Two years staying home...being creative/making it work

My husband and I decided I would stay at home with our children when we had our son two years ago. This year we welcomed our second child and being creative financially is still a big need. My husband is a teacher and things are tight financially. I have been amazed at Gods continued provision in our lives. It is only by His grace I have been able to stay at home. Many months I didn't know how we would make it and we would then receive an unexpected check in the mail or we would have a yard sale and it would make exactly what we needed for a bill we had received that I was concerned we wouldn't be able to pay. God gives us exactly what we need! All that being said I would like to encourage you if you are thinking of staying home with your children, you can do it! There is nothing better than being  home with my son and daughter.

Here are some ways we have found to make extra money to help out:

• Sam Goody buys DVDs for anywhere from .50 to over 2.00 a movie depending on what it is.
• Currently our local Books a Million is buying books, CDs and DVDs.
• Consignment shops- some will give cash on the spot and others you can get a percentage of money if your clothes sell.
• Pawn shops will also take DVDs as well as electronics, and video games.
• Places that buy gold and silver...this is good if you are in a real jam.
• Yard sales! - We have a yard sale at least once a month. This has been one of the most amazing ways God has provided for us. I will say yard saling is hard work, but after so many sales we have a good system in place to make them run smoother. Our family and friends give us stuff they would give to goodwill or don't need and allow us to keep the proceeds we get.
• Online yard sales/ Craigslist- I have had a lot of success with online this year.
• Trash/Walking - one mans trash may be your treasure! I find things on the side of the road on garbage day and the day before I have used towards restocking our yard sale stash or that I fix up and give to my son or sell.
• Art commissions: I paint and have been hired a lot this year to paint portraits, murals and such. You may not paint but there may be something special you do that you can sell.
• Babysitting: my husband and I team up and make a great babysitting team for a reasonable price.
• Dog walking

Do you have any creative ways to make money for your family? Please share them! I'm always looking for new ways to help our family.

Hope this can help someone who is struggling or feels it is impossible to live on one salary. We don't live excessively, but we live comfortably and I am so thankful for my husband who sacrifices and works hard for our family.