Gone are the days when a fiver could get you your staple bread, eggs and milk and still leave change for a little treat. And it’s not just food prices that are on the rise – the cost of fuel, energy – I’m just waiting for the day when we need to pay for the air we breathe, too.

It’s no wonder then that couples are feeling the pinch, and more and more stay-at-home mums are being ‘forced’ back to work, as one salary is no longer enough. And with redundancies hitting every sector, there might not even be the guarantee of one 'secure' salary...

According to research by Scottish Widows almost half (44%) of the nation’s households require more than one breadwinner to maintain an acceptable standard of living. What's more, when it comes to parents, the need for two incomes increases, with one in two households relying on both partners working.

If you’re in the same position – or you’re back at work but don’t feel fulfilled in your job, setting up your own business could be a good option for you.

We spoke with Emma Jones author of Spare Room Start Up: How to start a business from home, and the founder and editor of www.enterprisenation.com, the home business website, who has started two businesses herself from home offices in London, Manchester and rural Shropshire.

“After five years of working for a multinational corporation, in a job that took me all over the world, I decided to come home. I was 27,” recalls Emma. “And I wanted more than anything to be my own boss, to start my own business and take control of my lifestyle.

“So I cleared out the spare room, invested in a new laptop and started to make some calls. Starting a home business means you can save money and time. The average commuter will travel two-and-a-half times around the world during the course of their working life.

“So, if yours is a 60-second commute imagine the savings you can make in time and money. But the first journey you’ll take is with me. With this book you’ll be up and running in no time.”

Emma’s Top Five Tips for Home Business Success
Do something you love. Let your business idea be based on a passion, hobby or skill. That way it will never really feel like work!
Find dedicated space in the house. This will make it easier to create your ideal work environment and to switch off at the end of the day.

Make the most of technology. Invest in tools that make you super-efficient (there are plenty that can be bought on a budget) and use the web to promote you and the business.

Get out of the home office. Meet new people - including customers and suppliers - by attending meetings, shows and events. Or just pop to your local coffee shop when in need of a little human interaction!

Enjoy! Your commute to work takes 60 seconds and you get more done in the hours you have. That frees up time to do all the other things you like to do. Enjoy each day of being a Spare Room Start Up.