10 Ideas for Stay at Home Moms to Make Some Money

As a stay-at-home mom for many years, I can attest to that desire to make some money of my own occasionally. Sometimes it was because we really needed it, and other times it was just to make myself feel useful outside of being a mom and wife.

I had to get creative sometimes, but for me, that was half of the fun. I also had the privilege along the way to meet other stay-at-home mom's. Here is a list of idea's, some that I have done, some other mom's have done, but all can be done with kid's in tow.

1. Deliver Newspapers. This might sound like a job for a teenager, but you can deliver newspapers with children in tow, especially if you have a driving route. Pop them into their seats, hand each of them a snack bag and a notebook and crayons, and head off. If you have a walking route, children can even get into helping with this one, or if they are too young, you can pull them along in a wagon. Some newspaper routes pay more than others, and this can be a way to earn some cash, plus tips!

2. Deliver Telephone Books. Just like newspapers, telephone companies hire independent contractors to deliver their newspapers. Check your local papers for ads, or call the company directly and ask to be put on their list. You are paid for each telephone book you deliver.

3. Become a Pooper-Scooper. Ok, don't laugh. This job can be lucrative, and the children can come with you. Distribute fliers around some neighborhoods, and schedule some appointments. (This doesn't have to be your neighborhood!) With a quick visit to their home, you can clean up their yard, and pocket some cash. In my Northeast corner of the world, a pooper-scooper charges $10-$15 per visit, usually visiting once a week. If you have 10 accounts, you can make $100 to $150 a week.

4. Recycle. You can recycle aluminum cans for scrap. This is a good way to incorporate a lesson about recycling and our planet for your children. You can expand, and even walk down the roads picking up all aluminum cans you can. Visit parks and other places as well. Children love to be involved in this "hunt". It takes a lot of cans to make some extra money, but cleaning up the planet should count for something too!

5. Ebay. This is a great place to sell some old collectibles, or just items you have laying around. I new one stay-at-home mom who visited thrift stores, looking for cheap items to re-sell on ebay. You have to do your homework first, and know what sells before this can be profitable. This mother was able to incorporate her love for thrift store shopping into a part time job! She averaged a profit of $150 a week. Great extra money!

6. Garage Sale. Host a garage sale! This is great if you have kids, because you will no doubt have toys and clothes that they have outgrown. You can plan a large one in the spring, and another one in the fall. Spread the word and advertise to make it successful. Let the children have a lemonade stand and sell refreshments. Garage sale's can be big money makers!

7. Babysit. A great idea for stay-at-home mom's! Babysitting can be a great way for your children to learn socialization skills with other children, and you can pocket some money at the same time. Just watching two children a week can equal to a couple hundred dollars each week!

8. Pet sit. Of course, this only works if you love animals. Pet sit at your home, or theirs, and can get paid for it! Kid's can help with the care of some pets too, depending on their age. This is not as lucrative as babysitting, but is a nice way to supplement your income.

9. Online Writing. Many sites will pay for freelancers to write web content. If you are a writer, writing can be done while kid' are napping, or while you are sitting in the back yard watching the kid's play. Be prepared to do a lot of writing to make some good money at it!

10. Golf Balls. This is one of my favorites. We would visit a local state park that had a golf course and go hiking on the hiking trails. We always found lots of golf balls and the kid's had a blast collecting them. We would take them home, clean them up ( a little comet, an old toothbrush, and a bucket of water) and put them into egg cartons. We gave it a try one day at a flea market and we sold out by noon! This became a fun and exciting profitable venture for us! And we got to take many family hikes together!

The ideas are various if you are creative and find your talents. So to all you stay-at-home mom's out there- Go for it~ the sky is the limit!