Have you been doing Jingit? I have. I like it, it’s easy, and I can do Jingit in one window while I’m working in another window or tab. If there’s one thing I don’t like though, it’s that
Work at Home Wednesday~meet Erin Farrell, photographer
October 10, 2012 by · 2 Comments
Welcome to a new feature I’m going to be doing on here, called “Work at home Wednesday.” I’ve been away from it for a few weeks, but now we are back at it. Each week, I’m going to feature a different Smart Spending Spot reader and what their job or career is, something that is either work at home or starting your own business. This will hopefully give all of our readers an insight into what these different jobs are like, if you are thinking of switching career paths.
If you want to be featured on Work At Home Wednesday, click that link and fill out the form.
This week we meet Erin, of Erin Farrell Photography. She does wedding, births and portraits. She is also on Facebook.
How she got started: I’ve always loved photography ever since I got my first camera at 10 years old. I just never thought to make it my job until I was engaged and researching wedding photographers. My husband said ‘your work is just as good as what I’m seeing — you should start your own business.”
I was teaching preschool at the time and knew i wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, so I figured this would be a great way to bring in some money while staying home with my children.
She works 25-35 hours each week and her salary varies.
What she likes best: I love meeting new people and photographing memorable moments — from the best man’s speech at a wedding to the itty bitty toes of a newborn baby . . . . it’s all worth capturing on camera forever.
Unexpected hurdles: Being a photographer is SOOOOO much more than just taking pictures. The business side of it can be overwhelming at times. I actually enjoy the business aspect of it, but my biggest struggle is staying organized.
This is her 6th year in business and she’d like to stay in it as long as possible.
How do you grow or expand? I would like to do more birth photography though. It’s my favorite thing to photograph, but it can be hard finding people willing to allow you in the delivery room. Plus being on call is tough when I’ve got three little ones at home.
And her advice to other moms who might be thinking of doing this: Get your basic camera skills down first. THEN worry about starting your own business. You may be an awesome photographer, but a crappy business person. Know what to outsource and what to do yourself.
Need holiday money? Become a Nielsen family and earn $$$, maybe $500 or more.
October 8, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
I posted earlier about a what to earn some money, doing what you already do. Well, with the holidays coming, here’s another idea. Join Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel – Earn valuable points, which are redeemable for electronics, household items, jewelry, toy, gift cards, and more.(no landline required with this homescan signup)
Once you become a NCP panel member all you have to do is scan and send them your household purchase information every week with a handheld scanner that they provide. For each week of the month NCP receives your purchase information, you will earn one entry into the Monthly Sweepstakes where you can win a $500 American Express Rewards Card. That’s up to FOUR entries every month. Every month, 25 panel members win.
That’s not all. Every quarter an additional 40 panel members win a $500 American Express Rewards card just by sending purchase information in every week of a month. This isn’t much extra work. You simply do what you do, buy what you buy, as a family. Then just scan it with the scanner that you are provided. And, think about it–by expressing your opinions and sharing what you buy, you are shaping what is sold.
Once you become a NCP panel member all you have to do is scan and send them your household purchase information every week with a handheld scanner that they provide. For each week in a qualifying quarter NCP receives your purchase information you will earn one entry into their Grand Prix Sweepstakes where you can win $20,000. Every quarter one lucky panel member wins.
{Work at Home….Friday?} Win a copy of Mastering the Mommy Track, and meet the author!
September 28, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Ok, so for this week’s “Work at Home Wednesday” post, I moved it to Friday so that we could be a part of Erin Flynn Jay’s virtual book tour. Erin is a fellow Philly Social Media Mom who is having her first book published. How awesome is that? And, at the end of the post, you can win your own copy when it’s released. Here is a bit about Erin and her “work at home” experiences and persona-Erin Flynn Jay—writer, author, publicity expert.
I have been a freelance writer and PR executive since 2001. Can’t believe it’s over 11 years on my own. I am author of the new book, Mastering the Mommy Track: Juggling Career and Kids in Uncertain Times (ISBN 978-1780991238, 2012, John Hunt Publishing, available on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com). I was recently accepted into the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA).
My clients are small businesses, authors and PR agencies. I’m hired on an as-needed basis to write material and promote their products or books. When living in NYC, I learned the ropes of book publicity from a literary PR firm. Since then, I’ve worked with individual authors and experts, securing them media interviews and coverage. I’m promoting my own book, saving the cost of hiring a publicist.
I got started in 2001 by freelance writing for careerbuilder.com. I began to write more articles for them and thoroughly enjoyed it—this gave me the idea to go out on my own. A business coach gave me the wise advice to offer several services if I wanted to be self-employed—so I launched my Flynn Media website www.flynnmedia.com, offering writing, editing and PR services.
I enjoy working from home and the flexible schedule. I do end up having to work sometimes in the evenings or weekends. Some clients want material written immediately, so when I’m offered work at a decent rate, I take it even if the deadline is immediate. I don’t mind working at midnight if I have an enjoyable assignment.
The hurdle I face at times is replenishment of clients. When I’m busy with client work, I have little time for marketing. When business is slow, it can be frustrating. When a long-term contract is up, I sometimes find it stressful to find replacement work. But I just keep plugging away, and win new business in due time.
I really hope I can remain self-employed forever. I mention in my book I’d like to get involved with ghostwriting books for others and also social media management. I’m building my own social media platform—it’s been a learning curve. This past week, my facebook author site Mastering the Mommy Track had over 800 views! Really excited that moms are interested in the content. It’s a timely topic given the economic downturn. There are a lot of struggling moms out there—my book was written with them in mind.
Thanks so much for sharing with us. Now, to win your own copy, all you have to do is leave a comment below–one entry per person. Tell us what is one of your biggest challenges in “mastering the Mommy track.” What things are hardest for you to juggle, between work and home? A winning entry will be chosen by Random.org on Sunday, October 7 and I’ll notify you with the email you used (not visible to public) to enter. Good luck….both with the giveaway and with “Mastering the Mommy Track.”
