Now that most of us have home computers, it's becoming easier than ever to find work from home jobs. With a few skills, a computer and an Internet connection, many people have been able to say goodbye to the daily commute and have found the freedom of working for themselves.

Of course, working for yourself on your home computer doesn't come without its own set of problems! First of all, there are still far fewer work at home jobs than there are regular jobs (although more and more companies are outsourcing work as a way of saving office space and keeping costs down).

Many people would love to work from home, but aren't sure where to begin. Naturally, one place to start looking is the Internet, but even so, many places advertising work from home jobs have outdated listings, and there is a lot of competition involved.

Another way of finding a work from home job is to speak to local businesses in your area. If you've got skills they need, they may consider giving you some part time work which you can do at home on your computer (and if they like what you do, it could lead to full time employment). Of course, finding work this way could take some time, and you'll need to prepare yourself for a lot of rejection!

There are other ways to find work online, but for most people it doesn't come in the form of a stable job. Many people find freedom by freelancing their services, using companies such as Guru, Elance or Rentacoder and bidding on projects they're particularly suited to. However, it's a very competitive market out there, and there are people willing to work for very low rates of pay, and if you're just starting out you may need to be prepared to work for well below what you're worth. However, many people have found ongoing work this way, and many earn a very decent income doing it.

Other people find success at building their own businesses from their home computer. Some do so selling their own products, or sourcing wholesale products to sell at retail prices, and others sell electronic products or sell as an affiliate. However, the fact is that most people who go online with the aim of earning a full time living from their home computer, discover that the reality is much more of a challenge than they bargained for. Starting a business online can be very challenging, and can take a great deal of time, meaning that it's not necessarily a great idea to quit your job just because you've got a fabulous idea for an Internet business!

Nevertheless, for those who are truly determined to work from home using their home computers, there really are many opportunities out there. Just don't set your initial expectations too high, and be prepared for a lot of hard work and the inevitable disappointments that will strike in the beginning.