Kids Ain't Cheap

But They Sure Are Worth It

Understanding Life Insurance: Everything You Need to Know

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Insurance isn’t exactly a glamorous topic—which is why most of us put off these major decisions until we know we need to make them.

But when it comes to life insurance, you may not be able to afford procrastination. Life insurance can help your family survive the financial impact of your death, especially if you’re the household’s primary breadwinner.

Fortunately, understanding life insurance isn’t as hard as you think. The quick guide below gives you all the information you need to get started and shop around.

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This Is How to Effectively Care for an Aging Parent at Home

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1 in every 10 elderly people experiences some form of elder abuse in their lifetime. This statistic has many people making the choice to care for their aging parent at home rather than relying on strangers at an assisted living facility. It is not easy though, caring for the elderly can be a full-time job.

That is why we created this informative guide. So, keep reading to discover how to effectively care for your aging parent at home.

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Dyper Review

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As a parent to a young child, nothing beats the convenience of disposable diapers.  Even if you feel inclined to use cloth diapers, which most parents don’t, you’re not always able to do so because many daycares only accept disposable diapers.  However, for eco conscious parents, disposable diapers may morally be tough to use.  After all, they take decades to decompose (some estimate as many as five hundred years!).  The decision to use disposable diapers is a bit easier if you consider an eco-friendly company like Dyper.

Dyper Review

Dyper Review

Dyper is an eco-friendly company that offers diapers and services unlike any other on the diaper market.

What Makes Dyper Different

There are many ways that Dyper is different from other diaper companies.

Eco-Friendly Diapers

Dyper’s diapers are made of bamboo.  Unlike other disposable diapers, Dyper’s contain no print or decoration; the diapers are solid white.  These diapers also are free of many chemicals found in other brands.  Specifically, they do NOT contain any of the following:

  • Chlorine,
  • Latex,
  • PVC,
  • TBT,
  • Antioxidants,
  • Perfumes,
  • Lotions, or
  • Phthalates

SOS Program

When you buy from Dyper, you sign up for a monthly delivery of diapers.  However, should you run short on diapers, Dyper has an SOS program.  This program, available a maximum of two times per year to active subscribers, will give you diapers within four hours (if you live in the 12 large cities currently offering this feature.)  Otherwise, diapers will be sent to you the next day.   Even better, they’ll be sent to whatever location you’re currently at, even if it’s at the beach while you’re vacationing.

Recycling Program

Dyper offers a ReDyper program (extra fee applies).  The company will send you eco-friendly bags, a shipping box, and prepaid label.  When you’re ready to empty your diaper pail, don’t put the contents in the garbage, which will go into the landfill.  Instead, put the diapers in the bag in the shipping box, seal and label and put it out by your front door.  Dyper will pick it up and recycle your diapers, keeping them out of the landfill.

This option is something that really sets Dyper apart from other diaper companies.

How Much Is Dyper’s Monthly Service?

A monthly subscription to Dyper is $68 a month.  The first month, you get 30% off, making your total $47.60.

The number of diapers you get per month depends on the size diaper that your child is wearing:

  • Newborn – 264 diapers/delivery
  • Small – 224 diapers/delivery
  • Medium – 184 diapers/delivery
  • Large – 140 diapers/delivery
  • Extra Large – 120 diapers/delivery

Dyper Review

Other Products Dyper Offers

In addition to disposable diapers, Dyper also offers

  • Training pants,
  • Cloth diapers,
  • Baby wipes,
  • Alcohol wipes,
  • Diaper cream,
  • Diaper pail, and several other products

Basically, Dyper has your diapering needs covered.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this review has helped you to see that if you’re looking for an eco-friendly diaper company, look no further than Dyper.  Their convenient subscription service saves you the hassle of making trips to the store for diapers, and their recycling program keeps disposable diapers out of the landfill.

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How to Save Hundreds on Diapers,

Free Diapers for Low Income Families,

Cloth Diapers Vs. Disposable Diapers

A Self-Care Guide for Parents of Drug Addicts

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Approximately 23 million Americans are living with at least one addiction, yet only half of them are receiving treatment.

For parents, one of the hardest things you’ll ever do is helping your child through an addiction. You need to be there for your child, but you also need to take care of yourself to stay sane.

Are you seeking help for parents of drug addicts? Keep reading below to learn about what you can do to navigate your child’s addiction and treatment.

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

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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

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 because debt was holding me back.

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):

Consider Household Income

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.

0% Interest Cards

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!  It’s especially important to look at what the transfer fee will be if you’re transferring old debt to pay off.  (Typically, transfer fees are 3 to 5% of the total amount you transfer to the 0% interest card.)  You will also want to consider what the interest rate will be after the introductory 0% phase in case you aren’t able to pay it off within that time.

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).

Collateral

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.  However, be forewarned that if you’re not able to keep up with the monthly payments, you can lose the item you put up for collateral, so in general, choose this option as a last resort.

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

There are some instances where loans for stay-at-home moms make sense.

Mortgages

Loans for Stay at Home Moms

Photo by Colton Sturgeon on Unsplash

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 (often interest free) allowing you to pay off that debt over time.

Debt Alternatives for Stay-at-Home Moms

While accumulating debt makes sense in some cases, often avoiding debt is the best thing to do.  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

Loans for Stay at Home Moms

Photo by Naomi Hébert on Unsplash

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, Laura Harris has created a financial roadmap for 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.

Paperback-Book-Small-Spine-Mockup

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.
  • Harris’ story of overcoming debt and sloppy spending to become debt-free and achieve her 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.

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

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

A Parent’s Guide to Choosing Birthday Gifts for Toddlers

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It’s the special moments that make parenthood so worth it. Birthdays and Christmases are times that you get a chance to buy your child things that can put a smile on their face.

You haven’t been a toddler in forever, so you might be scratching your head when thinking about what to buy a child in this age group. We can help you out.

Keep reading to learn more about the best gifts for toddlers that you can purchase.

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Side Hustles for Single Moms

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Sometimes money is so tight that the only way to stay afloat or pay off debt is to get a side hustle.  Years ago, side hustles meant working a second job somewhere outside the home.  For married couples with kids, this might work because one spouse could stay home with the kids.  However, for a single mom, sometimes a side hustle just wasn’t worth it because you’d also have to arrange additional child care, which may take up most of the money you make on the side.  But times are different now.  There are plenty of side hustles for a single moms that you can do from the comfort of your home while the kids are playing, napping, or sleeping.

Side Hustles for Single Moms

Side Hustles for Single Moms

There are so many ways to make extra money in the Internet age.  What you decide to do just depends on your natural talents and proclivity.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Side Hustles You Can Do on Your Own Schedule

These side hustles let you set your own hours.  Prefer to work at midnight when the kids are sleeping?  No problem.  Prefer to work at 5 a.m.?  That’s okay, too.

Writer

There are plenty of writing jobs available.  You can work for brick and mortar businesses, or bloggers, or online businesses.  The hard part is getting your first writing job.  After that, you can let your samples speak for themselves.

Some places to look for writing jobs include Pro Blogger’s job board as well as Media Bistro.

In the beginning, when you’re still trying to get samples, you may need to take low paying jobs.  However, with experience, your rates will rise, and you’ll likely get word-of-mouth referrals, giving you more jobs.

Virtual Assistant

If you aren’t a writer, being a virtual assistant is another great side hustle that’s home based.  You can find a virtual assistant job working for someone like a real estate agent or a blogger.  You’ll likely be given a set of tasks to complete within a certain time frame.  I work as a virtual assistant and have specific jobs I have to complete by Sunday night, but I can do them any time during the week.  Being a virtual assistant often means you have a flexible schedule, though some people may need your services at specific times and specific days.

If you’d like specific training to be a virtual assistant, there are many online classes you can enroll in.  Another excellent resource is the book, The Bootstrap VA by Lisa Morosky.

Etsy Shop Owner

Side Hustles for Single Moms

Photo by Alex Jones on Unsplash

Are you creative?  Crafty?  If so, Etsy may be for you.  However, don’t just think that you’ll make a few items, set up shop and make sales.  It’s not that easy.  To sell on Etsy, you need to not only have professional looking items to sell, but also have a strong marketing plan, excellent pictures, and amazing customer service.

If you open an Etsy shop knowing all that it entails, you have a better chance of being successful.  I’d highly recommend speaking to other Etsy shop owners first.  In addition, there are plenty of web articles both for and against setting up an Etsy shop as well as YouTube videos that can explain what you need to know.

Side Hustles You Must Do at a Designated Time

In addition to side hustles that require you to maintain your own schedule, there are also side hustles that happen at specific times, though you do have a say in what those times are.

Tutoring

Photo by Adam Winger on Unsplash

With so many students still doing virtual schoolwork, the need for tutors has exploded.  Kids seem to have a harder time learning via Zoom, and tutors can fill in that gap.  I’ve even seen jobs advertised to help kids stay on schedule with their Zoom classes.

In addition to helping Americans, you can also find jobs teaching English to children in China.  A homeschooling mom of four I know went this route.  She did her tutoring from 4 to 7 a.m. PST.  She was finished working for the day when her kids woke up.  She worked for VIPKid and loved that the company had the lessons already made for her.  VIPKid does require a bachelor’s degree, but there are other companies that don’t.

Teaching on Outschool

My girls (12 and 10.5 years old) have recently discovered Outschool.  On this platform, teachers have free rein to develop whatever classes they have expertise in, no degree required.  These are high quality classes, monitored by Outschool.

My girls have taken classes on dance, Descendants trivia, and cat behavior.  They’ve also started to learn the Japanese language through Outschool and joined a recurring book club and social club.  Take a peek at Outschool; there are truly an endless array of classes you can teach.

As a teacher on Outschool, you’ll earn 70% of the class fee (Outschool takes a 30% cut).  You’ll be responsible for paying your own self-employment taxes.

Babysitting

Babysitting can be an excellent side hustle.  This job allows you to stay home with your own children while also caring for others’ children.  A single mother I knew ran an after-school program for five neighborhood kids from 3 to 6 p.m.  She charged $7 an hour per child.  Each week she earned $525, for a total of $2,100 a month.  Plus, she didn’t have to worry about after school care for her own kids.

If you don’t know where to look, consider advertising locally and by word-of-mouth.  A more organized option is to join Care.com or Sittercity.com where you can advertise your babysitting services.  When I needed child care for my kids, I found the sitters on Sittercity.com.

Final Thoughts

If you need to make some extra money, know that there are plenty of side hustles for single moms that you can do from the comfort of your own home.  I’ve been working online for over 10 years, and I love the convenience and the extra money I make for my family.  You can do this, too!

Read More

Four Legitimate Work from Home Jobs for Moms

Get Some Extra Cash: Nine of the Best Ways to Make Money from Home

3 Unexpected Options for Stay at Home Moms to Make Extra Money

 

8 Ways to Pay Rent When Money Is Tight

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Are you coming up short on your rent payment this month? Finding ways to pay rent isn’t easy if your budget is already maxed, but it’s possible to scrape up money fast to make the payment.

Being proactive can help you avoid an eviction notice. Working with your landlord and finding ways to come up with extra cash can help.

Keep reading for ways to pay rent when you’re short on money.

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