What can my fiancee do?

[ChrisSallis]

My fiancee is pregnant and not working again at the moment but she can't decide what to do. She isn't into website design or she could work with me.

She has tried drop shipping but the prices she had to sell the things for to make a profit were in 9 out of 10 cases cheaper by going into town.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Rob Holmes]

I'm sure you won't have this problem when the baby comes ;)

[Belladonna]

As a self employed mother of 3 - I would concur with the above! But it is a good time for her to consider her options, but I certainly wouldn't get stuck into anything now before the baby comes because she may not want to work as much as she thinks she wants to work after the baby is born.

What sort of things does she enjoy?

selling
admin
creating
childminding!?

There are lots of things she could do, but it's impossible to answer that without knowing what she enjoys doing.

Good Luck!

[ChrisSallis]

Her main interest is childcare as that is what she is training to do, she did work in a nursery.

She likes selling things on the internet but the drop shipping company was rubbish for prices as previously mentioned.

At the moment she is stuck at home bored because she has nothing to do anymore and she has always wanted to work for herself and own her own business.

[Rob Holmes]

er - well heres a short list I've compiled

Things to do when you are bored...

1. A Jigsaw
2. Macdonalds (eating or working)
3. Making cups of tea
4. Annoying others
5. Cleaning
6. Cooking
7. Watching Home and Away and Neighbours twice a day
8. Do the garden before winter
9. Do someone elses garden before winter
10. Paint a room
11. Watch it dry
12. Repaint it...

Hope this helps a bit :D

Rob

[Alpha]

Rob

I think it is time for you to start ducking and lay low for a while :D :D

[ChrisSallis]

Hmm I think the only things on that list she is not doing at the moment is the Gardens and a jigsaw.

She could be a professional jigsaw person. lol

Thanks for the list but really she wants to run her own business but its deciding what to do she can't think of anything so any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Rob Holmes]

Rob

I think it is time for you to start ducking and lay low for a while :D :D

Mrs Matrixx is pregnant too - I would probably get killed for suggesting these options :)

Rob

[ChrisSallis]

Rob

I think it is time for you to start ducking and lay low for a while :D :D

Tell me about it. It's not easy being a man :( :D

[Rob Holmes]

I found some more things to do when you are bored..

1. Push your eyes for interesting light show
(Amusement Potential: 1-5 minutes)
See a variety of blobs, stars and flashes. Try to make out things your subconscious is trying to send you a message? Can you control what you see by pressing different areas with different forces? Would it be possible to somehow see the same effects on TV?

2. See how long you can hold your breath
(Amusement Potential: 4-20 minutes)
Not that much fun, but it sure passes the time. Play with a friend, or try to beat your own personal best. Some tips: hyperventilate before hand, and stay as still as possible. My personal best is 2:00 (exactly).

3. Try to not think about penguins
(Amusement Potential: 1-5 minutes)
This is especially hard, because by trying too much, you remember what you were trying to avoid thinking of. If you try too little, you end up thinking about penguins anyway.

4. Use your secret mind power
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes)
Pick a passing by and try to use your mind power to command them do something, like drop their bag or knock into someone. The law of averages dictates that sooner or later one of your mind commands will come true, so you can convince yourself that you really have super human powers and waste even more time trying them out.

5. Scratch yourself
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
Go ahead, scratch yourself now. Even if nothing itches, go ahead. Doesn't that feel pretty good?

6. Repeat the same word over and over until it loses its meaning
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
Pick a random word out of a magazine and say it aloud to yourself until it becomes a meaningless set of noises.

7. Hurt yourself
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
What is pain? Why is it unpleasant? There's nothing physical about it - it's all in your mind. Plus, after pinching yourself for awhile, boredom will seem nice next to being in pain.

8. Try to swallow your tongue
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
There's not much to say about this one. It is possible.

9. Pretend to be a car
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
Make appropriate revving noises in your head as you walk along and add a racing commentary as you pass strangers in the street. Use blinking eyes as indicators for extra authenticity.

10. Look at something for awhile, shut eyes, study after image
(Amusement Potential: 2-5 minutes)
Another great time waster. It takes about 30 seconds of staring to create an after image, and the image is then viewable for about the same length of time. Fun to combine this one with pushing on your eyes.

11. Get yourself as nauseated as possible
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes)
Best achieved by looking straight up and spinning around. Try to be so dizzy you can't even stand up. This is also entertaining due to the "makes boredom seem a lot better" effect (see "Hurt Yourself").

Rob

[ChrisSallis]

LOL

12. Read the post above.
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes)
Best achieved by looking straight at the screen preferably not wearing a mud pack as this has a 90% chance of cracking.

[bitsnstuff]

She could look into doing something like this, as it would fit in with baby once born and she could make extra selling the merchandise?

http://www.tattybumpkin.com/classes.htm

Kate :lol:

[Stationery-Direct]

Rob that is the funniest post i have read today and put a big smile on my face ;-)

[Top Hat]

Affiliate Marketing?

[ChrisSallis]

Thanks Kate that looks great I've given her the link so she can have a look.

[hecon]

Hi

It would appear that she will be around home for sometime.

I run two home based companies both of which I can recondment and are brand name blue chip companies.

both of these can be run around a young family as they are viral companies.

Hours to suit both do not invlovel the following.

no selling
no stock
no monthly targets to hit

You could be involved as a web designer with It skills your roll would to help set up and guide your fiancee which is simple.

here are the links to look at

http://tinyurl.com/8o572

http://tinyurl.com/ddcz6

Have fun

ken

[MorethanWords]

My little one does something called Musical Minis - a kind of singing time for toddlers. Apparently the earnings can be really good and you can fit it around your chosen hours.

www.musicalminis.co.uk

[ChrisSallis]

Thank you Ken and MorethanWords I will pass those links to her to have a look at.

Everyone is being really helpful please keep the suggestions coming. We would never of thought of these in a million years.

[Jayne]

Just read Matrixx's post, very funny :lol:

What about doing cross stitch pictures and selling them, could be a relaxing way of making money and she could fit it around your new baby when it arrives. Plus doesn't take up much room :D

Jayne

[Magsite]

But they takes ages to make!

[Jayne]

But they takes ages to make!

Yes, that's why they are so expensive to buy. I once saw one on holiday and it was £150.

My sister used to make then, she made lots and got quite fast at them, see made lovely disney one's for my niece's bedroom.

Jayne

[ChrisSallis]

Thanks Jayne I'll suggest that to her to.

[Jayne]

Hi Just typed on 'cross stitch pictures for sale' in google. I couldn't find a site that sold them completed, just DIY stuff. Maybe a hole in the market, as was previously said, they take ages to make, so most people don't bother. But they may buy one ready made :D

Jayne

[MorethanWords]

The best outlets for stuff like that is craft fairs. My mum makes little cross stitch cards and things like that.

Doesn't always make as much money as she'd like, but she supplements it with handcrafted cards she gets from a wholesaler in Hertfordshire somewhere.

Craft fairs can often mean lots of graft for not so much return though. And most of them are at weekends which can be a problem for some people.

[SillyJokes]

I don't see cross stitch as her route to riches.

What about ebay? It's easy, addictive and fits in around what you do already. There are plenty of people making a living off this and there is no need for massive investment of time or money.

What about getting some specialist piece of personalisation equipment like a balloon printer or rose petal printer ;) and building a business out of that?

Seriously though, if this is your first kid you'll be lucky to see her up and dressed by 12 noon for the first 6 months, let alone out of the house running musical minis.

[Asteeleleith]

Hi all
A lot of ladies seem to enjoy creating greetings cards for people. Even in time doing it for weddings etc.
With hobbycraft in every major town now the raw materials are widely available.

Al

[Marina Stone]

If she has experience in childcare, perhaps that would be the best area for her!

I don't suggest she actually does the childcare, but perhaps she could start her own agency providing childcare cover for pre-schools, nurseries etc in your local area, making sure her childminders are fully qualified, with references etc. She could even expand this to 'baby sitting service'.

I know there are other agencies out there but she could find something unique about her service.

You can do her website!!!

Marina

[MorethanWords]

They're only suggestions - the guy wants suggestions!!

Anyway, those kind of things (Musical Minis etc) can be started off small until you've generated more interest. The sessions are only 45 minutes, so you could get away with one or two a week for at least six months.

Even I managed to get cracking with work once or twice a week once I'd gotten over the first month or so of being a mum! It depends on your motivation as I'm sure loads of the self employed mums (and dads) will tell you.

I think Marina's idea is quite good - a nanny agency type thing. Maybe 'No Notice Nanny Agency' or something like that. For when you're let down by your normal nanny, childminder or babysitter. Don't know whether potential nannies would be interested though. It'd be almost like a temp agency for child care...

I don't half waffle when i get going!

L x

[ChrisSallis]

Thanks for those new suggestions there are some really good suggestions I'll put all these to her.

[weddingcrafter]

Hi all
A lot of ladies seem to enjoy creating greetings cards for people. Even in time doing it for weddings etc.
With hobbycraft in every major town now the raw materials are widely available.

Al

Careful! Most card makers will tell you that they spend more than they earn. There are so many gorgeous "must-have" products out there. And its not just Hobbycraft you have to watch for - there are plenty of internet craft businesses around :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[bitsnstuff]

Sorry to drag us back to the cross stitch suggestion, but how about offering a service where you finish off people's abandoned half completed kits? I have at seven for a start.

You could charge a fair bit I would have thought and maybe offer a framing service as a side business. That would probably advertise well in the likes of Country Living, Good Housekeeping etc. for all those who had ideals of being the little housemaker sitting sewing, bought lots of expensive kits and then realised that they were pants at it! :lol:

Just a thought.

Kate :lol:

[clairemackaness]

visit www.netmums.co.uk there are lots of mums etc selling stuff and running businesses and she could get new ideas or even form a partnership with an existing mum (probably a safer bet, bearing in mind bump wont be a bump for long)!

[clickprofits]

Might also get some ideas from here:
http://www.internetbasedmoms.com/bb/

Alice (site owner) is in Canada, but she is very helpful and has some great ideas which can be applied in any country.

[ChrisSallis]

Thanks for those suggestions she will have a look at both those websites.

[RSL]

She can sell your second hand books on www.listbooks.co.uk...depends on how many books you have though.

[Belladonna]

Nice one Kate! Takes a woman to come up with the practical stuff eh!

Though I have to say Rob - your post almost gave me post natal stress incontinence!!! :shock:
There is also a card company called Pheonix Trading www.pheonix-trading.co.uk who sell beautiful cards and stationery that really sell themselves.

[coxadmin]

Seriously though, if this is your first kid you'll be lucky to see her up and dressed by 12 noon for the first 6 months, let alone out of the house running musical minis.

My experience as a first time mum was not quite that extreme but I certainly felt that I had never worked so hard in all my life during the the first 6-12 months as a new mum.

I set up my business when my son was 7 months old and I had work around his nap times and in the evenings and at weekends. With a two and a half year old things are easier in some respects, although as I type this my son is constantly asking for me to read or play. This can make working a challenge.

You and your fiancee musn't under-estimate the exhaustion parenthood brings in the first few months, so any business she sets up now needs to be interchangeable with your lives as you prepare for birth of your child and then spend the next few years adjusting your lifestyle as the child's needs change.

Personally I recommend your fiancee spends the remainder of her pregnancy relaxing - neither her life nor yours will ever be the same after your child is born!

[ChrisSallis]

Ok thanks for more great suggestions.

I have tried to convince her to relax but she is getting bored of relaxing now and wants something to do and focus on.

[silverpuresilver]

I cannot agree more with CoxAdmins comments.

Your wife may be bored at the moment, but believe me, once the baby arrives she'll wonder what she used to do with all her free time.

Karen

[SillyJokes]

You are so right Karen, every moment now should be held as precious because once the baby comes there's no going back to what you have now. Sob.

I had 3 kids when we started SillyJokes aged 6 months, 2yrs and 4 yrs and it was hard.

However we did manage to have another since starting so it possible to do both work and babies - however it's the first one that really knocks you for six.

[DarrenH]

Hi

Try having a look at the following to see if anything suits. However I'd see it more as a long term strategy than something just to fill the time now.

http://find.sitesell.com/bigmix.html

It's an affliate link, so if you'd rather not have my affiliate cookey, leave off the bigmix.html

The best part about this system is anyone can do it, and it doesn't matter if you have 15 hours a day or 30 minutes a day to work on it.

And the forums are among the best I've seen.

Darren

[JaneOwen]

It might be a good time to do some further education - depending on how long you have got until baby is due. Do it now - before you need a babysitter :-)

Maybe your fiancee could do something to go with the childcare, or maybe there's something she'd like to try out that could become a business - massage, bookkeeping..... Check out learn direct, your local college, etc, etc. Also our local business link run courses on how to start a business.

Best of luck. Knowing what I know now I think I'd probably advise you to make the most of being able to put your feet up! LOL

[ChrisSallis]

Thanks for all the new suggestions. Soon This is going to be the longest thread on the forum. lol

I'll show her the new resonses tonight.