Side Hustlin’ Superwomen

Local moms love these

flexible gigs.

If young kids had one wish, it would probably be for their parents to ditch work and stay home to play.

Let’s be honest: we'd happily quit our jobs, but bills don’t pay themselves. Plus, we’re funding an endless supply of Squishmallows, Happy Meals, and Robux.

Balancing work and family is a constant struggle, but here’s the good news: local moms have found jobs that mesh well with parenting. In fact, you can even do some of this work with your kids present.

We talked to the side hustlin’ moms of CNY about their gigs. They told us how these jobs work — and how you can tap into the cash flow, too.

Play That Pays

If your child loves making new friends, babysitting or in-home childcare could be the perfect job for you. Your own kids might love the chance to socialize.

It’s fun and heartwarming work, but one downfall is that it can limit your flexibility. Parents count on you for consistent care, so spontaneous plans or long vacations might be tough to manage. Also, you may need licensing and insurance depending on the services you want to offer. New York State has information at the Office of Children and Family Services website.

Still, local mom Danielle Luc Reistrom cherished her time providing childcare. She cared for two children alongside her own for more than four years. “It was amazing to be able to stay home with my kids and watch them grow,” Reistrom said. “I never had to miss out on milestones or just day-to-day memories.”

When Reistrom’s kids started school, she shifted away from childcare for a new at-home job. She started her own cookie business called Handmade Cravings using MyCustomBakes, a website that works like Etsy for bakery items.

Crafty Cash

Speaking of Etsy, people love handmade goods, and many moms have built successful shops. So, if you love making crafts, why not turn your creativity into cash?

In addition to selling on Etsy, moms have had luck selling through craft fairs, social media marketplaces, or by partnering with local gift shops.

Depending on their ages, your kids might be able to lend a hand with tasks like stringing beads and measuring ingredients.Or, if your little ones are too young to help, set up a small activity table nearby and keep them busy with rotating activities. In 2022, mom and maker Alyssia Fox launched her business, Ireland Cole Jewelry, and her daughter and son wanted to join in. Crafting became her family’s go-to activity for bonding and relaxation.

“My kids love making bracelets when I do,” Fox said. “My tip would be to stock up on everything you can so you’re ready whenever you get an order, including all the shipping stuff!

Drive, Deliver, Earn

If you like to drive around town, delivery gigs might be your best bet. We heard from several local moms who make up to $200 from 8 hours of work. This can include shopping, picking up meals, and delivering orders to customer homes.

Moms report that some days are slow, meaning fewer orders and less money. Also, tips can be a problem. Sadly, not everyone tips their delivery drivers.

Opportunities are available through Instacart, Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, GrubHub, Amazon Flex, and Walmart’s Spark Driver.

These programs run through apps that you download and use to accept jobs. You can work around your schedule, whenever you have time. Just keep in mind that many delivery companies have rules against bringing children, spouses, or friends in the car, so you’ll need to plan around your family life.

Sell Your Skills

Are your windows so spotless they sparkle? Can you banish every crumb from a car interior? Are your Christmas light displays neighborhood-famous and your gardens complemented by every passerby?

Whether you have a special skill or are simply willing to tackle the tasks others avoid, opportunities are waiting for you. Local moms have built businesses around weeding, house cleaning, car detailing, balloon art, errand running, closet organizing, meal prep, and tutoring.

Websites like Thumbtack, Rover, Care.com, and NextDoor make it easy to advertise your services.

Several years ago, Kelsey Janell created a Facebook group to market her pet care business. Now, the group has nearly 300 members, making it easy for her to share availability and book appointments.

“I can choose my own schedule: one dog per day,” Janell said.

That type of flexibility makes service-based gigs super appealing. You set the pace, the hours, and the scope. Whether you want a full-fledged business or occasional jobs between school drop-offs, this approach gives you extra income on your terms.

Profit From The Purge

The market for used clothes, toys, and gear is booming, so your basement might be a goldmine.

Get started by clearing out anything your family has outgrown and try listing those items online. Working with your own gear first will ease you into secondhand selling, and from there, you might decide to expand.

That’s exactly how Kimberly Cunningham turned thrifting into a business. During the pandemic shutdown, she began selling items from around the house on Facebook Marketplace. After a few quick wins, she started “flipping” gently used (and sometimes brand-new) thrift store finds for a profit.

“Let’s say I get American Eagle jeans for $4.99, and I resell them for $18; the person still gets a deal,” Cunningham said. Since she began thrifting in 2020, she has sold hundreds of items through Facebook Marketplace.

In addition to Facebook, Poshmark and ThredUp are popular resale sites.

Before you start, brace yourself: once your kids realize you're moving their old gear, they'll suddenly decide they need the baby playmat, bottle warmer, jumperoo, and everything else collecting dust. Ease the blow by getting them excited about how the extra cash can help your family. After all, Lego sets and dance lessons don’t grow on trees.