Tough economy has many moms working from home

STRONGSVILLE -- At a time when job layoffs are rattling communities around our area and across the country, more stay at home moms are asking themselves how they can bring in more cash.

Connie Hatch of Strongsville can relate. It was 30 years ago when her husband suffered a debilitating fall. A mother of two, she needed to start bringing in money, fast.

She became a Mary Kay consultant and with some work, she quickly made as much money as she did as a teacher with a master's degree.

"If they are willing to put in the effort, it will pay off. There is no free lunch," she adds, "You can make full-time pay with part-time hours and that is the truth."

Dr. Lori Long, a professor at Baldwin Wallace and author of "The Parent's Guide to Family-Friendly Work," says it is important for stay at homes moms to stay engaged in the workforce.

"I suggest to anyone who makes the decision to stay at home to think about work and how they could be generating some income, because you never know what is going to happen. Right now it is the economy, but it could be divorce or death that forces you back into the workforce."

Long says right now, women may need to take a step back or accept the idea that work might bring in just minimal pay. She stresses that the experience will likely pay off when the economy improves.

If you are looking to work at home, be warned, there are work from home offers that are not what they appear.

Here's what to look out for:

• Any job that gives no real job description
• Any job that requires large up-front costs
• Any job that requires you to recruit others in order to make money
• Of course, the old saying applies: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

On the right side of this screen are several links to look up prospective companies and get ideas on how to work from home.

Talk about home based businesses with other moms, by clicking HERE for the forum on Moms Like Me.com