My friends pay me to watch their kids alongside my own. It's a fulfilling way to make $400 a week as a stay-at-home mom.
A stay-at-home mother shares her experience of earning extra income by babysitting friends' children alongside her own. The arrangement provides a flexible, cost-effective alternative to traditional daycare for her social circle.
Why it matters
It highlights the economic pressures of childcare costs and the rise of informal, community-based gig economy solutions for families.
Some of my friends pay me to watch their children since I'm already staying home with my son. Rachel Meghan Quint I'm a stay-at-home mom, and some friends pay me $25 an hour to watch their kids alongside my son. It's a fairly easy side hustle because I love working with kids and my son enjoys having playdates. It's nice being able to help my mom friends while earning extra money each week. I have been a stay-at-home mom since my son was born in 2024. The cost of day care in my area is high, with prices I saw starting at $1,400 a month for a few hours a week. It didn't make sense for me to work a full-time job only to give my entire paycheck to someone else to watch my kid.
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