{"id":15376,"date":"2020-05-08T10:55:58","date_gmt":"2020-05-08T17:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turo.com\/blog\/?p=15376"},"modified":"2025-04-02T23:49:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T06:49:49","slug":"how-christine-cashes-in-while-raising-four-sons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turo.com\/blog\/community\/how-christine-cashes-in-while-raising-four-sons\/","title":{"rendered":"How Christine cashes in while raising four sons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The perfect side gig for a stay-at-home mom\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Christie, a Denver native and stay-at-home mother of four, first heard about Turo from a close family friend. \u201cHe was making a killing by sharing his Jeep Wrangler,\u201d she recalls, \u201cand suggested Turo as a way for us to earn some extra money while raising the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Intrigued, Christie and her husband did the research and decided to buy a 2017 Jeep Wrangler of their own, specifically to share on Turo. \u201cIt\u2019s a flexible, home-based business. I\u2019m raising four kids under the age of 13, so flexibility is really important!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Delighting the Denver market<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Christine\u2019s Jeep was in high demand from the get-go, especially among families, skiers, and mountain climbers. \u201cAdventurous folks love taking it to the mountains, and it\u2019s been booked most days out of the month.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some guests book the Jeep just to try driving it: \u201cI never knew this until I started on Turo, but there\u2019s a huge Jeep community. We host a lot of Jeep nerds \u2014 people who love them, own two or three of their own, and want to test drive a newer model like ours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nChristie in her Jeep Wrangler<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Prior to the coronavirus slowing down travel, Christine also tailored her listing to the season: she offers a soft top option in the summertime, and advertises her car\u2019s heated seats and four-wheel drive for the snowy Colorado winters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A convenient second income<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Three years later, her Wrangler has hosted 129 trips and has more than earned its keep. \u201cIt was a smart business decision,\u201d Christie says. \u201cOnce you get your routine down, it\u2019s really not that hard. Between drop-off, pickup, cleaning, and communicating with the guest, it takes me just one to three hours a week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe almost always cover the $700 monthly payment on the car, and usually turn a profit. Our earnings usually go towards family activities \u2014\u00a0we\u2019re big skiers and season passes are expensive! \u2014 or groceries. As you can imagine, feeding four growing boys can get a little insane!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christine\u2019s brought it full circle by bringing more people into the Turo family. \u201cI\u2019m one of five siblings, and they all use Turo now. They were hesitant at first, but now they even promote it to other people because it\u2019s such an amazing opportunity, especially if you have kids.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnce the Jeep\u2019s paid off, we might give it to our oldest son sometime after he turns 16. But I\u2019m not sure \u2014 as long as it\u2019s still making money, I don\u2019t see an end to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Making an impact<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
As an added bonus, Christie enjoys the chance to make a positive impact on other people: \u201cBefore I had kids, I was an event coordinator, mainly for nonprofits. I love providing customer service \u2014 you get to meet new people and be a part of their story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCommunication is key, especially for first-time guests. If they need help, I call instead of texting \u2014 people feel secure when they hear your voice talking them through the process and creating a sense of rapport.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helping a guest propose to his fianc\u00e9e<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTuro guests have been super friendly and respectful, and it\u2019s been a very rewarding experience to build a sense of community,\u201d Christie beams. \u201cWe recently chatted up a family who hosts in Dallas \u2014 it\u2019s awesome to know that the next time we go there, they\u2019ll be happy to let us book their Porsche.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christie\u2019s most memorable Turo interaction, however, has to be the time she helped her guest curate an unforgettable marriage proposal. \u201cThis guest asked me to recommend a local hiking trail, and ended up proposing to his fianc\u00e9e after driving there. She had always wanted to ride through Aspen in a red Wrangler, and said that our car made the experience just perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was so neat to be a part of an important life event, and they left a bottle of champagne for us when they returned the car.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheltering in place with six kids<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A with many people, the shelter-in-place orders have dealt a tough blow \u2014 Christine is hardly fielding any trips at all. \u201cMy heart goes out to those who\u2019ve lost their jobs… we\u2019re very fortunate my husband\u2019s company hasn\u2019t laid off anybody,\u201d she says. \u201cBut so far, the money from hosting has mostly gone toward expenses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But besides the reduced income, the big impact has been in their home life. With schools closed, Christine has taken on the mighty task of overseeing the homeschooling of six kids (her sons plus her sister\u2019s two young kids \u2014 all under 13!). Such a transition would entirely overwhelm most of us, but Christine is saying composed with a levelheaded and positive perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though things have been \u201cchaotic\u201d at home, Christine\u2019s optimistic for the summer months. \u201cWe\u2019re remaining hopeful that, as things start getting back to normal, people will want to come out here and explore again.\u201d In the meantime, she says, \u201cstay optimistic, supportive, and be creative where you can. It\u2019s important to help each other out as much as we can in times like these.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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