Kaboutjie SA Mommy Blogs by Lynne Huysamen
I’ve made another life changing decision in the last few weeks. Since I don’t have to be available for customers during set working hours I am taking my children out of aftercare at playschool. So how can I afford to be a stay at home mom?
I shared 2 weeks ago about my decision to close my online store and just start blogging instead and you know what? It is the right decision for me!
They have been in aftercare until nearly 5pm every day and I have felt so much guilt about this, my son is two years old and my daughter is four years old. It is not that I wanted them in aftercare, it is more that life doesn’t go as planned.
My daughter was 4 months old when I launched Kaboutjie and the plan was that I would have her in creche and by the time she turned one or maybe two years old I would have grown my business to a place where I could have her half day in playschool so she could socialize in the mornings while I got some work done. In the afternoons I would be a SAHM. Fast forward four years… this is not my reality is it?
Turns out my business was a lot more labor intensive and I felt more tied to work than if I had a full time job. At least when you work for someone else and your child is ill you can take the day off and just focus on your child (and you will be paid for it too if you have family responsibility leave left!). I had to still run my business… even when my daughter was in hospital for a week I had to somehow also run my online business. Christmas holidays were anything BUT a holiday. I couldn’t leave my products and I couldn’t ever relax entirely.
So this week marked a wonderful change for my family. From the first of March I have had my two children home in the afternoons and it feels incredible. My children are so happy and relaxed and my husband is pleased that we are all able to be home together in the afternoons (mingled in with some jealousy that he has to be at work of course).
So now here comes the crunch… I am not yet earning a full time income from blogging, so this truly is a big of a leap of faith. Yes there is some income coming in and I am feeling so positive and excited about the future. However in reality this doesn’t put food on the supper table tonight does it?
This got me thinking, surely I am not alone? Surely there are millions of moms all over the world that are stuck with the same problem. On my Facebook page I have seen so many moms saying that they would love to be a stay at home mom but they can’t afford it.
So this post it for you, mommies.
How Can I Afford to be a Stay At Home Mom?
Here’s the way I see things. We are all in charge of our destinies and our futures. I told my husband last week I have just had such a strong vision lately and it goes like this:
I blink and suddenly we are at our children’s graduation ceremony for school. I look at my husband and I say to him “Honey, I really did intend being at home more with our kids….”
And you know what? This is what will happen if I don’t make this decision now. I intended to be home with my daughter, suddenly she is four years old and I have another child that is already two… both in aftercare till 5pm every day.
So yes, this is my now and I am taking it.
Here’s what I see each of us women are strong, we have skills and we can work hard if we choose to. I believe each of us mommies have the ability to make this change if we set our minds to it.
Here are some ideas I’ve thrown together that could help with finances so you can afford to be a stay at home mom:
First things first: Get rid of all extra expenses
Evaluate all of your expenses and see what you can chop out. I think you will be surprised at how much money is wasted.
Have a maid once a week? Well start doing the housework yourself, you will be home more and you can also get your kids involved. It is good start them with chores anyway!
DSTV? Personally I don’t even like television. I enjoy the odd movie or series every now and then but I think it is a huge waste of time. I prefer reading. And for kids, well come on they can play outside. For the cost of DSTV for one month you can buy your child a really nice bicycle!
Also take into consideration the cost saved by not sending your child to aftercare. We will save nearly R2000 a month by having our children home in the afternoon. That is a big saving already!
Eating lots of chips (and yes my kids and I must raise our hands) – cut out luxuries like this. Not only will it save your pocket but it will lead to everyone being healthier too.
Extra phones? Who needs a landline these days when we’ve got Skype and mobiles right? Yes I have just cancelled our Telkom landline. I don’t like Telkom anyway, so this felt great. There’s another couple of hundred bucks saved each month. I did purchase a smart phone and installed Whatsapp… so now I can contact everyone much cheaper!
Baby in nappies? Use a cloth instead of wet wipes and use cloth nappies instead of disposables. Yes it may not appeal to you, but do you want to stay at home with your little angel or not?
Smoking.. yes, oh dear I’m going to go there too…. I quit smoking last year and it is was well worth it! Not easy but it will be good for you and it will save you a fortune. Smoking cost me about R1000 a month. So I have saved R5000 since October last year just by quitting smoking.
But there is only so much you can do by chopping all unnecessary expenses. You still need to put food on the table and that costs money right?
Grow Your Own Veggies!
Yes some food costs money, but there is still a lot you can do to save!I spent R40 on a butternut a few weeks ago. I got the shock of my life. Yes it was a big butternut, true, but since when does a large butternut cost that amount? If I spend R40 on a butternut I expect it to come with its own trolley because of its size.
So I’ve heard that you can feed a family of four on a piece of land the size of a door. So get out there and start digging up a veggie patch. There are so many benefits for doing this.
Not only can you save a huge amount of money by growing your own food, chances are you’ll have surplus food. You can sell extra food for some extra income… and the best part is that homegrown organic food is like so the in thing right now!
Another major plus is that this is something you can do with your kids. Children love being outside, they love getting dirty in the sand and mud. They also have such a fascination with growing things. This is a real life skill that you can teach them.
And remember you’ll need to keep them busy and entertained if there’s no Disney or JimJam channel anymore…
If you don’t have your own garden don’t worry, you can grow a lot of food in pots! My sister grows mushrooms in one of her cupboards and she grows her own sprouts in jars on her kitchen window sill.
Here’s how to grow cherry tomatoes in pots!
So get creative, get researching and have fun! I grew up on a small holding and we had a compost heap and a huge veggie garden. There is nothing better than growing your own food.
This is something I am going to start with my kids very soon and I am so looking forward to it. We rent so we will have to go with the pots. I’ll be sharing about these escapades as soon as our crops start producing!
Kids might enjoy getting dirty with gardening, but I’ll be honest here I love nothing more than sinking my hands into sand and picking veggies fresh from my own plants!
Start A Lift Club
You must have noticed the huge price of fuel and servicing of your vehicle right? So find some a few moms in your area that have kids in the same playschool and start a lift club. You might land up only having to drive to the playschool two or three days a week instead of five. This could make a massive saving on travel costs!
Sell Sandwiches In Industrial Areas
Ok so I haven’t tried this before myself but I have spoken to a number of people that have told me they have done this and it is a great way to make some extra income. We have a small industrial area on my way to the kids playschool. It wouldn’t take long for me to whip up a couple of great sandwiches and drop them off on the way.
If you want to try this I would suggest first scouting out the companies in the industrial area and asking the people there if they would like this service. Start off small with only a few sandwiches and see what the demand is. Remember that every little bit of extra income will make a difference.
Make Home Cooked Meals
Make some home cooked meals and sell them frozen and fresh. I think this is a great thing to try and as with the suggestion above you can start off slow and see what the demand is. If you are a great cook why not give this a go. I know for myself that when I was working full time supper was always a trial for me. Knowing there is someone that can supply a nutritious meal for my family a few times a week at a good price is awesome!
Online Surveys and PTC sites
This won’t make you rich but it can add up nicely over time. This year (up to March 2016) I have made a total of R701.44 from the following sites:
- Clixsense
- Paid Viewpoint
Answered Insight
**UPDATE To Answered Insight**
They have been having tech problems for the last year with their website and are apparently in the process of building a new website. Members can’t see their balances or cash out which is quite frustrating, in addition to this they are not responding to any emails or Facebook messages yet they are still sending email invites for members to do surveys? I no longer recommend Answered Insight.
It may seem like you are not getting anywhere with them but I head over to all those websites every morning while I drink my coffee and quickly do whatever is available. I spend just a few minutes every morning and I use that for savings. I am planning on using that money for a family holiday beginning of next year.
I recommend all of those above websites, just be careful with others. I have honestly tried loads of them and most of them are complete time wasters or scams. The above ones work, they pay out and they are legitimate.
Here is a Youtube video I published on how to use Clixsense:
Don’t expect to see results overnight with them, but if you use them regularly and consistently you will start to see that it is a nice and easy way to build up a small nest egg with your free time. All of those are free to use so you won’t spend any money!
Sell Your Crafts
If you do crafts why not make some things and sell them? I have seen lots of moms doing this, it gives you a creative outlet and earn you some extra income.
Hand knitted jerseys? Hand-made cards? Crochet goodies? Baking? Jewellery Making? Pottery?
I had someone taste a lemon meringue I made a few years back and she asked me if I would make her a good few so she could sell them….. maybe I should give her a call now?
Sell Your Skills
We all have skills, we all have passions so think about this one and use it.
Teach yoga? Give horse riding lessons (I did this as a teenager, I taught little kids and made great pocket money)? Extra lessons for school kids in bookkeeping, accounting, maths… ?
When I was in primary school my friend’s mom gave me lace-making lessons and I loved it. She had a small class of girls from the school that she taught every week.
If you are good at something (which I guarantee you are) think how you can utilize that skill to make money!
Start Blogging
Yes of course I have to add this one in, this is what I am doing now and I am loving it! I am earning an income from all three of my websites now and although it is not a full time income yet it is growing each month.
I recently started earning affiliate income from Amazon which is really exciting!
I am also earning a small income publishing online marketing training on the Wealthy Affiliate website.
If you want to learn how to make money working online then I suggest you check out this post that gives you an insiders view on the best online marketing training you will ever find.
I also wrote an ebook about my addiction and I am selling it on Fiverr, check it out here.
So How Can I Afford to be a Stay At Home Mom? Well really the question I have started asking myself this year is how can I afford NOT to be a stay at home mom?
We live our life only once. Our kids grow up so fast…. if I don’t take a leap of faith now I know I will regret it for the rest of my life!
As long as you find peace in what you do. I think it’s absolutely ok to be a SAHM. I am one and I love it.
Hey Prerna
It is the most important job we do in our lives! Don’t you also blog? How do you find that working out for you?
Lynne
also give this affiliate site a try –
they have plenty of local websites that need exposure and some of the banners you get paid per click that someone goes to check it out and others you get paid only when they make a purchase or register.
I just signed with them recently and so far so good
Unfortunately i havent had the courage yet to break ties with the security of employment although I have been thinking about it more and more lately and hopefully before next year Ill be good to go.
Hi Rosetta
Thanks, yes I signed up with them about a year ago but I have not really found anything exciting on their website I want to promote… I go and have a look every now and again but nothing shouts out to me.
I have spoken to them about companies I want to promote that don’t offer affiliate programs and asked them to try and get them on board. I am waiting eagerly for them to get to that!
They are lovely and open, very approachable which is great.
Thanks for sharing your experience and giving me a tip! Always appreciated.
This is a very good article, actually so good I am in tears right now staring at my computer screen. My biggest wish is to be a SAHM (I guess this is most moms’ wish), but as life goes we need a second income. A day doesn’t go by that I wished I’d rather study something more “mom-friendly” (I studied engineering). Don’t get me wrong, I love the technical challenging aspect of my job, it’s just the lifestyle that gets to me. The deadlines, traffic (2-3hrs a day), immense work pressure, long working hours, peoples ego’s, retrenchments, the constant rush (I’m also always in a rush), but most of all the fact that I leave home so early in the mornings that I do not even get to see my son (now 15 months old) before he goes to crèche. And then in the evenings it’s a rush to get him fed, bathed and to bed, and still prepare a meal for my husband and myself. My husband is a great help with our son, but I just wish I had more time with him, especially at this age they grow up so fast and learn so many new things that I miss half of it and then on a weekend I see something he does and think “o wow, when did he learn to do this”. Thanks for this inspiring article. This definitely got me thinking about alternatives.
Hi Nicole
Yes of course, I know the feeling and that is why I just decided to change everything while I still have the opportunity. If you have any questions or thoughts please feel free to pop them down here.
I’m glad I could help to inspire you. Being a mom is the most important job we will ever have and I am really starting to feel like I must put this first. Just like you said though, this will also come with challenges.
I know exactly what you mean when your child comes home and has learned something new and it’s not something you taught. I remember the first moment when that happened with my daughter. I felt such a sense of loss because until that moment absolutely everything was something she started doing with me, usually something I had taught her.
HI Nicole, I understand too well the conflict your’e experiencing. I’ve always had the desire to be a SAHM but as you put it, “as life goes” both my husband and I continued working after having children as that seemed the only way to get by. However, as soon as it seemed like we could possibly make it work by cutting down on a few things, I jumped at the opportunity. So I’d like to encourage you to not give up, especially with your husband supporting you in your longing. Change is always possible if we apply ourselves to a goal and be patient in adapting and remember… no change is irreversible! May your dream become a reality. 🙂
great site 🙂 you had a good idea choosing this niche and your information are very helpful. I am sure a lot of mums:) will love it and if they take in consideration your advice will be helped:) waiting for more and i will recommend it . thanks
Thanks Cristina
That’s a great list Lynne. Especially the about quitting smoking. My wife is 2 months into her cessation and I couldn’t be more proud. What a save financially and for her health. We recently cut our land line also. It’s amazing what you can save in a month going over every expense.
I also struggle with the time it takes to build a business and blog. It does seem to take longer than an offline job at times.
Personally I think you made a great decision to stay at home with your kids and work on your dream. You can do this and I know you will be successful. Never give up. All the best to you
~Peter
Hi Peter
Thank you! Let your wife know that the smoking cessation journey will be rocky for a while. I found 3 weeks the worst time and even now 5 months down the line I am craving cigarettes. Well done to her, it is really hard.
Hi Lynne,
Great decision! Just the ones who try it can succeed.
I did the same one year ago. I quit from a boring job that takes my time a minimum of 9 hours a day Monday to Saturday to try to make a living online and be able to stay more time with my little son.
Business still didn’t give me a living, but I can take my little boy to the swimming pool every other morning and to the playground almost every afternoon.
If you want my advice (I learned after making some mistakes), stay focus and concentrate on one or two things. Some activities that provide you a small income but take time from your main business.
My best wishes.
Carlos
Hi Carlos
Thanks for the tips, I will need all the advice I can get from others that are in the industry so thank you for taking the time to share this with me.
I have already noticed that trend. There are so many things that take up a huge amount of time but really amount to zero money in the end or so little it is not worth the amount of effort!
Enjoy your son Carlos!
What a great site! I also own my own business but I only work part time. 4 kids later and I am still doing it. I do love it but like you said, no one else can do it for me. We also got rid of the landline, grow veggies in the summer. Started blogging about a month ago and doing okay. I love this site and I would have loved to have something like this to go to when I was a young mom! Nice ideas!
Hi Kelly
I hope the blogging is working nicely for you, I really enjoy it!
Thanks for your compliments, it has taken a while to get this website to where I want it to be and now I am going to be changing it all over again! I love that you are already doing a whole lot of the things I suggest. It just goes to show that it works.
What a great read!! And very encouraging. I’ve been hating going to wk everyday and missing out on my little boy growing up. I always thought or I guess wanted to be home with him at least the first 5 years but unfortunately due to financial reasons I had to work. But I have started a small business that has not quite picked up yet but being hopeful. I do handed stuff with wood, mosaics, tiles and I make delicious cupcakes.
Reading your post has encouraged my to just perseve!
Thank you!!
Christina
Hi Christina
I wish you all the success in the world with your business so you can spend time at home with your son!
Hi Lynne,
As a full-time SAHM mom, I can relate to the points that you have made. Unnecessary expenses have to be minimized (or even chopped off completely), cooking my own meals is almost a daily affair, doing online surveys (I wish I am more diligent in this, though) and recently I started blogging. I don’t have space for an outdoor garden as I live in a high-rise apartment, but if I have one, I will certainly learn to grow my own veggies as I cook a lot.
I have yearned to return to the workforce for years but now I realize that money cannot buy back the lost time with my family if I work. So, there is a sacrifice being a SAHM for sure, but it will be worth it. Also, I do not want to look back and regret that I did not spend enough time with my kids and loved ones.
Hi Yvonne
That’s it exactly, the time goes so fast and I don’t want to miss any special moments with my children! I see your website is souperdiaries.com which I had to go and stalk… I’m always after nice recipes to try out for my family. I’ll be honest I’ve never tried any Asian recipes before, those sweet and sour prawns look great! Best wishes for your blogging, I hope you find great success!
I am not a mother, but I am a blogger.
I can definitely relate to some of the suggestions you posted in this article.
I have actually sold my own crafts in the past, although I never did think of trying to do home cooked meals and selling them.
Hi Ryan
I know of a few people that have done this and they have done quite well. I know a good home cooked meal being prepared for my family is something I enjoy, especially when I don’t have to prepare it!
Hi Lynne that was an amazing post. I’m glad you took that big step to work from home so you can spend more time with your children, they really do grow in the blink of an eye. I have two children as well and sometimes I wish time can slow down just a bit because I don’t want them to grow so fast. I love all the ideas you’ve given, especially the idea of starting your own lift club. Gas isn’t cheap in some places and there is nothing better than saving some extra money, especially if your doing the work from home kind of thing. Thank you so much for sharing your life story.
Hi Jaime
It is a pleasure, and yes I’m sure that fuel and the cost of maintaining a vehicle is costly everywhere in the world… it not only saves money but a lot of time in the morning and afternoon which can be used to get a little more work in or housework!
I definitely agree with you. I have 2 kids of my own, one that was just born in December so like you I have made some big changes to being a stay at home mom and have also made a few changes! As long as we are happy that is all that matters!
Congrats on your new baby! Yes we need to make big changes, especially when a new baby arrives.
Hey
Well I came on linkin to check for updates on jobs lol
So me and my hubby have just relocated to durban to start a new life due to me getting a job but things have been so stressful since and so much in change of life for our family.i was a stay at home mom for about 6 months but finacially it was terrible yet now that i am working our lives have some what gotten worse than before .hubby has decided that its best we move back to our home town again and me be at a stay at home mum again.i have felt alot of guilt watching my 7 year old son in grade to having to do hime work at half 7 and be so sleepy half way through his home work and still having to wait up to eat dinner before hitting the bed.it is a big step to have your wide being a stay at home mum with the father being the provider.The leasson i just learnt from reading this now is that nothing is impossible if as a family we work together in making it work through the points that you have listed and well life ia always a changing thing.A big thank you for this and i really hope to read more about inspiring things from your blogs.
Hi Chantel
I’m so sorry to hear that things have been stressful, I think that every family goes through their tough patches, but like you say it is about pulling together and working together to make things better when things get tough that counts.
I hope to be able to inspire you in the future, I certainly plan on bringing some great posts out in future!
Lynne,
Beautiful sentiments. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you are doing this.
I’m a “stay at home dad” and my wife is a “stay at home mom”.
Our kids have been very lucky that for the last 10 years this has been our reality. However, our affinity was tested because over time, even though I worked at home, I became obsessed with work.
The only thing that mattered was trying to make the business hum! The cost, 4 years where I can’t tell you what happened with the most important people of my life.
It’s cool though, because that experience became an effervescent lesson and caused the flavor of those things that are truly most dear to be truly appreciated.
I wish you 3500 days of good fortune and based on this very well written post, I’m certain you’ll enjoy at least that much and more!
Hi Jack
It is not the little mistakes along the way that matter most, it is how we deal with them and learn from them that really count! It sounds to me like you worked too hard, became obsessed with work and suffered the consequences… then made some changes to your life. This is what it is all about and what counts.
Congrats on being a stay at home dad, your kids truly are lucky having both parents close!
Thank you for all the ideas and sharing what you’re doing! I find it so inspiring that you’re just going for it! Hooray for leaps of faith!! xo
Hi Sarah
It is a pleasure and I hope you are also finding your happiness.
This is a great article! I am glad you are able to do exactly what you want. I too am a sahm and have just launched a blog in hopes that in time it can be a source of income for my family!
Hi Lauren
Congrats on taking the leap to start your own blog, that is awesome! You should really check out my other website, which is about making money online 🙂 You will find great tips and tools to get your website ranked there 🙂 Smallonlinebusinessopportunity.com
You can also grab my free eBook there. Let me know if you need any help with anything, I’ve been blogging for a good few years now so I might be able to give you a hand!
Thanks for this article Lynne. I’m a stay-at-home mom for 5 months now due to my pregnancy and thank God we still have savings right now for the expenses. However, I am almost on my due date and I am pretty sure having a new baby will use up all our savings. My husband’s working but still not enough. I am really hoping I can get money from our 7-month-old blog soon. As for your advice about crafts, I run online business selling my work but you’re right, it requires lots of time so I might not be able to continue working on it even months after I deliver my baby.
Congrats on getting your blog going Cebu, that is awesome. Just be easy on yourself after your baby is born. It will take some time to adjust and you won’t get much done for a long time.
Hiya,
Well done and good on you for taking that leap!!!!
I am too scared to do that, we have so many expenses we can’t cut out right now so being a SAHM isn’t an option for me right now. ?
I am certainly feeling inspired though and I would like to thank you for that!
Sindie
Hi Sindie 🙂
It’s been a while! It is great to hear from you.
You could always start blogging part time and work up to full time 🙂
Ek het eers vreeslik skuldig gevoel dat ek by die huis Bly. Veral noudat my dogtertjie nog kleuterskool toe gaan maar ek sien duidelik die verskil in my kind. Geen bediende, en my huis is my trots. Geen tuinwerker en my groente groei mooi. My man kom elke aand by die huis en kry n ordentelike bord kos. Ek nooi sy kollegas ook vir etes en dit help hom besigheids gewys. My grootste bydrae is die feit dat ek tyd het om letterlik al ons klere, kos, skoonmaakmiddels op special te Koop. Checkers se reduced, woolworths se R50 sale.. Mens spaar so baie!! Ek sny uit op luxuries soos on my hare en naels te laat doen. Ek doen dit sommer self 🙂 mens moet onsettend dankbaar wees as jy n tuisbly ma kan wees en ophou worry as iemand vra wat doen jy heeldag. My antwoord deesdae is kyk net tv en le 😉 want ek en my man weet wat ek doen en hoe baie dit vir ons dogtertjie beteken!
Hi Danielle
You have summed it up perfectly. What I am finding is that time goes so fast. I’ve had my kids home in the afternoons now for about 4 months now and it feels like just yesterday I decided to make the change. I am so grateful that I did this, I have no regrets. Yes it is not always easy and I am struggling to find the time to get everything done that I need to… but it is all worth it isn’t it?
Thanks for sharing your tips! Lovely that your are growing veggies too. We’ve just done our first veggie pots on the weekend! Looking forward to our first crops!
Wow Lynne, this was a great post, it totally resonated with me. You totally get me!! Haha. I was interested in certain products, but so scared to start manufacturing or even retailing because I was scared it would take so much of my time away from my kids!! I had them in playschool till 5pm for about 8 months after i gave birth to no.3, and I felt so guilty. Now they are all at home with me. (aged 5, 4 and 1) I have started a blog, and am with them most of the time except for 2 hours per week, i teach out of the house. I have many crazy ideas, that I hope I can slowly monetize one by one : )
Congrats Natasha 🙂 That is great and yes I can see exactly how my post resonated with you.
Crazy ideas are great, they get noticed. Are you on Youtube yet? I have found this really beneficial not just because it creates more engagement and conversions but hey you can also monetize your channel.
Check out my other website which is focused around online marketing which might help you with reaching a wider audience and helping you rankings. When you start working online the sky is the limit to what you can do. Creativity pays out big time.
I fully support SAHM. This is why I founded Career Mums Club.
I wish to help more mothers out there with young kids to achieve their dream to be SAHM so that they can spend quality time with the family and children.
Drop me a message and I am willing to share.
Hey Tracy
That is awesome! You are welcome to submit a guest post to me and if if it gets approved I will publish it with pleasure! You can send it to lynne@kaboutjie.com
I like to know more @ trace
I would love to be a stay at home mom but with hubby studying full time i will have to go back even if i cut all these expenses.
The baby alone takes R2000 a month
Yes having a baby is a huge expense!
Good ideas only when you willing to follow the steps
I would like to stay home but the expenses are too much and I don’t believe in getting everything for free from hubby i like to contribute but I need some rest also so I will be looking on those tips and see what could help
Wow! What a nice read, I just opened all the links in new tabs. haha, wanna read everything! Love your writing style, reads sooo easily! Thanks for this insightful web page, you have found your calling!!
I am glad you enjoyed this post @karinvdw 🙂 I am absolutely loving being a mommy blogger and I highly recommend it as a career if you are wanting to work from home with your children.
Yes it takes some time to build up but it is so doable.
Thanks for the compliments!
I really loved this post,I am a Stay At home mom. The day we found out I was pregnant,my husband said that I will stay at home with our son for at least the first year. He didn’t want anyone else raising our son and I agreed with him. Although its been a financial strain on us,I wouldn’t change it for the world! Sometimes I feel like I need to do more,Like I have to get a job to help out and to give my son a better future. But after reading this article I realize now that I am a very, very lucky person and so blessed to be able to stay at home and raise my son the way I want to! He is 11 months old now and i’m so glad I haven’t missed a thing,my husband gets jealous when he’s missed something. This post really helped with some ideas that i can do for extra money. Thank you.
Michelle I can tell you right now that you have done the best for your child 🙂 I have seen the difference in my kids this last year and a bit since I have had them home with me in the afternoons and it is amazing.
Yes it is harder when you need some extra income but the value you are giving to your child is huge. Plus the time goes so fast, you will blink and your son will be going to school. My oldest starts Grade 1 in 2018 and I don’t know where the time went!
I had an idea to make extra income for us when my son was still very small,but didn’t know where to start. I first had to find out if people where interested in my product. Can I do it on here?
You are welcome to ask here, alternatively you could go to the forums and ask in the Mompreneur forum
As a stay at home mom, who is unable to work, I am so glad that I came across this article.
Trying to make ends meet without losing too much of the lifestyle we were accustomed to when we were both working full time, is a big challenge. Add our son and a baby on the way to that, and “budget” has become my husband’s favorite word.
I will definitely be looking into some of these solutions for our family.
Thank you for a wonderful and insightful article!
Couponning has helped us save so much. We have really cut our expenses and we are doing the most important jobs in the word. Bringing up a child is basicly the foundation to their adult world.
Thank you for this it is amazing! im always looking for ways to make extra money or save money really loved this it is so helpful. and im only starting to look at blogging now never really thought about it.
Its great you can get to be home with your kids that is such a blessing.
Wow! It’s like you are destiny…i have been struggling for a few years to earn while being a stay at home mom…i have also been recently very ill. Its now that I took a plunge to start a blog and earn something.ive had a fresh produce and spice shop, I sewed, I tried finding consulting work and though the shop was successful financially I couldn’t sit in it from morning to night (staff was a nightmare). This also wouldn’t let me spend time with my kids…
Now for a little I collect my son with his friend and bring them home and I get paid for it.
I mostly do community work which is rewarding… but yes it doesn’t put food on the table. Let’s see what this blogging gets me..holdong thumbs.
Also i thank God for a supportive husband who allows me to experiment with new ideas for income… not everyone has the pateience to see if your idea will fly.
Thank you for the insight
Blogging is an amazing way to earn an income @zentalks 🙂 It is slow to get started and figure out what you are doing but over time you will be able to build an amazing business! I wish you loads of luck with that!
Thank you Lynne… I agree its mostly the technicalities around web site building and the like thats the worst. I will be a fully qualified programmer when I am done here 😉
I have to put my three month old into day care in three weeks after he has been part of my llife 24/7 for a year and it is breaking my heart. I have so much sadness and anxiety about it and find myself feeling very depressed and crying a lot…
I started a Facebook page at the beginning of the year to sell items that I sew.I have an absolute passion for sewing and wish that this could sustain me to be a stay at home mom but I am nowhere near that as it has been slow going. I pray and hope for a miracle with each passing day because I actually have no idea how I am going to be able to drop him off and walk away from him.
I made the decision a year ago to resign and to be a stay at home mom. Best decision ever to be with my boy 24/7. To experience every milestone and adventure with him is priceless….
I become a stay at home mom a few months ago not by choice but decided to start my own business, i still take my son to daycare but now I can pick him up early and spend some time with him and i have noticed that he is not that clingy anymore. I use to drop him off at 6 am and pick him up at 6pm soo our time during the week consisted of quickly feeding him getting him bathed and then it was bed time.
So far i am stressing a tiny bit about money but then i pick up my son and forget all those worries.
Monique I can so relate to what you have said. Picking up my kids in the late afternoon bringing them home just to eat, bath and go to bed was no fun at all. I would be able to earn so much more if I can had my kids in aftercare after school still, but then I would not be able to spend much time with them. It is so much nicer having them home with me in the afternoons, earning less and struggling a bit to fit in work where I can. The time goes so fast and I am sure it will feel so quick and they will be moving out of home. I won’t be able to get the time back so I would rather make it count!
Thanks for this post @Lynne and the tips and tricks associated with being a stay at home Mom.
It does take a fair amount of courage to give up your business or day job and start a new venture.
And look how far you’ve come. I just look at Kaboutjie and I see your potential. You have so many followers and actually makes a difference.
I have to admit, I’m too much of a scaredy cat to give up my day job and work full time from home. Maybe it’s because of the stability of a salary at the end of every month. I work out my budget every month and I try to stick to it religiously.
Even though my husband has a full time job as well and he pays the rent and electricity, I still have a lot of expenses that I’m responsible for. Many years ago when I was looking for a job, I’ve been unemployed for a long time before someone finally gave me a chance. I was still very young and didn’t have the necessary experience that most Companies were looking for.
I think that the fear of not knowing what I’ll be earning or being unemployed might have something to do with my resilience.
Your suggestions are great and I’m happy to see that there are a few that I can tick on my list.
*We’ve just started our own vegetable garden. I’m really looking forward to eating fresh produce from our own garden.
*I’ve always loved beading as a hobby. I sold quite a bit of my pieces in the past. My husband really struggling to find a full time job a few years ago and there were months where we really struggled to make ends meet. And we also didn’t have a car. I remember him walking from door-to-door at businesses selling my jewellery. One month we paid our rent and groceries from my proceeds.
*I’ve been doing surveys for quite a few years now. I try to build up my points and redeem my rewards when I need it the most (that last stretch before payday). Answered is wonderful and they pay out quickly. I will give clixsense & paid viewpoint a try. I can also recommend Valued opinions and Tell us about it.
* I make home cooked meals all the time. We only eat take aways once or twice a month, usually after payday.
I wish I could save more on groceries or baby essentials but I’m already doing what I can to save here and unfortunately these are the things that you can’t do without, so for the time being I’ll just keep doing what I’m currently doing to save wherever possible.
I can’t deny that working for yourself is stressful and can be worrying! Take something like my recent unexpected recent stay in hospital as an example – all my work had to be put on hold and I am even now struggling to catch up – that was a huge dent to my earnings!
Working from home comes with loads of benefits, but it does not offer the same sort of security that a full time job might, and it doesn’t come with the same benefits either – so when it comes to Christmas nobody pays me a salary while I take leave and I certainly don’t get a bonus 🙂
For me though it is the best thing, I am happiest when I am home looking after my family. Plus I am managing to grow my business beautifully now. One day I won’t have to work as hard!
I so badly want to be a SAHM trying to get it right but struggling.
Being a single mum makes it more difficult for me.
Good luck Robyn-Lee. You are one strong mommy!
All the best Robyn Lee
You are the perfect example of a success story @lynne. You’ve taken the leap and you reap the awards. Spending time with your kids is priceless. And if you have the talent and expertise to make it work, then I would say it’s so worth doing it. x
What a great read! I would really love to be a stay at home mom, it has been a dream of mine since I can remember. While most girls dreamt of becoming accountants, doctors or lawyers; I dreamt of raising my own children. Now I have a 4 year old daughter and a son on the way, working full time, I still haven’t given up on my dream. Thank you for the inspiration
Hello Lynne. Your experience resonated with me so deeply. I’m a SAHM with a husband that works shifts, 3 children and an 83 year old dad. I had a home industry business selling homemade pickles but my health has taken a knock and now my finances have as well. Will be using your tips to achieve my financial freedom.
Hi Lynne!
Such a great read and thanks for the encouragement!
I also want to be a stay at home mom and was home for the first 18 months of my son’s life. I work 25 hours a week now, sometimes more, but I still have a few hours in the afternoons to spend with him.
I totally agree with you that we actually need to DECIDE to be a stay at home mom. It is not easy, but I believe it’s worth it. I was initially at home because my contract at my previous employer came to an end at the same time as I found out I was pregnant. I kept applying for jobs until I was about five months pretty and did some temp jobs in between. But by the time my son arrived I had nothing stable. I started looking again after he turned a year old, but I was adamant, even to my husband, that I would ONLY work part time as I wanted to be there for my son as much as possible. I started out with 15 hours, and quite a flexible employer which has been a blessing to both my son and I.
I have been thinking more and more that I would still want to be able to work from home over the next few years and am finding ways to prepare for doing that.
Hi Amanda I totally agree with you. Your mindset is everything. If you can imagine it you can make it happen. Chantel I also had the same dream than you. To be a ” full time ” mommy. It took me 3 long years after my baby was born to make the big decision to resign. You have to make alot of sacrifices especially financially. But its the most rewarding feeling in the world to experience everything for the first time with them. I will never regret my decision.
Wow Lynne thanks so much to you and other pioneers who make it easier for us by working out the details through trial and error regarding earning income online. I can’t wait to try the Online Surveys and PTC Sites!
And congratulations on quitting smoking! I quite agree with you on DSTV – my husband always wanted it on as he is a huge sports fan and that’s the only way to watch live rugby! But after seeing how wasteful it actually is and how little we actually utilize it, we now only have it put on a few days a month and record any movies and programs we’re interested in and stream the rugby if he wants to watch it!
It’s so sad to me how society in a way contributes to forcing both parents to work, when considering the cost of living and rental / bond fees. I truly believe that most moms, if given the choice, would prefer being at home with their children, especially in the younger years, despite the fulfillment and reward their career might bring. I sincerely pray that they would be able to find a way to do so.
I lost my job in October 2017, and am still unemployed. I’ve been claiming UIF, but that will come to an end soon, and although I am grateful for it, it doesn’t even cover the school fees for our 3 kids. I am hoping that some of your tips will help me stay on course to be a SAHM, and not have to stress about money every month. Thanks for the really great article, and I’d love to know if you’ve written a follow up piece on this?
Thank you so much for the great advice. I have been a SAHM for 10 months now (since I had a pre-term baby) and it’s been so amazing. I also get to be more involved with my elder child’s schooling. I’m always looking for ways to make a little bit of money so your tips will definitely come in handy.
Love this article. It validates the importance of being a SAHM and gives Moms the option of earning an income. I’ve been a SAHM for 7 yrs since I had my first child. It’s exhausting and a never ending job but comes without regrets. You cant replace time with your children and no amount of salary can make you smile the way you smile when your kids run out of the school gate and see you waiting to pick them up. Lowering your costs as mentioned in the article is a great way to save and help your partner
This is truely inspiring article. Sumtimes i feel so guilty staying at home with the children while my husband works so hard. You have given me such amazing tips and now i will beable to help my husband with the bills and stay at home with my kids. I truely believe that primary school is our childrens foundation phase. Spending time with my children when they come home from school makes me feel so good. I know not every mom is able to stay at home but if you are financially able to especially after these awesome tips then i think every mom would.
I wish I had the courage to do the same! I am a full time working mom with 2 boys and I study trough UNISA. I considered it last year, but sho! Until date I did not have the courage! You are an inspiration to me!
Hi Lynne, this article has really encouraged me to get cracking with a veggie garden. I have been keen for ages but have been allowing my total lack of knowledge and my ability to kill just about any plant except mould to hold me back. I am a stay-at-home mom who also works (and writes) from home, and I have also found cloth nappies to be a great money saver. I have started using fleece wipes instead of wetwipes for nappies that are just urine and have totalled up all my savings – on nappies, on nappy bags, on wet wipes (I only have to buy bags and wetwipes infrequntly now), on nappy bin liners …. really awesome. And of course the prints are just the cutest!
Hi @lynne. Can a South African also become an Amazon affiliate? I don’t see SA from their country drop-down list…?
I am in South Africa and I am an affiliate but I signed up years ago so I can’t remember the process! You need to keep a few things in mind @mamamichelle-2 about promoting Amazon products:
1) You must have a website to promote their products on. You cannot earn commission through affiliate links shared via email or on social networks! You have to register each website with them that you will be promoting your products on.
2) You must have an already established website with traffic before you start promoting Amazon products since you will have 3 months from the time your affiliate account is approved to start making sales, otherwise they cancel your affiliate account.
3) Don’t target SA traffic since most of the products on Amazon do not ship to South Africa! I target USA for my search traffic because SA sucks with affiliate programs. There are not as many available as there are in the US and the ones that are here the conversion rate (ie the rate of people that actually buy) is so low compared to Amazon.
I hope you find this information helpful 🙂
How interesting to read this post 2+ years after you wrote it, Lynne. You have come so far since making this momentous decision and you’ve taken me along with you for some of the journey. Thanks a million for all the seeds you have sown in my life. You are inspiration.