I admit since the time I got married, I really didn't pay much attention in updating my information with the government, more so the ID's involved. Had I done it earlier, I wouldn't have encountered some delays with getting my earnings from Odesk. But then again, that's all under the bridge now for I just requested my earnings to be withdrawn and I shall get it within this week!

I'm just thankful that RCBC allows one to open an account using a Barangay certificate and Police clearance. The opening requirement is also very affordable, with just P500 you can get your card (no name embossed) that same day! But if you do opt for one that has your name embossed on the card, you'll have to wait for a week. Now the only downside aside from the succeeding fees from Odesk everytime I'd do an LTF, would be the fee charged by RCBC which is P100. But then again, it doesn't matter. I'm just thankful they approved my application and besides I'll get my EON debit card soon.

I've also tried BPI. Well, I do have a payroll account with them, but it has zero balance. So if I would use it, I'll have to deposit P3000 for it's maintaining balance. It's too expensive considering the fact that I'll just use it to transfer funds from Odesk. BPI is also strict when it comes to their requirements, they don't accept secondary ID's. So I let it go. 

Lastly, I've applied for an EON Bank Debit Card online. Just register, choose from the list of branches that process one day application. Once completed you'll be given a reference number to present during your branch visit.  You just have to bring your annual fee payment of P350 and one valid ID and you're good to go, you'll get your EON Debit card in a single Branch visit! Now talk about convenience!

If you have existing bank accounts, of course, it's gonna be easier. But then for a newbie like me, it's all just part of the experience! Happy work week everyone! 

My First Odesk Pay and an Unfortunate Realization

The long wait is over. After 2 weeks of working 5 hours a night, I finally saw my available balance ready for withdrawal. Yehey!

I never really imagined working- and earning from home would be possible, but then again the proof is right in front of me.

 For initial payments, there will be a 2 weeks holding period. So if you start working on March 5-9, your work will be reviewed by the employer (security period) the following week, and your funds will be available Wednesday on the third week. Succeeding payment will be available weekly after that. It's just like having a weekly allowance! It's up to you on how often you'd like to withdraw your earnings, be it weekly or monthly, depending on your needs.

So now that you have funds available for withdrawal, the next thing to do is choose your withdrawal option. I personally chose Paypal and local funds transfer. But then it hit me. My paypal account is still not verified and I don't have an active local bank account. And this is all because of my impulsiveness and lack of financial literacy.

What's the use of having fund when you can't actually withdraw it?

I guess celebrations will have to wait, for now.  I'll just have to leave the funds on Odesk until I fix all the necessary documents required for me to get my accounts up and running again.

Wish me luck!

Chores Distribution

A typical household would have the dad working and fixing the house for any leaks or damaged sinks, while the mother cooks, prepares food, does the laundry, takes care of the kids and husband, the list can just go on and on . . .

With modern times come changes in the so-called duties of a man and woman. Gone are the days when women are just to stay at home, and men are to bring home the bacon. We now live in a world of double income families, house-husbands, career woman, etc. This is where the beauty of being a work at home mom comes in., we simply get to have the best of both worlds.

In my case, I just feel grateful to have a husband who is very understanding and open-minded. He values and respects my ideas and just almost gives in to everything I demand- especially now that I'm a hormone filled 8 month pregnant woman!

My work-at-home jobs are usually at night. So he makes sure that I get to have enough sleep in the morning even if it means he will have to cook breakfast, bathe the kids, clean the house, cook lunch, put the kids to take some nap, buy some snacks, buy or cook dinner, and then go to work by 5pm.   It's a lot for him to do, but he does it wholeheartedly.

So to make-up, I try my best to at least wash the dishes after lunch and I put the kids to sleep if I can before I start my online job. I also compensate by taking over some chores on weekends, but then due to my condition, it rarely happens. :)

I know can never thank him enough, that even if he's very tired at the end of the day, he still puts on a happy face and greets me warmly when he comes home. Never did I hear a word of complain come out of his mouth. For this, I am eternally grateful.

So to all the moms out there, who like me, have husbands from heaven, let's not forget to express our appreciation of their efforts and of how we just love them more and more each day.

Have a blessed and love-filled married life everyone!

An Encounter with RareJob

I always wanted to just stay at home and be with my kids. But then, being 7 months pregnant and earning no money made me feel useless. I somehow crave the hustle and bustle brought about by being an employee.

So to ease my boredom, I browsed the web for some work at home opportunities. And then I saw a post on a website about a company hiring English online tutors. I read through the job post and immediately send an inquiry through email.  I immediately got a response enlisting all the requirements and procedures for the application process. I scanned through it and realized that I was qualified, so yes, I applied!

The entire process to actually starting on the job may take two weeks. Let me share to you a few details:

1. Phone interview.
              I received a call from a RareJob staff who verified details on my resume. This is just like any normal interview: describe yourself, your hobbies, what your plans are, and some follow-up questions. Just be ready to describe and differentiate some parts of speech and idioms.

2. Email
             Upon passing the initial interview, I received an email stating so and details on the next step of the application process. The email will also contain your training details. This is one great thing about RareJob, you will be guided accordingly on the steps to take through email.

3. Training via skype
             My training lasted for 2 hours. It includes a brief introduction between me and the trainer, expectation setting and the mock lessons. Yes! You will be the teacher and your trainer will pretend to be the Japanese student. Just follow the guidelines and you'll do just fine.

4. Requirements submission
             I received an email right after my mock lesson stating that I passed, hooray! The email will also include the requirements you need to submit before you get to start on the job. Once you complete all that is needed, you may have to wait for a maximum of three days to get a response from the application team. It's worth the wait, so I didn't mind.

5. Getting hired
           Again, this is through email but this time it included details about my favorite topic: wage and incentives haha! You just have to set-up a BPI or PNB account, or if you already have one then good for you!

6. Familiarize yourself with the RareJob policies, fix your schedule slots and start having your lessons booked! I will share about my first RareJob tutoring class in my next post.

It truly is a wonderful experience to know you are earning without having to leave your love ones at mercy of a nanny or a relative. It is something I hope to share to mothers everywhere. So if you are interested to become a RareJob tutor, don't hesitate to leave a comment or leave your email and I'll gladly assist you!

Happy work-at-home days to come everyone!

Freelancing: Full time or Part Time?

I have gone through a stage wherein every job I applied seem to either be a scam or my skills are just not enough. It's frustrating, but I persevered to finally get to land the two jobs. It's a great feeling to know I am working for something that will actually pay for the time and effort I've spent, plus the added bonus that I get to do it at home.

Now that I somehow was able to get the hang of it, I suddenly realized that I am still eager to land other jobs. While on break, I find myself browsing for other job openings not taking into consideration if I can actually commit to the tasks. The idea of seeing my application considered and receiving an email for an interview just appeals so much to me. It's just like a drug, I take as much as I want regardless if I'll be overdosed. True enough, I ended the day with 10 new job applications.

Then in the middle of my work, my son approached me and asked for something, I got irritated because of it. Then it hit me. Isn't it that the whole point of me doing work at home jobs is to have more time with my family, especially  my kids? This realization hit me to the core. I have been too occupied with what I will be earning with all the jobs I have that I failed to remember the very reason why I'm in it in the first place.

With my priorities back on track, I immediately withdrew my other applications. I've decided to just stick with the current ones I have. Opportunities to earn money will always be around, but my kids childhood will just pass by swiftly. And I wouldn't want to miss any single moment of it.

We all have different set of goals. It's just up to us to know which to prioritize. Make a list. Fix our schedules.  Be passionate and grateful with the work at home job opportunities handed to us, and more importantly, be the loving and dedicated mothers our children deserve to have.

Have a happy work at home journey everyone!

4 Simple Ways to Land A Job on Odesk

My 6 month long on-and-off relationship with Odesk finally came to an end. I landed my first job, yehey!

Hours spent checking on my pc to see if my application was approved or if I'm scheduled for an interview finally paid off. I know for some the process may have been shorter or some even longer,  but I know we all share the same feelings of relief and excitement upon landing our first gig.

So then, can one land a job or contract on Odesk? The process may seem overwhelming at first, but for newbies out there, let me share you the 4 simple steps I did that led to this sweet victory!

1. Complete your profile. Upload a professional and friendly picture of yours to give employers a glimpse of who they're going to hire. Fill out the necessary information about you that can help you land the job.

2. Create an impressive resume and portfolio. Seeing how good you look is nothing compared to the value of a well written resume and well thought of portfolio. Make sure your font is readable and be cautious of your spacing. Choose power words or great adjectives to highlight your skills. Don't forget to showcase work experiences that you think is necessary for the position you're applying for.

3. Take the free Odesk Test. Take as many as you can and ace it! Contractors who belong to the top 10-20% usually get hired faster than those who ranked lower.

4. Know niche market and start applying! Be confident on what you can offer to the employer and make sure your rate is reasonable and is at par to the services you can deliver.
You can also compare the rates of fellow contractors on your chosen field to help you determine your starting rate.

These steps are easy to follow and if your heart is really into freelancing, you won't even realize how long you've waited.

Above all just be patient, stay focused on your goal and don't forget to pray. Do all these and you'll be on the start of your freelancing career in no time! God bless everyone!


2.

My Freelancing Journey

I remember first learning about people who prefer to work at home. I was a call center professional back then, working on graveyard shifts.  And of course, this idea thrilled me! Why wouldn't I when working from home means having to spend more time with my kids and husband. It's just what I've been searching for and I ought to start right away. And I did.

I looked online for articles and tips on how to start my freelancing career and it was very overwhelming, that I found myself getting headaches from trying to absorb all the tips from the various blogs I've read. My excitement was easily replaced by boredom and pessimism. I eventually found myself settling for my 8-9 hour job as an agent. Less hassle, I thought.

But every now and then, when I get the chance to have a moment for myself and analyze my current life situation, the idea of trying it out once again creeps in. And so I gave it another try and this time I'm  determined to remain patient and stick to it until I get the results I wanted.

Great things await those who know how to wait. So true. After a 6 months of my on and off struggle with freelancing, I finally landed a job.

This very day marks the start of my first freelance job. Wish me luck!

I'd love to share more details but for now, I'll keep silent for I wouldn't want to jinx it!

More details on my freelancing journey on my next posts! God bless!