Here we are: President Bush and Secretary Paulson address the economic crisis.
Happy Friday. Try to enjoy your weekend.
Watch Out for Work at Home Scams
One of the things that you have to be careful of is work from home scams. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve clicked on a listing for a "work at home opportunity" or a "home job", only to find that the listing is really nothing more than a scam.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you want to try to avoid becoming a victim of a work from home scam:
* If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
* Do not pay money for the opportunity to work. Paying money for training or a start-up fee — or if you are required to buy all sorts of materials — could be a red flag.
* Be wary of opportunities that require your bank account number or your credit card number.
WAHM.com offers a great list of resources that can help you check the company for fraud.
Telecommuting Rising in Popularity
Telecommuting is becoming increasingly popular — and not just for people who own their own home business. Around the world, more companies are allowing their workers to stay at home for a portion — sometimes all — of the work week. Indeed, nearly half of employers (4 out of 10) in the U.S. offer the option to telecommute, according to a World at Work survey.
And this work from home trend is only expected to intensify, I think, with all the economic troubles. Just paying for the gas needed to get to work is taking a toll on many household budgets. Management Issues reports on the savings from gasoline alone:
Similarly, a survey by the public-private teleworking partnership
Telework Exchange in June argued that allowing employees to work from
home just two days a week could save the U.S economy more than $38bn a
year in reduced gas bills.
On top of this, employees are more likely to be happy when working at home, since it allows more time with the family (rather than commuting) and can help with the work-life balance.
Do you telecommute? Would you like to telecommute?
Inexpensive Business Cards from Moo.com
One of the great things about the Internet and technology is that you can do all sorts of things. And one of the things I did recently was create my own business cards at Moo.com.
Moo.com is a company based in London. It’s very basic — offering simple templates for business cards, greeting cards and even not-traditional placards. However, it is limited.
But if your needs are simple, and you only want a small batch of cards at a reasonable price, Moo.com can be a great decision. I know I’m happy with my business cards.
The Street offers an in-depth review of business cards by Moo.com.
Is Time Running Out for Freelancers?
One of the things that has me thinking this morning is the massive hemorrhage on Wall Street. As things slowly continue the implosion, I am a bit concerned about my job. See, I’m a freelancer. I do a lot of work for online companies especially. And as things worsen as far as the economic picture is concerned, I think about the fact that if something is going to get cut in some budget, it is probably going to be me.
So, it’s time to cut back, make sure my emergency fund is in order, and hope that I’ve got enough work of different kinds to see me through this.
Does this economy worry you in terms of your home business?
Friday Fun Video: The Office and The Dark Knight
My devotion to The Office (and waiting for the season to start on the 25th) continues in this week’s Friday Fun Video. Plus, I get to combine it with my devotion to Batman.
This. Is. Awesome.
Happy Friday!
Do You Observe 9/11?
I think it is fitting to remember certain dates, and observe them. 9/11 is one of those for me. I think it important to honor the losses and sacrifices of others. I hope that if I am ever called upon to personally face such a thing that I can rise as magnificently to the occasion as thousands have done before me.
So this morning I have reserved some to reflect and consider.
Do you observe 9/11?
Home Business Idea: Home Day Care
Around my neighborhood, there is a plethora of home day care and home preschool businesses. At last count, on my way out of the subdivision, I think I saw four. At any rate, this is a very popular home business idea. The idea of home day care is very appealing to many. And if you can handle it, it can be very rewarding.
Over at Home Biz Notes, there is a great series on getting started with home day care as your business. Here is one interesting caution about running a home day care business:
Running a home daycare is much like working outside your home. Just
because you are home does not mean you will be able to do laundry or
clean your bathroom. You have children to care for and their needs come
first.
So, this is an important consideration. If you still think a home day care is the right home business for you, head on over to Home Biz Notes and read the rest of the articles in the series.
Sometimes You Have to Say “No”
If you’re like me, sometimes it is difficult to say "no." Whether to a project, a family member or a neighbor, it can be hard to turn someone down. (It’s especially hard when it’s a freelance project and means a few extra bucks.)
However, if you get too stressed and too scheduled, things start to fall apart. Is that extra money worth the time I won’t be spending with my son and husband? Is saying yes to some neighborhood party worth the extra stress I would feel by having to re-arrange the rest of my schedule?
Sometimes, in the name of sanity, you just have to learn to say no. It doesn’t have to be in a mean or rude way, but you can say something like, "I’m sorry. I just don’t have time for that right now."
Do you ever have a hard time saying "no"?
Work from Home Ideas: Tutoring
Many people wonder what sorts of jobs they can get if they want to work from home. One of the more interesting jobs is tutoring. With school starting again, many parents (and students themselves) are concerned about how to better in school. If you have particular skill in a subject, you can make money by tutoring.
While you can tutor from your home, and tutor clients in person, it is also possible to become involved in online tutoring. This is a bit of a long-distance thing, but it is possible. And there are plenty of online tutoring Web sites that can help you match with clients that could use your expertise in a specific area.