Being a mom in today’s world often feels like running a nonstop marathon—with work deadlines, school drop-offs, dinner duty, and never-ending laundry all fighting for your attention. It’s no wonder so many women feel overwhelmed and stretched thin. But what if there was a way to lighten the load without blowing your budget? In this episode, we’re diving into affordable support for moms—real-life strategies and creative solutions to help you delegate tasks, reclaim your time, and feel more supported in your day-to-day life. Whether you’re a working mom, stay-at-home parent, or somewhere in between, you’ll walk away with practical tips to make your life feel a whole lot lighter.
🎉 We made it to Episode 10!
Did you know most podcasters don’t make it this far? So, cheers to crossing this milestone—and thank you for tuning in, trusting me, and making this podcast part of your week! If you’ve been enjoying the episodes, do me a solid and leave a review. I read every single one and they help this podcast reach more busy mamas like you!
Table of Contents
Let’s Talk About Support (Hint: You Probably Need More)
Raise your hand if you’re a mom who feels fully supported in every corner of her life. Yeah… anyone? Didn’t think so.
Whether you’re rocking motherhood without a local family network or you have two do-it-all grandmas on speed dial, the truth is that nearly every mom wishes she had more help. And with good reason. We are holding down so much—jobs, kids, households, relationships—and it’s a lot.
But support? It doesn’t always have to cost a fortune.
What’s the best way to get support as a busy mom? Let’s break it down.
Step One: The “I Can’t Believe I Do All This” Exercise
Before we dive into solutions, let’s do a quick (but powerful) exercise together.
Don’t skip this. Trust me, it’ll help.
Here’s what to do:
- Take a moment to list everything you do for your household and family.
- Not just the doing, but the mental load too.
- For example, you don’t just make lunches—you remember Johnny’s been drinking more milk lately and you’ll need extra at the store. You coordinate doctor visits and remember to ask follow-up questions. You notice when uniforms need washing and plan around practices.
- Now, circle the top 1-5 things that make you insane.
- The tasks you genuinely dread—laundry folding, packing lunches, grocery shopping, dog clean-up duty?
- Write them down. These are your first delegation candidates.
Even removing ONE item from this list would be a huge relief, let alone two!
Step Two: Get Creative (Support Isn’t Just a Nanny or a Housekeeper)
Can I afford to hire help on a tight budget?
Yes, hiring someone to help sounds great—but what if it’s just not in the budget?
Here are five smart, sustainable strategies to get the help you need, on your own terms:
1. 💰 Pay Strategically, Not Regularly
You don’t need to commit to weekly payments. Think one-time or occasional help:
- Pay your sitter a little extra to clean the playroom.
- Hire a local teen to do dog poop scoop duty weekly (cheaper than you’d think).
- Bring in an organizer for a one-time kids’ closet overhaul.
- Pay for cooking help once a week—best money I ever spent, personally.
This isn’t constant outsourcing. It’s smart support where it matters most.
2. 📲 Utilize Digital Tools
Let apps and technology ease the load:
- Family calendars (like Skylight) for shared visibility.
- To-do list or organization apps.
- Meal planning tools for simplified weekly routines.
- Telehealth so you don’t always need to run to the pediatrician.
- Family chore apps to get everyone involved.
Small investment in these tools = big peace of mind.
3. 🏠 Delegate Inside the House
Yes, I know—doing it yourself feels faster… until it’s burning you out.
- Teach kids to pack their own lunches (start now, train later).
- Use a cordless vacuum and let little ones help.
- Put your spouse in charge of dinner one night a week (oven pizza counts!).
- Turn “help” into skill-building for your family members.
Teamwork really does make the dream work.
4. 🧠 Lean on Smart Tech
Let the gadgets do the work:
- Roomba = no more daily vacuuming.
- Instant Pot or slow cooker = set it and forget it meals.
- Automatic pet feeder = simplify daily routines.
Invest once, reap daily rewards.
5. ⏳ Do It Less Often
- Capsule wardrobes for weeklong outfit planning (no daily decisions).
- Cut back tidying to 2x a week (even if the floors aren’t spotless).
- Let the cleaner handle ALL cleaning, not you between visits.
Make peace with “good enough” in the name of your sanity.
Real Life Examples: Support Can Evolve (And Should)
Here are a few stories to inspire your own approach:
👟 Client 1: The Dog Walker Dilemma
She needed someone to care for the family dog post-maternity leave. Doggy daycare was too much. Professional walker = too pricey. Winner? A local teen who did walks 2x a week. Cheaper, easier, and more convenient.
🍽️ Client 2: Meal Planning Meltdown
She and her husband were stuck in nightly chaos. We built a simple meal plan template: protein + veggie + grain = done. They repeated it weekly with minimal brainpower. Grocery shopping? Practically copy + paste.
👩🍳 From My Life: Kitchen Support That Actually Worked
During tax season (my CPA husband’s busiest time), I hired a RD student to do batch cooking once a week. I planned meals, bought groceries, and she prepped it all. Best. Decision. Ever. Not just help—but the right help.
Remember: What You Hate Today Will Change Tomorrow
Your needs will shift with:
- New jobs or work seasons
- Kids in different activities
- Your own changing bandwidth
What worked last year might burn you out today. Keep checking in. Regularly audit your mindset and ask…
“Is this still working for me?”
If not, pivot. Try again. Outsource creatively.
Final Thought: Your Time is Valuable—Act Like It 🎯
Let’s say your hourly work rate is $40/hour.
And you’re doing a $15/hour task—that feels like a drain?
You bet it makes sense to offload that.
Not every chore from your plate. But 1–2 mental health-saving, relationship-boosting ones? 100% yes.
Your Action Steps:
✅ Did you do the task audit from earlier in the post?
If not, scroll up and DO IT.
🧠 Then brainstorm creative ways (from the list above or your own ideas) to get 1-2 things off your plate this week.
💬 And keep tabs on your list moving forward—because support needs evolve, and so should your strategies.
You Deserve Joy, Not Just the Grind 💕
Motherhood is not meant to be a marathon of exhaustion.
With the right kind of support (even creative, low-cost ones), you can breathe again.
📩 Got questions or need ideas specific to your situation? DM me on Instagram @itslaurenmora or visit my site at itslaurenmora.com.
Let’s reimagine your mom-life—starting now. 💪🏼✨
🎙️ Listen to the Full Episode:
Episode 10 – “Getting More Support Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank”
Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Show Notes Recap:
- Quick task-identifying exercise to pinpoint your “mental clutter”
- 5 creative support strategies that don’t require a full-time nanny
- Real-life examples from Lauren + clients
- The economic argument for offloading chores you hate
- Encouragement to pivot as your family’s needs evolve
- Why value-based delegation is a long-term joy-builder 💛
🔁 Share this article with a fellow tired-but-thriving mom who needs to hear this.
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