Home based jobs are ideal for many workers who want to save on commuting costs or spend more time with their families. When looking to work from home, however, people often forget about the number of supplies for home-based jobs that they will now be responsible for purchasing.

From computers and other technical devices to pens and notebooks, these costs can quickly add up. Remember to consider the following when thinking about supplies for home-based jobs:

1. Wait until you secure home based work before you purchase major products. Some jobs may require you to purchase a particular brand or product that is unique to their company. You also don't want to purchase a product, only to find out that you don't really need it.

2. Connect with others who have home-based jobs in order to get product reviews or suggestions. If you know that you'll need a certain product, but are not sure which model or brand is the best, other home based workers may have the answers you're looking for.

3. When possible, ask for a bulk discount. In many cases, you can get a deal when you purchase many supplies for home-based jobs at once.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Reduce pain with ergonomic designs when you have home based employment

Are you thinking about working on a laptop from your living room couch? Think again! It's important to set up an office space that helps you prevent injury.

I recommend: Ergonomic products should be comfortable and easy to use. They can help prevent back or wrist pain that's common with desk work. The ergonomic desks from Biomorph allow you to work either sitting or standing. Kinesis offers a number of ergonomic keyboards that are ideal for those that do a lot of typing.

Answer calls for your home-based job in style with a headset

Many home based employment opportunities involve some level of talking on the phone. A headset makes it much easier to answer calls and use your computer at the same time. This is especially important for those who have call center home based positions.

I recommend: Look at wireless headsets from Headsets Direct. Headsets.com offers a number of cordless headsets that will work with your cellular phone.

Get organized for your home based job

Without a boss watching over your shoulder or co-workers to remind you of deadlines, it's important for you to take responsibility to meet deadlines. Work with a planning system that is best for you.

I recommend: Franklin Covey offers a number of time management workshops to accompany their attractive planners. You may be more interested in a software program to help with time management. Effexis Software allows you to try out their Achieve time management software before you buy.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Back to school specials aren't just good for students. It's a great time for those who have home jobs to stock up on any necessary supplies.

Home based jobs have become a popular trend, and many employers are happy to allow some of their employees to work from their home offices. You could also seek home based part time jobs in addition to your regular full-time job to earn extra cash.

If your job doesn't allow home based employment, you should be cautious when searching for a home based job.

1. Ask your employer if it's possible to work at home. Many companies are seeing the advantage of allowing their employees to work from home.

2. Check the integrity of any company before applying for or accepting a home based job.

3. Read any home based job contracts carefully, and make sure you understand what the company expects of you.

Action Steps
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Don't pay money for home based job leads

Many work-at-home jobs are not legitimate jobs. Some jobs listed in the classifieds ask you to pay for information. Most of these jobs, and I use the word 'job' loosely, are pyramid schemes. After you send in your payment, you'll receive an envelope filled with information on how to place a classified ad just like the one you answered.

I recommend: Don't apply for a home based position that sounds too good to be true. Legitimate employers will list full contact information and will be seeking qualified individuals to fill their home based positions. The Telecommuting Jobs website offers legitimate home based employment opportunities. Money Making Mommy also offers home based job opportunities for moms who want to work jobs from home.

Find home based jobs listed in legitimate venues

Answering classified advertisements isn't the only way to find home based employment opportunities. Employment agencies and online job sites list telecommuting opportunities. A telecommuting job is a great way to utilize your talents, education and experience with a job geared toward your abilities. It also offers you the options of staying home with your children and the freedom to set your own schedule.

I recommend: Visit Journalism Jobs for work-at-home writing opportunities. Monster and Career Builder also list telecommuting jobs.

Read between the 'job ad' lines

If an advertisement offers trips, prizes and the opportunity to become your own boss, it's probably not a job. More than likely, it's a direct marketing or multi-level marketing opportunity. If selling makeup or plastic containers appeals to you, this may be a great home based work opportunity for you.

I recommend: To determine if a direct marketing opportunity is legitimate, check to see if the company is a member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA).

Bring it home

Many companies that use overseas employees to answer the customer service lines are reconsidering their options. After complaints from customers, more and more of these companies are offering some of their customer service jobs as home-based positions. For most of these jobs, you'll need DSL or cable Internet.

I recommend: Worldwide Work at Home lists several well-known companies, such as 1-800-Flowers, that offer work from home opportunities for customer service technicians.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Home based work poses challenges that working in an office environment doesn't. Set limits with your family so they respect your office space and give you the time you need to complete your work.
• •  If you have children, you may need to arrange appropriate childcare so you can get your work done with minimal distraction. If you don't want to place your child in childcare outside the home, hire a sitter to come into the home for a few hours a day.

Following home-based jobs news and trends can help you stay up to date on the important advances in the home based jobs industry. There are many reasons why working from home is becoming increasingly popular. Whether you home based employment or your company hires people to work from home, it's a good idea to stay current.

Reading the latest home-based jobs news and trends can help you overcome some of the challenges home based positions, such as:

1. Finding legitimate home based employment opportunities. There are many scams and many people eager for home jobs are easy targets. Learn which companies offer valid opportunities.

2. Determining whether an opportunity is a job or a business opportunity. Many advertisements for home based work opportunities are actually advertising business sales opportunities, not jobs. With a business, your pay may not be steady, which many people do not like.

3. Connecting with other professionals. Working from home can be lonely. You don't have the same camaraderie that you find in an office. Online news sources and forums can help you to connect with others who have made similar choices.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Sign up to receive a newsletter that discusses home based job opportunities

There is a lot of competition for home based jobs and one of the best ways to find them is to sign up for a newsletter. Newsletters publish their information daily, which can be a big help for job-seekers.

I recommend: The Jobs-From-Home.com website discusses several of the different types of jobs that allow you to work from home. They offer a weekly newsletter. You may also enjoy the AHW eNewsletter, which discusses both jobs and freelance opportunities.

Check out digital magazines for information on home based jobs

Magazines are another great way to stay on top of the current issues. Many magazines offer digital versions, which saves on paper.

I recommend: Look at a sample issue of theWAHMmagazine before you decide whether it's worth the cost of a subscription. If you are interested in starting your own business from home, you may be interested in Home Business Magazine, which also allows you to view sample copies.

Join professional associations for those who work from home

A professional organization can keep you up to date on legal issues as well as offer discounts on things that home workers may need, such as insurance and office supplies.

I recommend: The Telework Coalition is a great resource for those who work from home. You can join as a member or look for information on their site that is available for free. The American Home Business Association is another excellent choice.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use forums to connect with others that work from home. It can help you to feel less lonely as well as learn about new jobs and other trends.

More and more Americans are finding out that home based jobs in their field are out there: whether it's editing, writing, transcribing, communicating, processing forms, filling out surveys, or even things like real estate and education. So much business gets done online every day that home based jobs in many industries are quickly becoming a reality, if not a norm. Businesses that might be looking at this option should find out about some basic terminology that applies to nearly any home based job.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Telecommuting

Although this term may sound fancy, what it really means is that a worker does a job from home, thus skipping the physical transit and 'commuting' through advanced modern communications (phone or Internet).

I recommend: Find out more about telecommuting at Essortment: "Information and Advice You Want to Know."

Independent contractor

An independent contractor or IC is someone who is hired not as an hourly employee but as a contract worker to do a specific job or task. Those who work at home are most often in this category, although many are 'sole proprietors' (those who have their own business and treat companies not as employers but as clients).

I recommend: This helpful IRS page on defining an independent contractor will show how home based workers most generally fall into the IC category because of the inherent freedoms and control over work space and conditions that goes along with working from home.

1099

A 1099 type of contract is one undertaken by an independent contractor, where for annual taxation, the worker will get a 1099 form, listing the total compensation, and pay his own taxes, instead of having taxes withheld by an employer, which is often what workers may be used to.

I recommend: Find out more about 1099 contracting at Chancellor and Chancellor online.

Pyramid scheme

A pyramid scheme often targets those who would like to legitimately work from home. The pyramid scheme encourages the first set of applicants to recruit others, while enriching those at the top of the project, hence the pyramid metaphor.

I recommend: Get a great definition and visuals on pyramid schemes from this page at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Direct marketing and multi level marketing

Another somewhat related type of 'job' abounding online is called direct marketing or multi level marketing. Some also call these 'pay to play' situations if the original 'job offer' involved sending money or buying products. An MLM can be seen as legitimate according to its setup, but many steer clear of these kinds of enterprises.

I recommend: Find out more about direct marketing and multi level marketing at this page from Small Business Notes.

Startup

Many smaller companies known as 'startups' because of recent formation will often hire employees to work from home until the company gets large enough to acquire office space.

I recommend: Find out more about what a startup is at the Paul F. Walsh site. Also see Technorati for more information.