There are a lot of options out there these days, as well as more scams. But knowing what the legitimate opportunities on the Internet look like can really help you to build some income.

Many stay at home moms don't start out wanting to earn a great fortune. They just want to contribute, to make life a little easier. Others do want to earn enough to support their family, or even aim to get rich. But no matter your motivation, you have ways to work towards it.

Not all agree, but I find paid blogging relatively easy. With companies such as PayPerPost out there, you have the potential to know what you're earning from a given post. It takes at least 3 months of consistent blogging to get in with most companies, however, but since you can start with free services in many cases, it's quite affordable. But I always prefer spending a little on hosting and having more control. The costs are quite reasonable.

Other people have skills well suited to office work. In this case, being a virtual assistant can work quite well. A virtual assistant works for clients taking care of emails, website maintenance, bookkeeping and so forth.

Still others sell online. This is good if you have a hobby where you can sell what you create, or you know how to find great deals you can sell for more. eBay is a popular choice, but you can also sell in your own store.

Then there's affiliate marketing. You try to get people to buy products you recommend. Lots of fun for those who enjoy it. You decide how much risk you want to take. Some do pay per click, learning how to earn more from commissions than they pay for clicks. Others rely on getting natural traffic to their website, which takes more time but works well for some.

There are still more possibilities, from offering a service, to providing information on a favorite topic, and more. You can find people who will allow you to work from home and pay you hourly or by salary.

The key thing to remember is that if it sounds too good to be true, be wary. It is possible to earn a great living from home, but it is not easy for the large majority of people. Expect to work. Expect it to take time. Don't expect to earn big bucks right off.