DREAMING of a job that pays serious cash and gives you enough time for the school run?
It’s entirely possible to make a mint AND have enough time to spend with the kids – we reveal six roles paying up to £37,000 a year that you can do as a stay-at-home mum.
The rising cost of childcare has meant more mums are considering staying at home with their young children to avoid eye-watering day care fees.
In fact, the average weekly cost of after-school clubs in Britain is £66.48, adding up to a shocking £10,400 a year, according to Daynurseries.co.uk.
Meanwhile, summer holiday clubs over the six-week break are now costing parents an average of £1,076 per child.
But opting for a career that offers flexible working can be a great way to bring in a steady income while still having enough time to do the school drop-off and pick-up.
Plus, choosing a career that offers remote working means you can be at home with your children over the summer holidays, saving costs on term-time childcare.
Katie Emerton, recruitment expert at CV-Library, said these types of roles are a “lifeline” for mums.
She told the Sun Money team: “Many don’t require a degree, allowing parents to turn their creativity, hobbies and passions into a fulfilling career, free from the 9-5 grind.
“Whether it’s social media, tutoring or recruiting, parents can set their own hours, days worked, reduce commuting stress, and work around school runs, reclaiming work-life balance while earning an income that fits family life.”
Job site CV-Library has crunched the data and listed the best stay-at-home-mum-friendly jobs that do not require a university degree.
These are based on the highest paying flexible roles available – perfect for busy mums wanting to make some quick cash.
Social Media Manager – £37,560
You do not need a fancy degree to land a role as a social media manager – and better yet, it pays up to £37,560 a year.
This role is ideal for individuals who are creative, enjoy using social media, and enjoy creating content.
Your day could consist of managing your clients’ social media accounts, including planning, producing, and scheduling posts, as well as responding to comments.
Better yet, it can be done remotely and flexibly, making it a perfect option for parents looking to utilise their creative skills.
According to CV-Library, there are 639 active vacancies for roles like this in the UK.
Virtual Assistant – £36,663
If you are highly organised, you could thrive as a virtual assistant and earn up to £36,663 a year.
The role is completely remote and online, making it a great option for stay-at-home mums looking for extra cash while running after their little ones.
Your day-to-day could consist of booking meetings, arranging appointments and arranging travel for your client.
To land one of these roles, your CV should show examples of good time management and knowledge of tools, such as Microsoft Excel.
‘I ditched my John Lewis job for tutoring – I work from home and quadrupled my salary
Kamilah Hale ditched her job at John Lewis to tutor primary-school pupils to QUADRUPLE her salary – and she works from home.
Kamilah, 36, from Bromley, London, now earns £160 a day as a tutor to primary-school-aged children – a career you surprisingly don’t need a degree for.
She tried tutoring in 2015, after health issues meant she had to
leave her office job, and loves the freedom that working from home gives her.
Kamilah has hip dysplasia, Ehlers-Danlos (one of the symptoms is loose joints), and POTS (which means your heart rate increases quickly after getting up), so being able to cut the commute has transformed her finances.
“Due to illness, I could only work part-time in my old office job and I couldn’t progress because the senior roles were all full-time office roles,” she said.
“Becoming a full-time tutor meant I quadrupled my old salary within the first year, and sales have only increased in the 10 years since then.
“I work with primary-school-aged kids, so spend mornings planning lessons and talking to parents, before tutoring online at 4pm, after children finish school.
“In the mornings, I also send out orders of vocabulary books, games, and flashcards that I’ve written through my company, Wordier.
“My advice to anyone thinking of starting tutoring is: start small and cheap.
“I only had to do that for a year and get some results under my belt before I could start gradually increasing my prices because people had been referred to me.”
“When I first started teaching, I wasn’t charging much at all, because I didn’t have a proven track record.
If you do not know how to use the software, you can watch tutorials on YouTube, or Microsoft has a manual you can read online for free.
CV-Library said there are up to 28 employers currently looking to hire virtual assistants.
Catherine, a stay-at-home mum, previously told The Sun how she earned up to £200,000 a year by working as a virtual assistant.
She said that people in these roles can earn a whopping £3,000 a month working six and a half hours a day with no qualifications at all.
Travel Consultant – £32,598
You could earn up to £32,598 working as a travel consultant.
Many travel consultants are remote and commission-based, according to CV-Library.
Your day could consist of booking flights and tours for holiday goers or promoting holiday packages and reaching out to potential clients.
However, aspiring consultants need to have a background in customer service, so any experience you have in this, whether it be retail or hospitality, is worth putting on your CV.
Also include examples of your strong organisational skills and friendly, approachable personality. There are up to 362 vacant roles for travel agents currently.
Customer Service Support – £27,355
You can land a job as a customer service assistant with minimal experience and do the job from home.
Many of these roles offer on-the-job training, so you don’t need any specific qualifications or a degree.
But your CV should show experience in problem-solving and communication skills.
According to CV-Library, these roles pay around £27,355 a year, and there are currently 41 open roles.
Pet Sitter – £26,775
Being a pet sitter can be a rewarding role for anyone with a love of animals, with up to 32 companies hiring now.
Once you’ve got started, your day could consist of walking dogs and feeding and caring for other pets.
You could operate from your own home and have animals brought to you.
Or, if you want to avoid animals in the house, you can do drop-ins to visit pets in other people’s homes while your clients are at work or away.
You can set your own hours, work independently or use apps to connect with pet owners in your area.
Apps such as Rover allow you to advertise yourself as a pet sitter and set your own prices.
But be aware that the company takes anywhere from a 5-15% commission.
You may also need to file a tax return if you are self-employed and earn more than £1,000 in the financial year.
You can check out our guide to paying less tax when you are self-employed here.
Bookkeeper – £30,744
As a bookkeeper your day-to-day tasks could include receiving and processing receipts for payment and sales invoices and processing the company payroll.
CV-Library said these jobs are often flexible or remote, making them ideal for working around your children’s needs,
You won’t always need a formal degree and the National Careers Service said that you can apply for jobs directly. However, some employers may ask for up to 5 GCSEs.
An A level in business studies, maths, economics or equivalent qualifications can also be useful.
You could also complete an accounts or Finance Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship or Payroll Administrator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
But be aware these can take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combine on-the-job training and time spent with a learning provider, so it may require some time away from your little ones.
What help is available for parents?
CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help.
- 30 hours free childcare – Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours free childcare a week.
To qualify you must usually work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. - Tax credits – For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs.
- Childcare vouchers – If your employer offers childcare vouchers you can get up to £55 a week in tax and national insurance savings.
You pay for your childcare before your tax contributions are taken out.
This scheme is open to new joiners until October 4, 2018, when it is planned that tax-free childcare will replace the vouchers. - Tax-free childcare – Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2.
