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While you can’t always be there to physically monitor your child’s phone, parental control apps like FamilyTime can help you protect your kids online. 

Keep reading to see what the FamilyTime app has to offer, and whether it’s worth purchasing:

What is FamilyTime?

Our review of the FamilyTime app

Customer reviews of FamilyTime

FamilyTime app cost

Features of the FamilyTime app

Pros and cons of FamilyTime

Alternatives to FamilyTime

Bottom line: Is FamilyTime a good app for parental controls?

What is FamilyTime?

FamilyTime is a parental control app that offers an extensive list of features, including: 

  • Location tracking
  • App usage monitoring
  • Screen time limits
  • Message monitoring
  • Call monitoring
  • Internet filters

Two parents can set parameters, and it also has child-oriented features like PickMeUp and SOS notifications.

You can download the FamilyTime app on Apple and Android devices. 

Is FamilyTime a good app?

FamilyTime is a good app if your main goals are to limit screen time and set phone use parameters for your children. 

The app allows you to schedule times when your child can’t use their phone so you can have a device-free dinner or turn off devices at bedtime. 

You can also set daily app time limits to control time spent on specific apps and reward your kids with “fun time” later on. Fun time is basically a time bank for unused app time, but the parent controls the timeframe it’s allowed to be used. So if your child didn’t spend all their Instagram or YouTube minutes, you could schedule a weekend timeframe where they can enjoy those leftover minutes.

When it comes to monitoring features, FamilyTime does offer helpful reports on app usage, location tracking, and complete access to call and text history. But you can’t see your child’s search history or see what your child sends and receives on social media and other SMS apps. This can be very limiting if you want more intel on what your child is up to.

But even though the FamilyTime app offers almost every parental control feature you can think of, many reviewers note that some features do not work as advertised (more on that below).  

How does the FamilyTime app work?

The FamilyTime app offers a free 3-day trial and different subscription options based on the number of monitored devices. 

After you, the parent, install the FamilyTime app on your phone, you’ll download FamilyTime Jr. on your child’s phone. 

Once you link the accounts, you can start setting up parameters and limits on your child’s device and see their phone usage and location.

Our review of the FamilyTime app

3/5 stars

After setting up the FamilyTime app, some features immediately didn’t work. The customer support folks were fairly helpful and helped fix most of the problems. But, we never got the daily app limit and app blocker to work. 

Features like the internet filter are limited — you could only block three broad categories (porn, drugs/abortion, and dating/gambling). The internet filter also didn’t consistently filter out taboo content — I literally searched “porn,” and lots of porn showed up.

FamilyTime’s text and call-monitoring features were very extensive and allow you to see complete call logs and text history down to the contact, time, and message. You can also flag contacts and receive messages if that person has any contact with your child.

But the app doesn’t monitor social media or all SMS apps, so messages can slip through the cracks. You can of course, just block or limit social media use, but you won’t have total access to posts or messages. Tech-savvy kids will likely be able to figure out workarounds, and it’s surprisingly easy to delete the app altogether from the child’s phone. 

Screen time limits were the best feature, allowing parents to block phone use during meal time, bedtime, or other set intervals. FamilyTime really lets the parent sit in the driver’s seat and make the decisions on what times and usages are acceptable. 

Screentime limits on FamilyRime app.

FamilyTime’s PickMeUp and SOS features are also convenient features for your child to quickly send alerts if they need you. 

The geofence (a GPS-defined boundary) and location tracking features also were pretty reliable features to see where your child is and get check-ins when they leave or arrive at designated areas. But some folks may already be familiar with using free phone trackers on Android and iCloud that basically do the same thing. 

Court-monitored communication? Get a co-parenting app

Other FamilyTime app reviews

Other FamilyTime app reviews are similarly mixed, but overall, the parental control app is fairly well rated. There are, however, many vocal reviews about features not working as promised and issues with canceling subscriptions.

BBB rating 

N/A

FamilyTime does not have a Better Business Bureau rating. 

Google Play reviews 

2.7/5 stars (11,900+ reviews)

The majority of Google Play reviewers praised FamilyTime as an easy and efficient solution to monitor their child’s mobile use. Folks also really liked the vast array of features.  

But some FamilyTime reviews noted glaring tech issues that weren’t easily resolved, causing them to delete the app. 

App Store reviews

1.3/5 stars (8 reviews)

On the App Store, FamilyTime earned a lower rating. The biggest FamilyTime app complaints were about inconsistent performance and people complaining it was incredibly easy for kids to delete the app.

Trustpilot reviews 

2.9/5 stars (580+ reviews)

Trustpilot reviewers also gave FamilyTime a high rating, but many 5-star ratings don’t actually note app performance. Most reviews are vague accounts of helpful customer service representatives. 

Reviews with low ratings noted glitches and bad customer service experiences. 

Our Family Wizard reviews

Does FamilyTime cost money?

Depending on how many devices you’d like to monitor, FamilyTime subscription prices range from:

  • $29/year ($2.41/month per device for 1 child device)
  • $49/year ($4.08/month per device for 3 child devices)
  • $69/year ($5.75/month per device  for 5 child devices)

There is a free version of the app, but it has limited features like call tracking, viewing installed apps, app usage reports, and SOS notifications.  

App usage on FamilyTime app.

FamilyTime app features

FamilyTime boasts a ton of features, but not all of them are available on both Android and Apple devices.

Here’s a breakdown of the app’s advertised features:

Family Care

Standard app and internet blocking features, plus safety and custom screen time use settings, including:

Daily App Limit

Set a custom time limit where your kid can access certain apps. 

App blocker

Block apps you don’t want your child to access by creating a custom Blacklist.

Internet filter

Filter internet searches for three categories: porn, drugs/abortion, and dating/bambling. You can also enable SafeSearch for Google, Bing, and YouTube.

SOS/Panic button

A button on your child’s device that allows them to send you an alert and their location if they’re in danger. 

Limit screen time

Define custom times your kid can’t use their phone to help limit screen time and unplug during key times like dinner or bedtime. 

FamilyPause

A button that allows you to freeze your child’s device so they can’t use it. 

Internet schedule (Android only)

Pause web search only for specific times and days by creating a custom schedule.

Teen Safe Drive (iOS only)

Set speed limit parameters to get notifications if your child is driving too fast.  

Watchlist contacts

Create a specific contact list of people you don’t want calling or texting your kid, and you’ll get alerts if they try to reach out.

TimeBank

Any time your child doesn’t use in their Daily App Limit is put into a “bank” to spend later.

FunTime

Set timeframes where your child can use minutes they’ve accumulated in their TimeBank.  

Family Tracker 

See where your kid is at all times, and get notifications about specific areas with:

Location history

See where your child has visited down to the time and address. 

Places – mobile geofence

Get push notifications when your child enters or leaves custom virtual geofences (GPS parameters set by the parent). 

Family locator

This shows you where all your family members are located on one virtual map. 

Family Watch

Allows you to monitor mobile activities across messaging, calls, apps, and internet search with: 

Call history

Shows you the time, date, and contact information for calls.

Web history (Does not appear on Android)

Check in on your kid’s search history. 

Installed apps

This shows you what apps your child has recently downloaded.

Contacts

Gives you a complete look at your kid’s contact list. 

Bookmarks (iOS only)

See what your child has bookmarked searching the web. 

Monitor text messages

See a log of all your child’s text messages, who sent or received them, and the time and date they were sent. 

App usage

This shows you how much time your child spends on certain apps.

Family Buzz

Additional alerts keep tabs on your kid’s location and safety with:

SOS alerts

Even if screen time is limited, your child can tap this button on their phone to send you an alert if they feel they’re in danger.

PickMeUp alerts

Another alert button on your child’s app that notifies you to pick them up with their location. 

Instant app blocker alerts

Get alerted when your child tries to access blocked apps.

Additional ways to connect with family members and share information, which are not currently available but will be soon:

  • Family talk (coming soon): Family messaging platform to keep in touch.
  • Family calendar (coming soon): Create a shareable family calendar of events (great if you’re co-parenting with an ex).

FamilyTime pros and cons

Here are our main thoughts after combing through reviews and experiencing the app ourselves:

Pros: 

  • Geofencing alerts are usually precise and reliable
  • Limit screen time feature and Internet schedule helps set boundaries
  • Gives a thorough view of text and call history
  • Two parents can monitor and set restrictions
  • PickMeUp and SOS alerts give your child alternative ways to contact you in emergencies
  • Good customer service

Cons:

  • Can be expensive 
  • Limited to mobile devices and some tablets
  • Not all features are available on iOS and Android
  • Features often glitch or don’t work as advertised
  • Very easy for kids to uninstall
  • Internet filter can be skirted and unreliable
  • SMS and call monitoring limited to original call and text apps

Best co-parenting apps now

Alternatives to FamilyTime

There are lots of other apps like FamilyTime that offer similar features. Here’s how they stack up:

FamilyTime vs. EyeZy

EyeZy has similar features like text monitoring, location tracking, screen-time restrictions, and internet controls. But unlike FamilyTime, EyeZy allows you to monitor social media activity on Facebook Messenger, Google messages, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and more. 

Depending on the plan, EyeZy prices range from $9.99/month to $47.99/month. 

EyeZy Reviews: 4.6/5 App Store / 2.7/5 Google Play

FamilyTime vs. FamiSafe

FamiSafe also has similar parental control features but also allows you to block specific websites and search terms online. FamiSafe will send you alerts if your child sends or receives certain words you mark as “suspicious.”

Plans range from $9.99/month to $59.99/year.

FamiSafe Reviews: 4.5/5 App Store / 3.1/5 Google Play

FamilyTime vs. Qustodio 

Like FamilyTime, Qustodio includes text and call monitoring, SOS notifications, and screen time limits. But the app gives you more control over restricting specific websites and monitors social media posts. Qustodio also works on PCs and Macs, and you can get alerts if your child searches specific keywords. 

Plans range from $54.95/year to $99.95/year.

Qustodio Reviews: 4.2/5 App Store / 3.7/5 Google Play

Positive Parenting Solutions review: Is it worth it?

Bottom line: Is FamilyTime a good app for parental controls?

FamilyTime works great as a screen limiting and child GPS app, but other features like internet filtering and text message monitoring may be easily thwarted by precocious kiddos. 

App glitches may also make some features unusable or require you to reach out to customer support.

What is FamilyTime?

FamilyTime is a parental control app that offers an extensive list of features, including: location tracking, app usage monitoring, screen time limits, message monitoring, call monitoring, and Internet filters.

Is FamilyTime a good app?

FamilyTime is a good app if your main goals are to limit screen time and set phone use parameters for your children.

How does the FamilyTime app work?

After you, the parent, install the FamilyTime app on your phone, you’ll download FamilyTime Jr. on your child’s phone.

Does FamilyTime cost money?

Depending on how many devices you’d like to monitor, FamilyTime subscriptions start at $29 per year for one device and up to $69 per year for five devices.

There are plenty of memes going around Facebook giving Father’s Day shout-outs to single moms who “do it all.”

Make your way down the card isle at any store, and you will come across a half-dozen Hallmark cards designed for moms on this day for dads.

Cards read:

“Happy Father’s Day, Mom!”

“Mom: You’re the best! Thanks for being both father and mother.”

“Happy Father’s Day to all the single moms pulling double duty.”

It is not OK to wish single moms a Happy Father’s Day.

Should you wish single moms a “Happy Father’s Day”?

What your kids hear when moms say they are the mother and the father

  1. “Fathers are replaceable.”
  2. “Men are irrelevant.”
  3. “I am a martyr and you owe me.” 
  4. “Your dad sucks.“
  5. “Your dad will never be an important part of your life.“

Should you wish single moms a “Happy Father’s Day”?

In short: Moms never get to celebrate Father’s Day. Don’t wish any female-gendered person Happy Father’s Day. It is absolutely uncool to every male, female, adult and child.

Overwhelmed and (often justifiably) resentful mothers who do not have a supportive co-parent (whether she is in a relationship or not) have long taken on the mantra: I am the mother and father.

Subtex: I do the work of the two parents that a child should have, because the asshole won’t do his share. Sometimes, the backstory is less bitter and involves the death of the father.

I get it. I really get it. I get that you do all, or most of the work.

I get that he checked out and that is so, so, so wrong and absentee fathers hold men, women, fathers, mothers and most of all children back.

Absentee fathers is a big freaking problem in this country, as I have explored in numerous posts. What to tell your child when their father is not involved.

I am making it in my work a priority to address and remedy.

Why single moms are not fathers on Father’s Day

First, no child is guaranteed two parents. In fact, through most of history in societies around the world, children were raised by whole clans. The idea of a two-parent nuclear household is an advent of the past 150 years.

Second, the problem of absentee fathers is not because men are inherently horrible, and do not care about their children. The reason so many kids suffer without a father — and mothers of those children struggle to raise them — is an institutionalized and complex social shitshow that is caused by both genders equally, hurts both genders equally. In summary:

Our society, culture and policy has institutionalized the patriarchial model that men are breadwinners, women are caretakers.

Countless articles bemoan that even educated, high-earning married women do far more child care and housework than their husbands. Why?

One possible explanation for this is that by outearning their husbands, wives worry that they are breaking norms on gender expectations. The same norms are at play for men in female-dominated occupations, such as nursing, who are more likely than other men to do more masculine types of housework like power-hosing the deck or mowing the lawn. Women in male-dominated occupations, such as law enforcement, tend to do more feminine tasks such as cooking and washing the dishes. These men and women are “correcting” for their jobs by asserting their masculinity and femininity through housework.

ALIYA HAMID RAO, in The Atlantic

Now, let’s look at separated and divorced families. Only one state, Kentucky, as of 2019, has any laws that guarantee that both parents — mothers and fathers — are guaranteed a presumption of equality when it comes to parenting time. The rest of the states default to the decades’ old mantra of best interest of the child which means that both parents are encouraged to fight tooth and nail to prove they are the better parent, the reward for which is majority custody and parenting time.

All the white, straight, rich men (who have benefited for centuries from unpaid at-home wives) overwhelming award mothers primary custody. Dads are relegated to every-other-weekend parttime visitors in their childres’ lives — often with unaffordable child support requirements.

Conflict between parents ensues. The less parenting time fairness, and the more conflict, studies show, the less involved fathers are.

The men check out. Fatherlessness ensues. Inconsistent involvement from fathers is tied to every social ill: Emotional and academic delays, low employment, incarceration, addiction, and an increased likelihood of repeating these family patterns.

Are single-parent families whole?

Out now from Sourcebooks:

The 50/50 Solution: The Surprisingly Simple Choice that Makes Moms, Dads, and Kids Happier and Healthier after a Split

by Emma Johnson

Cover of The 50/50 Solution book by Emma Johnson.
buy now >>

Featured in Newsweek, MSN, Slate.

What your kids hear when moms say they are the mother and the father

By saying: I am taking credit for being a father, you tell your children:

1. “Fathers are replaceable.”

They are not.

It is heartbreaking that your kids’ dad is not an equal parent, but that doesn’t mean that his absence is irrelevant.

It’s not.

It’s a big deal, and your children deserve the honor of feeling sad, mourning the absence of a committed dad.

2. “Men are irrelevant.”

Men aren’t irrelevant.

You don’t die when you don’t have a romantic partner, and your kids don’t die when their dad isn’t around.

But that does not make men irrelevant.

You have a son, or you have a daughter.

If we are going to teach our children to respect women, we must respect all genders equally.

3. “I am a martyr and you owe me.” 

First of all, no one owes you shit, no matter the day of the year.

Second, you kids don’t owe you because you raise them.

The makeup of their family, the involvement of each parent, is on those parents.

You do you, raise your kids and stop asking them or the world for acknowledgment.

4. “Your dad sucks.” 

He might suck. You might be right.

But don’t say that to your kids — directly or passively.

Trust me, I get the temptation.

I’ve been guilty of saying bad stuff about my kids’ dad.

But it is not pretty and you will feel bad later.

26 reasons being a single mom is awesome

5. “Your dad will never be an important part of your life.”

That may be true, but it may not be.

There are many, many examples of parents who checked out of their kids’ lives, but re-emerged to be meaningful fathers and mothers.

Maybe they finally get their priorities straight.

Or deal with mental health or financial issues that hold them back from being involved.

Other times, the vitriol of the divorce or breakup subside and make room for healthy co-parenting.

If you establish that Father’s Day does not involve your kids’ father, you close that door of hope.

Instead, you do what you can to raise those gorgeous children.

It may mean welcoming in other male figures (even if their dad is actively involved — it is impossible to have too much love for our kids!).

Related: When to introduce your boyfriends to your kids — or have him sleep over?

It may mean growing your community by way of friends and neighbors and other bonds that make life full and happy, and help your children know that life is abundant with love — as much love as they are willing and able to accept.

Even if the love does not come from the people whom you crave it from most, there is indeed more love than you, your kids, or even their dad, can fathom.

Your kids and you get to celebrate your love for each other in May. On Mother’s Day. [Happy Mother’s Day to you, you incredible single mama!]

Until then, I wish all the fathers — biological, surrogate, foster, step, unofficial, official, absent, part-time, incarcerated, and otherwise — a very happy Father’s Day.

Maybe you are opening a power tool and crappy popsicle stick framed pic of your kid, and enjoying a regular ol’ Sunday with them.

Or, not at all. But in some way you made a contribution, and if you are like a huge portion of dads in this country who do nowhere near your share:

I believe you can do better. I believe you will do better.

And whenever you’re ready to step up, please, please do. It’s never too late.

29 ways to co-parent like a pro

Match.com is synonymous with dating websites as Kleenex is to tissues. It launched back in 1995, making it one of the first modern dating websites in its time. But since it came on the scene, so many dating websites and apps have cropped up making us wonder if Match.com still holds up.

Bianca’s personal experience with Match.com

How Match.com works

How much Match.com costs

Is Match.com a safe dating site?

Does Match have fake profiles?

Pros of using Match.com

Cons of using Match.com

Match.com reviews

Match vs. eharmony:

Other Match alternatives

Bottom line: Is Match.com worth it?

Or, check our roundup of the top online dating apps and sites for single parents, including our No. 1 recommendation: eharmony, which only admits users interested in serious, long-term relationships.

Bianca’s take: Is Match worth paying for?

Match makes it hard for anyone with a free subscription to interact with others on the app. To make your time worthwhile, you need to buy a plan. However, many Match.com reviews suggest that the website isn’t worth the money, stating that they weren’t meeting quality people and that they had trouble canceling their subscription plans. Of course, every user’s experience is different, and factors like location, age, and gender may affect it.

Despite their best efforts, Match.com’s UX and brand is dated. I strongly feel like the dating app and site could use a brand refresh to appeal to younger users. I don’t like the idea of paying for a dating app when other great apps allow you to meet singles for free.

However, because of the sheer number of people on the site thanks to the fact that it has a lot of brand recognition, and depending on where you live, it may be worth giving Match.com a chance.

[wp-review id=”21111″]

How Match.com works

Users create a profile on Match.com and then set their dating preferences, including gender and age range. You also have to answer a five-minute questionnaire about yourself that touches upon interests, hobbies, and what you’re looking for in a partner. When it comes to your dating preferences and interests, you can also rate how important they are to you.

Once your profile is complete, it’s time to get matching! Users can find matches by swiping or looking through their interest pages. When swiping, you’re only shown one profile at a time, allowing you to really focus on that individual user. When you skip a profile, Match takes that into account and ensures that every profile that comes your way is compatible with your interests.

When clicking the “interests” page, you’ll find lots of interaction between other Match.com users; you can like or give someone a “wink” (a more flirtatious like) by having them swipe on your profile first. With Match, you can also send direct messages to other users without having to swipe at them.

Here are a couple of conversations I started:

Chat with user on Match.com.
User profile on Match.com.

Match.com cost

Match.com is free to sign up for, but there’s not much you can do without paying for a plan. Below is a breakdown of the costs as of September 2025 of the standard versus the premium plan and the features that come with it:

Bronze

  • $6.66/month for three months
  • $4.99/month for six months
  • $3.32/month for 12 months

What you’ll get:

  • Unlimited Rewinds
  • Send unlimited Likes

Silver

  • $27.99/month for three months
  • $16.99/month for six months
  • $10.99/month for 12 months

What you’ll get:

  • See who likes you
  • Unlimited Rewinds
  • Send unlimited Likes

Platinum

  • $42.99/month for three months
  • $26.99/month for six months
  • $20.99/month for 12 months

What you’ll get:

  • View message read receipts
  • See who’s subscribed
  • See who’s viewed your profile
  • See who likes you
  • Unlimited Rewinds
  • Send unlimited Likes

Match.com also offers “Boosts” — a feature that allows your profile to appear on their “Discover” page or as a “top suggestion” for one hour. Prices start at $3.00 for 10 credits.

Is Match.com a safe dating site?

Match.com is as safe as any other dating app. Like with most dating apps, you have the option to verify your Match profile by connecting it to your social media.

Other dating apps under Match Group Inc. (like Tinder and Hinge) are taking extra steps with safety. Match Group Inc. announced a partnership with Garbo (a female non-for-profit background checking platform) to run low-cost and fair background checks for users who sign up. In addition, Match Group Inc. is also working with the safety company Noonlight to create new features to alert emergencies among users. Right now these features will only be available for Tinder, but if successful other dating websites and apps under the Match Group Inc. might follow suit.

Match prohibits anyone who’s been labeled a registered sex offender, or who has been convicted or pleaded no contest to a felony, violent, or sexual crime.

Like with other dating apps, it’s important to be cautious about who you’re meeting. If you ever see anything inappropriate or suspicious on Match, report it.

Before you meet up in person, you may want to do a background check. You can run your date’s name through a site like TruthFinder, which will pull all online public records on the person and compile them into an easy-to-read report.

And while you’re at it, learn more about dating red flags in general.

Does Match have fake profiles?

Unfortunately, a common complaint among Match.com reviews is the number of fake profiles on the site. In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), sued Match Group Inc. for using fake profiles to trick users into buying paid subscriptions. Since news broke, Match Group Inc. has been making efforts to regain users’ trust, including launching an advertising campaign that takes a stand against fake accounts. According to Match Group Inc.’s website, there’s a dedicated team that helps detect and prevent scams from happening.

While Match.com is making efforts to stop fake profiles from appearing on their site, it’s important as a user to be aware and cautious while you’re making connections. Always report any profile that looks suspicious.

What are the pros of using Match.com?

There are over 8 million matches worldwide

Match.com reports to have the largest database of single users. Because it’s been around for so long, you’ll find a broad range of users from different generations finding love. You can even use your profile on their sister sites to find even more matches.

The majority of people on here are looking for serious relationships

Because you have to pay for a subscription plan to use the app to the fullest, people have this idea that the users on Match.com are serious about finding relationships (However, anyone can sign up regardless of what you’re looking for.)

It also might skew older (which makes sense, since there are a lot of newer, modern dating apps on the market). I had two friends who signed up years ago and said it was hard to find anyone around their age (they were 23 years old, so that was probably why). One Match.com review on Reddit says they found more quality matches on site.

If you’re over 40, you may also have more luck meeting people in person.

Into older men? Do’s and don’ts for dating an older man

Match.com can offer a personalized dating experience

Unlike other dating apps, you set up multiple custom searches on Match to find your well…match! Taking advantage of this helps weed out any people who may not be a good fit romantically.

They have their Match Guarantee

New users get to participate in the “Match Dating Guarantee” program: you’ll get a six-month free membership, and if you don’t meet anyone during that window, Match.com will refund you. If they don’t meet anyone, Match.com will refund your first six months.

Match Events

Something unique to Match.com is their “Match Events” which allows users to meet and connect IRL. The way a Match Event works is that registered users can propose a group activity to Match.com and share it with other members in your area. 

Their emphasis on compatibility

You know how when you compare dating apps with friends, it always feels like you’re getting served the same people? Match.com offers a more personalized approach: It takes your preferences and assigns a percentage when you match with other users. They also offer “reverse matching” where you can match with people who are also looking for your specific interests.

What are the cons of using Match.com?

No dating app is without its issues. Below are the biggest cons of Match.com:

You need to buy a subscription in order to fully use it

With some dating apps, you can have a pleasant experience using the free version. With Match.com you barely have an experience. Buying a subscription is the only way to get access to all of Match.com’s features. This can be costly for people who don’t have the budget to pay for a dating website. When I spoke with friends on their thoughts on Match.com, they said having to pay was the reason they never tried it.

14 examples of good dating profiles (and advice for what to say in your bio), and how to pick profile pics.

Canceling your membership might be difficult

A lot of Match reviewers complain about how they’re still getting charged by Match months after canceling their membership. And while they’ve been contacting Match.com’s support team, their customer service seems to be non-existent.

User experience is unclear

In a Reddit/datingoverthirty subthread, one user goes into detail about his experience, stating that user experience at Match was confusing; (some user elements (like the heart button) would randomly disappear. He also pointed out that you can’t read messages until you buy a subscription and once it expires, all your matches disappear. I’m currently trying to reactivate my account and despite resetting my password (as they asked me to), I still can’t get in.

Might not be suitable for hookups

While Match.com is open to everyone who wants to just make a connection with others, most people are on it to find love. However, some angry customers say the dating pool isn’t any different from what you might find on other dating apps (despite having to pay). However, be mindful that everyone’s experiences on dating sites are different, and it can depend based on where you live, your age, and what you’re looking for.

Match.com reviews

Match.com reviews on the Better Business Bureau

Match.com is not accredited or rated by the BBB. Customer reviewers gave it 1.08 out of five stars. The majority of reviews complain about the auto-renewal and their difficulty canceling their membership.

Match.com reviews on Trustpilot

Match.com’s U.S. site has a poor rating on Trustpilot with just 1.3 out of 5 stars. Most reviews complain about the number of fake profiles, lack of customer service, and how Match continued to charge them months after canceling.

However, one Trustpilot reviewer gave the dating site five stars because he met his partner, proving that Match.com does indeed work. (It also shows how people who haven’t had luck on this app are quick to write a negative review.)

Match.com reviews on Reddit

There are also numerous threads on Reddit discussing Match.com. What most users say is that the cost of Match.com isn’t worth the experience. A common thing that’s been said is that users find from other people’s experiences that either they find a match in one week or they’re months on the site and aren’t able to find anyone. 

All these reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, considering that most people write reviews based on negative experiences.

Has anyone had success with match.com?
byu/ronin_cse indatingoverthirty
My six months with Match.com. A complete break down of their services
byu/globalghost66 indatingoverthirty
Thoughts on Match.com…anyone else have this experience?
byu/the_twilight_drone indatingoverthirty

Match vs. eharmony:

eharmony has always been compared to Match. In fact, both sites are known as the OG dating sites. eharmony differs from Match.com primarily because of its history of focusing on serious relationships. Their compatibility quiz stands out from the other dating sites, plus they have a strict verification process to ensure a safe dating experience.

Match is a broad dating platform, serving all kinds of daters, from those seeking something casual to serious ones. One of the biggest challenges facing online daters is knowing whether or not the profiles they interact with are real. In 2019, the FTC sued the owners of Match Group, Inc. owners of Match.com, Tinder, OKCupid, and PlentyOfFish, for using fake profiles to lure new customers into upgrading their free memberships to paid subscriptions. 

In contrast, eharmony vets their members with ID verification tools to prove they are who they say, beginning with not being married, and routinely closes suspicious accounts. After providing peace of mind, eharmony then curates potential matches for their members using a detailed compatibility quiz, saving time from having to scroll through endless, unviable options.

On Match, you choose your dating preferences (including gender and age range), build your profile, and choose your subscription plan. The dating profile for Match is very comprehensive. A user can find matches either by swiping or through the “Discover” page, which helps users create customized searches and explore new profiles.

Match.com has a new Premium Match Plan with access to a yearly review of your profiles from Match staff experts, a monthly “boost” to increase the number of people who see your profile, and email read notifications.

Dollar for dollar, Match costs less than eharmony. That said, you get what you pay for: the major difference between the two sites is that Match is a general dating platform intended for all kinds of dating and eharmony focuses on serious, long-term dating, increasing your chances of finding your ideal match.

Do you want your dating site to check for marital status and cheaters? eharmony provides that service, Match does not. eharmony has an A BBB rating; Match is not registered. To that end, eharmony offers features such as its compatibility quiz to curate matches. For the prospective user who is actively seeking a serious, long-term relationship, eharmony is worth the extra money.

Other Match alternatives

Interested in checking out other dating sites and apps? Here are some dating app reviews:

eharmonyZooskTinder
Christian MingleAdult Friend FinderElite Singles
BumbleOKCupidPlenty of Fish
Christian dating appsSingleParentMeetCatholic dating sites
13 international dating appsSeeking ArrangementCoffee Meets Bagel
Dating.comHingeJewish dating sites
Millionaire MatchThe League

Bottom line: Is Match.com worth it?

If you’re willing to pay, Match.com could be a good option for a dating website, especially if you’re looking for something long-term. Otherwise, there are other great dating apps like eharmony.

How much does it cost to be on Match.com?

Match.com is free to sign up for, but there’s not much you can do without paying for a plan.

Is Match.com a safe dating site?

Match.com is as safe as any other dating app. Like with most dating apps, you have the option to verify your Match profile by connecting it to your social media.

Is Match.com worth paying for?

If you’re willing to pay, Match.com could be a good option for a dating website, especially if you’re looking for something long-term.

When your relationship or marriage ends, it’s natural to crave the companionship (and sex) you recently lost and to want to fill that void. Sometimes a fun affair, friend with benefits, or hookup is just what the heart needs.

However, when you’re simultaneously healing from a broken relationship, your judgment may not be 100% sound. You might be more likely to quickly develop feelings for someone before you really get to know them, just because it feels good to be with someone new.

This is called a rebound relationship.

Rebound relationships often get a bad rap, but they don’t have to be a bad thing, as long as you recognize them for what they are (or can be) — a way to get back in the dating game and shake off some of the lingering feelings of your past relationship.

Here’s what you should know about rebound relationships:

What is a rebound relationship?

Is the first relationship after divorce always a rebound?

What are the stages of a rebound relationship?

  1. Elation and infatuation.
  2. Constant comparison to your ex and your previous relationship — good and bad both.
  3. Devastating heartbreak that feels like it will never fucking end.
  4. Eventually, you get over the heartbreak and move on. It might seem impossible now, but you will feel better.

What are the characteristics of rebound relationships?

How long do rebound relationships last?

What is a rebound relationship?

A rebound relationship is one where people start dating quickly after the end of a previous relationship. Typically, it is understood that a rebound relationship is not built for the long-term.

Kevin Coleman, a marriage and family therapist and owner of Connected Therapy in Columbia, S.C., says people usually jump into a rebound relationship without taking time to discern whether they’re ready for another relationship.

“Usually, they are still in the middle of processing and grieving their previous relationship, but they turn to their rebound relationship to distract themselves from their last relationship,” Coleman says. 

Is the first relationship after divorce always a rebound?

Rebound relationships are a real, and necessary thing. There has to be a first for everything — including a post-divorce relationship!

I think what you’re asking is: Is the first relationship after a divorce doomed to end? Can the first relationship after divorce work? Will my new relationship after my divorce last forever and ever?

Technically, the first relationship after your divorce is, in fact, a rebound relationship. Some rebound relationships end in flames, while others last for eternity.

How do I know if it’s a rebound relationship?

If you were in a relationship that ended relatively recently, or the person has not dated since the divorce or breakup, it is likely a rebound relationship. If the connection is white-hot and insane, it is definitely a rebound relationship.

Lots of stories about rebound relationships after divorce in movies and TV shows.

What are the stages of a rebound relationship?

Generally, there are two main phases of a rebound relationship:

1. Elation and infatuation.

In this first phase of rebound relationships, you likely feel so damned happy to feel a connection, be touched, have sex and be cared for. You had felt like you would never feel that spark, or that anyone would be attracted to you — and now both are actually happening! It is amazing! You were wrong about all the bad things and this gives you hope for everything you could ever imagine!

The glee can be so intense you feel like it is love. It could turn into love eventually — but it absolutely is not love right now. Trust me on this. You are not in love.

2. Constant comparison to your ex and your previous relationship — good and bad both.

Imagine that you ate rice and beans every single day for your whole life. The only food memory you have is of rice and beans, and because everyone you ever knew only ate R&B, and the only food available in your universe was rice and beans, to you, food was rice and beans. Maybe you loved rice and beans and were cool with this, but maybe you hated rice and beans and craved something else.

And then one day you eat a cantaloupe. All you would do was drool in wonder over this cantaloupe. Compare cantaloupe to rice and beans. Your mind is fucking blown. Cantaloupe, cantaloupe, cantaloupe. Sweet, juicy, pretty color, creamy texture.

But you’d also start to wonder if you were going to die because cantaloupe doesn’t have protein and you sorta missed rice and beans. It’s complicated. They’re both good. You like both (though cantaloupe is better) bit you get confused sometimes. Sometimes you are sure that your life is 1,000X better now that you have cantaloupe. But sometimes a bowl of R&B would be good — for old times. Rice and beans wasn’t so bad, right? Then you remember that one time with rice and beans and you’re not really sure.

3. Devastating heartbreak that feels like it will never fucking end.

Or, you stay together more or less happily with your new dude — though relationships are usually complicated, especially at this late stage now that everyone is so wounded.

4. Eventually, you get over the heartbreak and move on. It might seem impossible now, but you will feel better.

How to comfort someone: 9 things to text or say

Learn more about how to tell if you are in a toxic relationship.

What are the characteristics of rebound relationships?

Dragomir says rebound relationships often have some or all of the following characteristics:

  • Start quickly after the end of a previous relationship
  • Involve two people who may not be emotionally ready to be in a relationship
  • Often based on physical attraction and infatuation, rather than true love or trust
  • Often involve intense emotions and can be turbulent and short-lived
  • Can be painful when they end abruptly

These are some things you should know about rebound relationships: 

Being the new girlfriend after divorce

If you are the first person your man dated after (or during!) his divorce, here are some unique challenges you may face:

  • Jealousy from his crazy-ass ex-wife
  • Jealousy from his understandably hurt ex-wife
  • Adjustments from his kids
  • Adjustments from his friends and extended family
  • Managing his own grief and baggage
  • Your own understandable insecurity — Is he on the rebound? Are you being used? Does he still love his wife? Will the kids hate you — and result in you being dumped?

Check out these Reddit threads about being the new girlfriend after divorce: 

Divorcees, how was your first relationship after your separation?
by inDivorce
Rushed relationship after divorce – should I be dating casually instead?
byu/Lea4321 indatingoverthirty

Being the new boyfriend after divorce

If you are dating a woman who has recently divorced, these are some things you may experience:

  • Emotional fallout and baggage from the divorce
  • Jealousy from her ex spouse
  • Struggles of single motherhood (according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 5 of 6 single moms have primary custody of their children), including co-parenting drama
  • Her intense feelings early on

These Reddit threads discuss being the new boyfriend after divorce: 

Dating a Divorced Women as a never divorced guy – dealing with the past.
by indatingoverthirty
dating woman who says she is “almost” divorced. Red Flags?
byu/Blu64 inAskMen

Why do rebound relationships feel like love?

When you are in a breakup, you feel an intense romantic connection to your ex — but the energy is negative. You hate your ex.

When you find a rebound relationship, you also feel an intense romantic connection to your new lover — and the energy is so positive! In our culture, we describe an intense, positive romantic energy as love.

That is a fallacy.

Are rebound relationships good or bad?

Rebound relationships are necessary — someone has to be your first relationship and sex after a breakup or divorce, right?

Just don’t fuck up your life for this person, at least not for a good 3 years. Practice:

  • Birth control
  • Separate residences
  • No marriages or commingling finances
  • STD checks

Do rebound relationships actually work? 

100% absolutely people fall in real love, marry or otherwise spend many happy decades together with a rebound relationship — or even an affair partner. But there is no reason to jump there. This may be a friend with benefits, short-term lover, hook-up or boyfriend for a few years.

No need to rush.

Can you fall in love after a divorce?

When you are in a breakup, you feel an intense romantic connection to your ex — but the energy is negative. You hate your ex. 

When you find a rebound relationship, you also feel an intense romantic connection to your new lover — and the energy is so positive! In our culture, we describe an intense, positive romantic energy as love.

That is a fallacy.

It can be confusing to determine the difference between love and lust after divorce.

Many marriages that end in divorce were sexless and without emotional bond for years — so a newfound connection and hot sex can muddy the emotional waters in an especially profound way after divorce.

Why rebound relationships fail

Rebound relationships fail because one of you is a hot mess from the previous relationship, not healed, but hungry for emotional connection and likely sex. The new boyfriend or girlfriend got wrapped up by proxy in the intensity of that breakup, confusing it for a future, when instead it was just that: An intense romance.

How long do rebound relationships last after divorce? What the statistics show

A research study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships followed people who recently broke up with a partner. Those that started a new relationship during the study were together for an average of 2 months.

Signs a rebound relationship is ending

First sign: Did you find this article by Googling, “Warning signs it is a rebound relationship?”

Other red flags in relationships:

  • Your new partner just broke up from a long-term or intense relationship
  • The newly broken up partner stalks his or her ex on social media
  • Lots of mentions of the previous relationship
  • No real physical intimacy like holding hands, cuddling and connection during sex
  • Conversation is light and fun, but not about personal stories, or big goals or efforts to share or understand each other’s worldview
  • Bananas-crazy chemistry despite having little in common
  • You worry this is a rebound

If you are the person “rebounding” from a relationship, Coleman says these are some signs to look for within yourself: 

  • You start noticing the red flags you used to ignore in the new relationship
  • You catch yourself thinking about your ex more often than you did at the beginning of the relationship
  • You aren’t excited when you picture your relationship in the long term (or you can’t picture it at all)

“The realization phase is when the rebounder can no longer deny that they aren’t actually a good fit with their new partner, and they know that they don’t want to be with their new partner,” Coleman says.

Emma’s personal experience — how I understood my rebound relationship and got over it

Divorcing people are forced to face the loss of dreams of family life, and what the rest of their life will be like. And there is a ton of fear about all of it.

All this upheaval and stress can leave little room to deal with simple loss of love. When you are contending with a 360-degree life barf, there is scant space to sit quietly and feel the weighty grief of no longer spending nights with a person who you at least once — likely still — loved very much. Not just the absence of somebody. The absence of him.

Which is where the rebound breakup and all its gory hurt come in. If you’re like me, that relationship was just that. Someone who I cared very much about, knew my kids, but was a lover — no more. He was not my partner. We were emotionally, intellectually, sexually intertwined. But our lives were completely separate. We owned nothing together (though I’m still kind of annoyed with myself for never retrieving that La Perla nighty from his apartment, but I’ll live), and did not even share friends. When we broke up, there was nothing to contend with but grief.

Which is another reason why we do not mourn the love for our husbands immediately after divorce. Divorce often comes after months and years of a really unhappy relationship. By the time the four-way lawyers meetings start, you’ve forgotten about the emotional, intellectual and sexual connection you once shared with that man. It was likely missing for a very long time — which is exactly why it is so intoxicating when we find that connection again in a rebound. And, if you’re like me, you consciously appreciate those mutual feelings so very much more — which only adds to the scythe bludgeoning once it falls.

So I called my best friend. I’ve known Kirsten for 20 years, and even though she lives on the other side of the country, we remain very close and she knows all my shit. Kirsten did what a good friend does: she listened. As I talked and sobbed and blubbered and talked some more, it all came out.

Besides the end of my relationship, my mom has been unwell. My mom, who adores my kids second only to their parents. As my children and their needs as people grow, it seems that our circle of people shrinks — and the pressures of being a single mother mount. I am just one person responsible for two human beings. It feels like too much.

“We’ve all watched you over the past few years be so strong and amazing,” Kirsten said. “But I said to myself, ‘I hope this girl can find time to process it all. Because sooner or later, it will catch up with her.’”

It has caught up with me. When my marriage ended years ago, I slipped into survival mode: I jutted my jaw, made sure the kids and my business and the money and the divorce and the house were all in order. Trust me, there were plenty of late night crying fits and trips to therapists and a wonderful support group for loved ones of brain injury victims. But I’m not sure I fully felt the gravity of my loss – our loss. The loss my whole family suffered.

Finally, I recognized that three years’ worth of grief had come knocking. For months after that conversation, I gave myself permission to mourn. Those sad Sundays were committed to indulging the emotion and grief and healing that had eluded me.

Funny thing, how empathy blooms. At bedtime after coming home from her dad’s on Sunday, I laid next to my then-4-year-old daughter in her twin bed. She was riled up after the transition, which is not unusual, but it spiraled into something else. “Why can’t our family be like other families?” she cried. 

I worry I dismiss the grief my kids might feel over the divorce. After all, Lucas wasn’t even born when we separated – Helena not yet 2. “It’s always Helena, Lucas, Daddy — and Mommy separate. Or Helena, Lucas, Mommy — Daddy separate. I want us to be like Eleanor’s family.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. So I held her head in the crook of my neck and listened and let her cry and cry. “Thank you for telling me how you feel,” I said. “It’s important to get it out. Because sooner or later it will catch up with you.”

Life after divorce — 3 things you can do now to move on

How about you? How did you get over your post-divorce rebound? What did you learn from the experience? Share in the comments!

Need quick cash? You just might want to seek out pawn shops nearby.

TV shows like Hardcore Pawn and Pawn Stars have changed what many think about pawn shops — that they’re not necessarily the seedy places some people imagine them to be.

But if you want to maximize the value of the items you have, especially jewelry, check out the sister sites DiamondsUSA and CashforGoldUSA, which have a best offer guarantee.

What is a pawn shop?

Pawn shops are places where you can sell for cash or get a loan on jewelry, electronics, firearms, and more for cash. 

Pawn shops typically help out people who do not have other access to credit due to poor credit and/or low income. As such, pawnbrokers can get away with high interest rates and fees.

A pawn shop, or pawnbroker (same thing), are one of the oldest financial institutions, and also one of the financial institutions with one of the worst reputations — which is not always warranted.

The pawn business is a basic financial transaction, with roots dating to ancient China, the Roman Empire and ancient Greece, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

A famous pawndeal was in 1388 when England’s King Edward III pawned his jewels to the Lombards to finance war against France, and Queen Isabella of Spain used her jewelry as collateral to fund Christopher Columbus’ expeditions to the New World.

If you’re thinking about visiting your local pawnbroker for the first time, here’s what you need to know:

Where to find reputable pawn shops

  1. See if a local pawnshop is a member of the National Pawnbrokers Association. 
  2. See if your local pawnshop is registered with the BBB. 
  3. Make sure their policies are clearly stated
  4. Check Yelp reviews for your local pawnshop. 
  5. See if your local pawnshop is part of a national chain. 
  6. Consider all options you have for selling your items for cash before going to a pawnshop.

How pawnshops work

How pawnshop loans work

Alternatives to pawnshops

Pawn shop FAQs

Where to find reputable “pawn shops near me”

Despite having a seedy reputation, pawnshops are regulated by state and national laws, guided by the National Pawnbrokers Association, and your local pawnbroker is likely listed and rated by the Better Business Bureau, subject to Yelp and Trustpilot reviews, and other ways to determine whether the pawnbroker near you is reputable and honest.

google-maps-usa-image

While pawnshops serve their purpose for quick cash for those in a tight spot, there are many serious buyer beware warnings.

Here are tips to consider for finding a reputable pawn shop:

1. See if a local pawnshop is a member of the National Pawnbrokers Association. 

Pawnfinders.com, run by the National Pawnbrokers Association, is a searchable list of members who must meet certain guidelines for ethical business practices to join.

2. See if your local pawnshop is registered with the BBB. 

The Better Business Bureau accredits and rates businesses large and small based on years’ in business, legitimacy, customer reviews and customer service. You can read customer reviews and see if the pawnbroker was responsive and thorough in addressing their concerns — or totally apathetic. 

All about selling gold by searching “sell gold near me”

3. Make sure their policies are clearly stated

These policies should include the business’s pawnshop loan application, appraisal, storage and insurance fees, and interest and that you can easily reach their customer service by phone or email.

4. Check Yelp reviews for your local pawnshop. 

Yelp in many cities is very active with reviews from local customers who share frank feedback about any number of businesses near you, including pawnshops. You can spend time understanding how much you trust various reviewers’ opinions since you can see all of the companies they’ve reviewed. The pawnshop owner has the opportunity to respond to public complaints.

5. See if your local pawnshop is part of a national chain. 

Below is a few national pawnshops with online and brick-and-mortar retail locations. These tend to be run more professionally, with better customer service and more information online for you to learn about the corporation. 

Pawn shop chains include:

  • Cash America Pawn
  • EZ Pawn
  • First Cash Pawn
  • Pawn America

6. Consider all options you have for selling your items for cash before going to a pawnshop.

Finally, don’t forget that some items you may consider selling to be at the nearest pawnshop instead of online or through the mail. Other good options include Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or other local sites where the buyer can come in person to purchase your item. Again, pawnbrokers’ business model includes taking 50% or more of the sale price as their commission, so you may fare better selling elsewhere. 

While it’s easy to sell small valuables like jewelry, flatware, coins (including coins worth money) and gold online, selling larger items (e.g. musical instruments, power tools, etc.) or items with shipping challenges (e.g. firearms) can be an expensive hassle. 

If you have bulky or heavy items to sell, consider searching for pawnbrokers near you instead of trying to sell them on a platform that requires you to pay shipping costs on top of everything else. Shipping a chainsaw to an online second-hand store will not be a profitable endeavor — no matter what anyone says. Instead, head to your nearest 24 hours pawn shop.

More on pawnshop alternatives below.

How pawnshops work

By definition, a pawnshop offers small loans using collateral that a traditional bank would not accept.

For example, pawn shops typically take jewelry, firearms, electronics and furniture against a cash loan — which your local bank or credit union would not.

Pawnshops offer cash for items you don’t even want, and on a much faster timeline than if you sold your items yourself. The money they offer comes in the form of a loan you must repay back within a specific length of time, usually 30 to 60 days. If you don’t repay the “loan,” they’ll keep the items you put up as collateral.

This is usually the plan all along. While some pawnshop regulars do use their items as collateral for a short-term loan, but there are just as many who have no intention of coming back for their stuff.

When you use a pawnshop that way, you’re really just selling your items in the fastest, easiest way possible — albeit for less money than you might get elsewhere. Still, the important keyword here is “might.” You may get more or less money if you sell your stuff yourself, but you won’t really know unless you try.

How do pawnshops determine value?

Pawnbrokers base the value of your item on an appraised value, condition and what the pawnshop thinks he or she can sell the item for. They make these estimates based on research tools, recent sales, experience, and in the case of gold and jewelry, market rates for silver and other precious metals and gemstones.

Related: How to sell flatware near you

How much money can you get from a pawnshop?

Expect about 50% of the resale value if you sell or pawn your item to a pawnshop. More on that here.

How much does a pawnshop make?

You do the math: If a pawnshop sells a diamond ring for $1,000 but pays the seller 50% of that diamond’s resale value, the pawnbroker makes $500 revenue on that ring.

How pawnshop loans work

If you don’t want to sell your item at a pawnshop, but still need the money ASAP, you can get a loan from the pawnshop.

Pawnshop loans are based on the value, condition and resale potential of the item you bring into the pawnshop. This is how a pawnshop loan works:

  1. Bring your item to the pawnshop, where you will be made an offer for a loan.
  2. You leave your jewelry or other item at the pawnshop as collateral in return for a cash loan with a set term with documentation (often called a “pawnshop loan ticket”).
  3. You walk away with your cash. If you return with your ticket within the set terms of the loan — typically 30 days or more, you cash in your ticket in exchange for your item.

Sound too good to be true? It is.

A pawnshop loan will never equate to 100% of the value of your item. Instead, expect about half of the resale value of the item, plus a pawnshop can legally charge you fees for storage, appraisal, and insurance.

For example, if you bring in a diamond engagement ring that is worth $2,000, a pawnshop may loan you $1,000 for 30 days, and charge you $150 in fees — which equates to an APR of 182% APR. 

You must be 18 years old to do business with a pawnshop, provide proof of identity, and in many cases, proof of purchase or proof of ownership of the item. In other words: Don’t try to sell hot items to a pawnshop.

Pawnshops only loan you 25% to 80% of an item’s resale value

Pawnshops normally give you significantly less than the retail value of your items — anywhere between 25% to 80%.

If you are trying to unload a diamond engagement ring that might sell today for $4,000, for example, you could walk away from the pawnshop with as little as $1,000 in your pocket. That’s better than nothing, of course, but far below the market rate of your valuable.

This is part of the reason why it is rarely advisable to sell your engagement ring and gold and silver jewelry at a pawnshop — and consider selling them online instead:

  • More money right away
  • No steep hidden fees
  • Guaranteed return if you don’t agree to the sales price
  • Payment within 24 hours

How much interest do pawnbrokers or pawnshops charge?

In the event of a loan, many pawnshops charge interest rates between 12% and 24% on top of storage costs and insurance fees, according to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. If you want your jewelry or guns back, plan to pony up a lot more cash than you received in the first place.

If you get a $1,000 loan on a gun, you can pay as much as $200 in interest and fees — which goes straight to the pawnshop owner.

The pawnshop also has to pay rent, insurance, utilities, salaries and taxes for employees and other business expenses.

Investopedia reports that pawnshop net profit margins average 15 to 25%.

How long do you have to pay back a pawnshop loan?

Typically, you have 30 days to pay back a pawnshop loan, though this can be negotiated or extended.

What happens if I don’t pay back my pawnshop loan?

If you are not able to repay the loan with the fees within the agreed-upon time, the pawnshop can legally keep the item and sell it. You may have gotten a quick $1,000 for your ring, but had you sold it outright to a reputable jewelry buyer, you would have $2,000. 

Pros of pawnshop loans 

  • Quick money
  • No credit check, co-signer or bank account required
  • Won’t hurt your credit score or appear on your credit report
  • Receive multiple loans

Cons of pawnshop loans 

  • Super-high interest rates 
  • Risk of not getting your item back, having received a fraction of its value — though you may be able to negotiate an extension or renewal for the pawnshop loan.
  • In-person transaction, which may not be convenient for you, and may be intimidating or otherwise uncomfortable.
  • Pawnshops buy a wide range of items, making it difficult for the pawnbroker to be an expert in everything they offer, and making it hard to give an informed quote for every transaction.

Alternatives to pawnshops

Here are other ways you can get rid of your old items for cash:

Pawn shop FAQs

Why do people sell to pawnshops?

Pawn shops are a quick way to make much-needed money. Because of the loan component, people who really don’t want to sell their used items can sometimes buy back their collateral when they have the money in the future — which is not possible when you outright sell your possession.

Why use a pawnshop vs. a consignment shop?

Both pawnshops and consignment shops will pay you around 50% of your item’s retail value, up-front, in cash.

The question for any sale of your used item should be: Can I get a better price elsewhere? and, How much work do I have to do to sell this elsewhere?

For clothes, a site like Crossroads Trading, or Buffalo Exchange (in-person or online) likely will be the fastest way to sell a pile of your used clothes, quickly, for some cash. If you have very high-end, luxury items, another consignment store may also be a good option. 

It is very hard to sell your items yourself directly via online marketplaces, as these typically only work if you have a true online ‘store,’ with a lot of products, are experienced at photography, merchandising, online marketing and otherwise running a retail site.

Local consignment is also often a good option for selling your furniture, as furniture consignment stores tend to be experts in vintage, used and antique furniture, and can sell large quantities as customers come to them shopping specifically for used household goods. Plus, shipping furniture is difficult, time-consuming and expensive.

A pawnshop may be a great option if you need cash more than you need your gun, but many other items are better sold for a higher price online to experts who buy electronics, gold, jewelry, and phones.

What is a pawn shop?

Pawn shops are places where you can sell for cash or get a loan on jewelry, electronics, firearms, and more for cash.


How do pawnshops determine value?

Pawnbrokers base the value of your item on an appraised value, condition and what the pawnshop thinks he or she can sell the item for.


How much money can you get from a pawnshop?

Expect about 50% of the resale value if you sell or pawn your item to a pawnshop.

How much interest do pawnbrokers or pawnshops charge?

In the event of a loan, many pawnshops charge interest rates between 12% and 24% on top of storage costs and insurance fees, according to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.


Why do people sell to pawnshops?

Pawn shops are a quick way to make much-needed money. Because of the loan component, people who really don’t want to sell their used items can sometimes buy back their collateral when they have the money in the future, which is not possible when you outright sell your possession.

Supporting your family on a single income can feel like constantly treading water, just one unexpected expense away from not being able to feed and clothe your kids, pay your bills, and keep a roof over your head.

If you want to learn how to make money as a single mom on top of your regular income, keep reading for our list of the best side hustles for single moms.

Side hustles for single moms that involve selling stuff

Side hustles for single moms that involve renting stuff

Side hustles for single moms that involve teaching online

Side hustles for single moms that involve odd jobs

Side hustles for single moms that involve taking care of people and pets

Side hustles for single moms that involve typing

10 part-time jobs for moms

Side hustles for moms FAQs

Bottom line: When it comes to single mom side hustles, you have choices

Side hustles for single moms that involve selling stuff

There are an estimated 300,000 items in the average U.S. home, according to one Los Angeles Times article, and self-storage construction is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the real estate industry, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Chances are, you have stuff you don’t want, need or use, and that stuff not only costs you money to store — it could make you money to sell it.

Here are some of the most lucrative things to sell:

  • Jewelry. Old engagement rings, necklaces, earrings, estate and antique jewelry, you name it — if it is made of diamonds, gemstones, gold or platinum, send it to CashforGoldUSA, an A+ BBB rated gold buyer that pays a 10% bonus, and sends payment within 24 hours. Read more about top places to sell jewelry online. You can also try to find jewelry through metal detecting.
  • Coin collection, as well as silverware, or other scrap gold or silver. Pawn shops and jewelers are good places to start.
  • Pokémon cards are super hot right now, as Millennials dust off their childhood collections, driving prices and interest through the roof. According to Newsweek, TCGplayer, one of the main Pokémon card online resellers, shipped more than 16.2 million single Pokémon cards in 2020, with the number of cards priced at more than $50 climbing a whopping 466%. Some rare cards even go for more than $2,000. Sell via:
    • eBay
    • Troll and Toad
    • Cardmarket
    • Card Cavern
    • TCGplayer
    • Facebook Marketplace
  • Furniture. Whether you have old items in your basement or attic or a few inherited items you don’t really love or use, sell them via Facebook marketplace, a yard sale, Craigslist or, for marked items and notable brands, a site like 1stDibs or Chairish. Local consignment stores are also a good place to sell furniture.
  • Clothes. Gently used clothes, accessories, handbags and shoes can be sold through top online sites like ThredUp, Mercari, and Poshmark.
  • Household items. Kitchen goods, dishes, yard tools, gardening supplies, sports equipment, bikes and more can be unloaded for cash through Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or a yard sale.
  • Printables. You can also earn passive income selling printables on Etsy — things like labels, stickers, organizers, binder sheets, fonts, coloring pages, and more. Gold City Ventures offers a free workshop to teach you everything you need to know to start this profitable side hustle.

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Side hustles for single moms that involve renting stuff

ZipCar

Maybe you don’t like driving, but you have a car that you don’t drive a lot. ZipCar lets you rent out your car for other people to drive. In most cases, you can make a nice second income by renting out your car. It’s also possible to rent a car through ZipCar to work another side gig, like driving with Uber. 

Turo

Much like ZipCar and GetAround, Turo lets you rent out your car to other people around you. Typically, if you live near an airport, you’ll have plenty of business people that need a car for the weekend. “Hosts” as Turo calls those who rent out their cars, have access to a mobile business app to manage their trips and pricing, etc. 

GetAround

Another great way to earn some cash by renting out your car! Don’t just let your parked car sit and collect dust, make money off it! Manage your calendar and rentals through the website or app. 

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Airbnb

If you have a spare room or guest house, rent it out! Thanks to expensive hotel rates, Airbnb has exploded. Put a mint on those pillows and enjoy some extra money for letting people sleep in your spare beds. Manage your entire hosting business through the app.

VRBO

VRBO is another popular website for renting out your home or vacation home. The VRBO Owner app is specifically for hosts.

Side hustles for single moms that involve teaching online

HAWO American Academy

Help English learners in China through video tutoring. Perks are flexible schedule, work from home, fun job (if you enjoy teaching!), weekly pay, and a high hourly rate. Qualifications are the standard USA / Canadian, Bachelor’s degree in any field or currently enrolled as an education major in a university, and any experience teaching or tutoring. You will teach your lessons through the web interface. 

VIPKid

VIPKid is an online tutoring service, but it has a unique twist. They are providing international learning for children in China between the ages of 4 – 12. They offer 1-on-1 English lessons. If you have a love of teaching English, it’s a great way to earn a side-income. The VIPKid Teach app allows you to manage your lessons and sessions.

Udemy

Teaching is a great way to earn money, and thanks to the Internet, there are plenty of ways that you can share your knowledge online. If you have some technical skills, you can use Udemy to share it with the world and earn extra cash. Whenever anyone purchases your course, you get paid!

Wyzant

Tutoring is an excellent way to help students and also earn some extra cash on the side. Wyzant lets you create a free profile and search for tutoring jobs in your area. They have traditional school subjects, but there are also more specialized jobs like web design tutoring. Tutors have access to the mobile app Tutor on Wyzant to manage their lessons and business. 

Chegg Tutors

Chegg works similar to the other tutoring sites, except these tutoring sessions are all online. You can help tutor students virtually. You log in when you have free time to tutor and Chegg pairs you with students looking for help in your subjects.

iTalki

Learning a new language can be difficult. That’s where iTalki comes in. It’s a site that helps connect students to native speaking teachers. If you want to teach English, iTalki is one of the best places to get paid for your services. They will connect you to students across the globe and they manage all of the international payments for you. Teachers can manage their profile within the iTalki mobile apps.

Learn more about our $500 single-mom monthly grant

Side hustles for single moms that involve odd jobs

You may be able to find a job that pays the same day through these sites:

Gigwalk

This is a unique way of earning money. Gigwalk members can post a variety of different jobs. Everything from seeing if products are stocked, to collecting data. You can get gigs based on your zip code. Find gigs right on the app. 

Craigslist

I’m sure you’ve heard of Craigslist. You may have even bought something off of it, but it’s also a great place to find some freelance work.

TaskRabbit

Looking for work in your own neighborhood? Have some handyman skills or are you willing to do some yard work? This is the perfect site for you. Workers can find gigs on the Tasker by TaskRabbit app. 

NeedTo

Another place to find random freelance work. Anything from web design to washing dishes.

Zaarly

The description on their homepage says it all, “hire local, hand-picked home services.” So add your skills to their site, and just wait for the requests to come in!

SnagAJob

This website lets you browse through thousands of hourly jobs. You can browse through a variety of different industries and see if anything part-time would work for your needs. You can use either the website or the Snagajob app to find work. 

SimplyHired

There are plenty of people looking for qualified candidates, but finding the perfect second job can be difficult, that’s where SimplyHired comes in. The Simply Hired app makes it easy to find work right from your phone. 

The Source

If you don’t mind doing a little driving, becoming a field agent with Trendsource is a simple way to earn extra cash. All that you have to do is visit a project location and complete an evaluation as a mystery shopper. You’ll get paid twice a month.

360 Intel

Mystery shopping is not a new idea, but it’s an excellent way for you to go shopping and get paid to do it. Restaurants and shops will pay for “mystery customers” to come in, shop, and then tell them about their experience. 360 Intel used to be known as Goodwin Hospitality.

Fiverr

The freelance community has never been bigger. There are plenty of people out there that are looking for talented people to finish up some work for them. Fiverr has freelance jobs for just about any profession. Anything from musician to web analyst. You can manage your entire business right from within the app. 

UpWork

If you have some technical skills, like admin support or design, you can find some excellent freelance jobs. Download the Upwork for Freelancers app to find gigs. 

MediaBistro

This site specializes in freelance jobs in the media field. This includes marketing, sales, PR, television, and much more.

99Designs

It’s another freelance site that specializes in design work.

Contently

Another freelance site that has jobs for videographers, photographers, and researchers.

Steady

Whether you want an easy gig you can do from home (like completing surveys) or you’re looking for a fun job outside of the home (like dog walking), you don’t need to spend hours combing through job boards. Steady app has helped more than 3 million people find quality gigs and jobs.

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Side hustles for single moms that involve taking care of people and pets

Care.com

If you enjoy spending time caring for people, you can turn it into money. Care.com has jobs for child care, day care, caregivers, pet sitters, housekeepers, and much more. Manage jobs through the Care.com Caregiver app.

You can also read our Care.com review.

Rover

Rover lets you get paid to walk dogs or check on them in the middle of the day. It’s easy to get started with their site. Get paid to pet dogs, what could be better?? It’s easy to find and manage your gigs in the Rover app. 

DogVacay

This is the nation’s “largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers,” which means there is probably a job opportunity somewhere near you. DogVacay has been purchased by Rover and is in the process of being integrated into the company.

Side hustles for single moms that involve typing

TDEC

Data entry is a popular occupation for anyone that’s looking to make money online. TDEC is hiring data entry specialists at their various locations and dozens of states.

Scribie

If you’re a fast typer, working at Scribie is an excellent option for you. All that you have to do is watch a video and transcribe the audio. You can get paid anywhere from $5 to $20 per an audio hour.

MegaTypers

This is another data entry site that offers a variety of services to their clients. If you work with MegaTypers, you could be entering data or transcribing voice to text. The faster that you type, the more that you’ll earn. You can make anywhere from $0.45 per 1000 words to $1.5 per 100 words.

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10 part-time jobs for moms

Part-time jobs rarely have benefits like health insurance or paid time off, but they are a great option to make extra money.

You can use money from your part-time gig to build an emergency fund, pay for planned expenses like a vacation or new car, or simply help with existing expenses.

Here are a few part-time jobs to consider:

Bookkeeper

If you enjoy math and tracking financial data, you can become a bookkeeper in less than a year. A bookkeeper tracks and organizes financial records for a business. 

While you can get a bookkeeper job, you can also work as an independent bookkeeper and decide how much (or how little) you want to work. Bookkeepers make anywhere from $18-$23 per hour.

Our No. 1 recommended training program to become a bookkeeper is Bookkeeper Launch, which boasts an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.. 

Dog groomer

If you love dogs, consider getting a part-time gig as a dog groomer. This line of work can blossom into a full-time career and even a business if you fall in love with it. You don’t need a certification to get started. Just apply at a local dog grooming shop to learn the ropes.

Pay varies by region, but you can make about $23 per hour doing something you enjoy.

Cashier

If you have the ability to work outside of the home, you can get a job as a part-time cashier at a local supermarket, retail store, department store, or even a mom-and-pop business. Often, no experience is necessary for these entry-level positions, and training is provided. You can expect to make $9.97-$17.41 depending on where you live. 

Freelance writer

If you enjoy writing, you can work from home as a freelance writer, providing content for blogs, ads, newsletters, social media posts, and more. Freelance writers often get paid by assignment or per word. Per word rates for experienced writers usually start around 10-15 cents per word and go up from there, with expert writers making $1 or more per word.

If you don’t have published work to present to potential clients, you can create your own blog and write a few posts to gain experience and beef up your portfolio.

Health coach

Health coaches help people implement lifestyle changes to improve their overall health. That might include educating people about proper nutrition, helping them establish exercise routines, and coaching them to set long-term health goals.

Health coaches make an average $23 per hour, according to Ziprecruiter data.

ISSA’s Wellness courses include training on:

  • Nutrition
  • Exercise recovery
  • Weight management
  • Holistic lifestyle changes
  • Starting a flexible and profitable business

Housekeeper

Sites like Care.com make it easy for you to list your services and look for nearby work. You can start by offering your services to people you know, or you can apply for a part-time position as a staff housekeeper at a hospital, gym, or hotel. The average hourly rate range for housekeepers is $15.17/hour, but some make over $35/hour. Income will vary based on experience, where you live, the type of cleaning required, and size of the space that needs to be cleaned.

Medical biller/coder

You don’t need a degree to get started as a medical biller and coder. The best tool you can get is a certification, which teaches you valuable skills and may help you earn more money. The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) reports that medical coders and billers without a certification make about $13,000 less per year than certified professionals. 

Check out organizations like the AAPC and the American Health Information management Association (AHIMA) for course recommendations. On average, certified medical billing and coding specialists make over $60,000 annually.

Proofreader

Are you a pro at spotting writing errors? A part-time proofreading job might be exactly what you’re looking for. To get started, you can take an online course to learn how to become a proofreader.

Reservation agent

A reservation agent makes reservations for events, tours, resorts, travel, restaurants, or other venues. With a phone, internet, and a computer, you can work from home for a variety of businesses without a degree. It helps if you have customer service, call center, or sales experience and excellent organization and communication skills. Reservations agents make about $12.02-$20.34/hour

Substitute teacher

Some states require a high school diploma or GED, while others ask that substitute teachers hold a bachelor’s degree or higher — you can check your state’s Department of Education website to find out. In general, you must be 18 or older and submit to a criminal background check. Contact local schools in your community to apply. You can expect to make an average hourly wage of $10.21-$16.26 depending on your state, though work will be on an as-needed basis unless you secure a long-term assignment.

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Tutor

Being a tutor is an ideal side hustle for single moms because it offers flexibility and you can choose between in-person and online tutoring. If you have knowledge in subjects like math, reading, science and at least a high school diploma, you can offer independent tutoring or apply to work for a tutoring company. 

The National Tutoring Association offers training that starts as low as $10 and the cost of an annual membership fee of $35 for individuals. Expect to complete a background check. Tutors make a wide range of salaries, based on experience and the subject matter they teach. The average base hourly rate is $24.91/hour.

We also have info on how to find a tutor if you’re looking to hire one.

Teach English Online

Teaching English online offers single moms the flexibility to work from home and set their own schedules. With a TEFL certification, you can connect with students worldwide and earn a competitive income. Platforms like The TEFL Org provide resources and opportunities to get started teaching English online.

Virtual assistant

Are you great at creating and maintaining a schedule? What about planning or making travel arrangements? If you enjoy helping others get and stay organized, consider becoming a virtual assistant (VA). To get started, take an online course like $10K VA to learn the ropes. On average, VAs make from $13.77-$41.37 per hour.

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Side hustles for moms FAQs

What can stay-at-home moms do to make money?

There are endless gigs for stay-at-home moms who want to make money from home, including:

  • Part-time remote jobs
  • Paid surveys
  • Selling products or services online
  • Freelance business support
  • Metal scrapping

The key is to think about your strengths and find a gig or opportunity where you can use them to your benefit. For example, if you are highly-organized and enjoy helping people, you could become a virtual assistant. If you enjoy sharing your opinion about products, you can make extra money completing paid online surveys.

Check out this video with some work-from-home job ideas:

We also put together a guide on manifesting money, if you’re into that sort of thing.

What job can I do from home with a baby?

You’ll need a job that allows you to choose your own hours so that you can take care of your baby’s needs at any time. Jobs like proofreading, freelance writing, and virtual support are ideal because they offer more flexibility than jobs with set hours. Generally, as long as you get your assignments done on time, you can work whenever you’d like.

Before taking on a flexible gig, it helps to calculate how many hours you spend working with gigacalculator.com so you can choose something that realistically fits around your baby’s schedule.

Bottom line: When it comes to single mom side hustles, you have choices

With a recession looming, ensuring your family’s financial wellbeing is more important than ever. The good news is that there are plenty of single mom side hustles to help you  make extra money as a single mom, whether you want to unload your old jewelry or help kids learn a second language. You can also get a recession-proof job or start a recession-proof business.

If you don’t have time for a single mom side hustle but want to make more money, check out my guide to asking for and getting a raise.You can also read our roundup of the best jobs for single moms, six-figure jobs, no-degree jobs, and no background check jobs.

What can stay-at-home moms do to make money?

There are endless gigs for stay-at-home moms who want to make money from home, including: part-time remote jobs, paid surveys, selling products or services online, freelance business support, and metal scrapping.

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