Advice needed for a mum who would like to work from home

[Fanackapan]

Evening everyone!! I'm new to this site - in fact only registered tonight so would love some help or advice!! I've had a look through the other threads but didn't see an answer to my particular question. I apologise now though if I have overlooked something!

I'm a single mum of 3 and my children are 7,5 and 3 years old. I really need to work and earn some money but it would have to be something that I can do from home or all of the money I earn will go on childcare!!

I was hoping to work in the evenings when they are in bed so could possibly do 4 hours a day in the week!! I have been scouring the internet for a few weeks now looking for jobs. Ideally, I would like some computer based work as I have a laptop, internet access and am computer literate!! Typing, data entry...proofreading. Anything to be honest!! Stuffing envelopes..packing!! Just good, honest work.

Everything I have found looks genuine enough but then the inevitable email comes through asking me to pay a lump sum to cover training etc in order to start working!! It ranges from £5 (which I was almost tempted to pay), right up to £50. Are these genuine websites?? I'm always suspicious of being asked to pay a fee.

Does anybody know of any genuine work from home opportunities?? I'm not afraid of hard work and am a quick learner with a good degree level education behind me. Once my 3 year old goes to school, I'm hoping to train to be a teacher but in the meantime I really need to earn some money!

Thanks very much for any help anybody could give me!!

God I don't want to rain on your parade because I'm a mum who works from home, but do not ever pay any money up front to any business wanting home workers. Is inevitably huge con.

I do what I did pre children but from home now instead so is relatively easy. 4 hours a night is a lot on top of a busy day with three kids - you might want to start something on a smaller scale and build up. If you only have evenings free have you thought about party planning stuff like Body Shop, Virgin Vie, or maybe Kleeneze, Avon etc? There is still an outlay of about £100 a pop with them (I think) but at least you can use the stuff afterwards if you don't like it. Or there's stuff like becoming a researcher for Any Questions Answered byut you ahve to be very, very good with the internet and a bit creative with your answers.

Thanks for your reply....to be honest, the pay to earn emails that came back aren't really an option. Was maybe hoping that they might be genuine!! Was a big hope I know!! I'm grasping at straws I think!!

As for the party planning stuff...did think about that but I know that when I get Kleeneze or Bettaware catalogues through the door, I just put them back outside again for collection due to lack of spare cash and I know that a lot of people do the same. I have a few friends who do Avon but again, it's that whole disposable income thing. I need something a bit more regular, hence the attempt to do some sort of clerical work!!

I'll have a look at the Any Questions thing though so thanks again!

Usborne books? It's something that you could maybe do during the day too round kids? Being a virtual assistant very popular option these days but if you not available during day (i.e. office hours) could be tricky. Round here we have a lot of call centres which have evening and Saturday morning shifts. Yes it't hardly going to set your world alight, but it's more than minimum wage and it's less lonely that working for yourself. Anything similar in your area?

Oh yes - will look into the book thing. What's the virtual assistant thing? Though office hours could be a bit tricky as have to do the school drop offs and pick ups plus my 3 year old isn't at school yet. Not sure about the call centre option. The main reason I wanted to work from home is to avoid the whole child care costs - for three children, it all adds up fairly quickly.

Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it.

Fanackapan - contact me at lizweston77 AT gmail.com - I may be able to help

Had another idea - are you at all artistic? Cake making could be done in the evenings and fit round the kids. Downside is that you'd have to do a course first, or at the very least invest in some good books but my local college has one day courses and they are sometimes subsidised and/or have a creche facility for day time courses. Anything similar to you locally?

virtual assistant info though I have no experience of this particular firm so am not advocating them in any way, just seemd like a good starting point for you

BirdFromDaNorf - I have emailed you as well, I hope that is ok

No worries guys, email away.

Though I hasten to add, I wasn't actively recruiting here, as I know that's not allowed. [disclaimer over icon]

Thanks again Wing - you have come up with some good tips here!! I did look into the Any Questions researcher thing but they are not recruiting from the UK at the moment. Will keep my eye on that though and also check the Virtual Assistant website too. I like the cake making option....that sounds promising so will investigate!!

Bird - have emailed you so will await your response! Thanks!!

I have just started working from Home.I am a Nurse,so I am now a Nurse Advisor.However,the company I work for employs HCA(Health Care Administrators) who are not medically trained,but just input data.
Here is more Info

They have just been recruiting recently,so may still have vacancies.
However,the Training is in London or Leeds Offices,and is full-time.
I have 3 children,1 is preschool.I started my training in the holidays,and they went to a CM.
I did two weeks training,and now work from home.

Thanks Sawyer. Data input would be just perfect so will have a look at the link you mentioned. Fingers crossed.

fanackapan, I've just read this thread and in a similar situation to you... what have you decided? Hope you found something.

I currently have an admin/cust service job working from home but it's very, very poor money for the responsibilities and stress so I'm looking elsewhere.

Just refreshing this thread to see if you have any further ideas.

I tried Sawyer's link but it didn't work.

I been looking at various ideas to decide what i can do from home. Have a look at www.workingjobsfromhome.com

Thank you Chanel, i'll have a look right now.

Sawyer64, Just read this thread and seen your post, I am also a Nurse and keen to have some flexibilty/ home working.
Can you tell me more about your work, seem very interesting, couild not access your link.
Hope you see this and reply!

This is an answer to a question i recieved from someone asking advice : question pasted

Hi I read your post on Mumsnet with interest. My youngest is starting school in January and I'm seriously looking into establishing some kind of home shopping business. I was thinking of selling certain products on ebay etc., but it's difficult to know how to start in the correct way. I've been doing a fair amount of research on importing products and have visited lots of advice forums.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

MY ANSWER

it is great when people decide to step up and take things into their own hands
the way that you are thinking of going is one way i tried about 10 years ago but found it fraught with difficulties to make serious money which is what i needed

let me highlight those areas to you and maybe you can see a way through to over come them

firstly you have to have a business plan :

this should include :

what money do i have available to invest
how much money do i want to earn
what % mark up and i going to have to place on the products to provide a return
what price is currently being charged in the marketplace for my products

secondly what hidden costs are there

be aware that any imported goods will probably carry a tax on receipt in this country
is there a contingency for faulty goods : imagine receiving a consignment of items and 50% of them are faulty do you have an agreement for returns?
how much will it cost you to return it
if only a few are faulty can you stand the loss?
do you have insurance in place to deal with claims against you i.e. liability insurance
what restrictions does your mortgage/home ins etc have in holding large amounts of product in the house
does the products need a licence to sell in the Uk (we sold aromatherapy products and we found the uk did not licence all products so had to reduce our range)

these are just a few things that may have to be taken into account

we found it too much for us to contend with as we were looking to replace a full time income so we could enjoy more time with the family and not replace one full time job with another

we went down the route of working with an established company with very few headaches and little overheads and that worked for us but overcoming this difficulties is possible for anyone just brainstorm what you need to know and source the answers.

hope this helps
if anyone needs any more advice please get back in touch

regards

andy