How You Can Choose a Good PLR Service

FAQ’s on Private Label Rights Articles

I’ve written about using PLR articles versus free reprint articles recently. If you still have some questions on Private Label Rights articles, hopefully this information will help you decide how to choose a good service targeted to your particular blogging niche, and help you get over writer’s block.

Benefits of PLR Articles

By Nicole Dean

Private Label Rights (PLR) articles are hot right now. The only problem is that many people have tried them and been very disappointed. I can’t say I blame them. I’ve been disappointed, too.

Oftentimes, the PLR services you may have tried are lacking in several areas. So, what makes a good PLR service and how can you make sure that you don’t waste you money on a bad one?

Here are some questions to ask yourself before investing any money into a PLR package or membership.

1. What topics are you getting?
I mean, seriously, if you are promised 100 articles each month, but you end up receiving a selection on Laser Hair Removal and Divorce, when all your websites are about cooking… You just wasted money.

2. What quality are you getting?
Say you’re lucky enough to get a series of articles on your topic. Take a minute to look at them. Are they pure fluff? I’ve paid for articles that had no original ideas, or worse, were written so poorly that there’s no possible way I’d put them on my website. Make sure your PLR package contains quality articles. Otherwise, you just wasted money.

3. How many other people are getting the exact same articles?
If 1000 other people signed up to get the same articles, are you really receiving any value? Perhaps, if you don’t mind reworking the articles. However, if you’d like more unique articles, then you may consider a more limited PLR service.

4. Does the PLR service give you any extras?
Are they offering training on ways to use their PLR articles? Do they provide you with ways to monetize the articles you’ve purchased? Some PLR sites will include recommended affiliate programs and training on how to use their articles to get the most benefits from their service.

Really assess the value you’re receiving when investing in any PLR package or service so that you don’t end up wasting your money. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.

Article written by:

Nicole Dean is the owner of  www.EasyPLR.com – where you’ll find high-quality PLR articles sold in very limited quantities.  The PLR articles at EasyPLR are professionally written and professionally edited — top quality at an affordable price.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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How To Get Paid to Write Every Day as a Ghostwriter

Work At Home Ideas

Do You Have Writing Skills?

If you have ever dreamed about having a career in freelance writing, you might look into the growing opportunity of ghostwriting. Ghostwriting is the practice of writing works (books, articles, etc.) anonymously for a client. In turn, the client gets full rights to place her name on the writing and publish it as her own.

Side Note: If you’ve heard of ghostwriting before and you already know it’s a career path you’d like to pursue, I recommend that you pick up a copy of Just Add Sweat’s “How to Become a Ghostwriter” Guide. It will show you exactly what you need to know to get started.

But if you’re new to the idea of becoming a ghostwriter, here’s more you should know.

To get into ghostwriting, there are a few skills you should have or work to acquire:

Excellent Writing Skills: Certainly to be a ghostwriter, you need to be able to write well. Your writing should flow well, cover topics thoroughly and in many cases, your clients will expect you to capture their unique voice in your writing.

Research Skills: As a ghostwriter, you’ll be responsible for finding and process all of the information that you will need to be able to do your writing on a specific topic.

Grammar & Spelling: It might seem obvious, but it’s important to note. All of the work that you turn into your clients as a ghostwriter must be free of any grammar and spelling errors.

Many different types of businesses and individuals readily use ghostwriting services. Authors, business executives, celebrities and others may look to ghostwriters to write books for them.

Online business owners, blog publishers and other websites hire writers to create articles and other content. Information product sellers look to ghostwriters to publish ebooks, how-to and other instructional guides. The sky’s the limit when you’re looking for people who want to hire ghostwriters.

There are many things you can do put yourself ahead in this field (and the How to Become a Ghostwriter Guide covers these and more in depth).

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Start building a resume that will get you noticed. Highlight any writing experience and if you don’t have any, you can offer to do a few free small projects to build your resume. Approach a non-profit business or someone that you know that might need writing services.

• Determine which topics you’re qualified to write about. Although many ghostwriters are well-rounded and can write on many researchable topics, having a specialty can help you get work. For example, you might have special knowledge of cooking, crafting, green or environmental, health, finance or parenting topics. Use this to your advantage.

• Have relevant samples readily available to showcase your writing skills. Many clients are more concerned with how well you write, rather than the amount of experience you’ve had.

To get more help, get a copy of Just Add Sweat’s “How to Become a Ghostwriter” Guide. It will help you discover if ghostwriting is indeed the right career for you, how to break into the business, service rates and more.

Ghostwriting can be a competitive business, but there is plenty of room for new writers if you’re armed with the right approach and that’s exactly what the guide will give you. Click here for all the details.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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What You Must Know: Web Hosting Checklist for Mom Bloggers

Blogging Moms

Affordable Web Hosting Solutions

I just got one of the best Christmas presents from Mom Webs Hosting, my web host!  I host this blog, my recipe blog, Moomettesgram’s Favorite Recipes and my Virtual Assistant website, CAM Virtual Assistant Services on Mom Webs.

Just before Christmas I received an email that said:

Here’s the holiday blessing…

We have significantly bumped the storage and bandwidth limits on our Multi and Mega hosting plans.

Multi storage has been boosted from 600 to 1000 MB and bandwidth has been doubled from 20 to 40 GB.

Mega storage has been blasted from 1000 to 2500 MB and bandwidth has been doubled from 40 to 80 GB.

These increases are PERMANENT – so you can power forward in 2010, growing your business without fear of running out of space and bandwidth.

Enjoy these increases and have an amazing holiday season!

Kelly, Nicole and Scott

If you’re a work at home mom like me, you may also have struggled with finding reliable web hosting. Well, over the years (and many headaches later), I’ve come up with a checklist of essentials that your WAHM web host must have before you even consider working with them.

1. Excellent Reliability.
There is nothing more frustrating than finding out your website is down, and has been for hours. Although no time is a good time to have your site down, the timing can be just terrible. That sinking feeling when you’ve purchased advertising and you know the ad is about to be sent out and you go to your website for last minute touches and … it’s down.

That’s not cool. That is not acceptable. You must make sure that the web host you select not only has good reliability, but superior reliability. This is your business on the line, not some hobby site. Treat it as such and get hosting that works for you when you need it. But, you can’t just trust a website that says they are reliable. Make sure they can prove it.

2. Superior Customer Support.
When you do need help, make sure that your hosting will provide it. One thing I recommend is to contact support to ask a simple question about the hosting, before buying. That will give you an idea of what the customer service is like before you make a commitment. Yes, customer service has a difficult job – making sure they do not confuse less-experienced customers, yet, at the same time, also making sure not to talk down to the geek types. However, you should never feel like you are a “bother” or that your question is not as important as anyone else’s.. or worse, dumb. You should find a web host with superior customer support.

3. The Stats You Need.
Several of the most popular hosts do not offer the web stats that every online business needs. You may not think that you need stats, but, how else are you going to know what is working – and what is not? You need stats that tell you where your visitors are coming from, how long they are staying, and which pages they are coming in and going from. Does your web host offer that? If they have a CPanel as their control panel, they do. Find a web host that uses a standard CPanel.

4. Affordable.
Why spend more if you don’t have to? When looking for a web host, price is always a factor. So, shop around and make sure that the web host you decide upon offers a great price.

5. Room to Grow.
The web host you choose should offer unlimited hosting. This means, that, if you add more websites to your package down the road, the price does not increase drastically for each one. Many online businesses start with one site and grow over time. Can your host grow with you?

6. Bandwidth and Disk Space.
Also, make sure that the host you choose is in the ballpark for bandwidth and disk space. Most programs offer approximately the same amount, but, especially if you plan to add a lot of audio or video, be sure to look into this, as well.

7. A History of Happy Customers.
New hosting companies are popping up daily. Some are being run by a couple of teenagers in their garage. Obviously, that’s not who I want to entrust my business to. Do you? I want to know that the company I’m choosing has been around a few years, and has a history of happy customers to show for it. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, and you shouldn’t either.

Those are the key features that any web host should offer before you consider doing business with them. Choosing a web host can be more important than any other decision you make in your online business – if you choose wrong. So, take the time and find a web host that will work with you, and help you to succeed.

Every time I need customer support, they’re there, virtually 24/7 and my questions are answered so quickly and professionally!

Nicole Dean, Kelly McCausey and Scott are co-owners of Mom Webs Hosting where you’ll find the host that offers everything a WAHM needs – reliability, unlimited hosting, and customer service that never makes you feel intimidated — all at a price you can afford.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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WAHM Idea: Start Your Own Tutoring Business

Career Suggestions

Make Money With Your Knowledge And Skills

I’d like to pass on some career ideas for you to consider in this economy if you’re a stay-at-home mom looking to increase the family income.  My sister-in-law made a major career change in mid-life and recently went back to school and took the Alternative Route to Teacher Education.  She’s a Baby Boomer like myself, and really enjoys working with kids.  Presently she’s working as a tutor.

By Liz Folger, Work-at-Home Expert

Do you enjoy teaching others? Are you looking for the flexibility of owning your own business? Would you like to make on an average $25 or more an hour? Then the tutoring business might be the perfect home business for you to start.

Tutors Wanted!

The good news is that there is a growing demand for tutors. Being a tutor isn’t just about academics either. It can be sports, music, and the arts. And it’s just not the kids who are looking for tutors. With so many adults going back to school, adults are actively seeking tutors and coaches to better themselves.

Those who make great tutors are teachers, teacher’s aids, dads, moms, coaches, those who home school, and entrepreneurs. Anyone that has the desire and enjoys teaching will find this a great field to get into.

The nice thing about becoming a tutor is that all you need to say is, “I’m a tutor.” There is no state licensing or certifications, and you don’t need a college degree. While it’s a great selling point if you do have some qualifications, it’s not necessary. Just the fact that you’ve helped your own kids with their homework for many years can establish you as a tutor.

Here are just a few areas that you can choose to tutor:

This is just a partial list. There are so many areas that could require a tutor.

The Joy Of Owning Your Own Tutor Business

Think about the areas you would like to teach. Don’t be afraid to niche yourself. While at first it might seem like a good idea to tutor all subjects, you’ll find that being considered an expert in one area is the way to go. If down the road you’re tutoring someone in Math who needs additional help in English, and this is something you feel comfortable with, go for it, but finding your niche is always a good thing.

As the owner of your own tutoring business, you can decide the client base with which you’d like to work. If you want to work with kids, you can decide if they will be elementary, middle school, high school, junior college or college. If you find you get along better with middle aged children, then work with them. You no longer have to make money working with people you really don’t enjoy or jive with. That’s the beauty if self-employment.

What Makes You The Expert?

Whether you’re tutoring biology, flute, or soccer; what are your qualifications? Are you a teacher? Do you have a degree in music? Have you been working as a biologist for many years? Now’s the time to toot your horn. Even if you’re a mom or dad who loves a certain subject and has helped your own kids, you can easily say you’ve had this many years helping children in that particular area.

Where And When To Teach

The cost of starting your own tutor business really isn’t that much when compared to other businesses. Most of the time you’ll be teaching in your own home at your kitchen table. You don’t really need any books; your students will bring their own. Anything you need to buy like flyers and business cards, is a tax write off.

When school is in session you’ll find your busiest times will be Monday through Friday from 2:30 PM To 9:00 PM. You can decide the exact hours you want to offer, and if you want to teach on the weekends. You can decide if you want to work in the summer, since sometimes kids need to go to Summer school, or parents simply want their kids to have a jump-start on the next grade.

How much can you really make?

Depending on how much you tutor, in what part of the country you tutor, how in demand you are, and how many students you have all depends on what you’re going to make and what you can charge. Below is a chart based on making $25 an hour, which is about average for a tutor. However, it’s not unheard of for tutors to make as much as $60 an hour!

You Charge $25 An Hour…

Your Work 5 Hours A Week $500/month

…………. 10 Hours A Week $1000/month

…………. 20 Hours A Week $2000/month

…………. 40 Hours A Week $4000/month

Creating your own tutoring business can be fun, challenging, rewarding, and very profitable financially. Find an area you love, an age group you get along with and enjoy teaching, and the sky is the limit.

Liz Folger is the founder of Bizymoms. Bizymoms is the leading online resource for work-from-home ideas. The site offers home-based business start-up kits, online classes, e-books, chats and enthusiastic support for moms who want to have it all – a family and a career.

CLICK HERE! to get more information about starting your own tutoring business.

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Secret To Getting Kids To Respect Your WAHM Office Time

Disciplining yourself when working from home is difficult enough without the added responsibility of caring for young children.  Add into the equation distraction from neighbors, routine household chores and extra-sensory stimulation (read, just your day-to-day usual household excessive decibel level noise) and you get the picture.  The most challenging of the above is how to deal with getting your progeny to respect your office time.  Here’s a few secrets:

1. Establish a Work Schedule. Often it helps to establish a schedule that works well for you and your family.  Before you begin your workday, first spend quality time with the kids.  They’ll be more willing to entertain themselves for awhile after they feel they were listened to and their immediate needs were met.

2.  Choose Your Work Location Carefully. If you have the option, exercise care in where you choose to set up your office space.  Choose an area you can close the door if your children will need to be under supervision.  If that’s not a workable option, use a screen to set up a designated work area to signify that the area is your “private space.”

3.  Establish Boundaries. Hold a family conference to let them know that this is your job and that is how Mom or Grandmom makes money.  Explain that it isn’t a hobby, and that they need to understand that this is how you make money for their clothing, food, toys, gifts and keeping the utilities on.  Your spouse or significant other must also be understanding in order to offer support in keeping the kiddos occupied when they’re home and you’re working.

4.  Dress for Success. Maintaining a professional demeanor and attitude while you’re working is important and your children will notice the difference.  They’ll be able to recognize the “working mommy” versus the “at-home mommy” mode.  Be consistent and eliminate confusion by avoiding chatting on the telephone in a conversational tone that they’ll recognize as your “at-home” mommy voice when you’ve told them you’re working.  Oftentimes it helps to dress up in casual office attire when planning your work-at-home schedule.

5. Create A Signal System. If a responsible sitter or adult is home to watch the kids, it always helps to develop a signal system to let others know you’re working.  One possibility is to hang a cute sign clock with movable hands on your closed door or screened-in area set to the time when you’ll be available again.  Have the kids make one for you!

6.  Eliminate Distractions. Background noise such as workers or animals can frequently become a distraction or source of procrastination and can easily be remedied by using a noise-canceling headset.  Using this will also signal to the kids to respect your privacy and need for quiet time.

7.  Keep The Kids Occupied. As a Grandmom I know full well that children have short attention spans so in order to let them know you have to work, head the kids off at the pass.  Set up a project for them to do so you can be busy together.  They can work independently while you work at home on your blog post, virtual assistant project or ecommerce site.  Keeping the kids occupied will allow you to catch up on writing more articles for e-How.

Undoubtedly it’s sometimes hard to get any work accomplished at home with the kids under foot, but it can be done.  Remember, pay attention to them first while explaining to them in their own language that everyone has a “job” and theirs is to let you do your “job.”

Photo Credit: Mom & Kids StockXpert

Related Reading:

5 Ways to Manage Your Time While Working at Home Online

Learn How To Recognize Your Procrastination Triggers When Working At Home

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Cross Blog Conversation With Christie – Work At Home Moms Talk Radio: Part 2

The Conversation, 1891, oil on canvas by Edouard Vuillard

This is my response in the second installment of a Cross-Blog Conversation with Christie who’s an Intern at Profitable Mommy Blogging at WAHM Talk Radio. (Classes starting soon!) If you’re just stumbling upon this for the first time, Part 1 of the conversation started HERE, and a recap of the format goes somewhat like this:

Cross Blog Conversation … a conversation between two people that takes place on their respective blogs.

The conversation starts when one side posts a letter to the other and finishes up by asking the other side a question. The other participant answers the question on their blog and adds on a new question for the other and so it goes – back and forth.

Readers will want to keep an eye on both blogs to catch the responses and new questions – and, since the conversation is being carried out in public, they can comment and share their own perspectives about the questions and answers.

Christie asked the following questions of me:

What resources (free and paid) on the internet have helped you the most with your online business?  How have they changed your business?  What is the best advice you have received that has helped propel your business forward?

Perhaps the best advice I was given when I first opened my eBay store was to start writing a blog in order to promote my ecommerce site.  I began writing in 2007, and now have 3 blogs as well as a Virtual Assistant website.

As I traverse the blogosphere I’ve visited and met many work at home moms and commented that I’ve discovered that so many have taken up blogging to supplement their family income. Many of the WAHMs are doing so for a variety of reasons. I have noticed that a substantial number are blogging due to illness or disabilities that prevent them from working outside the home.

Coincidentally, when I was a Moderator on a now-defunct eBay forum, I responded to a question by a member who was an eBay Store owner and was home-bound and about to go on extended bed-rest due to surgery and was wondering how she would pass the time. I suggested that she read this article that I posted about taking up blogging as a method to promote her ecommerce website.

I’ve recently made the decision that once my current employer approves the Golden Handshake package, this Baby Boomer Grandma definitely will be taking it, and will delve into a second career as a full-time WAHM, hopefully this summer!

As a business major, I learned that research is a key component that one should consider before embarking on any business venture, and is a continuing, ongoing process to keep one’s finger on the pulse of any market. It just isn’t wise to fly by the seat of your pants.

Christie, you spoke of your goals for the next 5-10 years as including venturing into informational products as well as membership sites. My experience during the relatively short time that I’ve been blogging is that the social networking community has undergone a profound change in formatting, for both private and open networking sites. I’ve seen once vibrant, unpaid networking sites fail and fold. Perhaps as a lack of interest and stale topics ~ there’s only so much that can be rehashed over and over. My overall opinion would be that the new Ning sites include more bells and whistles. There’s really no way to project the future of social networking, no matter how many RSS feeds of knowledgeable sources one might subscribe to!

I think it’s fantastic that both you and your husband are anticipating combining your knowledge and giving back to the community. One method that I might suggest is starting out as instructors at your local Adult Education continuing ed classes at the local high school or community center. I actually got my start on eBay by taking an “eBay” course at an adult ed class one winter. And then for fun, I took a gourmet cooking class with my newly-widowed sister-in-law. We both shared a passion for cooking, and it was a wonderful way for us both to gain some insight into a new topic and foster a better outlook on our mental health by acting as a grief and stress-reliever.

If anyone can help point me to a Graphics Program, that would be fantastic.

Before I leave you, I’d like to try to answer your final question of whether I have any working knowledge in online education courses. I did, in fact, finish my degree online and was one of the first to advocate the virtues of online education. You might find my posts insightful as to the hows and whys of my reasoning in choosing online courses.

I wish you well in your future endeavors and have sincerely enjoyed being asked to participate in the Cross-Blog Conversation. I’m a big fan of Moms Talk Network as well as Mom Masterminds and recommend that my readers check it out to see all that it has to offer working moms.

Thank you for the opportunity to join you and a most enjoyable experience!

Photo Credit ~ Creative Commons

Related Reading:

Recuperating or on Bed Rest? If you have an eBiz or Work at Home – Start a Blog to Promote your Business

Why Business Blogs are a Necessity for a Work-At-Home Mom’s Success

Achieve Your College Degree through Accredited Online Distance Learning Courses

Online Degrees Becoming More Popular ~Finish Your College Education

How to Get Your College Degree Online While Staying Home with your Kids

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Learn How To Recognize Your Procrastination Triggers When Working At Home

Up north, we Yankees take a particular hankering to sayings.  One of my favorite’s is  “The devil is in the details.” On that rare occasion when I’ve anticipated thinking that some free time was going to be available for myself, I’ve gotten a rude awakening.

For example, when the kids were younger there was a holiday in February where I would have the day off from work, yet the kids would be in school. Then ~ wham, a snow-day.  That was the end of my productivity.

Although my kids are grown now, a new twist occurs ~ I have the day all planned out and then ~ the daycare provider calls out sick.  I end up having to put out fires for the day, and the VA work I had scheduled ends up piling up.

When work piles up, procrastination can rear its ugly head.  That in turn has me thinking that rather than being a WAHM, I should be out shopping or at least playing with the grand-kids. In reality, procrastination in essence means that you are having a hard time trying to balance work as well as your family. You compensate by saying that a little extra time with the kids or grand-kids is quality time well spent, however the lack of structure on your part can easily cripple your productivity.

Continually taking time off from your work at home job to spend time with family may seem like you’re giving yourself a mental health day, however that mindset will keep you in the procrastination mode.

Here’s some ways to recognize the symptoms and get the monkey off your back:

1. Staring at the piles of paper or product reviews that need to be done won’t get you anywhere. You know you would like to be productive yet downtime is essential for your well being.  Between ending a project and starting a new project, take the time to give yourself an “Atta-Girl.” Politicians do it all the time.  Perhaps you won’t be able to spend the afternoon at the spa, but you can certainly spend an hour or two doing something you like such as baking your favorite dessert or taking the kids or grand-kids to a museum.  Just recognizing that you don’ t have to rush head-on into the next big thing waiting on your desk will release the pent-up pressure while acting as an incentive for working more efficiently and encouraging time management.

2. A messy desk may be the sign of a savant but savants don’t necessarily get the work done. Clutter can actually be detrimental to working because you don’t want to face the mail and associated paperwork. Start by utilizing a structured filing system to organize your business. If you are in the middle of a project-diary ahead to finalize it. With a clean slate and desk you’ll feel refreshed and ready to sit down and get to the tasks at hand.

3. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping – the garden weeds are calling your name. Any suggestion of household chores or anything slightly fun that has the ability to distract you will force you out of that chair and away from work. Recognize your procrastination triggers. If weekend productivity is a trigger, it may be best to schedule throughout the week for business and leave the weekends open for family fun. The gleeful sounds of your children or grandchildren playing may also be distracting so choose your office space carefully in order to filter out other sounds when your home office is open for business. Don’t set yourself up to fail.

Everyone is vulnerable to the call of procrastination. Striking a balance in your home and workplace and recognizing your triggers are two ways to keep that monkey off your back.

Related Reading:

5 Ways to Manage Your Time While Working at Home Online

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Tweet Your Brand and Message to Your Niche Easily With This Easy Tip

Since I’ve started blogging as a WAHM, things have changed with the speed of light.  Twitter has taken off as the new Web 2.0 social networking site.

Best described as a micro blogging platform, each time you tweet an update you’re limited to 140 characters.  Soon you’ll become a Twitter addict like me, and as you become more experienced, you’ll easily become amazed at just how much you information you can fit into such a small space. You even begin to think in terms of 140 characters!

I’ve once tweeted that I consider Twitter to be one huge global online education classroom.

The power of Twitter lies within building established relationships. Simply put,  many people don’t care what you do until you have built a relationship with them as a result of following.

Although I try to stay “in the loop” during the day when I’m away from my computer and do tweet from my iPhone, there are certain limitations.  For example, I’m not able to include links to blog posts or Bonanzle sales that I would like to keep within my tweet stream.  I frequently hold Contests and Giveaways on Moomette’s Magnificents Reviews.

Since I also have a Virtual Assistant website, I maintain a separate Twitter account for that business, rather than use my blogging Twitter name.

What I’ve discovered is that Tweet Later Pro is an excellent platform to help me achieve those means.  With Tweet Later Pro, you can

• Schedule tweets across all your twitter accounts

• Send DMs to all your followers

• Improve your productivity on Twitter

• Manage multiple Twitter accounts on one single page

• Keep your Facebook, MySpace and other social accounts up to date by scheduling updates via the Tweet Later Pro Ping.fm module

Using the Twitter productivity tools, you can quite easily stay on top of your game and manage your time more constructively in order to work on blog posting and develop social networking contacts!

For More Information visit: Tweet Later

Related Info:

Turn Twitter Into a Powerful Marketing Tool

Use Twitter As an Easy Way to Gain New Clients

Incorporate Twitter Into Your Daily Business Routine

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Tired of your Blogger Design? Spring’s the Time to Get a New Makeover!

Tired of your Blogger Design?  Spring’s the Time to Get a New Makeover!

Now that Spring is just around the corner, I decided to do a little sprucing up and housecleaning here on Mama Mentor ~ sort of re-arrange the furniture so to speak! As a result, Mama Mentor has a new look ~ a complete makeover facelift, thanks to Lady Java at LadyJava Creations!

Read the whole article at Moomette’s Mama Mentor, March, 2009

Copyright 2010 Moomette’s Magnificents – All Rights Reserved

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Early Retirement – Daydreams and Other Baby Boomer Crazy Ideas

Normally I read about 20 national newspapers online on a daily basis for my day job as a research analyst.  Today I saw a headline in the Baltimore Sun which caught my attention ~  Job loss Hits Seniors Especially Hard.

The reason this headline stood out to me is that as many readers know, I’ve been trying to establish myself online in preparation for retirement.

Within the last week, my organization has been discussing the possibility of an early retirement incentive plan for employees 55 and over.  The kicker is that the decision to retire would have to be made quickly, and those who accept would have to be out the door by March 31.  It takes me longer than that to pick out an outfit for a special occasion when I go shopping!

The idea of retiring and not having to deal with the daily grind of a commute is certainly enticing.  I really can see myself taking care of the grandkiddos for a day or two and devoting more time to my blogs during daylight hours, instead of 2 or 3 am.  But the reality hits me between the eyes, that I still have one kid finishing up college; a mortgage; car payments and other necessities ~ like Internet fees and of course, food on the table ~ makes me realize that I would need to get at least a part-time job to pull this all off.

So far, my income from blogging isn’t putting me in the same category as Darren, at ProBlogger.

The article goes on to say that:

“Moreover, rejoining the labor force can be harder for older people, who often encounter subtle age bias.”

“It tends to take them longer to find a new job after they’re laid off than it does younger workers,” Johnson said. “When older workers find a new job, they tend to experience a pretty sharp decline in wages.”

“The flip side, experts say, is that economic necessity is forcing many to stay on the job well into their 60s and beyond, causing considerable stress when those jobs are eliminated.”

A similar article followed in the New York Times detailing how Seniors and Baby Boomers are delaying retirement or having to find part-time work to supplement their retirement incomes: Losing the Glint of the Golden Years.

Although I did set up a Virtual Assistant website, I haven’t really devoted the time to pursuing it on the level of really actively seeking clients on a daily, permanent basis.  Between all that I have on my plate, I’m really going to have to network and see if working at home is feasible.  Doing so would at least make up for some of my lost income from my full-time job.

The other factor I’m considering is signing up for a temporary agency, where I could hopefully start a second career in a permanent part-time position in my professional capacity as a Paralegal.  I know that even if I’m hired, it will be for far less than what I’m currently making ~ but the trade-off would be that I would be part-time.

I surveyed my Twitter friends, and many of them offered some positive encouragement:

HillaryDePiano @Moomettesgram I would imagine more companies are hiring temps than full time because they don’t have to pay them benefits

bargainbriana @Moomettesgram A few years back my cousin work in temp agency and got hired on perm for enterprise corp job.

integratedmom @Moomettesgram At the same time, I think anything is possible, esp if you’re well-networked. Many jobs (PT or FT) aren’t officially posted.

sanssecret @Moomettesgram yes, and yes. Especially if you’re only looking for p/t.

imaginestudios @Moomettesgram I’ve worked for temp agencies in the past. It’s possible, but not common to get full-time work.

My resume is always up-do-date, so I’m probably going to send it to a temporary agency to try to get some feedback. I should at least be able to get some kind of idea on my marketability before I actually have to make an official decision.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to network online, beef up my online  presence, and follow through on all the valuable Mom Masterminds advice. I hope to increase my income in affiliate marketing, as well as still dabble in vintage collectibles on Bonanzle.

The thought of voluntarily giving up your day job in this current economic situation is really stressful.  I know it’s even more stressful for those who have been separated from their jobs involuntarily.

So what do you think?  Retire early and take my chances, or stick with a good thing for another 5 years?

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