Work-At-Home Ideas for Moms

by Lois Breneman, © 2010, Heart to Heart Newsletter,

Some moms are able to manage a part time job in the home very well.  That may be while their children are preschoolers, while they are in school or being homeschooled, or after their children have left home.  In fact, some homeschooling families find it beneficial having a family business, earning income while also teaching their children many aspects of work, skills, cooperation and business, and at the same time teaching the basics of education.

Here are just a few ideas of supplementing your family income while working from home.  I have known someone who has done each one of these part time jobs, and I have done a few myself at one time or another: 

Child care in your home - babies and/or toddlers
After school child care
Caring for foster children
Teach crafts, cooking, sewing or another skill to children or adults
Cake decorating for all ocassions or making special cut-up cakes
Cooking for others (This is a need especially among busy singles and the elderly)
Custom sewing (mainly clothing)
Alterations (mainly clothing)
Specialized Custom Sewing for the Home (pillows, draperies, duvet covers, tablecloths, table runners, etc.)
Handmade Quilts
Embroidery Designs sewn on ready made clothing
Knit / Crochet - custom work or making specific items to sell
Specialty sewing or craft items made and sold online or in consignment shops
Cut hair, wash, style, perms and hair coloring
Teach music lessons: piano, flute, violin, guitar or another instrument
Vocal lessons
Typing
Calligraphy
Addressing wedding invitations (in calligraphy or regular handwriting)
Addressing Christmas cards
Handmade Jewelry
Handmade Cards
Wooden signs
Tutoring
Teaching a foreign language
Scrapbook memory albums for others
Art work (drawings, paintings, pastels, portraits from pictures)
Taking calls for a business
Medical transcriptions
Custom Silk Flower Arrangements

There are also some jobs that could be done completely during the hours your children are in school.  One idea is housecleaning for someone during school hours, possibly one or two days a week.  Even if you are homeschooling one or two children, it may be possible to take them along.  Your children could do their assignments at the kitchen table while you clean, providing they are well behaved and those arrangements suit the person for whom you are working. 

While owning your own business, it is still possible to work mostly from home using the phone, and spending only a few hours at the shop each week, while your children are being lovingly cared for by your husband or other family members.

A business license is necessary, and taxes still need to be filed when working at home, but if managed well, it can be a good source of extra income. 

There are also so many ways to cut down on your household expenses and increase the amount of available money you have to spend or give away, and I will continue to pass on any money saving ideas that I can through this newsletter.  Of course, there is more time and energy to do these things if you are home all day.  To repeat just a few money saving ideas, you will save thousands of dollars by learning how to cut hair just for your own family.  Making foods from scratch, even bread and pizza, will save you more than you can imagine.  Eating in, rather than eating out, will amaze you at how much you can save.  Instead, try to make meals copied after some you have enjoyed in restaurants.  Making your own laundry soap, stocking up on many sale items, fixing things rather than tossing them out as soon as something goes wrong, and buying only what you need are some other ways to save.  Your family can be well dressed by doing a portion of your shopping at Goodwill, yard sales and/or sewing, and clearance sales, yet the difference in dollars saved is huge.  Learn to make your own quality gifts and save thousands!  Purchase good used cars instead of brand new ones for an immense savings. 

So you can see that by creatively working to find ways to save money at home, you will not need such a sizable income, as when you had two full time incomes (BC - Before Children).  Also consider the added expenses of working away from home.  Factor in nicer clothes, extra gas money, eating out more, less nutritious meals at home, being much more tired juggling two jobs, having to do laundry and other household jobs each evening just to keep up, daycare, children possibly getting sick more because of being in daycare, and the list goes on!  Then ask yourself if working outside the home puts you ahead overall or behind.  Ask yourself what you, your husband and your children are having to give up to earn more money.  Is it worth it?   It's between each family and God as you consider the overall cost or consequences and make your decision. 

"A penny saved is a penny earned."  In fact, my husband reminded me a long time ago that a penny saved is much more than a penny earned, when you consider taxes and all of the above.  I realize that circumstances do not make it possible for every mom to be home with her children, but if at all possible, I believe God will bless you as you seek to be at home with them.  I hope some of these ideas will help you to come up with a workable plan to do what is best for your own family.