Work at Home Options – Choosing the Right Idea for You

Julianne Wish, Member Contributions

Today, there are many work at home options available.  In order to stay motivated and succeed, you will want to choose something you are good at and enjoy. 
Of course, there are scams out there that promise you thousands of dollars for doing nothing but what you want all day, and this simply isn’t realistic.  Working from home is still work!  It will be much easier, though, if you choose something that interests you and that you enjoy doing.  Here are some options and how you can determine what works for you.
Time
Be honest about how much time you have.  If you have young children, you’ll need to arrange for childcare or work around their schedule.  If you only have ten hours a week to put toward a work at home job, then it’s better to go ahead and admit that now rather than bite off more than you can chew.
List your skills.
Making lists is not always our first instinct, but it’s a good exercise for looking truthfully at your abilities, hopes, dreams, etc.  Begin by making a list of your practical skills – these can run the gamut from meal planning to typing to teaching.
Then, make a list of all your income needs.  How much money do you need to quit your day job, or to pay the mortgage?  List all expenses from groceries to car payments.
Finally, make a list of your goals and dreams for your business.  Where do you envision your business going?  Are you content working for others or do you want to go into business for yourself?  Include in this list your financial goals – maybe you’d like to afford a vacation, a new car, or just the utility bill.
Having these lists will help you determine if a work at home opportunity is a fit for you.  If it doesn’t help you meet your goals, it probably isn’t right for you.
Practical Steps.
If you’re working from home, you have a computer and an internet connection, right?  So, get online and research.  If you are going to work at home for a company, research that company thoroughly. 
Another online option is to join a work at home community where jobs are posted regularly.
How much money do you have to invest?
Some legitimate companies do require a cash outlay.  If you are going into business for yourself, you will need to consider the cost of a website, possibly hiring a designer, marketing and advertising. 
Next: Top Business Ideas for Work at Home Moms on a Shoestring
Julianne Alvarez-Wish is a military wife, mother, business owner, professional writer, blogger and legislative advocate. She is the Director of Communications for Our Milk Money, the Colorado State Leader for the National Association for Moms in Business and the owner of Buy By Mom and Buy By Mom Blog. She is the Colorado Springs Stay-at-Home Mom Examiner for Examiner.com. She also blogs at A Wishful Thought. Her passion, purpose and goal is to help parents work from home so they can be home with their children.