Work at Home Parents-Working at Home - Consider Your Family and Household

Working at Home ? - Consider Your Family and Household

by Seth Townsend

Working at home and being able to quit a 9-to-5 job is probably one of the greatest dreams for most American families. Slowly, but surely, many people are making that dream come true. But before you quit your day job, take a moment to review all of the benefits and costs, especially as it relates to your family and household.

The major benefit of working at home is being your own boss! Nothing is more rewarding then working at something that interests you and sharing it with your family! It may take some time, but the rewards are life changing. Pick up Marsha Sinetar's book, “Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow” to help develop your interests.

Being available for your children when they come home from school is a great home-business perk. Think about all the time that's missed with your kids when you're tied to the 9-to-5 routine. How wonderful to be able to share some time with them, especially in their formative years.

Another benefit - the household expenses of a home business are tax deductible. You can deduct part of your monthly bills. Consult with your accountant or tax preparer for all of the benefits. Be sure to keep accurate records and a daily journal. Take a look at Quicken Home and Business for tracking all of your home office and household expenses.

But working at home is not always the ideal situation. There are many issues that will affect your family and household. First and foremost are the financial issues. If you're currently employed, will you be able to handle the reduced income - initially, at least - when you don't have a steady paycheck? You may want to consider working your business part time while holding down a full down job.

Are you truly a self-starter? Don't kid yourself - it takes a very dedicated and disciplined person to work from home and still make time for family. There's always a joy to share and distractions to overcome, especially when it involves your family.

Can you set boundaries for the family? Working at home can be confusing to kids. Set some basic rules for them to follow. Let them know your work hours and tell them you expect not to be disturbed. (As the boss, though, you still reserve the right to surprise them on occasion by quitting early and doing something fun!)

Some basic rules that will help you and your family handle the new work at home environment:

* Prepare a work schedule at the beginning of every week. Post your schedule in a prominent spot so that family members can check it to see when you're available.

* Keep a business phone separate from your home phone. You'll be sure to always get your messages, and you'll create a more professional business image when you personally answer your business phone.

* Keep office supplies separate from home and school supplies. Give the kids their own “office supply center” elsewhere in the house.

Though these issues can and probably will arise, working from home is still the greatest dream for most American families. Learning to set, and more importantly, enforce boundaries for your family will make your business a bit less complicated and a lot more fun.