How The Focused Homemaker Started

When people ask me how I earn money online, I always go back to where it all began.

I created The Focused Homemaker on Instagram in January 2022, not as a business, but as a creative outlet. During the pandemic, I had extra time and wanted something that would help me grow as a homemaker. I thought of the page as my personal “notes” about holistic homemaking.

I wasn’t trying to build an audience. I struggled with consistency (I still do). I posted about what I wanted to learn, not what people expected to see. It took six months to reach 500 followers, but after that, growth came quickly.

This slow beginning shaped how I earn online today: with intention, authenticity, and a focus on real growth.

Different Ways I Tried Earning Money Online

Before discovering what fits my life as a homemaker, I tried several online income streams. Here’s the honest breakdown for anyone researching how I tried to earn money online or what income streams are sustainable for stay-at-home moms.

Patreon

(Short-term Success, Not Sustainable)

Patreon was my first attempt at offering digital products. Some were my own creations, others were resources I edited or downloaded from Creative Fabrica.

• Best month: $100

• Current income: $6 from a loyal fan

Why It Didn’t Work Long-Term
I wasn’t emotionally invested in the content. It didn’t feel original enough, and it didn’t bring me joy. Without a deeper purpose, I naturally drifted away from it.

I tried these on Redbubble and Etsy:

• Selling my IG posts as wall art

• Creating home and apparel designs

I earned around $5 on Redbubble and less than $100 on Etsy before getting banned from Etsy for an unknown reason.

Why I Stopped
I wasn’t excited about the products. There was no emotional attachment, and without genuine interest, the business felt flat.

Print-on-Demand

(Redbubble & Etsy Experience)

Social Media Content Services

(Good Pay, Not Good Fit)

I created listicle-style content for clients. The income was surprisingly good, and I enjoyed the creative work.

Why It Didn’t Work for Me

• Too time-consuming

• Deadlines clashed with homemaking

• It took mental space away from my family

It wasn’t a sustainable way for me to freelance while managing a Christ-centered home.

Shout-Out Promotions

(Barely Earned Anything)

I listed shout-out services on Fiverr and in my link-in-bio, but rarely promoted them on social media. I had some inquiries, but our target audience or delivery didn't fit.

As expected, this didn’t take off.

Digital Products

(What Finally Worked for Me)

This was the turning point.

My First Digital Product: “The Art of Holistic Homemaking”

I created this ebook in December 2024, and it earned $1,000 in the first month. But the real impact wasn’t financial.

It helped me grow.
It refined my habits.
It brought clarity into my homemaking.
I used the worksheets myself.

Then came Marriage Expectation Trap, which transformed how I view marriage, and Shepherding Hearts, which I initially built for my own family.

Why Digital Products Work for Me

Digital products are:

• deeply meaningful

• spiritually nurturing

• flexible for my homemaking schedule

• easy to create in short pockets of time

• aligned with my calling as a Christian wife and mother

I don’t create digital products just to sell them. I create them because they help me grow.

This has become my most sustainable and fulfilling income stream.

This was my first attempt at monetizing my content. I wanted my Amazon posts to be meaningful, so I created:

• Kids’ activity listicles

• Curated book recommendations

• Family activity ideas

• Shoppable recipes (ingredients = affiliate links)

• Educational idea lists

My monthly income averaged $20, with occasional $100+ months.

What I Learned

Even though I’m a minimalist, I love window shopping for home items and herbal teas. My Amazon Storefront allowed me to enjoy that creatively. And the best part? Passive income continued even when I didn’t post for months.

This didn’t become a major income stream, but it remains a small, enjoyable one.

Amazon Affiliate Marketing

(Passive Income, but Limited Earnings)

What Did Work for Me

Digital products and slow, intentional content creation worked because:

• I grow from it

• My family benefits from it

• It’s flexible

• It doesn’t require daily posting

• It aligns with my faith

• It supports my homemaker lifestyle

• It has passive income potential

Even Amazon, while small, remains enjoyable because it lets me explore herbal tea blends, spices, and healthy ingredients through recipes and lists.

What Didn’t Work for Me

• Minimalism made promoting a lot of physical products feel misaligned.

• Lack of passion made Patreon, POD, and Etsy hard to continue.

• Deadlines made content services unsustainable.

• Shout-outs didn’t match my mission or values.

Anything that didn’t nourish me spiritually or emotionally eventually fell away.

I knew what I wanted: to grow as a Proverbs 31 woman, to focus on my family, and if possible, to earn money while at it.

Tools I Use to Run My Online Homemaking Business

If you’re dreaming of starting a homemaking-based online business, these are the tools that quietly keep my work running behind the scenes every day.

Each one helps me stay organized, creative, and consistent without stealing time away from what matters most: my home and family.

Pensight

Pensight is where all of my paid digital products are. It’s simple, clean, beginner-friendly, and no complicated tech setups needed.

I love that I can create product pages, host courses or memberships, and accept payments all in one place. It helps me focus on serving my audience instead of constantly tinkering with plugins or checkout systems.

Hostinger

My website is built and hosted with Hostinger. It’s affordable, reliable, and easy to manage, which makes it perfect for homemakers who are new to tech.

My favorite part? Hostinger’s Website Builder makes it easy to design webpages and add freebies. It also has a built-in email marketing automation for my freebies.

ManyChat helps me automate messages and replies on Instagram, so I can stay connected with followers without being glued to my phone all day. It sends out welcome messages, guides people to resources, and helps me nurture relationships even when I’m focused on my family. It’s one of the main ways I’ve learned to balance engagement and rest.

ManyChat

Audible

I often listen to audiobooks while folding laundry, cooking dinner, or walking around the house. Audible keeps me learning, even in busy seasons. Many of my content ideas and product concepts are sparked while I’m listening to books on faith, business, or personal growth. It’s learning that fits beautifully into homemaking life.

Writesonic

Canva & Affinity

Writesonic is the tool I’ve used for years to help draft posts, organize ideas, and polish my writing before publishing. It doesn’t replace my voice. It helps me refine it.

When I’m overwhelmed or short on time, it helps me move past writer’s block and get my thoughts out clearly and efficiently.

These two tools are where all of my creativity comes to life. Canva is perfect for quick, polished designs, while Affinity is where I do more detailed printable layouts.

Between the two, I can design everything from worksheets and eBooks to Instagram graphics and digital wall art, all without hiring a designer.

Coming Soon: How to Start an Online Business
That Fits Your Family Life

I often get messages asking things like:
“How did you start The Focused Homemaker?”
“How do you actually earn from this?”
“How do you find time to create while still caring for your home?”

The truth is—it didn’t happen overnight. I learned through trial and grace: what works, what doesn’t, and how to build something that honors both my calling at home and my creative work online.

That’s why I’m creating a faith-centered course for homemakers who want to earn online without losing peace, purpose, or family time.

You’ll learn how to:
✨ Start and grow a meaningful homemaking platform
✨ Build digital products rooted in service, not stress
✨ Simplify income streams that fit real home life
✨ Automate without feeling “automated”
✨ Work from rest, not from hustle

This isn’t about becoming an influencer.
It’s about creating a sustainable, Christ-centered business that supports your home—not competes with it.

👉 Join the Waitlist for Early-Bird Access & Bonuses
No pressure. Just a warm invitation to be the first to know when it opens.