Home Desperate for Work at Home options. Ideas?

[cellososweet]

Hi everyone!

So, a little background so you know why I''m so desperate.

Earlier this year I was employed full-time in a career that I loved to bits. My husband is employed in a stable career. We decided to start a family as we''ve been married almost 3 years and were both in good places in our careers.

We got pregnant in April (YAY!), but then in May I got pnuemonia. Badly. And I mean, really badly. I eventually lost my job because I couldn''t return (long story but I''m not upset at my employers. I completely understand). I''ve now been out of work for 2 months and I desperately need to work.

The issue is that I am still not over the side effects from my pneumonia. I am having a really hard time breathing and have been to what seems like every doctor I can think to see in greater Boston and haven''t gotten much relief. I am still coughing up phlegm and the medicine they put me on to help made me so dizzy that I passed out in a grocery store on Friday. So even though I really need to work for financial reasons, the only way I''m productive is sitting on my rear end. The dizziness is so bad that I shower when DH is home in case I feel like I''m going to drop.

This is really difficult for me because I am your stereotypical type-A and I hate being house-bound.

There are so many work at home scams, I just don''t know where to start.

Has anyone had any success with any work at home options? I have a lot of administrative experience, can type upwards of 75 wpm with great accuracy (just not on the boards always. haha), and am not afraid of sales or cold-calling.

I live in the Boston area if that helps.

Thanks!

 

[*Danielle*]

Medical transcriptionists (or billers) work from home and make a fairly good income if I remember correctly.


I hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[D&T]

Ok, this may sound odd. but I have done some Mystery shopping but you do have to pay first on your own (sometimes it involves food), and get reimbursed (sometimes would take a week, other times two weeks) other times, its just a service shopping experience, no cash involved out of pocket, but you will get paid but I did do this for extra side money which one month I made $400 depending on the kind of shops you do (I like cell phone shops- just testing out service rep if they know their stuff, sometimes it takes only 15 minutes, and you get $15 per shop) but you have to submit some paperwork (this was only a few days couple of hours right after work). The first few times, I felt it wasn't worth it, but then I got faster at doing my shops and submitting paperwork. If you are interested, I can give you some websites and companies that I use, and I know are not scams. I never pay these companies for shops, they pay me. I also got a silver certification, so I can open up my network a little wider, Since having two kids now, its a bit challenge, I haven't been able to do any for a year now. But if you got more spare time than I did, you can definitely get paid more. There was another site that offered at in house virtual office assistant. I was unable to do the hours requested, but again I did not pay them, they offered me the work. Let me know, I can dig up the mystery shopping sites that I go through.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 7/19/2009 7:50:24 PM
Author: *Danielle*
Medical transcriptionists (or billers) work from home and make a fairly good income if I remember correctly.


I hope you are feeling better soon!

2nd to medical transcription. The only downside is that you''ll need to go back to school (at a community college) and take courses to help train you in that field.

Years ago, while I was in school, I worked PT in a "lab" that taught medical/legal transcription and usually once every semester, a woman with a medical transcription business would visit and ask for student recommendations.

 

[Sabine]

Cello, here are some links to sites that post work at home opportunities! Hope you can find something soon!

http://www.homejobsformoms.biz/index.htm

http://workathomemomrevolution.blogspot.com/

http://www.hiremymom.com/

http://www.getafreelancer.com/

 

[zoebartlett]

Cello -- I hope you feel better soon! I''ve had pneumonia before and it seemed like it lasted forever. It''s fun but it DOES end.

This is kind of along the lines of medical transcription but what about doing transcriptions for a doctoral student? I''ve done that before and it worked out well. It was for a family friend -- it was great! She needed help getting her notes typed up and I needed the cash.. Maybe you could call one of the local colleges and see if you could post an ad or something in one of their departments.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 7/20/2009 8:58:02 AM
Author: Sabine
Cello, here are some links to sites that post work at home opportunities! Hope you can find something soon!

http://www.homejobsformoms.biz/index.htm
http://workathomemomrevolution.blogspot.com
http://www.hiremymom.com/
http://www.getafreelancer.com/

That last one is...hard to understand.

With my husband not working, this is pretty cool. I am forwarding some of this info on to him.

 

[cellososweet]

Thanks everyone! I''m going to look into some of these ideas! I really hope something works out

 

[jill_s]

I, too, just starting mystery shopping. I researched it last week, and I have done a couple shops. I think once you got proficient at it, it could be a good way to earn a few extra dollars. D&T, I would be interested to know what companies you worked with and how you liked them.

 

[D&T]

Date: 7/20/2009 6:19:56 PM
Author: jill_s
I, too, just starting mystery shopping. I researched it last week, and I have done a couple shops. I think once you got proficient at it, it could be a good way to earn a few extra dollars. D&T, I would be interested to know what companies you worked with and how you liked them.

I''ve actually worked with over 10 companies, but one of the best ones I like to go through is Shop n'' check, ( I guess it is now Market force?), sassieshop.com and this one http://www.mysteryshopperservices.com/website/shopper/default_shopper.asp and this http://www.secretshopper.com/ and this http://www.beyondhello-themirror.com/shoppers/LoginShopper.norm.php and also http://www.gapbuster.com/ these are a few of my favorite companies to work with.

The ones I like to do are the ones that I just check customer servive levels, so I don''t have to buy anything - ( I once did a COACH shop

) yeah, lets just say, I never returned anything, so technically I paid them to shop...lol

but hey I got a discount.

Here is the official link to the Mystery SHopping Organization world wide, If you register with them and actually get a certificate, you are more prone to getting more shops awarded to you. http://www.mysteryshop.org/

Don''t ever pay to do sign up with shopping companies (then those are more scams, however I did sign up once for $5, just so I can get more links to legitimate shoppers site, since I had no resources when I started)

 

[April20]

Date: 7/20/2009 6:51:49 PM
Author: D&T

Date: 7/20/2009 6:19:56 PM
Author: jill_s
I, too, just starting mystery shopping. I researched it last week, and I have done a couple shops. I think once you got proficient at it, it could be a good way to earn a few extra dollars. D&T, I would be interested to know what companies you worked with and how you liked them.

I''ve actually worked with over 10 companies, but one of the best ones I like to go through is Shop n'' check, ( I guess it is now Market force?), sassieshop.com and this one http://www.mysteryshopperservices.com/website/shopper/default_shopper.asp and this http://www.secretshopper.com/ and this http://www.beyondhello-themirror.com/shoppers/LoginShopper.norm.php and also http://www.gapbuster.com/ these are a few of my favorite companies to work with.

The ones I like to do are the ones that I just check customer servive levels, so I don''t have to buy anything - ( I once did a COACH shop

) yeah, lets just say, I never returned anything, so technically I paid them to shop...lol

but hey I got a discount.

Here is the official link to the Mystery SHopping Organization world wide, If you register with them and actually get a certificate, you are more prone to getting more shops awarded to you. http://www.mysteryshop.org/

Don''t ever pay to do sign up with shopping companies (then those are more scams, however I did sign up once for $5, just so I can get more links to legitimate shoppers site, since I had no resources when I started)

Thanks for sharing this info. DH''s owns his own business and work has been sloooooow. I''ve been looking for ways for him to earn some side money. I''m going to have him look at these links tomorrow.

 

[D&T]

Date: 7/20/2009 8:38:44 PM
Author: April20

Date: 7/20/2009 6:51:49 PM
Author: D&T

Date: 7/20/2009 6:19:56 PM
Author: jill_s
I, too, just starting mystery shopping. I researched it last week, and I have done a couple shops. I think once you got proficient at it, it could be a good way to earn a few extra dollars. D&T, I would be interested to know what companies you worked with and how you liked them.

I've actually worked with over 10 companies, but one of the best ones I like to go through is Shop n' check, ( I guess it is now Market force?), sassieshop.com and this one http://www.mysteryshopperservices.com/website/shopper/default_shopper.asp and this http://www.secretshopper.com/ and this http://www.beyondhello-themirror.com/shoppers/LoginShopper.norm.php and also http://www.gapbuster.com/ these are a few of my favorite companies to work with.

The ones I like to do are the ones that I just check customer servive levels, so I don't have to buy anything - ( I once did a COACH shop

) yeah, lets just say, I never returned anything, so technically I paid them to shop...lol

but hey I got a discount.

Here is the official link to the Mystery SHopping Organization world wide, If you register with them and actually get a certificate, you are more prone to getting more shops awarded to you. http://www.mysteryshop.org/

Don't ever pay to do sign up with shopping companies (then those are more scams, however I did sign up once for $5, just so I can get more links to legitimate shoppers site, since I had no resources when I started)

Thanks for sharing this info. DH's owns his own business and work has been sloooooow. I've been looking for ways for him to earn some side money. I'm going to have him look at these links tomorrow.

Sure- it always help to have some one that can refer you something legitimate. Oh I mispelled quite a bit ...lol sorry meant to say "service"

Since I haven't done it for a year, I'm not sure how busy they are, Also spelling and grammar on your reports should be top priority and detail recounts as the reports get submitted to the managers/regional/distric managers just a couple of pointers. Its almost like "homework" this is where english counts the mystery shopping company will correct you and let you know too.

 

[jill_s]

Date: 7/20/2009 6:51:49 PM
Author: D&T

Date: 7/20/2009 6:19:56 PM

Author: jill_s

I, too, just starting mystery shopping. I researched it last week, and I have done a couple shops. I think once you got proficient at it, it could be a good way to earn a few extra dollars. D&T, I would be interested to know what companies you worked with and how you liked them.

I''ve actually worked with over 10 companies, but one of the best ones I like to go through is Shop n'' check, ( I guess it is now Market force?), sassieshop.com and this one http://www.mysteryshopperservices.com/website/shopper/default_shopper.asp and this http://www.secretshopper.com/ and this http://www.beyondhello-themirror.com/shoppers/LoginShopper.norm.php and also http://www.gapbuster.com/ these are a few of my favorite companies to work with.


The ones I like to do are the ones that I just check customer servive levels, so I don''t have to buy anything - ( I once did a COACH shop

) yeah, lets just say, I never returned anything, so technically I paid them to shop...lol

but hey I got a discount.


Here is the official link to the Mystery SHopping Organization world wide, If you register with them and actually get a certificate, you are more prone to getting more shops awarded to you. http://www.mysteryshop.org/


Don''t ever pay to do sign up with shopping companies (then those are more scams, however I did sign up once for $5, just so I can get more links to legitimate shoppers site, since I had no resources when I started)

Thank you so much for all the info! I have signed up with Market Force, Intelli-shop, and Corporate Research Int''l (CRI). I will check out these links!