Seven Stay at Home Parent Jobs

1. Childcare: Someone, somewhere near to you needs to have their child watched occasionally. Odds are, someone near to you needs regular childcare so that they can work, run errands or even just take some time for themselves. If you're lucky, their child is close in age and development to yours and they will virtually entertain each other. You could think of it as a playdate - that you get paid for!

Drawbacks to taking more children into your daily grind include having more children in your daily grind. Let's be honest, kids, especially the wee ones who are just learning (or pros, already) to test limits, are a handful. And unlike common-sense-prevailing adults, sometimes they just don't see the logic of napping bringing about happy feelings. Imagine that times two, or more!

2. Bookkeeping & Virtual Administration: If you had a business or administration background before you became a stay at home parent, you've your foot in the door already! The first tasks you need to accomplish is to decide what type of business you want to cater to, during what availability and what types of tasks you're qualified and willing to take over. Don't forget to consider what rates you'd like to charge as well.

Then you need to research where you can scare up some employers or clients, depending on whether you'd like to own your own business or be a telecommuting employee. One place I suggest: craigslist. You can browse the ads already posted, using their filters; you can also post your own ad calling for jobs.

Lastly, you need to ensure that you're prepared to maintain your office space and hours, as it's easy to let the work pile up around you and have a) no where to keep it all and b) no time available to tackle the mountain that is your inbox. Implement a filing and organizational system, one with areas for each client, such as "to do," "filing," "outbox" and "inbox."

3. Online Sales: Ebay and similar auction websites, and craigslist have become common household names for a reason. Millions of dollars can be made online via these types of sites. Even your common family items - things you've no reason to hang onto but haven't figured out what to do with? They can be hocked.

Some people regularly post the same items for sale, burying their competition, it seems. But you can fight back against this by promoting your auction in as many places as possible. Online, use forums, blogs, comments to do so; offline, post advertisement for items you've listed in accessible areas - bulletin boards within the community, local newspapers. Consider an email campaign as well because it's a much shorter trip from your email reader to the checkout than when walking to the park.

4. Blogging & Freelance Writing: There are so many blogging jobs being advertised in recent months. A great source for blogging jobs is Darren Rowse's site; for freelance leads, try using Freelance Writing Jobs.

One of the great things about writing for an income, besides getting to say, "I'm a writer" when introduced to party goers, is that you can entirely work around your own scheduled commitments. If you're not blessed with a child who has the patience not to "help" mommy or daddy work, this is where the television can be turned off and you can go back to the article later, when you've more ability to focus.

Drawbacks? Sure. It's instable, for one. Sometimes, it's hard to find pieces that are writable, regardless of any skill or talent you may have. And lastly, occasionally, you'll get contracted for a job, the piece will be published and then months will go by without payment - and then you'll have to look into legal action.

5. Telemarketing & Surveying: Anyone can call people and ask them questions or try to pitch a special, limited time offer. Do you have what it takes to continually be turned down, to be treated as less than the person you're calling and occasionally to even be verbally abused? Do you have respect for those people who call in the middle of dinner or just as you're putting the kids to bed to interest you in a timeshare? If not, then this is not a position for you.

If, however, you're a natural salesperson with a disposition that people respond to, if you've a second language that might be an asset, or even if you don't mind people yelling at you or repeated hang ups, consider telephone work. It's monotonous, sure. But sometimes, you'll find that person who interests you and you have a genuine, engaging conversation.

This may be instable, too, depending on the company you're hired to work for. Some pay only based on commission and some pay a very low base hourly rate with a bonus of commission. This is where being a natural will come in handy.

6. Pet Companionship: Like dogs, cats, gerbils, birds? If you live in an area rampant with pets who are part of the family, especially, ahem, like in wealthier neighbourhoods, people may be willing to pay you to spend time with their pooch. You could even just sign up a few dogs to walk once or twice a day - maybe take them to the park to fight over a tennis ball.

Some people just need someone to sit their pet while they're on vacation. But, there are others. These people want you (or a service such as a doggy daycare) to hang out with the four-pawed princess because they are full-time workers who see similarities between being a single parent and having a dog. Suggestion: prey on this quality.

7. Outside & Inside Sales: Believe in a product or it's brand? A natural remedy nurturer? Make-up maven? Adult erotica advisor? IF so, and if you've the sales' mind, a supplemental income via acting as a sales representative could be for you. You can go the party route, door to door, community advertising, website checkouts - a whole range of ways exist to get your name and product out there.

As with many of these positions, the problem isn't getting out there (figuratively), it's being able to afford to build a business from nothing to profitable in as short a time as possible. With the know-all, determination and emotional support necessary, you can accomplish any of the above jobs. You can even do them while standing on your head, with one arm and a leg tied behind your back and a chicken pecking at your cheeks.

We know this because of two facts:

• You want to know how to raise more money - a suggestion that you'd like to, oh, I don't know, make more money enough to look into how; and

• You are a single parent. You're already rising to the challenge of the hardest job in the world, every minute. These jobs? Piece of cake.