Benefits and Drawbacks of Moving So You Can Be a Work at Home Mom

By Melissa Batai

Three years ago, after my third child was born, I made the leap and quit my full-time job to stay home with my kids.  I also began to work part-time from home as a virtual assistant and freelance writer.

I love having the freedom of working from home, especially now that I have begun to homeschool my kids.  The only problem is that my income doesn't cover much of our expenses because we live in such a high cost of living area. 

Does this sound familiar?  If so, have you considered moving to a lower cost of living area so you can become a work at home mom?  If you want to make the leap to self-employment, moving may help you be able to afford to do so.

Benefits of Moving to a Lower Cost of Living Area

The most obvious benefit is that your income will stretch much further.  In our area outside of Chicago, 3 bedroom houses sell on average for $400,000.  In Lincoln, Nebraska, the average price of a 3 bedroom home is $150,000.  It's not difficult to see that you could have a much better standard of living as a freelancer if you lived in a lower cost of living area.

Don't forget that most other items are cheaper, too, such as groceries, gas, and property taxes.

Drawback of Moving to a Lower Cost of Living Area

Many of us are rooted in one location because our family is nearby.  Sometimes moving requires that you leave family behind, which can be difficult.  Visiting family may then become more expensive because you have to pay for long distance travel.

In addition, some jobs require big city living.  Depending on your field, moving to a quieter area of the country may be detrimental to your career.  Of course, if you're a freelance writer or virtual assistant as I am, you can live almost anywhere there's internet access and still do your job.

If you'd like to be self-employed but don't know how you could afford it, consider moving.  Doing so can be a great way to make your freelance dollars stretch and your dreams of self-employment a reality.