With ever rising costs of day to day living, moms are always looking for different ways to make money online, or generate a side hustle income. This journey isn’t about picking some random idea though. Rather look at the strengths, skills and experience that you already have, and find a way to monetise that.
This guide will walk you through some practical and flexible ideas to earn money while balancing kids. When you start with a clear plan and some solid goals, you’ll set yourself up for success to make this work for you.
Laying the Foundation: Mindset, Money Management, and Financial Planning
It’s no good earning money if it’s just going to disappear. Or if you don’t have confidence in yourself to do this. That is why, before I give you some ideas, I want to start with these three ideas.
The Power of the Mind
Be brutally honest with yourself. When you clicked on this post, what were you thinking? Here’s another plan that isn’t going to work? Or maybe, here are some ideas, and I have confidence in myself to do this?
Only you have the power to do the work needed to get up and work on your business every day. It takes hard work and grit. It takes staying power and not giving up when you have disappointments. I’ve definitely had my ups and downs working online but I keep going and try new things. I try and adapt. As the content creation platforms are changing, I’m learning more about video and AI.
Here are three important parts to mindset:
- Growth mindset: Focus on progress, not perfection. You don’t need all the answers right away. I try and focus on if I’m putting out useful content. Afterwards I see how my hair looks like a mess, but it’s a lesson, and I’ll try and look better next time!
- Self-belief and trust in God: Trust in your ability to figure things out, even when plans change. You might have a major life event that you need to adjust to. When Brett passed I really had to change my plans. I didn’t have it all figured out when I decided to move. I didn’t have a place to stay or a school for Nicky. But it all fell into place. I know God wanted this move, and it all worked out. Sometimes it’s hard to let go but the most important lesson I learnt is to trust in Him.
- Resilience: Every stumble is a lesson, not a defeat. I did a lot of interviews in 2020. Every time I didn’t get the job I picked myself up, learnt a lesson and tried again. I learnt to focus on the child. I improved my background and lighting.
Someone who is great for money mindset is Donna McCallun, she has a lot of free meditations to get you in the right place.
Setting Your Budget and Keeping Money Organized
When a lot of money issues seem out of control, it helps to write things down. Try and keep your online income separate and organised so that you can keep track. What I do is list my teaching online income separate and then my blogging income separate. I also list expenses in these two areas so that I can list them and claim for tax expenses. The Moms Excel Budget Template Spreadsheet can help you track every cent without the frustration. It also has a video explanation so you can see exactly how I use it.
Get a financial planner
My last piece of advice is to get a financial planner. You might think you earn too little to have this, but in fact, it’s never too early or too late. My financial planner has really helped with big decisions (like buying a house) and he knows the tax implications of doing things certain ways. He’s also picked up things on my insurance policies that has saved me money. I recently changed my medical aid to a better plan (from Coastal Saver to Delta) where I get more medical savings and pay slightly less. He also picked up that I had a payment schedule on my life insurance that would get increase terribly, so I’ve structured that better now. Small changes can really help.
Seven Diverse Ways To Make Money Online For Moms
No two people are the same and what will work for me, might not work for you, depending on your personality, your educational background and your experience. Read these tips with an open mind and see which one will speak to you as a mom to make money online.
1. Teaching Online
This has been my number one income for the past few years. It has been hard work but it works for me.
For teaching English I recommend starting small to get experience (like English First or The Really Great Teacher Company) and then move on from there to get better paying jobs. It’s vital to at least have a TEFL certificate (I got mine through English First). Once you have a qualification and experience, you can really earn money in this way. I recommend Novakid, I’ve really enjoyed teaching there. I also recommend LingoAce (use my referral code: Heather St if you try them).
You don’t have to teach English to tutor online. A friend of mine teaches Afrikaans successfully. You can teach any subject like art, music or any other subject to help kids or adults online.
There are a lot of platforms you can use to teach. Google Meet is free. Zoom is free for 40 minutes but if you have 25 minute classes, this is fine. I use The Lessonspace for my private students, which has improved a lot since it started. You can now share screen as well.
For more insights on getting started, see this guide on Teaching English online for parents.
2. Content Creation: YouTube, Social Media, and Podcasting
Many moms are turning what they love into thriving content channels. YouTube is a go-to for tutorials, day-in-the-life vlogs, and how-to guides. Podcasts let you share stories, advice, or interviews with other moms. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are ideal for quick tips and visual content.
Types of content you can create:
- Parenting and family hacks
- Wellness journeys
- DIY and crafts
- Cooking or meal planning
- Personal finance tips
The best part? You don’t need fancy equipment to launch. Start with your phone and grow as you go.
To monetize on YouTube, your channel needs 1000 subscribers and either 4000 hours of public watch time in the last 12 months or ten million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. Channels with 500 subscribers can still access fan-funding features like channel memberships. You need a good camera and you can also promote your own, or affiliate products and get sponsorships as well.
Places to sign up as a blogger/ content creator in South Africa:
| Trade Exchange | Brand Advisor Mum box Ruby box Beauty Bulletin Service Insider |
| Paid | TheSalt Webfluential Intellifluence Humanz (both paid and exchange) |
| Social media groups | SA Bloggers Network South African Mom Bloggers |
A great resource to hear from experts about this is the Simple Steps Blogging and Content Creation Summit. They really gave a lot of valuable tips on how to create excellent content.
Another great resource is Nuri‘s Influencer course.
3. Freelancing: Writing, Graphic Design, Bookkeeping, and More
Freelancing lets moms turn skills into cash on their own schedule. There’s a long list of services you can offer:
- Writing (blog posts, product descriptions, copywriting)
- Graphic design (logos, social media images, Pinterest pins)
- Bookkeeping or admin support
- Virtual assisting and customer service
- Social media management or email marketing
Start by listing a few services on Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn. Word-of-mouth and referrals can help, too.
4. Selling Products: Handmade, Digital, and Print-on-Demand
Moms with an eye for creativity or design can tap into selling both physical and digital goods.
Popular choices include:
- Handmade crafts, jewellery, or clothing on Etsy
- Digital planners, printables, templates, or workbooks
- Print-on-demand shirts, mugs, or tote bags (using sites like Redbubble, Printful, Gelato, Teepublic, Zazzle, CafePress, Society6)
- Stock photos, custom art, or greeting cards
- Reselling gently used items or curating themed gift boxes
- More places to try for this: Folksy, Amazon Homemade.
- Also, you can sell your old stuff on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace.
The beauty is you can start tiny, refine your products based on feedback, and scale up as you learn what sells. A successful South African who sells planners on her Shopify store is Jayde Oliver from @happyclub_za_
5. Amazon KDP and Other Passive Income Streams
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) lets you self-publish ebooks or low-content books (think planners, journals, children’s activity books) and earn without ongoing effort. Once your book is online, you get paid for every sale—no inventory needed.
A great resource for this is Becky Beach. Becky makes hundreds of dollars off KPD and she said she has about 50 products. She recently sold an affiliate product (sight words generator) and I literally sat and watched her videos on how to get everything right. Something that I learnt: you have to have excellent print quality (which is different from digital images for social media). So you’ll either have to do it in Microsoft PowerPoint or use Canva paid plan for pdf printing. I used Canva. I did the cover in PPT but I had to put it in Adobe to get the size right. You can check out my little book here, and I am planning to make more.
Becky always has amazing products on the go. Check out her social media planner, How to do Kid’s Kindle Books. and loads more!
Other ideas for passive income:
- Rent a spare room or property on Airbnb
- Sell courses or workshops using platforms like Teachable, Udemy, Thinkific, Skillshare, Coursecraft (I recommend Systeme.io – see this post)
- License photos or graphics (Alamy, Adobe Stock, Bigstock, iStock, Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Deposit Photos)
Passive income frees up your time and brings in money in the background. Start with something simple and let your skills compound.
6. Service-Based Offerings like Fitness and Coaching
If you have expertise in wellness, parenting, business, or fitness, you can build a flexible service business. Many moms run coaching sessions, group programs, or consulting right from home.
Ways to package your expertise: (with some examples of people I know)
- Virtual fitness classes (check out GI Jess), meal planning support (check out Nadia), or postpartum guidance
- One-on-one parenting, organising (check out Marcia , and Gina who organised my study) or life coaching (Single Moms coaching: Marlize Marais)
- Small-group workshops on mindset, budgeting, or business building (Lauren from Inspiring Mompreneurs is a great example)
- Bookkeeping (great if you know accounting, taxes and software programs).
These services bring in steady income and help you connect with others who value your knowledge. Sharing your own story can be a powerful way to attract clients and build trust.
Each of these methods can suit different strengths and schedules. There’s no right or wrong way—just the next step that fits your goals.
7. Website Flipping and Building Niche Sites
Website flipping means creating or buying websites, improving them, and selling for a profit. It’s similar to renovating a house, but digital. You can start small—build a blog around a hobby, grow traffic, then sell when it’s making money.
Steps to try:
- Pick a topic you enjoy and check if others are searching for it.
- Build a simple website using WordPress
- Fill it with helpful content.
- Monetize with ads, affiliate links, or digital products.
- Once it earns steady income, sell on platforms like Flippa.
Moms with a creative spark can build niche sites about family routines, recipes, or local parenting resources. Small successes compound over time.
My take on this: get a .com and get international traffic. If you’re good at cooking, do recipes. If you’re got a knack for personal finance, do those tips. Be niche specific. Use your skills to build a site. You can do my course to set it up.
Another great resource for this is Chelsey from Her Paper Route. She has a site called Niche Investor where she literally flips websites. Chelsey also makes it a point not to depend on Google for traffic and uses Pinterest a lot. Chelsey has written a book, so stay tuned for later this year when she publishes, because I reviewed that book. It’s such an inspirational story.
How Blogging Ties it all together
However you’re planning to make money, you need a website to advertise what you are doing. Then you can start making blog posts (content marketing) so that people can find you (using keyword research).
How Blogs Turn Passion Into Profit
Your website creates an authority. You can refer them to your website when they ask for your rates. You can show your authority with detailed posts in your niche.
But in case you’re not sold on that, here are more ways:
- Advertisements: Add ads to your site. Even small blogs can earn with easy-to-use networks. (I use Google Adsense)
- Affiliate marketing: Share products or services you already love, and earn when readers buy them using your links. (Another great one – to get commission when people click on your links. This happens every now and then for me.)
- Sponsored posts: Partner with brands to write about their products (often products you’d genuinely use). (My main income from blogging)
- Sell your own products: Offer ebooks, printables, online courses, or coaching sessions. (I’ve made a few sales here from this)
Steps to Launch Your Blog (Even With No Experience)
Don’t let tech fears or self-doubt keep you back. You can start small and learn as you go. Here’s a simple way to begin:
- Choose your niche – What do you want to write about? Parenting, recipes, crafts, budgeting, or your own journey? If you are stuck here, use my niche finder AI tool below.
- Pick a platform – WordPress is popular, but there are many beginner-friendly options.
- Get a domain name – Your address on the web, like “mommystories.com.”
- Start writing – Focus on real, helpful posts. Perfection isn’t needed!
- Promote your posts – Share on social media, join mom groups, or connect with other bloggers.
For tools and ideas, don’t miss the Seven Basic Blogging Building Blocks freebie. It’s a quick way to get the basics sorted—perfect if you’re feeling lost or overwhelmed.
The Course That Makes Blogging Simple
If you want step-by-step help, the course How to Start a Blog from Scratch is a mom-friendly favorite. It’s made for beginners—no tech talk, just practical lessons. The course walks you through picking a topic, setting up your site, and understanding how to grow (and earn) at your own pace.
Still stuck? Not sure what to write about or what will work for you?
Take my AI Niche Website finder for a spin.
Disclaimer: This is AI. It is just a starting point for suggestions. Use it as a tool together with your own brain. 🙂
Conclusion
Everyone’s journey to making money is going to be different. What works for one person may not work for you. The trick is to find that sweet spot – between what you are good at, and what people want to buy or consume – and leverage that. I hope that you find your special way to make money as a mom, support your family, and find that balance in your life.
Want to start your own blog?
Create your own authority website blog! Included you’ll find how to leverage both social media and your blog posts.
Check it out here
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