Any stay at home mom's work paper routes for extra money?

Question

I'm due September 15th and thinking about working a paper route in the morning for extra money. Do any mom's do this? What do you like and dislike about it?

Answer 1

My husband did a paper route when we were both in college.  Positives - early enough that it doesn't interfere with the rest of your day.  Decent money for the time you put in.  Time to yourself.  Negatives - working 7 days a week, having to collect (you don't get paid if customers don't pay you), you have to pay someone to do your route if you go on vacation or are sick - (usually this is a higher rate than what you earn).  Having to throw papers in miserable weather(snow, cold, rain)  Wear and tear on your vehicle.  Increased gas prices may cut into your profits.

There are lots of things to consider.  I would make sure yoiu have all the facts from the newspaper before you start.  In our area you had to be bonded which was $500.  Does the paper collect or do you?  We collected from customers and then received a bill from the newspaper for our papers and supplies (paper bags, rubber bands etc,  they have all kinds of "stuff" to help you with your business) which we had to pay out of our earnings and you have to pay your own taxes as well.  Watch your supplies too, our paper charged more for rubber bands and envelopes than getting them at our local discount store.  Also if the customers don't pay you still have to cover the bill for papers you delivered.  My hubby had a medium sized route and he spent about 45 minutes putting papers together and then about 2 hrs delivering mon-wed,  thurs - sat he spent 45 min prepping papers and 3 hrs delivering .  Saturday evening the Sunday inserts were delivered to our home and we would prep those together then we would spend another 1 hr prepping papers Sunday morning and then about 3.5 hours delivering.  If you have to bag papers that takes a little longer.  You will probably have to pick your papers up at a central location each morning and then either prep them there (as my husband did) or bring them home to prep them.  Don't forget to figure in you accounting time which will probably be about an hour a week.  Are you comfortable being out by yourself on dark mornings?  My hubby was chased by dogs on more than one occasion.  Is your hubby or SO going to get up with the baby if he/she wakes up during this time for feeds?  You will be tired because you will be waking at 3am each day and by time you get back your baby will be awake for the day.  Plus you will be getting up for feeds in the middle of the night.

It's a lot to consider, if the options were  do the route and stay home with my child or find other work and put baby in child care I would consider it.  If it's just for extra spending cash I would choose to tighten our belt and not do it.  Good luck!

Answer 2

You don't want to do that. It's very hard work. I was leaving the house at 1AM to get my papers ready then did my route and was home by 6AM if I was lucky. It takes an hour or two to get prep the papers. If your car isn't big enough you have to make two trips. I was exhausted all the time and it made me sick because you have to work 7 days a week. Not a good job for anyone especially pregnant women.

Answer 3

When my oldest was a baby, her father adn I shared a route with someone else so none of us did 7 days a week. But it is STILL very tiring. We did what we had to do to get by but in the end the money we made did not begin to compensate. The taxes burden was outrageous as we were given a 1099. This means you pay ALL the taxes, the paper pays none.

Answer 4

I knew someone who did it in the morning because she had a newborn and could bring the baby in the car.  They were really struggling financially and the money really helped them.  The hours suck but it is a good way to make extra money.

Answer 5

It sounds like a good idea. however, things to think about are -- paper routes start EARLY usually around 3am. So, you would be exhausted, and would not be at home of the baby needed you from 3am til maybe about 7am.

Soo-- just some things to think about. :)

I may actually look into it if i can work out the kinks.