Work from home parents
Categories: Money & work
As you may know, many of the staffers here at Blogging Baby work from home. That fact may have prompted valued commenter LS to write in and ask us for a post focusing on what we and other parents do to make income from home.It sparked a super interesting thread of discussion amongst the staffers here, actually.
Though "working from home" sounds like a dream, it also has its challenges. When I quit my full-time office job for a full-time work-from-home job, I was continually congratulated, usually accompanied with a wistful "you're so lucky" sigh. And I am so lucky. I drop Nolan off later, pick him up earlier. When he is sick I can stay home with him. If I want to take him to the park for an hour at 2:00 in the afternoon, I can, and then I just make up that hour at night.
But, as mentioned in our discussion thread here today, there are repercussions for that flexibility. There's usually no healthcare. Late nights working are not an exception, they're a rule. There's no separation from home and office so there's no "line" between work and relaxation time. Weekends are spent working, at least some of the time.
I have been a corporate salesperson for most of my working life, and in my work-from-home job I'm doing the same thing I've always done - just, from my living room. And also wearing yoga pants with dried fruit crusts. I also do a lot of freelance writing, here and for other publications. Companies like this one (whom I actually talked to today as part of my stay-at-home job) offer writers opportunity to submit articles for cash, and I am sure there are others.
Work from home parents, do you have any tips on how to help make ends meet from home? It seems to me there are a small number of fields you can work from home and I'm sure ideas are welcome.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Carrie 11-30-2006 @ 10:40AM
I am so glad you wrote this post Kristen! I am working from home part-time as a contract agent. I basically have my own call centre at home. I take calls for Pizza and place the orders. I love it and I have the opportunity to take on another client.
Right now I am considering quitting the FT gig to take this on with more hours...but not FT. But I'm trying to decide if what I'd lose - the biggie being another year of maternity leave when we decide to have another baby - is worth it.
I think what it comes down to is that my baby is growing too fast. I'm missing too much as I only spend 10 weekday hours with her. I can give up alot to be home with her.
But the evenings, weekends, pay, benefits, paid lunches, and RRSP contributions are a lot of a sacrifice.
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Amanda 11-30-2006 @ 11:00AM
There are lots of ways that you can make an income from home but successfully working from home usually takes time and patience.
I work from home and I love that I am able to do it but some of the disadvantages you mentioned above are real such as no separation of work and home, balancing work and family time, no health insurance or other kinds of benefits unless you buy it on your own which can get very very expensive, having to pay your own quarterly taxes, being very discplined,etc..among other things. To me, however, the advantages far outweigh the negatives but people must know what they are getting into. It's not all fun & games. With that said, I feel very lucky for being able to be a WAHM.
Some additional ways you can work from home:
Find a telecommuting job on a job board
Start your own business (there are so many profitblae ideas to list)
Write, blog
Create good content websites & make money from advertising, affiliate marketing, etc...
work for a direct sales business
sell stuff on Ebay
I hope this helps... :)
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LS 11-30-2006 @ 11:03AM
When I wrote to you yesterday, I had no idea I was tapping into an article-in-progress. I'm very happy that I contacted you, and I will be eagerly checking back to see the response.
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Abby 11-30-2006 @ 11:49AM
Working from home is wonderful (can work and do laundry at the same time) but I agree that you are never "done". I quit my job at a large bank to start my own company, thinking it would be easier to divide my time - boy, was I wrong. I find myself checking the computer while the kids are playing...
My lifesaver has been finding a wonderful business partner and now we can share the load. I have also had to give myself clear working hours to help me self-divide work time and home time.
All in all, it is definitely worth it. I have lots more time with my family and I am actually cooking dinner - a definite improvement over my previous life!
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Christine 11-30-2006 @ 2:14PM
I dont know... all those things seem like they aren't really feasible options for a normal person. I'll keep watching the responses!
What kind of jobs allow telecommuting?? What is that about?? Share!
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Kelly 11-30-2006 @ 4:10PM
I work form home and love it. However, it does have its drawbacks. I work for a company that has set me up an office in my home just as if I were in the office. My phone and computer are linked to theirs. Anyone from the office can buzz me at anytime just as if I sat in the cubicle next to them. For that reason, I feel like I can hardly leave my desk for fear that they will call me. Even though I am at my desk 95% of the time I worry that the few minutes I step away they will call and not know that I have been there all day. I also can't go to things at school like I would like to. My job is just like working in a office except I am "off campus". I do love being here though for school holidays and when the kids are sick. It has perks also. By the way, I am a Regional Sales Manager in Ophthalmic Sales.
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Debbie 11-30-2006 @ 4:22PM
Great entry. I had heard of AC but never checked it out.
I own my own business(es). Direct Sales is a great option for those who are self motivated. You can make $50 - $100+ an hour. The key is to find a business you are passionate about. I fell into Discovery Toys because I loved the toys and was successful because I was having fun. www.goplaytoday.com
There are soo many options. Follow your heart!
Debbie
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andrea from the fishbowl 11-30-2006 @ 9:32PM
Some computer-related fields are great for allowing people to work at home. I do website design and production (in addition to freelance writing) and it works really well for me. I take contracts I'm interested in and know I can handle time-wise. My youngest is in kindergarten (1/2 day in the afternoons) and my eldest is in grade two. Their school day ends at 2:30. The best part about working at home (be far!) is the fact that I get to pick them up afterschool. We walk home, have the afternoon to ourselves ... oh, it's great. It is a bit of a juggle sometimes, I agree. But the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
My number one tip is to turn the computer off during family time.
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sarah 11-30-2006 @ 9:47PM
I do software development. I feel really lucky because the pay's pretty good and so I don't have to work full-time hours to make ends meet. I also hire a nanny to work a few days a week so it relieves me of kid-duty for a time while I can focus on work (and have some time to myself). More than anything, I miss some of the social interaction that you'd have at an office. But that's about it. I love that I can see my son whenever I want and that I do not have to be away long hours. I couldn't ever give this life up. :-)
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SAM 11-30-2006 @ 11:20PM
I AM DESPERATE TO STAY HOME WITH MY 6 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE OFFER SEVERAL "REAL" AT HOME JOBS FOR MOMS. DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANY COMPANIES THAT OFFER WORK AT HOME POSITIONS. I AM ONLY HAVING ONE BABY AND I DESPERATELY WANT TO BE WITH HER MORE.
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Jessica 11-30-2006 @ 11:40PM
As a single mother and a full time student, I did not want to have to use daycare more than full-time - so I opened a family day care in my home. My son gets the interaction with other kids, we get to do fun stuff, I get to talk to parents at drop off and pick up - and we've got to have the kids' stuff around anyway for my son. I offer a lot of part time care, so we have a different schedule every day (which I love!) and varying times to just ourselves. (I also sell Bumkins diapers and specially designed homemade training pants). There are still times, when we don't have daycare children, when he needs to occupy himself while I'm studying - and it's usually the busiest days... but as busy as we all are, I could not imagine our life any other way at this point in time: I am home, I am generating enough income to keep us afloat, a little ahead, and pay for school this year without anymore loans, and still take classes (my last few classes are all offered online, except two independent studies) - the best part: I'm home with my son.
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mckenna 12-01-2006 @ 12:16AM
I work for a county government that allows telecommuting if you've worked there longer than a year and your job is amenable to it. I plan to try to get approval for this for baby #2. I know this one takes a little planning, so it may not be helpful to people who need an immediate opportunity, but it's dependable with great benefits for those with time to plan.
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Jeni 12-01-2006 @ 12:34PM
When Baby was born, I reduced my hour to 30 per week. I work 10 - 15 of those hours at home.
My biggest struggle with working at home is NOT DOING HOUSEWORK. I literally have to slap my hands when I reach for dirty laundry or Pine-Sol.
Since my work is project based, I decide on which projects I will complete before leaving the office. I need to have parameters and deadlines to work within.
I work while Baby naps and even while she plays. And eventhough it's a balance, I absolutely love it!
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