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These days when you do a simple search online, countless supposed work at home opportunities pop up, but how do you know which ones are legitimate? When searching for work from home jobs that may actually make you some money, it's important to keep a few things in mind.

First of all, when you come across a work at home posting that asks for money, in most cases, this is a scam, or at the very least fraudulent. You should never have to pay to get work. Only in certain cases does paying for a service make sense. For example, if you sign up with a job bidding site online, you may have to pay a monthly service fee to gain access to all the job listings. However, even with this type of work from home opportunity, a free trial is usually offered so you can get a feel for the service and what it can do for you.

Legitimate work at home jobs in most cases end up being something you enjoy doing, or have some expertise in. If you're a writer, search for work from home opportunities for freelance writing. If you're a graphic designer, look for work from home postings in your field. The more you focus on what you're good at, and the skills you possess, it will be easier to find real work online.

Most people want to work at home to supplement their income, start their own business, or break away from the boss. Keep in mind, however, that work from home jobs are a lot of work - you won't be spending time on the couch watching your favorite soap opera during the day - in fact, you'll probably be spending extra hours in the office, especially when you're just starting out.

But if your current job is driving you crazy and you want to find something better for yourself, give working at home a fair try. Once you have a good amount of work coming in, you can settle into a schedule and try to achieve a work-life balance.

Again, most job listings for working at home that ask for money are not legitimate, however, sometimes startup costs require that you pay something upfront. An up front payment may apply for small business opportunities that give you some equipment to start with. Of course, always fully research a work at home company or business opportunity before committing and handing over your hard-earned cash. You don't want to waste your time with companies that aren't going to help you find work online.

Instead of looking online, it's often a better idea to contact people you know and network to find work at home jobs. Ask around and research local companies that employ at-home workers. Sometimes the best work at home jobs are the ones that aren't advertised. There are many companies that use home workers to take care of jobs outside of the office. This saves the company money on equipment and other expenses, while you get to enjoy the unique benefits of working at home.

Search message boards and forums that discuss work at home jobs. Here you can find out which opportunities are actually available, and weed out the bad apples.