I've been self employed now, working from home for 7 years, before that I was an idependant contractor working in the same industries (added: wich means I worked when it was convenient), before that is irrelevant, I was a single mom.. I did what I had to do.. nuff said about that.
My first philosphy toward success is to NOT put all your eggs in one basket... funny pun. That also means DIVERSIFY for success.
If you do not have a specialty, an area of expertise, there are still many great ways to earn some residual income.
Online for instance there are affiliate programs. I earn about $600 a month from different programs/websites I setup up once upon a time years ago, and maintain once in a GREAT while. Those were easy.
They include
ebay (not products, but links to products),
amazon (same as
ebay), travelnow/expedia, google and more. One project I had in mind once setup will only require you to shop online at Cafepress finding products you like and linking to them from a webpage.. how simple is that? I even had a domain & logo but let it lapse because I just don't have time.
I have a file full of ideas, all internet related that I wish I had more time for. Most of which do NOT require design or website programming experience. In fact, some of the most simple sites, even BLOGS maintained by people like you, with links to products that earn you a commission... are some of the biggest sellers.
First you have to figure out what you like to do, and what your good at. Now after years of being self employed I finally have time for a hobby, which of course I will also ensure makes me at least a little money. Again, diversify.
My DD is 12. She was in daycare for 2 weeks as a welfare requirement. I couldn't tolerate it, and so out she went and off welfare we went. It was brief but necessity is the mother of invention as they say. I HAD to make it work and I have done so beautifully.
Happy to advise or offer support to anyone wanting to try, its WORTH it