Home Businesses You can Easily Slip into Your Daily Schedule

Copyright Kit Lum. All rights in all media reserved.

One of the biggest plus points of working from home is you don’t have to limit yourself to just one business. You have so much flexibility in terms of what you can do with your time. You can slip in any number of money-making activities as you can handle on top of what you’re already doing as a main business.

The choice is entirely yours. There are so many things you can do to generate an income sometimes without even trying. I call these by-the-way businesses - income-generating activities you can easily slip into your daily routine without too much of an upset.

1. Running mom’s (or dad’s) taxi for your own kids? Consider extending your ‘taxi’ service to kids in your neighborhood whose parents are unable to do these runs themselves.

Many parents prefer private transportation provided by another parent over public or school buses. If you have extra room in your car, this is a super by-the-way business that takes a little time and a couple of extra stops and turns.

2. Do you cook for your family? You do? Great, now picture yourself in a mini-catering role - cooking for your neighbors, their latch-key kids or even office workers.

With all this focus on health and fitness, people are hankering after nutritious home-cooked meals. To those who have neither the time nor the inclination to slave in the kitchen after a long day at work, even one home-cooked meal a day is a luxury. Here's where you come in.

If your clients are agreeable to having whatever you’re cooking, then you’re not actually going out of your way. All you have to do is cook a little extra and have them pick up their meal on their way home. If you have to deliver, be sure to include delivery charges. You get to make an income and they get a nutritious home-cooked meal. Everyone wins.

3. If you're already staying home with your baby or kid, consider taking on a couple of other kids if you can. Many parents prefer to leave their kids with someone they can trust and in an environment where their child gets to interact with one or two other kids.

Running a small playgroup is a great way for your kids to develop social skills and for you to make some pocket money. The rule of thumb here is not to take on more than you can handle. Your foremost concern should be the responsibility of ensuring the safety and attention you can offer to each child.

4. If you’re baking cookies and other goodies for Christmas or other gift-giving festive seasons, spread the word early and start taking orders.

Working folks who’d love to give home-baked gifts but don’t have the means or the time to do it themselves would gladly opt for these over the mass-produced store-bought variety.

5. Helping your child with his/her homework? Consider extending this to a couple of other kids whose parents are indisposed to help them, either academically or time-wise.

This is a good opportunity to challenge your child and encourage healthy competition. Children tend to be more inspired to perform better in a competitive environment.

6. Love to craft? Are your creative pieces becoming the conversation pieces among friends and family? Great, you could in fact make a small business of selling your crafts to them.

Handmade items are increasingly seen as one-of-a-kind gifts from the heart. Many people would love to give and receive handmade gifts except they just don't have the time or the inclination to sit down and get their hands dirty. Spread the joy of gift-giving and make some money in your free time.

7. Are you an animal lover and have a pet or two of your own? Then you could start a small pet-sitting service for neighbors who might need someone to care for their pets when they're away.

Again the rule of thumb here is only to take on only what you can handle. Be especially considerate of not becoming a nuisance to your neighbors.

8. Are you a green thumb? Love pottering about your garden? A neighbor of mine keeps a nice little garden of mostly potted plants. Evening joggers would stop and admire her plants, and on many occasions, have rung her doorbell and asked to buy them. Naturally this has sprouted into a neat little side business for her. Well, guess what, selling potted plants could do it for you too.

There you go, some nifty ideas for businesses you can slip into your schedule. Sure, you won't make millions from these activities but hey, in these days of rising gasoline prices, a little extra pocket money never hurt. You'll be surprised how a little could add up to over time. Good luck and reward yourself with a cup of designer coffee.

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About the author

Kit Lum brings over seven years of online business experience into Go Get Global and its ezines - guiding small/home businesses to global success. Quality business resources and advertising services are only a click away at http://www.Go-GetGlobal.com. More FREE business tips at http://Go-GetGlobal.com/g3blog. Convenience and better living for busy people at http://Go-GetGlobal.com/mcblog.

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