by Ann Albanese

Created on: May 31, 2008

Avoiding the "Make Money At Home" Scams
When we decide to pursue our dreams, to go for what we truly want instead of just settling for whatever comes along, we automatically become vulnerable to being suckered. Dreams are often so fragile and yet so formidable that they're easily trampled on or abandoned. So whenever someone comes along who tells us what we so much want and need to hear, we can be like putty in their hands. There are a lot of "make money at home" scams that just by following a dream can blind us to and what would otherwise be the most obvious of hucksters we simply don't see.

Some of the most common make money at home' scams are: Stuffing envelopes. This scheme involves nothing more than selling instructions and sample ads directing you to use them to get people to pay you to find out how they can stuff envelopes. Oh boy, what fun! Simple tasks like clipping newspaper coupons, keeping a diary based on watching TV or reading books, etc. that require you to send money to register or enroll are scams. Buying a list of work-at-home directories, usually will lead to never, never land. Beware of any business plan that represents that you can easily make thousands of dollars by placing ads "just like them." Plans that promise that many people will send you money and instruct you to send money to the top few names on a list, removing the first name and adding your name to the bottom of the list - well, don't fall for it! Make sure that you don't get taken. Whenever you hear someone saying the things that you've been yearning to hear or things that sound so good you never dreamed you'd hear anything like it, let your red flag go up. Investigate the company, product and service fully before entering into it. There are a lot of legitimate at-home businesses, you just have to do your home-work to find the one that will be right for you and not let you be another victim to scams.

Organizing
Okay, so you know how to avoid the work-at-home scams and have found something that will really work. First off, you need to get organized! While good time and space management are important to any work situation, they're an absolute necessity for those who want to make money at home. Because you're subject to constant distractions and your space is limited, you need to establish good habits from the start. A big part of this is being organized. When working on a project, clean up and file it before getting started on the next. Don't put off paperwork, handling mail, or boring tasks that are required as part of your work routine. It's easier and more confidence-building to stay on top of things than to experience that sinking feeling that seeps in when you are trying to play catch-up.

You should clear your desk daily. If you are accustomed to handling things once, you'll find that your desk stays neater. It will be so much easier to find things and help you end your at home work day satisfied. You should also try to use templates whenever possible. When you find yourself writing down the same thing repeatedly, whether it's a letter, a memo, or a list, store a copy of it on your computer so you don't have to keep doing the same things over and over again. You should create daily to-do lists for what you plan to accomplish the following day. In addition, prioritize the lists so that you insure that the more pressing tasks are done immediately. Organizing your at-home office and how you conduct your business will save you time and allow you the freedom that you so desire, and you will make money at home!

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