4 Ways for Stay-at-Home Parents to Make Money Without Leaving Home

Stay-at-home parenthood can be rewarding: You get to spend every day with your children without struggling to achieve an elusive home-life balance, and chances are that you’ll be front-row and center for every school function, dance recital and T-ball practice.

Although the life of a stay-at-home parent can certainly be gratifying, it also can lack the monetary reward of a traditional 9-to-5 job on which many families rely.

If you’re a stay-at-home parent, consider these four ways to earn money and contribute to household income without ever stepping outside of your front door:

Open an online shop. Do you like to sew, knit, or make crafts or jewelry? Perhaps you take pride in making quilts, sweaters, or Halloween costumes for your children? Do you have a knack for innovative party decor Consider creating an online “shop” that sells whatever you create. The possibilities are endless. Consult local craft stores and libraries for popular websites and other resources that could help you to get going.

Host a modern-day “Tupperware” party. The Tupperware Party of the 1950s has evolved, with the concept now promoting a range of products while the concept of direct selling remains the same: Invite a group of friends to your home for an afternoon or evening of food and beverage…and shopping. The key is to find a product that you would actually purchase and that you truly believe is of value.

Do freelance writing or editing. If you have a college degree in English, journalism or communications, or in history or the sciences, consider freelancing for print or online publications, PR or ad agencies, or corporate communications. In this age of online content, good writers are in demand now more than ever. With access to a word processing program, you can do your work from just about anywhere. Not to mention, you can adjust your “working time” to fit into your hectic schedule. So, put the kids to bed, power up your computer and get to writing!

Tutor or give skill-based lessons. If you have a college degree as a teacher or are a professional in such fields as music or math or bi-lingual translations, consider tutoring from home. You could let teachers and administrators at your child’s school know that you are available for after-school tutoring for students who need extra help. Whatever your skill, chances are that you’ll find parents in your area would be willing to hire you to tutor their child. If you speak other languages, you also might start an afternoon or evening language class for adults or offer one-on-one lessons.