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If you are confused about balance transfer credit cards it’s likely because you’ve heard some of the myths about them. Believe me, I get it. I’ve been there. There are so many myths about balance transfer credit cards, it can be hard to distinguish the truth from the fantasy. Well, good news. Today we’re covering […]
The post Busted! 11 Common Myths About Balance Transfer Credit Cards appeared first on Incomist.
Source: incomist.com
I have been working from home or while traveling full-time since around 2013, and since then I have heard so many myths about work from home jobs.
Some of the things that I’ve heard over the years include:
“Working from home must be boring.”
“You must have so much free time to get chores done!”
“Aren’t all work from home jobs scams?”
“Working from home isn’t a real job”
Whether you work for yourself and your office is in your home, or if you telecommute and work for someone else, I’m sure you’ve heard some of these myths about work from home jobs as well.
Truth is, so many people think that working from home is something different, until they get to experience it.
And, this is something that many people are learning in 2020 due to current events!
Now, I want to say that I absolutely love and enjoy working from home.
I would not change a single thing about working from home.
However, some people have said certain things to me that really make me laugh. I think part of that is because they’ve never worked from home before, and the reality is that working from home is still work.
Working from home can be different for everyone because we all have different jobs. Also, what your work from home situation is like makes a big difference too.
Working from home with kids can make things more challenging. Some jobs keep you tied to your laptop, some require extreme concentration, some are more flexible, etc.
Still, it’s all work!
Today, I want to talk about some of the most common work from home facts and myths. I’m going to explain the misconceptions of working remotely and what’s really happening when people work from home.
Now, I hope today’s article doesn’t come across as a big complaint. Instead, I simply want to shed some light on the topic and explain the truth about working from home.
Content related to myths about work from home jobs:
“You must have so much free time to get chores done!”
When I first started working from home, I received so many phone calls from people asking me to do favors, and almost every single time it started with “since you have nothing else to do during the day…”
While I don’t mind helping others around me, I know I’m not alone – this is something that many, many people who work from home have an issue with.
It can be so hard saying no.
Many people think that if you work from home, you don’t actually do anything all day. This sometimes leads to friends and family members asking for favors from those who work from home.
I know friends who work from home who have been asked to babysit, pick things up from the store, grab dry cleaning, bring a pet to the groomer, and more.
If you have the time and you want to, by all means say yes to every favor. It does feel good to help others.
But, don’t feel like you have to jump on every request just because you work from home.
One of the reasons people believe that last myth is because working from home is so flexible, and they’ve probably heard that before.
The truth is, while it’s flexible, many people who work from home still try and stick to a normal-ish schedule.
That’s because if you have other people in your life that keep regular 9-5 hours or have kids in school, working during “normal” hours makes the most sense. It’s probably the only time you have to get any work accomplished.
Be honest with the people around you and explain the situation. More importantly, be realistic with yourself. It feels nice to help other people out, but running errands all day for others can prevent you from completing work, force you to work late in the evening or weekends, and it can also cost you money.
It also helps to set some boundaries with those around you. Tell the people in your life if there are certain times they shouldn’t bother you, that you might not pick up the phone right away, etc.
Not everyone will understand, some people will get it, and some people probably aren’t sure what working from home means.
But, most people will happily respect your boundaries once you tell them what they are.
“I could never work from home, I would be too bored.”
I hear this all the time, ever since I first started working from home.
This is one of the myths about work from home jobs that people believe because they think they would miss working with other people. I understand that – I remember having lots of fun with some of the people I used to work with.
Many people believe this myth because it might sound boring to stay in your house all of the time. It can be, that’s not always the case.
Some people would probably think that blogging is boring whether they did it in an office or from home. That’s probably true for lots of jobs.
Your job can be exciting, boring, stressful, calm, easy, difficult, etc. And, it can feel like all of those things over the course of the day.
Another thing is that while working from home might sound boring to some people, I look at what it allows me to do. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, and I don’t find it boring, at all.
But, I also love that working from home allows me to travel full time. I have gotten to visit so many amazing places. And, I can choose when I work.
Still, there are some days when I’d rather be doing something other than working, but that doesn’t make working from home boring.
If you’re struggling with this, think about what your situation allows you to do. Focus on the positives.
Some people love what they do, and others love what their job allows them to do.
When I tell people what I do, they usually don’t believe it. Many people think that home businesses are scams.
While this myth has eased a little bit over the years, a LOT of people thought working from home was a scam just about a decade ago.
Things have changed a lot in the last several years!
According to Stanford, 42% of the U.S. labor force currently works from home full-time in 2020.
Not all work at home jobs are scams. I have a legitimate business! Just like anyone else who has a business, mine is a business as well.
There are many, many work from home jobs that exist and are legitimate.
Unfortunately, there are still some scams out there.
There are scams that say a company will pay you $10 for every envelope you stuff. There are some scams where a person says they’ll send you a big check up front, but you have to forward part of that check back to the business.
Work from home scams do exist, but that’s not at all the case with the majority of them.
Please head to How To Spot Work From Home Job Scams And Avoid Them At All Costs to learn more.
When you work from home or have your own business, it can be very difficult to completely stop working.
Whenever we go on a trip, I almost always continue working the same amount that I do when I am at home. When you are a business owner, especially in the beginning, you want to bust your butt off to make your business successful.
It can go the other way too. If you are working from home and see dirty dishes in the sink or unfolded laundry, you can easily get distracted from what you’re doing and stop working.
It’s also easy to get distracted by personal emails, phone calls, social media, etc.
This is something I still struggle with.
One of the things that may help you separate work from the rest of your life is making sure you set boundaries and create a good physical and mental space to work.
I recommend setting work hours for yourself, making time for vacations, taking breaks throughout the workday, and so on.
Even though you are working from home and you probably don’t have anyone looking over your shoulder to see what you are doing all day long, I still recommend having clear work hours. This will help you manage your time, complete your work, and “leave” work for the day.
If you get distracted by what else is happening in your house, try to make some space that is only for working. You don’t need an office – it can be as simple as a clean dining room table. Or, do the dishes and fold the laundry before you start working.
Working from home is still working!
You still have a job and tasks still need to be completed.
This is one of the myths about work from home jobs that gets me the most.
For some reason, many people associate working from home with not doing any work at all. Boy, are they wrong!
I have even had people not believe me and then ask for a full schedule of what I do each day to prove myself.
If me and the millions of other people weren’t actually working when they were home, how would we be holding jobs and getting paid?
The reality is that the only real thing that changes when you work from home is that the location is different.
People run multi-million dollar businesses from their home. Some hold side hustles, freelance, run Etsy shops, dog sit in their home, work jobs in the corporate world, and much more.
Sure, there are distractions and you may find more time to spend on non-work tasks, but working from home is still working.
I’m often asked if I get lonely working from home, and this is one of the most common myths about work from home jobs.
People think that when you work from home that you have absolutely no contact with anyone else. But when I worked in an office, I hardly ever had human contact, except during meetings. That honestly felt more lonely than working from home.
Now, I talk to people all day long. I talk with other bloggers, I answer emails from my readers, and I interact with people on social media. I probably talk with more people now than I did when I worked in an office.
If you do start feeling lonely when you work from home, I have a couple of suggestions to beat the lonely feeling.
You can start a Slack chat with those that you work with or hop on a video call. There are also meetups you can attend that relate to work or your hobbies. There are also lots of online groups, like Facebook groups or subreddits, where you can network with others in your field.
Working from home doesn’t have to feel lonely all of the time.
When I first started working from home, I spent a lot of time in my pajamas.
However, that’s not the case anymore.
Now that we live on a boat and have to walk the dogs regularly, I have to go outside often and I’d prefer if everyone around me didn’t have to see me in my pajamas all the time, haha.
Some people get completely dressed up for work every day, even though they work from home full-time. It helps get them in the mood for work, and I completely get that.
Some put on a nice top, but still wear athletic shorts or pajama pants.
You will have to find what works best for you.
But, if you want to work in your pajamas, do it. That’s one of the perks of working from home. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about wearing pajamas if that’s what you want.
I am a big fan of working from home. You can probably tell that now, haha!
The reasons these myths about work from home jobs bother me is because I love what I do and I love helping other people realize that they can work from home too.
Being able to work from home is one of the best things I’ve been able to do. Some of the pros are:
Now, what are the negatives of working from home?
Some of the cons are:
The reality is that there are pros and cons about any kind of job. The negatives don’t just apply to work from home jobs. It’s about finding what works for you.
After reading all of the above, you may be wondering how you can make working from home work for you.
Here are some of my tips:
I recommend reading My Best Working From Home Tips So You Can Succeed to learn more about how you can work from home most efficiently.
Even with talking about all of the myths above, there are still many benefits to working from home.
Being able to work from home is one of the best things I’ve been able to do, and I know many people who feel the same way. I know it can be hard at times, but it’s all just the reality of working from home.
What common myths about work from home jobs have you heard?
The post 7 Myths About Work From Home Jobs & What Itâs Really Like appeared first on Making Sense Of Cents.
Source: makingsenseofcents.com
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Making the leap from being a renter to becoming a homeowner is a process that includes taking stock of your financial situation and determining whether you’re ready for such a massive responsibility. For most people, the primary question is affordability. Do you have enough cash in the bank to fund a down payment, or do you have a credit score high enough to qualify you for a home loan? But there are other considerations, tooâand plenty of misconceptions and myths that could keep you from making that first step.
Below, our experts weigh in on why some situations that may seem like roadblocks are actually not as daunting as they appear.
Some may argue that continuing to rent can spare you from taking on heavy debt. But owning a house offers advantages.
âBuying a home and using a typical loan would be spread out over 20 to 30 years. But if you can make one extra payment a year or make bimonthly payments instead, you can shed up to seven years from that long-term loan,â says Jesse McManus, a real estate agent for Big Block Realty in San Diego, CA.
Plus, as you pay your mortgage, you gain equity in the home and create an asset that can be used when needed, such as paying off debt or even buying a second home.
âCurrently, mortgage interests rates are at their lowest point in history, so … it’s a great time to borrow money,â McManus says.
âContrary to popular belief, a 20% down payment is not required to purchase a home,” says Natalie Klinefelter, broker/owner of the Legacy Real Estate Co. in San Diego, CA. “There are several low down payment options available to all types of buyers.â
These are as low as 0% down for Veterans Affairs loans to 5% for conventional loans.
One of the main reasons buyers assume they must put down 20% is that without a 20% down payment, buyers typically face private mortgage insurance payments that add to the monthly loan payment.
âThe good news is once 20% equity is reached in a home, the buyer can eliminate PMI. This is usually accomplished by refinancing their loan, ultimately lowering their original payment that included PMI,â says Klinefelter. âSelecting the right loan type for a buyerâs needs and the property condition is essential before purchasing a home.â
Having a credit score at or above 660 looks great to mortgage lenders, but if yours is lagging, thereâs still hope.
âCredit score and history play a significant role in a buyerâs ability to obtain a home loan, but it doesn’t mean a buyer needs squeaky-clean credit. There are many loan solutions for buyers who have a lower than the ideal credit score,â says Klinefelter.
She says government-backed loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration have lower credit and income requirements than most conventional loans.
âA lower down payment is also a benefit of FHA loans. Lenders often work with home buyers upfront to discuss how to improve their credit to obtain a loan most suitable for their needs and financial situation,â says Klinefelter.
McManus says buyers building credit can also use a home loan to bolster their scores and create a foundation for future borrowing and creditworthiness.
Buying a home at the right timeâduring a buyer’s market or when interest rates are lowâis considered a smart money move. But don’t let the fear of buying at the “wrong time” stop you from moving forward. If you feel like you’ve found a good deal, experts say there is truly no bad time to buy a home.
âThe famous saying in real estate is ‘I donât have a crystal ball,’ meaning no one can predict exactly where the market will be at a given time. If a buyer stays within their means and has a financial contingency plan in place if the market adjusts over time, it is the right time to buy,â says Klinefelter.
Some people may be hesitant to buy because it means staying put in the same location.
âI always advise my clients that they should plan to stay in a newly purchased home for a minimum of three years,” says McManus. “You can ride out most market swings if they happen, and it also gives you a sense of connection to your new space.”
In a healthy market, McManus says homeowners will likely be able to sell the home within a year or two if they need to move, or they can consider renting out the property.
âThere is always a way out of a real estate asset; knowing how and when to exit is the key,â says Klinefelter.
The post 5 Myths About Transitioning From Renter to Homeowner appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
Source: realtor.com