If you’re a stay-at-home mom and your family encounters a financial crisis, you might wonder whether you should get a job, especially if your spouse is out of work. Of course, taking a job outside the home comes with its own set of problems. Child care could easily eat away at most or even all of what you make, and even if a spouse’s job loss is the issue, they might not be able to step into full-time child care if they are aggressively job hunting. At the same time, it can be hard to feel like you are not making a big monetary contribution even though chances are you already have your hands full at home. Some of the solutions below may help relieve some of your family’s stress during this time.
Budgeting
You might already be handling some of the family finances, but whatever part you play, this might be a good time for you to step in and give the budget an overhaul. If you are like most families, there are places where you are overspending. Putting a budget together can also give you valuable information at a time like this about what your savings look like and exactly how this financial crisis will impact you and for how long. That in turn can help you make a decision about whether any of the following solutions are right for you.
Selling Things
Just as most people have costs they cut back on; most people also have some things they can sell. This could range from furniture to kitchen goods to clothes that you and your family no longer need. However, you might consider selling some big-ticket items as well. For example, if you have two cars, do you need both of them? Another option is selling your life insurance. Many people do not realize they can do this, but if you need a bigger sum of money than you can get through other means, this can be an excellent choice. You can easily get an estimate for what your life insurance is worth to help you make this decision.
Working From Home
The gig economy has provided great opportunities for homemakers. Even if you can’t set aside big chunks of time to work, there are websites where you can pick up tasks that you work on when you are able. Other possibilities include surveys or participating in research studies that pay. If you are crafty, there are sites where you can sell the things that you make. However, if you are really successful at these sites, just make sure you can continue to fulfill the volume of orders that you are taking in.
Downsizing
Every parent wants to minimize upheaval and stress in the lives of their children, but there are times when the best solution might be selling your home and move to a smaller place. You might even move in with family members for a while to cut back on expenses. Keep in mind that the younger your children are, the less disruptive this will be. It’s one thing to have a 4-year-old suddenly start sharing a room with a sibling or a cousin and quite a different thing to ask a 14-year-old to do the same.
