Help, what can i do for $$$

[MumsieMel]

Ok here is my situation.....

My DH works 6 days a week with variable hours, so i have no sure way to know what time he'll be home.

We have no babysitter avalible and childcare is out of the question :rolleyes:

So i need something i can do from home.

I cant do partyplan as i have no time to do it, no babysitter etc.

I cant get a casual job, again as i have no sitter :rolleyes:

So does anyone have any ideas they can share with me, either here or via pm.

Please, i need help :fingerscrossed:

[surferchicksal]

I hope someone replies to you. I asked the same questions and I just got a load of people ringing me and emailing me trying to get me to set up my own company. All I wanted to do was do some typing or envelope stuffing, but I just dont know how to go about getting this!!

Good luck!

[MumsieMel]

Thanks, i hope to get some good responses,
I really need it. :cool:

[chickaboo]

Probably not what you want to hear, but I have taken up ironing for a bit of cash. I can see your bubs is due next year, so maybe not so appropriate if you find you can't stand on your feet too long.
After initially charging $1.00 per piece, I now charge $15.00 per hour so that I am not ripping myself off. I advertised in the local paper and put up some flyers and so far I've made this week $40.00. Not alot of money, but it helps, and another lady is dropping off a couple of baskets tomorrow...so busy busy...
I have two or three return customers.
I iron when DD is asleep or if DP can look after her, or if I have her sectioned off in the lounge room, where we can see each other, but she is safely away from the iron.
Good luck with whatever you do.

[jariah4]

Hiya,
I don't usually check out this section.Lucky I did.Although I may not be able to help entirely.I have a clingy dd2, she's 5yrs.I put an ad in the paper for house cleaning wanted and got 3 houses per week.I charge $16-20 per hour depending on what they are happy to pay me. It averages from about 2-4 hrs per house and it's cash money.My dd2 has her tv time whilst I clean.I make sure she's not watching it for too long and we bring her lunchbox and whatever else she wants to bring.She's been great and the cash money in your wallet is excellent.I also answered an ad for someone to clean in the evenings for 1 hour, they dont mind dd2 coming as everyone's gone for the day and they had trouble finding someone.
Your situation may make it not possible to do this though,Just my story.
Dunno if I was any help?What about family day care ,they are usually looking for people.Or even just put a babysitting ad in the local paper.Before this I hadn't worked for 10 years!!:eek:.We have been struggling, and DH is stressed .However I wanted to be with my girls as they grew from 0-5 before school.Looking back I think part time work would have been a better option.She would be used to more people I would have had a break from her and we would have had more $$.
Good Luck!:wave:
Tracey.

[MumsieMel]

Thanks you two,

They are both options i can think about.

I do have a q but..
RE Ironing, doing you iron a special way?
I not really good at it LOL

RE Cleaning, i dont know that my customers would let me bring 3 or 4 kids along, but will still think about it.

Any more ideas out there????

[~ED~]

Hi There

There are ALOT of WAHM sites out there- google them

Erin

Edited by Moderator ... BubHub has a WAHM section here (http://www.bubhub.com.au/jobsportal.php).

[La Que Sabe]

i'm looking on that site at the moment, it's great!!
i'll be checking this thread, as i'm in a similar situation to you!
=]

[MyFourCubs]

I hope someone replies to you. I asked the same questions and I just got a load of people ringing me and emailing me trying to get me to set up my own company. All I wanted to do was do some typing or envelope stuffing, but I just dont know how to go about getting this!!

Good luck!

"Groan" don't you get so over it!! I made the mistake of looking up different money making sites and filling out my details, oh good Lord, my inbox was INUNDATEDevery day, mostly with **** - how do you know what is garbage and what isn't? Especially when they all cost moneyto join these programs!:(

[mumto6]

I started a new job as dogwalker/housepet sitter and love it heaps. Good money in it if you love animals.

[MumsieMel]

Ohh i love animals, how'd you get into that???

[nightowl]

What are your skills/previous work experience. Better to get some work that capitalises on that as much as possible.

Without knowing your background, its difficult to give you a specific answer, but I'll tell you what I've been doing in case that helps:

I used to work in marketing and advertising agencies. When I had my daughter full-time, I started a part-time job working in the creche of the local gym. **** money ($13per hour), not to mention stressful (10 strangers kids in one tiny room!) but I could do it while looking after my daughter and even a little money was important to me. It was three mornings a week for 3hrs at a time, and I figured: work 9 hrs a week = pays for 2 child free days (daycare).

Once I had 2 child free days, I started looking for higher level work. I got a work-from-home PA contract job. That earned more money than the creche job, not to mention was more enjoyable, so I quit the creche job.

Word of mouth brought more clients wanting me to be PA, so I increased my hours, sometimes working evenings after my daughter was asleep or part of the weekend when her dad could look after her.

I now I work full-time, and - having too many clients for myself - have expanded to hire other people (currently recruiting). Along the way I've also reconceived my business from PA services to include services small businesses need but are often too busy to think about. So my business offers web design, graphic design, marketing, events management, pr, etc in addition to pa services.

While you might not like the idea of setting up your own business, if you start dogwalking or ironing, you are in effect starting your own business. I think a key thing for me in returning to enjoyable work was to stop thinking of myself of an "employee" and instead consider myself self-employed - which is a much more empowering place to be. Then, instead of apologising for needing "school hours" or flexi-time, it's simply a matter of "as long as the work gets done", and your "client" needn't know what hours you're working.

I realise with 4 kids you're not necessarily going to be in a position to buy child-free days (which would free you up more) but I would suggest you look at the highest skilled thing you can do in your circumstances, as you'll most likely earn twice as much for your time. Can you do it while looking after them? Can you do it during evenings once they're in bed? Can do a child-swap with someone you know so you look after their kids a couple mornings and vice versa so you both get some kid free time to work? Can you start caring for additional children for money as a home-care option?

Good luck
Luci

[mumto6]

hi Mumsie,
I came across the job in the local newspaper wanting people to do dogwalking and housepetsitting who love animals. I am loving it, i started last week and worked 6 days straight, bit slow this week but got more work towards the end of next week though. When imove to Brissy i was going to look into starting u p my own business as there is a need fo rit out there.

[chickaboo]

Thanks you two,

They are both options i can think about.

I do have a q but..
RE Ironing, doing you iron a special way?
I not really good at it LOL

RE Cleaning, i dont know that my customers would let me bring 3 or 4 kids along, but will still think about it.

Any more ideas out there????

Hi, sorry I've been offline for days so have just read your query. I don't iron a special way, but I do use starch to make sure the clothes look better and crisper. I was worried that I wouldn't be good enough at it, but people have returned two or three times now.
Oh, yes, last week I made about $100. This week so far, I'm up to $50.00. Luckily, I don't mind ironing and almost find it relaxing when I'm ironing away and watching TV.

Cheers,

[scorpio83]

Nightowl, what qualifications do you need for work at home PA jobs?

[nightowl]

Hi Scorpio,

I don't know that there are any specific qualifications for being a PA, I'd never been one before. But you need to have the right personality and skillset, which for many people would transfer over from previous jobs. "PA" is in fact a term that can mean any number of things, but working for yourself as I do, this is what I'd define needs as:

Personality: got to be self motivated, conscientious, pro-active, comfortable communicating primarily via email & phone, and have a healthy dose of common sense. You are essentially your own boss, the buck starts and stops with you, and you've got to look after your client's business needs as if they were your own.

Skills: Proficient with MS Office, phone, fax, email, internet, ability to multi-task, highly organised (or have processes that help you to be), good communication skills, customer service skills (dealing with your own clients, as well as your clients' customers).

Depending on who your client is you may need to have, or develop, other skills that are specific to their business. One thing that is common nowdays is updating website content - this isn't too difficult but may mean becoming familiar with their specific Content Management System or using a little HTML. I can't say I'd done that before I began, but I have high computer literacy, the ability to learn quickly, and the desire to apply myself to whatever task is thrown at me.

I think the ideal PA is able to recognise that their key job is to make their client's life easier by taking care of anything the client doesn't need to do themselves. A lot of my clients work in professional services like psychologists and accountants - they are better off spending their time face to face with their clients, which earns them the most money, and leaving various paperwork, admin tasks, phone calls, diary mangement, database entry, task management, etc to me. Don't bother them with things they needn't think about - take care of it so they don't have to. [And if a task is definitely out of your skill level, then work out how much it would cost to get someone else to do and give that information to the client so they can judge whether it's best to outsource (which in these indutries it usually is more cost effective to do)].

I hope that answers some of your questions?

[HunterzMummy]

What about family day care, get paid for staying at home looking after children?

Or word processing. Companies will send you recorded letters etc and you type them out and send them back can do it it at night or during nap time etc. They supply all the necessary equipment like head phone etc.

[PopTop]

Hi Mumsie,

I've been looking for home jobs too, but my partner wants me to do something that I can take with us when we travel (he works in IT and we travel with him), so I started thinking about things I like to do and what could help my family. :cloud9:

I started searching on the net for various types of things I can do from home with the kids, or take with me while we're on the road or o/s. I found a new company that apparently hasn't launched here yet, and is opening around the world (UAE, US, UK, NZ, Europe etc). :party:

I don't know about you, but we're a health conscious family as we've had family members who have suffered with cancer and the naturopath said the first thing we should do is remove all ingredients from our lifestyle that could pose a threat to us, so we do our very best now to stay away from products with ingredients that could affect our health. (which did take us time to understand, but is worth it as we are all very healthy now) :yelclap:

I found a lady [link removed by moderator] who I'm currently in correspondence with. She said there is only a small setup fee of $15, and said this is something you can do in your own time and at your own pace, and it includes lots of free training. (Plus, since the company manufactures safe product formulas I can look after my family at the same time). It may not be something you're into, but for me I guess I could do this because I'm passionate about my families health. The only thing is there is no money just yet as the company hasn't opened here, but it kind of ticks all the boxes in my 'like to do' list. It could be something you might like to check out if you like a bit of freedom and the possibility to earn money doing something with a cause, I'm having a meeting with her next week. I've done this type of thing before, so it's not unfamiliar territory, and I will do anything to keep my hubby happy (and it will give me something 'with value' to do!). :)
Will let you know how I go,
Michelle.

[tamiah06]

i am a Mother of a 2.5 yr old dd. she is in daycare fulltime as i work in a bank fulltime. My DP's Mum works from home running her own business and is very successful god bless her she wants me to do it to but i just couldnt see it happening but I do want to do something as I am 3 months pregnant with number 2 and I stuggle working fulltime with 1 especially the amount of times she gets sick being in daycare. How am I goint to manage with 2 and is my boss going to be so lenient for me taking double time off for sick children. Any suggestions feel free to private message me....but starting my own company and having to go out to find people to join i just dont think is my thing.

[jtab]

My partner and I where talking the other day about where our money would come from whilst at home with a baby. Of course he will be working a few days a week, but the last thing I want is him missing out on seeing our bubba grow up.

After reading through this topic, I'm clued in on a number of jobs I can do.

Thank you all heaps!:yelclap:

[youngn]

I used to do Avon. After much time and effort, I hardly ever ended up making money. You have to buy all of you resources, which aren't very expensive, but it all adds up.

I'm now selling Tupperware, and I love it. I've been doing it for 8 weeks now, and have made around $1700 in that time. It is completely flexible, as you chose when you want to do parties. You simply don't offer people times and dates that you are available. I do most of my parties on weekends, so Josh usually takes her. Mum takes her every now and then, which is no biggy coz it's only max of 4 hours at any time. There is no outlay, and you start making money straight away.

I think the reason that people are so successful with Tupperware is because of the training and support. All the training is free, and they give you free Tupperware just for completing it! Each week, for 8 weeks, if you complete the simple tasks (call you manager, go to meeting, have a party etc), you get a $15 voucher, and if you do it 7 out of the 8 weeks, you get an additional $80! Thats $200 free Tupperware!
Also, if you have any issues, you can call your manager, a team member or the office and they will help you out.

Another thing: weekly meetings give me the opportunity to have "grown-up time", and Josh and Luciella time to spend together. And of the 8 meetings I've been to, I've only twice walked away without free stuff.

It is easy being a Tupperware Demonstrator because I love the product. It really sells itself. I just tell people what I like about the product and they buy it! Easy!

Hope this helps.

[bAaM]

Could you do nightfill work??

Or any of your kids are school aged could you deliver papers/pamphlets? Thats if you only have 1 or 2 kids home.

Try advertising in your local paper locing for work from home, and add what your qualified in, or what your good at.

HTH

[josiesmum]

Hmm, don't know if it is appropriate for anyone here - though there seem to be so many mums looking for part-time work! - but I heard that ERGO Australia are are looking for mums to demonstrate the product in stores? I have the blessing to be totally supported by DH so don't have to work, but it sounds like a pretty good deal to me if you're an ERGO lover (like me! and most people here it seems!!) and I imagine it would be pretty flexible hours. Hope this helps someone :)