Work from Your Home

Work from Your Home Advantages:

The most obvious is that if you work from home, you will not have the commuting costs to a work site. Possibly you can get along with fewer vehicles thus saving fuel, depreciation and insurance costs. You may also save money on clothing or babysitting.

You can save a significant amount of money if you can live in an area with low housing costs. Just being able to relocate to an area with lower taxes, good schools or a more pleasant climate might make life more enjoyable. If you are not tied to a physical work place other than your home, you can pick and choose where you want to live.

If you are a self starter and enjoy being independent, a work from your home business or job might be more satisfying.

A word about tax write offs, you will need an accountant if you have a home business. Some home business promoters advertise that you can save thousands of dollars just with home business write offs, don’t believe it. There are very specific rules about what you can or cannot write off in a home business. It is always better to be a little conservative in your calculations and avoid tax man problems.

Your income will be variable. If you need a paycheck, don’t immediately give that up to start a home business.

Lastly, a work from your home business or job will allow you to set your own hours. You can work as much or as little as you want.

Work from Your Home Disadvantages:

The biggest work from your home disadvantage in my view is isolation. It depends on the kind of work, but you can wind up slogging away for hours on a computer without any human contact or interaction. That is why some chats are so popular on various forums. You really need to interact with like minded people in your business or occupation.  I have found that my friends and family have no interest in my online activities.

Next we are working in a global economy. If you are providing a service, your rates will be set by global rates.

Home workers can be less productive if they have frequent interruptions from family, friends and pets. The work at home mom may find it incredibly difficult to work the hours needed if she has to work while children are away at school or asleep for the night.

Your family has to be on board with your decision to work from home. They will have to understand that just because you are at home, you are not always available to run errands or have discussions.

You may have to build or remodel your home to accommodate a work area. If your work involves public visits to your home or garage or excessive noise, you may run afoul of your neighbours and zoning restrictions. If at all possible, do not conduct your home business from the kitchen table.

The very thing that makes a work from home business appealing can also be a huge problem. Many home businesses can be work intensive and it is hard to walk away from a home business. It is always there calling to you.

Work from Your Home – Conclusions:

I don’t want to discourage people from pursuing a satisfying home job or business. I love working from home, but I am retired. I have had some problems with my spouse over the time I spend working at my Online Income System business. I have learned that I must take time away for R and R.  I am more productive, feel better and my spouse is happier.