Family FinancesBeing a money making mom has changed my life and the life of my family! Learn how I went from being a stay-at-home mom who could barely afford it to living my dreams in less than three years!
Three years ago this month, I wrote what would turn into one of the most popular posts of this blog: Staying at Home with Your Kids When You Can Barely Afford It.
I don’t think it was the writing or even the subject matter that made this post so popular. Rather, I believe it was because I took a chance and was vulnerable on this site for the first time, sharing our family’s situation of living on a low income.
Little did I know that that post would jump start this blog into becoming a business, and, three years later, our family’s primary income source would be this blog.
My husband and I can pinpoint four main ways how being a money making mom has changed our lives:
1. We’ve been able to achieve seemingly impossible goals.
When I first started this blog, our goal was that we would be able to send our firstborn to kindergarten at a part-time Christian school (she is homeschooled two days per week) by the time she turned six. She was two at the time.
Our daughter is now in her second year at this school, and we are incredibly grateful has God has provided more than we could have dreamed or imagined.
Not only did we achieve this seemingly impossible goal, but we’ve also been able to pay for my husband to take classes to achieve a school administrator’s degree (which he will finish in the spring!).
He was also able to take a mission trip to Cuba to help with a marriage ministry conference in spring 2014, which had been a years-long dream for him.
In addition, this blog has opened up doors for me to work toward traditional publishing with the help of an amazing literary agent, and God has also given me a platform to encourage more women than I could ever meet in person.
What seemed like a BIG goal when I began this blog in 2011 became just the tip of the iceberg of what God has done through this site.
2. We’ve been able to expose our children to international missions and other cultures.
My husband and I met while serving as missionaries in Costa Rica. International missions and other cultures (especially the Latino culture) are passions we both want to instill in our children.
For years it seemed that we would never leave the United States again, much less take our children on an international trip!
Last November, we were able to take them on their first airplane ride and international trip to Vancouver, BC, Canada. This was a big first step, and it required us to get them passports, even though the Canadian culture is very similar to our own.
This summer, though, our dream of taking our girls to Costa Rica one day became a reality!
We traveled the country for five weeks–visiting old friends, brushing up on our Spanish (and introducing our girls to the language), participating in some mission work and meeting some missionaries, and doing a little site-seeing.
The blog funded this trip; we were able to pay for it debt free!
3. We’ve made some amazing friends.
Some of my dearest friends in the whole world are other money making moms I’ve met through blogging.
I communicate almost daily with these women via email, Facebook, and text message, and I’m so grateful to have found others who share this passion for making an income from home.
Our friendships go deeper than just the fact that we all run professional blogs. These ladies are dear sisters in Christ, and I have been so privileged to pray with and for these women and know they are praying for me as well.
A couple weeks ago, my husband and girls and I attended our first family blogging retreat with six other blogging families in the mountains of Tennessee. It was a joy to see our girls bonding with the kids from these families, and my husband and I feel like we made some lifelong friendships in this group.
4. We’ve been able to give generously.
My husband’s love language is gifts, and he is one of the most generous people I know.
For years, though, we were only able to give our tithe and a small check to a missionary family each month (and both of those were very sacrificial at the time!).
We always wanted to give more, and it has been a true joy to see the fruits of our work on this site turn into adoption funds for dear friends, a widow sponsorship through Hope 4 Women, a Compassion International child sponsorship, donations to medical crisis, support for missionary families, and giving more to our local church.
When a need arises, we are incredibly grateful that God has provided enough for our family to give through this money making mom venture!
What about you? Do you want to become a money making mom?
I firmly believe that God has uniquely gifted and called each of us.
If you are feeling the tug to become a money making mom and are looking for ways to bring in an income from home, I encourage you to check out my dear friend and mentor Crystal Paine’s new book, Money Making Mom.
My money making mom venture has been blogging, but, for others, it’s been an Etsy shop, a tutoring business, or a cleaning service. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider being a money making mom!
In Money Making Mom, Crystal dives into the nitty gritty of how she and other successful money making moms started their businesses.
The book will teach you how to:
✓ Expand your thinking to consider multiple money-making ideas
✓ Dream big and set long-term financial goals
✓ Forge an intentional path with clear priorities
✓ Nurture your unique skills, talents, passions, and knowledge
✓ Conquer the saboteurs of insecurity, fear, lack of time, and naysayers
✓ Shift your perspective to live more generously for others
✓ and much more!
If you want to read more about my personal blogging journey, check out these posts:
How I Make an Income from Home
Blogging: A Lonely, Crowded Place {at times}
How to Grow a Blog {resources + why slow and steady wins the race}
How to Make a Full-Time Income Blogging
Facebook, Pinterest, and the Value of Negative Feedback (a podcast)
Prefer video to reading? Check out my scope on this post below!
Follow me on Twitter to see all my Periscope announcements!
Melissa Kaiserman
I never tire of hearing your story, Erin!
I have been designing & selling handmade products via my Etsy shop for four years now (three of those full-time), and now I’m beginning to mentor other Etsy sellers who want to grow and learn to manage that growth–especially other wives and moms who value their roles and desire to keep their priorities in line as they run a shop.
Crystal’s new book is so fantastic. I think it is going to bless, inspire, and motivate many women!
Erin
Thank you for the encouragement, Melissa! Were you on my scope the other day? Which is your screen name? I think I recognize you from there! That is so awesome that you are now mentoring other Etsy owners!!
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
So inspiring Erin. It’s amazing how much God has expanded your ministry and it’s such a blessing to see how you are using the fruit of your work to further bless others. That blogging retreat sounds amazing too! I love that you all included the rest of your families in the time away. 🙂
Erin
Isn’t God amazing?! This blogging retreat was so neat. I loved that it included everyone. A BIG CONGRATS to you!!
Jamie @ Medium Sized Family
What an awesome story your life is! Thanks so much for sharing it. I am loving this book, too.
Erin
Thank you, Jamie! Isn’t her book amazing and so inspirational?!
Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving
Beautifully written, Erin, and what a witness of what God can do to surprise us! Since I started staying home with my son (18 months ago), I have been focusing on turning my blog into a source of income for our family. It is hard work, but so rewarding to see those dreams coming to be. I also teach piano lessons on the side, create custom, Biblical version of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” book, and a couple other little things. But all those things add up and allow me to be a money making mom at home with my son…and the next one on the way!
Erin
God has surprised us for sure! If it’s an encouragement to you, I left out that when I first started blogging, I was still freelancing for my local newspaper, tutoring at a local elementary school, and teaching some homeschoolers Spanish. They were all side jobs that added up until the blog became enough on its own! You never know what God has in store!
[email protected]
As a fairly new blogger, I always love hearing inspiring stories like yours! I work a full-time job as a teacher, but I am trying to earn additional money (and follow my passion for writing) through my blog. I also loved Money Making Mom. Great book!
Erin
I’m glad you enjoyed Money Making Mom as well! My husband still teaches 4 days/week. It’s tough to make it on a teacher salary (depending on the state, but ours is one of the lowest). Blogging has helped us so much!
Alisha @ The Savvy Bump
I just watched your scope and hopped over here to read your post as well. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
I can’t wait to read Money Making Mom! You and Crystal are both an inspiration and I appreciate that you put God first. It warms my heart to hear you praise and credit Him for everything. We do as well.
Erin
Thanks for watching the scope! What is your screen name? Periscope is so much fun! It is so personable compared to other forms of social media!
I love that we are on the same page with giving God the glory! Crystal is such an encouragement and inspiration. Her heart really shines through in her book!
Denise (Life With the Lid Up)
Thank you for sharing your heart! I am a brand new blogger and while I’m not sure of the direction it will go, it is encouraging to read how others can take their dreams and turn them into a reality!
Erin
Best wishes to you on this new adventure, Denise! It’s a lot of hard, hard work, but the rewards can be amazing.
Alisha @ www.familytravelonashoestring.com
I’m just now getting started on my own journey. I’ve preordered Crystal’s book and can’t wait to get it in. I love this post, it gives me encouragement to keep working hard!
Erin
I’m so glad you were encouraged, and I hope the book inspires you even more!
Mary Brown
I am extremely new to blogging but am so inspired by your story Erin! You have a very beautiful family! It’s wonderful to see how God works in our lives and not only blesses us but so many others! I am also a fan of money saving mom and am looking forward to reading her new book Money Making Mom.
Thanks again for sharing your story. 🙂
Erin
Thank you so much for sharing, Mary! I hope you love blogging! Crystal is such an inspiration, and I hope you love her book.
Jill York
Sounds like I need to read her new book! I’m always in need of inspiration and improvement! 🙂
Erin
It’s a really great one, Jill! I hope you are doing well!
molly
this is a great post. I was, just yesterday, thinking about restarting my blog again. I did it in 2013-2014 through Blogger, but then quit it last year. I was thinking of doing it the professional way, with webhosting and a domain. I think that would be a great New Years Resolution. I do alot of things on the side to make money, because my husband is not working, we use mostly all the apps that are out there to make money. I no longer pay at Target because of Shopkick. I love Ibotta! I sell our clothes through Ebay, that paid for our Thanksgiving last year. There are so many things to do, I would love to share it. Thanks for your inspiration. Keep doing what you are doing.
Erin
I love how you are doing so many creative things to make a living, Molly! If you have the money to invest, a self-hosted wordpress.org site is the way to go! We did not have any money to invest at first, so I used blogger, but switching to WP was really helpful, and the blog took off after that. Many blessings to you as you seek the next step in this money-making mom journey!
Molly
Thanks! Since WordPress is Free at first, could I create the free one and then upgrade to the paid one?
Erin
Hi Molly! I’m not 100% sure. I don’t think you are allowed to monetize on a free WordPress.com site. It always confused me, but 5 years ago, I was advised that blogger was better than WP.com, but WP.org is the gold standard! Sorry that’s probably not much help!
Samantha
This is great how the Lord has opened the door for you to have an income and be at home with your little ones and reach other life goals. Over the last year my husband and I wanted to have income coming in from multiple sources and not just his. I have been a stay at home Mom with my little one for about 2 year at that point. I have a degree in Elementary Ed and had taught preschool for a few years so for me offering daycare/preschool out of my home fit just great for us. There are many ways to bring income in. It’s finding the one that right you! We also rent out part of our house. By having multiple income sources it has helped us reach goals that we thought would take us longer and gives stability that if something ever happened with my hubby’s job it would be tight but not impossible to pay our bills etc.
Erin
I love that you found what works just for you! It’s so neat to get to see how other creative “money-making moms” are making it work! Thanks for sharing!
Sharon
What an inspirational story! You are an amazing preneuress! I have loved reading your inspirational blog. It has given me so much hope.
Candace
This brought me to tears. We are in the place of not making ends meet financially right now. We are extremely frugal, but we’ve just had a lot of transitions in the past year. I am stepping out in starting my own business as a natural health practitioner. It’s what I’ve wanted to do for so long, and now our family really needs me to “come through.” It feels so stressful and impossible at this point, but I am praying and trusting one step at a time. I would love to have a group of other women entrepreneurs to connect with. Do you know a good way for me to find that? I will definitely check out the book.
Erin
Thank you!