Help! Want to work from home. What do other MNers do?

[messylittlemonkey]

Hi

I'm currently on maternity leave with DD2 who is nearly 6 months. DD1 is almost five and just started school. Due back to work beginning next year.

My background is:

*Degree in French/German graduated 1997 - never used languages at work though and very rusty now.
*Approx 4 years working as a PA/admin assistant
*did PGCE in 2002 and and became primary teacher
*worked for two years as reception teacher before DD1 was born
*SAHM til DD1 was 2yo, then worked pt as a pre school teacher until Feb this year when mat leave began.

So, that's me in a nutshell!

Basically, I don't want to go back out to work but would love to work from home (I
know I'm not the only one!). Just don't know what I'd be good at. I would only earn about £250 per month if I did go back to work so I'm not looking for a job which pays mega bucks, just a similar sort of income.

Please tell me about your experiences and give me some inspiration :)

Sorry, realised that this probably seems really lazy and a bit cheeky!

I've been 'thinking' about this for years, coming up with ideas for businesses and never having the conviction to go for it.

Was just after other people's experiences of either starting own business or finding paid home-based work.

:o

Hi MLM

This is a dilemma which many working mums face. I couldn't face a tough London job and commute when my son started school. (My old employer also really didn't like part-timers ), so I had to think about what else i could do). I love books and reading so set up a small business with Usborne. It has fitted in incredibly well around the school run and as you have a younger child it would fit in well with that as you are generally able to take them to child friendly groups and locations.

With your old jobs and contacts you would immediately have a great network and credibility for talking to teachers and schools.

You can sell the books whereever you want - at coffee mornings, local parent/toddler groups, evening parties, school fetes, fairs etc.

To earn £250 per month you would need to work steadily but would probably not need any childcare. But you can earn £50 commission from 1 party quite easily.

It is good fun and much of the job involves listening to people and advising what might suit a particular child, age or budget.

Hope this helps. Happy to answer any more questions.

regards, Nicola

What about tutoring?
I'm not self employed but I do know there is increasing demand for private tutors. Your languages may be rusty but I'd have thought you could brush up enough to tutor KS3/4.

Childminding?

My MIL goes to beginners French and Spanish classes run by an ex teacher. Its just conversational stuff so if you were to brush up your skills you could do something like this?

(I suspect its an excuse for her to leave PIL home alone and drink wine all afternoon as neither her French or Spanish seem any better!)

Hi MLM

I'm a Jamie at Home consultant, it's a party plan business from Jamie Oliver. I started when my dd was 8 months & I love it. I go to peoples houses in the evening and demonstrate the products, really easy as the stuff is so lovely. There is an offer at the moment you can get your kit for free, just £20 insurance. Check it out www.jamieathome.com if you want more info let me know. My ID is 35535 if you do go for it! xx

Hi

I have my own business with a health and well being company. This has worked fanatstically for me whilst I have been pregnant, had morning sickness, appointments etc. I'm a real advocate of working for yourself!

A small part of the work i, and my team do,is retail (but you don't need more than a handful of regular customers, and you can build a team if you like and use your people skills and thus build more income. I have people in my team all over the UK, including mums with children who want something flexible. As the products are consumerables you get repeat customers which makes life very easy!

I'm always on the look out for new team members. My website is www.balance-life.co.uk or call me on 07966 248859. Theres also an excellent marketing plan and package of incentives.

If this isn't for you, there is also a franchise for language teachers which i can't remeber the name of but I am sure youll find it if you google.

Goodluck in finding what's right for you

tutoring might be an option but it doesn't fit in with school hours for you - our french tutor comes on a wednesday evening for one hour - we pay her £15 ph.

there are french clubs aren't there but mainly those are after school or lunchtime clubs?

Thank you all!

Food for thought...

Thanks.

I should probably add that I'm not mad about the idea of selling - it's just not something I think I'd be that comfortable with. so that sort of rules out a lot of the party plan type work.

Hmmmm...

Off topic here but overthemill how did you find a French tutor who not only comes to your house but only charges £15ph???

I was wondering that too. My sister is paying £40!

I hadn't thought of mystery shopping!

Which company do you work for lizard, if you don't mind my asking?

Thanks again, Lizard.

I'll look into it. Even if it's just a sideline it's a start. And I do like to shop! :o

Yes, I could well imagine DD 1 doing that kind of thing! Will keep her in the dark I think.

I've registered with Grass Roots and just awaiting a response.

Thanks again!

inthesticks it is a complete bargain isn't it! In fact last night she wouldn' take £15, I could only make her take £10 (plus the cup of tea and slice of homemade cake!).

We asked around in our village when we first moved in and discovered that one local mum was a German/French graduate with some teaching experience and I accosted her one day when dog walking. It was that simple (helps if you live somewhere where everyone knows everyone else).

She set her own rate. Since then she has helped my dsd through German GCSE and now working with her on her French A level. And she has started working with my 11 yr old. She works hard and rarely stays only an hour. She is now teaching part time at a local school and FE college.

So my advice is ask at school gate!

Thanks overthemill.

French/German tutoring could be an option. I would need to brush up but could def manage GCSE!!

I haven't done this myself, but I've often thought beauty therapists/masseurs/refexologists have a good way of earning whilst being at home and fitting in with school hours.

If you don't have the space at home you can rent a room at one of the many alternative health clinics that seem to be springing up everywhere these days.

It would involve training, obviously, but I think lots of the qualifications can be done as evening classes.

I'm all signed up with Grassroots now! Just awaiting my first assignment.

I'm constantly trying to think of ways to work for myself, it's like a hobby of mine.

At the moment, one of my main ideas is to tap into the vintage market and offer vintage style tea parties with various offshoots from that.

This would involve providing a vintage tea set, vintage napkins, tablecloths etc... plus a range of homemade cakes sandwiches and so on. The idea is that I would either drop this off and collect china later or stay and serve the tea/cake for an extra charge. I just need to get going on it really as I think it would be a nice way to earn some money.

In the meantime, all of these other suggestions are great and could prvide me with back up cash.

thanks!

Messy - what did you say for "qualities a mystery buyer should have".

I put that I am a very discerning person with an eye for detail!

Can't imagine they read these things though