Sensible ideas

[sherrardk]

With my middle daughter off to school and only the twins left at home I have been thinking about what to do with myself when they start nursery - I can't just hang around the house all day. I need to find some sort of job that I can do at home that will make me use my brain a bit (it's turning to mush). Anyone got any sensible ideas? Thanks

[4getmenot]

Does it have to be at home?

[sherrardk]

Probably best to be at home in case one of the kids is poorly, etc - also, it would mean I could carry on 'working' during the school holidays.

[4getmenot]

Can you not volunteer at one of the schools or nursery?

[sherrardk]

I had thought about that but really wanted to do something that would stretch me a bit (and to be fair, whilst I love my kids I don't really want to be surrounded by other peoples'). My husband thought I should look into web designing.

[funnygirl]

I've seen the ocassional jobs for homeworkers which involve selling over the phone.
It's ok if you're good at talking to strangers.

[~Wingnut~]

Not at home but could you volunteer to do reading with the children at your middle daughters school? Even a morning a week would help keep your mind a bit active.

Not so much a job but what about a hobby making something like jewellery or sewing? I like to do quilting in the winter months, I'm a bit basic with it but was well chuffed with the quilted advent calender I made for my young nephew a couple of years ago and then made him a quilted stocking the year after. I get my patterns off e-bay.

If you got really good at it you could sell some on e-bay :o)

[sherrardk]

Hi funnygirll - it's not always that quiet here (if the kids are around) and I have a REALLY strong accent.

[~Wingnut~]

Oh I'm too slow replying lol!! I blame Big Brother being on! it's putting me off!

[4getmenot]

If you volunteer at local comunity centres of care homes they wouldnt stop you leaving if children were poorly.

[annie0000]

Most jobs specifically for homeworkers tend to be poorly paid - that's different from having a job that allows you to work from home - that's usually where you have already worked in a office and they allow you to use a laptop and work from home. You could maybe use some skill you have to be self employed. I have various friends who run small operations from home - 1 that buys and sells on ebay, 1 that bakes and decorates birthday and wedding cakes and also now cupcakes, another that does sewing alterations and another that is a freelance PA to a couple of small businesses. Do you have a particular skill? Are you craft orientated, could you do bespoke knitted baby clothes or do handmade greeting cards or gift tags?

[sherrardk]

Hi forget - can't do anything out of the house at the moment because the little ones are still here (they might start nursery next March if they are ready) - just trying to get organised in case I decide to do something for which I will need training or qualifications.

Hi wingnut - I am so rubbish at craft things - I like the idea of doing something like that but would get fed up with it before I got any good at it.

[Barmaid]

Rather than get a job from home, why not look into courses you can do from home so you could get a qualification which would then help you work from home. What sort of things interest you?

[sherrardk]

Hi all - I am an ex-teacher but I don't want to go back into teaching. I already sell some stuff on E Bay but that is not overly-taxing and I need to be flexible as I have 5 small(ish) children so have to be able to drop everything if they are ill, etc. My husband has a business so I could do the quotes, etc but I can't see that taking up a lot of time. I am probably being too picky really.

[karenmac60]

As has been said, why not do some further education - OU or similar, that would occupy you just now and also give you some qualifications for further down the line if you should decide to go back to work.

[boxtops]

what about going into home selling, something like Avon or Betterware? Gets you out meeting people and the goods come to your home then you deliver. (There's an article in the HR magazine this week about an Avon lady worth £3m with 80 employees, she's only been doing is 5 years, but that's exceptional.) I did Avon for a while, it was quite good fun and brought in some money (and some very good discounts!)

[sherrardk]

Hi Boxtops - there is an Avon lady in the village already (and she is really scary - she's a full - on skin head with tattoos on her head and everything - she would probably kill me). Plus, I don't wear any make up so I probably wouldn't be a very good advert for them. I think I am just panicing a bit about being a bit of spare part when they have all started school.

[sherrardk]

Panicking even ^^

[boxtops]

OK fair enough! A lady round the corner from us has started selling herb gardens - different herbs potted up into a fancy planter. Does quite well apparently.

[sherrardk]

She's really scary - fishnet tights, 18-holer docks, etc - most unlikely Avon lady ever (i think people buy of her because they are scared of her).

[Prudie]

Could you face doing some home tutoring?