Hey everyone. I need some help. We took a $500.00 hit on our house bill four months (taxes shot up & escrow mistake) and it will be this way until April (at least). we are barely staying afloat. I have medical bills I need to pay monthly and I am sinking in that area. I am really in need of something I can do at home. I have talked around to people who may need help with childcare and no takers, since they already have someone. My dh is so stressed out. We have beans and rice 2 wks out of every month, we pulled my children out all extra activities that cost $ and are totally strapped. My poor husband (a school teacher) is so stressed he has knots all in his neck and shoulders and can hardly turn his head. He works so hard and has 2 extra jobs. (He doesn,t know that this morning, our van began making a "funny" noise.) I want to do something to help him. Do any of you have any suggestions of something I can do at home that will not take away from my children at home. Help! Thank you so much.
- Monica

By Tklinreston on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 10:34 am:

$500 extra burden is alot for anyone. The first thing I would do is contact my lender and ask them is you can spread it out over a 12 month period, which equates to $166.66 per month instead of a four month period. If childcare is something that you gravitate towards, maybe you can put an ad in the paper. I know it will cost money to do so but you'll reach a larger number of people and the payoff will be great in light of the minimal initial investment. I'll let you know if I can think of anything else.

By Monicamomof3 on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 10:45 am:

thanks! My husband already got with the lender. They "settled" on this amount per month since we were a few thousand $s short in escrow. We are also putting our tax return check towards it in Feb. So- we've done what we can in that area. I think I will put an add in the paper. Although I will have to wait until next pay check. Thanks for your help. ADVICE/SUGGESTIONS STILL WELCOME! I know there are stah moms that work from home. Just wondering what you do to earn extra $!

By Mrse on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 10:46 am:

Good morning, well their is a couple of things that come to mind, one is, if you own your home, you could refinance, clear up all your bills, and only have your main utility payments/medical bills. When I was home with my girls, and dh worked, I babysat. That would bring in the 500.00 that you need. I also at one time had a job cleaning office buildings, it was in the evening, so dh would come in the door, and I would leave, then we did not have sitter costs. I took a look at your profile and I see you have little children, you could babysit a child that is 5 so your oldest dd has someone to play with.
Their is also the home parties, if you think you would be good at that. I went to a Kitchen party once, and also a toy party. You could sell avon, or regal, ( but I think you would really have to be out their to get your customers at first) I hope I gave you some idea's babysitting is stressful, if you went with the avon and or regal, it is on your own time table, so you could deliver your things in the evening, in the day take the kids drop off books, on your walks. I hope everything works out it is so hard to make a buck when you have little ones at home.

By Boxzgrl on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 10:56 am:

Look at this site:

workathomeagent.com

I know someone who works for them and loves it. (And theres no initial $ investment)

By Fionadeassis on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 12:11 pm:

The way I get to stay home is that we have a special needs (Downs Syndrome) woman living with us. It is not for everyone-sharing your home with someone indefinitely...it can be hectic and hard. Sometimes they need people to take them on the weekends to give the fulltimers respite. The woman who takes care of Henrietta every second weekend gets about $100.

It might be different in the U.S.....but you could phone some agencies....

My other thought is housecleaning. People here in Calgary charge $25 per hour.....maybe you could get some weekend or evening cleaning jobs....

By the way......we eat beans and rice EVERY day at my house LOL.........of course my husband is from Brasil so we like it....but it does save us a lot of money......I cook everything from scratch.....soak my beans and cook them in a pressure cooker.....we eat tons of veggies....and just a bit of meat(I buy really cheap tough chikens and slow cook them in the oven for quite a few hours on low heat and they come out so tender the meat just falls off the bone)......

I would put up flyers at grocery stores in your neighbourhood or at local cafes....for babysitting or housecleaning.....

good luck!

fiona

By Mommyathome on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 12:15 pm:

Have a large yardsale.
Sell your services....baking, shopping, cooking, babysitting.
Get a part time job on the weekends?

By Kay on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 12:24 pm:

Check the fine print in work-at-home offers. Some will require that you invest money into it up front.

By Monicamomof3 on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 12:35 pm:

I sell nutritional things and organic oils (don't want anyone to think I am trying to sell them on mv so I won't name the company for which I am working.) I make a little although I am hoping the buisness will pick up. We had our community garage sale and made about $100.00. I cant leave at night, b/c my husband works 4 nights a week and I am breastfeeding my 9 months old too often. My dh is also a wrestling coach, so weekends (tournaments) are not an option. I am thinking watching a 3-4 year old might be the best bet. I am off to check that website, Boxzgrl! Thanks everyone! Advice still welcome!

By Wandilu on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 10:05 pm:

Monica,I understand about money worries !!! My DH and I have a home business that we do and I would love to share the info with you to see if it's something that would help your situation.A school teacher is one of the people that helped us get started.My email is RLKWLK@FHTM.US if you're interested.