Become a Work at Home Mom – The Secret Weapon for One Stay-at-Home Mom’s Success

Do you want to become a work from home mom but don’t know how? Wondering if this “work at home” thing is even for real?

I get it.

I was skeptical about making money online, but once I connected with someone I trusted who assured me not only is it real–but you can make really good money online–I decided to give it a shot.

Freelancing is the first way I earned money when I took the leap from school counselor to stay-at-home mom.

I started from scratch earning nothing to replacing my full-time income working on my own schedule while being a stay-at-home mom of two. Oh, and it’s doing work I ENJOY!

On every step of this journey, I’ve relied on the same thing to get me to the next step:

Courses.

Online courses have been game changers for me.

Whenever I want to start something new, I follow these steps:

Shut out all the noise of the online overload of information.
Find an online teacher I connect with
With a course at a reasonable price
That has good reviews
and I buy the course.

But I’m not the only one who has benefited from online courses to spell out the steps to achieve my goals.

Today I bring to you the story of a fellow mom and freelancer. She joined The Common Cents Club, followed my advice, and is achieving her family and financial goals!

And I cannot wait to share her story and secrets with you.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you choose to make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Read more in the disclosure.

Stay At Home Mom Became Work at Home Mom

Meet Mallory, a stay-at-home mom who became a work-at-home mom…and according to her:

freelancing has changed her life
she wishes she knew about freelancing years ago,
and she’s NEVER going back to a normal job again.

Amen, momma!

Here’s the inside scoop on her freelancing business success:

What Did Life Look Like Before You Started Making Money From Home?

I came across Micala’s Overwhelmed to Overbooked course in a blogging group I was in on Facebook. I started a blog, and though I love it, it takes time to build up a sustainable income, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing (like me).

I was looking for a way to bring in some extra cash and I heard about becoming a virtual assistant. I asked the dreaded “how do I get started” question and received a ton of feedback about different courses and programs.

I joined a couple of Facebook groups devoted to freelancing. One was the Live Free Podcast Mastermind by Micala.

I hung out in the group for a few months while I contemplated spending the money on her course. It isn’t cheap and I had my family on a really tight budget so that I could take my son out of daycare.

I asked a ton of questions and referred to the side-by-side comparison of best virtual assistant training from this site often while I thought about it. Thanks, Val!

In January of 2019, I finally went for it.

What goal were you trying to achieve?

I wanted to find a way to not only be able to stay home with my son, but also still be able to provide for my family. My husband is also active duty military, so finding a career that I could actually take with me when we move is huge.

I just wanted to find a way to bring in an extra $1,000 a month.

What was your educational or work experience background before freelancing?

Most of my background has absolutely nothing to do with freelancing.

In college, I majored in English and IT, though I didn’t actually finish (maybe one day).

I worked primarily in the restaurant industry. I’ve done just about every job in a restaurant possible at one point or another. I eventually even went so far as to become certified as a Sommelier, which is basically just a fancy term that means I like wine and I can tell you about it.

Not really a working online or business kind of background.

via GIPHY

Have you taken other online courses before OTO to learn how to make money online?

After I started my blog, I realized there was a LOT more to blogging than just writing articles. I turned into a bit of a course junkie after that trying to learn anything and everything I could about how to run a successful blog.

Though I’ve taken a lot of courses, none of them were about freelancing. Overwhelmed to Overbooked is the only one I’ve taken.

How to Start a Blog for Beginners

Were you hesitant to spend several hundred dollars on a course?

Definitely!!

My family was on a VERY strict budget. I accounted for every single penny that went in and out of our house.

I thought long and hard about whether or not buying the course would truly be worth it for me. And I still wasn’t sure until I actually went through it. I just had to take a leap of faith.

How has OTO benefited you?

OTO was really great for me because it gave me very clear steps to follow to make sure that I was set up for success.

I don’t consider freelancing and working from home as a hobby; I see it as a business. Looking at things that way meant that I needed to treat it as such.

Knowing the steps that I needed to take to look at it objectively and really figure out not only what I needed out of my business, but also what my clients needed from me was huge!

I have also met so many amazing women in the Private Course Facebook Group that I truly consider friends. I have leaned on them many, many times during this journey–and they’ve done the same with me.

I love the fact that there is a group completely dedicated to helping each other succeed. It’s amazing!

I’ve been able to find job opportunities from people tagging me and I’ve been able to do the same for others. We’re always looking out for one another. I never really expected that, but it’s been a wonderful addition.

What’s your favorite part of the Overwhelmed to Overbooked freelancing course and coaching program?

Definitely the camaraderie. Working at home with no one but your toddler to talk to can be rough, but having a support group available when you need some help or some guidance is worth its weight in gold.

Micala is also very active in the group and does great lives with some amazing insight.

There are also group coaching calls that give you a chance to actually sit down with Micala and some of the other women to really dive into finding solutions to overcome the problems you’re having.

Even if you can’t make the actual call, they are always available for you to view at any time inside the course. I love going back through and watching those. Those and the occasional guest expert interviews are awesome!

What freelancing services do you offer?

I originally started out offering Pinterest Management with the plan of going more the Social Media Management route.

I’ve recently realized that that isn’t what I actually want to do so I’ve changed things up. I now offer website design/development services as well as branding and SEO strategy.

Feel free to check out my site for an idea of what that looks like. www.malloryherrera.com

2 Ways to Earn Money on Pinterest

Can a mom with no experience or college degree start a freelancing business and make money from home?

Absolutely! You likely have more skills than you’re aware of already. Some of the skills you already have can translate into services you can offer and get paid for.

There is always time down the road for you to invest in yourself and learn more specialized skills.

More skills means more money.!

You don’t have to have any experience to get started. That’s the beauty of freelancing. You get to dictate what you do, change services if you need to, learn new skills when you want, and get paid for it. It’s amazing!

How long did it take you to find your first client and how did you do it?

I found my first two clients within a week of taking the course. I hit the program hard in the beginning and it paid off.

I found one client while networking on Facebook, and I found the other client through the job leads provided by Micala’s hire form.

Micala’s strategy for finding clients works!

Have you made your money back that you paid for the course?

Definitely. I made back the money I spent on the course within a month of starting it.

Now, six months after taking the course, I am looking to start scaling my business. I have invested in new learning opportunities to improve my skills, hired my own virtual assistant, and even hired a business coach.

My goal is to be making between $8,000 and $10,000 a month by the end of the year.

I’d say that that’s a HUGE improvement over where I started.

Were there any downsides or parts you wish the course covered?

I wish there was a bit more information into the legal aspects of starting a business, like being a sole proprietor versus an LLC.

I figured it out with some research on my own and a trip to my local CPA to discuss what made the most sense for me and my business, but that’s one thing I wish was covered more.

Who is Overwhelmed to Overbooked right for?

Honestly, anyone.

Though Overwhelmed to Overbooked is typically geared towards moms, it can truly be beneficial to anyone looking to start their own freelancing business.

The advice and information are great regardless of the type of business or the type of client that you’re looking for.

Who is Overwhelmed to Overbooked not for?

It is not for anyone looking for a “get rich quick” scheme. That is not what this is.

Freelancing is still work, you just happen to be your own boss. If you’re looking for more passive income options or looking to stay away from having to work with clients, then you really don’t need this course.

Overwhelmed to Overbooked is for anyone wanting to start freelancing, plain and simple.

What sets Overwhelmed to Overbooked apart from other freelancing courses for work-at-home moms out there?

The thing that really struck me as different is the fact that OTO teaches you how to start YOUR business. It isn’t about trying to get you to copy someone else’s business like so many others that I’ve seen. It’s all about setting up the business that you want.

There are no hard and fast rules that you have to follow. If you don’t want to do social media work, then you don’t have to do it. If you don’t want to have to do admin work, then you don’t have to do it. It’s your business and you can make it what you want.

I love the flexibility.

Do You Have Any Regrets About Buying a Freelancing Course?

I am extremely happy I got this course. My only wish is that I would have purchased it sooner.

Being able to have something for me has been amazing.

Not only do I enjoy being able to add to my family’s finances, but I really do like knowing that I have built my own business.

Sure it’s all online and I don’t have a storefront to show off, but that’s ok. To me, that’s better because my expenses are lower.

I love being able to say that I am an entrepreneur.

I’ve started my own business and it is thriving. That is something I never thought I would have and I have Micala’s course to thank for it.

Now It’s Your Turn to Become a Work at Home Freelancing Mom!

Wow, that interview gave me CHILLS!

Mallory took a leap of faith, invested in herself and her family by enrolling in a comprehensive course that spoke to her, then hit it hard.

And now her bank account and family are thanking her for it.

Now, it’s YOUR turn to become a work at home mom.

Cheers to Freelancing for Your Family & Financial Freedom.

I’m rooting for you!

-Val Breit

Questions? Drop them in the comments below!