Need Side Income, but Balance Fulltime Job and Being a Mother

There are several ways to make money - but none are "guaranteed"...

sell the things you have and don't use on ebay, craigslist or at a garage sale (this is instant and not month to month).

If you have creative talent - you can sell things on etsy.com - which is a subsidiary of ebay.

I would also update my resume and make sure my skill set is up and start applying for better paying jobs. They are out there. There is A LOT of competition so you need to make sure that you are SPOT ON and start applying...you are looking for AT LEAST a $7K increase in salary if you want and extra $300 a month.

The other thing I would do is start cutting back at home. Keep your thermostat set higher when no one is home and have it start cooling the house off 30 minutes prior to your return.

use Coupons. Start menu planning off the sales for week from your grocery store(s).

Freecycle - you can get a TON of baby things this way...and it's FREE!!! You just need to go get it...so okay- it's not "free" because you are paying for gas - but there is NO COST to you for the product or clothes.

Cut back on cell plans, cable/internet service...

Verify that your home is energy efficient...no leaks in windows (why heat or cool the outside?)

Stop buying books - borrow them from the library.

Stop buying movies - rent them from the Red Box.

Stop buying Starbucks coffee...(if you do)

Bring lunches to work - that is a savings of almost $10 a day depending on where you eat....

There is a TON you can do to save money...in the scheme of things $300 is not a lot...but it is...and there are SOOO many ways to cut back and save...(like I changed to the Verizon All-Share plan and saved $50 a month on my cell phone).

I haven't seen this yet in all of your answers. Shopping the sales.

If I really watch the sales, I can feed my wife and I on $30 per week for the both of us. That's $15 per person. That includes non-edibles like toilet paper, soaps, detergents, and pet food.

My wife and I brown bag our lunch (at least I did when I was working). I don't buy bottled water but once a year. We drink the water from the bottles and then refill and reuse. I tend to keep a case of bottled water on hand and only buy more when it declines to half a case.

Our food sales go from Wednesday to Tuesday. I go through all the ads ad circle the best prices of what I need. The better the price, the more circles. Then I look at what is on sale and circles and plan my meals for the week by using the circled prices. This will allow you to save 25% to 40% off your food bill.

When something goes on sale, the better the sale, the more I buy. Example: I use alfredo sauce, spaghetti sauce and enchilada sauce in cooking. I buy Ragu brand usually, but i will buy any brand if it is cheap enough. When the Ragu sauce is on a real good sale, it's usually $0.99. When its at regular price, its $2.99 and higher. So, when its on sale for $.99 I may buy a dozen jars. Then I use it over the next few weeks until its gone. If I bought a dozen jars, I saved at least $24.

By doing this kind of shopping, the average family can eat better and shave their food bill by 50%.

I don't buy meat or fresh produce at Costco or Sam's. Why? Because I can always buy those items cheaper at my local grocery stores.
I never buy boneless skinless chicken. I can buy the chicken and make it boneless/skinless my self, and then I save the money.

Something to think about. If you need $300. You would need a part time job to pay you $600 to be able to take home $300 because of taxes and gas and wear and tear on your car. If you use wise shopping, you can get the $300 tax free. (You've already paid the taxes and the government hasn't figured out how to tax the money you save.)

There have been lots of questions on saving money at the grocery store on this site. Look them up and learn. You are welcome to PM me if you need more answers.

Good luck to you and yours.

The next thing to do is learn to cook from scratch.

I know someone who is good in math. She brushed up on it (you can do the Schaum's outline series to brush up). Now she has high school students come to her home and she tutors them in algebra, chemistry and calculus. That can be pretty high paying.

Some Sunday School teaching positions are paid jobs.

And some hospitals have miscellaneous part-time, random positions such as if you can act and remember scripts, being a standardized patient for their medical students.

If you are artistic, you can sell crafts by creating your own website, or just hooking in with "Etsy." If you are a good writer, you can do copy editing from home.

There is much you can do to get a little side income, but so much depends on what you are good at. I once created some software for a vet who needed a specific program for something experimental he wanted to try out and potentially patent. That was something I enjoyed. If you know a 2nd language well, sometimes health practitioners want their own intake forms translated.

Some people can do interior design/decorating. I certainly can't!

Some get a job in the evening or just on weekends such as waitressing or bar-tending... but that can be exhausting and is a regular commitment. But some people have that kind of energy and stamina. If you do - that's a possibility!

I know another mother who taught a few fitness aerobics/dance/zumba classes at a gym each week! Many gyms even have childcare on the premises!

There are so many possibilities.... all depending on what you enjoy, what you are good at, and what fits with your lifestyle.

Having a baby can drain finances quickly...

I don't know of anything specific for you to do on the side if you are fulll time other than one or both of you taking on a part time position with few hours while the other watches the baby. That way, you are not out any more day care expenses.

You'll get hit up with the MLM'rs on here trying to recruit you to sell, recruit, invest and have parties, all of which is high pressure sales. If that is something you are into, then go for it and know what you are getting into before you jump in.

We are believers in multiple income streams, big time planners. We own and run our own company which does well and sustains our lifestyle very well.

However, being the planners we are, I have also been a substitute teacher for 10+ yrs in elementary school a day or so a week. I do sub more on occasion when the teachers need me. All my days are preplanned so I don't get the early am or late night calls. I can easily bring in $500 extra a month by subbing

I also work through a temp agency subbing for office admin/accounting when someone needs it. These assignments are anywhere from a day or 2 to a week or so.

First and foremost is our company and it takes priority over any potential sub assignment.

There are jobs at grocery stores, big box, etc for late night stocking, sample testers for the big box places on weekends, etc.

You can also sell the things you do not need on Ebay, Etsy, Craigslist, etc. Offer babysitting for weekend nights, etc.

Think outside the box so that you do not cut down on family time but expand what one or both of you do to bring in a little extra.

Best wishes!

Have either of you thought about donating plasma? If you have a center near you, you could make some okay money for spending some time relaxing while reading a magazine/listening to music for an hour. We live near a facility, and although I wasn't thrilled with the idea of a needle in my arm, I thought I'd try it once - and it went fine!

My husband and I do it periodically to save up for "fun" money - vacations, Christmas... I haven't been in over 3 months, and just got an email saying I can earn $100 in two donations -- that got me back in the door:)

Depending on your strengths, you could consider tutoring. You could charge $20 an hour and only offer Saturday/Sunday or early evening hours. If you tutor 3 or 4 kids each week, you can make decent money. I made extra money in graduate school tutoring middle and high school students in English/ Language Arts. If you have a strength in English, Math or Science, go for it!

You could also put yourself on Care.com and offer weekend and evening babysitting hours... or housecleaning services.

Do you have any hobbies that can be turned into a side job? I have a friend who teaches scrapbooking classes at craft stores on the weekends. Maybe you could look into something like that.

I had a coworker who bartended on the weekends for extra money.

TF mentioned those who are going to try to recruit you into doing direct sales. I will tell you upfront that I do one of these businesses as a very part time job. I do not pressure anyone and let my products sell themselves as they have for the last 40 years. I have only done 2 shows this month and have made almost $300 in just 4 hours of work. If you want more info then please send me a message. If not no big deal.
The other "job" that I have that allows me to be at home still and bring in extra money is I babysit kids in my home.
Like others have said there are many ways, you can deliver papers, get a part time job in a restaurant, or if your husband is handy he can offer to do odd ends for people.

Sara B is right in line with my suggestion. Check out: Etsy.com

My daughter has made good money on that site. She makes cute little quirky clay sculptors our of her head and has made good money (thenakedbird) is her site on etsy. I have a site on there too for my cards and I used to sell dolls but now I am focusing mainly on my writing. The thing about etsy is you have to work it. Really network so that you are seen and if you are on here... maybe you do have enough time. It is a thought. Rather than going outside of the house... Also I know that Ebay is another good source. You can almost do your own garage sale on line. You know what they say... one man's junk is another man's treasure. I knew a woman who ran art shows and quit because she did so well on ebay.
Go exploring. Also go to a few art shows and check them out. Maybe you will see something that inspires you. Like Sara B suggest scrapbooking. etc.
Hope that helps.
http://dianereedwiter.wordpress.com/

Hi M. - I think most families have been in this situation - trying to figure out a way to make it work.

I think if you already both have full time jobs and you need/want to make a little more there must be some sacrificing - it's not a 'have your cake and eat it too' sort of thing - maybe one of you can get a part time weeknight job so you then still have your weekends.

What about this - rather than you both working during the day - and thus likely paying a good penny for childcare - can one of you find an evening job and then one of you will be home with the kids during the day and the other at night. Sure, you won't see each other a lot but as parents we have to make things work the best we can for our families.

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Can you both ask for a raise? $150 a month is not much ask for.

It's saddening to read your email and think that there are two income couples starting a family and they still don't make enough money. What is the world coming to?

Hi M.,
I know someone else also mentioned direct sales, but that is because it is a pretty awesome way to make some extra money in just a few hours, is flexible - you decide when you want to work, and is also a lot of fun with the right company! I joined Dove Chocolate Discoveries 7 months ago, and it has changed my life. I am home with my family during the day, but it also gives me a way to contribute to my family's needs by working a few nights a week, and I am throwing Chocolate parties, so it doesn't feel like work :) You have to make the best decision for your family, but if this sounds like something you might be interested in, feel free to check out www.asweeterlife.com and learn more!
I really don't want to sound like a commercial, but since you asked the question, this is the answer I was looking for a few months ago! I hope this is helpful :) Have a great day!

You don't mention daycare, but I've had my kids in a center and in a home....I much prefer the home setting and it was a lot cheaper.

I used to be a big aldi shopper for groceries....really cheap. I just moved and don't have an aldi near, so I'm looking into cuponing....but im finding super Walmart pretty cheap. I also try to not waste left overs. We do a lot of second hands shopping and I don't think you'd ever know by looking at us -I get a lot of compliments on our clothes.

I like to sew, so I buy second hand skirts (like on 99 cent day) and I've made dresses for my little girls, I've taken a long full skirt and made myself a skirt out of the lining and used the ruffles to make two kid skirts, and I make bags outofskirts as well. I'm also looking into etsy.