Inside: Are you a stay at home mom looking to make an income? Check out how you can make thousands a month with the ways I make money as a stay at home mom. I have been a stay at home mom for over 14 years with these great tips.
I always knew I wanted to be a stay at home mom. There was never any doubt in my mind that I would do that. However, when my son was born I started to wonder how we were ever going to afford it. I had always dreamed of having a Volvo station wagon and taking my son to Gymboree classes. Suddenly just staying at home with our junky car and no mommy and me classes didn’t even seem possible.
Because I didn’t want to go back to work I started looking into all the ways that we could save money. I read books like Miserly Moms to learn how to save even more. We started buying so many things used. I learned how to stockpile when I found good deals. I finally started to save our family money.
After a couple of months, I started to realize that not only could I save our family money, but I could even be earning money while still staying at home with my son. I went from constantly worrying about having to go back to work to being comfortable with our lifestyle. Although I still haven’t gotten that Volvo station wagon, with the extra income I am able to earn, we have been able to pay off my husbands student loans early, take vacations, and just enjoy some little extras.
If you are staying at home and want to help earn a little money it can be done. You may have to try a few things but, you can easily find something that will work for you. These are just a few of my favorite ways to make money as a stay at home mom
Child Care
We had some friends who had a son around the same time that we did. They both worked and wanted to keep on working after they had their son, but didn’t want to put him in daycare. So, every morning they dropped him off at my house and I watched him for the day. My son had a playmate during the day and I was able to make some extra cash.
I have made anywhere between $100-$175 dollars a week watching kids. It can be challenging sometimes, you need to plan vacations carefully and sick days can be hard, but overall it is a great way to make some extra cash and still be at home with your kids. I also have found that with more kids it’s not as easy to jump in the car and head to the mall or Target. My everyday spending decreased with more kids around too. If you want to get started making money as a stay at home mom this is a great gig.
Mystery Shopping
Mystery shopping can be a fun way to make money as a stay at home mom. So many of the jobs allow you to bring people along with you, so it’s a great one to do with the kids in tow. I like finding mystery shopping at restaurants and we can usually eat for free, plus make a little extra money.
You should never have to pay to join a mystery shopping site. All the ones I do are free. I would recommend Market Force. I have had good luck with them and the payouts are good. If you are just getting started with mystery shopping try signing up for one shop and try it out. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so start slow and add in jobs as you figure out what you like. My favorite jobs are close to home (I don’t want to drive 30 minutes just to get to a place) and some place I enjoy going. My favorites have been Panera and Five Guys.
Blogging
I wish I could say I make $1000’s a month blogging, but I am not. I have however managed to make around $300-$400 dollars a month on average. It’s definitely not a get rich quick scheme, but I really enjoy blogging so I just keep at it. If you are new to blogging you can start out for free on blogger. It’s a great way to get your feet wet without paying any money.
If you are thinking of starting a blog I highly recommend Ruth Soukup’s book How to Blog for Profit without Selling Your Soul. It’s very helpful for tips on driving traffic and making money. Blogging is not always easy, and I know there are far quicker ways to earn money, but I love it. I hope as I grow it I can continue to make more money.
Selling Things
I love making extra cash selling things to make money as a stay at home mom. I don’t just mean selling the things you own, you can buy stuff to sell too. I love to shop at garage sales, so if I see something that is a great deal I buy it and sell it. I often find brand name kids clothes for around $.25. I can buy them and sell them to a resale shop. I can spend around $3-4 dollars and get $20 for selling the clothes.
I also look for deals on clearance items in stores. A $7 Pottery Barn couch cover at the outlets made me $120 on eBay. It takes a little bit of time to know what sells and what doesn’t, but once you get the hang of it, you can really make some cash. Start small and make sure you never spend more than you can afford to lose.
Just because you stay at home doesn’t mean you can’t make money too. There are so many different ways to make money from home. You don’t need a lot of experience to be able to make some extra cash. With just a little bit of work, you can start to make money as a stay at home mom today!
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I’m blogging too! It’s my “side hustle” which isn’t earning me that much right now, but I hope to earn at least a part-time income from it someday. I enjoy the writing and challenge of it.
It’s so much fun and downright addictive isn’t it?
Just discovered your blog. Looks great! Thanks for the helpful advice. I’ve always been interested in mystery shopping! I blog too, but at this point (and the foreseeable future), it’s not a moneymaker. Intrinsic rewards do count though, right? 🙂