Feeling financially inadequate while homeschooling

       One of the hardest and emotional issues with homeschooling is feeling financial insecure. This is especially true if you worked full time and brought in a good pay prior to deciding to homeschool.

     This is particularity true with me. I am not going to sugar coat it with an extra coat of frosting and some sprinkles, it’s hard! I am often torn between homeschooling and working. We did not decide to homeschool until the week before my children were entering into 3rd grade and Kindergarten. I felt a calling, so to speak. After moving from Indiana, I could not find a job and my heart kept telling me it was time to stay home.

 

      The income that I did receive was not glamorous, by any means, but it was a good wage. We could easily pay debt off, buy that extra special toy, go the movies and have a special dinner. Without my pay, we have to scale back! Again, I feel that at times I should be at a job making money. I feel that is the only way to contribute to my family’s securities, the only way I can be important to my family.

       However, if you have had the opportunity to homeschool, then you know that is not true. The truth is that I actually contribute so much more than financial gains. I get to spend time with my kids that I would not have; I get to help them learn and watch them grow; I get to make sure they get the foundations of any particular subject; I get to teach them so much about life and we have grown so close. I love it and they love it.

       I speak to many parents with adult children and I have heard on several occasions, "You can always make money, but you can never buy back time.” I will not ever get back the time I have with my children, no money in the world can do it. No money in the world could even replace my time with them. I teach them more than any money could ever buy. So why do I feel bad?

 

          Our society yells at us, "If you want to be successful you must have a job to buy all this stuff". If you do not have this type of car, this type of house or your kids do not have this type of clothing and the electronic of the day, then you are a failure! If this is success then I do not want it.

         My success looks a little more like, extra snuggles, learning chemistry with cooking, teaching my children the value of love, respect and hard work. I love homeschooling, my kids love it and I am blessed by doing it.

        So if you are a homeschooling parent that does not work or maybe works part-time, please do not feel like you are alone. If the bills are piling in and money is tight, keep in mind that these moments with your children should be cherished, they should not be stressful. Do not feel like you have to keep up with society's standards and do not feel defeated. I know how it feels, it hurts and frankly, it sucks! Take a financial class, such as Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. 

  

         I would love to hear your stories about how your family deals with financial insecurities and even some suggestions on how to survive financially while homeschooling! 

     

         Here are a few to think about and help get your gears going...find a part time job, look for a weekend job, and  re-think an expensive curriculum.

A few great jobs that are great for homeschool families:
Have your own business (any business but here are few suggestions)
Photographer
Online professor
Professor
Music teacher
Art teacher 
Fitness instructor (AFAA)
Virtual administrative jobs (Odesk, Elance, Sykes, Alpine Access, Convergys, Zirtual and West Corporation, Maybrooks)
Clean houses (Care and Sittercity)
Open a daycare
Babysit (Care and Sittercity)
After school program (Care and Sittercity)
Sell your baked goods
Become a vendor, either online or at a local store
Direct sales (Pampered Chef, Mia Bella, ect.)
Party planner
Ghost writing
Tutoring (GetEducated and Tutor.com)
Prepare taxes
Speech therapist
Foreign language teacher 
Create and sell a product
Freelance editor (First Editing and Cactus)
Massage therapy
Holistic healer
Midwife
Part time nurse
Web design (Odesk)
Write a book
Web search evaluator (Appen, Leapforce, Lionbridge,
Tech support agent (Plum Choice, Apple)
Medical Transcriptionist (Precyse and Amphion Medical)
Concierges (VIPdesk)
Translator (Cactus and SDL)
Pet watching (Rover, DogVacay, Care and Sittercity)
Run errands for people (check out TaskRabbit)

TaskRabbit.com

Stylist (SwitchFix)
Hair dresser
Secret shopper (Gigwalk and Rewardable)

Gigwalk

Mechanic
Painter
Gardener (teach people and sell your stuff)
Youtube Star
Travel Advisor
Franchise owner
Chef (cook for people then deliver)
Global Advertising
Teacher (K-12 hires virtual teachers)
Project Manager
Nurse Coach

Attorney (virtual)
Website tester
Survey taker
Corporate English trainer
Telephone Nurse
Many public service jobs are going remote (look at your local, state and national governments)
Don't forget to check out your local classified ads, Indeed.com, Craigslist and other employment posting sites.