Does anyone else work from home?

[staranise]

I do and it's driving me crazy - our hosue is small, we have three young DCs so it's always a mess and my workspace is in our bedroom. Does nayone have any good suggestions of alternative places? I've thought of the local library (possible, not ideal as they don't really have private workspaces) or cafes (not suitable, very noisy, full of NCT groups etc). Are there other obvious places I'm forgetting about?

I'm in Lodnon but don't want to commute for obvious reasons and dont' live anywhere near places like the British Library.

Where do you all work if you're freelance?

I work from home but I have a 'working space' (she says as she types on laptop and rocks sleeping baby with one foot).

www.third-door.com/index.html - this opened recently, don't know if it's in your neck of the woods?

It might also be worth checking gumtree for companies offering desk space, which they often do at fairly reasonable rates.

Have you also tried the local council/business link to see if there are incubator units/something similar?

It is very close actually but a bit expensive for my needs as it's more for people who need to hold meetings/conference calls etc and who want space and childcare by the hour rather than all-day.

Will check gumtree and business link, that's a good idea, thanks - I don't really know where to start with this sort of thing.

And apparently you can hire other people's garden offices!

www.shedworking.co.uk/2010/07/co-shedworking-dulwich-garden-studio.html

Shedwo rking is a great place to start if you have the space to consider a garden office.

Unfortunately we don't, thoguh I've very envious of people who do, my neighbour's put a fab home office in her garden. I've found some local deskspace to rent which is all very reasonable (under £200) a month but now I'm chickening out at the rising costs of my overheads namely childcare ie, I'm worreid about how much I'd have to earn before I'd even break even. Can't win! going to start antoher thread about it...

What do you do with your dcs when you are trying to work- are they at home or in child care?

Not sure if you mean you need space, or if it;'s the kids that are the issue!

Hi I work from home, I have a garden office/studio, but like you my house is overflowing with plastic toys and general child mess(DS 2, and DD 5 months). Well if you don't have a garden, do you have a little yard even, coz that would work for a little outbuilding? What about the loft, can you go up?

It's so hectic isn't it, but I love working for myself so that makes up for it.

I've just launched my website, www.sarahhickey.com, off to start a new thread on skills swap for PR, anyone?

Good luck with everything.

Ooh, Novascotia, I've just checked out your website - your jewellery is gorgeous!! If/when I start earning, I'm going to be shopping there! I'm an editor, so no good with PR but if you ever need copy-writing/copy-editing, give me a shout! Your home sounds lovely as well - I'm from Newcastle so know that area quite well.

I'm afraid our garden is too small for any sort of office. I do have some childcare (will go to 2 days a week from September) plus the two eldest DDs are at school. I think I will try working in the local library and see how that goes. My aim to break even by Christmas...

Both space and kids are the issue!

Ha ha I could have written your post. I work from home and my 'office' is the corner of the diningroom table. House is a tip. House is always a tip. I have three DSs aged between 6 years and 8 months.

PS I am an editor too!

Hi Becky, yes my life sounds very like yours albeit more urban - 3 young DCs, freelance editor, everything a bit chaotic etc but I like working even though I moan about it all the time!

Wish I was crafting beautiful jewellery in rural Northumbria like Nova, I'm envious of her skill!

Well, am meant to be working right now (editing a terrible fantasy novel), had better get back to the monster amphibians...

Would be nice (crafting beautiful jewellery all day).

I work in academic publishing (mostly on-line publishing nowadays) so even more exciting (not) than fantasy novels (even terrible ones)!

I love working too and really wouldn't have it any other way. I'm lucky that I can live in Shropshire and work for a publisher in Oxford.

Right, I ought to do a bit of spreadsheet updating while the DSs are occupied with post-breakfast playing.

I used to live in Oxford and had some friends at OUP though they've all left now. Half of me hankers after a real office and proper colleagues but I would definitely miss the time with the kids, especially during the holidays.

Though I wouldn't miss having to stop working because it's bath time...

So lots of you work from home and have pre-schoolers at home... how does that work out ??

With difficulty! I find working with a very small baby fine as they sleep so much. Once they start moving about (7-8 months-ish? I've forgotten when they start to crawl), you're really confined to working during their naps which soon drop to one a day. I have two DDs at school and one DC at home and have taken the big leap to employ a CM for two days a week. DC3 is now 20 months and needs taking out and about plus naps for much less. I'll barely break even and will still probably have to work in the evenigns and at weekends (very tedious). It also helps that my work is all computer based - no phone calls/meetings etc as these are very difficult to fit around a child.
Best of luck!

Ooooh I work for OUP now and worked there full time from 1999-2003!

30andMerkin it is a case of severe juggling, having no time to yourself, coping with a messy house, relying on friends and TV, having children who ask 'why aren't you taking your laptop' when you go on holiday. It is chaos but it works most of the time.

I have one DS who is at school (age 6), one who is 4 and at nursery every morning and lovely DS3 who is 8 months (not moving yet but sleeping two naps a day - that's when I do most of my work).

School holidays, however, are hard. All my work is computer based and I do have the odd phone meeting which I always time for nap times.

I also have to work in the evenings and weekends but not all the time.

PS at the moment no CM but will think about it from age 1 for DS3. DS2 loved going to his CM as he got more attention from her than he did from me! I am lucky I just work for my old employer (OUP).

Novascotia, I might be able to help you get some press in the North East. Do you have an email address?

I work from home too. I used to have a whole room of our flat to myself, but now work in a corner of the sitting room. I have 2 children - 3.5 and 7 months. I haven't tried working much since the younger one was born and have always had someone around to help out for phone calls etc. From October DD will be at nursery every morning, but I'm not putting DS into childcare yet, so work will definitely be on the back-burner for a while.

I know lots of homeworkers get distracted by the household chores, but I'm sort of the opposite. I would do anything possible to avoid housework!

Hi BBL!