Staying Home: If It Don't Make Dollars, Then It Don't Make Sense

Here is my big news: I am staying home with my babies! YESSSSSSSSS. 

You read that right. At least - I'm staying home for now.

There are a million reasons why: my health, finding a not-horrifying daycare for two babies, my hubby's sincere and relentless begging. Mostly my gut feeling that I need to be with these babies.

I would never, ever bash anyone that chooses to go back to work or that has to go back to work for financial reasons. I mean, let's be honest - my hubby and I are both public school teachers - not exactly rollin' in the dough. This decision was made with careful consideration of that fact.

I have had a lot of people express both concern & curiosity when they ask,

"How the hell are you pulling that off?"

This is how - we have a dirt cheap existence:

1. We don't carry credit card balances

2. We bought and gutted a (really cute) foreclosure

3. We just refinanced said foreclosure, making the mortgage cheaper than our previous studio apartment 

4. We drive "crappy" cars that are paid off

5. We have money in savings

6. We don't buy "stuff" (I hate clutter. It makes me violent and panicky.)

7. We find free entertainment - like hiking or playing in our own yard

8. We eat mostly vegetarian and we eat at home

9. We have made use of loan forgiveness programs for student loans

10. To keep this option viable, we make money on the side

Ultimately, this post is about number 10. We already have a few ways of bringing in additional income from home - but I'll be looking into some new opportunities in the near future. When I look at where my skills and interests are, coaching and training seem like obvious answers, so I am definitely exploring that idea. 

I'm not sure which direction to go though - here are some thoughts:

1. run coach specifically for busy and/or new moms

2. fitness accountability coach

3. run coach for beginners (like a C25K model)

4. a combo of all of the above 

So that's where I'll end for today. Anyone have thoughts or ideas on this? I'm not into selling stuff so Beachbody probably isn't the path for me (though I do love all their programs.) Anyway - advice and go!