How to Make Money as a Homeschool Mom
I don’t know about you guys, but it has been pretty tight in these parts lately! Cost of living has gone up significantly and at the same time, my kids are growing … which means their cost of raising them are growing as well (food, activities, braces, etc.)!
Patrick has a great job and is an amazing provider, but we are definitely feeling this current economy as a single-income household.
We used to be able to do more fun things as a family, like long roadschooling trips or being able to spontaneously go on a quick lifeschooling adventure.
But in the last couple of years, we’ve had to tighten up our belts and have had to be more thoughtful about how we spend our money.
I know we aren’t alone, because I’ve had many conversations with other mamas who are feeling the pinch right now.
So today, I want to share some of ideas for how to make money as a homeschool mom, both for the immediate future and for the long-term:
WAYS THAT ARE SIMPLE AND CAN BRING IN CASH RELATIVELY QUICKLY:
1) Re-sell your stuff
This is the easiest and fastest way to bring in a little extra moolah! I do this all the time to not only purge, but to recoup cash from things we no longer need anymore.
I’ve collected my kids’ toys and clothing and resold them on places like Craigstlist, FB Marketplace, Mercari, Poshmark, or our local Rhea Lana’s consignment sales.
I’ve also done well selling no-longer-needed books/curriculum on Ebay or on FB groups dedicated for re-selling curriculum.
If I need quick cash, I simply look around our house and offer it for sale!
2) Provide childcare
This is a simple, tried and true way to earn money as a homeschool mama. You can watch working moms’ children or see if your local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) pays for childcare during their bi-weekly meetings (I know the on in our town does!).
3) Tutor or teach
Do you just love a particular subject and have a heart for teaching kids besides your own?
See if you can teach at the local co-op for pay. Maybe you can take a child struggling in a specific subject under your wings. Or you can even teach children all over the world virtually via platforms like Outschool.com.
4) Sell your handmade items
If you are crafty, you can sell the things you make at local markets.
Of course, you need to take the time to create your inventory, but this is another relatively simple and quick way to bring in a little extra cash.
WAYS THAT REQUIRE A LITTLE MORE TIME AND ENERGY, BUT WILL BEAR MORE SIGNIFICANT FRUIT IN THE LONG RUN
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5) Go into direct sales as an independent consultant
This may not be your cup of tea, but the reality is that direct sales companies do offer homeschool moms a viable opportunity to make money with a flexible schedule.
I, myself, was once an active independent consultant Usborne Books and More (now known as PaperPie). It was a great way for me to make extra cash to fund our “family fun” envelope.
As a book-loving homeschool mama, Usborne Books and More (again, now PaperPie) was a perfect fit for me for a season (I have now moved my focus to digital entrepreneurship, which I share more about below, but I do still keep my account active so I can continue purchasing the amazing resources at a discount for our own homeschool library).
There are so many companies to look into … think of items you personally love or passions you have that you would love to share with others. Do you love make-up or kitchen gadgets or organizing product or essential oils? Whatever floats your boat, you can turn into a side business by joining a direct sales company, plus also get the products for a discount!
6) Start a blog
There are many people who create a significant income just from their blogs!
I’ve only been able to work on mine over the course of several years in the “cracks” of life as a busy homeschool mama. Yet I never gave up, I continued to plug along consistently, and I’m proud to say that I finally made my first few dollars from my blog!
I personally am part of the Blogging Fast Lane community. After trying out a handful of “how to blog” courses, I landed on Tom and Anna’s and theirs has been the best I’ve taken so far. In fact, because of their step-by-step teaching, I was finally able to monetize my blog!
7) Create digital products to sell
As I continued my education in blogging, I stumbled upon the world of creating digital products (like printables and e-books).
I’m especially loving this way of initially making money because I spend time and energy to create a digital product ONE TIME, but am able to create passive income from it once I share it with the world!
It’s pretty cool to get an e-mail notification that one of my digital products has sold while I’m sleeping or while I’m in the middle of homeschooling! 🙂
I actually created a step-by-step guide on how to create digital products on Canva that you can sell as well as how to market and sell them!
If blogging isn’t your jam, or seems too daunting for this season, creating digital products is a great initial way to bring in extra cash. Plus, if you’re the creative type, it’s super fun to do just as a hobby or creative outlet!