Category Archives: Mom

Making Extra Money As A Mom

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We all know that extra money is always useful when you are a mother but your ability to make extra money is somewhat limited but there are ways you can bring in extra income if you use your creativity to come up with an idea.

Think about the skills that you have to put to use. Are you talented with crafts? Maybe you can make hair bows, handbags or items for use in home decor to sell.

Of course you can always make money on ebay. Ebay is a virtual marketplace where you can sell most anything for profit. You can sell all of the clothing that your children outgrow. Most people can find things around their home that they no longer use to sell as well. Items such as books, items of home decor or automobile accessories all sell well.

Can you perform a service out of your home? Maybe you are talented with numbers and could do bookkeeping for a business. Maybe you love photography and are good with a camera? Why not become a photographer?

Think outside the box. Why not use your homemaking skills to make income? How are you at ironing? You could take in clothing and do ironing in your own home. There is the option of catering if you enjoy cooking. You could bake cakes and other baked goods to sell.

There is even the option of selling your children’s old textbooks. There are huge amounts of resources out there that utilize a used textbook market. You will be helping other college students purchase discounted textbooks as well as making some extra money on the side.

You could open a daycare in your home. Opening a daycare is the best of both worlds. You get to make money for your family but still be home with them and enjoy your children.

There are ways that a mom can make extra money from home but some thought is required to do so. Take the time to think about your strong points and how you can use them to make money to help your family.

How to Work At Home As A Mom

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Working at home as a mother can be a delicate balance between organization and planning. But with a little dedication and drive any mother can find the balance of working from home and raising a family.

First you must decide what career you are going to pursue as a stay at home mom. The sky is the limit for choices. Professionally, you may find many opportunities in your area of college credits. Many companies are now realizing the benefits of allowing it’s employees to telecommute. Non-professionally there are still many opportunities available for you to earn a living from home. Blogging and freelance writing are 2 of the top growing work at home positions for stay at home. Many companies hire work at home customer service agents for a variety of roles within their organization. Some companies are even willing to change stay at home moms who have little to no professional experience.

Putting together a resume will be your number one priority when you begin looking for work at home jobs. Make sure all of your contact information and previous employment history is well highlighted in your resume. Networking will help you get your resume out there. Uploading your resume to various job sites will maximize your exposure. For writing jobs you should be prepared to write some brief sample articles as part of an employment application.

Keeping an organized work area separate from your family area will maximize your success. Planning your work schedule around your children’s school schedules will allow you the opportunity to take advantage of quiet time at your home. Many companies require that you have a quiet and professional area to work that has some basic office equipment. You will want to set you office up just like you would a job outside of your home. Include a computer, telephone and fax/printer just for the basics. Some work at home jobs will require that you purchase specialized equipment like a business phone but remember that anything that you purchase for your home office is tax deductible.

No matter what you choose to do professionally it can be a rewarding experience working from the comfort of your own home. People doing this find that they enjoy what they do for a living much more. Staying organized is the key to success.

How to Cook Better at Home for Moms

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Contemporary wisdom advises that meals cooked at home are healthier and more economical than fast foods, but who has less time to spare than busy mothers do? Cooking is uncharted territory for many moms, but the act of preparing well-balanced meals shouldn’t have to serve as one more stressor. Cooking is a learned ability that anyone can acquire, and it’s a habit that even the most harried of moms can master with five easy hints.

Start simply.

Start with recipes calling for a limited number of ingredients that are readily obtained at a local supermarket. If a recipe mentions an unfamiliar verb or adjective, skip that recipe for now; expertise comes only with practice.

Improvise.

Does a recipe call for a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, when two dashes of hot sauce might work just as well? No recipe is written in stone. Scour the pantry, and don’t be afraid to be creative. For example, unflavored Greek yogurt makes an excellent stand-in for sour cream, and honey is an alternative to sugar.

Read others’ reviews.

Unless it’s a great-grandmother’s time-tested tome, don’t bother with a recipe that has no online reviews. Avoid recipes with negative reviews; delicious as they may sound, these will often turn out as disappointingly as their reviewers warned they would.

Improve upon the basics.

Don’t be ashamed about using pre-packaged starters. Can boxed rice be enhanced by a few freshly sautéed vegetables? Can boxed pasta be made innumerably better by the addition of beef, chicken or pork? The answer is yes, to the tune of several hours saved.

Plan ahead.

Create a meal schedule for the entire week, and consider preparation times. Chop meats or vegetables while the kids are napping, or spend a few minutes during commercial breaks in a favorite show. Preparation time adds up, but it’s very manageable when planned in advance. It also helps to budget meals during the week so that you can save not only time but money.

Invest in a slow cooker; these are time-saving miracles, as anyone who has ever owned one can attest. Complete preparatory work the night before, place the ingredients in the morning, and come home to a savory, fully-cooked meal in the evening.

Cooking isn’t rocket science. If it’s a science at all, it’s one that can be mastered by following directions and by using a bit of creativity. Start small, think big, and eat well.

Good gift ideas for baby showers

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A good baby shower gift is one that is both appreciated by mother and baby. Below is a list of gift ideas that will be sure to be crowd pleasers at the next baby soirée you attend.
Diaper Cakes- This sculptural stack of diapers looks like a three tear cake but packs a lot of punch when it comes to the cute and practical gift idea. You can never have too many diapers with newborn.

Clothes- Baby clothes are always appreciated, but rather than getting newborn outfit, which the mother probably already has enough of, get an outfit for a 6 month old. Babies grow fast and sooner than later, those adorable onsies will be too small. Just keep in mind the child’s age in accordance to the season. For example, if it’s a July Baby it will be 6 months old in January. So even though it might seem odd, it is very practical to bring a jacket for 6 month to a baby shower in July. (and you might find one on sale!)
Anything off the registry- Baby registries are pretty common for expecting mothers. Rest assured that if you buy something off a baby registry, no matter how basic or boring it seems, the mother will be happy. Even if she doesn’t end up needing it, often there will be a no hassle return policy associated with a registry.

Big Ticket Items- If at all possible, pool your money with family members or friends and get one large gift like a stroller, crib, bedding, breast pump or glider chair. The honest truth is that there are only a few “necessary” baby items, and they are all expensive.
Gifts for mom- Create a small gift basket just for mom. Fill it with items she may have gone without for the past 9 months like a bottle of wine or a cute new top. Something that would be helpful for mom would be great too like a nursing bra. This would be helpful for day to day of a mother.
Skip these gifts- The following gifts are either too impractical or too common. No matter how cute, pass these by in the store.

Piggy Bank, Baby Jewelry, Picture Frames, Stuffed Animals, Bath Toys, Baby Bibles
Whatever gift you choose to bring to a baby shower, know that it will be one of the most enthusiastic gift openings you will ever be a part of as people squeal with delight when each tiny package is unveiled and excitement builds for baby’s arrival.