24-Hour Cancellation

I am waiting on bids to come in, and thought I should explain here what can happen if you have a ton of bids come in at once. There is a feature on vworker that allows you to cancel any bid within 24 hours of being accepted. Especially when you first start out with vworker, you may put in 10-20 bids in the hope of winning one or two. But what if you won all 20? In most cases, that would be too large of a workload at once. So you can cancel all the bids you don't want to work on within 24 hours of the employer accepting your bid, without penalty. After 24 hours, the project will be put into arbitration if you try to cancel.

This is just one of many awesome features that vworker has established to make it the number one choice for working from home!

Back to work I go

I have had another bid come in from vworker and have quite a few other things going on this week, so I will be taking a short break from blogging to work! When I come back, I will continue to arrange this blog in a user-friendly way. Thanks for reading.

Vworker is Legit!!!! Click on my links to see!

There is some question if Vworker is legit. I promise you they are! I am wary of pretty much all things Internet. So I was a little nervous about them until I received and then cashed my first check. They went through without a problem and I continue to bid on jobs there. I don't have a current project I am working on right now because I have been busy getting this blog up and running but I started bidding again the other day.

The links below my title and to the right of this post will take you to their site -- check it out! You have nothing to lose and remember: it's free to sign up with them.

Vworker is NOT Just for SAHMs

Just found out my brother used to work for Vworker when it was called Rent-a-Coder. Funny, huh? He is a computer whiz -- very unlike his sister, who is still learning my way around.

But the point is, stay-at-home moms are not the only ones who can benefit from vworker's site. Do you just want a part-time income to supplement a full-time job? Or do you want to work just to support your chocolate cravings? LOL Whatever your desire is, I believe Vworker is the place to go!

I was also thinking about students. Especially when your life is so full of studying and being part of school activities, wouldn't it be swell to have a flexible job to support some of your extracurricular endeavors? Look to Vworker because no degree is needed! No experience is even needed to get started -- and what other job can claim that? The problem with many jobs in today's economy is that you need one of two things: a degree or experience. How do you get experience without a job? Try vworker -- I think you will love it!

Work available on Vworker

I thought I should publish a post on how much work is available on Vworker. The current statistics are: Employers: 158,455. Workers: 323,502. Open Projects: 2,323.

There are six categories of projects listed on Vworker, with more than a hundred sub and sub-sub categories, so you can filter the projects that show up when you click "Newest Projects". The five main categories are: administrative support, business services, design arts and multimedia, technology, writing and translation, and other. Within these categories sub and sub-sub categories exist, such as: data entry, phone/technical support, telemarketing, webpage design, web programming, mobile apps, and many, many more!!! Check out their site to see all of them. One that I think sounds fun: writing thank-yous.

Also, you can take tests to show your proficiency in a certain area. Like for me, I have no formal training or education in writing, but I took a few ExpertRating tests on grammar and vocab to show I knew what I was doing. Don't worry if you don't have a degree or something -- just prove to the employers that you can do it!

Don't be discouraged by the large number of workers compared to projects. Once you have worked for an employer, there is often repeat work available. I work mainly for a couple employers, but will branch off to do something a little different at times. If you get an employer that you work well with and likes you, they can specifically invite you to bid on future projects.

Grrrr--lost out on an awesome opportunity!

So I got invited to a job on Vworker but decided it looked like too big of a project to bid on. I was thinking to bid around $300 and it would have taken me about a month, at least, to complete the job. Just found out the winning bidder bid over a thousand dollars! Feel like crying....cuz seriously -- I could have got it done in a month and that's pretty decent money, in my opinion, for working 1-3 hours a day.

Learning how to bid takes some practice, and you will probably under-bid on some jobs until you get the hang of it. Vworker's site has some articles to help you bid and I would highly recommend reading them. However, I had read them all and still underbid!!!! I was so scared of bidding too high and not getting the job that I underbid and on a couple jobs got a little stressed because I didn't make much for my efforts!

If you just want to win a few jobs to get your ratings up and get your name out there, bidding low is not such a bad thing. But once you are an experienced worker, you should raise the amount you bid.

I just can't quit thinking about this project -- gotta get over it and move on!!!!

Taxes--The Reason I Started Working From Home

So, before we were married, my husband and I were both self-employed. He was a welder and I was in the healthcare field. My husband made good money, but didn't save for taxes, and ended up paying the IRS with credit cards. By the time we got married, we had huge credit card bills, with nothing to show for it but a happy IRS! : )

This is basically the reason I started searching for work from home. We wanted to get our credit cards paid off faster to boost our credit and help us to save for a down payment on a bigger house, as we are outgrowing our house as our family continues to expand.

So--if you are serious about working from home, DON'T neglect the tax angle! No matter WHAT you do from home, if you are not working as an actual employee with taxes taken out of your check, you WILL have to pay the IRS at a later date! Don't get caught in a trap like we did! Learn from our mistakes and take a pro-active approach to saving for your taxes. Plus, track your expenses. And you know what? Kids are pretty awesome to have when you file, too!

Taxes--Yeah, you still have to pay 'em!!!!

There are a lot of questions about self-employment and taxes. Working for vworker IS considered self-employment, but really, it's not that big of a deal. I am not an accountant or tax-specialist of any sort, but combined, my husband and I have ten years of experience being self-employed! For specific advice, please consult your tax advisor, but here are the basics.

You will be required to pay taxes on any money earned from vworker that is $600 or more. They will have you fill out a form to file with the IRS. My original accountant once told me to save one-third of my income for taxes. This is a great idea, if it is possible for you. That way, even if you don't have to pay in, you have a large chunk in savings.

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR EXPENSES!!!! This is the number one tip to all self-employed people. By claiming expenses, it reduces your total income, which mmeans you pay in less. The ideal tax situation is obviously one in which you owe nothing, or get money back. This does not always happen. But by tracking your expenses you can help yourself not to have to pay in as much.

When you work at home, you can claim 'business use of home'. So keep track of what you pay in utilities, water, heat, garbage removal, etc. If you buy a new computer, or you need a printer, claim it! We were able to claim our computer, printer cartridges, Internet connection and office chair. Ask me if you have any questions -- I won't make stuff up but if it's something I know the answer to, I'll be glad to help!

Working....with Kids!

I will admit that sometimes it can get a little hectic, balancing work, kids, husband, bills, etc. I will admit that it can get overwhelming at times. Sometimes I need to take a deep breath and remember why I am doing this!

Last summer, I also babysat three other kids full-time. I hadn't had my baby yet, but we had 5 kids here, ages 7,5,3,2 and almost 1. And yes, I worked!!!! Again, with the flexibility and ease of Vworker, I was able to do this.

Another aspect of being pregnant and working -- you can take as little or as much work on as you want. I quit working at the end of November by simply not bidding on any jobs. I didn't go back to work until the end of January. My baby was born in the beginning of December.

I have had occasions where I have had to work while my kids were awake, to meet a deadline (or so I can take a nap later myself : ) ) My oldest daughter, at age 2, thought it was great fun to sit in my room and bang away on an old keyboard and pretend she was 'working'.

Kids are observant. I would often snack while I worked (esp. when pregnant). My daughter soon started calling it "Mom's Working Candy".

I am so positive that any mother can make a go with Vworker. Please, feel free to ask questions -- I want to help! This has truly been an incredible opportunity for me.

Perfect Solution For ANY Mom!!!

Here's the icing on top of the cake: You don't have to be a SAHM to enjoy all the benefits of Vworker!!! I write about being a stay-at-home mom and working because that's what I have experienced. But if you are anyone looking for some part-time income, you can find it at vworker. It is safe, flexible, and can truly earn you money!!!

Need Work Done For You? Look at Vworker

Are you an entrepreneur? Are you already running a business from home? Need some help filling out some forms, or gathering some type of research? Do you have something that needs to be written, or re-written with SEO?

Basically, anything that can be done on the Internet can be hired out on Vworker. I am considering hiring someone with skills in blogging to look at mine and make suggestions. Seriously -- if you want work done, at Vworker you have thousands of employees at your fingertips. And you do not pay overtime, benefits, or any office expenses! All you pay for is completed work. You can also hire someone for hourly work, if that would be more beneficial to you. Most of the projects I see are for pay-for deliverables (meaning you get paid when the work is done). However, Vworker does have software available if an employer wishes to hire someone for work per hour.

Safety Features

The great thing about Vworker is: there are virtually no risks! They have many safety features built right in. I am, by nature, very wary of things I don't do often or do not understand. So, I am wary of the Internet! But I feel very safe working for Vworker.

For one thing, the employer has to deposit the money before you can even work on their project. To me, this is a huge safety feature. How discouraging to work hard on a project and not get paid! This feature does not allow an employer to suddenly decide not to pay you. If there are discrepancies, ie: you say you did the work but the employer does not, you can put the project into arbitration, and a third party will decide the fate of the money. If you are an honest and hard worker, you have nothing to fear -- you WILL get paid for your work!

Secondly, no personal information is shared. If you are particularly wary of all things Internet, you could even set up a separate e-mail account specifically for your working e-mails. This is the only piece of information vworker will ever share, and that is only to an employer that has already accepted your bid. They highly discourage outside communication, though. Anything said off-site can not be proved or disproved in an arbitration proceeding, so they warn against doing it. It is not illegal, per say, but frowned upon. From my own personal experience, it is much, much better to only communicate on-site.

You do need to provide a mailing address to Vworker if you want a snail mail check, but again, they will share this with no one. In fact, I got in trouble when I first started because I had not deleted personal information out of my resume ( I had just copied and pasted).

It is truly a completely safe way to work from home!!!!

Nothing is Free

So, you think, there must be a catch, right? How does this site make money?

Vworker charges a 15% fee after you have completed a project. It is free for the employer to post jobs and pay their workers -- after all, they are paying the worker. The worker, then, must pay Vworker 15% of the job they complete. Don't stop reading!!! You won't be mailing any checks, don't worry! What they do is subtract the 15% before they send you your check. So really, you don't even realize it's gone. They also charge a service fee to mail your check, or deposit into your Paypal account. They have various ways of paying you. Old-fashioned me prefers a snail mail check, and they charge me a $5 fee to mail it to me. You can set your preferences to not receive checks until you reach a certain amount, say $200. You can also select if you want to be paid once or twice or month.

Do not be turned off by the 15% fee! When you have your check in your hand, you get every penny. You don't have to send them anything. They subtract it automatically, so you don't even realize. The way I figure it is this: If I was working outside of the home, how much would I pay in daycare? How about gas? How about food? What about work clothes? Cool fact: Did you know moms who work from home can work in their PJs if they want to? : )

I think I would be spending more than 15% on the above items working outside of the home. I feel like it is a small price to pay for having a flexible, decent paying job and still being able to enjoy the sound of my kids giggling!

Its Flexible

So some people may think I'm absolutely crazy. After all, I have 3 kids 3 and under and I work from home!!! But you know what? With Vworker, it is totally flexible and easy to do.

If I would have achieved my first 'work at home dream', I would have been doing medical coding from home. However, I am sure they would have required a certain number of hours or a certain number of claims filed each day. With Vworker, I can set my own hours, and as long as I meet my deadlines, it does not matter when I work. One employer that I work with frequently that trusts me and likes my work doesn't even set deadlines for me, so it is truly 100% flexible work.

Some days, for example, when I have wanted a nap -- I have taken one! Then I would work that night, or double my efforts the next day. Even if you have a deadline, such as two weeks, you can still finish your work any time during that timeframe. If you want to, you can work really hard for the first week and take the second week off! Anything is possible with Vworker.

The Basics

VWorker is a totally free site that brings together employers and workers. They always say that if you are asked for money upfront to do something, it is probably not legitimate. I can not attest to the truth of that statement because I refused to try anything that asked me for money. I was trying to earn money, not spend it!!!

If you have some sort of skill, such as writing, proofreading, translation, transcription, programming, website development, etc., you can find work at vworker. I love to write. I have written all my life and am a naturally good speller and proofreader. However, I have never been able to figure out how to make money from my writing. Vworker provided me with the means to do this.

It is absolutely free to sign up with Vworker. They ask for standard information, such as name, e-mail address, snail mail address, etc. However, they have many safety features on their site, and will not share your personal information with anyone. Once you start work on a project, they will share your e-mail address with your employer, but that's it.

So here is how it works: You set your preferences to which type of job you prefer. For instance, for myself, I selected all the writing, editing and re-writing categories, and some other assorted categories that sounded fun. Then you will receive a list of jobs that fit your preferences. There is a job description for each one. If you are unclear of any details, there is a message system right on-site in which you can contact the employer.

Once you have decided on a job you know you can do, you bid on it. When I first started, I bid low so I could win some jobs and get some experience. When you win the bid, you start working!

The cool thing is, the employer has to escrow the money into the site before you can start working. So there is no chance of the employer deciding not to pay you. If there are problems with a certain project, the project will be put into arbitration, and a neutral 3rd party will decide who gets the money.

It is a totally safe environment and is soooo flexible! My three kids take naps and go to bed around 8:00 pm. These are the only times I work, and I have made decent money since I started working. These are just the basics on working for Vworker. I will publish more posts on more specific aspects of the site, or you can post a question or comment here.

You Really Can Work From Home!

Besides just enjoying to write and loving to write about my adorable kids, I wanted to start a blog to help other moms do what I do -- work from home in a completely flexible environment. The reason I wanted to work from home is to help pay off some bills. My husband is a very hard worker and we can live on his income alone. However, we wanted to accelerate our pay-offs, so I decided to look for a job. The first thing I did was go back to school for Medical Coding. I was an LPN before, so I thought this would be the perfect fit. Here's the deal: Everywhere I looked, they wanted 3-5 years of experience coding before they wanted to let you work at home. Well, that didn't fit in with my plans.

I was about to cancel our Internet connection because I figured I was not going to get a job. I did not want to pay money upfront for any data entry or envelope stuffing ventures, as I was not sure these were safe. I checked out everything on the Better Business Bureau's website (http://www.bbb.org/) to ensure I was dealing with a legitimate company.

I happened to stumble across a site called VWorker.com. This site has truly enabled me to work from home, is completely flexible, and is FREE!!!! Read on to learn more about vworker.

Click this link to visit vWorker.com

<a href="http://www.vworker.com/?txtFromURL=AId_7676725&CampaignId=Original">Click this link to visit vWorker.com</a>