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Millennial Housewife

How Do You Invest In Your Business When You Have No Money?

Posted in Blog, Millennial Housewife, Money

Day 6-10:19 pm: Ok, I’m going to admit something to you. I didn’t focus on my job hunt today. I worked at the Preschool (where my toddler goes) and then got caught up in a webinar about launching a product. It’s one of those that promises you’ll make an obscene about of money in only a few months. I usually watch all of the free versions of these webinars on how to grow my blog and business, because, quite frankly I can’t afford “Only 15 easy payments of $97”. Really?? But, after watching the webinar came the pitch, and it actually caught my attention. It offered a program that instantly lays out the exact launch schedule for your product and walks you through it every step of the way. I thought that was pretty cool! And, it wasn’t $997, it was only $97. Obviously, the person did a good job of creating “urgency and confidence”, because I wanted to buy it. So it got me thinking.

How do you invest in your business when you have no money?

My sister-in-law started an online business a year ago. It has a physical product that she sells (a subscription box service) that is really wonderful, and she started a blog to go along with it. She quit her financial, well-paying corporate job to start this business so that she could be home with her kids. Sound familiar? So many women I know are doing this more and more , and I think it’s really wonderful. These mompreneurs are reshaping the business world and creating harmony between their business and their family. But, these moms invest money into their business.

One mom I know has invested over $10,000 to start her online business. Then there’s the upkeep costs of a web designer, social media manager, etc. It’s a big investment, and you don’t even know if it’ll make you any money.

There is the potential to make a lot of money, work from home, and spemd more time with your family. That is why moms do it.

But, what about those of us that don’t have $10,000 to spare? 

So far, I have invested about $250 into my blog and business. That includes web domain, training, WordPress theme, and logo. I think compared to $10,000 that’s not bad. And you can do that too.

But, the thing with that is I’ve had to do everything on my own. I’ve taught myself web design, social media marketing, SEO, and blogging. Would it have been nice to have some help at times? Yes. Though I do enjoy figuring it out on my own.

However, when thinking about investing in your business, you have to think about the return. Will this investment same me time and make me money? Will it help me reach my goals quicker? Will it help me make more money?

The money part is hard to determine. There are so many factors that go into making money. Market, timing, product, etc.

So really you have to think about the time you will save and meeting your goals quicker. At least, that is what I’m telling myself.

When you have no money to invest, you really have to weigh if this is going to be a good investment. And weigh all your options.

I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Life by Design by Allison Hardy (AllisonHardy.com). She was saying that when she first started her business, she and her husband were broke. They had no money and her business just wasn’t working. She tried everything, but wasn’t making any money. So, one day she called her husband and asked if she could invest in a business coach. It was going to be a lot of money and she was scared. But, without questions, he said go for it. So she opened a credit card and paid for the coaching service on the credit card.

You know what? She has since paid it all back and her business is thriving. It was definitely worth the investment.

So, sometimes it’s ok to take a leap of faith and invest in yourself. Just make sure you weigh all your options and make a smart investment that will be good for your family, and your business.

I’ll let you know if I make this purchase and if I think it’s worth it!

Alright, my hubby wants to watch some Grand Tour with me. Gotta go!

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Giving Your Kid Some Independence (Because They’ll Love it!)

Posted in Blog, Millennial Housewife, Parenting

Day 3-10:37 pm: Giving my little one some independence has always been a difficult task for me. I have been practicing attachment parenting so she’s been pretty much by my side at all times. It drives my father-in-law crazy and he always tells me to give her some space. But, it’s the way I feel comfortable parenting, and the way my mom raised me (and I turned out alright….I think….). So, when thinking about jobs and even just my job search, I’ve had a lot of anxiety around the potential that I won’t be spending as much time with her. But, I have to keep telling myself that giving your kid some independence is an important part of growing up and development, despite what my heart is telling me.

Do you have anxiety when thinking about giving your kid some independence?

It’s ok, most parents do, no matter how old the kid is. I have been working at my toddler’s preschool but had the day off, and this afternoon I needed some time to submit a few more applications for jobs. Despite my anxiety and hesitation, I decided to book her a spot at the “drop-in” preschool and go to the local Starbucks and work. Since I have been working at the preschool for a year, I know the teachers, I know the kids, and I know that she has a good time.

But, we both have some separation anxiety. I get worried about dropping her off, and she usually cries when I do. Ugh. A vicious cycle. I’m sure she was just picking up on my anxiety. But each time I drop her off she gets better. The crying lasts only a few minutes and then she is fine.

So this afternoon I booked 1.5 hours and drove to the preschool to drop her off.

My heart beat fast. I was starting to get my anxiety. But, I knew that her friends would be there and she hadn’t seen them during the winter break. So I took a deep breath, and dropped her off. And guess what? She was totally fine! She strolled right in like she owned the place. She started doing an art project. The kids ran up and greeted her. And when I said I was going to go run a quick errand, she looked up and said, “You’ll be back quick?” and I said, “Yes, super quick.” Then she turned back around and worked on her art project like it was nothing!

I was thrilled and confused. But, also proud of my little girl who is growing up. So I slinked away, still feeling the anxiety, but knowing that she is fine. And I have to admit, it felt good.

 It was amazing to see her gain her independence.

I went to Starbucks and got a lot done. I didn’t actually join HireMyMom.com yet because I got side tracked on a few other sites like Indeed.com and Upwork.com where I applied to a few jobs. And, those sites were free, so that’s a big plus!

When I went to pick her up, she was playing happily with her friends and when she saw me, she had a big smile and ran over and gave me a huge hug! *Heart melt* Then she said, “Mommy, I had no tears!” and I said I was so proud of her. Then she beamed with pride and I could tell she was proud of herself too.

It was an amazing moment.

To see her have some independence and thrive, and be proud of herself for the accomplishment, was incredible. It made me feel so much better about giving her some independence, and knowing that when I do find a job, she will enjoy having some time at school to be her own wonderful person.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have anxiety around it. But, this was a great win for us.

So remember, giving your kid some independence is ok. And, you will all feel great about it.

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Craigslist and Waiting are all Part of the Job Search

Posted in Blog, Millennial Housewife, Mom Job Search

Day 4-11:11 pm: Well, yesterday I did it. I applied to two jobs. Despite my fingers not wanting to hit send, I chose to apply to jobs for my family. Even though I want to be home with my little one, I know that we need more money to get by. We want to provide her with everything she dreams of. We want to take family vacations. We want to keep her in ballet. We want to go out to dinner every once in a while. These are all things some people may take for granite. But, for people who struggle with money, they are luxuries. So, I applied to the jobs.

We established before that a job search is hard.

Every aspect of it sucks. And there’s no getting around it (unless you find a job). Part of that is the waiting. I’m talking about waiting to hear back from the company, if you are lucky enough to get a response. Most companies won’t even say anything. Which is why it is important to follow up. Ladders.com states, “If the job posting doesn’t provide a clear close date, HR experts and career coaches generally agree that one week after applying is an appropriate amount of time to wait before you follow up.” But, don’t come off too impatient or pushy. Keep it light and friendly and if appropriate you can ask a few conversational questions. This will show your interest in the job and place your name at the forefront of the hiring manager’s mind as they search through hundreds of applications.

To Craigslist or not to Craigslist

Many people are very hesitant to use Craigslist because of the scams. But, to be honest, I have found my last couple of jobs there. You just have to be really careful about reading the job posting and making sure it is legit. Anything on Craigslist that tells you that you will:

  • Make a ton of money
  • Have to pay some sort of fee up front
  • They will give you money for office supplies but then you have to send them money back

IS A SCAM.

RealWaystoEarn.com  has a great checklist on how to avoid scams when searching for work from home jobs.

Make sure you research the company before applying, and make sure they are real. If you take the proper precautions, you really can find some good opportunities on Craigslist.

Ok, off to bed! Tomorrow I’m going to join HireMyMom.com and I’ll let you know what I think about it. Good night!

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Mom’s Guide to Searching for Work

Posted in Blog, Millennial Housewife, Mom Job Search

Day 3-8:51 pm: Remember how I told you that our money situation was tight and I had to find a job ASAP? Well, despite everything in my being telling me not to, I started searching for jobs. Yuck! Nobody, and I mean NOBODY likes searching for jobs.

You have to scroll through hundreds of job description, dissect what the company actually is looking for, try to figure out if it works for your family, and then, if it checks all of your hundred boxes of what you want, you have to apply for it. But, you have to customize your resume, write a new cover letter, and answer their essay questions all while standing on your head. OK, maybe not the last part. It is a PAIN! I know, because I’m doing it. But, I’m here to save you some time and energy (and maybe several headaches). You’re welcome.

So, here is a short guide I put together about searching for work.

As you know, I am looking for a job with flexible work hours and work from home opportunities so that I can be present with my toddler while she’s home. It’s important that I am able to have time to do my job while still being a good mom. It’s not just important, it’s mandatory. So, I’m looking for that “diamond in the rough” job that will give me that harmony I desire.

Here are a few things to do before you begin your search:

  • Write down all of your skills and education and figure out what industry you want to be in. Education? Marketing? Sales?
  • Identify mandatory requirements that you want the job to have. Those are things like: Part-Time vs. Full-Time, location, work from home, and hours.
  • Take a look at your family budget. How much money do you have to make each month to get by? How much money would you like to make? Once you determine that, you can calculate how many hours you need to work to make that money. It looks something like this:

(Hourly wage x Numbers of Hours worked each week) x 4 = Amount earned each month (before taxes)

for example: ($25 hr x 20 hrs per week)  = $500 per week x 4 = $2000 per month

  • Put them all together and what have you got? The right job.

So, now you have figured out what type of job to look for. But where do you find it?

I’ve been looking a few places online. Some are paid services, but mostly it’s free. Here are my favorites for the best work from home jobs.

  • FlexJobs– This is a paid search engine. It costs about $15/month. But, it has a ton of part time and work from home jobs from major companies. I like this site (despite having to pay for it), because it gives me a clear understanding of what I am applying for.
  • Real Ways to Earn Money Online– Yes, That’s the name of the website. It’s a really great resource for work from home jobs and it’s FREE.
  • Hire My Mom– This website is also paid, so I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard a lot of good things. Especially if you are looking for Virtual Assistant or Freelance jobs. Check it out!

Ok, good luck on your job search! I’m off to do mine!

 

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