What to do when one income isn’t enough for your family
When one income isn’t enough for your family, work through it in order: first check the payments and tax credits you may already be entitled to, then build a simple budget with a free government tool, then add income from home in a way that fits your family. In Australia that means checking Family Tax Benefit and Services Australia’s Payment Finder; in the US it means checking the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit (worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child, according to the IRS). Moneysmart (AU) and the CFPB (US) both have free budgeting tools. She Sells, with a team in Australia and the US, trains women for remote sales roles they can work from home when you’re ready for that step.
And please hear this first: needing more than one income is not a personal failure. It’s maths. Prices move, families grow, a partner’s hours change. What matters now is a plan, and you can start it tonight.
The plan at a glance
| Step | Australia | United States | Time it takes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Check entitlements | Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Subsidy, Payment Finder (Services Australia) | Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit (IRS) | An evening |
| 2. Build a budget | Moneysmart budget planner | CFPB Your Money, Your Goals tools | An hour or two |
| 3. Get free help if you’re behind | National Debt Helpline, 1800 007 007 | Talk to your lender early and ask about hardship options | One phone call |
| 4. Add income from home | Part-time remote work, freelancing or remote sales | Part-time remote work, freelancing or remote sales | Weeks to months to build |
| 5. Recheck entitlements as income changes | Update your income estimate with Services Australia | Check credits again at tax time | A few minutes each change |
Step 1: Check what you’re entitled to first
This step comes first because it’s money you may already qualify for, and it doesn’t cost you a single extra hour of work. Plenty of families don’t claim what they’re eligible for because they assume it’s “not for people like us”. Check anyway.
In Australia
Family Tax Benefit is a 2 part payment that helps with the cost of raising children. Services Australia pays FTB Part A per child and Part B for a variety of family circumstances, and uses your adjusted taxable income to decide whether you can get it. To get FTB you generally need to care for the child at least 35% of the time and meet an income test.
Not sure what you might get? Services Australia’s Payment Finder can help you work out amounts of Centrelink payments, Family Tax Benefit and child care fee assistance. You answer questions about your situation and choose the payment you want to estimate. If you use paid child care, check the Child Care Subsidy too.
In the United States
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps low- to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break, and the IRS notes the amount may change if you have children or dependents. The IRS has an EITC Assistant on the same site to check whether you qualify.
The Child Tax Credit is worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child, according to the IRS. If you have little or no federal income tax to pay, you may qualify for the refundable Additional Child Tax Credit, up to $1,700 per qualifying child depending on your income, and you need earned income of at least $2,500 for that part. For the 2025 tax year, a qualifying child generally must be under 17 at the end of the year, and you and your child need a Social Security number valid for employment.
Tax credit rules are detailed and change, so check the IRS pages for your tax year or use free tax help if you can get it.
Step 2: Build a budget that tells the truth
A budget isn’t about guilt. It’s about seeing the gap clearly, so you know whether you need A$100 or A$1,000 more each month, and whether cutting or earning is the faster fix.
- Australia: the Moneysmart budget planner helps you work out where your money is going and whether your income covers your expenses. You set the frequency for each item (weekly, fortnightly, monthly and so on), which helps when your pay and bills don’t line up.
- United States: the CFPB’s Your Money, Your Goals tools include a spending tracker and a cash flow budget, available as fillable PDFs.
Start with one month of real spending, not what you think you spend. Then sort costs into three groups: must pay (housing, food, power, transport), can reduce (subscriptions, phone plans, insurance shopping), and can pause for now. The gap that’s left after you’ve done that is the number your extra income needs to cover.
Step 3: Get free help if you’re already behind
If bills are already overdue, don’t wait. In Australia, Moneysmart points families to free financial counsellors at the National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007). They can help you prioritise bills and talk to creditors. In the US, contact your lender or utility early and ask what hardship options they offer. Avoid quick fixes that cost more later, like high-cost short-term loans.
Ready to look at adding an income from home? Book a free call with the She Sells team and talk through whether remote sales could fit.
Step 4: Add income from home
Once you know your gap and you’ve claimed what you’re entitled to, adding income is the next lever. For many families the most workable option is the parent at home earning from home, in hours that don’t blow up the household.
Match the option to the gap
- Small gap, little time: a few hours of freelance admin, tutoring or casual remote work.
- Bigger gap, a few protected blocks a week: a part-time remote role, or building a skill like appointment setting or closing that can grow over time.
- You’re the only adult earner: our guide to single mum work-from-home income covers that situation specifically.
For the full range of roles, see work-from-home jobs for mums. Whatever you choose, be strict about scams: never pay to join, never earn mainly by recruiting, and walk away from anyone promising a set income for little effort. Our guide to legit work-from-home jobs vs scams has the full checklist.
Where She Sells fits
Remote sales (appointment setting and closing) is work you can do from home, often in set blocks, for businesses that sell online. The honest part: many roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, and results take time, so it’s rarely the fix for next week’s rent. It’s a skill that can grow into a real second income if you put in steady practice.
She Sells covers both halves: learning the skill and getting the job. She Launches is our foundation program, with live coaching, role play and frameworks (it doesn’t include direct placement). She Soars is our career program through the She Sells Cert III in Remote Sales certificate: once you’re certified, our recruitment team works with you to land a role within 90 days, or your money back. There’s also a free community if you’d like to look around first. See our programs.
I know the tight-budget feeling. I moved to Sydney broke in 2017, and when I moved into remote sales in 2020 I made $440 in my first month. That’s my result, not a typical one, and it grew with practice rather than overnight.
Step 5: Recheck your entitlements when your income changes
Extra income can change what you get. In Australia, FTB is based on your adjusted taxable income, and Services Australia compares your income estimate with your actual income at the end of each financial year to check you got the right amount. Update your estimate when you start earning so you’re not caught short. In the US, earned income can affect the EITC either way, and the Additional Child Tax Credit needs at least $2,500 of earned income, so recheck at tax time. The goal is a household that’s better off overall, not one that earns more and loses the same amount in support.
Want to talk through an income-from-home plan that fits your family? Book a free call with the She Sells team.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first when one income isn’t enough?
Check the payments and tax credits you may already qualify for, because that money doesn’t need extra hours. In Australia, start with Family Tax Benefit and the Payment Finder; in the US, check the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit with the IRS. Then build a budget so you know the real size of the gap.
Will earning more from home reduce my Family Tax Benefit?
It can, because Services Australia uses your adjusted taxable income to decide whether you can get FTB. Update your income estimate when you start earning so your payments stay accurate. The Payment Finder can help you estimate the effect.
Can a stay-at-home parent get the Child Tax Credit?
The Child Tax Credit is based on your household’s tax return, so a family with one earner can claim it if they qualify. The refundable Additional Child Tax Credit needs earned income of at least $2,500, according to the IRS. Check the rules for your tax year on the IRS site.
Where can I get free help with money in Australia?
The National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) offers free financial counselling, and Moneysmart has free budgeting tools including a budget planner. Financial counsellors can help you prioritise bills and talk with creditors.
Is remote sales a quick way to fix a money gap?
Usually not. Many remote sales roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, and it takes time to learn the skill and build results. It’s better treated as a medium-term second income, alongside claiming entitlements and tightening the budget.
Results vary. Nothing here is a promise of income. See our earnings disclaimer.
