Work at home moms (or dads)!

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lotusblossom

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Well, with #1 being due in April, DH and I are searching out our options as far as working is concerned. If you’ve read my previous posts, we recently realized how much we were having to pay in loan payments each month, and to say the least, we were shocked :eek: ! So, the thought of being a stay-at-home mom like originally planned seemed to turn from an exciting reality (not terribly happy with my current job to begin with) to a mere dream.

So, I’m looking to hear from any work-at-home parents. How did you begin your business? How long did it take to really start up? Did you have to put a good amount of money into it? Did you have connections?

I have a few ideas in mind…possibly doing taxes (although I feel like I’d have to take another tax course before doing that because I don’t remember much from the course I did take) or piano lessons (I taught while in high school and a little while in college). Child care wouldn’t be ideal because of my lack of energy and right now we don’t know where we’ll be living (currently a small apartment). Anyway, I just wanted to hear about the beginning stages, since I have a feeling that this is going to be a lot of work (but completely worth it to be with my child!) :). Thanks so much!
 
I am a college student looking to make some extra cash, hopefully enough to get an apartment with my brother. So I would be really interested if anyone knows of any legitimate work at home opportunities too. Thanks.
 
**Lotusblossom

You’re in Chicago right? Anyways this should help you some. Maybe try and go talk to them and see what they can do for you. Start up money is dependant on what you want to do. I had looked into doing a business where I design teeshirts and because i need a certain computer and softwares I am looking at least $3-5,000 dollars in funds.

There are quite a few small business loans specific to women and minorities, so you might have an easier time looking than some:) THe tax thing sounds great but I would research how many people are doing that in your area. Also look on www.craigslist.com** there are always tons of part time jobs on there. Also you would need to think about how much time you need a day to work on your projects, lesson etc. If you are doing music lessons and your baby has colic (God forbid!!!🙂 how do you deal with that?

So your first step is research your area and the area you are moving to. See what is needed the most;)

WBDC, Chicago
Alejandra Fajardo, Project Director
8 South Michigan Aveune Status: Currently Funded Center
Chicago, IL 60603 First Year Funding: S-2003
Telephone: 312-853-3477 x38
Fax: 312-853-0145 SBA Region: 5
Email: afajardo@ywcaak.org Population Urban
Web site: www.wbdc.org

Founded in 1986, the Women’s Business Development Center serves women business owners in the greater Chicago area, and advocates for women business owners nationwide. The WBDC provides a variety of entrepreneurial training courses and seminars: one-to-one counseling; financial assistance and loan packaging for microloans; the SBA Loan Prequalification Program, and other SBA and government loan programs, technology, e-business and equity finance programs; WBE certification, and private- and public-sector procurement; an annual conference and Women’s Buyers Mart; and extensive advocacy and policy development for women’s economic and business-development issues.
 
**I would add to the previous posters remarks about your husbands pay, unless you are already on your husbands insurance that will add to his what his take home pay as will your new baby, so don’t forget to include that into your balance as well:)

And this may be too late, I am not sure but did you look into disability insurance for after you have the baby? This will help some too…Sorry if this is off topic:)**
 
Dacinom said:
Just mentioning this because it is not something people always think of as extra income and it is pretty simple. Just one form to fill out at his job. Hope this helps and God bless.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional tax person…call the IRS or someone smarter than me for better information!
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Since she’s thinking of doing taxes out of her home, she could probably crank that out herself…and she may not have thought to do it, so it was worth mentioning.

I have friends who did “tag team parenting” to avoid putting their kids in daycare…that is, Mom took part-time work at times when Dad would be at home.

Also, if you do accounting, you might be able to do temp work for local firms out of your home, especially in the spring. You wouldn’t have to wrestle up your own client base, that way. We had a friend do our taxes who always ran her business out of her home. When she sold her business and went into semi-retirement, she went to work part-time for another accountant who runs her business out of her home, too.

I’ll warn you this, though: I do some work out of my home, and when the kids are home from school for a snow day, it is tough to get anything done. Almost everything I get done is done when they are in bed or their dad is home to keep them occupied. Parenting is very time-consuming, particularly if done well. If your intention in being a SAHM is to give your kids the attention that only you can give them, it isn’t going to work if you’re selling too much of that off on the side. If you do an at-home business, don’t be too ambitious about how many hours of work you can get done in a day.
 
I work from home and am able to be with my children while having a very flexible schedule.
I am a personal assistant.

If you have computer strengths, phone skills, etc. you may want to place an ad in your local Catholic newspaper. Many people are doig good work out there and desperately need some extra help!
 
LynnieLew said:
I work from home and am able to be with my children while having a very flexible schedule.
I am a personal assistant.

If you have computer strengths, phone skills, etc. you may want to place an ad in your local Catholic newspaper. Many people are doig good work out there and desperately need some extra help!
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What does a personal assistant do?
 
BLB_Oregon said:
Since she’s thinking of doing taxes out of her home, she could probably crank that out herself…and she may not have thought to do it, so it was worth mentioning.

I have friends who did “tag team parenting” to avoid putting their kids in daycare…that is, Mom took part-time work at times when Dad would be at home.

Also, if you do accounting, you might be able to do temp work for local firms out of your home, especially in the spring. You wouldn’t have to wrestle up your own client base, that way. We had a friend do our taxes who always ran her business out of her home. When she sold her business and went into semi-retirement, she went to work part-time for another accountant who runs her business out of her home, too.

I’ll warn you this, though: I do some work out of my home, and when the kids are home from school for a snow day, it is tough to get anything done. Almost everything I get done is done when they are in bed or their dad is home to keep them occupied. Parenting is very time-consuming, particularly if done well. If your intention in being a SAHM is to give your kids the attention that only you can give them, it isn’t going to work if you’re selling too much of that off on the side. If you do an at-home business, don’t be too ambitious about how many hours of work you can get done in a day.
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Oh, yes, yes, yes…you need to make sure that you are not too ambitious about how long you can work once the baby comes. I have 4 children and I work from home. I do bookkeeping for my job. I was a clerk there (and still go in to the store sometimes though not as often as before) but the paperwork is done at my home. I cannot do my work at all while the kids are awake and my husband isn’t home. It’s just not going to happen. I am a tag-teamer with DH so I can stay home too. When he’s home and I want to go to bed at a decent hour he’ll watch the kids so I can get my paperwork done.

Now I started college again. I’m doing THAT online too from home.

You have to be flexible with your time but you also need to find a job that is flexible too. I know some places of employment that require you to work “office hours” from home because you have to make calls or what not during normal business hours. Those are tough. My job requires very little phone time so I can make whatever calls I need to during the kids naps. Other jobs will give you a deadline but you can work on a project when it’s convenient for you, just don’t be late! My friend works from home doing data entry. She’s working her fingers to the bone typing all day long because she’s on a strict deadline and is paid per document she enters (sometimes they are a penny each sometimes a nickle or dime). She averages $1.00 an hour…she’s not a great typer. Those who can do 80 words a minute could make more per hour because of working less hours a week than she does. She quit her job at Walmart making much more money just so she could be home when her kids got home from school.

The above post I quoted has some good advice, look into possibly doing taxes for someone else for now that way you don’t have to struggle to find clients for yourself.

God bless you!
 
My DH works mostly from home, he is a graphic designer, also does web design, and some video work on the side. But watching kids too? Doesn’t happen. I am home now too since I got pg (too sick to work) and I do all the childcare. He takes breaks and helps for a short time, or does a quick load of dishes or laundry, but if he’s actually working he can’t deal with the kids at the same time. I don’t blame him. I can’t get anything at all done lately, even my 'puter time is is tiny tiny bits and pieces here and there with a newborn. So think really really hard about how much you take on, because once that baby’s here, you will have a lot less time than you do now. A LOT less. And realize, like previous posters have pointed out, that with tax credits and such, you will actually have some extra money that you don’t qualify for now. Just a thought.
 
Thanks so much for all your replies! I will look into all the different options you all suggested :). I didn’t think or even realize the whole tax credit thing (being an accountant, you’d think I’d know that 😉 ), so I’m going to take that into consideration too.

As far as time goes, that’s what I’m a little worried about. I’m used to working a full schedule plus more, so I know I could do it with a child (and future children), but the question is more - do I want to if I don’t have to? I’m thinking teaching music lessons sounds the easiest, mainly because I work on my own time and I can work once DH gets home (he’s a teacher, so I’d probably teach in the late afternoon/evenings). However, I know doing taxes and such would probably be way more profitable. The goal is to get rid of the loans ASAP. We’ll see. Your prayers would be great :). I know God will take care of us - I’m just wondering how at this point.
 
Hi Lotusblossum!
My DH is a teacher in the Chicago area as well so maybe I can offer some advice-
If your DH is a HS teacher, maybe he can make some extra money doing activities after school? My DH coaches baseball and supervises the weightroom, it is great extra money and not too much time away from the family.
Just a thought!
 
nfpteacher1 said:
Hi Lotusblossum!
My DH is a teacher in the Chicago area as well so maybe I can offer some advice-
If your DH is a HS teacher, maybe he can make some extra money doing activities after school? My DH coaches baseball and supervises the weightroom, it is great extra money and not too much time away from the family.
Just a thought!
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nfpteacher1,

Thanks so much for that suggestion! I honestly didn’t think of it, but I will definitely bring that idea to DH when I next talk to him :).

To everyone:

I REALLY appreciate all your suggestions! Sometimes, it’s difficult for me to think “outside of the box” so I tend to have limited ideas. 🙂
 
nfpteacher1 said:
If your DH is a HS teacher, maybe he can make some extra money doing activities after school? My DH coaches baseball and supervises the weightroom, it is great extra money and not too much time away from the family. Just a thought!
Click to expand...
Our county school system pays $25/ hour plus mileage to home teachers. At the moment I teach 2 kids (6 hrs/ week each) who are out of school temporarily.

I choose the hours I’m available and what ages/ grades I am willing to teach.

Perhaps either your husband could pick up extra hours doing that or you could in the evenings once the baby is older.
—KCT
 
I can’t speak for everyone who does this but here are some of the things I do:

I make phone calls to legislators about pro-life laws.
Send out mass mailings.
Type documents.
Design newsletters/brochures/logos.
Arrange for travel.
Make purchases as necessary.
Arrange conference calls.

Those are just a few things but I LOVE IT!

It is really flexible and my “boss” has become more like a friend over the last 2 years. I have been able to work in the prolife area (something I love) while using the talents I have from college. I am able to be with my family and the extra income helps with the thousands of $ I spent on my Master’s degree at a private university!

God has blessed me and my family greatly through this.
Feanaro_s_Wife said:
What does a personal assistant do?
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**Lotus Blossom

Have you also looked into any people who are running companies out of their homes that would let you bring your baby to work with you?

I agree its hard to get things done with a infant buts its much easier at that age than with a toddler. Try explaining to a toddler why they aren’t allowed to touch a 25,000.00 computer system:)

I still would look into the Chicago area Women’s Business Network. YOu should meet tons of contacts there! Also try talking to the Alumni Office and see if they know of anyone else in that area that does what you do.**
 
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