WAH Advice

[FreeTime]

What do you do for your work at home job?

If you do LiveOps, how long did it take for you to really start receiving calls?

If you babysit, do you feel guilty about taking a vacation knowing that the parents have to find other options? How many weeks do you take per year?

What other things do you do to W@H? I will be shortly leaving the corporate world and will need to have sometype of income, but would like to try something at home, if possible to meet my monthly budget.
Thanks

 

[Avonlady1001]

I am a work at home mom. I am a travel agent (independent, make my own hours, all from home) and I also babysit 2 children in my home 3 days a week. I make way more money from babysitting than TA. We go away every fall to WDW. No, I don't feel guilty taking my vacation. I give the parents plenty of notice to find other arrangements. I do, however, feel bad when I have to call them when one of my own kids is sick.....but then I leave it up to them whether or not they want to bring their kids anyway. This lessens my guilt when it's their choice.

I used to sell Avon as a way to make money (hence my Dis ID), but spent more than I made, so I stopped that. LOL

 

[brymolmom]

I don't WAH, but used an in-home babysitter for my kdis for years and wanted to offer some advice if you go that way:

My woman was WAY organized. Had everything outlined upfront like:
- You get two unpaid weeks vacation every year (as in, didn't have to send my kids and didn't have to pay for those weeks).
- She got one unpaid week vacation every year (usually worked out for me to try to time one of mine the same as hers -so I didn't have to worry about child care one of the weeks).
- When my child was sick and stayed home, she still was paid (ie: 'unscheduled' absences)
- When my child was 'a little bit' sick (cold, sniffles, slight fever that stayed down with medicine, etc.) - he/she was allowed to go to day care.
- When my child had high fever or stomach bug he/she was not allowed to go to day care.

She also was wonderful in that she had pretty good routine for each day...and when the kids were old enough 1 - 2 hours was spent on preschool type activities (so didn't have to worry about paying for a preschool class). They did letter books....coloring activities...worked on writing their name, etc.

Anyway - I think there is NO WAY that you should feel guilty for taking vacations. And honestly the only times I was even slightly annoyed with having an in-home place was for last minute things (like when SHE was sick or her mother went into the hospital for emergency surgery and had to take the days off last minute). And even then, I still made out ahead of everyone whose kids were in a chidcare place, since I could still send mine when they were sick - and others were called all the time to come get their child and keep them home for a day.

Just be sure to spell out everything upfront (esp. about when and how you get paid) and I don't think there's any reason to feel guilty at all. I think people who use in-home care are going to expect you to take vacations and have the occassional emergency day off need.

 

[kmann31]

I am a WAHM via Arise. They handle a lot of big name companies. I can't actually say names due to a non-disclosure agreement, however, they handle a company that EVERYONE on this board loves *hint hint*. The pay isn't nearly as good as the corporate world, but you work from home and choose your schedule. There are some upfront costs-you don't get paid for training, and you either start your own company (like I did) or join an existing. Feel free to PM me if you want more info
Good luck on whatever venture you choose. I took the plunge 7 months ago when I had my DS and I never looked back!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Not working in the home but would be very flexible and seems like good money ~ http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3075526

 

[Tree]

I do call center work at home including LO. I also do some admin work as well. Both combine give me a decent income. I don't know the onboarding time for LO at this time.