UK money and lifestyle blog

Money Making Mums Blogger Interview: Charlie from Our Altered Life

Posted on 12:00pm Friday 4th May 2018

Every Friday I invite other bloggers and money making mums to share the ways busy parents can make money from home. These are real life people making a living from home who can share their experience with us and inspire us. If you’d like to feature in this series with a guest post of a relevant topic or you’d like to take part in the interview, please do get in touch or find the interview questions by clicking here.

I love making money from home. As a busy mum to two young children, working from home for myself provides me with the flexibility I need to care for my children and avoid high full time childcare costs. It also means I get to do what I love. I’m an advocate of earning money online and from apps. I’m always looking for new ways to make more income from home and hope to be inspired by the many people in this interview series.

Enjoy.

Welcome, tell me a little about who you are, where you’re from and introduce your blog.

I’m Charlie from Stoke on Trent (for my sins!) I’m a part time teacher, author, blogger and founder of More Than a Face charity. My blog, Our Altered Life shares life with my twin sons Oliver & Harry. Harry was born with a rare Cranio facial condition which means that the left hand side of his face never developed and he also has autism. Technically he’s non verbal but he’s a real chatterbox in his own way! I share the triumphs and challenges of a life I never expected but now love.

Tell me, how do you make money from home?

I earn through my blog by writing sponsored content for companies I believe in and am happy to represent.

What makes it suitable for mums?

The flexibility definitely! It’s on your terms and you can do as much or as little as you want to.

What are three benefits of working at home?

No child care issues!
Time for self care (I walk the dog which is great for my mental health)
Flexibility around other commitments, appointments etc

What are three negatives?

It can be very lonely at times. I miss having a word crowd around me.
It can be hard to stay focused on working when things need doing at home.
It’s not a regular income which can be stressful if you depend on it.

If you could only pick one, working from home or going to an employed job for the rest of your life, which would you pick?

Working from home. The flexibility is great and my own mental health is much better without the pressure of imposed targets and standards (not that I’m lazy and sloppy but I set high standards for myself rather than being told I’m not good enough against standardised expectations)

People say they find it hard to be productive working alone at home. What keeps you motivated?

Working in short bursts and bullet journaling (essentially a to do list). I write lists for everything!

Do you have a favourite quote to keep you inspired?

In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take. It’s my favourite quote!

What words of wisdom can you share with mums looking to make their own income from home?

Be prepared to work very hard and have moments of self doubt but if you can push through that, the rewards and satisfaction are more than worth it.

Thank you so much for taking part in my interview series!

Would you like to take part?

Find a contact form in my top menu or email [email protected] if you’d like to propose a suitable guest post.

If you want to answer the interview, find the form by clicking here.

Not a mum? No worries! This guest series is all about inspiring parents to earn their own income and realising they have more than two choices of going out to an employed job or being a stay at home parent.

Of course if you choose to do either of those options that's absolutely fine, no judgement here, but lots of mums, like me, didn't realise there was another way to make money by the many self-employed options available nowadays. If you earn from home, parent or not, and it's suitable for parents then you can take part.

Check out the rest of the series here: Money Making Mums