Are you among the millions of moms that dream of a job where you can spend time with your family - while earning money at the same time?  Today more than ever this dream can be a reality.  With today's economic decline and layoffs, moms are turning to the comfort and convenience of their own homes as their new workplace. 

A quick note here:  I also see a growing trend in WAHDs - work at home dads.  What I talk about here can also apply to dads.

What is a WAHM

The letters WAHM stand for work at home mom.  And over the past 20 years more and more women are leaving the workplace and opting to work from their homes. 

The ability to work out of the home is a great thing for moms.  For years women left their homes to work, only to come home to housework, laundry, cooking and taking care of their children.  Our work days didn't end at 5:00...  We still had plenty to do when we got home. 

Because we had so much to do our families usually got what was leftover.  And many days this wouldn't be much.  So our families suffered.

Thankfully for many mothers this has changed.   WAHMs are proving that women can contribute to their families financial situation and nurture their families at the same time. Both online and off, a network of support has been created for any woman who wants to consider the option of working at home.

By working from home you save money on daycare, gas and eating out.  The biggest plus to working from home is the time you have for your family.  It's really having the best of both worlds.

Getting Started

The first thing to take into consideration is if you've been working outside of the house and your income has been a big part of the monthly family finances, then switching to a work at home business may cause your finances to take a hit.  Be sure there is enough financial cushion in your bank account to weather the first six months of your new career.  It will take time to establish your business.

If you've been among the many that have lost their job or have been a SAHM (stay at home mom) and want to help add to your families income you may not be afforded the opportunity to save up a six months cushion.  Don't let this scare you.  Just be prepared mentally and make sure to talk to your family about expectations and fears.

TIP:  Join LinkedIn.   LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.  It's an opportunity for you to put up an online resume and make connections.  LinkedIn is an essential job-seeking tool.

Opportunity Knocks

The first thing to remember here is to be aware of scams.  And there are a lot of them out there.  Remember that legitimate companies will not ask for money up front. 

Now, figure out your interests and skills. WAHMs can find business opportunities to work for someone else doing everything from audio transcription to writing articles to accounting.  You can do freelance work.  A freelancer is a self-employed person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any particular employer. 

Freelance writer

Freelance writing is very popular.  You can write for online magazines, blogs and much more.  Check out this About.com article on finding legitimate freelance opportunities.

TIP:  Check out FreelanceWritingGigs for job opportunities and tips. 

Freelance web & graphic designer

If you are a graphic artist/designer you can work from home designing and developing web sites or pages for companies or individuals.  Or perhaps join one or more of the many POD (print on demand) T-Shirt sites and put your designs on merchandise.  Many of these sites are free and you can set your own commission. 

TIP:  At one time I would have recommended CafePress but I would suggest you check out the other PODs first... like Zazzle.

Freelance Marketer

If in the real world you were in sales or marketing you may be interested in using your skills online through techniques like inbound marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and social media.  Many online (and off) companies rely on marketers to help bring more traffic to their sites or more customers to their businesses.

TIP:  Check out elance.com for freelance marketing jobs as well as programmers, writers and much more.

Your own thing 

Some WAHMs carve out their own niche and begin an online business. If you are skilled with crafting, you can create a website to promote your crafts and sell products. A blog is also another idea. Blog about your area of expertise and develop a following. Combine that with affiliate or search engine marketing to generate revenue.

TIP:  The most popular and trusted site for helping you sell your own homemade products is Etsy.

Making it work

As with any new career comes the issue of balance between home and work. Just because you are home doesn’t mean you won’t need help around the house or time away from the kids in order to work. Consider these tips for creating a balance:

•    Develop a set schedule for work and play on a weekly basis
•    Discuss dividing up household chores between you, your spouse, and older kids
•    Do pre-work such as fixing lunches, prepping breakfast, choosing clothing the night before
•    Hire a babysitter once or twice a week
•    Separate home office space inside the house

There are huge advantages to being a WAHM. Just plan carefully and be patient.  And remember, support from your family makes all the difference.

If you want more information about anything in this article leave your question in the comments or if you know of a good WAHM opportunity that I didn't discuss please let us know.