The Question: "Hi there--I just read your article in the Dollar Stretcher newsletter and I enjoyed it very much. I noticed you put in a sentence re: the various, scam free, home business or work at home opportunities available. My question to you is how do I access these legal and scam free opportunities? I unfortunately lost some money on several of the scams several years back. I am a stay at home Mom of 4 preschoolers and I would love the opportunity to make some money as working outside the home is impossible for us because the money I would make would only put us in a higher tax bracket and not even cover the complete expenses for daycare, etc., any information you could share with me or direct me to some links I would appreciate. Thank you very much.
Jodie "
Jodie,
As a stay at home mom myself (as well as the mother of 4), I know exactly what you are going through. When I started out staying home all of the time with my first, money was very tight and I wanted to bring extra money in and maybe feel like I was "helping out" more (like I wasn't doing enough already!). After a few months of looking into the "easy money at home opportunities" I determined a few things for myself. First, there are companies that will hire people to work for them from home, however, they are not going to be found on the grocery store bulletin board or on an infomercial! You have to go about finding a telecommuting or freelance position, just as you would any other job. Start with the big internet job searches...they will help you find which companies even consider telecommuting or taking on freelancers in whatever your career might be. Second, there are plenty of other ways to make money from. One of the best is to start your own business. Now just like any other business, it will take a lot of your time and some start up capital.
My best advice would be to take a lot of time. If you are particularly cash poor right now, first don't be taken in by the lure of easy cash...it will never happen that way! Second, try and make it your "business" for a while to save as much money as you can...become a real frugal maven. Then, while you're learning how to save as much cash as you can, determine what it is you'd like to do from home by reading and studying. There are some excellent books on the market that can help you get started. Your local library should have many books on business and entrepreneurship...as well as the latest issues of magazines like Entrpreneur, Home Office, and anything that might be suited for your particular interest. Don't feel pressured to start producing an income...going about it that way, and take it from one who knows, will not get you as far ahead as you might think. Take the time to enjoy the here and now. Remember little ones are only little once, and they don't need the latest toys and gadgets to be happy...so don't let that be your motivation. Let your motivation be your own desire to grow. As long as there is an income, there is a way to make it enough...it's not always easy, but there's always a way.
