ForgottenWoman

The Financial Challenges

Today’s article is in response to messages from moms who have chosen home education for their families; and who are facing the daily frustrations and feelings of failure that often come with the challenge of making it financially when home educating. To say that I’ve been there and done that would be one of those understatements and since I have; well, I know exactly what these moms are facing. (At least pretty close!)

This article will not hold all of the answers, of course; but I hope it will at least spark a few ideas and offer some understanding to what many are facing. The question is regarding both the financial burdens on families that have a husband/father working to bring in the full income; and for those single mommas who have chosen to home educate your children and don’t have the ability to work outside the home. To say that this isn’t challenging in today’s economy would not be honest. Many homeschooling families are trying to make it in today’s world with 4, 5, 6 or more children. We had 9. While I tried many different things to supplement over the years – sitting up all night doing online surveys, teaching a few piano students, teaching homeschool classes and leading choirs, etc. none of these things really made a dent in the budget for keeping the household running or providing the needed curriculum.

Here are a few things that I did regularly that helped – but honestly; it wasn’t easy, it required extra time, energy and planning. But, yes. It was worth it.

*Consigning clothes: I found two shops within driving distance of our home and each season I would gather the clothing that was outgrown but still in decent shape and I would take the piles in to be consigned. With the credit I would earn, I would then purchase clothes that my children needed. To be honest, my girls’ clothes were usually in much better shape than the boys – and within the home we did a lot of hand-me-downs as well. Guess what my least favorite chore is today?! Yep – organizing clothes each season; even though I only have to do mine now.

*Ebay: I don’t think this is as popular as it once was; but I worked many hours before and after schooling for years selling products for a local store on ebay. The owner of the store paid me a commission for each sale. This was tedious and the hardest part for me was packaging and shipping the items. It was so time consuming – but the extra money was helpful.

*For a couple of years I cleaned houses several times a week and the extra income was again helpful; but again, as a full-time mom I grew weary. In order to make it worth the time I had to clean very upscale homes where the owners would watch as I scrubbed and polished wood floors on my hands and knees. Some of my children would go with me and help on occasion but once again – while helpful for a period; this wasn’t sustainable for my health.

*Yard sales. When my eldest son joined the Air Force and we had a graduation date in sight, we knew that we couldn’t afford a family trip to Texas unless we did something drastic. So I did. For 6 weeks, a dear friend and I held all day Saturday yard sales and sold everything we didn’t absolutely have to have! And we did it! That trip to Texas is a precious memory and I cannot imagine any one of us missing out on that graduation ceremony!

*Car Washes. As a homeschooling family, there are extra expenses when we choose extra curriculars for our children. Athletic organizations require funds and for each team, all-star trip or tournament there were needs. Often, I would gather the team members who needed funding and we would work together to wash cars on Saturdays leading up to the seasons. Other times, I went door to door to businesses in town seeking donations to sponsor our local teams. One year, I took care of an elderly man and his wife for months in return for their sponsorship of two of my children to play for an organization. Where there is a will, there is a way.

*Used Curriculum Sales: Each year I would go through our books and determine what we would never use again – what was in good enough shape to sell. Now, mind you; in order to do this one, you need to make sure your children know not to destroy the books during the year. I have several “doodlers” and their “doodling” made the books impossible to sell. Those were donated – or to be honest, may still be in the attic.

*Hosting date nights in the community. Yes, we set up several date nights and babysat children for a few so that their parents could have an evening out. These were for specific needs in seasons.

*Many people don’t think about the fact that homeschooling families have to provide their own curriculums. It seems obvious, but until you are sitting staring at what you need and multiplying the cost times the number of children, you don’t really comprehend what that looks like. In today’s world, the need for a computer for the children to use is also a real thing! Along with the above ideas, the library is a great source/tool and there are many free internet options. My only warning is that research is so necessary – don’t blindly trust an author, or a recommended book or site.

*Now, I’m going to actually talk about a touchy subject. That is the world of Direct Sales and Referral Marketing. While the MLM way of making extra income can be a negative thing, I happen to believe that it depends on the integrity of the one involved. I was very successful in this world for several years because I found something that truly helped me and I was able to share it with family and friends who also benefited. The danger comes when it becomes our identity. I stepped back from really promoting personally because my goals and priorities are rooted in ministry and not in promoting a product. At one point I was bringing in almost $4000 extra per month and it allowed me to pay off some medical debt, provide vehicles for myself and teens and do some much needed work around the house. I still believe in the product, still use it and still make it available to friends, but I no longer make that kind of money. Why not? Because I chose to not allow it to be my identity. If you can find a way to promote something you believe in without it taking over – it could be helpful.

*Two things that a few of my friends are doing that are very popular today – and that they are successful at doing are Affiliate Marketing and Digital Marketing. Both of these are done from home and are learned skills that can be beneficial if you are looking for more than a little extra. Several single moms that I know are doing this to cover their entire budget. If you are willing to learn and work – this is a great possibility.

*One more idea – consider your gifts, talents, loves. Is there something that you are good at that you could share with your local homeschool community for a fee? You may be able to “swap” with others – allowing families to learn together and from one another while keeping the cost for all minimal. We did this for several years as well.

Mommas, you may not be financially “successful” in the eyes of anyone – and at times, you may feel that what you are doing isn’t worthy of praise and honor – but I want to encourage you today. We may have to set aside our pride to do many of the things suggested above, but I can let go of my pride in order to help my family. Your investment in your children and their education is a great sacrifice on your part. I know it. God knows it. One day, you will reap the rewards of your investment.