Lately as I have been working on some projects within my home-based business, it got me thinking about how home-makers are not usually seen as entrepreneurial or business minded, although there are many women I know who do small businesses from home.
I realised that I don’t tend to talk about this possible side of homemaking either so hence this blog post!:)
To the ladies out there considering becoming full-time homemakers (but are worried you will miss out on using your God given skills and abilities). Be encouraged! For homemaking can be as exciting and creative as you want it to be! Especially if selling your crafts or skills gives you a thrill, then there are many opportunities for the stay at home wife and mother.
Before we begin, let me give the disclaimer to the too tired, over stretched young mother out there. Having a side gig is not necessary to fulfil your role as a successful homemaker. There is a season for everything and this post is intended for those ladies who have the extra time and are wanting to further a hobby or skill. In other words, don’t feel the pressure or need to do one more thing you don’t need to. Homemaking is supposed to be enjoyable!
An enjoyable hobby
My current home-based business is restoring old vintage furniture for resell. What started out as a hobby some years back turned into a slow sporadic side business. Every thing about it is exciting for me, from sourcing or finding the unwanted pre-loved goods, the vision & transformation of the piece, to seeing the smile of the new found owner. It’s all fun! (Well mostly;)
And that’s what your home-based venture should be for you. Something that you get enjoyment from and seem to have an interest and natural ability toward. There is no point taking on something because it has good financial potential and yet you only feel sort of drawn to. You will only feel burdened by it all very quickly.
And that brings me to my next point:
It’s not always about making money
Unless you are under financial strain or a period of financial hardship, you may not have even thought about dong something financially profitable outside of your daily running of the home. You see running a side buisness isnt always about adding income. (Although it maks sense that you would like to see some kind of monety return). Maybe you have skill or passion that you are aching to use and share with others. Maybe your gift could be used to bless others as well as giving you a small financial boost at the same time which could in turn help your household or ministry. Although I have usually found small home-based business are usually more of a trickle in financial gains than a major boost, but never the less it does help.
Tend to your own household first
It seems that the Proverbs 31 woman sold what was left over after tending to her household first. Considering that running a household especially in those times was a career in and of itself, selling merchandise and buying property was not neccesarily her primary goal but an extension of abundance of her hard work. I often feel exhausted just reading about her!
Do you have a special skill to offer?
So in looking at the Proverbs 31 example, we can then look at our own fruitful works and see if that could be a creative outlet and an added little (or big) income. As I think of various ladies I know, I can think of their skills and abilities that they could easily share with others if they had the time and were so inclined to do so. One of my dear friends is gifted at sewing beautiful dresses for girls and women as well as cake decorating and has been asked to do the cake decorating proffessionally however she declined because this is a very busy season for her with 6 children under the ages of 10! Another Christian friend is very talented at running an etsy store selling Christian scripture cards and other sweet gifts. Another homeschooling Mother is a florist and sells at the local markets. Some ladies are good at sewing and selling headcoverings or modest clothing. The idea is to take what you are passionate about and share that with others. Hopefully word will spread and you will start seeing returns soon.
Be wise and find that special something
A few of years I started thinking about doing something from home in my spare moments. During the week I had a good routine going with homeschooling, housework, bible study and outside activities. We have 1 daughter who’s now almost 8, so at the time around 5. Life wasn’t as busy as it had been.
My husband had been looking into property investment for some time and we did end up buying a sweet cottage in a growing rural town in NSW that was a hub for Air bnb. We hadn’t planned on it but it was suggested that we go the air bnb route due to the location of the property and since it was freshly renovated. So we did. It was immediately successful (Thank God). And so for the next almost 2 years I managed cleaners and guests and took many a visit to this little rural town of Orange, 3 hours out of Sydney. It was a good investment but after 2yrs of managing outside of town we decided to sell and we made a profit. Not long after I was ready for the next venture. Hello Furniture restoring!
It’s important to be selective and figure out what works for your household. How many hours do you have to work on a side business? Do you already do a hobby that could be turned into a side buisness or an idea you’ve been pondering.
Does your husband support you doing this?
Most importantly does your husband support you doing a side buisness from home? He may have some insight that you dont. You need his blessing to go ahead. If so then start small and test it out. Just make sure you don’t over invest your time and money in the beginning.
The thing that I have noticed with woman doing a business from home, is the joy from getting to be creative and further use their skills. It makes being a homemaker that little bit more exciting and gives you an outlet if you are feeling a little stagnant and have the extra time. It can and should be an added financial blessing to the home or could be used for ministry. Just remember that it should be fun and not be a burden to you and your family.
I hope that you feel inspired to look into this if you have been thinking of doing something but havent yet taken that step.
Make God bless the work of your hands.
Second time I have read this particular article through. I am going to be praying about getting my husband’s go ahead about a hobby I enjoy which I could make a business out of.