Updated: January 17, 2023
For today’s Reader Mail, I’m featuring a very interesting email from a mother who wants to work at home and earn money.
With what’s happening in the world economy, more and more people are looking for ways to earn extra income.
That’s why as of late, it has become very common for me to hear friends ask, “Ano bang magandang raket ngayon?” (What’s a good sideline business to do today?)
Anyway, after reading her letter, I tried my best to give her tips on how to start a home-based business or where she can look for home-based jobs in the Philippines.
Moreover, I also gave her some personal advice regarding her family.
Let’s read her letter now and please, to all my readers, do share your thoughts and advice by leaving a comment below. Thank you.
The Letter
Hi Fitz,
Thanks for a great blog you’ve got here!!!
I just finished confirming my subscription to your articles via email.
Anyway, I hope you can find the time to answers some questions I’ve got. In your article “5 wrong reasons for starting your own business“, I just would like to ask if my reason is valid or not.
I am turning 40 this month and I want to start this chapter in my life on the right track. I’m a stay-at-home mother at the moment. I quit my job last year to focus my time and attention on my son. My husband is working overseas.
However, I thought life will be better but I was wrong. Since I was used to working and having my own money, I started to feel insecure and useless. I’m not comfortable just sitting down waiting for the remittance of my husband.
I am now contemplating having a home business or a job where I don’t have to go to the office. Do I have the right reason, Fitz?
I will appreciate your response and I wish you good health and success this new year. God bless!
Sincerely,
Mrs. L.
My Reply
Hi! Thanks for taking the time to write.
Regarding your concern, I guess the first thing you have to do is to tell your husband about your plan to start a home business or find a home-based job. I’m sure the idea will be okay to him as long as you can promise that you’ll still have time to take care of your son.
And about your reason, I don’t see anything wrong with wanting to do something for yourself. I understand how you feel about being insecure and useless because you’re financially dependent on your husband.
Nevertheless, I believe that marriage is all about teamwork, you don’t have to feel insecure and useless because you are the one responsible for the proper upbringing and development of your son – a very worthy and important purpose.
With that being said, I can perhaps suggest that you simply start a sideline business. Something you can do at home and more importantly, you can choose not to do if ever your son needs your time.
Off the top of my head, why start with what you can do? Do you like baking or cooking? Then sell some of your homemade recipes to your neighbors and friends for parties.
Any hobbies? Do you collect anything? If you like arts and crafts, then that is also an option. Maybe this article about the things you can sell your officemates for extra income can help you get ideas.
These things, you can choose to sell offline and online. There are lots of buy-and-sell websites where you can do some trading. Check out this guide on selling online which I wrote a few months back.
Take note that these websites also have work-from-home job opportunities posted. You can try and see if you can find a home-based job that you’ll like.
Just remember to practice due diligence before accepting any work to save yourself from having troubles later on.
Alternatively, you can also invest some money in direct selling companies. This may require a bit of your time so be sure you can manage. Also, remember to choose a product which you can easily sell to people you know.
Lastly, I would also suggest that you read my articles on Income Opportunities to get more ideas on how you can earn extra income at home. I guess that’s all I can advise for now. Thanks again for writing and God bless!
All the best,
Fitz
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Hi Fitz, i really wanted to be the first to leave a comment here. I was so happy to see my email get featured in your Reader Mail Section. Thanks a lot for all the tips and advice. I’m pretty sure that more stay at home mothers like me will benefit from this article. I’ve been a fan of your blog since day 1 when i happen to read your article ” 5 wrong reasons …” More power to you and God bless!!!
You’re welcome and thanks for writing me that letter. I do hope I’ll be able to help other stay at home mothers to find ways to make some extra income at home. 😀
I like your reader questions series, Fitz!
I definitely think Mrs. L has a good reason for starting a home business–if that’s where her interests lie.
We as a society often think being a stay-at-home mom is the job and that’s all there ever was to it. But in the olden days (only a couple generations ago!), it’s not like moms could just follow their kids around all day. They may have not gone off to work for dollars, but they were gardening (for food, not looks!), making clothing for the family, caring for the livestock, etc.
As antiquated as that all may seem now, we’ve lost a lot by no longer producing the items our household needs for daily living. A lot of our insecurities come from knowing that without money, we’re totally helpless.
So, depending on where your passions lie, start a home based business… or a garden. 😉
I would recommend that you start your own home business, that will empower you more and you don’t have to depend on a boss that perhaps you don’t get along with.
Focus a bit on YOU! Panper yourself, read good books and work on building yourself and find what are you passionate about and go after it. Life is too short and to beautiful to let it waste!
I have my own home based business, if you need some advice or tips please feel free to contact me!
@Lindsay
You’re absolutely right. Go where your passion lies. Very good and practical advise. Thanks!
@Michael
Thanks for your thoughts and the offer to help. 😀
Envelope Stuffing is the most established work-from-home scam, and it’s been going for decades now. Basically, once you pay your money and sign up to work from home, you’re sent a set of envelopes and ads just like the one you responded to. You might make some money if someone responds to your ad, but eventually there just won’t be a market for it any more. Anyway, work from home offers like this are illegal pyramid schemes. You won’t make any money putting letters in envelopes
i recently started our Home based business which is organically grown vegetables. i hope to earn more in this small business of ours’`”
Could you feature some of the legitimate homebased jobs for moms….maybe you know some companies in the pHilippines..Thanx
i have been a subscriber since 2008 but its only now that I read this. i hope its not yet too late but i just wanted to share my journey from working in a corporate world to become a freelance home based contractor. it was in 2009 that our company closed due to the global financial crisis. in 2010, i registered in odesk.com which was recommended to me by a friend. it’s free and not a scam freelancing website. i was an HR professional so I chose those jobs that I’m familiar with like recruitment and resume/cover letter writing. at the start, i only get few projects but as the time goes by, my projects increased and was stable within a year. it’s almost 3 years now and I can say that its getting better with more long term projects coming. I still earn the same salary I enjoy in my corporate days plus the freedom to be on my own. I have more time to spend to my 4 kids. being a single mom, its a blessing to be able to support my 4 kids on my own. i also have time to pursue other things like joining running races or sprint tri.