Work-at-Home Suggestions

Do any of the readers have job suggestions for someone who cannot work a 9-5, 5 days a week job due to health reasons? What I am looking for in particular are suggestions about jobs that could be worked from home and bring in a good enough income to pay the bills. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Laura

I used to work from my home for a local home health care agency as their dispatcher. I was on call two to three week nights and every other weekend. My job was to schedule and dispatch nurses and nurse's aids. This is how it works a patient/nurse calls in to an answering service. The answering service pages me. I call to get my message and take care of it from there which sometimes requires several phone calls. I called in to give a report the following morning when the office opened. It was decent money and I could've worked more if I had wanted to. On the down side, it is very stressful when you know a patient needs someone there and you can't find anyone to go. A lot of home health agencies still use dispatchers that work from home. We started to home school our children and could no longer put up with all the interruptions and late night/early morning calls. To supplement our income I have watched children before and after school. I watch them for an hour our so in the morning, give them breakfast, put them on the bus. In the afternoon, I give them a snack and watch them for an hour or so, until their parents pick them up. This leaves my day free.
DMF

I found an ad in the Sunday's newspaper for data entry operators to work from home. I have computer skills and a good computer. I left them my name and number expressing my interest. When their next training session came available, they called me. I had my choice between a couple different dates to choose from for the "training" class which was about 4 hours long. Most everyone was casually dressed in either shorts or jeans. (I wish I had known that ahead of time.) At that point we were all sent home with work to process. Everyone was offerered work that very day. This particular company requires you turn in your work on certain days and at the same time you pick up your next job. We are able to choose just how large of a job we desire. We are paid every 2 weeks and the check can be mailed to your door if you don't want to pick it up.

This particular job requires you verify information and back-up material for rebates. Honestly, it's pretty much a no brainer as long as you follow the directions reviewed in class and in the notebook handed out. There are some places out there that are strickly data entry, no verifying which can be quite time consuming. Check it out.
KW

How about starting your own gift basket business. Local florists and gift stores often buy gourmet and practical gift baskets to sell in their stores. There are several places on the web to get wholesale items, like coffee and teas.

Try your hand at it first by buying inexpensive items at a dollar store, to use as models. You can do theme baskets, like coffee, crayons for kids, hardware (screws, hammer, etc) for the handyman. Garage sales are a great place to pick up the baskets. Get your items, fill the basket (box, crate, etc) with shredded paper (buy an inexpensive paper shredder form office supply store and then shred your own color paper at home). Fill, cover with cellophane and sell, sell, sell.

Expect to mark up baskets 50% from the items that you purchase. Hint this works well for parents to buy for kids away at college as "care packages."
Crystal D. P.

I do freelance assignments for a variety of magazines and community newspapers. Mostly short pieces, bringing in $20 to $50. If you have no experience, a good place to start is by contributing short anecdotes to Reader's Digest departments such as "Life's like that" or "All in a day's work". They pay good money for your stories.

All you need is a knack for story-telling and tight writing (and an interesting story. Just watch the children you come in contact with. They say the darndest things... and that kind of stuff is always popular).
Sylvie

A good job for you might be direct sales. I know someone who is homebound due to an injury and she does Creative Memories (scrapbooking supplies and classes). She also makes gift baskets. She completely does this out of her home and only is required to attend occasional meetings that are outside of her home.

Other direct sales companies (Tupperware, PartyLite, Christmas Around the World, Pampered Chef, etc.) let you set your own schedule as to when you want to work. I worked for PartyLite for a year and it was possible to make some good money without putting in a lot of hours. Even with only one good show a week, I could bring in $100 a week! (For me, the sales part was the hardest, especially "cold calling" customers. But some people do not have a problem with this.)
Sheri B.

I don't really trust those 'make a mint at home' offers, but here are a couple of ideas. If the person is able to type and has a decent computer, a used transcription machine can be purchased for a few hundred dollars. A transcription service for doctors and lawyers could be built up. You might need to take a short course in medical terminology at a local business school or junior college, but it'd be an investment.
R.

There is a great need for home daycare. Centers around town cater to parents that work full time and during the day. That leaves a big segment of the population out. Parents that need part-time, hourly and nighttime care are in desperate need for loving and safe care. There is also a big demand for before and after school care. Think about all the latchkey kids just in your neighborhood.

Depending on your health problem, this is a very rewarding career that can be very lucrative You can deduct part of all your utilities, food expenses, car expenses etc on your taxes. Do some carefully checking into the laws of your state and good luck to you!
S.

There are many "home party" type of jobs that can be done whenever your schedule permits. Two that I am very familiar with, and am a dealer for both, are PartyLite candles and accessories and Stampin' Up! rubber stamps and accessories. Chose something that you enjoy (like candles or stamping) and get involved. You meet other people who have the same interests as you and can make good money and also support your "hobby." PartyLite has no investment for getting started, and there are others with only a minimal amount required.
Melanie N.

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