Making Money from Home: The Beginning

Many moms look for motivation to start their quest. Many have the ideas but can't execute them. When I first began my journey to stay at home and earn a living, my husband thought I was crazy. He gave me a few months to find a way to make money or I would have to go back to being a legal slave. I looked at every possible way but didn't want to spend all of my money on pipe dreams and schemes. After 2 months, I started with Avon. I was never interested in selling to individuals and knew I could never make a living that way, so I focused on Fundraising. I knew schools would be interested because we all get tired of buying the same candy and Joe Corbi pizza, etc. When I explained to area schools that they could get more money by holding a fundraiser with Avon, they took me up on. Now think how many kids are in an elementary school. Now adays, the minimum is 300-500 in a public school. That's where it started. The fundraisers are held for 2 weeks. I can work 4 schools in every month that will bring me a profit of approximately $5,000, except for higher profit months in Nov-Dec and Mar-May. Out of my profit, I give a prize to the school for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, spending about $500 total per school. Then I pay my taxes on my profit. However, fundraisers are seasonal, so during the summer, I do not pull in any income from Avon. Sometimes there's more money, other times there's less. About 3 years ago, I started a publishing company, focusing on yearbooks for all schools. I have not had the opportunity to do any high schools yet, as they mostly go with the larger companies, but the elementary and middle schools have been successful. I make about $5-$10. per yearbook; the schools make about $10.00 per yearbook and the rest goes to the printer. I also make money on the advertising inside the yearbooks. This also is seasonal because I only get the money in May-June. However, I cover a large area of schools and bring in thousands of dollars.

Surveys and writing online started out as something to occupy free time. Then I found out I could make money from it. After completing them for a while, you get offers to complete higher paying surveys. You will also get requests to write an article for pay, not much, but again, money is money; just add it to the pot. I don't rely on this income, but I welcome the checks and/or paypal deposits like any other. I have started other ventures that are premature right now, but I always begin with a simple idea and bank on it. So there is hope for moms staying at home, looking for a way to generate money. With hard work, you can go from $0 to $100,000.

Dead Broke and Blogging for a Dollar

You started a blog and can claim decent traffic, but you're still not making John Chow cash, right? Many of you reading this have not made a dime blogging and are half way through your savings. Many of you will only dream of making that kind of money, especially if your only focus is a monetized blog. Yet, thousands of sites lead you to believe its easy and riches await you. I'm not trying to burst your bubble, but don't place all your eggs in a basket and hope for the best. Diversify. Try various ideas. I did and I am known for turning nothing into a money making machine. I don't focus all my efforts on web-based income, but I still work strictly from home and my income is just over $100,000. I read a blog yesterday that told how much the author had made that month. Now keep in mind, he doesn't work. He made under $100. Not sure how long he can keep that up, but when is the turning point? When do you decide that you need more that $100.?

I started off with dreams of working at home instead of making my boss rich, but I was not an overnight success. It took a lot of research, trying different home-based schemes before I pinpointed a few businesses that could generate income. My numbers fluctuate month to month, but my annual income has steadily reached $100,000 for the past 2 years. Am I satisfied yet? Nope. I still come up with new ideas in hopes of reaching my million within the next 3 years. This year, I estimate I will increase my income 1.5 times. So its not strictly about blogging, but finding ways to generate dollars from home.

Tax Tips & Reminders for Home Businesses

Tax deductions are better than ever for the Home Business entrepreneur. As long as you are working from your home, with hopes of making a profit, you can itemize utilities, upkeep and many other items on your tax return. AND...the IRS knows that most businesses won't make a profit in the first 3 years, but you can itemize your losses!

1. Do not forget to keep track of the phone calls to clients.
2. Any travel to and from to meet a client is deductible.
3. All Marketing expenses.
4. Landscaping expenses; a portion can be deducted.
5. Cleaning or upkeep of the home; a portion can be deducted.
6. Alarm system; a portion can be deducted.
7. New equipment/software purchased can be deducted.
8. Did you pay your kids to help you? Wages are deductible.

And keep in mind, I have found that all tax accountants and tax preparers will not always provide you with your fair share of deductions. Sometimes, its good to Google what deductions are in store for Home Businesses. This way, when preparing taxes, you can go prepared and ask questions. I have found this out the hard way.

Make $1000 by Friday! Making Money Secret

The "secrets" are that there is no secret to making money. You must have the initiative to try and try and try again.

Here is a free tip to make $1000 by Friday:

1. Sign up a free account with Cafepress
2. Choose one item at Cafepress that you would buy if someone was fundraising.
3. Pick a non-profit society that you are willing to donate some of your profits to. Maybe breast cancer, homeless people, etc.
4. Go cruise the internet and search for some free emblem that you can use to place on your item at Cafepress., i.e., pink ribbon, a house, something that supports the non-profit you've chosen
5. Design a snazzy printout with a copy of what you're selling to be distributed.
6. Pass out at work and tell everyone you're trying to raise $1000 or $1500 and get people to sign up to purchase the item. Just like you would for your child's school fundraiser
7. Collect money
8. Place your order for the items and pay
9. Take the profit and you must donate some to the non-profit because you said that you would
10. The rest is yours.

I have done this many times, raising money for local non-profits. I never get greedy and always give the higher percentage to the non-profit. This way, they get to know you and trust you more. You can tweak the idea, but it will bring you some cash.

Work at Home Becomes Exhausting

When you're trying to accomplish great things, sometimes you take on too much and become s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d thin. Very thin.

I am running several businesses at once and coming up with a minimum of 3 new ideas per week. I had a phone conference this morning about one of my many businesses, that begins this summer. Last July, I would unwind every morning, outside at my local track & field. I noticed that a church next door to the field was empty during the day and that led to a new idea. Summer Camp. The church has an unoccupied facility in back of the actual church. It has a kitchen, large conference type room with plenty of seats. Outside is spacious and even has 2 picnic tables and a pit for grilling. I called the church to begin laying the foundation for this summer camp to open, June 2008. This morning, we were working out my plans and discussing how much the church would require me to pay them for use of their facilities. And this was only one of the items on my "to do" list.

I am the hardest working women I know. I look for opportunities every day; however, I'm exhausted! Every minute of the day I'm working. Hustling new ideas to the masses. I hope that I continue to inspire everyone that you can do great things with very little. I only look for things I can accomplish, while using very little money. I am a miser. I hate using my money to make money.

Now if I could only come up with a way to get more sleep and do less work.