[AdoptAmiga]

Hello forum friends:

I'm toying with the idea of returning to work (for the extra money and something to do), but my biggest obstacle is FLEXIBILITY. I need to be home by 3:00 pm to meet the school bus, then there are half-days and pretty soon we'll be having snow days. But if I can do something during school hours for a buck, that would be a bonus!

I'm extremely frugal and I usually won't pay somebody to do something I can do myself, so I'm stumped. What would you pay someone to do for you? How about other groups of people, such as young professionals, seniors, etc.

TIA for all your wonderful ideas!

[DPline]

When you come up with a brilliant plan, I will run your SE Michigan location for you!

With the horrible economy it is looking like I may need to go back to work, but finding something where I can work around the kids schedules is hard. Or a job that pays enough to cover child care and still come out ahead.

Hopefully everyone will come up with some wonderful ideas and I can be your first employee!

[angel_bayou]

I know a lot of my friends who have wanted to do this very same thing have started cleaning houses. They make decent money for th wor involved!! IF I had the extra dough I would pay for a cleaning lady!!

Can you sew? I know someone here who is putting her children through college by sewing for others and watching her grandchildren from her older kids! She also does floral work from home!

[ourdreamcametru]

This is nothing new but I keep children in my home. It pays decent and keeps me home with my kids. I don't have to worry with work clothes, weather, gas, childcare,schedule or anything else. I've been doing this for 23 years so if you need advice feel free to pm me!

[ej-momtobe]

Cleaning and yardwork.

[AdoptAmiga]

Hey DPline - I was hoping to be working for YOU - lol!

With the economy so bad (a Michiganian here) and with the highest unemployment around, many people are hurting. For example, preschool and daycare services are way down because it's not needed or is an "extra" (like preschool).

Sigh...wish I knew how to sew or cut hair, something! I have a teaching background, am bilingual Spanish, love to cook, love anything with finances and taxes and love to organize.

I wouldn't mind cleaning houses. Do you need to be bonded? But then again, if people aren't working, they're cleaning their own houses! I'm not interested in doing child care b/c my kids are in school and I want the flexibility to be able to leave my home.

Keep the ideas coming...

[LJR1974]

I used to clean cottages as extra income when I was a college student. My mom and aunt have also done this in the past when they had young children.

That was sort of "back in the day" but I didn't have to do anything special... bonding or background checks or anything.

[susmjones]

If you have a teaching background....look into tutoring. Many districts have to provide tutors for children who can not attend school for various reasons (I was sick in high school and had to take an extended leave) the district hired tutors to come meet with me and teach me at home. I think it is pretty competitive...but worth a shot.

You could also consider being a teacher's aide in a school. You keep the same hours as a teacher but you don't have all of the work.

Pet services are also always needed.

As for the organization...stop by local offices and see if they need help in the front office/reception.

Good luck!

[Stormster]

I would love someone to show up at my house and just do whatever I need on that day. Sometimes when we had a mother's helper (had to cut that cause of budget) I didn't really want to clean or go out, i wanted to play with the baby. But that's all she was there to do so I would love someone to just be there 2 or 3 hours a couple times a week to do whatever

organize a closet
play with the baby or take him to the park so I can organize the closet!
iron or laundry
change the bedding
clean
even make doctors appointments or take E to an appointment or whatever.

Kind of a jack of all trades!

[dac_cincy]

Since you like to cook- what about preparing meals for a family? Just a 2-3 meals (main dishes) a week would be wonderful. You could price it out so that it is cheaper than a fast food meal, but covers your time and effort. You could also offer to grocery shop for families- based on a meal plan.

or even just plan meals for a family- let the family cook them and shop for them.

Another option is helping families readjust budgets or build a budget.

Love to you,
Deb

Originally Posted by AdoptAmiga

Hey DPline - I was hoping to be working for YOU - lol!

With the economy so bad (a Michiganian here) and with the highest unemployment around, many people are hurting. For example, preschool and daycare services are way down because it's not needed or is an "extra" (like preschool).

Sigh...wish I knew how to sew or cut hair, something! I have a teaching background, am bilingual Spanish, love to cook, love anything with finances and taxes and love to organize.

I wouldn't mind cleaning houses. Do you need to be bonded? But then again, if people aren't working, they're cleaning their own houses! I'm not interested in doing child care b/c my kids are in school and I want the flexibility to be able to leave my home.

Keep the ideas coming...

[SKL]

Scrapbooks, lifebooks, etc.

I have been wanting to put together a book about each of my daughters' lives, and it's been over 11 months now since we've been home. I want to coordinate photos with a list of songs I selected to commemorate the adoption journey. I want to send the books to the foster moms, among other things. I need to compile scrapbook stuff for their shower, too, and I would have liked to have something to celebrate my kids' first year home. Stuff like that. It could be done online and remotely. I bet I'm not the only person who could use these services.

Another idea is to run errands for people who have new babies or lots of tots. I remember how hard it was just to make sure I didn't run out of milk, when I had two tots who couldn't walk. Maybe some folks would pay for this kind of help.

Good luck!

[gwenrenee007]

what about baby sitting. It may cut into time with your boys but they could still be with you if they are good with other kids. I am paying someone to come to my house a couple hours a week to play with Mia so I can get somethings done and then hopefully so we can go out! I pay pretty well $8 an hour for 1 child, but I don't want tv and I want someone to actually play and read to her. There are websites that you can sign up on to find people near you. try googling babysitters. It's free for the babysitters. If you were closer I would love to have YOU! but we are in flint so that is quite a drive.

good luck!

[AdoptAmiga]

Thanks Gwenrenee007! Yes, it would be quite the drive...

Thanks everyone for the ideas. To complicate matters, DH has an erratic work schedule (can include evenings/weekends) so it's imperative that I am home for 3 o'clock. I'm not looking for traditional employment at this time unless the hours worked out or I could arrange after school care (which I really don't want).

I need to do some thinking and planning.

Please continue to add your thoughts and ideas.

[linda512]

I don't know where you live, but can you do something that uses your spanish? Translating, tutoring spanish speaking kids or something else?
Can you type? Maybe a transcriptionist something?

[crick]

With your hours, have you considered working for the schools in your area? I know my kids' district has a website for jobs in the schools that are not teacher related. Even things like recess aides or in the cafeteria, etc. I know several moms who do this so they either work only during school hours or just a part of the day for a few hours. It's extra money and yet still very flexible for them.