[soontobe]

Does anyone know of any legitimate work from home jobs? And I say legitimate because of all the 'work from home' scams that are out there. I really would like to find some way to have a little extra income - as we all know adoption is very expensive and just raising kids are very expensive - but I want to be able to stay at home with my adopted child. I guess the bottom line is I want the best of both worlds - to have an income, but still be with my child as much as possible. I thought I'd see if any of you have successfully found a legitimate work from home job where you are acheiving the same goals I'm looking to achieve. My academic and professional background is in IT (Information Technology). Any information would be appreciated!!!

[HappyMomAnna]

Some of my work at home ideas have been very profitable some not---

I sold Tupperware and really liked that---as my older children grew I was able to grow my business and reap wonderful profits Up to 35% as well as fill my home with all the tupperware a human could ever want.

With your background you could easily use your skills to develope some outside income..... say, creating basic web pages, or helping others with their computer issues..... You have a skill that many regular people need on limited basis.

Ebay--believe it or not I have found things at yard sales for .25 cents and sold them on Ebay for $10.00 it takes some time and effort but, you can earn money if you do not shop.

I have used my vedio camera and now my digital camera and offered "home inventories" I go in and photograhp peoples homes and the things they own and provide them with two or three copies of their possessions to keep in the event they have a fire or theft. I chagre a flat rate and for the disks or tapes.

Other things I do and count as income are silly but add up fast....I always use coupons and I count my time and estimate I earn about $10.00 an hour doing it.

I have my name on bulletin boards for things like sewing on insignia and hemming, repairs and the such.... The people birng me what they need--I do it in the evening and they come and pick it up.... Or I meet them in a place outside of my home if I don't know them. I get a lot of referals.... once I sewed every badge a boy scout earned for his Eagle Scout ceremony and made a $100.00 bucks.

I have done dog walking and it has been fun with the kids.... I cannot believe how many people need their dog walked once or twice a day while they work.... just know the dog and don't take any who are too hard to deal with I once agreed to walk two dalmations----oh my what a horrible walk that was.

I have written and submitted for publication..... This one is painful and can take a long time to see money.

I have used my computer to help others make holiday cards or claendars or flyers.... Some printing shops will sub-contract over flow work to someone who wants to work at home.

Organizing or Recycling expert--again this is about going to their homes....but, you get to set your times.... Some people just need helpful ideas and someone else to get them started....

I call myself a hussler--a person who dispises time clocks and routines set by some boss---I would reather be creative and have control over my time and find ways to generate the money I want...... Another good part of working for yourself is taxes, but I always try and add to my Social Security account I have seen others run their lives like I do only to end up without any benefits because they managed to write off all their business costs.... and save on taxes.

good luck--you have a skill and it can be creatively used to make money.....how much is all about how hard and how much time you want to work....but work is always work and there are few ways to make a million without really putting in the work.

[lovestory]

Wow Anna, I am impressed. I think I just might take some of your ideas, and put them to use. I am so like you, in hating the time clock thing, also, I definitely want to be a SAHM. So, I have basically just accepted the idea that we will live comfortably within our means, that my hubby brings home. We can pay our bills, buy our clothes, put food on the table, and even save...yet we still have to be somewhat frugal. Some of the stuff that you have done sound fun! I especially like the e-bay idea. I have been so close to doing this, I have even set up an account. Yet that 'leap of faith'...I guess all it takes is taking a picture of something I am looking to sell, and setting up the auction. (Ironically I just donated a whole truck load of stuff to a second hand store, a few days ago.)

Thanx again for the ideas! (This may help pay for our next adoption. )
Stephanie

[soontobe]

Hi Anna and JuliannaTeresa, Thanks for your responses!

To Anna-

I'm the original poster - like Stephanie said - your ideas are very impressive. Thank you so much for taking the time to give us your information. You sound very talented and creative too. I'm definitely going to look into doing some of them. And Stephanie - let me know how your ebay selling goes!! I also agree with both of you about not wanting to go by someone elses timeclock and orders. I used to work at a corporate job where I put in 50-60 hours regularly per week and I love my life and have a lot better quality of life now than I ever did working full time.

To JuliannaTeresa -

I have heard of alot of these medical billing and transcription jobs, but I have also heard that a lot of them are scams too. And then I have seen 'schools' that want to teach the medical transcription information, but of course they don't guarantee any job once you complete the training-they just give the training, which costs a lot of money. So do you know of any specific companies (do you have any web addresses?) that offer legitimate medical billing or medical transcription positions? Also, what about the grant writing for adoption that you mentioned below? Could you please give me more specific information about that.

Thanks so much!

[crysmith]

I have not adopted yet...i'm in the homestudy process but expect/hope to have a placement in early February (my social worker thinks it may be January). My DH and I have talked about this and I plan to come home to be a SAHM. I work full-time at a college but I have my home direct sales business that I have been doing for 6 months and IT'S GREAT! Actually, I'm paying most of the costs for the adoption from this business. I make $1,000+ a month by doing homeshows on Saturdays and Sundays.

The plan is....My husband will care for the baby on weekends...no need to get a sitter. If I can make this amount of money on weekends, with a fulltime job, I KNOW I can do more when working from home. I am also in the process of establishing fund raisers at schools and with local cheerleading organizations in order to build relationships. As I said, this is the plan! :-)

I sale high-fashion jewelry with a Christian based organization (for me that's important) that started out trying to help SAHM's and single parents. We don't have monthly quotas, no meetings, etc....that is also very important for me. We make 50% of the profits (almost unheard of in direct sales). Anyway, if you want additional information I'd be happy to send it to you. Just send me an e-mail at smithsjewels@yahoo.com

This IS NOT SOLICITATION. I just know how it feels to try to figure all this out....I am stepping out on faith and believing that this will work for my DH and I. The most important job a mother has is raising her child...(I think so anyway) and I want to be home with my little angel until they start school. Good luck!

[JuliannaTeresa]

Rather than companies. My local Community College teaches both the Medical Billing and Transcriptions classes. With this you then have the ability to approach my favorite speciality is Pediatrics Offices with your job skills under the stipulation that you do it from home.

Dentist Offices are also becoming quite popular with this!

Most Offices are understanding of the need to stay home. It also saves them with Health Benefits.

Most people are refinancing their homes with very high interest rates in order to fund the Adoption of their child. There are Adoption Grants available, but to someone who works this is very time consuming. You could either receive a flat rate, or percentage of the Grant written.

[ladyjubilee]

If I were planning on doing medical billing I'd start with the online courses offered by HIAA

[suzilyn]

Hi! I have just started working with a company that sells health and dental plans. I believe that the product is needed and the company is good. look up www.deliveringonthepromise.com/Snorton I use the dental myself and did save money. Ameriplan saved me 1400 and my husband's dental insurance saved me 900 on 5 crowns and a few cavities.. another thing i liked about it was that it was not pressure sells butstill makes residual income. check it out and see if it is for you.

[kllee4]

I love all of the creative ideas here!

I have been teaching for the past few years and absolutely LOVE it! However, before teaching, I was home with my four bio sons doing licensed home daycare. I went back to school part-time to finish my degree and then decided to work on my degree full time. I loved being with my boys and also having other children around them. I decided how many children I wanted to care for and what my hours were, etc. We decided to begin the process toward adoption and I originally decided that I would continue to teach and find a child care provider. I became disheartened in my search and decided that maybe I could put my Early Childhood degree (as well as starting on my Master's) to good use and be home with her once she joins our family.

It is NOT for everyone but being a teacher who is used to up 25 Kindergarten children at one time (often times without an aide) seemed as though being home might be the best choice. My income has actually almost doubled and I love being home. I am also there when my sons get home from school, they are my helpers and enjoy not having to be in before and aftercare. I completed the licensing process without needing any classes due to already being a certified ECE Specialist and took a CPR and first aid class. I do use a curriculum and we have numerous field trips (I already had a van) and we have a ball during the day. My days are longer but I still feel as though I am giving back through educating children in a way that is much more flexible and more creative than I could be in the school system. I have all preschool aged children and am not accepting any infants (saving that one slot for our own child). I was booked before I even opened and it's been great!

Just waiting for our precious little one to join us soon! Just wanted to add another option. Good luck to everyone!

kllee

[Tim Parker]

take a look at this...

www.theschoolbusdriver.com

(580)431-2808 option #8 mom's working from home

members of the better business buruea and dunn & bradstreet...

I do this. Anyone can. For more info I am at teamtimparker@yahoo.com

Hope this helps somebody...Best of luck to all...Tim Parker Regional sales director...Ameriplanusa...

[Tim Parker]

Disregard my post because Suzilyn is already doing this from the same company. the opportunity is real though. take a look if you are in need...

[hotspice58]

Wow, this is impressive!! (Sorry) This is for HappyMomAnna!! Very creative. I've heard that dog-walking is becoming a way to make money. I've also heard that Pampered Chef consultants can make a nice amount of money.

[Lexie]

I have 2 colleagues, both moms, that work from home. Our company has a goal of 15% of the workforce to be virtual. They signed up and were accepted. They do the same job from home. The company paid for a second phone/fax line, computer and office equipment and printer/scanner. You call the office number and you are automatically routed to their home. You can't even tell they are working from home. If they have important meetings, they go into the office and there is a shared work cubicle they can reserve for the day. They both love it.

I recently read an article that said its a trend. More and more workplaces are allowing their employees to work virtually from home to save costs.

Good luck
Lexie

[JamieR]

I think online freelancing of work is also a good thing. I liked the ebay concept very much as well.

[mrsred]

If you are a good typist insurance companies need people to type transcripts from tapes. I have a friend that does this and she got the job from a newspaper listing. You need to be able to type at least 70wpm, and much more accurately than I can!