustle. I don’t know how you manage all those side hustles with your kids. I can barely keep up with our 22 months old. Once he goes off to school, I’ll be able to do more, but now it’s just too crazy.
Midlife Finance recently posted..50 Little Ways to Save A Buck or Two Next Year
It is pretty crazy with a little one around. You can’t really get much done with a <2yo tugging at you! When my daughter turns 3, we will take her to half-day preschool.
I’d be perfect for retail because I hate to shop! But I don’t have the time or energy right now. Maybe once the baby heads off to school I can check into it.
Christa recently posted..The Easiest Christmas Cookies Ever
I wish I had that! I’ve been so good the past several months, but the urge is definitely still there. My sis just called me yesterday and asked if I bought a new dress for Christmas yet, something she and I usually do. I’m still not going to, because I’m more motivated to get out of debt than I am to look cute on Christmas, but I was a little jealous to be honest.
So many people complain that they can’t find work, and then I read about you working one part time job and then another and then another and then an e-book. It’s not difficult to figure out why some people get ahead and others don’t.
Making it on one salary isn’t an option for most people. I could never stay at home if I didn’t have part-time work and side hustles to supplement Jeff’s salary.
I had a friend who got a PT job at express and ended up in the hole from it more often than not! eek!
Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted..He Said, She Said – Holiday Gifts For The Renters?
Yeah, I probably couldn’t work there either.. It would be bad.
Kind of the same deal but I’m on a list as a mystery shopper and the company calls me up every now and again and gives me a ‘mission’ to complete.
As I said on my Facebook page the other day, $15 for making a 5 minute phonecall isn’t a bad gig! Haha
The opportunities are out there if you can dig through the bull and avoid scams like you said!
Jon recently posted..Shopping for friends and family abroad
So true, Jon. I haven’t gotten into mystery shopping yet, but I love doing surveys! My son and I recently did a survey about toys. For driving him, I got $45 and he got a $25 toy! =D That’s some good money for basically taking my son to play with some toys for an hour!
The high heels killed it for me. Since leaving the south, years ago my feet just go into spasms thinking about them. I agree that there are tons of opportunities out there if you are motivated to look for them. I’m excited about the ebook as well and very thankful that I had some other choices in G besides gardening. I have a black thumb!
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..It’s Fun to Stay at the YMCA-Gift Exchange Reveal
My thumb is black, too. My mom gave me a plant and I tried so hard to keep it alive. FAIL. She had another and kept it at her house…it’s huge and mine’s dead. :/
I’ve heard that getting a job at Basin Robbins is a good way to stop eating ice cream.
nicoleandmaggie recently posted..I used to only have crazy friends
Ha, I would be perfect at an ice cream shop, since I can’t eat it at all!
Great part-time jobs are different from doing what you gotta do. Love the blog, like the post, but the tittle of this post is really misleading.
Sorry you feel misled, Jenny! I think those jobs are great, but maybe I’ll do a follow-up and list off a ton more great part-time jobs just for you!
Dog walking, house sitting, child care, web design, coding, filing, etc. There are so many things that people can do to pad the income.
The visual of you and Jeff burning CDs in the skivies, priceless.
cd :O)
Chris @ JumboCD recently posted..October 2012 CD Rate Update
I’ve done so many side jobs. The best by far is writing online. I often make a few extra bucks on my work lunch break.
I found cooking in restaurants to be superior to retail. You get the same limited hours, seasonality need, but higher pay. I used to work part time for $12/hour.
I’m not sure I could trust Craigslist, but the possibilities are tempting.
We’ve gotten gigs off of Craigslist before. I had a regular writing gig for an environment conservation site for quite a while. Brian found his glowstick/novelty selling gig on Craigslist as well.
CF recently posted..Twas the night before Christmas
How about a busy college student?
I’m currently working ft and going to school FT (Mechanical Engineering Major) I’m a little overwhelmed and I think i need a less ‘time-consuming’ job.
Mae H recently posted..What Makes Celebrities Sucessful?
Just started a customer service job to make a little extra cash while I finish school. My wife has a pretty good paying job, but I feel like I should contribute some, and with the extra money we will be able to save more.
Great list of ideas. I can’t wait until my writing makes enough I can do it full time. Not that I hate dealing with people with a smile on my face, but I really hate dealing with people with a smile on my face.
Levi recently posted..Starting a New Job? Some Tips for Starting Off on the Right Foot