Working online/from home ideas

[PeggyHefferon]

I was laid off from my job last month and I am hoping to find a work from home opportunity before my severance runs out. I am caring for a sick parent and unable to work outside the home for the foreseeable future. No post high school education. Worked clerical & secretarial positions my entire adult life until this point.

All suggestions appreciated.

[PeggyHefferon]

Anyone here working from home? What type of work do you do?

[HundredK]

I work from home, as does my husband, but we both have college degrees specific to what we do. That's not to say it's impossible for you... If you want to work at home, maybe reach out to people you know and see if they need any work done that you could do at home? That is sort of how my husband and I started; via contacts we already had.

There are other things you could do such as eBaying or those sites where you can do tiny tasks for small amounts of money, but I don't personally know of anyone who earns enough to make a living by doing either of those things.

[disneysteve]

I'd look into doing medical transcription. I know a couple of women who do that, one as her only job and one who does it along with a part-time job in a doctor's office.

[Outdoorsygal]

After client goes to bed, we have employees who work on the side


One is writing an ebook for Amazon. Her first one but it's taking forever

Another one does taxes. She averages about $12 hr

Another makes hand-made Jewelry and sells on Etsy. I don't know her sales


The only way I see you making money at home w/Ebay is to buy items in lots (bulk), maybe even on Ebay itself, and sell them individually.
There used to be a way to search out lots on Ebay, not sure if it still exists

.Medical Transcription seems to be the best bet

.

[PeggyHefferon]

I work from home, as does my husband, but we both have college degrees specific to what we do. That's not to say it's impossible for you... If you want to work at home, maybe reach out to people you know and see if they need any work done that you could do at home? That is sort of how my husband and I started; via contacts we already had.

There are other things you could do such as eBaying or those sites where you can do tiny tasks for small amounts of money, but I don't personally know of anyone who earns enough to make a living by doing either of those things.

Making a living from home would be great, but mostly looking for something to help stretch out my severance money longer.

eBay is not an ideal option as I am limited as to how often I can leave the house. Anytime I have to run an errand, I have to ask someone to stay with my mother. So I do try to limit how many trips I make each week.

[Fishindude77]

Some examples of what I see people doing successfully from home:
Wash & detail cars
Hair cuts
Baby sitting / day care
Pet sitting / grooming
Clothing repair / sewing
Preparing meals for others
Knife & tool sharpening
Tax prep & book keeping

[disneysteve]

eBay is not an ideal option as I am limited as to how often I can leave the house.

There is money to be made on ebay by buying and reselling things right from ebay. Sounds odd, but it works. The best option is finding auctions where people are selling a large lot of items just to get rid of them and then turning around and selling them individually or in much smaller lots. Typically, the larger the lot, the lower the unit price it brings. So if somebody is selling 100 widgets, the lot might sell for $500 but smaller lots of 10 widgets are selling for $80, so you could make $3/widget by breaking up the big lot.

The key is to find the items that fit that description.

[PeggyHefferon]

There is money to be made on ebay by buying and reselling things right from ebay. Sounds odd, but it works. The best option is finding auctions where people are selling a large lot of items just to get rid of them and then turning around and selling them individually or in much smaller lots. Typically, the larger the lot, the lower the unit price it brings. So if somebody is selling 100 widgets, the lot might sell for $500 but smaller lots of 10 widgets are selling for $80, so you could make $3/widget by breaking up the big lot.

The key is to find the items that fit that description.

But I would have to go to the post office to ship all of those widgets.

[disneysteve]

But I would have to go to the post office to ship all of those widgets.

No you don't. Your letter carrier will pick up your Priority Mail packages from your house.

[PeggyHefferon]

No you don't. Your letter carrier will pick up your Priority Mail packages from your house.

Haven't thought of that, thanks. Will start browsing eBay on a daily basis.

[HundredK]

Even better, regarding eBay, is to find things you already own but no longer use. Then you are decluttering and making money without an upfront investment (and without taxable income as you will most likely sell them at a loss anyway).

[~bs]

^

it's below the threshold for 1099s, so you won't have to worry. But from a technical sense, all sales are treated as profit unless you have proof of cost basis from the original purchase (receipts). The IRS position is that the burden of proof is on the taxpayer. Unless you have adequate documentation, the cost basis is thrown out, and it's all considered taxable income.

[snafu]

Most jobs are found by reference. Someone who knows you will suggest your name for work that is available. You need to let everyone you know, of your new circumstances and that you are seeking work from home.

Since you are home to care for mom, can you get certification as a dayhome, child care or after school care? Can you rent a room to a 2nd person needing some level of home care? The 'sandwich' generation often need temporary help.
If you live near a college or university campus, students need modestly priced accommodation. Do you have an extra bedrm or basement that can easily convert to a 'studio' apartment?

If you have baking skills, you might try offering to make Birthday cakes for friends upcoming events for example.

[PeggyHefferon]

Even better, regarding eBay, is to find things you already own but no longer use. Then you are decluttering and making money without an upfront investment (and without taxable income as you will most likely sell them at a loss anyway).

^

it's below the threshold for 1099s, so you won't have to worry. But from a technical sense, all sales are treated as profit unless you have proof of cost basis from the original purchase (receipts). The IRS position is that the burden of proof is on the taxpayer. Unless you have adequate documentation, the cost basis is thrown out, and it's all considered taxable income.

Most jobs are found by reference. Someone who knows you will suggest your name for work that is available. You need to let everyone you know, of your new circumstances and that you are seeking work from home.

Since you are home to care for mom, can you get certification as a dayhome, child care or after school care? Can you rent a room to a 2nd person needing some level of home care? The 'sandwich' generation often need temporary help.
If you live near a college or university campus, students need modestly priced accommodation. Do you have an extra bedrm or basement that can easily convert to a 'studio' apartment?

If you have baking skills, you might try offering to make Birthday cakes for friends upcoming events for example.

I have never had a lot of things and I am not a homeowner. I gave up my apartment when I moved in with mom. Even if her small house could accommodate a renter, I wouldn't feel comfortable having someone in the house with us.