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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think there are no real, enjoyable ‘work from home’ jobs?

280 replies

AnneTwackie · 14/01/2020 21:47

I’d like to reduce my hours and do something different working from home. Everything I see looks like a scam.
Tell me your happy/horror stories.

OP posts:
SleightOfMind · 17/01/2020 02:06

I’m a journalist and mostly work from home.
I had to fight like a cat in a sack to be allowed to do it though.
Even then, I only got my way as I have years of experience in my specialty and decent contacts.
It’s utterly ridiculous. I’m much more productive now than I ever was fannying about in the newsroom all evening!

SleightOfMind · 17/01/2020 02:08

Oh, DH is a lawyer and can wfh whenever his workload allows.
We’ve got four DCs so it makes a huge difference.

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 17/01/2020 03:23

Does anyone teach English online and make a living from.it?

I have a PGCE but not taught in schools for years and have nearly completed a tesol online with a view to doing this. But taking the leap is scary, what if there is no work out there Crown Confused anyone who does this I'd love to hear about it.

amispeakingenglish · 17/01/2020 14:46

Those with craft based jobs, can we have more details please? Also what do the start ups do, would be great to have some solid information. Thanks:)

msgreen · 17/01/2020 16:13

I when bloody desperate And unable to walk looked into sex chat line work , the pay was worse than min wage

BestOption · 17/01/2020 17:00

@willothewispa
Thank you for your reply.
I’m glad you’re doing well & I hope my niece does too 🤞🏼 Especially as I’ve been supportive of her & her Mum is ^not happy about it 🙄. My niece is in her 29’s has no commitments & is still working part time. She hasn’t given up a career to do it, so no idea why my SIL is being such a negative nancy about it, but 🤷🏻‍♀️

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 17/01/2020 17:25

I have never understood the appeal of working from home. I've done it for the odd day here and there and hated working from a laptop rather than a desktop, and felt really trapped in the house by the end of the day. I'd much rather physically go into the office.

speakout · 17/01/2020 17:36

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie

That's an interesting point. hated working from a laptop rather than a desktop, - it is possible to have desktops at home, I work from my PC, phone, laptop, in bed, on the sofa, at my desk- all at home.
felt really trapped in the house by the end of the day. similarly some people may feel trapped in an office.

I work from home, I am never "trapped". If I am in a fug I go to the gym, a trip to the shops, a walk by the river.

How many office jobs will allow you to wander out and go shopping or meet a friend for a few hours because you feel like a break?

I think that feeling "trapped" is more likely in an office than at home.

I have worked for decades in work environments outside the home. Often people get into a malaise, an unproductive state, start swinging the lead a bit, send a few emails, a half hearted attempt at some project, end up chatting by the kettle or doing unproductive stuff.

If I am working at home and not feeling it, I just down tools and go out, or cook, or do other things. Hardly "trapping"

BringOnTheBotox · 17/01/2020 17:51

DH and I both work from home; he has his own IT business and I have my own online business selling women's clothing.

stripeypillowcase · 17/01/2020 18:08

How many office jobs will allow you to wander out and go shopping or meet a friend for a few hours because you feel like a break

tbh that's not possible for the many wfh who have to adhere to core office times no matter of location.

Twittlebee · 17/01/2020 18:10

I'm a planner, until this current job it was office based but now I work from home most days and i think most our sector is going that way

speakout · 17/01/2020 18:13

tbh that's not possible for the many wfh who have to adhere to core office times no matter of location.

It is possible with many wfh jobs though- I can't imagine it would happen with many office jobs at all.

I was responding to thatmustbenigelwiththebrie who said that wfh jobs "trapped" people.

I suggest that we are more likley to be "trapped" in an office job environment than working from home.

And even with fixed hours working from home you don't have some boss physically growling down your collar.

BrieAndChilli · 17/01/2020 18:17

How many office jobs will allow you to wander out and go shopping or meet a friend for a few hours because you feel like a break

This is what makes lots of companies reluctant to allow working from home, that and the fact that some people think they can WFH and still look after small children.

speakout · 17/01/2020 18:25

BrieAndChilli

I wfh- my day certainly allows me to go off shopping, go to a yoga class, or just take the rest of the day off if I fancy it.

I realise not all wft is like this- but some are- my point is no office jobs would allow that.

ChristmasTree999 · 17/01/2020 18:32

Nobody so far has mentioned my job. I’m a registered childminder. I’ve built up a successful business and am very busy, so I earn very well. Plus I’ve never had to pay childcare for my own. So to those saying you can’t wfh while caring for your children - it’s possible in this job. I appreciate it’s not everyone’s cup of tea though!

AmelieTaylor · 17/01/2020 18:42

@Christmastree999

Yes they have!

Bookmark

15/01/2020 16:03 Lostmyname

There's one wfh job that hasn't been mentioned, and you can care for your own small children while doing it... childminding. The pay is rubbish compared to some of the pp's salaries though but I'd say it's a lot more enjoyable than an office based wfh job

rosesinmygarden · 17/01/2020 18:55

I WFH most of the week as a tutor and online teacher. I also write text books from time to time.

ChristmasTree999 · 17/01/2020 18:58

Oops Amelie missed that one!

I love it but very different to the office type jobs mostly mentioned.

SpockPaperScissorsLizardRock · 17/01/2020 19:09

I have a part-time job of 1.5 hours a day. The rest of the time i do a variety of online jobs.

My favourite is Appen as the pay is good (well above minimum wage) and the work is fairly easy. It can get a bit dull but the projects change often. Referral link here - connect.appen.com/qrp/public/jobs?uref=b0b5ed6fadfb0b1f0916b25c8c09f5c6

I also do website usability testing and some crowdsourcing work.

My blog with details is here - workaroundthechildren.home.blog/

I was a childminder for a few years when the DC were small but i hated it, far too stressful! I earn the same now but withing school hours which is fab.

amispeakingenglish · 17/01/2020 19:42

Bringonthebotox, Can you really make a living selling womens clothing? There are so many big businesses doing that isn't there too much competition ? Or do you make the clothes? It's great it's working for you, I am just surprised that it does!

BringOnTheBotox · 17/01/2020 20:08

@amispeakingenglish yes of course you can make a living!

speakout · 17/01/2020 20:54

amispeakingenglish

You would be surprised at how people make a living.

For 12 years I made a living selling second hand books on Amazon.A decent part time salary while the kids were young. I bought books from jumble sales and cheap second hand shops. Profit was usually around £1K a month. But massive flexibilty, and worked only 15 hours a week or so.
During my time doing the rounds of jumble sales I met many interesting people who made huge profits amounting to a decent salary. Vintage clothes, curtains ( big profits to be made there) costume jewellery, antiquarian books, clocks, pottery etc.
These were not just hobbyists, but people making a decent living - £30-£40K a year profit.

If you find a niche then there is money to be made. Easily.
And someone upthread asked about making money from craft- my main income.
It doesn't take much work to search and see what is selling.

LBOCS2 · 17/01/2020 20:58

In my last company I wfh for two years - I was a regional property manager, working for residential freeholders. But I was only able to WFH because I'd spent the preceding 7 years working in an office and had enough knowledge to 'go it alone', as it were. And I HATED it, I missed the office environment. The next job I took allowed for flexible working which works much better for me, I'd rather be in the office but like being able to wfh if needs be.

bluebooby · 17/01/2020 21:07

My last job was office-based but after an operation I couldn't leave the house for 2 months so I worked from home during that time. It was great. I got so much more done and I got to avoid 4 hours of commuting each day - I spent some of this time working but didn't have to. I was very sad when I had to return to the office, especially as the break made me see just how much the commute took out of me. My job was in tech and I realised from my time at home, that I could have been far more productive with a WFH arrangement where I maybe went in one day a week to catch up with people. Sadly my company wouldn't allow it.

speakout · 17/01/2020 21:09

I haven't had a employer for 23 years.

No commute, no boss, no office.

Bliss.