Work from Home jobs

I went to the grocery store a couple days ago to pick up some milk. Of course, any time I go to the grocery store I don't just pick up one item. Never fails. I didn't do too bad though because thank God our freezer is full and I cannot fit anything else in there.

The price of everything is gone up again. A gallon of milk, store brand -- nothing fancy, it cost $4.18!! Good thing the kids don't drink a lot of it. I don't like milk unless it's with my cereal. I do have friends where the kids go through 4 or 5 gallons of milk a week. I don't know how they keep food on their tables. It's ridiculous really.

I think I will go back to clipping coupons. Walmart, at least, will match any price on same items that their competitors have on sale. I used to use those loss leader flyers all the time when I was working full-time, don't know where I found the time to sit down and write a list and organize before shopping. Now, I don't work outside the home and I can't seem to find the time for some reason. Laziness? Probably.

It seems every time I go to the grocery store something else has gone up in price. We only have two kids so I can't imagine how larger families can afford to eat these days. I know my neighbor is on food stamps. She isn't very honest though. I think I'll just buy my food with my own money. At least I won't have to be looking over my shoulder all the time.

These days it seems more and more families are forced to have dual incomes just to get by. One of my friends has 6 kids. SIX!! She's been married for twenty years to her husband. I know they struggle with feeding the entire family on their very limited budget. They make ends meet by going to the flea market every weekend and selling refurbished game systems. My friend has high blood pressure and I hate to see her go and sit in the heat for two days just to put food on their table.

She tried baby-sitting but she had an accident a little over a year ago and is in constant pain and has to go to rehab along with her daughter who was almost killed in that accident. We've tried helping them out but it seems that try as they may, they are always behind on everything.

I have given her all the information on my resources for working at home. There are so many things you can do from home and make a little bit of extra money. Child care is only one of them. Medical transcription, medical billing, administrative work, bookkeeper, legal transcription as well as law enforcement transcription (I did this along with transcription/translation).

You can make jewelry, like me. You can make greeting cards, write magazine articles, run an errand service, cleaning service, bake/food preparation. I had a neighbor that made cakes, really pretty character cakes for kids. Pass out business cards at day care centers and you would be surprised at how many customers you can pick up that way. Once people find out what you do, you will make a pretty penny. You must build a strong foundation at the beginning. Hit the pavement, talk to people. Get excited about what you have to offer.

If you like working with numbers, talk to local contractors, open the phone book, look, call, offer. A lot of the contractors cannot afford their own personal secretary or assistant. Offer them a flat monthly fee for doing their bookkeeping, payroll, proposals, etc. If you want it bad enough, go for it. Don't be afraid of someone telling you no. Sometimes they don't need your services right away but hand them a business card. Mail it to them. Contact them however you can. Make a good impression on them. Portray yourself as a professional individual. They will remember you. When you meet them face to face, dress appropriately. No flip flops, ragged clothing or unkempt hair/appearance. Please, no chewing gum in their presence either. You are your best advertisement. When you are at home doing the work for them, you are in your home you can be in your pajamas if you like. Not when you meet with them, however.

I sell my jewelry everywhere I go. I carry a tote, one of those brag totes where you can put pictures to show off. It's bright red. It has my business name on there in white letters. I have posted a picture for you to see. When I'm out and about running errands, I have a bunch of business cards with me. This tote goes with me. When people see the pictures, they ask if I make the jewelry. I take it from there. I offer them free jewelry if they host a show and stress the fact that the pieces are unique thus they will not see the exact same piece on anyone else, unlike the store-bought jewelry.

My point here is if you get out there and let people know what kind of service/product you offer, they will respond. A smile is always a good ice breaker. I smile all the time. To date, I've yet to encounter someone who has not returned a smile after I've smiled at them first.

Remember, the opportunities are out there. How bad do you really want to earn money from home? Like Mary Kay used to say, "If you think you can you can and if you think you can't, you're right." Mary Kay was a wise woman. Look at the legacy she left behind.

Now, go forth and conquer! I know you can do it. I can sense it in the very fiber of your being. Thanks, Oprah! ;o)