BUT, it pays $200 a week. And it is from 9 until 4,5,or 6, whenever the phones stop. It is for a limo company. So someone calls, tells you they want to go from A to B and you look it up on a sheet. Then if they want to book, it is done online. They'd put in a separate Vonage phone number (we already have Vonage, it is a VOIP type service). The boss, Tom, seems very nice, and he said I can forward calls to my cell or back to the office if I want to go somewhere. Wednesdays are busy phone days and Thursdays very slow. It is M-F.

I know it is not much money, I know I'd have to be available to answer calls, I am not sure how to make it work. It could turn out to be a good thing. The company is going on 2 years old, and he said business is increasing. But for now this is what he can offer. I have been looking for something at home, we really need me to work right now. Gas prices are eating into any extra money we have right now. My DH has a long commute.

Aside from running to school and grocery shopping, I don't go out all that much. I was a flight attendant and my company closed its doors a month ago. I was laid off, but had high hopes of returning. So he asked if I was looking for other jobs and I said I always look, but if I got this and it worked I would not be searching for something else. We just need some more income, and $800 a month would be helpful, to stay home and not need a sitter. He also said there are busy times of the year (prom, summer weddings, New Years) and slower times where there are calls, but not overwhelming or anything. And if I did decide to quit please just give him a week, but 2 if I can so he can get his phone and equipment back and train someone else to use the program. He'd come here to install it, and said when my husband is home as he knows it is weird to allow someone into your home.

I have applied to several other at home jobs, either I am in the wrong state, or I know I am not a sales person and can't do the job, another I passed the online test and they sent the app. and now I have not heard from them.

Of course, I have 2 in school and an 18 mo. old so it is not quiet when the phone rings, I may have to set up shop in the bedroom where I can hear it ring, run to it and close the door. And school lets out soon. My DH works at a job where the busy time is the weekend so he usually does not take a whole weekend off and he;d be here at least one day if not 2. Plus he works some evenings leaving as late as 4 pm. So it is not like I am 100% home all day alone with the kids.

Thoughts?? I am confused....I hate to have him come out here and do the training (about 4 hours) and hook it all up to NOT do it.

Well I think it depends. For me..it would be worth it. $200 just to answer the phone a few times and book a few trips doesn't really sound like that much of an inconvenience. You could still go on doing what you normally do, but just be available when the phone rings.

But you're right...that's not a lot of money. If you NEED the money, you could certainly make more doing something else. But if it's just a little pocket money, I think it sounds like a good deal.

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Here's how I would look at it. I thought about going back to teach...with my years I would make around 44K. However, once I factored in daycare for my 2 preschoolers (plus the one on the way), taxes, ins, gas to drive to and from work and to drop off and pick up the kids, prof clothing, etc...I would only be bringing home around 1,000/month. Soooo, if someone offered me a job as versatile as that where I could still spend time with the kids...I'd take it! I could see how you would be concerned about being stuck at the house, though. I'm sure with time you would figure things out. And if it doesn't work, you don't have to continue working for them, right? Good luck!

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Jenny, wife to Brad, mommy to two crazy little kids with one on the way!

200.00 a week is excellent for the deal you are recieving in my opinion. you do not have to pay childcare, you do not have to purchase food for you to eat for lunch. you don't have to use gas going to work or buy work clothes. you don't have to get out of bed!

i am sure the phones won't be ringing 24 hours a day...perhaps what..2-3 calls per hour? i worked for a very busy and growing teaching agency and not even OUR phones rung constantly all day every day!

you would still have your children at home. if needed, you could hire someone with say 40.00 a week (a neice or something out of school) to keep the 18 month old busy around the house. i did that...paid my neice 50.00 per week *you could pay less* to keep the kids busy while i cleaned, cooked, etc. etc. it worked out great!

or maybe you would qualify to be on a subsidized voucher program for daycares. and hire someone to come to your house and nanny (the state pays them) while you are at work!

i think you can definitely make this work for you! blessings with the idea!

i would take it! it could grow into something more, and heck, if it doesn't grow into anything else, at least you got paid while you did it!

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once again a SAHM, but now starting my own home based business! support small, minority, and women's businesses!

Yes, I would consider it as well. If there is a serious downside, I don't know what it is. Things aren't always what they seem but, you haven't sunk a bunch of money into it if it doesn't work out.

Cathleen

I think for the right person it would be a great situation. But I will play the devil's advocate here. It would not work for me because my kids would lose their minds being stuck in the house all day every day. We are an active family and we spend a lot of time outdoors. We go to parks and/or playgrounds almost every day, we spend the summer at the pool, we go for walks, etc. and if we don't get outside my kids start climbing the walls. I don't know how old your other kids are or how many activities they are involved in. Sports practices and games would mess us up too.

Good luck with your decision. It sounds like you are doing a great job trying to find something that works for your family.

What if you were to do it on a trial basis? Say committ to three months and see how it works for both your family and your boss? Would he be willing to get you a lap top? It seems like a good deal to me, but I do share the above poster's concern with being in all day with kids - that is why I think a laptop might be a good compromise if you could take it with you when you need to be out with the kids, yet still be "working"... JMHO... Good luck to you!