Resources to Help You Run Your Home
From Barbara Whiting, former About.com Guide
Finances
Making the move from two incomes to one is a daunting challenge in a two-income society, but it's not impossible. Let us guide you each step of the way with budgeting tips, savings how-tos, and retirement planning advice.
- From Two Incomes to One
- 7 Ways to Save on Household Expenses
- Budgeting 101
- How to Start Building Your Savings
- You Can Afford to Stay Home with Your Kids
- What You Need to Know Before You Get Out of Debt
- Make Extra Money Working at Home
- How to Financially Protect Your Family
- Save Money Using Coupons
- Retirement Planning for Stay-at-Home Parents
In the Kitchen
Whether you are new at wielding spatulas and bagging lunches or an old pro, these tips will help you achieve--and retain--your title as king (or queen!) of the kitchen. From grocery shopping advice to recipes for busy parents, we've got you covered.
- Slash Your Grocery Bill
- Make the Most Out of Your Farmers Market
- How to Keep Food Fresh Longer
- Brown Bag Lunch Recipes
- How to Find a Good Cookbook
- Kids and Organic Food
- Food Allergies in Children
- Top Picks for Busy Cooks
- Teach Your Kids How to Cook
- Convincing Children to Eat Healthy Foods
Cleaning and Organization
Just because you're a stay-at-home parent doesn't mean that all the housework should fall into your lap by default. Here you'll find quick, easy, and inexpensive ways to keep your home spic and span, and advice on how to divvy up the work.
- Fair Division of Chores
- 15 Minute Cleanups for Every Room
- Organizing and Setting Up a Student Study Area
- 3 Kitchen Ingredients that Clean Every Room
- 5 Time-Saving Appliance Features We Often Overlook
- All You Need to Know About Hiring a Housekeeper
- Customize a Cleaning Schedule
- 10 Rules for Stain Removal
- Kidproof Your Home Office (and Officeproof Your Kid)
Maintenance
If it's not one thing going wrong, it's another, right? Use these resources to help you decide when it's time to call for professional help, how to choose your repairman or contractor, and what ought to be done to solve the problem.
- How to Keep Your Appliances Working Longer
- Getting Contractor Bids and Evaluating Estimates
- How to Choose a General Household Pest Control Company
- Where to Place Smoke Detectors
- When to Call a Professional Plumber
- How to Handle Appliance Problems
- Why Circuit Breakers Trip (And Fuses Blow)
- What Type of Air Conditioner Do You Need?
Safety
Keeping kids safe is the first priority for any caregiver, but as a stay-at-home parent, you'll be the one wearing the doctor hat most often. Whether you're bandaging scraped knees, rubbing aloe on sunburns, or evaluating a bump on the head, keep this go-to safety information on hand.
- First Aid for Common Emergencies
- Safety and the Swimming Pool
- How to Create a First Aid Kit
- How to Recognize and Treat a Sunburn
- The Best Treatments for Poison Ivy
- Allergy Treatments for Kids
- Tips for Teaching Fire Safety
- How to Baby Proof Your Home
Returning to Work
A stay-at-home parent on looking for some added income in these tough times could look for part time or even temporary full time work. These links will provide tips that will help a stay-at-home parent search for a job and assist the transition back into the workforce.