Working from home

I am wondering if any of you work from your home, and what your experiences have been.

Thanks

narc

I guess you could say I work from home as I have a home-based business selling books online.

However, I think that's not the kind of input you are seeking... looking more for people who are employees and work from home?

Hi Darius
Well any kind of input would be a help at this point as I am not really sure how any of this works.

You have your own business? That has got to be exciting and scary at the same time.

I would like to be able to work from home on my pc if that is possible.

Thanks for your input.

Narc

Yes, Narc, I do have my own small business... even though it's on hold right now. (All my stuff is in storage and I'm looking for a new home.)

It took about 18 months for me to really start to make any money online in the used book business. Bought a LOT of bright, clean and wonderful books with like new DJ's from yard sales at first and then found I couldn't even get 50¢ for them.

I finally learned what sells, and now list fewer books but get better prices. I have sold other things and will probably do so again when I get back to it.

It is difficult at first to discipline oneself to "working" when at home. It's so easy to become distracted by household stuff. Best bet is a separate room, and a sign on the door (closed if possible) of working hours.

When I was still doing sales management from a home office and my mother spent the winters with me, I could never get her to understand that I was "working" even though I was at home one week out of 3. She'd always tap her foot and nag me that lunch (or dinner) was ready even though I was on the telephone long distance with my Reps.

It's easier now that I live alone and I have become accustomed to setting my own working schedule... and I'm good about sticking to it. One advantage is that I can adjust my working hours to fit my heavier garden schedule in spring and fall. The internet doesn't care if you post items for sale at midnight, LOL.

One thing important if you decide to do this: Be sure to have the fastest internet connection you can get... cable modem, DSL or whatever. If there are other computers in the house, network them so others can be online doing their thing at the same time and not bug you.

My husband works nights and sleeps days and with no kiddos around it would be easy to set a schedule, I have found it is getting harder and harder to do the gardening and work full time.
Even with just my husband and I it seems there are never enough hours in the day.

I have really had it with the politics of this job I am in and I feel like they are messing with my integrity, not a good thing for me.

I see a lot of ads for work at home, but am very weary of being scammed.

I, like Darius, also run a busness from home, I've also done some work at home for companies on occasion.

I heartily agree with the self discipline, you need to be able to draw the line between personal and work time and space. I'm used to jobs where I work alone or have to shut off from other people because of confidentiality but working from home is seriously lonely, I've spent the last fortnight pretty much tied to the house and it's driving me nuts. Even if you dislike all your current work collegues, they will be a fond memory in a month of hardly seeing anyone at all. It's very important to make regular time for yourself, it's not as easy as people think!

The biggest problem I am having is the fact that I LOVE what I do. I have been saddled with this one person that could care less who she steps on or beds to get her way, and the really sad thing is it is working. I do not want to be associated with that. I have tried to "be let go of my duties" with her and they are adamant that I will do what I am told.

I really appreciate all the advice so far. It will be a help in my decision of what to do.

Hi Narc,

I too would like to have a small business working from home. I retired from Fedeal service 10 years ago and now, with the costs of everything going up, my retirement is dwindling. COLA's are a joke.

I have my computer and am in a rural area where there is not much going on. Therefore, it would not be too difficult to work something out if I just knew what to do.

I, too, see the ads for "work from home". When I see those I think of stuffing envelopes. So, here I sit.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Jeanette

I have worked from home for some time now, first half time and now full time. I am a medical transcriptionist and have shared a job in pathology at the local hospital for 16 years. I worked Mon, Tues and every other Weds and she worked the other Weds and Thurs, Fri. Just a month ago we put in a new computer system and I am now able to work from home. Yippeeee! I've been able to keep all my benefits and everything. If you're a decent typist you could probably pick up a specialty or two, like radiology or orthopedics, and get up and running fairly soon. Check your local colleges and see if there are any courses for transcription. The other company I work for pays by the line and hires transcriptionists from all over the country. Because there are set hours that I have to be working, there's not a problem with self discipline. Of course, when I take a break or there's a lull, it sure is nice to be able to put a load of laundry in, or take a nap for that matter. I love working from home and I can surely sympathize with having to work with someone with major character flaws. Not fun. I'm trying to think of other people who work from home and what they do. One friend is a voice-over artist, she sees commercials in English and then translates them into Spanish, all from home. And my SIL does books for a couple of companies, also completely from home. Maybe medical insurance billing? I'm not sure I caught what you do now, but if you have a good command of most office procedures, you can probably set something up. Oh, and another friend books flights and hotels for a travel agency, from home. Keep your chin up and you'll figure something out. Best of luck.

Hi Stella, Thanks for all of the info. Due to medical reasons I retired early at 55 when Al Gore was given the job of reducing the federal work force. For a short time they changed the length of time, and age requirements, thereby cutting some of middle management like myself.

I was an Administrative Officer with a fancier title that covered a large area. My office was responsible for payroll, hiring, all personnel matters, logistics, building management etc. You get the idea. I started in 1972, as a secretary, and by 1980 was in management.

I was divorced in 1967 with a 7 year old daughter when being a single mother was not fashionable. I never remarried although I have a housemate of 15 years.

I have had one hip replaced twice, the other 4 times, one knee replaced, neck fused, and the surgeon said "I was not a good candidate for back surgery." Whatever that means. All of this due to arthritis. Almost 2 years ago they flew me by helicopter to the city hospital for a double perforated bowel. I was in ICU, under sedation for 5 weeks and then rehab for 4 more because my muscles had atrophied in the ICU.

I cannot stress enough to all of you the importance of health insurance. I was lucky because I am covered as a retired federal worker. Yes, I do, and always have paid part of the premium. That trip alone was $5,000 for the helicopter and $143,000 to the hospital. I don't remember how much for doctors. I was not on medicare yet at that time. Had I not had the insurance I am absolutely certain I would not have been kept alive. They brought me back 3 times.

I am not telling you this because of sympathy, I am alerting you to the fact that you absolutely need to plan ahead. I had my 40 quarters in to collect social security, but because of my retirement from the feds it is a small amount, but after they deduct for my medicare there is not much left of that. Then my supplemental insurance is held out of my retirement.

The COLA's I get are not enough to cover inflation so I am now looking for something to do to bring in enough to at least cover some of these raises in insurances etc.

There has got to be a way to get universal health care. I am not sure we want one payor insurance, socialized medicine, but I don't know what the alternative is. I hear you all out there saying you don't have insurance and I just shudder.

One more thing, when I divorced my ex gave me the house because I needed to raise my daughter. It was not a big deal as we had only been in the house for 5 years. However, I lived in the house 28 years on a 30 year mortgage. I refinanced for half the value and paid cash for a house framed and partially finished, with 40 acres. 5 years later after I retired, I sold the house and used that money to finish the house I had purchased. Therefore I do not have any house payments.

I also had the 40 acres "thinned" 7 years ago and received $30,000 for the logs. In a few years it will be time to log it again. This time, hopefully, getting larger sawlogs.

I love animals and if I were able to take care of them I would love to have the miniature donkeys, goats etc.

I really find the stories from all of the people in the forums fascinating. I guess I kind of feel like you all are my friends and neighbors just sitting down for a cup of coffee.

Jeanette

Hi
Jeanette you are so right and that is the thing I have been thinking about.... INSURANCE
Something happened yesterday after I had posted.
A woman that works in the section I used to work in recieved a promotion, she will go into a totally different service, therefore a spot has come open. I may have the chance to go into this spot. I said I would never go back, (never say never)

I will keep ya'll posted as to what happens.

Narc

Narc,

I absolutely hate to see someone take a job they do not want. Is there any chance you can apply for other positions with that company? Maybe next time it will be something you like better.

When I was working I applied for and got many promotions and different jobs. I proved my worth and retired at a fairly decent grade level. But, I also really liked every job I had too. That makes a big difference.

For your sake I hope you get something that has insurance. That is so important as I told you.

Best of luck and keep me posted. Jeanette

Yeah, the insurance thing worries me, too. I'm a year and 4 months away from being able to get the Fed. ins that comes with SS. (I can never keep Medicare and Medicaid straight/apart.) Not that it's all that great, but better than what I have now, which is Zip, Nada, Zero.

Hi Darius,

You are talking about getting Medicare when you retire? Are you going to retire at 62 or 65? Medicare pays for hospitals. Medicaid is for disabled etc. Most people do not have that. If you want to be covered for doctors you need to check into getting supplemental insurance. When you turn 65, or near it, you will recieve from SS a lot of info and you will be offered supplemental insurance through some of their recommended companies. But you still have to be accepted by them and pay their premiums.

They say Medicare is free but I don't call it that. From the day you started working at 15 (like I did) they hold out $$ from your check to pay for that. I don't call that free.

Good luck and hang in there.

Jeanette

Jeanette, I took my SS at age 62 but won't be elgible for Medicare until age 65, and then they start taking a payment for it out of every monthly check. Cannot afford any supplemental insurance.

I am fortunate that Medicaid covers all my mother's expenses in a nursing home. They get her SS check, and between the State and the Feds, they pick up everything else.... over $4,000 a month.

Darius, sorry about your mom being in a nursing home, but glad she is being taken care of.

Darius, if you qualify for the supplemental insurance it will cost you around $130 give or take some. I know ss isn't much, but I don't know how you can not have it. Unless you don't own anything. If you don't the state will probably step in. If you do, they will probably put a lien on it.

Is there something you can do on the side? Maybe have a hobby or something you can turn into a little money? A lot of people do that. Start businesses out of their hobbies.

Just a thought. Like I said, hang in there. What was it John Edwards said? "Hope is on the way".

Jeanette

Having worked from home for over 25 years I can tell you there are lots of advantages and disadvantages. Since I do not need the computer to operate my business I am in a different position than alot of you.
First, being self employed here in Ontario pretty much means no insurance coverage of any kind - dental or health. Fortunately my DH was a teacher and I was covered and still am even though he has retired under his plan. With meds costing us over $800.00 a month for the two of us let me tell you having coverage is wonderful. I would have had to have gone without if DH had not had this coverage.
You have to be very disciplined about your work hours and how much you need to accomplish each day/week. Being an artisan alot of people think it is very romantic to have your studio in your house. NOT! Lots think you can get up in the night when the whim hits you and work away - that is no where near the reality of the situation. I do custom work plus travel to several Craft Fairs across the country so production is key for me. I had when the business was really big teens (2 or 3) come in off the bus after school to grind or wash glass for 2 hours most week days and then they worked half a day Saturday. The more motivated ones also wanted to put some time in on Sundays and when the major show season was approaching I really appreciated that. Having the teens to do all the "dirty" work (never asked them to do something I wouldn't myself) really helped me out and freed me up for designing, soldering and whatever else needed to be done.
Of course you must keep meticulous account books (not my cup of tea) or pay an accountant a ridiculous fee. This has to be done in order to meet the Tax guys requests.
One difficult thing that was hard to break was friends and neighbours thought that they could call or stop in at any point in the day and would be welcome. When I set a criteria to meet for each day I am afraid I ticked a few people off by not being too friendly and sometimes abrupt when they stopped. Try explaining to a church why they aren't going to have their 6 custom windows on the Due Date because your neighbours wanted to chat and have a cup of tea.
If you are least ways interested in a home based business and are a self starter, can handle not seeing people for days at a time go for it. I never have regretted giving up my high paying but high pressured job to expand my business.
There are lots of perks with being self employed and once you set the ground rules and others know what they are it is a most enjoyable experience.
If you have any other questions I would be pleased to try and answer them for you. Good luck, no matter what you decide. A change at your office is sometimes all that it takes.
Dianne

Dianne, I am trying to figure out where you are. Verona, Ont. Is that Canada? If so, I thought in Canada everyone had medical. $800 for meds??

Also, I think I figured out that your business is stained/leaded glass? Windows etc.?

I can sure see what you are saying about self discipline. For one thing, I hate details. Fortunately I worked myself into a position where I could delegate detail work. You are right. I would have to pay someone to do CPA work. Even then I would be stuck retaining receipts, records etc. even for that person.

Being in the type of work I was, administrative, a jack-of-all-trades, I can't think of anything that really qualified me for to have a business of my own.

I have heard of people auditing medical billings for insurance companies but I would think you would need medical training for that.

Also, I have seen ads for hud/fha refunds to people. I have not checked into this but somehow I feel it is a scam.

Mystery shopper would be fun I think because when I do shop regularly I somehow end up critiquing a store and it's employees automatically just for my own (satisfaction?). Don't know why I do that. Like other people, sometimes I would really like to let the store manager/owner know what I think of their business. Good or bad.

Your posting is interesting and gives a person considering a business of their own a lot to think about. After 25 years I am sure you have seen it all. Almost.

Jeanette

This is so very interesting here. My father was a residential builder back in the days that builders actually slung a hammer. He had no compunction about putting his kids to work to save a buck, sons, or daughters. I have put roofs on, hung drywall, installed wood flooring and insulation, hauled rocks to the drainfield and painted and whatever else he deemed necessary, including running for coffee.

Went on to work in Federal Gov't, file clerk all the way up to Air Traffic Controller until I was involved in the strike of '81. Then insurance agent. That one now, I hated selling insurance but settled into the professional liability sales specialty to lawyers and dentists. 13 years later, decided to break from that and become a housepainter, self employed. I juggled both businesses for about 3 years before I sold my insurance business and moved on to full time painting.

So now I work out of my home office and I actually get paint under my fingernails and in my hair. I thought about expanding and at one point had 3 projects going at one time with 5 or 6 painters working for me. Arghh. Ya can't find good help these days and ya have to watch them like a hawk or ya lose money on the projects. So now it's just me.

I do my own record keeping with the computer, my own bids, and I do my own painting and collecting money. But as was stated above, it can get darned lonely doing it on your own. I haven't done too badly with this endeavor so when work slows down a bit, it doesn't concern me until it stretches on for too long and I have to dip into funds not intended for dry spells.

At 50, and being of the "gentler" gender (hehe), I will have to consider moving onto something else in the next few years, not as physically draining. Undoubtedly, it will be something home and computer based. I have tried some Ebay sales but haven't really turned a profit yet. I need to find a niche that works for me.

I was never afraid to jump up and make major changes in life before, but as you get older, you learn to use a little more caution, hopefully not to be discouraged for fear of the unknown.

So....weigh all your options, know yourself, your capabilities, limitations, plan well and don't let fear stop you in your tracks.
You are not finished until you are finished.

:^)))
Molly

Molly,

Your post was really interesting. Especially about your father building homes. My father built custom homes when I was a young child. He put my older sister to work roofing one. The rest of us were too young.

He used to come home complaining about not getting good help. He had 3 homes being built at the same time and he would come upon a crew lying under a tree B.S.ing. emember that well.

I completly remodeled my own home including drywall, enlarging rooms, adding a new fireplace and re-siding it by myself. I am 65 and due to my arthritis I retired from the feds earlier than I had planned at 55.

You had stated that you would "undoubtedly" end up with something computer based. I have sold on ebay also. However, like anatique stores, you have to keep stock for a turnover. constantly replacing it. Have you thought of any other things you might do?

I tossed some out there however, nothing serious.

You are right. It is a very interesting subject because we all will be doing this sooner or later. Keep thinking and posting. Jeanette

Jeanette

I recently took a part-time job at the paint store I get my supplies from. I work Saturdays and occasionally fill in for someone who wants an extra day off. I am looking at the possibility of taking that on full time when I get "tired" from painting. This company now has 8 stores in the area so the job opportunity is good.

Then there is that fear factor, working set hours, being confined to one place all day long, answering to someone other than myself. The plus side is a sure weekly income, health benefits etc. Everything has its pluses and minuses.

I have thought about and even surfed the net looking for pallet purchases of products to sell on the internet. A great deal of thought and research has to be devoted to this to determine what sells and what doesn't. (Just because I love buying yard art and plants on ebay, doesn't mean everyone does.) I sell plants on ebay, buy I don't have anything in stock that particularily draws a lot of attention.

Did you know there are like 40,000 pairs of jeans, size 2 being sold on ebay? (I don't wear size 2 anymore, long way from there) So the competition is stiff.

Any ideas?

Molly
:^)

Molly,

Your pallet idea gave me one. 'course we are always so far behind the rest of the country this has probably been and gone in your part of the country.

What about a dollar store francise? I think their stuff is liquidations. Stuff, non-perishables bought in large lots. They are popping up all over the state of Washington. Several different names. Then there are 4 or 5 of the same name which makes me think they are francises. I think one person with a large warehouse supplies all of them.

You would be tied down but you would be your own boss mostly.

We are so far from any city that anything like that is imposs-ible without driving a long way.

There have been a couple of opportunities to purchase video stores in little towns which is real good if you are the only one in town. Which these were, but too farfor us to drive.

A guy opened one in the small town closest to us and he is the busiest store in town. Busier than the churches and taverns. Now that is saying something.

Sometimes rural is nice, but other times it is a pain in the butt.

Jeanette

I always thought a pizza delivery service that also delivered vidoes would be a good idea. Maybe even a six-pack...

Yeah Darius, I'm fer that!!!

:^)))
Molly

Yep Jnette Verona is in Ontaio Canada. It is a very small village north of Kingston, east of Toronto and south west of Ottawa.
We do have excellent medical care here in the province. Not all provinces are as good as ours. Plus we have supplemental coverage through my DH's former place of employment. The $800 is reimbursed from our private insurance, we just have to lay the money out first. I think our deductible for meds is $25.00 each per year. Not bad, eh? We've had a not so healthy two years, my DH was in renal failure at one point so his meds are really expensive .The govt. programme does not cover all drugs so if your Dr. prescribes something that is not on their approved list you must pay for it out of pocket unless you have personal insurance.
I personally love being self employed the only problem being not having a regular pay cheque. The artisan field is so iffy at the best of times but I've lived through wonderful years to those you wonder why you are doing it. I'm a bit of a loner, get my people fix here on DG so don't mind working out of the house. I do have the shows to go to to get my people and big city fix every once in a while. I used to do over 30 shows a year and travelled all across Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. Now I just do about 5 or 6 shows a year and none that are longer than 4 days.
You're right, just when you think you have seen or heard it all something wierd comes along. Gotta love it!
Darius, I love your idea of pizza, beer and videos. It wouldn't work here in my little community we can't even keep a pizza place open. The latest one just went under a couple of months ago. I thought they had a chance of making it, pizza was good and they delivered even over a mile down my lane, so would go anywhere. Just didn't get enough people in to make it worthwhile. Gee maybe the beer and video idea would have helped them.
It is interesting to read everyone's self employment dream or reality. Good thing we can all dream even if we don't follow it through to fruition.
D

Well Darius, I think you've got something there. When are you opening this wonderful place? Will you deliver to Washington State????

D, I would not like the travel. I had enough of that working for the feds. And that was BEFORE all of the [deleted] at the airports. I really could not do that now.

I can drive to a big enough city for my fix. I left Seattle 9 years ago and haven't been back. My kids come over here 4 times a year so that saves me the drive to there.

I wonder if I can talk the video owner out of his business here in the closest little town. Wonder what I could do to "encourage" him??? hahaha

Jeanette

Jeanette, you are so right about the travel. When I was first starting up and young and foolish I had a blast. As the years went by the not being able to sleep in my own bed took its toll. I had all that travel, plus running the show, usually a 12 hour day open to the public and then still making sure I had enough product. I often worked in my hotel room until 4 or 5 in the morning soldering to make sure I had enough stock for the next day. Invariably I would have soldered the wrong thing up but when I soldered the popular, requested items up the next night no one wanted them that day, You get the picture - you just can't second guess what everyone wanted or would ask for. Actually if I could perfect that technique about knowing what to spend your time on I would quit being a Stained Glass artisan and go into consultanting others on what to make so they could profit. That's sort of like reading tea leaves to predict the future!
Of course my pure joy and devotion is the custom work I do. Now that is a labour of love while the shows provide me with the $$$'s that I need to get by. Designing windows to meet people's needs and requests gives me such a high. I just recently finished a large piece that while I liked my final design I absolutely hated the background and border colours the people picked. Turned out to look dandy fine - just goes to show even with years of experience your eye for colour is not necessarily right for the people involved. Last year I did 6 huge church windows for a parish that wanted nothing "churchy" in them - now that was a challenge. They loved the designs and I had my designing and thinking abilities stretched to the max. Loved it, we all need something like that to come along every year or so to spark us up.
The one thing I forgot to mention when setting up your own business that you should check out carefully is Long Term Disability Insurance. I didn't qualify at all because my yearly earnings were so up and down and I could not predict or fit into one of those checkboxes on the never ending forms the Insurance people had.So when I did hurt my arm and couldn't work for 4 months I was snookered and of course went back to work far too soon and yes I am paying the price now. Some agents are a little more helpful than others and will coach you through the forms. Seek out one of these because my guess is they'll be a big help in other ways. I also had to carry and still do a 2 million dollar liability insurance. Had to look around several places until I was finally able to get a company with a resonable rate that fit within my budget.Don't try and operate without the liablity insurance because you put everything you have worked so hard for in jeporady. Not trying to dampen anyone's dream of being self employed but I think it is best one knows all of the things that lay ahead of you.
Dianne

Dianne, you are right. When I was working they told us to get at least 1 million dollars insurance. Because we were in management. The feds did not pay for that. We had to. And if we were sued they would not pay for defense.

Dianne, when you were doing those shows could you have taken orders rather than try to second guess the buyer?

Also, back to the insurance thing, my sister and bil had a vending machine business and they were sued because someone said they were burnt on their microwave. The lawyer talked them into setteling for 1 million. I'm not sure how you get burnt on the microwave unless they meant the stuff got too hot and burnt them.

Kind of like MacDonalds coffee being too hot? Only this was operated by the buyer.

Tough to think of all things. Jeanette

Taking orders doesn't really work out too well Jeanette.You catch people on the spur of the moment and that impulse is what kept my business going. If the person could not take it home in their hot little hand their interest soon waned. Of course, once they found out they had to leave a downpayment and then pay for shipping the whole idea became even less attractive. Actually I carry a huge variety of stock (of course there is always something you don't have) and am often accused of having too much variety. I love to design so my pieces are usually quite unique and people will settle for some thing else. Of course, quite often the customer is looking for a way to get out of their original impulse ( we all do that at some point) so are quite happy I don't have it is blue or pink or whatever.
You have to remember that as an artisan in Stained Glass I am at the bottom of the "food" chain. At the shows people want gourmet foods, candy, jewellery, clothing and then amybe a fany geegaw. We have started doing a few more Trade and Wildlike Shows rather than craft shows. The attendees are much more committed to buying something and for some reason we always sell really well to men. Alot of my designs are loons, herons, various types of ducks and wood like scenes which prove to be very popular with men of certain ages.
The other thing that we have learned is that in our business unlike other home based businesses we cannot rely on the community around us to support us. If they see us at a local Craft Show rather than buy they say "Oh we'll come to the studio." Guess what, still waiting for them to come to the studio!
The other pratical thing I forgot to mention when setting up a home based business is that you have to be realistic with the number of hours you work each day. Sure some jobs will need some extra time on a particular day but you cannot make that a practice or you will burn yourself out way too fast. It is too easy to say, oh I'll go back to that tonight and finish it when the kids are in bed or DH is watching TV - remember you have to leave some of yourself for your family and more importantly for yourself.
I'll get off my soapbox now but while encouraging anyone interested to go for it, you must be aware of all of the what ifs.
Dianne

I can sure see what you are saying Dianne, but I think if you want to go into something on your own you better do the pro vs con thing. Also, talk to a lot of people like yourself. You brought up some real good things.

But, a lot of the people that were in this discussion were retired, or maybe looking for a second something to bring in a little money. Also, we had several like yourself who already had their own businesses. I don't think any of them were actually thinking about droping a job to open their own business.

We were just kind of brainstorming and having a little fun but I couldn't talk Darius into delivering pizza and beer to Washington State.

Jeanette

LOL, Jeanette!

Mileage on Delivery would kill you!

Oh but Darius, think of the tip you would have gotten!
Dianne

Dianne, I seriously thought that would have been a viable idea for a business, AND be good for tips!

Happens most Liquor Licensing Boards seem to have people on the take even for beer licenses, or some other impediment (besides checking ID's). Sigh.

Don't despair Darius. There's hope for us yet. In reading and re-reading your message about being serious Darius, if you really are, do some checking. Go back over the messages in this thread. Make your pros and cons list. Think about the things Dianne, Molly and the rest said.

If you are still serious, check into pizza places that need deliveries. Or were you going to make the pizza too? Check with the liquor control board.

After all of this, plus things we didn't think of, make an appointment with a local SCORE office. These are retired business people who help people with setting up businesses. Next I would make an appointment with the SBA. Small Business Administration. How about a loan???

After all of that, do you have the stamina to make a go of it?

Keep us posted. Jeanette

Jeanette, I no longer have a desire to work full time, and that's what it would take... plus Capital which I don't have.

I'm more interested now in enhancing my living (augmenting my social security income) than in making big money.

Hear, Hear Darius! I second that! Just wish us "good" people could won the lottery or something so we didn't have to worry about the extras. Since that's not about to happen we all have to come up with something that we will not be taxed to death on because we are trying to earn a little extra income and make a better life for ourselves. If I think of something first I'll let you know, as l long as you return the favour in kind. Aren't we dreamers?
Dianne

When I can no longer dream, I should be dead.

I think you are headed in the right direction Darius. And after all of the stuff I noted, that is not BIG money. I don't know the percentage of people that make it in small business but I don't think it is a lot.

I am still waiting to hear from Narc about the job she was trying for. Got my fingers crossed.

Jeanette

Forgot to add, you need to check out if there is any Business Tax in your township, county, parrish. There always seems to be one, they just keep it a well hidden secret until your business is established.
Darius, I couldn't agree with you more. Dream on!It is what gets me through the day some times.
Dianne
Narc, how did you make out?Hope the job interview went well.

Yes Dianne that's one more con. B&O tax. But if anyone were to use the SCORE people they pretty much cover all of those "hidden" items.

I"ve never had any dealings with them but have heard they are a really big help. I think it is wonderful that the seniors can keep in touch with people and be so useful in these ways.

Have a good one, Jeanette