Offline Sources of Income Ideas for Stay at Home Women

Some women who are either constrained to stay at home to take care of the kids and the needs of the whole family are not contented playing just plain housewives.  They also want to have a source of income either for personal necessities or, due to the rising cost of living, to augment the family earnings and contribute to the household’s financial needs.

In looking for means to earn a living at the comfort of home, a lot have resorted to searching means to earn online but if one lacks the skills and the technical knowledge, this is not an easy task.  As someone equipped with just an ordinary computer know-how  the earnings from online sites mostly does not compensate for the time spent plus the risk of being scammed.  Hence, if you are not a computer wizard and wants to earn within the confines of your home, engaging in offline activities would bring in more cash than trying to find it online at this stage.   You may also however make use of the internet  in these offline activities.  And to those who have no inkling where to start here are some ideas to take a crack at.

Make use of your skills.  Like, if you are good in baking, bake products you are good at and offer samples to friends and acquaintances and let them know that you accept orders.  Compute total cost and expenses, consider your labor, add a reasonable mark-up then set the selling price.  Offer discounts for volume orders to boast sales. 

You may also make most of a talent that you do extremely well.  A friend who has a knack for convincing people is earning by looking for seller or buyer of whatever item one  wants to dispose of or in need.   She uses free classified ads websites for advertising and then do follow-ups and negotiations mostly by phone with the client and her contacts and earn commission when the sale is finalized sometimes not only from the seller but from the buyer as well.    

Find something in your area for possible works that could be brought and done at home.  I have a neighbour who accepts consignment works for decorative handicraft products where she is supplied with all the materials and paid based on per piece completed products.  Normally this one requires a short training in the beginning.

Transform your hobbies or find a hobby of your interest and turn this into an income generating activity.  Examples are needle crafts where you may create an assortment of fancy pieces for various purposes and show these to friends as samples or take photos of your finished products and advertise these online.  If you don’t possess a skill that could possibly provide an income look for training centers that offers short courses on a variety of skills and select one that would appeal to you or you think you would enjoy doing.  Sometimes, there are organizations that offer free training for this purpose.

There are also skills that could be learned online, just do some searching and you may find something that you could do and offer your finish product for sale.  A friend learned how to bake a delicious brownie by searching the recipe and procedure online and is now earning from this activity.  

In our country, community stores locally called “sari-sari stores” are found almost everywhere and for a stay at home person this is also a good source of income.   Store owners buy merchandise mostly food and basic home needs by volume at groceries and sell these in the neighborhood with mark-up. They allocate a part within the house where to display the goods.  Customers are neighbors who either have no time for marketing or find it impractical to buy things at the groceries when they only had limited cash on hand to buy their daily needs.  One downside in this type of business is collection problems for credit sales hence, a cash payment is ideal but if it could not be avoided, be smart in determining whom to extend credit.

There are many other possibilities and the most viable is offering something for sale.  Just look around your neighborhood to find possible opportunities.   A delicious homemade ice candy had helped a widow’s daughter finish college.  How?  They live just across the street where a highly populated private school is located and the widow’s products had appealed to the taste not only of the students but those of non students as well.

You could engage in these activities within the confines of your home and although some aspects require that you have to go out of the house at times but this only means that you will be doing it for a brief period.  In between, squeeze in your online pursuits either for fun, stress therapy or additional resource to enhance your income on these offline activities like promoting your products or services on websites that offers free advertising. 

Questions About Life’s Ordeals and Possible Rationalization ….

Often times we are experiencing disappointments resulting from trials that are difficult to accept.  These besiege our thoughts with queries that are difficult to unravel and only the Lord could provide the best answers.  Below are some of common life issues with assumed explanations from personal experiences and accounts of people I know that had helped the afflicted one understand, accept and move on from similar situations. 

When intrigues had inflicted and humiliated a person unjustly

Question - Why people are cruel even when you have not done them wrong?

 Answer  - The Lord may want us to discover who our real friends are who would believe, accept, and stand by us whoever we are and whatever the situation is.

When faced with various trials and is at a loss of what to do

Question - What have I done to deserve this?

Answer   - The Lord may want us to learn from adversity so as to develop our character and make us a stronger, wiser and a better person.

When afflicted with an ailment whose pains are too much to bear 

Question - Lord why had you allowed this to happen to me?

Answer   - Perhaps the Lord wants us to realize how precious life is and the glory of the life beyond and, that He wants us to share it with Him for eternity.

When you strive to be on top or the best but fail to be a winner most of the time 

Question - Why could I not win and be number one?

Answer   - Being number and on top may make us feel very important and would not need God anymore.   But when we are not, we realize that we need God and recognize His importance in our lives.

When suffering from a great loss and had been abandoned by the persons expected to be allies or people that could be depended to 

Question - Lord what have I done to deserve this?

Answer   - If everything and everyone else is gone, the Lord is still there anytime, anyplace and anywhere when needed for He is just a prayer away.  

And, applying gratitude to our daily life by being thankful of the things that we have and enjoy will help ease pains and disappointments.  A simple prayer like “Lord I may not understand what is happening to my life now, but thank you for the provisions that I still have.  Please take charge of the rest and help me become the person you want me to be” will help you get through.

Surviving An Accident Trauma

This incident happened three decades ago but had created a phobia that will affect me for life.

It took place when I was working in a semi exclusive resort complex which could only be accessed by authorized utility and private vehicles with resort stickers and guests’ cars with confirmed reservations.   Hence, if you miss the schedule of the employee’s shuttle going in and out of the more than thirty hectares premises, means of transport is difficult unless you have your own car.  

It was the last hotel employees’ shuttle bus trip for day shift workforce which was scheduled to leave at 6:30PM and the mini bus is almost full.  The hotel where we worked is just one of the facilities within the complex, which also includes a membership club house, two separate beach fronts, residential low  rise condos and villas, golf courses and nature and mountains along the background.  Our bus had to pass a stretch of elevated roads along mountain side on the way out of the resort premises going to the town proper where most employees reside.  We were almost on the outskirts of the resort approaching plain land when we noticed that our bus was rapidly gaining instead of decreasing speed while going down the slope.  

I was setting behind the driver and sensed something was amiss so I hold on to my set and in a split second heard a loud crash and felt a shaking of our bus and then pandemonium broke loose.  Passengers are scrambling out of the bus and I heard shouting all around.  I also clambered out of the bus and once outside, I noticed my left arm dangling and likewise feel wet all over.   It was then that I realized that I am bathed with blood coming from the abrasions on my head and face caused by broken glasses and oozing from a wound just below my left shoulder.  People came to my assistance and minutes later my major wounds had been bandaged by pieces of thorn shirts of my co employees to stop the flow of blood.  They then laid me in an improvised stretcher, entered  into a car and rushed to a nearby hospital.  

It was while on the way to the hospital that I started feeling the excruciating pain and once I was brought inside I requested the first attendant for a painkiller.  I think they gave this to me promptly while they are cleaning my wounds for I start feeling numbness creeping my whole body easing the terrible pain.  A few minutes later I was again carried into the car and rushed to a bigger hospital in the city due to incomplete facilities in that small hospital. This time I recognized our company doctor (who immediately came to assist upon learning of the accident) taking charge for although I was a bit  muzzy, but, I had not lost consciousness completely.  The taking over of numbness over pain had helped and I was fervently praying to the Lord for mercy and asking Him to let me live for my eldest son who was only an infant then.  

I lost total consciousness while being treated at the hospital in the Metropolis.  I woke up in the ICU the next day finding my whole left arm in cast and my head, face and upper body in bandages and feeling great pain particularly on my left upper part.  I was told by my doctors that I was very lucky to have survived.  They got several splinters of glass that entered my body and a couple of pieces according to them were just barely an inch from a lung and my heart.  They told me that I am already out of danger but still need to undergo a major operation due to the broken bone of my left arm. My left arm was operated two weeks later and my doctors allowed me to check out after a week to recuperate at home.  

I was required to report to the hospital every  week  for close observation on the development of my operated left arm and also of the deep wound  beside my left armpit  which had not totally healed yet.   My whole arm except my hands was in plaster cast and it was uncomfortable and difficult to move and painful too at times.  This had been my plight for a couple of months and I can’t even take care of my son.  What’s more frustrating was the result of examinations of my left arm after the 2^nd month which revealed a negative development.  The damaged bone did not heal as expected hence I had to undergo another operation again and this time a bone grafting was done.  They took a portion from my hipbone and according to what had been explained to me this was placed between the broken bones on my left arm so that it would join and heal.  This second operation was more painful than the first for the pains which on the first was mostly felt on the upper part now affect my whole body and a little movement from any part of my body would produce a pain that really made me cry.  I stayed in the hospital again for another two weeks.

This time I had a continuous recuperation and felt the slow but sure improvement of my left arm.  After the operated bone had healed it took me again another two months of physical therapy to help my left arm and fingers move again.  The capacity however had been unlike before and it took me almost a year before I could be able to use it normally again but capability is not as before.   I was supposed to undergo another operation a year later after complete recovery to remove the metal support placed on the bone of my left arm but the pains I had suffered had scared me of undergoing any operation again.  Hence, until today the metal support is still inside enveloping my upper left arm bone and with God’s grace, this has not created any discomfort.  

Now years after, my left arm had completely recovered and functions normally as if nothing happened.  Only the visible scars showed the traces of what I had gone through.  That accident however had a lifelong effect that I think I will not be able to get over anymore, and that is, my phobia for fast running vehicles and also even for sea and land transport.  Whenever I’m on board a fast vehicle I can’t help getting jittery and would rather prefer to get off and find another means to reach my destination.  Before the accident, I love fast travel but now my travel motto is “Better delayed but arrive safe than go fast and assume risk.”  

Life Outside of My Window One Cloudy Afternoon

It’s only three o’clock in the afternoon but the sun had totally hidden its rays.  The ambiance around was a picture of gloominess and without a watch to consult to you would assume it’s almost twilight time.

It was a boring afternoon and I was not in the mood of doing anything.   With nothing to keep me occupied at hand I decided to make an observation on the flow of life within the area where we live and out of a foolish notion I decided to take note of the activities observed. 

Not farther away which I presumed is coming from the basketball court which is not within my eye’s vision I could hear the shrieks and laughter of children playing and shouting unmindful of the misty surroundings.  Then came the shouts of a trike (a three wheel local transport for short distance travel) driver calling for passengers going out of our subdivision.  A lady in white and blue with a child in tow responded to his call. 

A husband and wife with their two year old son passed by heading toward the direction of the basketball court.  If you’re wondering how I knew the age of the child, it’s because the couple and their son are regular customers of my small variety store.  Then a man in yellow shirt riding a bike passed by going out of our subdivision.  I heard a roar of a coming motorbike and minutes later a blue motorcycle with two riders entered the subdivision gate.  Then two trikes loaded with two passengers each passed on the way out of the subdivision followed by a motorbike again driven by a man with a lady student as back rider. 

Two houses away three women neighbors are huddled together in what seems to be a very enjoyable exchange of conversations as I can see them laughing merrily from time to time.

Along the small creek located on the opposite side of the road near our house were several children who were walking along the edge of the riverbank searching for I don’t know what on the water below.

People walking also kept on coming in and going out of the subdivision.  Some of those coming in are holding plastic bags mostly transparent whose contents are food that may have been bought from a nearby “talipapa” (local term for a small market) intended to be prepared for dinner while some are just plainly walking while conversing with one another.  There were also students in their school uniforms who I presume are already on their way home.

These activities kept on going on all the time, trikes, motorcycles and cars coming in and out of our small neighborhood and, also the flow in and out of people walking.  

This is the daily course of life within our area which is a run of the mill occurrence and could not be considered interesting in any angle but had made me pass a couple of hours unnoticed and somehow assuage my uneasiness and boredom for the afternoon. 

Healing After A Breakup

Broken relationship is perhaps one of the most difficult challenge to triumph over in life, a benchmark that once overcome would make the survivor more equipped and sturdier in facing other trials to survive.

The hardest phase after breaking up is the process of healing.  Normally, the party who is deeply hurt and affected is the aggrieved one who due to physical, mental and emotional pains is totally lost how to start picking up the pieces and starting all over again. 

Healing starts after acceptance.  That is, acceptance that the relationship has come to an end, that the situation is real and you will now have to face the consequences alone.  To start out, avoid expecting that your partner will listen to his conscience and return as this will only establish false hopes and lengthen the agony of waiting for something to turn out right when his behaviors or attitude before the breakup had proven otherwise.

Face the reality that you are now on your own and set out living by yourself or with your children if you have.   Consider the welfare of the people around you and those who will be affected by your misery.   Analyze the situation, strive to live peacefully, acknowledge that life is very precious and believe that you have the capacity to improve your fate by not depending on someone else.  Plan your life and implement what you conceive as appropriate corrections and support these with actions.  Be firm but play fair in your decisions and, most of all, pray and expect for God’s grace to help you through.

The saying “Time heal all wounds” is very true.  In the earlier stage when the pains are at their worst, you may seem to loss hope but don’t let this fool you.  Avoid wallowing in desolation for it will never help but on the contrary may promote self pity and lead to loss of self esteem.   Start getting busy with positive and productive activities.  Let time pass by engaging in actions backed up by plans and firm decision.  You may experience the first longest year in your life at this time, but looking back after the first anniversary will make you realize a considerable change in yourself and realizing this, the subsequent years will seem to be passing fast and you can feel that these are now smoother episodes to go through.  

Although this may not adapt to all cases but to some survivors, they came to realize years later that what seemed then to be an unbearable turning point in their lives have worked on their favor.   I can affirm the same not through material gauge but more on the peace and contentment that I now enjoy through the grace of our Lord.

Motorcycle Driving, Its Advantages and Hazards

Motorcycles are everywhere in the metropolis.  Streets including highways are teeming with these vehicles daily, so are the lanes and roads in the provinces.

This type of land transport have become very popular primarily due to:

• It is cheaper and easily affordable to an average income earner
• Low fuel consumption compared to other vehicles thus, a big cut on fuel expenses.
• Easier to navigate even in  rough roads and  narrow places. 
• Its size makes travel easier and faster in traffic congested streets and avenues of the metropolis.  
• Lesser parking need as it only requires a very minimal space.

These rationales had boost up the sale of motorcycles.  But upshot of this increase in motorcycle ownership is a step up in road mishaps involving these vehicles.  Government had been adapting measures to prevent these accidents like providing motorcycle lanes in every major thoroughfare and requiring use of government approved standard safety helmets yet there are still motorcycle accident reports in the news almost every day.  Sadly, most of these are not attributable to machine defects but mostly due to human errors, like drunkenness, driver’s arrogance, hardheadedness and non observation of traffic rules and regulations. 

Some of these mishaps even involve unlicensed minors who once aboard a motorcycle are experiencing an extra high feeling that makes them oblivious of the risks of fast driving and the damage it may bring on their lives and on the lives and properties of others.  Sample case is the attitude of some youths in our neighborhood who would drive their roaring motorcycles at high speed unmindful of the dangers they pose to residents of the place particularly to children who play on the side of the streets.  There are cases too where a family of three to four composed of the father, mother and children are all passengers of a single vehicle where some members usually the children are without protective helmets.  Although this practice is not tolerated in the highways and main thoroughfares but this sight is common on inner streets where no traffic enforcers are posted.

A motorcycle is a very light vehicle where the rider’s only protection against harm in cases of an accident is helmet that could only protect the head and not the whole body.  Owners should exercise sense of conscientiousness to ensure not only its passenger’s safety but that of third parties too that may suffer for this carelessness.  A little indiscretion would mean damage to or loss of life hence it would do more good if every hazard safeguard  are exercised and  traffic rules and regulations are diligently observed. 

It would be preferable to be bothered by observing the “must measures for safety” than to be sorry for irreversible damage or loss resulting to carelessness and misdemeanors.  Being a responsible owner (or user) always pays for it will save not only your life but possibly also that of your love ones and third parties who are unwilling victims that had to suffer for someone’s recklessness.

The Power and Effect of Thank You

Thank you is a simple two words phrase that is frequently taken for granted nonetheless, its use or absence of use may stimulate both positive and negative reactions.

Observing the daily activities of life around us, one could not help but notice that a lot of people had discarded the practice of saying these words as a show of appreciation whenever a favor had been received, extended or granted to them no matter how trivial it may seem. 

In a ‘filled to capacity’ public utility vehicles  I often witness incidents where someone offers a seat to somebody who is less physically fit or assist a fellow passenger particularly those with baggage in boarding or alighting the vehicle  but recipient did not spare even a second to acknowledge the courtesy extended.  In our country where community stores flourish, it is common for anybody to walk in and request for a bigger bill to be changed to smaller denominations, ask for a cigarette to be lighted, seek for directions or information and, someone asking for material help or begging for something and just walk away after their purpose was achieved.   These cases and many other acts of kindness may seem insignificant but as someone who had been extended a favor  nothing will be lost by acknowledging the act with just a simple thank you.   Although this is not a practice of the majority but it is somewhat disappointing to witness a lack of appreciation for whatever concern or aid someone has made over somebody.

Thank you may seem inconsequential to some but if we just have to analyze its effect we will realize its value and impact to both parties.

 Neglecting to say a simple “thank you” may:

-      Deter further favor  from the persons who have realized the receiver’s character. 

-      Change people’s outlook towards extending assistance as display of ungratefulness is an effective tool to discourage not only the benefactor but also the witnesses in upholding a “good Samaritan” practice.

-      Result to loss of respect for someone who is consistent in doing this.

Saying a simple thank you for ordinary gestures and favors received would:

-      Uplift the spirit of the donor as knowing that someone appreciates what you have done also feels gratifying.

-      Inspire donor or volunteer to do or share more of what he could spare.

-      Promote admiration, trust and respect towards the person who knows how to appreciate.

Generosity, be it material, physical of even emotional in form is not an obligation but a voluntary act from the person who extends it.  If the act is sincere in nature sans any ulterior motive, the donor does not expect a repayment or any benefit from doing it.   But it does not mean however that this would be sufficient rationale for showing ingratitude to someone who had intended something good for your welfare no matter how petty is the amount involve or the effort made.  A sincere thank you will only cost you few seconds to utter and this would more than compensate for the affection that had been extended and will likewise develop a positive attitude both to the giver and the receiver if constantly put into practice.

Political Dynasties How And When Will It End?

Clans have governed most places in our country and despite the prohibition of a political dynasty in our constitution this practice had gained roots and control on their respective areas for decades.

As politics is starting to heat up due to the coming national election next year, political clans are now again making their presence felt all over the country.  In some places not only one member of a family has filed for candidacy but several members from grandparents to parents to children, cousins, uncles, aunties and in laws are vying for various local and national positions in the government brandishing the political dynasty defense of “let the people choose” against criticisms hurled on their un-ending quest for political power.   And worst is, family members who cannot make it to regular positions have managed to encroach into party list representative positions which are supposed to be allotted only for marginalized sectors of our society.

Our constitution has a provision against political dynasty but the lack of enabling laws had made this provision ineffective.  And the ones who should set the rules pertaining to this provision are our lawmakers from the lower and upper houses of congress whose members are mostly coming from various political clans throughout the whole Philippine archipelago.  Hence, it would be like aiming for the moon to expect that they will initiate and sincerely exert efforts to create an enabling law that will limit or put an end to this practise.   With this fact could we anticipate them to heed their conscience and create a law that would hinder or bring to an end their reign and easy access to financial gain?

It is true that decision is on the hands of the people but it would be a herculean task for a deserving newcomer to stand up in a competition when all the odds are against him.  The clans in power has control of the political machinery,  the clout and the money that will make an unknown fade into insignificance even before the political battle heats up.  In places particularly in remote provinces where the lands and  livelihood resources  are almost owned and controlled  by families and relatives of these political clans, the people’s right to choose whom to vote is also under this control as doing otherwise would mean a loss of domicile and source of income  for their respective families.

Now, we only have to wonder how and when this exercise will end when the people who should set and implement the laws are thwarted by personal interests and ambitions to initiate and make decisive actions.  The unknown but deserving aspirants deserve a fair chance to compete and prove their worth but this chance are easily snuff out by the powers that rule which is, the dominance of clans who have established roots and hard-core comrades in the area for decades.

Empathy For A Mother’s Ordeal

Elaine was born from an impoverished family.  From childhood to early adulthood she struggled to survive and like any individual, dreamed of having a comfortable life too.  Thinking that having someone at her side would improve her life she plunged into marriage at an early age but it didn't take her long to realize that it was a disastrous decision.   Marriage had made her life more miserable and realizing that this partnership is turning to worst she decided to face life bravely with her kids alone.

Thus, having survived a stormy married life, Elaine was determined to do everything she could to provide a brighter future for her children.  Setting aside personal comforts and pleasures, she devoted full time priority to her children’s needs by venturing into various honest income generating resources, unmindful of other people’s opinion and at times setting aside personal pride just to make her aspirations for them come true.  Years later, her efforts paid off for all her children had been able to finish their studies and found decent and good paying jobs. 

This realization of her goal should have made the mother completely happy knowing that she had accomplished her mission and successfully survived difficult challenges.  It turned out however that her trials had not ended yet and this time she is questioning herself where she had been amiss. 

Another test that she is facing now is how to be able to withstand one of her child’s nonchalant attitude towards her.  It is painful for a wife to be taken for granted by a husband, but being treated the same by a child whom you had strive to be equipped and capable in facing life is excruciating.

I don’t intend to take sides in this situation, but, children who react this way now that they are in a much better position than the person who had made it possible for them to attain what they are now is difficult to understand.  The issue here is not the financial side but more on the lack of respect, concern, consideration and gratefulness to the one who had planned, worked selflessly, and intended nothing but a much better life for them.  Generation gap may have something to do in these parent-child conflicts and the clash in beliefs and principles had overshadowed and totally discarded the value of relationship that had been built through the years.  Association of the child with people her age who had poor relationships with parents may have some influence in the unbecoming behavior.  Somehow, it’s upsetting that a child could totally ignore a parent’s existence while living a daily normal routine, while the mother is suffering in silence for this cold treatment.   It would not be easy for anyone to understand someone’s feeling unless he had been in the same situation, and in this case, the uncompassionate child would only understand the mother’s sentiment once he become a parent himself.

No one is perfect, and if in the child’s standpoint, it was the parent who has erred, don’t the parent’s stance may also be the same?  Would it mean too much if the child would chip off a little of his pride and initiate reconciliation instead of flaunting an “I couldn't care less” front and, assert that it should be the parent who should make amend first?  A parent’s joy could not be measured by a simple display of sincere concern and thoughtfulness and it would not cost much to do this.  I only hope that it will not be too late for the child to be aware of the offhand attitude that had pained his mother. 

As children, it is preferable to make our parents feel being loved instead of causing anguish while they are still alive for once they’re gone, no amount of tears could bring back their life again.  That is, the beauty and fragrance of a bouquet of flowers could only be appreciated if the receiver could still see and smell it, but, once the recipient is gone, these flowers no matter how expensive will only rot un-admired on the place they are laid.