Financial consultant and former analyst Jan MacGregor says, ?There are people out there who are expecting to meet their bills better (after they re-enter the workforce) and never realize they are working either for a loss or for something like $4,000 a year (after expenses).? If you think about the many ?unseen? expenses of a two-income family, MacGregor's analysis, though it seems hard to believe, is frequently the case. With the freedom and deductions available with having your own business, many mothers and mothers-to-be are starting their own home-based businesses.
Web Design - There are thousands of home-based businesses to select from when you make your mind up to start your own. Options include web design ? while user-friendly programs like FrontPage allow most people to design their own website and free templates are widely available, a lot of business and institutional owners understand that for their website to look first rate and to be really effective in drawing in business, the know-how of a skilled website designer is necessary.
Affiliate Marketing - Becoming an affiliate marketer is another great home-based business option. Here are the reasons why: 1.Low-cost setup ? all you need to start your business is an Internet-connected computer and word processing software; most affiliate programs are free to join and you can simply buy web site traffic 2.High-income potential ? there's no corporate salary structure or capricious boss, with your own affiliate business your income level is limited only by your own desire and effort 3.Low operating costs ? your affiliate business keeps running and generating profits for you 24/7.
Design Professional - A whole new world has opened up for design professionals thanks to the Internet. There has never been a better time to earn a living as a freelance design professional, in fact. Creative persons such as graphic designers and illustrators can now meet a huge new market on a global scale, and there is a vast new industry in the shape of web design and development.
Virtual Assistant - Ten years ago, there was no such thing as a virtual assistant. Nowadays, thousands of independent contractors call themselves virtual assistants. These contractors rely a great deal on VA industry organizations, web portals and clearinghouses to learn the business, gain support and find clients. The most common professional services offered are desktop publishing, web research and word processing.
Freelance Writing - Do you love to write? You may want to consider freelance writing as a way to make a good living from home. Freelance writers write anything from newspaper columns to web content and even ebooks. You can find work on some of the big freelance sites like elance.com and guru.com. Freelance writing is a great way to do what you love and stay home with your kids at the same time. Plus, with today's technology, you can take your Dell Pocket PC or PDA with you on trips and work on and bid on writing projects, even on the road!
You don't like to think about dying and leaving your family behind, but the possibility always exists that an unexpected event can cut your life short. In the case of tragedy, you know that your loved ones will struggle. Making sure they do not have financial worries on top of their grief is the only responsible thing to do.
Term life insurance is so inexpensive that there is never a reason to leave your family unprotected. A policy for yourself and your husband can cost as little as $20-30 per month for a policy as large as $200,000, and can bring enormous peace of mind.
In the event that one of you is killed in an accident or succumbs to unexpected illness, the surviving spouse will have to raise the children and cope with the finances alone. They will also have to deal with the ever rising cost of funeral arrangements and burial.
Term life insurance pays out a lump sum to the designated beneficiary upon the death of the insured, and most funeral homes and banks will extend credit for burial and living expenses on receipt of confirmation that such a policy was in force.
Your husband would be able to take time off from his job to grieve and care for your children, and afford good childcare for when he had to return to work. He might also be able to hire help for the things you usually took care of, such as household matters such as cleaning and cooking.
Term life insurance for stay-at-home moms is generally inexpensive, as they are usually fairly young and healthy, and not prone to high risk activities. If insurance is available through the husband's job, it will be even cheaper.
The wage earner should typically be insured for 5-10 times the annual salary, and a stay-at home mom for about a quarter that amount. If you can afford more and expect the employment with the particular company to last, purchase as much as possible. Group insurance is the cheapest you can find.
If employment is subject to change without notice, consider purchasing additional term life insurance from another source. This is a good use for a portion of your income tax refund if you receive one, as you can pay off the policy in full and be covered for 10 or more years without having to worry about monthly premiums.
Once you have purchased term life insurance, make duplicate copies of all paperwork and place one set where it will be easy to hand in case the worst happens. You don't want to be searching for it if you end up needing it. Place the other copy in a safe deposit box in case of fire or other incident that could destroy the first copy.
Life insurance is an unpleasant necessity, but it is immeasurably better to have it and not need it than to meet with tragedy and leave your loved ones struggling to make ends meet.
Both Adam O'connor & Rayven Perkins are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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