Working From Home in Any Weather

I was going to title this post "I’m Dreaming of a White . . . Thanksgiving?" but changed my mind. After all, a white Thanksgiving isn’t all that unusual here – we always get our first real snow around turkey time. But waking up to a rising blanket of white (and with Thanksgiving just around the corner) set me to thinking about how thankful I am to work at home. I sure wouldn’t want to be out commuting to a job in this weather, although I did for a lot of years. Just one of the many joys of being a self-employed early retiree! Now if our power stays on, I’m all set for whatever work I choose to do. If the power goes out, I guess it’s hot chocolate by the wood stove.

Actually, as a writer and quilter, I can do several things without power. I enjoy composing with pen and paper part of the time. Although it’s slower and less neat, I often think best with a pen in my hand. Quilt design can be also an electricity-free activity. So while I’d rather the power stay on, if it doesn’t and I’m so inclined, I can still be productive.

Working from Home has Many Advantages

The ability to get to work safely and comfortably despite inclement weather is just one of the advantages of working from home. Setting your own hours, wearing the clothing of your choice and attending to other issues as they arise are others. Whether you need to support your family or just supplement other income, there are a variety of viable work at home options available, my favorite being writing.

Some Work-at-Home Ideas

If you’re interested in pursuing freelance writing but don’t know where to start, check out No Job For Mom – that’s where I found out most of what I know. If other avenues appeal to you, such as online selling, do a ton of research online first. Always type the site, company, or whatever into a search engine with the word "complaint" or "scam" or "review" afterward. And always beware of any offer that sounds too good to be true or requires you to buy something first – for the most part, making money shouldn’t cost you money. Your goal is to be on the paid end of the equation rather than the paying end, right?

In addition to writing online, my other at-home moneymaking ventures include editing for other writers and creating custom memorial quilts, examples of which can be seen on my Custom Memorial Quilts website. These income-producers all grew from my hobbies so think about what it is you like to do and find a way to turn those very things into a work-at-home job.