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Is working from home as great as everybody makes out?

17 replies

Charll · 28/06/2016 13:41

i have been back and forth, back and forth, about joining a team that is one of the biggest and fasted growing companies at the moment, and its still in its 'baby steps'. it has a fantastic rewards plan when you hit targets. i really want to join but the starting fee instantly stops me when your a mum and home-runner every penny counts! i spoke to a few girls within the group and have actually got really pally with them. they are open and honest about what they do. and actually one of the girls from school i used to know is within this team and she only started a few months ago and is doing so well. but my main question is is it as honest and easy as its made out to be? is it the answer to the mommies broke pockets because they want to spend time with theyre children? i wanted to know peoples thoughts and opinions and if people have ever jumped on the opportunities? are you doing well? or was it a horrible decision? has any student moms done this?

im a mummy who is constantly sitting on the fence and realizing that i want more children, a nice house etc...

thankyou :)

OP posts:
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mouldycheesefan · 28/06/2016 13:47

I work from home but not in the type of set up you describe. I am employed by an international company. I do find working from home lonely and dull at times. I do not look after the kids whilst working.
What you describe though is entirely different, it's self employed sales job probably multi levpvel marketing like aloe Vera or something. So you could look after the kids at same time but this sounds like something that could be a bit of a scam so personally I would advise against you buying into it. Read the threads about MLM.

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idontlikealdi · 28/06/2016 13:49

Not in the context you are describiong which sounds very muych like FL or someother crappy selling MLM.

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Grumpyoldblonde · 28/06/2016 13:54

I work from home but freelance in a specialised area of admin//comms. Your pals are probably selling some crap product that they are making no money from. Don't believe any hype about FL or things like that.

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WellErrr · 28/06/2016 13:57

Working in a job from home is very different to Forever Living type shite.

If it's the kind of thing where you have to recruit other people and sell to your friends and family then steer well clear. It's a scam.

Also, legitimate companies don't require you to pay them to work for them.

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mouldycheesefan · 28/06/2016 13:59

Think about it, if they were really doing well, why would they want you selling the same products and taking their trade?

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ChicRock · 28/06/2016 14:01

"Starting fee"...

This isn't a job or an opportunity, and these "mummies" who are egging you on to sign up are undoubtedly doing so because they will profit from you "joining their team".

Don't be another mug.

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Badbadbunny · 28/06/2016 15:41

Those already in such schemes will try to big-up how good it is because they want you to sign up - that's how they earn their money! Even if they're having a dire time making nothing, they'll still make out they're doing really well just to suck you into it. Typical cons are boasting on Facebook how they're living the good life - I've known people rent a top of the range car for a day or gatecrach a posh hotel whilst holidaying (when they're staying in a cheap B&B) just for the photos to put on social media to make people think they're rolling in it!

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Balletgirlmum · 28/06/2016 15:47

I partly worked from home (I had to go out and actuslly run the activity I was a franchisee for) but did all my admin at home.

Yes it gave me a certain. Amount of flexibility in the week but none during activity times. It takes over your life, your house. You quickly learn you still need childcare - yi can't make phone calls to customers with a toddler who is about to fall off the sofa, & you are up til the early hours doing paperwork.

It can be incredibly rewarding if you have the right business but success takes a lot of hours & work.

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LunaLoveg00d · 28/06/2016 15:52

I work from home and it can be bloody hard at times. I do freelance writing/researching, and am not selling aloe vera crap or trying to get my friends to sign up to shopping pyramid schemes.

Yes you have more flexibility and can often juggle workload to accommodate school events and sports days. You can refuse to do a job if you don't fancy it.

BUT, you get no pension, no sick pay, no holiday pay, no pension, no private healthcare, no childcare vouchers, no redundancy pay, the work is not guaranteed, your income can fluctuate greatly, you often end up working late to meet a deadline.

These get rich quick schemes which are pushed on new mothers quite frankly make me want to vomit. People lie through their teeth about making lots of money when the only people buying their crap are themselves. They spend their evenings and weekends at training or on online seminars, which they have to pay to access. Then they turn into glazed-eye clones who try to recruit other vulnerable women into the same con.

AVOID, AVOID, AVOID.

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LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 28/06/2016 18:16

Never, ever pay money to a company for the privilege of being allowed to work for them. That's just not how employment - even self-employment - works. It's a scam. Run.

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whambamthankyoumaam · 29/06/2016 18:54

AVOID any company that asks you to pay to be a part of their team.

This definitely sounds like FL or some other company like that, and do not believe the hype! There are only some people at the top who make big bucks, everyone else joining is just paying to follow a dream that will never happen! I hate those adverts online 'want to work from home, earn £x amount and be with your kids all day from being on Facebook?' It's a scam unfortunately. A friend fell for it recently, and harassed us all with awful products then 3 months into it she must have realised it was bringing in no money so stopped!
I used to work from home as a digital website manager/copywriter, and it is lonely and very hard work when you have a toddler or two! I've now just started a pet sitting business and I'm really struggling with phone calls with screaming toddler twins and also I'm now having to figure out how I can work around school holidays!

Try companies like Lionbridge and Appen for work from home, you need to take an exam to work with them which you do online but from experience myself they do pay you for the work you do and anyone can do it.

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Diamogs · 29/06/2016 18:59

As others have said, separate issues.

Anything that you have to pay into in order to start up (franchising apart) is dodgy.

WFH is great, I can focus, get lots done, work flexibly around kids etc (e.g. DS had a dental appointment in the middle of the day, not a problem)

WFH is not a substitute for childcare with very young children. Mine are teens so I can WFH but wouldn't have been able to do it whilst they were toddlers.

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dodobookends · 07/07/2016 21:34

'Starting fee'...

It's a no from me, sorry. All those 'starting fees' are how the people who have been doing it a while earn their money - they get a percentage. That's why they are so keen for you to sign up.

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Stillunexpected · 07/07/2016 21:59

What company? I'm sure someone on here will have experience of it and will be able to advise.

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tpishz · 13/07/2016 14:08

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Bambamrubblesmum · 13/07/2016 16:31

I agree with pps. If you have to pay to work for a company then I'd run for the hills.

I work from home for an international company and it has its own challenges just like working in an office.

Come to think of it - anyone interested if I set up a Working From Home thread so we can have a group moan or giggle through the day??????

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Emmalew7 · 26/07/2016 14:46

I've worked from home on and off for years doing a variety of either admin, typing or transcribing work.

More recently I began running my own company which initially was exciting as it was in the film industry, I quickly realised that whilst being your own boss means you can go to lunch when you want, get your hair done or switch on the TV, it also means you are constantly on-call (unless you can afford staff - even that can have it's downside), you are responsible for your tax, your N.I. your marketing, advertising, admin, meetings, etc., etc. In fact there are so many hats that you are supposed to wear you need more heads to deal with them.

I have found myself working at 5am and conversely still at 2am. When I go on holiday I take work with me, I cannot switch it off.

I guess reading back over what I've written, if you want to work from home then you are probably better off working for someone else rather than actually having your own business???

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