To ask those SAHM who are self-employed to tell us what they do?

[Dryjuice25]

I have seen posts of mums who work for themselves from home and always wondered just being nosey what they do and how they get their money.

I expected no posts so come on here and tell us if you don't mind.

I have to say that I'm looking for something to do at the moment as I have 3dcs, single and find it hard to get child-friendly jobs that don't involve travelling to London(1 and half hours drive!) Preferably something that only requires a small capital outlay.

Thanks in advance

[Dryjuice25]

Inmysparetime I suppose I could but will have to think about childcare as ds is only 9months atm. The other two go to school. Nice idea too.
twirly sorry about your illness. You seem to have risen above it and doing well whilst raising your dcs. You sound like a great individual.

Indeed I'd have to put on a front with something like self employment I guess as my confidence levels are very low. I'm quite disciplined though and I do get things done when required. Thanks for the support.

Kewcumber I'm so glad things worked out for you too after your illness.
I like to hear stories like these; so very inspiring.

Again thanks

[Kewcumber]

You do have to be quite strict with yourself though and that's where I fall down. I waste a lot of time

Join the club!

Confidence is the key. I too gave up "normal" work when I became ill but was lucky enough to get a temporary job with a local firm of accountants and they encouraged me to set up on my own as they are short of decent book-keepers/accountants to refer smaller clients to.

I don;t think I would have set up without their support.

[twirlyagogo]

I think it can be done OP because most of us have skills we don't even recognise, although it is also as much about confidence and putting on a front when you have to though. I ended up in my current job largely because I was pregnant again and wanted to be in control of my own hours, own commitments, but then actually became ill a few years ago so could never have worked in a 'traditional' work environment anyway. Everything has worked out well - I can be ill when I need to be, I can work when I need to, I can be with the kids when I want.

You do have to be quite strict with yourself though and that's where I fall down. I waste a lot of time - which is fine eventually as I work fast when I need to, and still write more than most people I know, but I do wonder just how much I would get done if I could focus.

It looks like some people on this thread have it cracked, so maybe they could help with some advice as to how they have managed that.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

[InMySpareTime]

Dryjuice, could you offer basic computer skills in people's own homes, or at odd times to fit around their work patterns? That could be your USP perhaps, a reason they would pay.

[Sheshelob]

I am a writer and researcher. I do five hours in the morning while toddler is in nursery, another 2-3 while he naps at home and another 2-4 once he is in bed. And I still don't feel like I get enough done!

But I get to spend at least 2 hours a day playing with my 18 month old, which is priceless.

[Dryjuice25]

*offer basic computer skills for free

[Dryjuice25]

Hi all.
Thank you for all your generous posts and advice. It just opens your eyes to the possibilities...

I take my hat off to you and I'm now just mulling over these ideas to see what might work for me. I'm feeling hopeful that I will get there in the end
piprabbit I would certainly do a bit of market research to see whether people might want to pay as I believe most libraries over basic skills for free. Good luck
Emma That would be my dream scenario re what you do.

Most of you seem to be doing what you enjoy, which I think is great.
mumblechum You are up at 4:30 am with work? Now that's dedication. When do you get to sleep?

[kerala]

Lovesherdog I live in a tourist city there are about 6 language schools I host their students. They stay between a week to 6 weeks, I give breakfast and dinner. They at school/outings all day and have a separate sitting room in the evening so basically I chat to them in English over dinner. The schools are supportive if there are problems. I only host girls who are in the main fine. My little girls love having glamorous "big girls" around! Almost all European mostly Italian and Spanish. Cost is £200 extra on house insurance bills and food though food bill usually not affected as I am canny! In summer it's £1600 PCM but I have 3 at a time.

Mumble chum very interested in will writing as ex solicitor am looking into that one...

[DolomitesDonkey]

Oh yes, helps if you don't have an aversion to working when everyone else is asleep. :)

Getting work done with the children around? Not going to happen!

[TheFallenNinja]

I'm a SAHD and I organise Mud Running events.

DP works a shift system so it works out quite well.

[mumblechum1]

Mumblechum you did our wills - I had no idea you were answering my emails in your pyjamas, I am one of those people who has to be dressed with full make up before I even sit in front of my computer

here I am again at 4.30am having just written 4 wills since 1.30am; being an insomniac helps!

[ImTooHecsyForYourParty]

I run a tourism website.

I also do the website d&d, book keeping, some admin and all policies and procedures for my husband's business, including the 4 ISO systems the company has. (they took me bloody months to do and I had to get myself banned from MN in order to get them done on time )

And I do some consultancy and design training days now and again (I'm an accredited trainer) - but I'm not in that business any more and don't take new customers, so I just update procedures for those who already bought from me and one whole system for a friend of someone who had hired me to do their entire system a few years ago. Maybe a couple of jobs a year on that side and tbh I'd rather drop it altogether, but I feel mean

[jennywren45]

I run a livery yard from home .

[lovesherdogstoomuch]

Kerala. i have quite a big house. kids flying the nest etc. me twiddling my thumbs. foreign students? tell me more. i was thinking of running a B&B. too much investment tho. can you send me a link?

[emma123456]

Im a chartered accountant. I work with small to medium sized businesses doing their accounts and tax. I work from home and work my hour s around the kids. I do somewhere between 20 and 30 hours per wk .

[cuillereasoupe]

I'm a translator. Nice little earner once you've got your network built up.

[DoTheStrand]

I do affiliate marketing - I promote other people's products and services on my sites and blogs and get commission when I sell something. It is all done through cookies and tracked links.

I was originally a web editor and have done contract work in that field for ex employers (they like that I know their style guide inside out, quite often because I wrote it ) any contract work was also done from home so I earned less than if I worked in London for a daily rate. But I saved massively on travel costs, clothes, childcare for that commuting time.

Mumblechum you did our wills - I had no idea you were answering my emails in your pyjamas, I am one of those people who has to be dressed with full make up before I even sit in front of my computer

[kerstina]

Interesting thread. I am a stay at home mom to one school aged child. My DP gives me a weekly allowance for doing 99% of the housework and being around for DS. I also have 2 voluntary jobs reading in school and doing art activites with pre school children. I earn extra money by making cards. I sell them at craft fairs and to friends and family.Would love to turn this into my own business but at the moment it is just a bit of extra cash rather than earning a living so am grateful that my partner is happy for me to stay at home as I like my life at the moment.

[InMySpareTime]

I'm a storyteller.
I tell stories at local cafes and schools, make puppets, sell illustrated stories and am writing an e-book.
Not megabucks, but it keeps me out of mischief and I love doing it.

[Amykins]

I work for Oxford open learning as a tutor. All done by Skype/email/phone. I was a secondary teacher before having my daughter.

[Kahlua4me]

I work for my husband who is a self employed tradesman. I do all paperwork, invoices etc.

[piprabbit]

I'm trying to start a small business offering Basic IT Skills training, aimed at people with little or no experience of using computers (think retired people wanting to keep in touch with friends and family, start online shopping etc,). I know there is a lot of demand, what I'm not sure of is if anyone is willing to pay.
It's sort of based on my professional career plus volunteering work I've been doing since becoming a SAHM.

[Elefant1]

I have been reading this thread with interest as I have been looking for something else to do along side my part time job. I have been thinking about book keeping. May I ask Kewcumber please if you know what courses are any good for getting the right qualifications, there seem to be lots of different ones out there and I am worried about paying a lot of money for a qualification that is not very good or usefull!