Trying to be a SAHM

brynne11544 · November 2014

This will be baby #2 for me and DH and we are really trying to make if so I won't have to work. Anyone have any tips or advice? I have tried to think of some things I could do at home to bring in some sort of an income but thought I would ask if any of you had ideas

abcdefghijk12345678 · November 2014

I know several SAHMs who have made some extra money by babysitting a few other kids while they're staying at home with their own. While it was a lot of work, these moms have said that it was fun for their kids to have a few extra playmates.

MamaNicoleof3 · November 2014

I've SAH since our oldest was born 6 years ago. We kind of set ourselves up for it- drove old crappy cars, rented an apartment instead of buying a house, no cell phones for a long time, clipped coupons/shopped sales, no vacations.....we lived below the poverty line on purpose so I could be home and are now in an awesome financial spot. We purchased our home almost five years ago, just bought a used (but super nice

) van. It's really amazing what you can live without if you truly want to. You can do it!! Sometimes the bottom line on the budget doesn't add up, but you'll always have enough for what you need'

Rose0825 · November 2014

I'm a stay at home mom also and I worked all last year for the first in my marriage and I have to say it was exhausting trying to juggle the to so I quit lol and I'm back at home and pregnant again. Yes the extra money was nice but I missed my children and my home I know that sounds nutts but SAHM is a job being a mom is a job period. So if you can do it by all means I say do it. I take my hat off to all the working moms you guys are super heroes !! <:-P

jekasi · November 2014

I would love to be a SAHM while I have little ones. My husband already makes 2/3rds of our income anyway, but I would still need to bring down our cost of living significantly. I am looking at doing a home equity line of credit against our house right now to rid ourselves of all our debts. After that I'm not sure where to cut, probably vacations will be first to go! I may be able to work something out part time if necessary. We are definitely in frugal mode now!

MamaNicoleof3 · November 2014

estamos_tomamos said:
I just started doing the SAHM thing in May. Here's how we're making it work:

1. Make every meal you can at home. It sounds like a chore, but cooking doesn't have to be something that eats your day. The crockpot is your friend. (Conversely, make sure to budget a little money every month so you can eat out once or twice. If you don't feel deprived it'll make sticking with the plan easier throughout the month).

2. Make a meal plan for the month and stick to it. Shop produce seasonally, buying extra when it's something that can be prepared and frozen to use later.

3. Start a little garden in the spring. You'd be surprised how much food you can produce at home, and you'll have inexpensive fresh produce whenever you want it during the warm months.

4. Downsize your cable and phone plans. Even if you don't really plan to go through with it, call anyway. A lot of the time you can get good deals through the retention department.

5. Make your own laundry detergent and fabric softener. It's ridiculously easy and extremely cheap.

6. Look for cheap/free activities and entertainment in your area for yourself and your kids. Get a library card if you don't already have one. Volunteer.

That's all I can think of right now.

Agree 100%!! We eat most meals at home, garden and then can/freeze, and make laundry detergent. Those are great tips I didn't even think of- baby brain!

ClovesA · November 2014

I've been SAH since DS was born in March 2012. I was a high school English teacher. I found a few part time gigs that I do on my own schedule when DH is home from work. I tutor (privately) and I work as youth leader for my church.

Otherwise, all the stuff that was said above. We budget. We don't buy coffee out, DH cuts his own hair, I go to ProCuts. We own our own home, we have two cars, we aren't deprived, but we are very mindful of how we spend money.

If your DH wants it too, I bet you can make it work. You just both have to be on board. What's his job? Can he get extra hours or take on additional work? What's yours? Is there a way you can do something related to your job part time?

GL! It is the best thing we've ever done. Sometimes we are worried about money, but it always works out.

daniellelea1985 · November 2014

SAHM since March 2013

If you're crafty or good with photoshop (or similar programs) ... Etsy.

I started an Etsy store doing digital designs and invitations...while I don't make much, I make a few hundred here and there which pays for events and entertainment for us.

We're pretty frugal, using a lot of the tips everyone else said. Thankfully hubs got a pretty good job and is looking at a promotion soon!

nittanyllama · November 2014

I always wanted to SAH and didn't get to until DS was 18 months old. When I quit working it cut our income in half and it's been tough but I would never think about giving up my chance to SAH. We live in a small townhouse, paid off our cars while I was still working, reworked our student loan payments, cut cable, etc. We don't go out much and I'm careful with grocery shopping, clothes shopping at outlets, using coupons, stuff like that. Money is really tight and I do worry about it. But I still feel like it's the right move for us right now.

With LO 2.0 on the way, my salary would not have paid for 2 kids in daycare anyways, plus work expenses, so it wasn't worth it.

I'd love to think of a way to make a little cash on the side.

geoffandjen728 · November 2014

amc2511 said:
I know several SAHMs who have made some extra money by babysitting a few other kids while they're staying at home with their own. While it was a lot of work, these moms have said that it was fun for their kids to have a few extra playmates.

This is essentially what I'm doing right now... Except I go to their home rather than bring the kids to mine. Definitely not my dream SAH scenario, but it works for now. The kids are like siblings to each other and my DD definitely misses them when we are home. Really unsure if I will want to continue after #2 arrives...

evanzmom11 · November 2014

Definately do what was suggested above. Stop using your salary for the next 9 months and live off of your DH's salary. That will help you determine if it's possible and also leave alot of savings

foreverMorgan · November 2014

I've been at home for 7 years now. @nittanyllama‌ seems to sum it up well. We live in a modest home, DH's car is paid and mine has a ridiculously low payment, we don't have cable, I meal plan & coupon and I'm careful with shopping (outlets, consignment, sales & coupons). We limit the kids' activities to 1 per season to keep that cost down as well because, as they get older there are soooo many things for them to get involved with. You can seriously go broke doing activities/sports.

I know lots of moms who sell 31 bags, or Stella & Dot, etc. or they scale down their f/t jobs to something p/t (nursing, teachers tutor)

thiscoffeechick · November 2014

One way that DH and I have really learned to wrangle our finances in the last year is by using the budgeting website/app mint.com. You link up your online banking and you log every expense if paying cash. It gives you an amazing snapshot of where your money is going (I was spending hundreds on Starbucks! Now it's about $12/month using my Keurig).
It's a great way to set savings and budgeting goals and track your entire financial picture.

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