When a baby is born, her parents want nothing more than to make sure she has everything she will ever need. Before a baby is born, many expectant mothers strongly feel they will want to continue with their careers once their maternity leave is over. Some expectant mothers, on the other hand, want nothing more than to stay home with their children for a few years, but find they will be financially unable to do so. It is a tremendous understatement to say that when a child is finally born, situations change. Some mothers who were convinced they would continue to work once the baby was born may take one look at their new baby’s face and wonder what they were thinking. Mothers who may have wanted to stay home but couldn’t for financial reasons will work and rework their family budgets to see if staying at home is remotely possible. It is safe to say that staying at home with a new baby depends on one factor: money. Will the family survive on only one income? Short of winning the lottery, many couples feel that staying at home is an impossibility. But with a little creative thinking and a call on some skills and talents, you may find your wish for staying at home a possibility.
Maybe you have a secret talent or skill that many people do not know about? Perhaps you know French and Italian or can play the piano or cello? Utilize these unused talents and help others. Put ads in your local newspaper marketing French language lessons or piano lessons. Depending on the demand, you can work as little or as much as you want and in the convenience of your own home. Lessons like these usually only last a half hour or hour, so you can make sure that you have put your baby down for a nap during this time. Also, if you do happen to know another language, you can look online for opportunities to translate papers or web sites.
Do people beg you to bring your famous homemade cookies or cakes to potlucks and events? Turn this baking into a lucrative opportunity. Put up fliers in your community or host an open house where you bake some of your goods and allow neighbors and friends to taste your wares. You can print up some order sheets and bake for special events or holidays. Maybe you love messing with crafts. Check your local newspaper for local fairs and crafts shows and rent a table. People may love your Christmas decorations or woodworking projects and order more. In short, make your name known by putting yourself out there.
If you live in a community where several neighbors or friends have babies the same age as yours, maybe you can open up your own mini daycare. Let friends and neighbors know that you will be staying home with your own child and offer to take care of their children, as well. You can charge a monthly or weekly fee that is less expensive than the day care their child currently goes to. Be sure to only take on as many kids as you feel you will be able to handle, and get the appropriate CPR training and local licenses you need.
Perhaps you whizzed by math or physics while in college? You could offer tutoring services to local universities or community colleges. Print an advertisement in local community newspapers and local college newspapers and print out fliers to hang around the college or university itself offering tutoring in certain subjects. Bear in mind that most college students do not have or make a lot of money, so you will want to keep your costs down.
Is your house so clean you can eat off the floor? Why not offer basic cleaning services for friends or neighbors. There are certain house duties that many people find annoying or time-consuming like mopping, vacuuming or cleaning the restrooms. Print out a list of services you will provide and the prices you charge. Or if you don’t mind mowing lawns, you can also offer this service as well.
