this sahm needs to make some $$$

[surfergirl602]

I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my kids for the first time in 6 years. Now, I need to find a way of making some supplemental income to help out. Any suggestions? I sell stuff on ebay, I make hair bows and sell them... I sell my used books on amazon, but that is totally random. I do chacha, but it really doesn't bring in any money. I am nowhere near the amount I need to get it deposited into my account. What can I do to bring in a few hundred a month?

 

[tmccullough]

Have you considered babysitting even one child part-time? I'm also a SAHM and watch a small boy before and after school for an hour and make $50 a week. It really helps out with the little extras when the kids are in school like lunch money, school pictures, etc. HTH!

 

[kimnvbva]

I second that. I watch a little one 3 days a week. I make $40 a day for that. I also watch a toddler 2-3 times a week at $30 a day. 3-4 nights a week I work at Kohl's. They are very flexible with schedules. All my money goes towards Disney (and my gym membership .)

 

[surfergirl602]

I have three kids at home right now, and a crazy schedule. And we don't know anyone around here, either. We just moved and of all our friends that have kids, their wives all stay home. lol I have asked people if I could babysit, but they just say that they'll watch my kids in return. I think i'll advertise on post, but I live off the military post here. Ho hum, need to make friends I guess!

 

[KELLY]

I stay at home with my kids and run a small home daycare.

 

[surfergirl602]

Okay, maybe I should refrase the question to include: OTHER than watching other people's children, is there anything for sahm moms to do to earn some money?

 

[derocas]

How about Mystery shops? It's not GREAT money it helps. Consigning clothes is also something else that I do for extra money. Do you like animals? Can you pet-sit? The kennel I use charges around $25/day. Of course there are surveys and focus groups. The surveys that I do are only $3/each and I have yet to qualify for a focus group but I'm hopeful

 

[sylvenmaid]

Yes there are tons of ways to make extra money while staying at home. The computer is the best way. You could write a blog for extra money or maybe start your own website esp to sell your hairbows.

Other than ebay and amazon, you can also become a telecommuter. There are lots of companies out there but you have to like talking to people. Are your kids in all day school yet? If so then what becoming a substitute teacher. I also do this and it's decent money ($75/day) and I can do it as much or as little as I want.

Mystery shopping and/or merchandising. It's easy enough work and this is really good for people who live in a good size town or city. I did this years ago when my son was younger. I could take him on some jobs but not all. It's all extra money. Do surveys online. This is another way to make some extra cash. I make anywhere from $20-10/month doing this. Of course I'm signed up with several companies. Focus groups is another great extra income. I did a couple in the past for $100-150/day. I just don't live in a big area so this is more sparse.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Yes there are tons of ways to make extra money while staying at home. The computer is the best way. You could write a blog for extra money or maybe start your own website esp to sell your hairbows.

Other than ebay and amazon, you can also become a telecommuter. There are lots of companies out there but you have to like talking to people. Are your kids in all day school yet? If so then what becoming a substitute teacher. I also do this and it's decent money ($75/day) and I can do it as much or as little as I want.

Mystery shopping and/or merchandising. It's easy enough work and this is really good for people who live in a good size town or city. I did this years ago when my son was younger. I could take him on some jobs but not all. It's all extra money. Do surveys online. This is another way to make some extra cash. I make anywhere from $20-10/month doing this. Of course I'm signed up with several companies. Focus groups is another great extra income. I did a couple in the past for $100-150/day. I just don't live in a big area so this is more sparse.

I have always wondered how to blog for money? I havemany friends that suggested that I do this but no one knows how to get started.

 

[sylvenmaid]

It's actually really easy. First start a blog and you should own the domain name to really get advertisers interested. I've been really slacking so I'm not really getting it out there like I should for readers. I was doing much better before Christmas. Anyway, blog on it for at least 2-3 months and then start signing up with different companies. I also get people that will pay me to put up text links. It's usually $5-10/mo but I get paid for 6-12 months at a time so it's a good chunk at once. You can also get Adwords or put a different ad company to make so much per click. There are tons of ways to make money with a blog.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

It's actually really easy. First start a blog and you should own the domain name to really get advertisers interested. I've been really slacking so I'm not really getting it out there like I should for readers. I was doing much better before Christmas. Anyway, blog on it for at least 2-3 months and then start signing up with different companies. I also get people that will pay me to put up text links. It's usually $5-10/mo but I get paid for 6-12 months at a time so it's a good chunk at once. You can also get Adwords or put a different ad company to make so much per click. There are tons of ways to make money with a blog.

Thanks. I have seen numerous companies that sell domain names. Are there any to avoid?

 

[sylvenmaid]

I bought mine through Google since I use blogger. It's provided by Go Daddy at $10/year. I think it's the easiest way if you use blogger.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I sell stuff on Craigs list. I used to sell more often but I'm working part time now.

I was making 300 or so a month. I'd meet folks at the library near our house. I still have plenty left to sell, just not enough time to deal with it.

 

[CalvaryMike]

I bought mine through Google since I use blogger. It's provided by Go Daddy at $10/year. I think it's the easiest way if you use blogger.

This is a little bit off topic, but I recommend staying away from GoDaddy. Their advertising exploits women. But their owner, Bob Parsons, gloats about it and even praises himself for it. If you don't believe me or you are unaware of it, just check out his blog. Go to GoDaddy and click on "Bob's Video Blog". He even has a warning, "Viewer Discretion Advised".

 

[purpletiger]

You could do what my friend does. She is a SAHM and she believes that since she does "everything" at home her husband should work three different jobs. Sometimes even more than that. So in other words he is NEVER home and when he is it is to sleep, shower and the lawn. Anyways I am so glad to hear that other SAHM don't try to work their husbands to death just so they can stay home with their kids.
I know another SAHM and she has a maid. Go figure.
Anywho good luck. What everyone has suggested is great advise.

 

[disneysuncat]

I used to work for Arise, doing inbound calls at home. You have to have a separate phone line, and sign up for the class of whatever client you are interested in. You had to have NO background noise, too. When I did it, I did customer service/sales for Apple, at $10 an hour. (most of the clients didn't pay as much as Apple.) They sent me an Apple Mac mini computer to use, and after I worked it for a certain amount of time, I got to keep it. Some of their other clients are Disney dining, Disney mainline, Carnival cruiselines, etc. My initial money into it was around $50 to sign up, get a background check, then I think my class was $200. I made my money back that I put into it in no time, and raked in good money while I did it.

That said, I hated it, and only stayed with it about 5 or 6 months. I know other people who LOVED it, but it wasn't for me at all. I ended up selling my Mac mini that I got to keep on eBay for $400, so that was a plus, ha!

There is a forum, I think it was called workplacelikehome.com where Arise and many other places like Arise are discussed. As I said, it wasn't a good fit for me at all, but it might be for someone else. I can say that I did get my pay deposited into my checking every two weeks with no problems.

 

[Minnie Lor]

This probably won't help OP but might help others reading this thread. I work elections. I make $100 a day 3-4x's a year. Other areas of the country may pay more. Most of the time my polling precinct is s.l.o.w and I can get caught up magazine reading. Obviously the presidential election was a mad house. I have to be there at 5:30 am and get home around 8 pm. Long day but it's not an every week kind of job - that's good with me.

My husband shoots sporting clays and got into judging the big events so he could make $ for smaller events. I got into judging too so I could make Mickey money. I get paid $75-$100 a day and work 3 days in April, 4 days in June, and 3 days in October. I don't have to pay taxes because I stay under the out of state limit. I also get tips from the shooters. It's outside, lots of walking, it's either hot or freezing or raining but I like that it's a short term job. Not too difficult to learn. I trained high schoolers on a Thursday so that they could judge Fri-Sun.

I'm always looking for just a bit more work. One to two days a week - max.

 

[surfergirl602]

I sell stuff on Craigs list. I used to sell more often but I'm working part time now.

I was making 300 or so a month. I'd meet folks at the library near our house. I still have plenty left to sell, just not enough time to deal with it.

What kind of things do you sell on craigslist to make that amount?

 

[surfergirl602]

You could do what my friend does. She is a SAHM and she believes that since she does "everything" at home her husband should work three different jobs. Sometimes even more than that. So in other words he is NEVER home and when he is it is to sleep, shower and the lawn. Anyways I am so glad to hear that other SAHM don't try to work their husbands to death just so they can stay home with their kids.
I know another SAHM and she has a maid. Go figure.
Anywho good luck. What everyone has suggested is great advise.

wow, I couldn't imagine having a maid. what does she do all day? (the sahm) My hubby is in the military, so he can't get another job. the pay is good, but I like to spoil my kids and have spending money for disney. We have three girls and I love to buy them clothes and shoes. lol... They just grow so fast!!!

 

[SaraJayne]

If you're that short every single month, maybe staying home isn't the best option for your family.

For the poster who said she has a friend that makes her husband work three jobs ~ that's horrible!!

I'm fortunate to be a SAHM and thankfully, my DH only has to work one job to maintain the style I've become accustomed to.