To Sell or not to Sell
Proverbs 31 describes an excellent wife. Honestly, the list of noble qualities is overwhelming. This lady is active. She looks, works, brings, rises, gives, portions, considers, plants, stretches, grasps, extends, makes, and supplies. Whew! I barely keep the toys and dog hair off the floor and meals on the table.
“Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also…Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” What am I producing that will praise me? It certainly is not a clean, perfect house, art and crafts to sell, or prolific writings. The investment in my children profits for a lifetime and more, but increasing the financial stability of my family is also a commendable goal.
A praiseworthy wife “considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.” She plans for the future and smiles at it. This seems like freedom to me. I tend to worry and fret about tomorrow. Planning, considering, and working are a better use of my thoughts and energy.
Finding a lucrative job as a stay-at-home-mom is not easy. Substantial increase requires time that, right now, is devoted to making memories and teaching lessons. I save a lot of money by frugality and creativity. My desire is to add profitable industry.
There are many opportunities with which to be industrious. Numerous networks exist that sell beauty and cleaning supplies. However, I have no passion for that. Work does not have to be enjoyable to be profitable, but I would like to use the talents and interests God has given me.
Each month I clean a few houses. My perfectionist tendency contributes to my client’s happiness. While I don’t thoroughly enjoy this hard work, it pays well, and I am good at it. It fits my skills. Are there other interests that can be used for increase? (Besides eating, which only increases my waistline.)
For quite awhile, I’ve wondered if my love of books could provide for the future, or, at least, for more books. Becoming an affiliate of ChristianBook.com and YWAM Publishing may assist this dream. As an affiliate, I earn commissions for sales generated from links embedded on this website. The links have been in my sidebar for about three months. (Thank you to those who have used them!) Then I read, “If you are going to sell products, really sell them.”
A library of excellent books exists in my brain and on my overflowing shelves. Referrals to book sellers seem incomplete without adding my personal recommendations for you to consider. A few friends appreciate my suggestions, so I hope you will, too.
You are invited to view the new page, “The Best Books.” It contains a few of my favorites. Periodically, reviews of other books will be published on this site, and, of course, you are free to use or not to use the affiliate links at anytime.
What are your ideas for making money at home? What methods work well for you?
I’m sure you’ll be shocked to learn that occasionally I earn money by helping people with websites like the one we have setup here. :D
Andrea,
That’s great! You are very good at it. Maybe one day, a few decades from now, I will be, too. :)
The design aspect interests me most. The Sandbox theme might be a good place to start. I just need the courage and time to mess with it.
I think many, many moms are in the same boat. I would also like to make some money on the side. Lord willing, some ideas I have will pan out…
Renae – the design part IS fun and frustrating. :) We’ll be placing some things in the backend soon so you can edit the look of the themes (and a whole pile more).
AM – and you can place ads or moneymakers on your blog here all you like, unlike at wordpress.com. :)
Oh, and on my regular personal blog, I do carry ads and they have paid for hosting costs. I keep all my online money earned in one paypal account and use that to pay for online things like domains and webspace (where we are now). It’s been paying for itself for a while now. And in running this place, I was able to be hired by someone else for a few things and was able to make a hosue payment. (I should say it’s a cheap house. ;) But hubby was proud.)
I thing a book review site is a wonderful idea. I’m off to take a look at your new page.
Anna-Marie,
It does help to know that I am not alone. You do have some very good ideas. I especially like your etsy shop.
Andrea,
You should be proud, too. You have found something to do that fits your talents and pays the mortgage, at least, once in awhile. :)
I do have a question about BlogHer ads. I want to apply, but a requirement for WordPress blogs is self-hosting. I assume this is to make sure the code can be inserted.
I don’t want to move my blog. I like it here, and I’m not sure it would be worth it anyway. Do you have any suggestions or input? Is it even remotely possible this site would be considered self-hosted even though you do the work in the backend? Thanks so much!
Oh, you are gonna love this answer…
They state that because Wordpress.COM strips out the javascript from the ads.
Here we have a setting we can override to allow it. :) We are using very similar code, but in the end, we can do what we like with it for the things *our* users want. they are too big to “know” someone won’t abuse that feature and input malicious code.
I’m gonna go double-check your account and make sure it is checked off.
Okay, it’s enabled. Apply away. :)
I have wondered this so many times as well – I just can’t come up with anything so I am leaving it to God to present an idea and/or opportunity for me if He so wills. I am excited about your book recommendations page – how often do you think you will add to it? I concur with all of them so far – most excellent resources! ( :
Warmly,
Mandi
Hi Dear Ones,
Please don’t think you have to look beyond your own homes to profit your husband and your household. The mentioned, “toys and dog hair off the floor and meals on the table” is of GREAT profit to the home. As well as clean laundry, taught and cared for children. Yes, even financially. You aren’t paying someone else to do it, and you can do so many things to earn money by saving money.
Many times the things a mom of young children can do in caring for her home and family SAVE far more money than she could make elsewhere.
But throughout her life the Pro. 31 woman expands the things that she does within the home and her interests, to help bless others.
A love of books, a love of design, a love of teaching, a love of ?cleaning – really? – are all blessed ministries we can share.
But still nothing is greater than “the investment in my children [and husband, and friends and neighbors, that] profits for a lifetime and more. Our role as women is such a rich and rewarding one, blessing many in both our home and the homes of others.
I’ll continue this over at my blog, as not to overextend here.
http://frommeandmyhouse.com/blog-fromme
Andrea, How True! “the design part IS fun and frustrating. :-)” The problem is WHY do I think it’s fun when it is so frustrating? Well, perhaps because I don’t have enough time to devote to it to really know what I’m doing :-) I guess like many things I do, I like the end results rather than the journey getting there.
Lisa @ Me and My House
Mandi,
It is always best in his hands, isn’t it? He has always been faithful to provide for us.
I’m glad you like the new page. My goal is to add to it frequently, but I’m still trying to figure out how to keep it easy to use. Long lists can be tedious to read. It will be fun and frustrating to work it out. :)
Lisa,
Thank you so much for visiting and sharing your thoughts.
According to a survey, mothers would earn $140,000 if paid for all the work they do. And, that doesn’t include love and discipleship, which are priceless. The most important payments are eternal, but a few on earth don’t hurt. :)
I do not love cleaning, but it is a blessing for the individuals who hire me, especially the widow who is homebound. I clean her small house rather quickly. Then we visit and enjoy her garden.
I’ll look forward to reading your blog. Encouragement is always welcome.
Whoo-hoo! My worth has greatly increased over the years. I remember when they said a “housewife” was worth $50,000 a year.
Yea, I know, I’m just an old mama. AND a good part of that increase is probably because moms didn’t do NEAR the taxi service back then. Children didn’t go out on their own so much, and when they did they had to walk. But that may be balanced out by the fact that moms also made most of the meals at home – from scratch. Yep, I’m that old.
And thanks. I’m glad to hear you don’t love cleaning :-)
I do have a NWM biz that does help out with small bills (well, more in our health than pocketbooks). I have to be careful to guard my time and not devote time that is for my family to it. Then there are some months I feel I need to do my biz more. A SAHM has a lot on her mind and plate!!
I think that Prov 31 woman was in the retirement years, I don’t think she had small children or teens in her home when she did all those things. Ruth Smith said this week, be good to yourself. Though she was talking about grading, I think it applies to all we do a moms.
Shannon,
Yes, Proverbs 31 seems to be a reflection of an entire lifetime. This woman probably sought balance, just as we do. Her hands were involved in many things, but her heart firmly focused on her family.
Thanks for sharing Ruth Smith’s words. They exhibit strength and peace I need right now.
I look forward to reading about your time at the conference.
Thanks for the ideas. I’ve been trying to find ways to monetize my blog for almost a year. So far, I’ve generated the big fat ZERO :D I have been staying away from Adsense and things like that, but I did put some selected Amazon ads on my site – mostly books. Your idea for a book review was an inspiration.
I think most homeschool moms want to find a way to contribute financial to the home. Maybe its the supermom complex, maybe its the need to afford curriculum and field trips, what ever the reason, follow your talents and dreams!
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