Discover practical ways for stay-at-home rural parents to boost household income, from remote jobs to creative side hustles.

How Stay-at-Home Rural Parents Can Contribute to the Household Income

When you’re a stay-at-home parent, you can’t rely on a traditional job to make income, which can strain your family’s finances even if you have a working partner. If you live in suburban or rural areas, you may not even be able to pick up part-time shifts with a decent commute. In today’s remote- and freelance-friendly world, you may find that your options aren’t as limited as you may believe, even in rural locations. If you want to make some extra income without leaving your house, learn what the most common options are as a smart first step.

Remote Freelancing

Suppose you have any skills under your belt that you can offer remotely, such as writing, coding, customer service, graphic design, video design, or illustration. In that case, you can find some remote freelance work easily. You can work with clients online as little or as often as you’d like to generate some side income. Also, you can write a few articles a month for an extra few hundred dollars toward housing expenses. You can help create logo designs for businesses for a small fee. As long as you have an internet connection, you may be able to find some great remote work options.

Ridesharing or Food Delivery

If you truly live in a rural area, it may take a while to get to the grocery store. Your neighbors may be too busy parenting or working to head out to the store often, which can make grocery or food delivery a lucrative freelance choice. You can deliver or drive as little or as frequently as you’d like, which is very parent-friendly. 

Real Estate Investing

Real estate investment involves purchasing property to earn income, typically through commercial or residential rental payments. While you may need to leave your home to meet tenants or inspect properties, property managers can do most of the hard work for you so you can stay home with the kids. From managing rental properties to flipping houses, there are countless opportunities to build wealth while working from home. 

In rural areas, you may be limited in property choice, however. You also will need to determine if you’ll get enough tenants to make a profit. If you don’t have enough income to buy a rental property, you can get property loans to secure the funds. There are even investor-friendly loan types, such as DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) loans, that allow you to borrow based on potential rental income instead of your own. Thankfully, you don’t need to live in the same area you invest in. You can choose the most popular areas of the country to make even more real estate income! Some choose to invest close to home, however. If you want to invest in property in rural states, you’ll need to determine how much rental income you can make in these less populated areas by studying the market. 

Vermont

Vermont is one of the most rural states in the USA, with around 70% of the population living in rural areas. However, nearly a third of homes sold above the list price, indicating a fairly high housing demand. If you live rurally near this area, you may find your rental income quite decent.

Montana

In Montana, nearly half the population lives rurally, which is common for the entire Mountain West region of America. Despite the lack of megacities in the state, there are a few urban sanctuaries like Billings, which may see young families or job hunters relocating to. Home values have increased by three percent over the past year alone, so Montana DSCR loans may be fairly easy to secure if you live there.

West Virginia

West Virginia is in the Upper South region of America, home to a large portion of the Appalachian Mountains. This region is known for its rich culture and rural ways of life. Travelers and families alike love its natural beauty, so despite the lack of major urban hubs, you’ll still likely find decent rental income.

Homemade E-Commerce

E-commerce refers to selling goods online. If you have some used goods you no longer use, list them for sale—some people may be interested. You can also create homemade goods, like clothing, children’s toys, or decorations that may garner online attention. Marketplaces like Etsy are great for selling homemade goods if you don’t know how to create your own website or advertise your store. 

Childcare

Despite living in a rural area, your community likely has plenty of children—if you’re a parent, you know there are at least your own! The rest of the community may be having trouble juggling work and parenting, too. You can open up your home as a local babysitting or childcare service. You’ll likely need licensing, training, and inspections based on the number of kids you’d like to care for at once, but it can be a great way to socialize your child while working from home. You can also board pets from your home; freelancing apps like Rover can help you find petsitting clients easily.

Virtual Healthcare

If you don’t mind a lot of schooling (or you have some healthcare training already), virtual healthcare involves treating patients through video calls. Telehealth is very popular for patients in rural areas or who can’t afford to travel to medical practices for treatment. Telehealth nursing is growing in popularity as a career choice for people living in rural areas or parents (in your case, both).

Small-Scale Farming or Livestock

Rural properties and communities are usually great for growing crops or raising livestock. You can sell crops or goods from livestock at local farmer’s markets, grocery stores, or door-to-door for some side income. Your kids can help you as a fun and enriching activity.

Tutoring

Remote tutoring allows teachers and students from around the world to connect. If you have teaching skills, you can find remote tutoring jobs that will meet your needs and schedule to generate some side income while you parent.

Conclusion

If you live in a rural area with no way to make local income, don’t worry. There are plenty of freelance, remote, or side gig options that allow you to support your home without sacrificing childcare. Don’t forget to take breaks and take time for yourself too. You won’t be able to be productive in any aspect of life without rest.