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Working at home can be a mom’s dream come true. But finding a way to work at home, and actually get paid, can be one of the toughest challenges a woman may face.
Janice and I have worked at home for years, but we have done so always by running our own businesses and not having a work at home ‘job’ that paid hourly. (And we’ve been very fortunate to have our husbands’ incomes to support our families while we build our online businesses.)
There is a huge difference between starting a business that you can build from home and finding a job where you can work from home and be paid an hourly wage.
While starting a business can be a fantastic option for many moms, it often takes a long time to turn a substantial profit. Working for an hourly wage can help balance the family budget, but a work at home job can be harder to find than a diamond in your backyard.
When I was at the Mom 2.0 Summit, I spoke with Robin about one option for moms who are wanting to start a career where they can work from home.
So tell us…
Where do you stand on the “work at home” discussion?
- Do you work from home or have you ever worked from home?
- Is working from home something that you’ve wanted to do but not had the opportunity?
- Or do you prefer to work outside the home?
- Or heck, are you busy enough working as a full-time mother, and you do not need or want to work for anyone else.
We’d love to hear all about your experiences — good and bad — about working at home or trying to find a work at home job.
You can follow Robin on Twitter @bellabuttercup and visit her blog The Grotto.
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Stephanie says
I work from home for the local school district in PR/Communications. It’s a fantastic set-up and I feel so fortunate to have the job. I work approximately 10 hours per week (writing articles and press releases, maintaining the district blogs, etc.) out of my house and only have to go in for meetings occasionally. It’s a nice source of “steady” income.
Of course, I also run and maintain my blog, Metropolitan Mama…which I do consider to be a business. It takes a lot of time and creativity, but it is SO worth it.
I love being a WAHM.
casual friday everyday says
Funny, I had considered training with this program several years ago. It is a legitimate school and option to work from home.
I’ve been working from home since 2004 full time, but prior to that I worked part time from home for a few years.
I’ve done everything from jobs from home working as a legal document coder to customer service to virtual assistant and then moved into being my own boss via Virtual Assistance and affiliate marketing.
I currently work as a VA and an affiliate marketer. I love both. Both offer something unique to my family. Affiliate marketing is great passive income, so I can create an income even when I’m not at home working, but it takes longer to build that income.
And VA income is great for anyone who wants to make an hourly income and have a steadier pay check.
I’ve done everything from SEO to website management/maintenance, to article marketing, to email management, to newsletter management and so forth.
I really like being creative and working from home. What I do wish is that I could work from home without the stress of the income. Meaning, I wish my husband made enough that my “work” was only there to fulfill me and not that we needed it. LOL That way I didn’t have the pressure on my shoulders to keep a steady income rolling.
Nell
Deb - Mom of 3 Girls says
Thanks for this! I worked full-time out of the house until last summer when I was laid off. The job market is so horrible right now that there just aren’t any good options, and with my hubby’s job not being flexible at all, I need to have more flexibility than working outside the home usually offers. I’ve thought about medical transcription before, but never knew how to get started. I love blogging, but I need to find a way to earn an income that can help pay the bills too. 🙂
Angie says
I currently work outside of the home because I’m a single mom but I’d love to be able to stay home and work and homeschool my children. My youngest child has ADHD and needs to much more attention than she gets right now. I have done AVON and sold Home and Garden Party to supplement my income but I never worked solely from home. It would be a dream come true!!!
Lolli says
I’ve been a stay at home mom for 12 years and just recently started working from home. I don’t think I could have done it before I had most of my kids in school full time. It’s a lot to juggle. So I went from concentrating on my kids full time to 1-helping build our own company (foreign language software development), 2-stepping up the focus on my photography business, and 3-becoming a consultant with Cherish Bound. I should probably add my full-time blog to keep up as well. I probably shouldn’t have taken on so much all at once. It has certainly changed my day-to-day life.
Felicia - I Complete Me says
I want to work from home so bad. I love the flexibility of being my own boss and having my own business. I want to be home with my son when he needs me. I am currently working on becoming a life coach so I kind of mix a client or two in while at work. I do wish I can work from home so bad. It’s getting harder and harder for me to get up and come to work.
Lindsey says
I work at home part time as a medical transcriptionist. Not a dream job – the hours aren’t flexible at all. But I am glad to be at home and contributing something.
Great post!
Amber says
I am a WAHM. I own a budding little photography studio and do only location / weddings. I absolutely love it. It provides income when I NEED it. If I need income I run a special and get some extra cash fast. If I want to slow down… I can adjust for that. I truly am in control of my work flow.
It has been great because we have a medically complicated child and for the past two years we have been in and out of hospitals every month. It has given me the freedom to be at her hospital bed every single minute. 80% of my work is post processing and is done from the computer so my kids can run wild through the house and it doesn’t matter!
When I first started out it was hard balancing work at home. I felt the need to WORK 40 hours a week like I did with a regular job. Then I realized… my business works for ME not I for it. So… I realigned some things, made a better schedule and now things are much better!
You have to watch it because it CAN control your life with lack of structure. I wouldn’t know what to do though if I had to get up every morning at 6 am! With three kids, I would never make a dime … I would pay it all to childcare so working at home is a definite plus for me!
Jamie says
I am also a WAHM. I taught high school for 5 years and then had my son. I planned to return to teaching but really struggled being away from him.
Luckily, I have my Masters degree and pursued an online teaching career. The opportunities available are amazing. I’m making more money (however, no benefits — insurance, retirement, etc.) being an adjunct for various online colleges than I made as a full-time high school teacher. I love the flexibility and being able to be with my son.
For any teachers out there who have a Masters this is a great option.
NewCr8ion says
I am a WAH Homeschooling mom who also works part time outside the home. I would LOVE to be able to stay home and work from home all the time but it just is not possible. My WAH job is my main income and I LOVE it, but with 4 kids and lots of credit cards to pay off I also work part time teaching classes at our local craft store. It is fun and more like therapy. I would LOVE to work full time from home though.
Becky says
I have worked from home for a 1 1/2 years. I am so thankful I am home with my little guy and I am his mother. I work as a teacher for an online school. I’m able to be with my son, go to appointments, and even take some breaks and go to the park. It can be extremely stressful and busy, but overall it is working out very well for us.
brandy w says
oh i wish i could find a stay at home job, we could really use the income.
Jamilyn says
I would LOVE to see more posts about working from home jobs. I’ve been searching for one for a couple months now, and I just want to know what’s out there!!
RefreshMom says
I’ve worked from home since 2004. I was a corporate recruiter and HR director/manager before the birth of my first son. When he was 1, a former business associate contacted me about helping them fill a difficult position. One job led to another and I spent 4 years working exclusively for them and their parent company. I’m going to branch out to add other clients, but it’s been good to see God bring along opportunities just as their needed and provide breaks when they were needed as well. Much of the work can be done after hours when the kiddos are asleep, so I don’t have to juggle kids and work at the same time.
I’m also a writer, but even with book contracts and such, it doesn’t generate enough income to rely on as part of the household budget. I write more for love than money (although I appreciate when the money is there!).
Kathie says
I have been working from home since 2003. Part time at first and then full time after the birth of my first child. I am my own boss and that’s fantastic, but that means I only get out of it what I put in. I have had to make some major adjustments to be able to keep this schedule. The most important thing I do is get up, shower, get dressed and “go” to work. If I worked in my jammies all day, I’d be a mess. I work in a separate part of the house so I can focus. The upside? I am always available to meet the needs of my family. I didn’t have that flexibility working for someone else on their schedule.
Blessed says
I work from home for myself – mostly as a graphic designer but I also do some data entry that I am paid for by-piece. I enjoy graphic design and am glad that I can do that from home – it usually fits in my schedule just fine wherever I need it to. I hate the data entry… as soon as that last loan is paid-off I get to quit that job and I can’t wait!
Carol says
I work from home. I work about 25 to 30 hours a week for a busy pediatrician’s office. I am paid hourly. Some of my duties are done at specific day time hours, some are flxible day time hours but some can be done at 2 in the morning if I wish. I have a special health needs child and working from home has gien me the flexibility to be here when he can not be at school with no hassle from my job. I am able to get the kids on and off the bus, go to the gym, shop for my groceries and schedule Dr appointments…. all around my work schedule. At this point in my life, I would not have it any other way.
Nicole says
I have worked from home for 13 years, since my youngest was born. I’ve taken “birthing sabbaticals” with each one, but for the most part have worked. Even though my kids are all in school full time, I continue to work from home. I feel like I have the best of both worlds…I was/am able to raise my kids and be there for every milestone during those early, impressionable years, and still have an outlet for myself…something to do to feel like I was productive and creative. I’ve been blessed to be a WAHM!
SuZ says
I work from home as a freelance writer. I love it b/c I worked in a typical 9-5 job for years. While working from home, I tend to get distracted by persistant cries, but I love being able to put down what I’m doing if my daughter needs me. Work hours always vary depending on nap times and if the hubby is home and can help… but it’s nice also b/c I’m raising my daughter, not sticking her in a daycare for someone else to raise. 🙂
Erica Mueller says
Watching now. 🙂
My problem is, I like to be my own boss. While I’m far from supplimenting the income we’re used to with my husband’s job, I’m slowly getting somewhere!
I do WordPress installs, offer managed hosting, and do some theme modification. I also manage our hosting and design company.
Working from home allows me to be with my son every day, and feel like a homemaker too!
I love it and wouldn’t trade it for anything. Now I just have to get that money rolling in! lol