I have been home with my little ones now for 3 full years. With a big decision finally sealed, we have decided to stay a one income family. I will be returning to teaching in the Fall in only the tiniest of ways, allowing me to do what I really want to do … be home with my kids.
But, the reality is that we have recently moved. We moved to our dream home in the country. An expensive dream home, with dreadfully drafty windows, repairs required, and unexpectedly high propane bills.
We knew things would be tight for a little while. We were expecting it, and I was ready. We like saving money, and making do with what we have, so as far as cutting our budget down, there wasn’t much that needed cutting. What did need to happen was simple. We needed more money.
I was very confident that I could make a significant amount of money being home with my little ones. And I do. But here’s the trick – I don’t put all my eggs in one basket (figuratively and literally, as I often have one of my boys carrying the egg basket in the morning).
There are 6 ways that I regularly make money from home. Some ways make just a little bit, and some make a lot, but each one plays a role in bringing in money to our household, whether just $20 a month, or much more.
I thought I would share how I make money, because I bet you will find you could do these things too. With a little time and planning, you might be surprised how much you could actually make in a month.
In fact, I could actually be making far more than I am by putting more time in to each venture. But I am careful about what I am doing. I want to make enough money that my family can live comfortably, but not take too much time away from my family either.
After all, I want to be home with my kids to, well, be home with my kids.
Here are 6 ways you might be able to make money at home:
1. Start a blog. Obviously I blog, and I do make money from my blog. My blog is a creative outlet for me. A chance for me to connect with like minded people, and support Mamas and teachers working with children. But recently I have ventured into partnering with a few amazing businesses. If you have a passion for something and love to write, a blog is free to start, and with some time and dedication, can be a very rewarding way to make money at home. Not a ton of money, unless you can devote a ton of time, but more than you might think.
2. Write for someone else’s blog. I write for two blogs other than my own right now. And I actually wrote for a different blogger before I started my own blog. When I started writing for the first blog I had NO experience at all, I was simply passionate about living simply and helping little ones learn. There are a lot of blogs out there that will pay YOU to write for them. Go to your favourite blog, click on the contact form, and shoot off an email – it can be just that easy!
3. Offer social media services. Do you love Pinterest? Could you spend all evening on Facebook? Why not get paid for doing just that! Just as above, there are a TON of bloggers that would love to hire you to do some pinning and facebook scheduling for them.
4. Offer tutoring. As a teacher, this one is a bit more specific to myself. I have a few children that I tutor every week. I used to teach special education and I love working with my special students. But I am sure there is something specific to you too. What are really great at? Baking? Music lessons? Pilates/Yoga? Think of something those in your area might be looking for, and offer it!
5. Refinish furniture. This one I generally don’t do in the winter, and is not one of my husbands favourite activities of mine. I find very inexpensive furniture pieces online, get my hubby to go pick them up after work, put a little TLC and paint on the project, and resell. It is amazing the deals I have found! And this one is good for the soul too – you are saving the landfill from unnecessary waste!
6. Thin and Do-Away. Spring cleaning at it’s best. Choose any room in your house and look at it with a critical eye. Do you have too much stuff? Clear it out. Pop it in a closet of the basement. If you feel better and can do without that clutter for a few weeks, then sell it! Even just a few items can be good for your wallet and your mind. I feel so much better living without clutter.
And there you have it! Those are the 6 ways I regularly make money from my living room. Almost exclusively at my little ones rest time and bedtime.
Being home with my little ones is very important to me. But having enough income so we are not stressed is a very close second.
I hope these ideas find you when you need them!
Thanks for reading!
Hi, great post! Just wondering, the ‘offer social media services’ suggestion of making money at home. How does one find the Bloggers looking for this kind of service?
Thanks
Hi Emma, glad you found my ideas helpful, and great question. There are so, so many bloggers who would love to hire someone to do this. I would suggest starting with your favourite blogs and simply sending them a message through their contact form on their blog. Simply state what you are offering and ask if they might be interested. Generally, really, really big bloggers almost definitely already have someone doing this for them. Your best bet would be to contact mid-sized bloggers. Hope this helps, and good luck!
Love this post. I wanted to ask where you sell your unwanted/unnecessary items that you remove from rooms throughout your house. I often have things that I want out of the house, but know that they could make us some money so don’t want to simply donate. What are your go-tos?
Hi Maggie! I use Kijiji only actually (www.kijiji.com). Not sure where you live in the world, but I have heard from others that Craig’s List and Gumtree (I believe in the UK?) are good as well. Hope this helps!
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for this post. I too am a teacher and have been thinking about staying at home. I’ve heard that it was a super misconception that blogs actually generate income… but I think I’m willing to try it you recommend it! It also seems like a great way to archive projects (I’m an art teacher!). Can I ask what blog providers you have experience with and which you recommend? Thanks!
Caitlyn
Hi Caitlyn! SO happy you are thinking of starting a blog – I just love mine. Blogs are certainly not a quick way to make money. But if you love it, and you are willing to put some time into writing there is definitely many financial possibilities. I am now on a VPS server with Bluehost, which I do pay monthly for – but that is only fairly recently. For the first year or so I was able to use a free shared provider. I think I started with Go Daddy, and then transferred to Fat Cow … Bluehost is definitely my favourite so far though 🙂 Happy to help in any way!
Hi I´m from Honduras and I want to ask you, How do you earn money as a blogger? I always read experience from a lot of people saying that they earn money with their blog but how can they do this? please can you help me because in this moment I´m working with my blog in wich one I´m going to sell cakes and other things… but I want it to be like a blog… I hope you answer me! Thanks
Hi Evy! I make money from my blog by selling advertisement space to companies that I love and that I think my readers would also love. I contact the companies directly and ask them if they would be interested in working with me. Hope this is helpful! Best of luck with your blog and cakes!
hi , i am interested in pinterest. you said “offer social media service”.but how to do that.I dont know anything about that.pleas help me. explain me detailly
Hi Indu. If you have experience with Pinterest and would like to offer social media services in that way, then I would suggest reaching out to one of your favourite bloggers. It is important that it is a blogger you connect with so you will be able to pin similar content on their behalf. I would simply email them from the contact form on their page and see if they are looking to hire any help with pinning. Hope this is helpful!
Hello!
I just wanted to let you know that your blog has given me the best gift, hope… I have been teaching middle school for 15 years now and I have three small children, 5 years and under. Your story reflects much of my own. My husband and I are in the process of planning a modest house in the country and I am trying to figure out how to homeschool my 3 little blessings while making ends meet. I’m working on finalizing a blog title now and have my hands in a few other jars (as they say) wondering if I can put all the pieces together. Knowing that someone is a few steps ahead of me in the game and making it work is a wonderful incentive and gives me hope that it CAN be done. So, thank you ?.
What a lovely thing to read Leanne. Thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. It absolutely and entirely is possible – I look forward to hearing all about your adventure! Please let me know if I can help in any way as you get started. xx
Hello, I am trying very hard to become a stay at home mom once my baby arrives in july. My husband is fully supportive, we just have no idea where to start when it comes to starting a blog or making money from home. If you have any info on how to start that would be amazing. Thank you! 🙂
Hi Taylor. I am so excited for you! I was very much in a similar situation. If you are passionate about something and can see your self talking on and on (and on) about it, then a blog is a fantastic idea. It does take commitment and time, but once you have built a strong following a blog can certainly make you a very good income. Beginning a blog is super easy. Simply buy a URL (I use GoDaddy, but you can buy them from oodles of places) Once you have your URL just click the “Help” button from the site you bought it from and they will walk you through every single step to get your blog online. Once your blog is online and “hosted” (which is what the company is helping you to set up with your call) you can begin adjusting your blog to suit you – adding different pictures, etc. and start writing! It seems intimidating, but it is super easy. If you have any questions you are welcome to email me: HowWeeLearn@gmail.com. Good luck and have fun!