Home and Living Archives | Kids Ain't Cheap

Free Ways to Keep Kids Occupied If Under a Shelter In Place Order

April 2, 2020 | Leave a Comment

If you’re like me, one day you knew that there was a virus circulating the globe. You knew that there were cases in America, and you were cautious, but not too concerned. And then, on a Thursday, things started to get intense. Shops were running low on groceries. A few days later, kids’ schools were cancelled. And now, just a few weeks after that, much of the United States is shuttered. If your kids are bored, here are some free ways to keep kids occupied if under a shelter in place order.

Set a Schedule

The most important thing I would suggest you do with your kids is set a schedule. It doesn’t have to be rigid, but instead, just a general guide for the way the day will go. Kids thrive on routine (school is based on routine), and without it, kids can feel bored and lost.

At our house, we already homeschool two kids, and the other one is home from public school. We do school roughly most of the morning, the kids get a tv break before lunch, then we do more school and creative activities in the afternoon, and the younger ones get TV time or video games before dinner. After dinner, we have a show we watch together, then we have read alouds, and then bed.

Even though the whole world feels off-centered now, we roughly know what will happen every day.

Encourage Creativity

As I mentioned, we have creativity time. You can browse Pinterest for craft ideas, or YouTube for art videos. Or, you can join Mo Willems for Lunch Doodles and get a free art lesson daily.

Require Some Learning Every Day

If your children are home from school, they likely have class work to do. If their school has stopped all coursework, still have your children do something educational every day, whether that’s doing Khan Academy, or playing a math game online, or reading a book, or watching a documentary on television. My kids and I are still doing three to four hours of school a day.

Be a Little More Lenient with Media Time

Having said that, we’re all a little bored and stir crazy, so it’s okay to give your kids a little more media time. I’ve doubled my kids media time (from 1 hr. per day to 2 hours per day). Just be careful not to let them spend all of their time on media.

Free Ways to Keep Kids Occupied If Under a Shelter in Place Order

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

For many kids, increased time watching TV and playing video games can lead to increased negative behaviors, so give them more leeway within reason.

Enjoy the Family Time

Lastly, enjoy more time as a family. Before this pandemic, most of us were too busy every day. Now we have the gift of time together. Take that time to play a board game together or watch a movie or have a family discussion.

Final Thoughts

If you’re stuck at home, as so many of us are, try to find the positives of the situation. We’re all experiencing something we’ll likely never experience again in our lifetimes. Use these free ways to keep kids occupied if under a shelter in place order to make the time go faster and be more productive for the whole family.

When To Let Your Belongings Go

August 23, 2019 | Leave a Comment

We are a society of people who have things. Some things have sentimental value. Some things serve a purpose. Each year, people talking about getting rid of things. Then they have anxiety attacks over which things to let go. I get it. Everyone goes through this. Even the minimalists have dealt with this. Rather than stress about it, let’s make it easier.

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Juggling Kids & Life – A (Realistic) Daily Schedule for Stay-at-Home Moms

July 31, 2017 | Leave a Comment

We’ve all read blog posts mapping out our best chance for productivity, right? Ever read one and just think, “Not a chance”? As moms, juggling our kids, errands, hobbies, business, etc. turns our quest for productivity into a search for the Holy Grail. Therefore, we’re going to spend today looking at a realistic daily schedule for stay-at-home moms.

A Daily Schedule for Stay-at-Home Moms – Hot Mess Moms Welcome

The other day, I read a post by a successful online entrepreneur who is also a new father. John Meese structured his schedule around what he calls “The Perfect Day.” Here is a quick overview:

6:00 AM – Wake up, exercise, eat breakfast
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Work
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Lunch, rest, recharge
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Work
6:00 PM – End of Day – Family time

I really do think that would be the perfect day. I mean, a two-hour lunch break to just read a book? Or even nap?

Ah, bliss.

The problem is, this beautiful schedule is simply unobtainable for stay-at-home moms. It’s not Meese’s fault; he didn’t write it for us. But too often, I think we see this as the ONLY option and throw in the towel when we can’t keep up. How can a stay-at-home mom physically get up at 6:00 AM and expect to get something done after waking up three times in the night to soothe a teething baby?

And approximately how many lunch breaks do you get, mama?

How about that “work until dinnertime” notion? Guess who’ll be right at your ankles every seven minutes asking for a snack if you’re not in the kitchen working on dinner?

Hear me out. Til my dying breath, I’ll tell the world that being a mom is the greatest gig in the world. But if I want to find a balance that actually fits my lifestyle, then I need to let go of a few expectations.

Here are a few examples.

Letting Go of Expectations

You can’t expect to function with the same schedule as a breadwinner. If you signed up to be the stay-at-home mom, then your priority lies with the munchkins. Do you still deserve time to yourself each day to recharge? ABSOLUTELY. You just need to find it in different ways. Sometimes, that means swapping childcare with another mom once a week. It might mean establishing quiet time every afternoon if the children don’t nap anymore so you can have an hour to yourself. You could even hire a sitter to watch the children one day a week if that’s what it takes to give you balance.

You can’t expect the schedule you implement today to still work in three weeks.

When I first became a freelance writer, I made a simple goal to write each morning at 6:30. That worked for approximately two weeks until my infant began teething through the night and my toddler suddenly wanted breakfast at 4:00 AM. I was a hot mess trying so hard to stick to my writing schedule. Changing my plans felt like failing, but you know what? It’s exactly what needed to happen. So, I extended myself some grace, slept when my kids slept and started swapping childcare with a friend to accomplish my writing tasks.

Now, let’s take a look at a slightly more realistic daily schedule for stay-at-home moms…

A Daily Schedule for Stay-at-Home Moms to Fit Your Lifestyle

Pre-Breakfast – Tend to yourself – Whether that means to sleep in, read, exercise, shower, or just sip coffee in silence.

Morning – Tend to your family – Spend this time intentionally caring for your little ones: i.e. Make breakfast, get the children dressed, make crafts, go on playdates, visit a library.

Lunch – If you’re planning time in the afternoon for your hobby or at-home business, then find creative and simple finger foods to make for lunch. An elaborate, three-course lunch will zap your afternoon energy reserves faster than a hailstorm. Use wraps to make PB&J roll-ups, for example. The less clean up, the better.

Afternoon – Naptime/Quiet time – Once the kids are down for naps or have a few activities to play quietly in their room, it’s time to clock in. If your kids are anything like mine, then they like to sneak out of their rooms and check if quiet time is done approximately 18 times, no matter how nicely (or firmly) you ask them to stop. If that wrecks your concentration like it does mine, then leave the heavy focus for child-free time. For example, I can email, design social media graphics, or outline during quiet time, but I can’t write a chapter in my book.

Evening – Family time – Maybe your brain is able to function once you’ve cooked dinner, fed the family, cleaned up, bathed the kids, read them stories, and said good night, but I’m absolutely FRIED after 8:30 PM. My best move is to hang out with my husband watching Netflix or read a book. If you can work on your hobbies and interests, then go for it.

By the way, if you’re looking for ways to make money from home, check out these 14 jobs that are worth a stay-at-home mom’s time!

This daily schedule for stay-at-home moms is obviously just one broad stroke of the paint brush. Your life and your interests will look differently once applied to this list. Therefore, let’s hear how you find the most balance in your week.

Share some of your best ideas for a daily schedule in the comments below!

Loans for Stay-at-Home Moms – What Are Your Options?

June 19, 2017 | Leave a Comment

Borrowing money is as commonplace in today’s economy as choosing your next meal. Many use it in daily life – whether it’s choosing a vehicle, a college, or a purse. But is it healthy? Also, do loans for stay-at-home moms even exist? Let’s take a look at your options in today’s article.

Loans for Stay-at-Home Moms – a Breakdown of Your Options

I used debt regularly the moment I reached adulthood. My entire effort was to ultimately raise my credit score.

However, my focus on debt became one of my biggest stumbling blocks for becoming a stay-at-home mom, years later. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever make it.

I’m not saying you can’t ever use debt, but I want you to know what my experience taught me. Also, as a financial coach since 2013, I’ve seen the underbelly of loans and debt.

So let’s take a look at when it might make sense to borrow money and when it might not.

Can Stay-at-Home Moms Borrow Money?

It’s a valid question. If your income is $0, then what creditor will believe that you’ll pay them back? Here are a few options (none of which are guaranteed):

Find a lender who will consider your household income. Even with my decent credit score, lenders weren’t remotely interested in loaning me the money for our first house until they saw my husband’s full-time income. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, then you’re already living off someone else’s paycheck – likely your spouse’s. It’s best to go forward with any major financial decisions – particularly debt – together.
Apply for a credit card with 0% interest. Try to find one that promises no interest for at least 12 months or more and read the fine print! You will still need to declare your household income to be approved, but this will likely give you a lengthier time to repay a debt (i.e. medical bill or personal debt).
Ask about collateral. If your name is on something of value (i.e. a vehicle), you may be able to use it for a loan.

Most importantly, make a clear plan for your budget to pay this debt off as quickly as possible! The average household has $16,748 in credit card debt. So many families let that final step slide and become buried. That doesn’t have to be you!

When Loans for Stay-at-Home Moms Might Make Sense

Mortgages – If you wish to buy a home but don’t have six figures in cash at the moment, that’s understandable. Taking out a mortgage does include its share of benefits:

Accrued equity
Resale value
Options for shorter and more accelerated payoff plans (saving thousands in interest)

Medical Payment Plans – Perhaps you’re an at-home parent facing a medical procedure that’s more than you have available. The billing company often provides structured payment plans allowing you to pay off that debt over time.

Debt Alternatives for Stay-at-Home Moms

As my husband and I began our journey out of debt, we had to find new alternatives to paying for every purchase. Here are a few primary habits we still practice today:

Adjust your standard of living. If you’re used to buying nicer decor, vehicles, clothing, and vacations and placing them all on credit, then it’s likely snipping the card won’t be the only important step. You may need to reduce your clothing budget, take a staycation, or live with your current decor longer than normal.
Create a sinking fund. This was a big one for us. Sure, it’s easy to say we’ll pay for things in cash, but putting in the actual work is difficult. For example, one day, you’re going to open your refrigerator and it’s going to feel like warm, sunny day instead of the icy Arctic. That’s an expensive fix, but also an inevitable one. By placing chunks of money into a savings account every month, you’re preparing for the cost of keeping that food cold again one day.
Build an emergency fund. Contrary to the sinking fund, the emergency fund is there for the big, ugly, unexpected moments. Your transmission may decide to self-destruct. Tragedy may strike an out-of-town friend or relative. You’ll want the funds ready to transport you quickly to your destination. An emergency fund has prevented my husband and me from going into debt, time and time AND TIME again.

Your Takeaway

Knowing your options is one of your most powerful tools in your financial toolbox.

If you’re more inclined to choose a debt-free route for your family’s finances in the future but aren’t sure where to begin, I’ve created a financial roadmap for us moms just for that reason. “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint” is an eBook designed to help anyone seeking the steps to financial freedom to spend more time with their family.

What’s included?

150 strategies to slice debt, save money, communicate in healthy ways with your spouse, sell your household goods, earn a side income from home, and successfully develop a budget.
My story of overcoming debt and sloppy spending to become debt-free and achieve my dream of staying home.
Dozens of additional resources to equip you on your financial journey.

Ready to take a closer look at “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint”? Click here for more info.

Join the Discussion: Do you believe debt is a useful tool to be used in daily life or as infrequently as possible? Do you land somewhere in the middle? Share your perspective in the comments below!

This post contains affiliate links.

Looking for more stay-at-home mom resources? We’ve got you covered!

Or you can also check out this credit score tool online:

14 Profitable Stay-at-Home Mom Jobs Online (That Are Worth Your Time)

June 5, 2017 | Leave a Comment

If you dream of staying home with your kids and want to work from home, then it’s likely your finances will make a significant change. That’s only natural, but planning ahead as you search for stay-at-home mom jobs online can be crucial to a successful transition.

I made that switch in 2015, launching my own part-time freelance writing business. I have two young children under my care and work 12 to 15 hours a week earning $1,500 to $2,500 per month. None of this just happened, so the last thing you’ll hear from me is that it’ll be easy.

But if your goal is to stay home, and your whole family is willing to put in the sacrifices and commitment, then this dream can become a reality.

14 Cash-Generating Stay-at-Home Mom Jobs Online

I write in the personal finance and work-at-home mom niches multiple times each week, so I’ve got an ongoing list of places that pay you to work at home.

You’re likely tired of hearing bloggers promise quick six-figure success as a work-at-home mom because that’s simply not the norm. I’m also not going to talk about taking surveys because those require large quantities of time and typically generate a few gift cards each month.

Where to begin?

You may need to start with something in your field of interest that doesn’t generate the ultimate income you’d like. Just getting your foot in the door and starting up that experience is so important.

Let’s take a look at these job opportunities for SAHMs:

Remote work for companies

Every year, Forbes publishes a top 100-list of companies offering remote jobs. To ensure they bring you the most valuable information, they study the current marketplace, job trends, and validity of these companies. If your skills lie in one of these industries, check out Forbes’ list of potential remote jobs:

Computer and Information Technology
Medical and Health
Government
Finance
Customer Service
Education
Training
Sales

Virtual Assistant

If you have a knack for organization and administrative duties, then you’ve got the potential to make serious cash as a virtual assistant. Seriously, this is a stay-at-home mom’s bread and butter. So many online entrepreneurs have irons in the fire and need help running the many details of their business. Some responsibilities for a virtual assistant might include:

Answering emails
Scheduling appointments
Managing invoices
Managing blog content
Sharing content on social media
Designing graphics

What can you earn? According to Payscale.com, virtual assistants earn anywhere from $10 to $28 per hour. Your hours are very flexible and the work is remote, so you can conduct all of your business from the comfort of your home.

Alternate VA Jobs

Social Media Manager – Average annual salary according to Payscale.com: $47,472.
Graphic Designer – Average annual salary according to Payscale.com: $41,764.

Freelance Writer

Got a gift with words? Hundreds of sites hire writers to create relatable and informative content for their blogs. For example, here are 28 parenting magazines and blogs that pay contributors. If you’re a mom, then take a look at what’s being published on those sites and see if something inspires you to tell your own story.

Another great way to get started is by Googling your field of interest + “write for us.” Some writing niches include:

Nutrition
Adoption
Personal Finance
Organization
Marriage
Travel
Fashion

What can you earn? When I started my freelance writing business in 2015, I earned peanuts while I learned the ropes. That changed as my skills and quality of writing improved. According to Payscale.com, most writers earn $10 to $58 per hour. I speak from experience when I say that pay scale is totally accurate.

Alternate Writing Jobs

Proofreader – $11 to $30 per hour
Transcriber – $9 – $25 per hour
Blogger – You won’t likely generate an income with your blog right away. But some very profitable ways to monetize are: Ads, affiliate sales, sponsored posts, and selling your own products. There several good instructions for how to get started – one good site to read is here.

One of the most profitable affiliate niches is in online trading, you can easily become an affiliate by visiting a broker’s site like this one.

Teach via Video

Do you have a specific skill you can teach to others, like how to sing? Perhaps you’d like to educate others in your area of work experience like how to file your taxes, become a photographer, or give a speech.

For example, one of my daughter’s favorite things to do is draw. When she was three and couldn’t draw more than a stick figure, we found a YouTube channel called “Art for Kids Hub” where easy-to-follow drawing tutorials are published every day.

By the end of my daughter’s first lesson, she’d drawn her very first robot. Since then, she’s filled a notebook, cover to cover, with drawings from this YouTube channel.

Watch the tutorial: How to Draw a Cartoon Robot

What can you earn? There is no definitive wage for educational videos. It’s all about creating your brand and giving your audience fantastic content every time. For example, Art for Kids Hub has more than 600,000 subscribers and receives millions of views on its tutorials. YouTube pays ad revenue per 1,000 clicks. Some YouTube educators make millions with their channels. Others break even. It’s all about getting eyes on your videos.

Alternate Online Teaching Jobs

Create a course – Selling a course on your website or Udemy.com can become a great passive income. Some courses are $10 and some are in the hundreds.
Become a coach – Teach people one-on-one in your field of expertise. For example, life coaches can earn anywhere from $11 to $120 per hour according to Payscale.com.

Online Shop Owner

Can you create a product and sell it online? Etsy and Shopify are two great platforms for this. Product ideas include:

Jewelry (earrings for men, men’s leather bracelets)
Customized T-shirts
Hand-Crafted Decor
Calligraphy
Baby/Kids Accessories

What can you earn? The income scale is difficult to measure due to the vast array of business possibilities. Here is one company that earns $70,000 per month selling on Etsy. You’ll need to know how much time it takes to create each product and to price them accordingly. Online marketing plays a huge role here, too. It’s likely a competitive market.

Flipper for online garage sales

Online pickers are getting better and better at finding hidden gems in garage sales, on eBay, and on social media. If you can spruce up a worn down cabinet or reupholster a chair, you may be able to upsell those items for a nice profit.

What can you earn? One woman I interviewed said she bought some old clay bowls in a Facebook buy, sell, and trade group. She purchased them for $0.50 to $1, then cleaned them up and added a fresh coat of paint. They sold for $15 to $20 each.

Direct sales/MLM online

If there is a product you believe in and want to become a consultant from home, then online is the ideal marketplace for you. Products like LuLaRoe, Norwex, or Young Living sell best through the power of word of mouth. Where is everybody talking these days? Facebook.

One word of caution: This is a heavily saturated marketplace. Don’t annoy your friends. If you believe in your product, then get out there and talk your heart out, but do so in a tasteful and non-aggressive way when it’s very likely your friends have been “pitched to” by others from the same company before.

What can you earn? Each company will tell you the earning potential for contributors. That information is not disclosed online. There is typically an upfront investment to acquire the merchandise, then a set timeframe in which you need to sell a certain amount of product. Bonuses may be issued if you exceed these goals.

What’s my next step?

1. Find like-minded stay-at-home moms in the same fields of interest. Getting real-life feedback on what these jobs are like is crucial to understanding how you’ll build your business.

For example, if you want to blog, join blogging groups on Facebook. If you want to sell LuLaRoe, pick a consultant’s brain. Follow websites or social media celebrities that talk about the topic you’re interested in.

2. Financially prepare for this transition. The #1 reason I was able to launch an at-home business was because of the financial steps my husband and I took before my business launched. How could I run a business when we couldn’t run our budget? How could I quit my full-time job while I spent the time it took to develop my career at home when we owed thousands of dollars in debt?

Our very imperfect journey had many ups and downs, but we overcame the lion’s share of those financial hurdles. Today, we are debt-free minus the mortgage and comfortably live on my husband’s modest income while we use mine to save for emergencies, traveling, and paying extra on the house.

Your Turn: If you could work from home doing something you enjoy, what would it be? Share with us below!

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Are you a stay-at-home mom? Check out these bonus resources created just for you!

How to Afford Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

May 29, 2017 | Leave a Comment

When I was pregnant with my first child, every day held excitement about the future. But I couldn’t quite shake the weight I felt on my shoulders when I thought about returning to work six weeks after her birth. I wanted so desperately to stay home, but simply couldn’t imagine how to afford being a stay-at-home mom.

It just doesn’t come up much in school, does it? “Living On Half Your Income 101.” Yeah, not so much. Today’s culture often says things like “Put it on credit” or “You deserve more” or good ‘ole “YOLO.” But some dreams involve spending and earning a whole lot less.

And they sure are worth it.

See, my husband and I really needed a roadmap, some kind of guidelines to help us navigate these tumultuous waters.

If that’s you, then let me encourage you. Our “get-your-financial-act-together” journey started in 2011. In 2012, my husband and I paid off $22,000 to become debt-free right before our daughter’s birth. We stockpiled as much as we could into our emergency savings and learned to continually live within our means (MUCH harder than it sounds!).

This led to one of the happiest days of my life. It was in May of 2014. I was 30 weeks pregnant with our second child and kept having labor symptoms when I’d work on my feet all day at my job. Rather than risk a premature delivery, that became the catalyst for our leap of faith.

That was the day I quit my job and officially became a stay-at-home mom. I waddled to my car with astonishment stamped on my face. It really was happening.

You need to understand the primary reason for this astonishment. We would now be living on less than $2,000 a month. It seems impossible that we could have done this (especially if you knew how bad we were at budgeting when we were single!). The thing is, we hustled our hineys off and no longer had debt. We’d been budgeting like paupers and renting from family instead of rushing into a home we couldn’t afford.

Even on such a small income, we really were ready. Hence my amazement.

Every dream is different. And that’s OK.

Your dream may not be to stay home. That’s totally fine! If you love working outside the home, then embrace that and enjoy your work. Nor are you required to generate an income if you do decide to stay home full-time. Let’s just get that out there.

So many of the steps we took as a couple had very little to do with me making extra money from home. They set an important foundation that centered around three major components:

Communication
Changing habits
Financial freedom

Let’s pull back the curtain a little further and explore what I mean.

How to Afford Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

Here are some practical first steps you can take in your journey toward spending more time with your kids!

Step #1: Kick debt to the curb.

When my husband and I committed to paying off our outstanding debt in two years instead of seven, we forced ourselves to:

Budget every month
Snip our credit cards and always pay with debit or cash
Live intentionally on less
Communicate in healthier ways about money

For example, the biggest way my husband and I melted debt was to intentionally begin living on his income. It took months, but eventually, we were able to apply every dime from my paycheck toward debt.

After that, our small income became that much more powerful. Imagine what you could do with your money if you didn’t have any payments. That one thought spurred us on.

Step #2: Save for the unexpected.

Saving for emergencies is the most powerful way you can create financial stability in your home. Smaller emergencies like an oil leak can be covered in the “auto repair” portion of your budget. But what if your income-generating spouse loses his job? That buffer is the difference between you remaining a stay-at-home mom through that transition or scrambling for work alongside your partner.

A great place to start with a savings buffer is $1,000. More can be accumulated once you’re out of debt, but that first $1k is your Kevlar vest against calamity.

Step #3: Act.

We covered the basics. Whether you’re a mother or would like to be one someday, you can begin this journey today. It’s time to choose your next step and ACT.

A great place to start is a conversation with your significant other. This plan requires openness and commitment from both of you. It’s also going to take time. Best to start the conversation now.

For example, when I messed up the budget, I knew I could approach my husband about it instead of burying my head in the sand like I’d done in the past. We worked through many problems that way. Extend grace. Talk about your dreams. Re-commit.

Another great next step is to further your education. Try joining a Facebook group that centers around whipping your family finances into shape. The added support is tremendous. Here are two great groups you can join:

Build on the foundation.

If you’ve read this far, it means you’re dead serious about your dream of becoming a stay-at-home mom. That’s awesome.

I believe you can do it, but this is just the framework. It’s not going to keep the rain or wind out of your house. To add siding, insulation, a roof, and even some shiplap if that’s your fancy, then I strongly encourage you to check out my eBook called “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint.” In it, I expand my story on climbing out of debt and achieving my dream of staying home. I also walk you through 150 practical strategies that my husband and I used (and still use today) to communicate better, chop debt, and save money.

This is the roadmap I wish I’d had when we first dreamed of transitioning into a single-income family.

Also, if you do want to earn money from home, “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint” includes dozens of ideas to sell your stuff, earn gift cards or cash from home, or build an online business. My business didn’t happen until nearly two years after I became a SAHM. Since then, I’ve made nearly $20,000 just working part-time as a freelance writer. I know without a doubt that this business wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t safely transitioned into a stay-at-home mom first.

Ready to take your journey toward staying home to the next level?

Grab your copy of “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint” today.

Your Turn: What advice would you give someone on how to afford being a stay-at-home mom? Share with us below!

This post may contain affiliate links.

Image Credit: AI Photography

Hungry for more financial tips for stay-at-home moms? Look no further!

10 Steps to Create a Successful Stay-at-Home Mom Budget

May 22, 2017 | Leave a Comment

Do you dream of becoming a stay-at-home mom but your family depends on your income? Your dream may not be impossible. It starts with a plan, a lot of self-compassion, and determination. I know from experience. Our most effective tool on our journey to a single-income family with an at-home parent started with a stay-at-home mom budget.

I’d like to show you how.

In 2014, I gave my notice at my job just a few weeks before having my second child. With only my husband’s income, we now had less than $2,000 per month to live on. That may sound impossible, but we spent years preparing for that day. It’s amazing how little income you can live on when you don’t have a car payment or student loan debts. It’s amazing how free you feel when you make such an empowering decision like staying home with your children. I

It’s amazing how little income you can live on when you don’t have a car payment or student loan debts. It’s amazing how free you feel when you make such an empowering decision like staying home with your children.

I wish that for you.

This list of steps will show you exactly how we beat the odds and successfully transitioned into a single-income family of four.

10 Steps to Create a Successful Stay-at-Home Mom Budget

Let me just say we stunk at budgeting before my husband and I got married. Like really stunk at it. I even worked as a teller and couldn’t keep my finances straight. I can laugh now, but it caused its share of anxiety in me at the time. I dreamed of staying home with my children someday, but our debts and sloppy spending made it felt unachievable then.

These 10 steps revolutionized so much more than our budget. It reshaped my mindset about money, my role in our marriage, how we communicate, and how we plan for the future. Check ’em out:

Take a financial snapshot.

Look at what you’ve been spending, how much you owe in debt, what you have in savings, and what you earn each month. It takes time, but this is a great starting point for anyone looking to improve their finances.

Before you ever write another budget, make sure you’re aware of where your money is really going.

Calculate how much you NEED to live on each month.

This number is vital. It’s not how much you spend on cable or fast food or extra clothes for the kids. This is the total you need, absolutely need, each month to keep the lights on, put gas in the tank, and feed the family.

A great way to calculate that number is to add up your monthly bills. They’re typically a set amount. Then, include things you typically buy in a month like food and gas. This is the baseline for you to plan your stay-at-home mom budget. You know this much needs to come in. If you and your spouse currently bring in more than that, then let’s talk about some ideas for that extra money next.

Build up a buffer.

When you reduce your family income, it’s paramount to have an established savings account for unexpected expenses. Millions of families live paycheck to paycheck with no clear financial plan for the next blown transmission or trip to the ER. You can set yourself apart from that statistic. Choose an account today and commit to putting away $1,000 for emergencies only as fast as you can.

Demolish debt.

Eliminating as many monthly payments from your life as you can before you become a stay-at-home mom is huge. If you’re already home with the kids, it’s still as important as ever.

For example, my husband and I started applying more and more of my paycheck toward student loan debt. What we thought would take seven years took less than two. Intentionality will bring about big results in your life.

Meet regularly with your spouse or accountability partner.

While my husband and I were paying off extra toward debt and saving for emergencies, we met regularly to discuss our budget. We still do. It isn’t always easy, but carving out a 15-minute window once a month to make sure you’re on the same page will reduce your stress and set up your stay-at-home mom budget for success.

Need some help creating a budget? Here are several free downloadable budgeting forms.

Sleep on big financial decisions.

Give yourself a 24-hour window before you make any purchase more than a set dollar amount. This is especially important for houses, automobiles, furniture, and the like.

Leave room for fun.

Even though you’ll have less money in the budget once you’re a stay-at-home mom, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. If it’s in your spending plan (and preferably not on a credit card), plan for fun outings or date nights or taking the children to the zoo. I even recommend a little fun money for you and your significant other to spend however you wish. A little freedom helps you life when finances tighten up.

Don’t compare yourself with others.

With social media, it’s almost impossible to not compare your life with others’. Remember this, though: It’s entirely possible they’re in debt up to their armpits and you don’t know it. Remember your reason for wanting to stay home. It may mean you have to live in a smaller house for a while, but the trade-off is more time with your kids.

Employ self-compassion when you fail.

You will fail. Your spouse will fail. Rather than give up and quit budgeting, give yourself some grace and try again. I’ve derailed more budgets than I can count. Working through that frustration and stress was like working a muscle. You will grow your abilities, too.

Focus on your behavior, not your numbers.

Ever read that quote about personal finance being 80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge? It was true in my case. When I stopped chasing my credit score and started chasing a debt-free mindset, my account balance changed dramatically. What are some behaviors you can focus on that’ll help you establish a functional stay-at-home mom budget?

“What’s my next step?”

Hopefully, this article gave you some ideas on how to begin this journey. It’s meant to inspire and educate, but one blog post can only offer so much.

What I needed on my own journey toward staying home was a financial roadmap. Much of my husband’s and my experiences were trial and error (and more errors and some more errors). Beating the odds in 2014 lit a fire within me to help other women achieve this dream.

That’s why I created a companion eBook to this article called “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint.” It’s packed with 150 ways to chop debt, save money, earn a side income from home, and implement a financial plan that WILL enable you to spend more time with your kids.

This eBook contains everything I wish I’d known when I started my journey, from surviving our first messy budget as newlyweds to figuring out coupons to earning my first $10,000 with my at-home writing business.

If this is your dream to spend more time at home, then I wrote this for you. Look, it’s not easy. We spent years making this transition without a guide like “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint.” Even so, it was worth it. Your journey will be, too.

May this resource empower you to take these steps to achieve what matters most to you.

Ready to grab your copy? Find “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint” available here.

What’s your number ONE hurdle that prevents you from spending more time at home? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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Are you a stay-at-home mom? Make sure you bookmark or pin some of these resources for later!

Teach Your Child About Money – Free Savings Chart for Kids

May 1, 2017 | Leave a Comment

One of the most wonderful gifts you can give your children is a healthy understanding of money. Not a craving for it or an assumption that it will lead to happiness. Instead, you have the privilege – the responsibility – to teach children about hard work, the power of saving, the dangers of debt, and the gift of giving. To help your children learn, we’ll also set you up with a free savings chart for kids.

How to Teach Your Child About Saving Money

Many people are in crisis mode, financially. It’s impossible to know what they learned or didn’t learn about money at home, but would America look different if more parents taught their children the principles I listed above? If more parents led by example by communicating together about a budget, saying no more often to frivolous spending, and showed their children how to save up and pay cash instead of using credit cards?

It’s purely my speculation, but I’d go so far as to say we’d have less stress, less divorce, fewer addictions, more giving, and greater job satisfaction. Do you agree?

With the right steps, we can teach our children to live differently.

You’re probably thinking, “What about student loans? I was just trying to further my education and now I’m overwhelmed by debt as a result.” Totally valid point. I remember approaching high school graduation and hearing everyone discuss their reasons for choosing one school over another. NOT ONCE did my friends and I stew over the debt load we’d receive from student loans. None of us saw what was coming.

In fact, according to StudentLoanHero.com, outstanding student loan debt reached more than $1.4 trillion in 2017.

How can we teach our children to save money in the face of such a burden of debt?

Start the Conversations

A great way to educate your young tribe about the dos and don’ts of spending is to create an open line of communication. Encourage them to ask questions. Show them the process of paying for your groceries or a meal at a restaurant. Take them to the bank and show them how you make a savings deposit.

Also, a conversation is a great way to tackle topics like:

Work ethic
Getting a job
Planning for the future
Saving for a major purchase
Saving for college (tell them about the ways you are saving for their college while they’re young)
Integrity
Greed
Envy
Contentment
Generosity

You don’t have to run down this list every night at the dinner table, but the more conversations you do have about these topics, the more seeds your planting in your child’s mind. You’re teaching her how to think about money, not what to think.

Put them to work.

We’ve covered the important step of talking about money. Next, it’s time to apply what your child has learned. If he’s old enough to hold a broom or to straighten up his room, your child is old enough to get paid for chores.

It’s important that he knows the money isn’t just for spending. Saving is a difficult concept for young minds, at first, unless they have something for which they’re saving. For example, if your daughter sees a Belle doll in the toy aisle and begs for you to buy it, you have some choices. You can purchase the doll, you can discuss the cost and why it’s not in the budget, or you can write down the dollar amount on a paper, head home, and help her calculate how many chores it’d take to save for the doll.

To aid in that endeavor, here are some free tools you can use with your child.

Free Savings Chart for Kids – and Other Great Savings Tools

Printable “My Savings Goal” Visual Poster – via Educator101.com

Downloadable “Share, Save, Spend” Chart for Kids – via iMom.com

52-Week Money Challenge for Kids

Printable Play Money for Kids

Combine these tools with some great conversations and hard work around the house and your child has a recipe for a bright and well-balanced financial future.

Got some tips for teaching children to save money? Share one below!

Are you a stay-at-home mom? Check out these bonus resources we created just for you:

Living On Very Little Income? Here Are Some Basic Considerations.

February 20, 2017 | Leave a Comment

As a trained financial coach and someone who has experienced life below the poverty line, I’m passionate about helping people who find themselves living on very little income. I want them to know there’s more hope than they realize. It’s not easy, but there are steps people can take today to improve their financial situation at home. Let’s go over a few of those basic considerations now.

Living on very little income? Here are some basic considerations.

What you earn annually does not directly affect your living situation. For example, things like cost of living, recurring bills, spending habits, and hobbies make a huge difference. Some families can make do on $25,000, others struggle with $125,000.

The key component that made the biggest difference in my own life wasn’t my bank account balance, it was my behavior. When my mindset shifted toward healthier habits, the numbers inevitably followed. Here are a few key behavioral shifts I made that improved our finances when money was especially tight.

3 Ways to Successfully Live On Less

Protect the “four walls.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty line for a family of four is $24,339. View your family’s size and threshold here.

In the book The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness, author Dave Ramsey talks about taking care of the “four walls.” This is a key component for anyone who is living on very little income. The four walls are:

Food
Shelter (rent, mortgage, utilities)
Transportation (fuel, auto maintenance)
Clothing (when needed)

You may experience creditors calling you about a bill that’s overdue, what’s that when your family is still able to eat and there’s no eviction notice on your door? Protecting the four walls, no matter your income, puts you in a completely different place emotionally.

Start a “Rainy Day” fund

If you feel like you’re one broken appliance away from a crisis due to your limited income, it’s time to save up for emergencies. It’s so easy to say you can’t spare an extra $500 right now to just sit in the bank, you wouldn’t be alone in that thinking. Over 62% of people responded in a recent Bankrate poll that they wouldn’t be able to cover an unexpected expense like a $500 car repair or a $1,000 trip to the ER.

But remember, we’re looking at modifying behavior. You can walk a different path than the majority.

For example, how would it feel if your radiator cracked and white smoke started billowing out of your hood tomorrow? Now how would it feel if you knew there was money in the bank to fix it immediately? You’ve just reduced a crisis to a problem with a solution.

Ways to save for emergencies:

Create a budget and educate yourself on your current spending habits. Cut back in areas of excess and drop that extra cash into an emergency fund. For free printable or downloadable budget forms, click here.
Set up an automated savings transfer every month to make sure the habit sticks.
Sell items around your house on Facebook or in a garage sale. Got a stack of books lying around? Try selling them on Amazon or Bookscouter.com.
Eliminate as much debt as possible. This will free up more and more money each month to put toward savings and living expenses.

Increase your income.

If you’ve protected your four walls, started planning ahead for emergencies, and created a budget to track your spending, then congratulations. You’re light-years ahead of so many Americans who carry the stress and worry of finances on their shoulders day in and day out.

Many people skip those first integral steps and jump straight to this last one: Increase your income. Hopefully, now you can see why a shift in your own habits needs to take place first. Then, you’ll feel more empowered to do something to increase your income. The foundation has been laid. Now here are a few ways to increase your income:

Pick up a second job.
Increase your hours or work overtime.
Seek a promotion or raise.
Start a side hustle from home.
Seek out a higher-paying job.

You have the same 24 hours as everyone else, so getting a second job or working longer hours comes with the sacrifice of time away from home. If that’s what it takes to protect your four walls and set up a buffer against emergencies, then that might be the right answer for the time being.

If you’re living on very little income, this is probably a difficult season for you. Change won’t happen overnight, but if you build a financial foundation based on your values (i.e. protecting your family), then each decision will flow out of that and sacrifices like cutting up a credit card or eating out less will sting less. The trade off will eventually be a more peaceful home and greater financial freedom.

Have you ever experienced living on very little income? What steps did you take to improve your finances?

This post may contain affiliate links.

Do you dream of becoming a stay-at-home mom? We’ve assembled a collection of resources just for you!

Take Over Apartment Lease – How to Quickly Find Your Replacement Renter

February 6, 2017 | Leave a Comment

The tricky thing about life is that it doesn’t always line up with our schedule. Perhaps you find yourself in a situation where you have to move before your lease is up. Breaking a lease is complicated, potentially expensive, and best avoided at all cost. However, when you have no choice, and your to-do list suddenly includes “someone must take over apartment lease,” here are your next three steps.

Take Over Apartment Lease – How to Quickly Find Your Replacement Renter

Perhaps “Plan A” was to coordinate your moving date with the end of your lease. Perhaps an unexpected life event occurred like an out-of-state job offer or the end of a relationship. Now your facing “Plan B.” You might be wondering where to even begin.

Step 1 – Understand your options.

Spend some time reading over your lease agreement. It will include vital information about what’s expected of you and your landlord if a lease break occurs. In many states, you may be required to help find a replacement renter, but that’s not always the case.

Meanwhile, start putting away money in savings. If you break your leasing agreement, you’ll likely pay the amount of your rent for every month until another renter can be found. Keep in mind, this can add up quick if you live in an expensive city like Minneapolis.

One caveat to this is if you had to move out due to your landlord not following through with his commitment in the contract.

For example, maybe you’ve discovered mold. It’s a direct result of a leaky appliance your landlord promised to replace. If the agreement to fix this appliance was in writing, you could have just cause for breaking your lease early.

Step 2 – Inform your landlord as soon as possible.

The benefits of informing your landlord of your plans sooner rather than later outweigh the drawbacks. They are as follows:

Being proactive, polite, and honest about your plans to leave will help greatly, especially if you discover there is room for negotiation on your break lease.
As I mentioned early, you may legally be required to help your landlord find a replacement renter. Therefore, the sooner you bring it to his or her attention, the sooner you can both begin your search. The sooner you begin searching, the less you’ll have to pay in rent down the road.
Depending on the terms in your lease agreement, you may have the option of a termination agreement with your landlord. That would basically allow you to pay a one-time fee for breaking your lease early without the extra work of finding a subletter or new tenant.

Step 3 – Find someone to take over your apartment lease.

If no termination agreement can be reached and you have no other choice but to find your replacement, try these options:

Notice boards – One common place for soliciting new apartment tenants is on notice boards located at grocery stores, laundromats, or within the apartment complex, itself.
Craigslist – Another option is to list the information on Craigslist. Be careful about how much personal information you share online and about meeting any potential renters alone.
Local newspaper – Before there was Craigslist, there was the newspaper. The exposure your request receives, the quicker you’ll find someone.
Social media – Again, be cautious about your personal information, but word of mouth can be a great asset when you’re searching for someone to take over your apartment lease in a hurry.
Hire a 3rd party to transfer the lease for you – There are companies who will market your apartment’s vacancy and transfer your lease for you. Always read the fine print, weigh the cost, and understand what you’ll still be responsible for when they’re finished.

When in doubt, try to protect your contract from a lease break. But if you absolutely cannot, use these steps as a guide through this time of transition.

What are some ways you’d recommend someone finding a replacement renter quickly?

BTW – Are you a stay-at-home mom? Make sure you bookmark or pin some of these resources for later!