OT -Good ways to make money working from home.

[TheDizMom]

I can't believe it. Exactly 1 year ago today I was at Epcot and all I can think about is I want to be there now ! I want to get back so bad and unfortunately the trip we were hoping to make at the end of this year will isn't going to happen thanks to this darn RECESSION . Our income has gone way down and we really wanted to go back this year because my first trip was 15 years ago for our honeymoon, so it seemed like the perfect time to go. While I can't complain to much as my family is healthy, has a roof over it's head (at least for now) and food to eat, it's also stressful trying to get the bills paid. WDW would just make it all go away , if for only a few days. I digress .

Anyway, I have to go back to work full time or come up with a way to make money while working from home. Anyone have any good ideas? I am a very creative minded person who doesn't have the greatest computer skills in the world. I work part time now as the administrative assistant to a real estate agent and enjoy it, but there is no chance of it turning full time, so I need something else or in addition to. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.

 

[Nanu57v]

Did you play an instrument? I teach violin lessons from home at $10 a lesson, no overhead. This could supplement your p/t job.

 

[reneempayne]

I am subscribing!!! I could use some supplimental income!

 

[staci]

* Watch kids. Either full time or before/after school or just on holidays/summer break, or even 3rd shift if you are up to it.

* Consign/Ebay/Craigslist. I regularly ebay or sell things we have outgrown/do not use. It really adds up. I just took one plastic tote yesterday to our consignment shop, they listed the items for about $200 total, which means I will get about $100. All stuff that was just taking up space.

* Trim food/entertainment budgets. Better yet, DO a real thorough household budget if you havent yet. I think we are doing good, until I see how much money goes to "misc. Target purchases".

* Donate plasma. Our good friend (who is an engineer so not really hurting for the cash) does this regularly. It is his 'fun money'.

* I know some people who are medical transcriptionists, but that requires decent computer skills.

* There are of course your partylite, tupperware, avon, etc. party things.

* Do you have any skills? Could you teach a community art, music, cooking class?

* Do you have a service in your area that helps run errands? Someone already has one in our mediocre sized town, or I would consider it. She charges a flat fee (like $15) plus XX$ every 30 minutes, for any errand. Says she will do about anything that is legal Pretty much I think it is running things to the dry cleaner, paying bills, that type of thing

That is all I can think of for now! Hope I gave you some helpful suggestions!

Staci

 

[TheDizMom]

* Watch kids. Either full time or before/after school or just on holidays/summer break, or even 3rd shift if you are up to it.

* Consign/Ebay/Craigslist. I regularly ebay or sell things we have outgrown/do not use. It really adds up. I just took one plastic tote yesterday to our consignment shop, they listed the items for about $200 total, which means I will get about $100. All stuff that was just taking up space.

* Trim food/entertainment budgets. Better yet, DO a real thorough household budget if you havent yet. I think we are doing good, until I see how much money goes to "misc. Target purchases".

* Donate plasma. Our good friend (who is an engineer so not really hurting for the cash) does this regularly. It is his 'fun money'.

* I know some people who are medical transcriptionists, but that requires decent computer skills.

* There are of course your partylite, tupperware, avon, etc. party things.

* Do you have any skills? Could you teach a community art, music, cooking class?

* Do you have a service in your area that helps run errands? Someone already has one in our mediocre sized town, or I would consider it. She charges a flat fee (like $15) plus XX$ every 30 minutes, for any errand. Says she will do about anything that is legal Pretty much I think it is running things to the dry cleaner, paying bills, that type of thing

That is all I can think of for now! Hope I gave you some helpful suggestions!

Staci

I am a pretty decent cook and baker, my son says I am an excellent baker. We have been selling things on ebay and I have a few new things up that are Disney boutique things I am trying. I don't have the money to start up the party jobs like tupperware or pampered chef, that you need up front. I could try the errand thing. That's a good suggestion.
We aren't buying anything but necessities right now because there just isn't any money for anything else, though I totally get the Target run thing . I think the dollar bin has gotten me more then once .

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[TheDizMom]

Did you play an instrument? I teach violin lessons from home at $10 a lesson, no overhead. This could supplement your p/t job.

No instrument playing in sight, but thanks for the suggestion.

 

[staci]

I am a pretty decent cook and baker, my son says I am an excellent baker. QUOTE]
I am sure the health regulations are different in different areas, but here at our local farmers markets, there are many booths that are just homemade baked goods - and boy are they hard to pass up! I will go in for a bag of veggies, but almost always leave with a plate of cookies Might be worth looking into. They seem to do VERY well - I have been known to fight over the last lemon bread on more than one occassion

Another business I have seen people start up here is party planning.... coordinating children's birthday parties - usually heavily themed - like one is a princess party - and they provide everything and run the whole thing for a $400 bucks......

 

[hmdavid]

I am an independent consultant for Once Upon a Family and I love it! I mostly work from home and get to talk to people about my favorite subject... family! If I could only work Disney in to the presentations it would be perfect! If you would like more info you can PM me. Good luck!

 

[Mrs D]

I am a SAHM and an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics. The price for a starter kit is very reasonable and you are not required to carry inventory, but that option is available to you. I love it because there are no quotas, I work around MY schedule, we receive lots of free training, there is a terrific support system to help you succeed and it's fun! For me Mary Kay is more about the skin care then the make up (because everyone has skin) and I chose this business over other direct sales companies because it is a consumable product which will provide you with repeat customers. I'd be happy to answer any other questions, just PM me.

 

[StephMK]

I don't sell anything but have considered it. wahm.com has a bunch of different companies listed if you check them out. I had considered doing an at home bear building one & it had a pretty low starting fee if you caught a special sign up time.

-mystery shopping is not steady but pays for some extra treats if you have some flexibility

-in your line of work do you ever run across traveling notaries? I've read some do ok going around to closing & whatnot but never knew if that was really true

-merchandising - I'm going to go by Lowe's & see who does their garden center, I would love to take care of plants PT if I can do it on my hours

-I second the before/after school care - I made good money doing that & had awesome kids. I always wanted a big family & it was fun getting a short taste of it when I made breakfast for 6 then got to happily wave bye to all of them at 3 different schools a short time later. A super nice mom watches mine 1x a week now on their early out days since I went back FT.

-summer care for older elementary kids that might not want to do camps or before/after care & transportation for summer camps. Many camps are only 1/2 or 3/3 day & don't work for my FT working schedule.

Good luck!! I went through many PT jobs & enjoyed having different focuses during the week.

 

[grlpwrd]

Did you play an instrument? I teach violin lessons from home at $10 a lesson, no overhead. This could supplement your p/t job.

Would you mind sharing with us how you find your students? I teach children at home, too, but I would love to hear what you do to encourage more business. (I am also planning to teach at 2 parks and recreation departments nearby in the fall, but it depends on whether my proposal is accepted or not.)

I also sell on ebay and Craigslist.

I have a friend who sells cakes, one who collects and recycles scrap metal for money, and one who tutors. My twin sister is a realtor in the Tampa Bay area and she also owns a housecleaning business.

 

[KibbyCat]

Okay, well, I don't want to get kicked out for advertising online, but since this request was presented, maybe I won't be soliciting if I give this info:
http://www.liasophia.com/sites/jewelqueen/our-opportunity

I'm a personal advisor for a brand name jewelry company, and I love it because, unlike a lot of other direct selling companies, I really don't have to do much. The jewelry sells itself - I just take it to parties and show it off, let people have fun trying it on, and bam - I make about $100 an hour! Plus, I get free jewelry. who can beat that!

Anyway, PM me if you want me to send you more info or anything.

 

[Nanu57v]

I am a pretty decent cook and baker, my son says I am an excellent baker. QUOTE]
I am sure the health regulations are different in different areas, but here at our local farmers markets, there are many booths that are just homemade baked goods - and boy are they hard to pass up! I will go in for a bag of veggies, but almost always leave with a plate of cookies Might be worth looking into. They seem to do VERY well - I have been known to fight over the last lemon bread on more than one occassion

Another business I have seen people start up here is party planning.... coordinating children's birthday parties - usually heavily themed - like one is a princess party - and they provide everything and run the whole thing for a $400 bucks......

You know, our farmer's market has baked goods too...I could do that! I wonder how I find out the laws.

 

[Nanu57v]

Would you mind sharing with us how you find your students? I teach children at home, too, but I would love to hear what you do to encourage more business. (I am also planning to teach at 2 parks and recreation departments nearby in the fall, but it depends on whether my proposal is accepted or not.)

I also sell on ebay and Craigslist.

I have a friend who sells cakes, one who collects and recycles scrap metal for money, and one who tutors. My twin sister is a realtor in the Tampa Bay area and she also owns a housecleaning business.

I just wanted a few students, so I only "advertised" through a free listing in the local homeschool newsletter. Within 2 days of the newsletter release, I had 2 calls. I know if I would do an ad in the newspaper, or put up flyers in schools or on community bulletin boards I could get more students. (Our district doesn't teach string lessons).

 

[Nikel]

Would you mind sharing with us how you find your students? I teach children at home, too, but I would love to hear what you do to encourage more business. (I am also planning to teach at 2 parks and recreation departments nearby in the fall, but it depends on whether my proposal is accepted or not.)

I'm not sure what you play or what level you're at, but at my high school, those of us in the advanced concert band were required to have a weekly private lesson. The school covered half and we covered the other half (the band director did offer free ones for those that couldn't afford it). Back in '98 I was paying $25/wk, so the instructor was making $50/wk. That was for a 30 min lesson. During my senior yr, the instructor set me up giving private lessons to some of the middle schoolers, and I was making $25 per 30 min lesson. So I'd check with some of the area schools.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

My friend does the plasma donation thing. She donates her Rh negative blood for the making of RhoGAM.

I think it is through Johnson and Johnson?? Not sure, but they pay her something like $50 a week. Not bad for laying in a chair for 2 hours a week.

She told me I should do it, but I am Rh positive, so not able to.

 

[puffkin]

I am an Independent consultant for Tastefully Simple. I have more business than I can handle because I also have a FT job. I love that it is a consumable good so people are constantly calling me for reorders which I make a decent commission off of. Consumable products are the key because people don't go through cookware, baskets, makeup, candles etc. that fast. Plus the products sell themselves, so there isn't really any hard selling. Finally, I love the products, so I get them at the consultant price which is enough to keep me in business

 

[TheDizMom]

I am a pretty decent cook and baker, my son says I am an excellent baker. QUOTE]
I am sure the health regulations are different in different areas, but here at our local farmers markets, there are many booths that are just homemade baked goods - and boy are they hard to pass up! I will go in for a bag of veggies, but almost always leave with a plate of cookies Might be worth looking into. They seem to do VERY well - I have been known to fight over the last lemon bread on more than one occassion

Another business I have seen people start up here is party planning.... coordinating children's birthday parties - usually heavily themed - like one is a princess party - and they provide everything and run the whole thing for a $400 bucks......

That's a great idea. It would at least give me something during the summer and early fall. We don't have to many farmers markets in the frozen tundra of Minnesota from late fall to early summer. I can't imagine why . I could try it though and maybe if I get some sort of cards I could get people to call me and place orders. I have always said I would love to open up my own bakery since it's my favorite pass time.

 

[TheDizMom]

Okay, well, I don't want to get kicked out for advertising online, but since this request was presented, maybe I won't be soliciting if I give this info:
http://www.liasophia.com/sites/jewelqueen/our-opportunity

I'm a personal advisor for a brand name jewelry company, and I love it because, unlike a lot of other direct selling companies, I really don't have to do much. The jewelry sells itself - I just take it to parties and show it off, let people have fun trying it on, and bam - I make about $100 an hour! Plus, I get free jewelry. who can beat that!

Anyway, PM me if you want me to send you more info or anything.

It's funny you should mention this as I just had a Liasophia party a few weeks ago. I got $150 worth of free jewelry!. I love the jewelry, but I am not sure about the start up again. It's definitely something worth considering since I have TONS of retail experience from Pets to Flowers. Pampered Chef or Tastefully Simple might work better for me since I love to cook and bake.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I am subscribing too..
Some great ideas!
I walked thru Michaels the other day...tryin to see if there were things I could find to make and resell on Ebay... Their fees are getting so high tho...you have to watch profit margin...

I want to eventually be a SAHM...I go back to work Monday from my maternity leave...and would love to be able to at least scale back to PT one day soon...