How I earned $60,000 TAX EXEMPT as a SAHM
Becoming a host parent for international students was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made as a family. Not only did it allow me to earn a generous, tax-free income while staying at home with my children, but it also enriched our lives in ways I never imagined.
From financial stability to cultural connection, hosting students has opened doors to new experiences for all of us—and even helped us achieve our dream of traveling full-time as a family around Australia.
If you’ve ever wondered whether hosting international students might be right for you, let me share why it’s been such a rewarding experience for us and how it might just change your life too.
Why Hosting Works for Families
For me, hosting international students wasn’t just about the financial benefits (though they were significant!). It was also about providing a safe, welcoming environment for young people traveling far from home, often for the first time.
Here’s what hosting has meant for our family:
Financial Freedom: The allowance we received as host parents was generous and completely tax-free, meaning we didn’t need to declare it as taxable income. This extra income allowed us to save for our dream of traveling full-time while still ensuring our students were well cared for.
Cultural Enrichment: Hosting opened up our kids’ world. They learned about different countries, cultures, and traditions from the students who stayed with us. It’s been amazing to see how patient, kind, and welcoming they’ve become through this experience.
Family Growth: Hosting taught us all how to be more hospitable, adaptable, and open to new experiences. It’s not just the students who learn and grow—it’s the host families too.
Trang was such a blessing to our family. She loves kids so much, and although she was developing her English language, she connected so well with my children.
The Financial Benefits of Hosting
One of the reasons hosting worked so well for us was that we’d planned ahead to maximize its financial potential. Here’s how:
1. Using Spare Rooms as Income Streams
If you have a spare room—whether it’s a rarely-used guest room or a storage “junk” room—you might be sitting on an untapped income source. We realized this early and decided to invest in our home to create more space.
When we renovated our North Plympton home, we added an extension that increased our three-bedroom house to five bedrooms. This allowed us to host up to three international students at a time (the maximum allowed by our homestay network in SA).
The extra bedrooms not only helped us earn a significant income, but they also increased the value of our property. It was a win-win decision.
our home in North Plympton that we renovated and then put an extension. This was to create extra bedrooms, that will generate a passive income for our family, and allow me to be a SAHM.
2. Tax-Free Income
The allowance we received for hosting was classified as tax-free, which made it even more worthwhile. Unlike other income streams, hosting didn’t affect my parenting payments or require me to declare earnings to the tax office.
Tip: If you’re looking for a way to make money from home while staying available to your children, hosting international students is a fantastic option to consider.
Cultural Experiences We’ll Never Forget
Hosting students wasn’t just about finances for us—it was about creating unforgettable memories.
We’ve loved introducing students to our beautiful city of Adelaide and experiencing their culture in return. One of my favorite memories was taking our Japanese student, Nancy, and her friend Rio to a Japanese cultural festival in Adelaide. Watching them light up as they shared their traditions with us was priceless.
our whole family enjoyed taking our new Japanese student Nancy, and her friend Rio to the Japanese cultural festival in Adelaide. We all learnt so much and the girls enjoyed showing us about their culture.
Our kids, too, have benefited enormously from these experiences. They’ve learned to connect with people from around the world, becoming more empathetic, curious, and confident along the way. Little M, our youngest, is adored by all the students who stay with us—they love playing with him, holding him, and even teaching him words in their native language.
Why Hosting Matters
Hosting international students is about more than just financial gain—it’s about providing a safe, supportive environment for young people traveling far from home. Unfortunately, during our time as hosts, we encountered situations where some students weren’t treated well by their host families. It broke my heart, but it also strengthened my resolve to encourage more caring, family-oriented households to become hosts.
Why families like yours should consider hosting:
Financial Relief: In today’s challenging economic climate, the allowance from hosting can make a big difference to families feeling the pinch.
Cultural Exchange Without Leaving Home: Hosting gives your family a cultural experience without the need for passports or expensive plane tickets.
A Natural Fit for Families: If you’re already looking after your own children, adding one more (or even two or three) isn’t a big leap. In fact, students often thrive in family environments with children because it feels familiar and welcoming.
What Students Love About Family Hosts
From the students’ perspective, living with a family offers them the authentic Australian experience they’re looking for. Here’s why they love staying with families:
They get to connect with Aussie kids, make friends, and feel part of the family.
Family homes are lively and fun, often filled with shared meals, laughter, and activities.
Parents in host families are often more relatable and supportive, helping students transition more smoothly into their new environment.
Hosting isn’t just a transaction—it’s a relationship. We’ve been privileged to share our lives with students who are eager to learn, experience, and connect, and the bond we form with them often lasts long after their stay.
How Hosting Helped Us Achieve Our Dream
Right now, as I write this, my family and I are living our dream—traveling full-time across Australia. This dream was made possible, in large part, because of our time as host parents. Hosting allowed us to save, grow, and prepare for a life of adventure, all while staying home with our kids.
If you’re looking for a way to ease financial pressure, give your family a rich cultural experience, and positively impact the life of a young person far from home, hosting international students might be the perfect opportunity for you.
being a host parent to international students is such a rewarding experience, in more ways than one. I hope that our story can inspire you to give it a go.
Final Thoughts
Hosting international students has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives. It’s opened up opportunities we never thought possible—both financially and personally—and created memories we’ll cherish forever.
So, if you’ve got a spare room gathering dust, or you’re dreaming of financial breathing space in today’s crazy expensive world, why not consider hosting? It might just be the key to unlocking your next adventure.
Your family’s story could inspire and enrich the lives of students from all over the world—and in return, they’ll enrich yours.
The homestay experience has opened up my Childrens world. They are able to learn about different countries, cultures and families from all over the world. They learn to be more patient, kind and helpful, they also learn to be welcoming and hospitable, to our students.
https://www.homestaynetwork.org/partner-not-so-stay-at-home-mum/
our Korean girls were so lovely and enthusiastic. They wanted to experience as much of Adelaide, and Aussie life as possible. It was a privilege to have them stay with us. Plus they were so funny.
