How to Make Money as a Single Mom (And Live Comfortably)

Best tips to make money as a single mom so you can stop struggling financially

When I became a single mom many years ago, one of the biggest questions that plagued me was how to make money as a single mom. I was going to be a single mom of two kids, and I wanted to know the best ways for single moms to make money.

Lots of single moms struggle financially, and many are desperate for a way out of poverty or financial stress, Living on one income is very hard, especially when that income isn’t a lot. Many single moms have to survive on minimum wage, and we all know how hard that is.

So, how can a single mom make more money?

That, my friends, is what we are going to look at in this post. How you can make enough money to live comfortably and become financially stable.

I decided to take a different approach with this post. What I mean is, I don’t want to give you a list of jobs or side hustles you can do. While that is helpful, I thought it would be better to give you some tips and ideas for you to work through.

While I care about your short-term financial need, I am more interested in your long-term financial health. Because what single moms need more than anything else is financial security.

If you are looking for something more than a list of jobs or side hustles, you have come to the right place. So, without further ado, here are the best ways for single moms to make money and live comfortably.

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1. HOW CAN A SINGLE MOM MAKE MONEY? HAVE A GOOD CAREER PLAN

Generally, there are three main ways a single mom can make good money and become financially stable. The first way is to have a good career plan.

When you have a good career plan, chances are you won’t have to struggle financially as long as you also know how to manage your finances. Let’s dive into this a little more.

1.BENEFITS OF HAVING A CAREER PLAN

There are lots of benefits of having a career plan. When you have a career plan, it means you have a long-term goal that you are working towards.

A career plan that’s centered around a good profession or occupation is the way to go if you want to earn more than peanuts throughout your life.

Unfortunately, lots of single moms don’t have career plans because they are too busy trying to survive. But the problem with this is, as long as you are stuck working minimum-wage jobs, you are going to keep struggling financially and remain stuck in a vicious cycle.

Working multiple low-paying jobs is not the way to go if you are tired of struggling financially. Instead, create a career plan and work towards getting high-paying jobs with other perks and benefits.

Here are some benefits of having a career plan.

A career plan will help you decide what jobs you should pursue, how to get a high-paying job, and what skills and knowledge you need to get good jobs.
With a career plan, you can take control of your future. That means, you no longer have to see yourself as a victim. You can advance your life whichever way you want to. A career plan will put the power back into your own hands. It means it’s now up to you what you decide to do with your life.
A career plan will boost your confidence and give you the road map you need to succeed. You will know what you want to achieve and how to go about it.
You will feel motivated with a career plan. You no longer have to feel like you are stuck in a dead-end job with no hope of making your life better.

As you can see, having a career plan is a great first step to taking control of your life. So instead of thinking “how can a single mom make money?” start asking “how do I take control of my life and finances?”

There’s a big difference between the two questions and the answer to the second one will determine your long-term financial health.

Now, let’s look at what a good profession or occupation looks like.

2. WHAT A GOOD PROFESSION OR OCCUPATION LOOKS LIKE

First, let me say that it’s possible to have a good career with non-professional jobs, but if you ask me, I think it’s better and easier to have a good financial future with professional jobs.

There are lots of professions to choose from and a single mom can go into any field she wants or likes. Don’t think your options are limited.

With that said, here are some things I think a good occupation or field should have.

Requires advanced learning. No, this doesn’t mean you need a master’s degree to do the job but some specialized knowledge or skill. Professional jobs that pay well typically require a college degree.
It’s a growing occupation. That means there are lots of job opportunities and the long-term prospect is good.
The demand for the skill is high and growing. There are lots of jobs that pay well but the demand is not that high. This makes finding a job very competitive.
There’s money to be made. You want a job that pays well (preferably more than a living wage) and is satisfying.

There are other things to consider when choosing a career path, but the list above are some of the most important factors to consider before choosing a career path.

3. HOW TO CHOOSE A CAREER PATH

If you have been working non-professional jobs, how do you choose a career path to follow? How do you become a professional?

That question can be very difficult to answer.

There are lots of moms who want to go back to college but can’t figure out what to go back to school for. It’s tricky but there’s a way to choose a career path. Let’s look at some of the ways.

Do an assessment of your current skills, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. What do you enjoy? What are some things you are interested in? Take a piece of paper and write them down. For example, maybe you like helping people or you are good with numbers.
Make a list of careers that have always fascinated you, or you’d like to learn more about. Or make a list of your dream jobs or careers. Next, check to see if any of them is compatible with your current skills or strengths.
Think about your goals. Don’t choose a career in a vacuum. How does it fit into your life and overall plan?
Make a list of the things that are important to you in a job or career. For example, maybe you want a job that is satisfying, flexible, pays well, is family-friendly with lots of opportunities for advancement. Whatever your priorities are, write them down, then use them to find a good career match.

Choosing a career path is not rocket science. All you need is some good analytical and critical thinking skills. Focus on what is important to you, make a list of your criteria, then find a job or career that aligns with your needs.

You can also take one of those career personality tests to find out more about your strengths and weaknesses.

4. HOW TO BEGIN A CAREER

The first place to start is with a career plan. Decide what you’d like to do, next, come up with a plan to help you get there.

So for example, if you are a single mom working a minimum wage job, you can decide to go back to school to earn a degree, so you can move on to a professional job that pays more.

If you don’t want to go back to school, you can come up with a plan to advance your career in your existing field. Your options may include taking on more responsibility at work or taking some courses or certification exams to improve your chances of getting promoted.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have a plan in place, and you know exactly how you want to get from where you are to where you’d like to be.

Let me conclude this by giving you a list of some careers I think are worth exploring. Note, this isn’t an exhaustive list.

Nursing
Teaching
Law
Physician assistant
Software developer/computer scientist
Occupational therapist/occupational therapist assistant

2. FREELANCE OR BECOME SELF-EMPLOYED

The second method single moms can use to make a lot of money ( or at least enough money to live on), is to become a freelancer. A freelancer is someone who offers a service or services to multiple clients for a fee. As a freelancer, you are self-employed, which means you are responsible for how much you earn.

One of the best things about freelancing is that you can start it on the side while working a full-time job. It’s a great side hustle for many moms.

Freelancing is a good way for single moms to earn extra money or even a full-time income. Lots of moms make a good living from freelancing. However, like most things, freelancing has some advantages and disadvantages you should be aware of. Let’s look at some of them.

1. ADVANTAGES/BENEFITS OF FREELANCING

The freedom to work from home and a better work-life balance.
Freedom to work as much or as little as you want.
You can work from anywhere, so if location independence is your jam, this is perfect for you.
The opportunity to decide what kind of project or clients you want to work with.
You can set your own rates, and your income is not capped.
No commuting, which means you can save time, and have more time to spend with your family.
Learn new skills or improve existing skills.
Flexibility. This is a big deal when you are a single mom.

2. DISADVANTAGES OF FREELANCING

No guaranteed income or job stability.
You are responsible for marketing and finding your own clients.
Lack of employee benefits such as insurance and retirement plans.
In some cases, you are forced to work with demanding or unpleasant clients just to stay afloat.
You trade time for money. Freelancing is not passive income, and you might end up working very long hours.

As you can see, freelancing has a lot going for it, but it also comes with some disadvantages. Now, let’s look at how you can become a freelancer.

3. HOW TO BECOME A FREELANCER

Do some more research, then decide whether freelancing is for you.
If you decide to move forward, determine what services you plan to offer, your potential clients, and your rates.
Figure out your marketing strategy. How or where do you plan to find your clients? You can start by joining a freelancing platform or website to get some gigs.
Find your first projects or clients. Finding work for the first time is the tricky part. However, once you get your first few clients, things become much easier.
Build your profile and portfolio, and keep tweaking them as you gain more experience.

Freelancing is a great way for single moms to make enough or a lot of money. As long as you are ready to work hard at it, it can be pretty lucrative.

Here are some popular freelancing services you can offer.

Web design
Graphic design
Copywriting or Freelance writing
Virtual assistant
Bookkeeping

You can find more services here. 25 In-Demand Freelance Services You Can Offer.

And, check out the articles below for more information on becoming a freelancer.

How to Start Freelancing

Guide to Freelancing for Beginners

21 Best Freelance Job Sites For Beginners To Get Paid

3. HOW SINGLE MOMS CAN MAKE MONEY: START A BUSINESS

The third method single moms can use to make money is to start a business. Entrepreneurship is a great way to earn a good living if you can find the right business idea.

Starting a business is different from freelancing in some important ways. You can sell products or services, hire employees, and you don’t have to work with multiple clients. Instead, you focus on attracting customers to your business and selling to them.

Like freelancing, starting a business has some advantages and disadvantages. Let’s look at a few of them.

1. ADVANTAGES OF STARTING A BUSINESS

You become your own boss.
You can work a flexible schedule. Build your business around your family’s needs.
Unlimited income potential.
You get to pursue/live your dream.
Change lives and help people with your business.
You can start a business on the side while working a full-time job.

2. DISADVANTAGES OF STARTING A BUSINESS

It can be hard to come up with the right idea.
You are responsible for making decisions. A bad decision can ruin your business.
Time-consuming. You need a lot of time to grow a successful business. And, you will also have to be patient.
Entrepreneurship requires an investment of time and money.
Funding a small business can be challenging.

Just like freelancing, entrepreneurship has its pros and cons. However, owning a business can be pretty satisfying especially if you have the right skills to grow your business. The potential to make a lot of money is one of the biggest benefits of starting a business.

So, how do you go about starting a business?

3. HOW TO START A BUSINESS

Starting a business doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some steps you can follow.

Start by choosing a business idea. The success or failure of your business starts with a business idea. You want a business that solves a real problem, and a problem people are willing to pay to solve.
If possible, try to validate your idea before you move forward.
After validating your idea, the next step is to figure out how you will fund your business. For example, out-of-pocket, small business loans, or savings.
Identify your customers and how to reach them.
Decide what you will sell or offer your customers.
Research the legal requirements for starting a business.
Launch your business.

I know this is quite simplistic, but the steps I listed above covers some of the basics of starting a business.

If you decide entrepreneurship is for you, then you will have to do a lot of research before you actually dive in. You don’t want to jump into something only to discover you have made a mistake. So tread carefully.

Below are some recommended resources for starting a business.

Articles:

10 steps to start your business

How to Start a Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

51 Great Small Business Ideas

Books:

Starting a Business QuickStart Guide

Becoming an Entrepreneur: How to Find Freedom and Fulfillment as a Business Owner

Entrepreneur Business Planner: Starting a New Business Guide for Business Owners

Final words on how to make money as a single mom (and live comfortably)

For many single moms, knowing how to make enough money to live comfortably has been a big challenge.

In this post, I have outlined the three major ways single moms can earn good money and become financially stable. Now, the next step is for you to decide the best path to follow.

The best path depends on your current situation, how much time you can devote to each method, and what your interests and strengths are. If you decide to follow the career path, and you need to go back to school, I have lots of articles on this site that can help you.

Whatever you do, inaction is not an option. Find the best option and start working on it today. Don’t put it off a day longer.

Are you a single mom trying to figure out how to make money or the best ways for single moms to make money? What have you tried so far?