What can I do to earn money at home? PART 2

There are many jobs you can do at home to supplement your income. You can write articles for newspapers, put together scrapbooks or photo for tables. Do the things that come easy to you and that you enjoy. Here are a few suggestions:

Writing
This takes skill and newspapers do not pay very well, so don’t expect to make a lot of money off of this type of work. Many newspapers need articles about upcoming events and activities in the area that they serve, as well as activities in the surrounding areas. If you are interested in doing
this work, contact the editor at the paper and inquire.

Sewing
This is another area that requires a skill many people do not have. Sewing machines come with many accessories and can stitch, monogram, create logos, and make practically anything you can imagine. You can create made-to-order items or make items on speculation.

Child Care
Every state has different childcare requirements so you will have to check into these rules.

Computer Jobs
If you have computer skills you might be able to type reports, design web pages, or provide a wide spectrum of other computer services.

Customer Service Jobs
Home based customer-service jobs are growing in popularity. Large companies are looking at the untapped work-at-home market rather than outsourcing jobs to overseas. Many of these jobs allow flexibility, and you can often set your own hours, however, these also have downsides. The pay is limited and you are usually paid only for the time you are on the phone. The less time you work, the less you make. Most of the jobs don’t come with benefits. In most cases you must also have a computer, phone line, and high speed internet access.

What can I do to earn money at home? PART 1

If you decide to run a business, or work part time from home, you will find that staying on top of household chores while doing other work requires a real juggling act. In addition, if there are children, they won’t always cooperate with your schedule and you can’t tell them to be quiet for
hours while you work. You may be forced to schedule work time early in the morning, during nap time, or late at night.

WARNING:

Be aware that many of the “work from home” jobs are scams, designed to do nothing more than take your money. Many of the ads are very appealing and on the surface appear to be perfect job for someone unable to seek work outside of the home. Such ads are everywhere. Television, newspapers, the internet, and even the corner telephone pole. Proceed with caution. Beware of ‘jobs’ that require you to pay for things, whether those Also, understand that you may have to work many hours without pay, run your own newspaper ads, and buy all of your own supplies.

Many of these companies require you to buy a book, pay a set-up fee, or purchase a computer guide. You should consider taking any “job” such as these as “starting your own business”, and make sure it’s a business worth devoting time, energy and money to. In almost all cases, you’ll see that it’s not. If you want to find out the latest information on work-at-home scams go to the Federal Trade Commission web site at http://www.ftc.gov. Type “work-at-home schemes” or “work-at-home scams” into the search function. You will find information that will help you avoid getting caught.

You can also check out companies by going to the Better Business Bureau web site at http://www.bbb.org. You can easily check out a business or even find a Better Business Bureau accredited business. You should also check out the company with your local consumer protection agency or state Attorney General. Find out information from agencies not only where the company is located, but also where you live. These organizations can tell you whether they have received complaints about the work-at-home program that interests you. Be wary, the absence of complaints doesn’t necessarily mean the company is legitimate. Unscrupulous companies may settle complaints, change their names, or move to avoid detection.

If you go on the computer or even look in the newspaper, you will find many different types of classic work-at-home schemes. Not all are scams but many are. Here are some that lead the list for the most common scams:

Medical billing
Envelope stuffing
Assembly or craft work

So what questions do you ask? Here are the main questions you need to ask to determine if the job is legitimate or not. By asking the right questions you should be able to determine whether a specific work-at-home program is appropriate for your circumstances. It will also let you know whether it is a legitimate business or just a scam.

• What tasks will you have to perform? Be sure to ask the program sales
person to provide every step of the job.)
• Will you be paid a salary or will your pay be based on commission?
• Who will pay you? In other words, where is the money coming from, the
client or the company promoting the product?
• When will you get your first paycheck?
• What is the total cost of the work-at-home program, including supplies, equipment and membership fees? What are the exact items that you will
get for your money?