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Women often struggle more than men during recessions, and this pandemic recession is no different. In fact, the current recession is even more impactful to women because many industries that have been forced to close or reduce their workforce—hospitality, for example—employ more women than men. However, for women who are out of work or stay-at-home moms, there are a number of money-making opportunities, from tutoring to babysitting and even dog walking.
Working online
For women who have been furloughed or have lost jobs, it may feel daunting to jump back into the job search. While it may be necessary to look for new full-time work, there are ways to quickly make money online in the meantime.
If you like to write, consider starting a blog. Niche blogs tend to do well, so if you have a particular hobby such as cooking or hiking, try to tailor your writing to fit that subject. Once you have some content, you can start adding Google Adsense to make money.
Another great option for writers is to become a freelance writer or editor online. Plenty of companies opt to hire freelancers for projects, so create a profile through an online job board to begin earning money for your writing. Job boards help connect freelancers to employers for a multitude of fields such as engineering, web development, customer service, and data science. What starts out as a part-time gig could turn into full-time work if you find a great opportunity.
One option for quick online money-making is taking surveys. Online survey companies pay per survey, with some working on a point-basis. Just be sure to do some research, as there are some fraudulent companies out there.
Become an entrepreneur
For the entrepreneurial woman, this could be a great time to start your own business. If you choose to do this, be sure to do plenty of research and jump through all the administrative hoops as you get started. Every new business has to create a strong marketing plan, so begin to think about how you’ll reach potential customers. Set up social media accounts, build a snazzy website, and think about multimedia platforms to help you expand your audience.
At-home jobs for stay-home moms
For women who have kids at home, working from home is important. Luckily, there are plenty of flexible jobs you can do at home, many of which don’t have to be done online.
If you want to work with young people, you could start tutoring. For women who want to avoid online work, consider posting tutoring ads on local community forums. You can tutor in any subject that you feel comfortable teaching, and can usually set your own hours. If you choose to tutor in person, consider taking some precautions to keep you and your student safe.
Another great option if you love kids is becoming a babysitter. You could do this either from home at a family’s home, and can usually find opportunities by searching online community forums.
For women who love animals, pet sitting and dog walking are great options. Not only will you get your animal-fix, you’ll also get fresh air and exercise as a dog walking. There are apps that help connect you to local dog owners, and often those companies take care of everything from background checks to advertising your services for you. Or, you can start your own business as a dog walker and pet sitter in your area.
If you’re handy with a sewing machine, consider offering seamstress services. You can have clients drop off their clothing or materials at your home and set your own rates and hours for work.
If you’ve lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone: millions have lost work as a result of the pandemic. While you consider your next steps, you can make money part-time through online ventures such as writing, survey-taking, or freelancing. Or, for women who don’t like working in front of a computer, jobs such as babysitting, tutoring, and sewing are great options.
Written by Sarah Bull
Founder of Economymom.com