Let me start by saying this clearly: You do not need to choose between being a present wife and building wealth. These two are not mutually exclusive. I used to tell myself that building wealth was something I would focus on later when the kids are older or when life was quieter. But that “later” kept moving.
If you have read my About Me page, you would know that I have the best of both worlds: a profession I love while being a fulltime mom to my 2 kids. If you are reading this while cooking, folding laundry, or squeezing in 5 quiet minutes before someone calls your name, I see you. This article is for you.
Wealth building does not have to look dramatic
When people hear the word wealth, they imagine businesses, stocks, or working nonstop. That image alone can already exhaust a stay-at-home mom or wife who is managing a household. But real wealth building especially in this season of life looks boring yet very practical.
For me, it started with simply understanding where our money was going. Nothing fancy, just a pen and paper. After reading a few budgeting articles, I tried the cash envelope budgeting technique and simply placed cash inside each envelope of different categories during my husband’s payday. I also checked our joint bank account to see if we’ve made any progress since we got married.
See? No paid apps or visually appealing spreadsheets used. I was just aiming for awareness because awareness is powerful. You cannot grow what you do not pay attention to.
You already manage money more than you think
If you think you won’t manage your wealth well because you have no experience, then think again. As wives and moms, we already manage budgets. We decide what groceries to buy. We plan meals around what is on sale. We stretch money when our budget is tight. That is already financial intelligence at play. We just don’t call it that way.
Instead of saying, “I am not good with money”, try reframing it and say “I already manage money every day. Now I am just learning how to manage it with intention.”
Once I saw it that way, I felt more confident making decisions like using a small portion of my savings to start a business or reviewing our expenses together with my husband.
Start small and start where you are
You do not need a large income to build wealth. You need a system. When my firstborn was younger and I had given up my career, there were months when saving felt impossible. But I learned that saving is not about the amount. It is about the habit.
I started with an amount so small it felt almost silly! But over time, that habit grew. More importantly, my mindset changed. When my husband had a salary increase and I started earning my own money from clients, the mindset and habit stayed. That helped me gain more momentum in growing my savings and putting it in different investments.
If you are earning from a side hustle, allowance, or household budget, please treat it seriously no matter how small the amount is.
Use your season wisely
Raising a family is a demanding season. Let’s admit that we may not have eight uninterrupted hours to work or study but that’s okay. Instead of fighting your season, accept your reality and work with it.
I learned to use what I like to call “pockets of time”. I listened to podcasts or videos while waiting in line, while the kids were asleep, while doing the dishes. Listening to audiobooks or short videos about personal finance and business helped me learn without needing to sit down with a book buried under my nose.
This season of motherhood is perfect for learning. You are planning long term for your children. That makes you naturally future-focused which is exactly the mindset needed for building wealth.
When I was still pregnant with my second, I was worried that I would not have time for personal projects once the baby arrives.
But I kept reminding myself that it’s better to start learning now despite the demands of motherhood so that when I finally have more time to create something new, I wouldn’t be starting from zero.
Build skills that can grow later
Not every effort has to bring in money right away. Sometimes, the smartest and most realistic move especially when you are raising a family is to invest in your skillset first.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I wasn’t thinking about earning yet. I was thinking about learning. I spent quiet moments reading articles and watching videos about how to start a blog. No pressure. No deadline. In 2018, that learning turned into The Thrifty Pinay. At the time, it felt like a passion project but looking back now, I realized it was a foundation.
Years later, I felt the urge to write a book. So I learned how publishing works along with editing, formatting, and distribution. I’m happy to share that I am now an author.
Later on, I was invited to speak for companies. I did not just say yes and hope for the best. I studied how to be an effective resource speaker. Each season required a new skill, and I met it one step at a time.
None of these skills paid me immediately but thank God, every single one paid off eventually. This is the beauty of skill-building. It compounds quietly as you are preparing for opportunities you cannot see yet.
If I am able to do this while navigating pregnancy, motherhood, so can you. Start where you are. Use the time you have. Learn without pressure to monetize right away.
Have honest money conversations with your spouse
One of the biggest shifts in our financial life happened when we stopped treating money as a sensitive topic. I used to think that asking questions or suggesting changes meant I was being controlling but thankfully, my husband realized that it meant I cared for our family and for our future.
Talk about goals, fears, and what kind of life you want for your family. Wealth building is easier when you are aligned. You do not need to be the expert. You just need to be involved.
Teach your kids while you learn
One unexpected benefit of focusing on money while raising a family is that your kids learn with you while you get to be their financial role models. They watch how you talk about money, how you spend, and how you save.
For my firstborn, I started explaining simple concepts like needs versus wants. We talked about saving for big ticket items instead of buying toys right away. He’s now a preteen who understands that money does not grow on trees and that some sacrifices are to be made if he wants to travel to different countries *wink*
Wealth is not just money. It is values and those values are built at home.
Let go of comparison
This one’s tough! Social media makes it look like everyone else is doing better in life. Friends are earning more, traveling more and even investing more. But remember, you do not see the full picture.
Your journey is unique which means you pace is allowed to be slower especially when you are raising little humans at the same time.
Wealth is a marathon, not a sprint
Building wealth as a wife and mother is not about quick wins. It is about laying foundations.
Some days, your biggest financial win will be cooking at home instead of ordering out. Other days, it might be finally getting booked by a client who is willing to pay your plane ticket to see you conduct a seminar for their company.
All of it counts.
You are allowed to want more
Finally, as someone who has done all those mentioned above, I want to say this: You are allowed to want financial growth even if you love your family deeply. Wanting more does not mean you are greedy and ungrateful with your current situation. It means you know that your cup needs a refill so that you can be a better mom and wife by filling up their cups.
You are building a life not just for today but for the future version of yourself and your family. And that is one of the most powerful things a wife can do. If you are in the middle of raising a family and doubting yourself if you can also build wealth, the answer is yes. Indeed, you have already started.