Last Updated on: 11th November 2025, 10:20 pm
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably daydreamed about earning a bit of extra cash without sacrificing precious family time (or your sanity). The cost of living keeps creeping up, and sometimes the main household income just doesn’t stretch as far as it used to.
That’s where a good side hustle can come in — something flexible, rewarding, and realistic around parenting life. The key is finding ideas that fit into your routine, not the other way around. So here are some side hustles that actually work when you’re juggling school runs, nap times, and the million other things that come with family life.
1. Sell Your Skills Online
You don’t need to be a tech genius or social media influencer to make money online. If you’ve got a skill — writing, design, admin, or even just a good eye for detail — there’s a market for it.
Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer are great starting points. You can offer services like:
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Proofreading
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Data entry
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Graphic design
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Blog writing or social media content
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Virtual assistance
The best bit? You set your own hours. I often worked on small freelance projects during nap time or after bedtime — a cup of tea, laptop on the sofa, job done.
2. Sell Pre-Made Digital Products
This one’s close to my heart (and something I’ve been exploring myself). If you love being creative, you can design digital products like printables, planners, or quizzes and sell them online on Etsy or your own website.
Once you’ve made the product, it can earn passive income again and again without extra work. It’s perfect for parents who can’t commit to fixed hours — just create when you have bursts of focus.
Tip: Canva is a brilliant (and free) tool for designing products if you’re not a graphic designer.
3. Offer Child or Pet Care
If you’re home during the day, offering childcare or pet sitting can be a brilliant side hustle. Parents often need after-school help, and pet owners love finding someone trustworthy for walks or weekend care.
You could:
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Offer before/after school babysitting
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Walk dogs locally
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Feed cats for neighbours while they’re away
Websites like Tailster or Care.com are great for finding local clients — and word of mouth travels fast once you build trust.
4. Online Tutoring
If you’re confident in a particular subject — even just primary-level maths or English — tutoring is a flexible and well-paid side hustle.
Platforms like Tutorful, MyTutor, or even Superprof let you set your own rates and teach online. Some parents also do in-person sessions at home, especially if they have school-age kids and understand the curriculum.
A bonus: it keeps your own knowledge sharp and gives you that satisfying “grown-up brain” feeling again!
5. Resell and Declutter
We all have cupboards full of stuff we no longer use — kids’ clothes, toys, books, gadgets. Selling them online not only clears space but also brings in extra money.
Try:
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Vinted for clothes and accessories
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Facebook Marketplace for toys and homeware
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eBay for collectibles and electronics
I like to set a small monthly target — for example, “£50 declutter challenge” — and it keeps me motivated. It’s amazing how quickly it adds up.
6. Try “Micro-Hustles”
If you’re short on time, “micro-hustles” can fit neatly between tasks. These are small, quick ways to earn a few pounds here and there, such as:
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Completing surveys on Prolific or Swagbucks
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Testing websites via UserTesting
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Reviewing products or sharing opinions for research studies
They won’t make you rich, but they can easily cover little extras like school trips or a takeaway night.
7. Share What You Know
If you’ve got a hobby or experience others might find useful — cooking, budgeting, parenting tips, gardening — consider starting a blog, YouTube channel, or Instagram page.
It takes time to grow, but eventually, you can monetise through ads, brand collaborations, or affiliate links. The beauty is that you’re building something that’s yours — and that can grow with you as the kids get older.
Final Thoughts
A good side hustle should fit your life, not fight against it. It doesn’t need to be huge or complicated — even earning £50–£100 a month can make a real difference.
The main thing is to choose something you enjoy (or at least don’t dread), so it feels like a boost, not a burden. Whether you’re crafting, caring, or creating online, those small steps can add up to something really empowering — both financially and personally.
