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Working at home can be exhausting for a mom, and breaks might be rare. But you might work from home because you need the extra money and can’t afford to take breaks. But you can create breaks within the context of work.
Let’s look at this further. What we mean is that you can still work your full-time WAHM job, but add something in to break the monotony, or perhaps bring in extra money for holidays or to fill in a gap when your industry slows down temporarily.
These jobs likely won’t net you full-time income, but they are fun and interesting alternatives from the everyday work that you might be burnt from.
Make sure you deduct your Internet connection if your business relies on an Internet connection. When it is time to file your taxes, you can get part of money back that you paid out to your Internet provider, but only the percentage you used for business purposes.
Letter writers
At Christmas, many WAHMs make extra money by writing letters from Santa. These can be postmarked from the “North Pole” or they can be on special paper or they might include special treats from Santa. You can build a quick website and market it to other moms who might be interested in their child or children getting a letter from Santa.
There are also websites that specialize in writing letters for people who can’t do it themselves or who want to present a more polished image than their own writing might provide.
No matter what type of home business you start, you must have a marketing plan ready to put into action. Most every business today requires a relationship with the internet, and there are many marketing packages available on the internet as well as through local and national media. A successful business is never without a successful marketing strategy.
Cake bakers
Many at-home moms turn into amateur bakers for weekend gatherings, from birthday parties to weddings. If you can bake well and can learn, or know, the art of cake decorating, you can make extra money at home selling decorated cakes.
This can be a nice break from your regular WAHM job, especially if your regular job is a solitary or sedentary affair. Making and decorating cakes can be creative, offering a nice respite from the demands of a less creative job.
Take great pictures to increase sales. Nothing is more disappointing to customers than cruising the Internet for something to buy and stumbling across a product that sounds great but has a bad or non-existent picture. Let customers see what they are buying by displaying quality photographs on your website of all the products that you offer. Take multiple pictures to show different views when necessary.
Mystery shopping
If you miss being out and about while working your WAHM job, you might want to pick up a mystery shopping job now and then. These can be quick (taking less than an hour) but can net you a few dollars and sometimes free products. Look online for mystery shopping companies that provide services to the kinds of business you would like to shop – you might do mystery shops at restaurants, apartment complexes or cell phone kiosks.
Sell products
If you have developed a product that you want to sell on a wholesale basis, identify your potential business customers through search engine results, local stores or word of mouth. Contact these stores via email, asking them if you can send them a free sample or wholesale package with several samples. Follow up after sending to help make the sale.
While many moms make a full-time living as consultants selling everything from skincare products to food, you can do it on a part-time basis and work when you need some variety or extra cash.
If you decide to sell items as a part-time gig, make sure you read the fine print carefully of the company you sign up with. Some have minimum requirements you must meet on a monthly or quarterly basis. Make sure that even on a part-time basis you can meet that minimum requirement.
Go outside the house
If you have identified the type of home business that you want to start, do research on the industry. To make a business plan, you need to understand your industry. Find out if there is a market for it, how much competition there is and how much start-up costs will be.
Working at home might be what you have always wanted to do and you are happy with all that it brings to your life. But you might have a desire to get out more. There are always options for very part-time jobs that serve you well in some way. For example, if you are a fitness freak, you might work just a few hours a week at the gym, netting you not only some extra money but likely a break on your gym fees. You might work just during the holidays at a department store.
The key to creating a WAHM arrangement that works for you is to work through any challenges you might face working at home. Picking up a now and then extra job might be the key to keeping yourself happy working at home.
If you miss being out and about while working your WAHM job, you might want to pick up a mystery shopping job now and then. These can be quick (taking less than an hour) but can net you a few dollars and sometimes free products. Look online for mystery shopping companies that provide services to the kinds of business you would like to shop – you might do mystery shops at restaurants, apartment complexes or cell phone kiosks.
Sell products
Keep everyone informed when you are planning to start a business. Offer freebies or price breaks as a way to get the business going. Pleased customers can then be encouraged to pass on the word of your business to others. Word of mouth can help make your business thrive in a big way.
While many moms make a full-time living as consultants selling everything from skincare products to food, you can do it on a part-time basis and work when you need some variety or extra cash.
If you decide to sell items as a part-time gig, make sure you read the fine print carefully of the company you sign up with. Some have minimum requirements you must meet on a monthly or quarterly basis. Make sure that even on a part-time basis you can meet that minimum requirement.
Go outside the house
Buy a web site that has ecommerce capability. Before you buy, decide whether you want to hire someone else to build your site or do it yourself. Many services offer a web site domain and hosting package, with tools to help you build your own site and load a catalog of products to sell.
Working at home might be what you have always wanted to do and you are happy with all that it brings to your life. But you might have a desire to get out more. There are always options for very part-time jobs that serve you well in some way. For example, if you are a fitness freak, you might work just a few hours a week at the gym, netting you not only some extra money but likely a break on your gym fees. You might work just during the holidays at a department store.
The key to creating a WAHM arrangement that works for you is to work through any challenges you might face working at home. Picking up a now and then extra job might be the key to keeping yourself happy working at home.