Hubby would like me to start earning a little extra money and I don't mind the thought of that. I would like some extra to spend on things like lessons for the kiddos, clothes, vacations, NOT food, gas and bills! So, here's the problem. What can I do? I have 6 children and no degree which means, What can I do that would make money and justify putting my kids in daycare? So, I'm trying to be creative and think of work from home or evening jobs. My creativity is very limited. Basically I know lots of mommy skills!
I'm not feeling sorry for myself, I'm just out of ideas. Here's what I've come up with. I have considered babysitting/preschool in my home, I can teach piano lessons, and I have a friend who is really pushing me to start selling Arbonne! I could even clean houses or businesses.
Problem: I HATE trying to sell myself to others! And I hate taking time away from my own children! I'm also afraid of focusing all my energy and attention on a project and then one day waking up and realizing that my children are grown and I missed it all.
Okay, so I'm really good at making excuses. I've lived a pretty sheltered life, since I grew up out in the country on a farm and I have live 27 out of 33 years in the same 50 miles of rural Idaho! So here's where I need your help! How have you seen things done were you currently live or have lived. You don't have to share all your secrets, but can you think of something I am missing? (When I ask other piano teachers about technics they use to get new students, they act all wierd, like I have violated some piano teacher code and basically they tell me nothing. I'm not trying to steal anything. I'm just really clueless about lots of stuff!)
So, if I went with the babysitting or piano lessons, how would you suggest that I "advertise" my skills?
Should I just focus on being a "great" mom and support my husbands work?
And do any of you know someone who has been successful in network marketing? I am a little skeptical! I love the products but not so much the selling part!
So, now I'm anxious to hear all your wonderful thoughts and ideas!
19 comments:
I think the piano lessons sounds good, if that's something you can swing. I'm not sure I could with two babies, but my Hubby seems to think I should start teaching lessons someday. Maybe....
As far as advertising, you could do a newspaper ad maybe once a month in the Sunday paper (more popular with readers). Or you could just do a simple flyer to take around a few neighborhoods. People who know you could spread the word too.
I'm sorry I don't have many ideas for you. But I hope you'll find something!
Hi! Thanks for the sweet comment on my blog. It's nice to know that someone likes to read what I have to say!
So, I know where you're coming from. We also have 6 kids, and we live in the Los Angeles area, which is a double whammy. I teach piano lessons in our home to bring in extra money. I have always been on the lookout for something to do, but I always come back to piano because I can make way more per hour than anything else, PLUS not have to be out of the home, have a car using gas, or put the kids in daycare. It has been slow starting up because music lessons are widely word of mouth, and I was new to the area and didn't know many people. I started with one lady in my ward who was talking about finding a teacher for her son. I chimed in, "I teach piano!" He was my first student. Word of mouth has slowly spread, and now, almost a year later I have 11 students, possibly 2 more. But it's been good for me to ease into it too, since I have a baby. I charge $20/30 min lesson here, which is the cheapest around, but a lot of money to me! And I have my students pay for the whole month on the first week. I use Alfred method, because it's easy for the teacher. I've heard pros and cons on it, but I am very familiar with it and it's been successful so far.
(Wow, this is a long comment, sorry!)
I also sold Mary Kay for several years. I started when I was divorced and needed to support my kids, and I went into it with full gusto. I earned a free car in 5 months and became a director in 7. I even bought a huge house in UT with only MK money. But I stepped down a few years ago because I couldn't play the game anymore. I love the product and the business, but it was a lot of work. I've checked out Arbonne too, and it's fundamentally the same. I got into a lot of debt stocking inventory and trying to keep up with the MK image. There were lots of plane tickets to buy, dresses, prizes, hotels, supplies, meeting room rentals, etc. And I loved selling to people I knew, but hated marketing myself too. I was good at it, but it made me very uncomfortable. I was away from home many nights, and the pressure was enormous to keep up, and to make quotas. (Even though they tell you there isn't) I know some people will disagree with me, and at one point I would have too, out of defensiveness, but I do not think it's fair that they market these businesses to stay-at-home moms telling them they can make their own hours, still be there for their kids, and have it all, so to speak. If you are good at one of these businesses, you are working just as much as you would away from home, or more, and your kids do give up things with mom, no question. I loved my experience, but being a Senior Director, my eyes were opened to how the top producers really get there. And you really have to be dedicated to earn enough money to make it worth your while. Otherwise, it's a lot of spending, and not a lot of earning.
I hope some of this helps you! Sorry to say so much! Email me if you want more help, and good luck! We all know how it feels!
Boy, I just left you this LONG comment on teaching piano and selling cosmetics, and it gave me an error message! Darn it! Email me if you want my take on this...I'm afraid to type it all out here again!
And thanks for coming to my blog and saying such sweet things! I'm so glad you like to read me!
I feel for you in this position! I also hate to try to sell myself but remember that we always see our weaknesses and others will see your fabulous strengths.
Magirk has great ideas for advertising. I might only add maybe passing the word to a few strategic people in the ward (otherwise known as the ward gossips), or possibly doing a flyer that could be handed out in school in the grades that you are willing to teach.
Most of all just do what fits your family and personality best. If you hate it, it will reflect in your family, no matter how much $ you make. Good Luck!
I tried the Mary Kay thing also. I was not successful, however. I'm not good at convincing people to buy things and there are about 100 MAry Kay ladies here. So it's hard to find someone who didn't already buy it from someone else. I think that piano lessons sound good, especially if you like to do that. If you decide to go that route let me know. I have been looking for someone close to put Kels in and have had no luck.
I lost $1700 "selling" Arbonne while we were living at Wyview. Did you even know I was selling it? With Stampin' Up! I broke even--never lost any money, but didn't make any money. I would stay away from everything MLM, after my experience.
(Plus, I get all Arbonne and MK products I like--and some Clinique--on eBay for a fraction of the price. When I realized I could get my Arbonne on eBay for less than my consultant price, I let my consultant status lapse and I just purchase there.)
I would go with piano. My sister has made good money teaching piano. I pay my neighbor $30 a month for 4 lessons for Emma. Another neighbor charges $55 and teaches piano full-time.
When my neighbor started, she put a little sign in her yard that she was looking for students. You can talk to ward members, just to get word of mouth going. Sometimes music stores will let you list with them and when people ask about a teacher they can send you referrals.
Just letting people know that you teach will get you some students. Good luck!
L go to swampbrat.net. She does internet advertisement blogs on her blog and earns cash. You seem pretty good with the keys it is worth checking out!
Maybe, if you're just doing it for a few extras for your kids, you could barter services. In exchange for piano lessons or something, you could do one of your "Mommy Skills" for her. Make dinner once a week...do laundry...clean her bathrooms. Depending on the situation, you might could even do some of that during the actual lesson.
Do you have any craft skills? Sell things on ebay. You can actually make a lot of money selling things on ebay. They offer classes on that kind of stuff.
Are you organized? Try your hand at becoming a part time organizer for people who can't do it on their own.
Do you know how to sew? Make personalized things (bibs, blankets, spit rags, etc.) to sell on ebay or at local day care/preschool places. Of course, you would have to check first and see if that was okay.
Is there something you do every day anyway? I know a gal who takes her 18mo old on walks around the mall every day. She got lonely and started a "Baby and Me" walking club around the mall and charged people to do it with her. She might have been a certified aerobics teacher though...
If your kids are in sports, maybe you could start a snack stand at the events. That would probably pay for itself pretty quickly.
And if all else fails...go to the corner and start selling some absolutely fantastic lemonade that people can't resist!
Good luck with this.
Laurie, I would go with the piano too. It is so much easier to be home with your kids and set your own hours. The only problem with piano is that you can usually only teach when your kids are home because that is when kids can take piano lessons. So you need to make sure you set down some rules with your kids for when you teach. I taught for 7 years and quit when I moved. I enjoyed teaching and seeing the kids progress. Let people know through church. I also got my best piano students by advertising in the newspaper. They paid me on time and never missed a lesson. Another job I had that paid well was delivering newspapers. I delivered 200 newspapers every morning. It was tough to do because I had to be done by 6:30am. and I never got a day off. But I made over $700 a month and only spent a few hours every morning doing it. I was done before my kids even woke up and in the summer my kids would help me. That is how I made it through my last year of my bachelor's degree. I just heard a news story that some businesses are bringing back their customer services from overseas back to the U.S. and are paying people to take customer service phone calls at their homes. I'll see if I can find the story. I think Jet Blue was one of the companies doing this!
Piano is great- it will probably end up taking the least amount of time away from your kids in the end, and it would be a scheduled time away. You could always count on it being at that time and set your hours. Send flyers out around your kids school, and like someone else suggested, the music stores.
I might have another idea for you, but I'll have to email you about it.
Hi Laurie, I did child care for a few years. It is hard to watch other kids. And long hours....., Selling stuff is hard, I have done that too. It takes a lot to be sucessful.. Piano lessons are a great idea...Word of mouth...best advertisment...Put is out there with your friends and ward members. I would love to pay you for piano lessons for my girls. With doing this..You can choose the hours and times you are available....Good Luck.....
I was going to suggest something along the same lines as Holly Homemaker. You are very talented and crafty. You could very easily sell things you have made on the internet. You could go to ebay like she suggested, that is pretty easy, Jeph does it all the time (selling old text books and things that we don't need or use anymore). And you would't even have to advertise because pretty much everyone is familiar with ebay. Or you could design your own webpage and sell stuff on there (you could even put a link on your ebay products so people know right where to go next time). You are great on the computer and finding your way around the internet so I think it would be something you would enjoy doing and you could do it from home. The only draw back is that when someone buys something, you actually have to take it to the post office and mail it to them (no more procrastinating the trips to the post office). As for things you could sale on there, you do sew and you are really good at it. And you make those wood signs that are great (we love the one you made for us!!!) And I know that is not the end of your crafty talents! I heard of a girl who started designing cute modern quilt patterns and has made a fortune from that. You could totally come up with something and if it did well you could see about marketing it with a bigger company. I don't know, just some ideas. Good luck finding something! Love ya!
A couple other things I thought of.
You could tutor kids. If you don't have a degree and you're not comfortable tutoring high school students, you can still tutor middle schoolers and elementary schoolers. Put an ad in the paper.
And I have another friend who grades SAT essays. She says they are always looking for people to do that. Each time they give the test, they send out some essays for you to grade. (They give you guidelines to follow...I'm not so imporessed with what makes a good SAT essay any more.) Sorry I don't have a link or something you can read about it, but I'm sure a search online could find something.
I also, like Julie, thought of a paper route. My dad did that forever!!
Another big thing is to post stuff up on websites like www.craigslist.com or www.ksl.com (classifieds)
We found our apartment on craigslist and I know they have postings for things like daycares and piano lessons if that is what you decided to do.
I didn't read the comment thread.
I have taught piano lessons, and it is very easy to get people to come to you. All you have to do is put an ad in the paper, and cards/flyers at the music stores. In a new town, I've gotten 20 students within one week this way. It was a matter of days before I had a waiting list.
There is a book by Bastien about how to teach piano lessons, that covers a lot of how to set it up. The first thing I'd recommend though is to call other teachers as if you were looking for a teacher for your child, and find out what they are charging so you know what the going rate is.
Babysitting would just be a matter of putting an ad in the paper, or if you have friends that sit, letting them know. Word of mouth is big in babysitting, especially if your friends are full, but have people asking them to take more kids.
If you go with selling, I have heard that Pampered Chef is the easiest to sell. My SIL who is very shy is selling it now and I'm amazed at how quickly her business is taking off for her.
Good luck!
Maybe you could open an etsy or ebay shop with things you've made, if you have any skills like that (crochet, sewing, etc.)
I taught beginning piano lessons to young students since I didn't feel I was qualified for more than that. And I just used the curriculum I had been taught with as a girl.
Honestly, I've been racking my brain for work at home ideas for years. I've done Avon, Mary Kay, started a professional genealogy research business and none of it fit my schedule or real desire. I think I finally found something I will really love to do for others and stick with because it fits in with my wants right now and my schedule.
Thanks so much for all of your wonderful ideas and for honestly sharing your stories with me. My mind is going like crazy now. I just need to have more confidence and maybe a little more creativity! You are all so awesome! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I wouldn't pick anything that required you to hit up friends, just because I think it would make you uncomfortable. Most at home selling requires that. Piano lessons--big yes. It pays more than alot of other options. I would advertise in the homeschool newsletter, the Times News, and the local music stores. It seems like you could get more bang for your buck in advertising if you did it at the time of year when people are gearing up for a new season of extracurriculars, although I haven't tried. I think the ebay thing would work well too. I knew a woman who bought the contents of storage units that had been foreclosed on and sold the contents either on ebay or at garage sales. She also went to garage sales and bought stuff that was priced low and resold it on ebay. I have also thought that it would be nice to get the kids involved in a family business, like making really yummy cinnamon rolls a couple of mornings a week, or fhe treats to deliver to interested people on Mondays.
I have to say, though, that I would be conservative about looking at any of these options. It does take time and energy away from your family to do any of these things, and if you are already trying to get your health under control, it could quickly become too much. Lessons are great, but having mom healthy and cheerful instead of sick and overwhelmed is even better.
I do a little bit of freelance editing from home. I only earn maybe $200/month, and although it was really fun to figure out that I could do that on my own schedule and to get paychecks again after a long hiatus (and helpful with moving expenses this year), I don't know if I will continue long term. It has also given me a perspective check re how much I value being able to focus on nurturing my family and helped me to think about the best ways to use that time.
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