Dear Mary: I am employed full time, working 12-hour shifts three days a week. I am looking for a second, part-time job to generate more income, but I need to work from home. There are so many bad offers out there that I can't figure out which might be legitimate. Do you know of any solid, reliable "work from home" companies? Should I have to pay to get started? I have seen so many "work from home" scams that I feel more confused than helped. Any advice would be appreciated. — Wendy, Wyoming

Dear Wendy: You're right about the scams. There are lots of them with big promises of great money for anyone wanting to work from home. That doesn't mean there aren't legitimate jobs you could do from home. You need to use the same intuition and discernment that you use when looking for a job in the traditional work force. While incurring some upfront costs is not always a sign that a work-from-home job is a scam, it sure raises a red flag that needs to be scrutinized.

I suggest that you become proactive in your quest, not simply reactive to ads you find. Approach professionals in your industry about health care-related work you could do at home. It seems to me that you would be a great candidate for medical transcription or medical billing. Look in your local area for companies that are advertising part-time work. Then approach them about allowing you to do the work from home, where you could telecommute. Start networking with everyone you know at work and in your circle of friends. Let them know of your desires; you might be surprised how many leads you will get.

Dear Mary: How can I tell whether the grocery is charging me the correct amount for each item that I buy? By the time I finish shopping and get to the checkout register with a basket full of goods, I have no idea whether the charge is correct or not. I have caught scanning errors when I've paid attention to one particular item, but how can I keep on top of every single thing I buy? — Barbara U., Indiana

Dear Barbara: You have to know your prices. If you can't keep all of that information in your mind and verify that each item is scanned correctly, make sure you keep track when you first put the items into your cart. Write the price for each item on your shopping list. Once your order has been scanned and you've received the receipt, take a few minutes before you leave the store to verify that each item was scanned at the price you recorded on your shopping list. If you see a discrepancy, go immediately to the customer service desk to request the appropriate adjustment. Many stores have a policy that you will receive an item for free if it was scanned incorrectly.

Do you have a question for Mary? E-mail her at [email protected], or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.