How Do You Earn Extra Income as a SAHM?

Updated on November 09, 2010
A.B. asks from Frisco, TX
10 answers

I am currently working 36 hours a week from home, but my job requires full time child care since I am payed hourly with a set schedule in the title industry/real estate field. I am looking for other ideas that would allow me to spend more time with my boys, but still be able to earn at least $1,000 a month. My boys are 18 months and 3 so they require a lot of attention right now.
I've thought of providing in-home child care for one or 2 children, but is a whole range of questions I have in that area. I do not want to sell Avon or other products. Please let me know what works for you. Thanks!

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L.M.

answers from Dover on

I am not a SAHM but would like to be. In that vein, I have started my own business which does not require selling, inventory, collections, or risk. You won't make the income you are looking for over night but it is definately attainable.

If you want more information, let me know or go to www.workathomeunited.com/madden

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M.S.

answers from Pueblo on

This comes from an article in Womans Day magazine (Oct, 2010).

sell your crafts on websites: etsy.com; jewelrywonder.com; artfire.com

sell your talent: fiverr.com All talents are $5 each. The site gets $1 and you get $4.

be a nurse on call: fonemed.com

write, edit, proofread: demanstudios.com, associatedcontent.com

design graphics and websites: elance.com

tutor kids or adults: tutor.com

give advice: justanswer.com {this one seems good for your field, to me}

provide customer service: alpineaccess.com, workingsolutions.com, liveops.com

The article also listed a group, scambusters.org that runs down the work-at-home scams.

I've also read locally in my own paper about a lady who started a personal finance management business for seniors. She pays bills, helps with errands, goes over their financial statements with them. This seems like something you could do, as well, given your field.

Other ideas from the article referenced mashupmom.com, blogger.com, wordpress.com. These would be for like starting your own blog. Then go to google.com/adsense or affiliate-program.amazon.com for advertisers.

Another site for small bits of green is swagbucks.com or mturk.com. Swagbucks lets you collect point that you can redeem for stuff and mturk will pay you to complete some little task that they need done like web searching or giving opinions.

Sometimes, you can budget yourself into a better position. It is certainly worth taking the time to get some excel spreadsheets in the works. The other to think about is a part time job that would have hours when your hubby is home to watch the little ones?

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

How much do you pay for childcare monthly? If that goes away, do you still need to make $1K/mo? Try ebay for selling your childrens outgrown clothing, outerwear, shoes, etc. Kids clothes are very popular items on ebay.
I work PT now and I freelance on the side occasionally, too.

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K.L.

answers from Saginaw on

I've tried lots of avenues...having my own business through an established company has been the answer for me. Of course you have to make sure the company is a fit for you. If health/wellness is important to you, you may find this worth looking into www.LifeAsItCouldBe.com/K./frontier .

I tried the products - they changed my life. No interaction w/meds...no side effects...and they really work. Now I'm in the "information-flow" business, and was able to quit my job and work from home.

Blessings in your search!

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E.M.

answers from Johnstown on

On the days my hubby doesn't work (he works a very weird, rotating swing schedule) I clean houses. I also babysit for a substitute teacher during the week as well as make & sell crafts. In my free time, I'm a Mary Kay consultant, which is my main avenue of income and THE ONLY time I get to interact w/ other adults aside from my husband. All in all--life is good :)

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C.T.

answers from Dallas on

I have two children the same ages as yours, and I work from home as a freelance writer. I make only $800 - $1000 a month, but I could make more if I wanted to spend more time on it. Right now, I only work 2 hours a day or less, after the kids go to sleep in the evening. Sometimes its hard to force myself to work after a long day with the kids, but overall I'm happy with my work situation, and with being able to be a SAHM.

Oh, and I just read the other responses, and wanted to add that yes, if you aren't working full time, you'll probably find lots of ways to save money. I saved us several thousand this year by switching energy companies, insurance companies, and refinancing our house. Not to mention if you want to get into coupons, etc.

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

You could do an in home daycare, just look with your state for licening requirements.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

With this post you'll be approached by every MLM recruiter out there.

The daycare option is probably the best for you at this time if you are looking for $1000 a month. Keep in mind, taking your children out of day care will increase your monthly funds.

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B.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I don't know what you are dong in this area, but smart shopping can save a family as much as a part time job will bring in, especially when you figure Day Care, commuting, clothing, and other costs of working outside the home.

There are lots of posts and answers about saving money on this website.

Good luck to you and yours.

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S.H.

answers from Dallas on

I have begun to view reducing our spending as one of my "paying" jobs. There are a number of sites out there with great advice on being frugal and reducing monthly spending. You can decide what level of frugality works best for your family - some can take it to a pretty extreme level, and I admire them. That isn't me, but I have managed to reduce our spending and begin paying off some debt with no additional income other than my husband's routine raises at his job.

I also sell on Ebay, for extra money. Currently, I sell clothing, because that is what I have been able to find enough of to make a profit. It is no get-rich-quick thing - it takes work to find stuff, photograph it well, list, pack and ship it - but I pay for Christmas completely with Ebay money every year. Someone mentioned selling kids' clothing on Ebay. In my experience, you don't get much for kids' clothing unless it is high-end boutique stuff. I have 2 kids, and I just have a yard sale once a year to sell their things.

I am reading all the answers to this one, because I am always looking for other ideas - especially during the slow times on Ebay, when nothing sells!

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