I promise this is not an MLM post in the making where I ask you to sign up for some course to help build your business if you pay an “investment” of $5,000! This is a question that comes up every now and then when other Army Mamas feel stretched thin on their budget mixed with the COLA at their current assignment–“What are some flexible side hustles I can do that my command will approve of?”
After some research mixed with my personal experience and other experiences of Army Mamas, I’ve generated a list of low cost, minimal learning curve flexible side hustles for really any mother looking to boost their income. All of these can be done off the proverbial clock.
Donate Plasma
Okay, I had to put this one in here because it is mentioned so often from other Army Mamas. It’s relatively easy to sign up and there are donation centers all over the continental U.S. Plasma donation is generally safe as long as you meet the medical qualifications and you listen to your body when it comes to frequency of donations.
What you have to do to donate plasma
1. Find a plasma donation center (like CSL Plasma, BioLife, or Grifols).
2. Meet basic eligibility criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old (some places 19+).
- Weigh at least 110 lbs.
- Be in good health, pass a medical screening, and provide ID.
3. Complete a health questionnaire and basic physical exam (checking blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and hemoglobin levels).
4. Donate plasma through a process called plasmapheresis: blood is drawn, plasma separated, and red blood cells returned to you.
5. Donations typically take 1-2 hours.
6. You can usually donate up to twice a week, with at least 48 hours between donations.
How much you make on average donating plasma
There are many factors that come into play regarding compensation for plasma donations. Typically between $20-$50, but there are other types of bonuses you can get like first time donor or if you just received an anthrax shot. So if you donate twice a week, you can make roughly $160-$400 a month.
Babysitting
I know, the last thing you want to be doing as a mother is taking care of more littles on top of your own, buuuut if you’re already going to be doing the work then you might as well be getting paid for it.
I think that there is a huge need for reliable babysitters in the military community and I’ve seen Army Mamas show up for each other when a babysitter skips out last minute before a field training exercise. Offering a competitive price that is fair and reasonable to both the sitter and the parent along with CPR certifications can prove to be fruitful. You can check to see where to get CPR certified here or do a quick google search for your local area.
Pet-sitting
I’ve personally done pet-sitting through Rover. The most lucrative times are during typical vacation periods where most families are traveling out of town (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring break, etc.).
It was really easy to set up an account and get my first client! Word to the wise, make sure your house is set up when it comes to having an unknown pet in your home. Pets have different rules in their own homes so be ready to deal with behavior you normally wouldn’t tolerate from your own pet (e.g. we don’t allow our dog on the furniture, but our guest pet was accustomed to the opposite).
A few things you may want to have on hand before accepting your first pet sitting assignment:
- tall baby gates (to keep animals out of certain areas where accidents may occur)
- carpet cleaner (self-explanatory)
- patience (especially if you’re sitting for a puppy)
This is a side hustle that I would love to do again, but my dog is not so friendly with other animals and it became a pain having to keep her separated at all times. You can set your rate and your schedule on Rover so income potential is whatever you make it depending on your home space and availability.
Fetch Rewards
Fetch Rewards can be a nice little supplement to your income especially if you’re strategic about it. Fetch Rewards is an app that allows you to scan your receipts for points and then you can redeem those points for gift cards.
Unfortunately, a lot of the things that give higher points are usually highly processed foods or name brand items. This isn’t really what we choose to spend our money on, but my dad actually clued me in on what he does to get more points and it is actually pretty genius. He usually collects receipts that people leave in their carts at the grocery store or if he sees them floating around as trash.
I’m not advising you to go dumpster diving, buuuut most people tend to throw their receipts away. An easier way to do this is to solicit receipts from family, friends, and/or coworkers. It may seem a little tacky to ask, but most of the people I’ve told about Fetch will download the app and then do NOTHING with it all while throwing their receipts away.
I know I said I wasn’t going to ask you to sign up for anything, but if you’d like to check out Fetch Rewards then you can use my referral code to sign up. Or don’t and just do a quick google search to see if it’s something you’re interested in.
Amazon Flex
This is another side hustle that I’ve personally tried and it is a quick return for payout. You essentially sign up to make deliveries for Amazon. In order to do this side hustle, I’d recommend you have reliable transportation, a larger vehicle so that you have enough room to store packages, and a passenger to help you sort and deliver packages quicker.
During the time I signed up and did this side hustle, my husband, sister, and I would take turns doing deliveries–that’s how lucrative this side hustle is! Then we found out a lot of our coworkers were actually doing this side hustle as well. The driving distance of the deliveries, time of year, and random bonuses dictates how much money you can make doing this.
For example, they have different blocks you can sign up to deliver packages (1pm-3pm, 6-8pm, etc.) and some time-blocks/locations will offer higher rates ($120 for 6-8pm) and you’re driving 45 minutes outside of the city to deliver packages to a random old folks community mobile home park. Peak seasons like Christmas offer MUCH higher rates because they’re trying desperately to get those packages out to their customers.
Main downside to this is that it is the MOST frustrating experience when you get your first apartment complex and realize some people don’t know how to properly address their packages when they order them on Amazon. I once spent over 30 minutes trying to find the door to deliver one package because their parents had ordered them something and didn’t properly address the package.
The great thing about this side hustle is that they pay out every week on certain days. I found this to be most beneficial during the holiday season because of the higher payouts. It does take some time to get approved to become an Amazon Flex driver, but you almost always get approved within a few months.
Sell Digital Products on Etsy and Amazon
Yet another side hustle that I personally do and it’s a low lift. This side hustle is perfect for those Army Mamas with a creative flare.
I have a few listings for digital and print-on-demand products on both Etsy and Amazon. It does take a bit of research to see what can possibly sell, but everything else is automated once you have your product made.
YouTube is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to getting started on this and that’s how I learned to build this website, content creation, digital product creation, listing, and search engine optimization.
Doordash/Ubereats/Spark Driver
This side hustle runs in the same vein as Amazon Flex. From what I hear, you already have a leg up if you started a few years ago before it became really popular. Seniority and good ratings bring more opportunities for deliveries.
Is It Worth It?
Pros:
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Flexible hours — work whenever.
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Quick cash — get paid weekly or instantly (with Fast Pay).
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Easy entry — no formal education or experience needed.
Cons:
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Pay can vary widely based on city, time, and demand.
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You cover your own expenses (gas, maintenance, taxes).
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No benefits or guaranteed hourly wage.
When it’s most worth it:
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You live in or near a busy city with strong order volume.
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You do it during peak times (lunch/dinner or weekends).
Tips for New Drivers
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Start During Peak Hours:
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Lunch (11 am–2 pm) and dinner (5 pm–9 pm).
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Friday-Sunday tends to be busiest.
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Stay Near Busy Zones:
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Use the app’s heat map (“hotspots”) to hang around areas with a lot of restaurants.
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Be Picky (When You Can Be):
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Don’t accept low-paying long-distance deliveries.
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Early on, you might want to accept more to build ratings and complete orders.
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Track Your Expenses:
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Use apps like Everlance or Gridwise to track mileage for tax deductions.
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Save for taxes — you’re an independent contractor.
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Work Towards Top Dasher (Optional):
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Top Dashers can dash anytime (even when the area isn’t busy), which is helpful in slower markets.
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It requires high completion and acceptance rates, which may not always be worth it.
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Use Dual Apps (When You’re More Experienced):
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Some Dashers use DoorDash along with Uber Eats, Grubhub, or Instacart to maximize downtime.
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Rent your car out for Turo
If you have a spare car that is in good condition, then renting it out on Turo could help generate some semi-passive income. I know some coworkers that actually rent their car out on Turo. They have a lockbox on their car and stage it at the airport for travelers.
Basic vehicle requirements for Turo:
- Must have current registration in the U.S.
- Be no more than 12 years old.
- Have fewer than 130,000 miles.
- Have a clean title.
- Be in excellent mechanical and physical condition.
Some key optimization elements to consider when renting your car out on Turo are:
- Living in a touristy area is preferable.
- Keep your calendar up-to-date to avoid cancellations.
- Set competitive pricing.
- Consider getting a lockbox that has a code so that you can stage your vehicle at popular locations like airports/hotels.
Renting a car out on Turo comes with risks because you can’t guarantee strangers will treat your car as well as you would–so please consider getting good insurance in the event anything happens.
Honorable mentions for side hustles
Here are a few other side hustles that are possibilities if you have the time and money to invest:
- Become a notary
- Bounce house/waterslide rentals
- Outhouse rentals
- Photography
- Meal prep services
- Laundry services
- Vending machines
- Egg donation (I know this is a big commitment, but I’ve heard other Army Mamas do this!)
Do you need command approval for any side hustles?
Long story short–yes, to avoid any accusations of moonlighting that is perceived to interfere with your full-time position. Obviously, this doesn’t quite apply for part-time National Guardsmen and Reservists because it is understood that demographic generally has a career outside of the military that provides their primary source of income.
Check your unit’s policies to verify the steps you should take in order to start your side gig without getting into unnecessary trouble.
Overall, I have seen plenty Soldiers engage in almost all of these side hustles to supplement their income. Any one of these side hustles can be lucrative depending on your skillset and business strategy.
