Ayla
20-08-2008, 01:11 PM
Saved from old forum
My original plan was to study naturopathy via distance learning, and then combine that with doulaing and breastfeeding counselling. As a single parent, I don't see how I can make that work, for a few reasons:
1. The nature of being on call for births
2. The cost of the naturopathy course is way to expensive for me to manage on the pension
So I'm trying to think of other careers that might suit me, and allow me to work from home. I understand people who are pensioners are allowed one free OTEN / TAFE course a year, so I've been looking around those sites for ideas.
I'm actually thinking of book-keeping / accounting. Any other ideas? What do you do?
Hi Kath,
I agree that to b e a doula/LC you need the support of family who can babysit at a moment's notice. I have heard of birth attendants who take their children with them but it would have to be a certain kind of child.
Over the 12 years I've been homeschooling I have thought of all the natural talents I have and used them to make money...not what I am formally qualified to do but what I have a natural talent for. I have used my qualifications but I have also used my other skills. I am trustworthy and I had a friend who owns a couple of restaurants and who had a high turnover of staff who he didn't trust. He got me to deal with the takings and closing up at the end of the night for him. It took me an hour ever evening and was latish when I was done (9:30) but my son was up at that hour anyway. I can care for babies and I knew some working women with babies and I would look after them when they got stuck without their usual childcare when they had meetings. I can garden well and I got part time work with a landscaper on the one day a week my son went to Kindy. I was a gofer during council run festivals. I've made and sold seedlings. I've made and sold bead work. I've worked from home repairing rugs and repairing vintage clothing. I did typing at home for students. I baked muffins for my corner store. I make cookies and luxury cakes for local cafes. I've leafletted. I've packed boxes for people moving house. I've pet sat for people on holidays. I've house sat. I've had a monthly market stall. There's too many things to list.
Now I sew from home these slings http://www.earthslings.com.au. This business I started very gradually with word of mouth when my babies were little and I've built it up as they have grown and become more independent and needed me less intensely. I also buy and sell on e-bay, work the occasional expo on a weekend and I have just put the word around my belly dancing classmates that I am willing to take on rebeading and repair work for dancing costumes.
I have never made a lot of money doing these things but I combine that with being frugal to keep my expenses down.
I also put the word out to everybody that I was keen for work but that I would have my son with me and I would always put him first e.g. if he was ill. So up front people knew that my services were limited to not too late at night, places where my child was welcome etc. I thought this would mean that I wouldn't get any work but it's been great. I only get asked to do things that suit my situation so there are no tricky negotiations after wards. I also don't drive and they know that if they want me to work they will have to pick me up and drop me off most times. Most work has come from friends or friends of friends. It has helped that I have a reputation for being reliable, trustworthy, good with people, hard working etc. I think that's why I get work more than the fact that I am multi-skilled because I'm not - I can only do what most other people can do. In some cases people have preferred to hire me even though I need training than hire an unknown. Perhaps they are choosing me to help support a working Mum?
Sam
I used to support myself by busking and selling handicrafts. I also used to do this big bake once a week, and churn out all these cakes and breads and pies, and then take them to the market to sell and trade for my weekly veg.
there's lots of writing jobs you can do from home, selling on ebay is a good option too.
birthwork, however, it bordering on impossible if you don't have a good 'on call' babysitter.
i think there are sometimes some tafe courses that are on natropathy or herbal medicine.
if you really want to, you can make it work
Ooh, if you're thinking bookkeeping/accounting I reckon it's a great idea. My SIL is near the end of a part-time bookkeeping/accounting course and she already works from home (she's otherwise a SAHM but now a WAHM I guess). It's good money and easy to get work, especially freelance work. I guess you have to be a particular 'type' to do that sort of stuff though. Do you think you are?
My original plan was to study naturopathy via distance learning, and then combine that with doulaing and breastfeeding counselling. As a single parent, I don't see how I can make that work, for a few reasons:
1. The nature of being on call for births
2. The cost of the naturopathy course is way to expensive for me to manage on the pension
So I'm trying to think of other careers that might suit me, and allow me to work from home. I understand people who are pensioners are allowed one free OTEN / TAFE course a year, so I've been looking around those sites for ideas.
I'm actually thinking of book-keeping / accounting. Any other ideas? What do you do?
Hi Kath,
I agree that to b e a doula/LC you need the support of family who can babysit at a moment's notice. I have heard of birth attendants who take their children with them but it would have to be a certain kind of child.
Over the 12 years I've been homeschooling I have thought of all the natural talents I have and used them to make money...not what I am formally qualified to do but what I have a natural talent for. I have used my qualifications but I have also used my other skills. I am trustworthy and I had a friend who owns a couple of restaurants and who had a high turnover of staff who he didn't trust. He got me to deal with the takings and closing up at the end of the night for him. It took me an hour ever evening and was latish when I was done (9:30) but my son was up at that hour anyway. I can care for babies and I knew some working women with babies and I would look after them when they got stuck without their usual childcare when they had meetings. I can garden well and I got part time work with a landscaper on the one day a week my son went to Kindy. I was a gofer during council run festivals. I've made and sold seedlings. I've made and sold bead work. I've worked from home repairing rugs and repairing vintage clothing. I did typing at home for students. I baked muffins for my corner store. I make cookies and luxury cakes for local cafes. I've leafletted. I've packed boxes for people moving house. I've pet sat for people on holidays. I've house sat. I've had a monthly market stall. There's too many things to list.
Now I sew from home these slings http://www.earthslings.com.au. This business I started very gradually with word of mouth when my babies were little and I've built it up as they have grown and become more independent and needed me less intensely. I also buy and sell on e-bay, work the occasional expo on a weekend and I have just put the word around my belly dancing classmates that I am willing to take on rebeading and repair work for dancing costumes.
I have never made a lot of money doing these things but I combine that with being frugal to keep my expenses down.
I also put the word out to everybody that I was keen for work but that I would have my son with me and I would always put him first e.g. if he was ill. So up front people knew that my services were limited to not too late at night, places where my child was welcome etc. I thought this would mean that I wouldn't get any work but it's been great. I only get asked to do things that suit my situation so there are no tricky negotiations after wards. I also don't drive and they know that if they want me to work they will have to pick me up and drop me off most times. Most work has come from friends or friends of friends. It has helped that I have a reputation for being reliable, trustworthy, good with people, hard working etc. I think that's why I get work more than the fact that I am multi-skilled because I'm not - I can only do what most other people can do. In some cases people have preferred to hire me even though I need training than hire an unknown. Perhaps they are choosing me to help support a working Mum?
Sam
I used to support myself by busking and selling handicrafts. I also used to do this big bake once a week, and churn out all these cakes and breads and pies, and then take them to the market to sell and trade for my weekly veg.
there's lots of writing jobs you can do from home, selling on ebay is a good option too.
birthwork, however, it bordering on impossible if you don't have a good 'on call' babysitter.
i think there are sometimes some tafe courses that are on natropathy or herbal medicine.
if you really want to, you can make it work
Ooh, if you're thinking bookkeeping/accounting I reckon it's a great idea. My SIL is near the end of a part-time bookkeeping/accounting course and she already works from home (she's otherwise a SAHM but now a WAHM I guess). It's good money and easy to get work, especially freelance work. I guess you have to be a particular 'type' to do that sort of stuff though. Do you think you are?