Careers for people who stay at home

I've started this thread as a place where we can list jobs for people who stay at home and how those jobs can be acheived.

Since I am in the sewing field I can tell you a few from this end.

1) Digitizer. Machine Emboridery only happens if there are designs to use and lots of people make money selling the designs they have digitized - at home. Check out www.designsbysick.com Now do the math on how much this person earns through their website!. There are websites and books on how to start a business in sewing ww.helenhart.com and more websites on how to learn to digitize. PE Design6 by Brother costs about $1,600 CDN. Not a lot of money to start a small home business. You would require an embroidery machine to go with it as well. Depending on where you live an inexpensive one can be purchased at the local sewing machine store.

2) Sewing Machine Repair Person. www.sewmachinerepair.com has books on how to repair machines from home and for those who wish to venture out, www.strohhouse.com has classes on how to repair machines as well.

Anyone else have a VIABLE idea for home businesses?

Scared Girl

Before I read your post, I thought of mentioning being a seamstress and doing commissions for unusual clothes. That's what I plan to do. I'm also an artist, so once I get good enough I'll probably do commissions for that too.
I know they're not stable careers, but I'm probably going to be on benefit as well, so I'll be alright.

Hi Crimefish,

Actually, in my area those *are* stable careers, particularly seamstress. People pay $15 to have a pair of pants hemmed because many do not know how to do that anymore - or - they don't have a decent machine to get the job done right.

Here are a couple of other ideas:

a) custom made sheets for boats/yatchs. Apparently all boat beds are made differently and getting bedding is a bugger. I have a client who is making a bundle doing that. She has special rights with the local marinas - when an owner wants new sheets, she is given access when the owners are not around, does her measuring then 'voila'...money in the pocket for making simple sheets. She plans to learn how to digitize so she can monogram the boat name on the sheets and earn even more money. Yes, she does have to pay a portion to the marina, but she still makes lots of money.

b) Canvas Repair Person: Fixing sails/boat tops is a biggie. Apparently there is a fellow in this area who was earning a lot of money by fixing canvas etc... at the marinas. He had his machine in his van, would let the marina's know when he was in the area, they would let the owners know and voila, work would be waiting when he arrived with hardly any contact with the public. It was basically the same deal at the knife-sharpening guy who goes around the neighborhoods ringing his bell.

Apparently he lost the business by drinking away the profits and didn't pay his car loan/machine loan....but while it was up and running
he was earning lots of money and had steady steady business. $$$

There are lots of jobs in the sewing related area and a person can have as much or as little contact with the public as they want.

3) Making/Selling Quilts: Home-made quilts are the rage over here and bring in about $1000/quilt. They take a lot of time to make but hey...it's better then NO income.

Any other ideas anyone?

SG

_

I think this is interesting ^__^

I've started 2 join the online Deviants @ the DeviantART.com

I started posting my photographs,my paintings, my drawings and some of my writings .. I enjoyed it and it helped me grow my talents!

All wat i like about it is .. tht its all online where i cant face realistic moments!

its a great effort and worthed alot!

Hi Faded,

That's sounds wonderful. There's nothing wrong with being a stay-in type of person...people have been doing that for centuries...our generation is lucky enough to live in the electronic age where we can 'meet', work and socialize without having to always deal with direct contact....or we can have contact when we are ready. :lol: Being in the house does not have to hold back our lives.

SG

Hi SacredGirl

Thanks for starting this thread. I am always seeking for options where I can sit at home and work without having to meet people. I am a Chartered Accountant and also holding CISA (Certified Information System Auditors) degree and am currently pursuing title of SAP Certified Professional which will be over by this Jan 06.

Inspite of all this I don't want to go out of my house because of SA and therefore currently learning drawing through books/internet so that I can draw comics, publish and sell them and make my livelihood. :roll:

Thanks for this thread...I think through this thread I will get more areas of occupation to ponder with.

Hurray

Ebay trading Yeah I know Ebay has its bad side but it also has its up side. For a while when I had nothing else to do I used to import antiques/collectables from Europe and would get three times my money for them when I sold them in New Zealand.

Website Design There is a hell of a lot of money to be earned out there and I know at least some of you are very computer savvy. Invest $100 in a few decent guide books and invest 4 hours a day and you can pretty much teach yourself how to design websites. Can start doing it as a hobby and eventually you can earn big dollars if you market yourself to the right people and if you have a bit of luck.

Journalism/Writing You'd be surprised at what you can earn as a freelance writer. Just write an article and send it to magazines until eventually you get something published. Beeing freelance means you can write about what YOU want to and WHEN you want to. You wont neccesarily have to ring people up or go out on the street, you can get most your info via email nowdays.

Photography Same deal. take photos when and where you want and make your own calendar or postcards.

Bit risqué but apparently good money! Acting as a dirty phone call operator! Men ring you, you breathe down the phone, describe what you are wearing etc (yes I know that this is a simplified version of events!) and hey presto you are ten quid richer an hour!

OK ok, most of you will not like this idea but there is maybe one person out there who will think it's reasonably ok and make some money from home! Fits in with the kids... :twisted:

Obviously not for those who despise talking on the phone...

Writing resumes is a valid and growing occupation that could basically be done at home with little training.

Apparently there is quite a market for romance writing, those little Mills and Boon books and the like. Someone apparently reads them and the publishers will read anyone's well-presented drafts (so I've been told) although they do like things to be set out in a certain style.

Wow great ideas! The naughty telephone person makes me laugh but definately is viable and probably decent money.

Buying and selling specialized bikes and their parts from your garage is another idea. There is a fellow in ontario who sells over the internet from his garage www.maca-over-limits.com. It's my understanding that the parts are imported from the states from places like www.lovelylowrider.com It's all good fun yet earns money too.

By the way, to register a business in ontario costs $60. and can be done over the internet through the ontario govt website. Very cool.

SG

Lottery winner would suit me but it seems very hard to get into.

I'm getting into the writing suggestion (done a few decent articles for my student paper so nothing paid as of yet)...however I found that the quality of my journalism was higher when I actually spoke to several people to ascertain various opinions. The best article I ever wrote was done via 2 interviews, one via email, and one face to face. It was slightly difficult, but because all my questions were down on paper it took the effort out of talking.

So if think if you're the type who doesn't feel too nervous around strangers this is definitely do-able. And also by the very nature of our condition it sometimes makes us more sensitive towards people's opinions, which in turn makes for a good journo.

Good luck to any budding writers/journalists out there.

Interesting thread!

(And some very exotic careers out there! )

I wish we made a topic with all the collective wisdom with regard to these careers.. (And possible caveats or things to consider, and what works for whom etc.)

You do need some supportive environment or such for many of them..

I've tried freelance writing and am honestly scared to do some more, sigh.. Also haven't managed to actually finish a novel yet..
So not really sure what to do...

Yossarian said:

Lottery winner would suit me but it seems very hard to get into

Click to expand...

Ha hah .. i started wroting a program for picking results 3 years ago. I tried all the different "ways" i could think of, but (naturally) each one ended in a dead-end (& also was getting very complicated, even for me), but still have ONE way left .. have to try finish this way sometime, and WHO KNOWS. However the ODDS that it will work are NOT GOOD! - but still is fun to try...

I've "attempted" MANY different things over the last 20 years, in and out of work (things which i can do, am good at, etc). But i have problems with completing things. I don't really get bored that easily, but i get bored when it comes to FINISHING things (i can do all the long/hard work, but then lose my motivation/sth for the end part). So i get a "brainwave", and are madly "into" it for "a while", but then i gradually ease-off doing it, or just stop cold one day.
The few things that i HAVE took to "completion", have been COMPLETE FLOPS (one idea lost me 100s of dollars). Maybe i just haven't got a "business" mind, as that is what is required to be self-employed.