The first thing I always tell such people is that if you cannot support your family, get a job. Any job that will pay enough, even if it's outside the home. You may have to struggle and figure out who can watch the kids while you work, but do what you must to support your family. Finding a work at home job should be secondary to finding a way to support your family.

I also tell them the simple truth. It takes most people a long time to find legitimate work at home that is sufficient to support a family. It's just tough out there.

But I Really Want to Work from Home!

Once you have things going well enough that you can afford to spend some time on finding the right job or opportunity to do from home, you are in a much better position to make it all work. It's time to start figuring out what it is you want to do.

The first thing to do is figure out if you are after a work from home job or a home business. It makes a difference. The jobs are harder to get, but it is generally harder to earn from a business, since there is no guarantee that you will be paid for your efforts in a business.

You also need to figure out what it is you want to do. What kind of job do you want or what sort of home business do you want to research?

What About the Scams?

Knowing how to avoid being scammed is key. A great place to start reading is the FTC.gov website. They give you some basic information on the most common scams.

For work at home jobs, the thing to look out for is if they are trying to charge you just to apply. Real companies don't need a fee to see if you are serious. Going through job applications is just a cost of doing business for them.

You'll also want to make sure that what you will be doing is legitimate. There are payment processing and reshipping scams out there that can get you into legal trouble. Any job you look at, look carefully at what you will be doing and who you will be working for.

But Isn't There a Fast Way to Get Started?

Some people do get started and successful faster than others. A few lucky souls do manage to land a work at home job right out of the gate. Others start a home business and are almost immediately successful. There's no one way to success, however. It really depends on you.

If you're looking for a fast way to get started there are a few options. One is to start contacting local businesses and offering your services. You could be a virtual assistant, for example. There's less competition on a local level in many cases, and so this can be a fast start. It still takes research and persistence, as not every company you contact will have need of your services.

Other services you could consider offering are errand running, daycare, tutoring and computer support.

Some people do well with blogging. If money is a big issue, you can go with a free Blogger.com account. Do some research and pick a good topic. Post regularly and comment on other blogs to try to build up your readership. You can use AdSense or affiliate marketing to earn money.

Most will earn perhaps a few bucks a month from this, but others will be quite successful

Better is to get your own domain name and hosting. This gives you more control and no fear of having your blog deleted. Most hosts include one-click Wordpress installation, making setting up a blog pretty easy.

Whatever happens, do not let desperation get the best of you. Desperate people are more likely to fall for scams. Keep your senses about you and don't be afraid to ask for advice on forums about particular opportunities. Asking can save you a lot of money and heartache.