Welcome to the wonderful world of self-employment. What could be better than sitting at your computer in your bathrobe, quietly sipping coffee, while you listen to Playhouse Disney on the television as your toddler watches, serenely snacking on his breakfast? Nothing is better. The toddler didn't go to daycare today, or any other day, save for one: the traumatic first day. Doing what millions of working parents do, I placed my child in a nice daycare, full of toys and kids his age, believing I was doing the right thing. Eight hours later, I took home my tear- stained, snot-encrusted, stuttering child, and calmed him down for about three hours. That was his first day and last. We rearranged schedules, became two single parents living in the same house, and the kids were happy. The fairy tale doesn't end there with 'happily everafter.' Money was still too tight and the kids rarely saw their parents together. Overtime brought in more money, but with less freedom. So I began scanning the magazines at the bookstore for money-making ideas. You know the ones - glossy, colorful, get rich quick bibles, every last one. They share something with the Bible actually; you can buy a copy of any of them 5 years later, and it's still all the same stuff! Then I just lucked into something on the computer. I found an article written by a stay-at-home Mom, who was in business for herself. She started an on-line computer business based on a practice called affiliate marketing. She said that she was making over $11,000.00 every month!! Of course I didn't believe a word of that, but I ordered her e-book anyway. After reading that book and putting her ideas and suggestions into practice, I experienced a life-changing dilemma: I was making more money on-line than I was at my 'real' job. This went on for a while, before I thought to myself: this is silly - by going to 'work' everyday, I am actually losing money. Strange, but true - I could make more money at home plinking away on the computer. So I decided to become unemployed - Happily Unemployed.

So what exactly is this affiliate marketing idea that the stay-at-home Mom sold me on? You, the computer whiz, reading this article, simply do what you are doing now: sit at the computer. You do not directly sell anything - you promote it. I know how that sounds - how can you make money from that? But by different means, whether you start your own website ( a LOT easier than you think!) or use a blog page like MySpace (EVEN easier), you simply recommend information products, like e-books, to prospective buyers. When the buyer buys, you make money. The money comes to you in the form of commissions. If you, for example, promote and sell a $25 e-book, you will make a commission anywhere from 50% to 75% of the sales price. You may make $12.50 or as much as $18.75, and you NEVER handled anything!! You did not have to buy and stock a thousand copies of these books, you did not have to pack, stamp, or mail anything, you did not have to collect sales taxes, you NEVER had to leave your chair!! That, in essence, is affiliate marketing. It is truly a beautiful thing.

So what now? This is the part where, you know, you take your destiny into your own hands. It is not overnight riches - it does take some patience and learning, and more patience, but you WILL learn how to do it. Don't think that you are on your own - even though you are in business for yourself, because with affiliate marketing, everyone makes money together. Their success is your success. If you want to be happily unemployed yourself - this is it!

The resources on the internet are endless. You will find information on every aspect of your work at home business - for FREE ! The need for a job, or jobs, will eventually go away - you will be truly Happily Unemployed.

If you want to learn more, simply visit us at - you guessed it - HappilyUnemployed.com

About the Author

Lee Masterson is writing this article in his pajamas! That's how he does most of his work now that he is happily unemployed. Learn how to join him - it's easy - visit us at HappilyUnemployed.com