10 Creative And Effective Ways To Make Money From Home, Doing What You Love

Long commutes, that annoying coworker you love to hate sitting on the other side of your cubicle, staff meetings that drag on forever debating the merits of various brands of toilet paper—ah, the joys of an office job.  If only there was some way you could make money without having to go into the office, otherwise known as that place that has become the bane of your existence.

Luckily for you, it just so happens that you can "make money" without being at an office.  Thanks to advances in modern technology, there are all kinds of ways you can "make money" working from the comfort of your own home. Some great home based career ideas include.

1. Freelance Writer

If you’re passionate about writing and confident in your ability to produce excellent work, you should consider becoming a freelance writer.  Check out websites such as FreelanceSwitch, Odesk, eLance, and ArticleTeller to see some great opportunities that have come available.  If you’re really ambitious, you could even start a blog and generate an income from the space you sell for advertisements.

2. Personal Trainer

Are you a fitness buff who loves working out?  If so, you should consider becoming a personal trainer.  Now that we have tools like Skype and FaceTime on the scene, you can easily communicate face to face with clients even if you’re hundreds of miles apart, helping them set fitness goals, prescribing workout routines for them, and providing feedback on their progress.  If you’re not already certified, you’ll want to obtain certification as a trainer first, and then once you’ve done so, you should promote yourself and the services you offer on various channels of social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.).

3. Artist

Don’t buy into the stereotype that says a career in the arts means becoming a starving artist.  You can actually generate a pretty decent income selling your works of art from home, thanks to sites like Etsy that serve as an online marketplace for producers and consumers of art.  Cafe’Press is another website on which you can sell your artwork.

4. Product Tester

If you’re really into gadgets and you enjoy scoping out the latest and greatest ones on the scene, you should consider getting paid to check out these gadgets by becoming a product tester.  People who are open to testing and marketing products are actually in high demand at a lot of companies.  Check out websites like SheSpeaks.com, Houseparty.com, andCrowdtap.com for opportunities that could allow you to try out products and make money from home.

5. Host or Hostess

If you’re really social and you enjoy having people over to your place, you could always consider renting out your spare room to out-of-towners who need a place to stay during their vacations, college students, etc.  Check outairbnb to get started with running your own Bed and Breakfast.

6. Teacher/Tutor

Love teaching, but love the idea of teaching Beowulf from at home in your pajamas even more?  Look into becoming an online teacher.  Various states have their own systems of virtual public schools, and while you may have to go through some classes and training before you get started, the flexibility you get with being able to teach from home is well worth it in the end.  If tutoring is more your thing, you can also check the website Tutor.com to find opportunities to provide assistance with math, science, music, etc.  Whatever field you excel in, chances are, somebody could use your help in that area.

7. Nanny

It might sound like a silly career, but nannying is no joke: you can rake in serious cash taking care of kids while their parents are at work.  And while some parents will obviously prefer that you come to them, many will be fine with dropping their kids off at your place, allowing you to fulfill your goal of working from home.  It helps if you are certified in first aid and CPR and have some kind of background in working with kids, either from previous babysitting experience, working at a daycare, in a church nursery, etc.  Check out Care.com to find nannying opportunities near you.

8. Tailor/Seamstress

If you’ve got the magic touch with a thimble and thread, a work from home career as a tailor or seamstress could be in your future.  In addition to making alterations and repairs to pieces of clothing, you could make tote bags, bedding, drapes, even dresses and custom made clothes; the possibilities are endless!  Basically, if you have a knack for sewing, there’s a need for your skills.  Create a blog or website to get the word out about your services, and consider advertising with flyers and business cards at local fabric stores.

9. Medical Transcriptionist

If you’re interested in healthcare, you might be interested pursuing a career in medical transcription.  As a medical transcriptionist, you turn voice recordings of doctor/ patient interactions into a text-based format.  In order to get started, you will probably need to take classes in medical transcription (check to see what your local community college or technical schools offer).  You should also consider joining a professional organization as a way to network and land your first job in the field.

10. Virtual Assistant

Are you super organized?  Do you love helping others?  If so, a job as a virtual assistant could be just right for you.  As a virtual assistant, you help out with paperwork, send emails, draft documents, and take care of needs that a company would generally assign to a secretary.  The beauty of being a VIRTUAL assistant, though, is that you can do secretarial work without ever having to set foot in an office.  Go to VirtualAssistants.com for suggestions on how to get started in this field.
If you are seriously considering getting a job working from home, the good news is the opportunities abound.  With the above ideas as a guide and a little self-promotion on your part, you could be well on your way to making great money from the comfort of your own home, in your pajamas and fuzzy slippers no less.

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