Need to earn £400-£500 a month. Anything I havent thought of?

[hereidrawtheline]

I need to earn as in title between £400-500 a month. That will be 50% for getting out of debt and 50% for a better quality of life - we havent had a holiday in 5 years, each new pair of shoes has to be well thought out, food shop itemised to the penny.

I am going down the normal job centre route etc but wondered if the genius on MNers had any ideas for me. My talents are very marketable but here they are:

animal care
babysitting
organising
reading
thinking

I have office admin experience. I can only work evenings & weekends because of no childcare for DS. I would love to work from home as then I could do it in the day while he napped etc too.

Reading this back it sounds pretty hopeless doesnt it! I didnt do anything useful and clever like gain a reputation in a field before having DS. I know I am smart enough to do great things but I cant think of what they are or how to prove it.

I have applied to about a dozen vets etc for a job as a student nurse but no one is hiring because of the recession.

[KingCanuteIAm]

What about house/pet sitting?

Cats would be easy as you could be at home all day with ds then go and feed/spend time with the cat and look after the house in the evenings. Dogs would have to be child friendly, you could take the dog in the mornings to yours, walk it etc during the day and spend the evening at the house once your OH is home to look after ds.

[hereidrawtheline]

I've thought of that but there are loads of people in my village advertising for that at the moment so I think I would just be a drop in the ocean.

[hereidrawtheline]

OP should read "my talents ARENT very marketable" sticky keyboard

[HaventSleptForAYear]

Decluttering? Mowing lawns?

otherwise I know of people who do the "pampered chef" thing or sell cards (pyramid selling) - could that work for you?

[hereidrawtheline]

I couldnt do the selling thing. I am not a natural salesperson at all and I think you really have to be to make those things a success. Sorry to keep saying no! Am still thinking.

[titchy]

Nanny or childminder spring to mind as the most obvious if you have a child of your own. Evening bar or supermarket shifts?

[CountessDracula]

Dog walker
they earn a fortune around here

£15 per walk
6 dogs per walk
two walks per day
= £180 per day!

[Overmydeadbody]

CD I thought that was a brilliant idea until I suddenly had visions of how much poo 6 dogs would make, and haivng to pick it all up and dispose of it! yuk.

[hereidrawtheline]

I dont mind picking poo up.

Oh hell. I dont know. I am at a loss. My DH says I need to pull one of my rabbits out of a hat for which I am known but it just isnt working.

[CountessDracula]

Go and stick a few cards in shop windows and vets
Also find out about insurance for dog walking

[bella29]

Professional dog groomer?

[hereidrawtheline]

thanks I will do Its horrible to feel so utterly worthless - money wise. I know I have worth as a mother but to feel I cant be paid to do anything that I could stomach doing is just awful.

[mummydoc]

proof reading ? i think you might have to do a course but as far as i know you can then do it at home , not sure how much it pays.
I work for a primary care out of hours service and the girls on reception/admin and the drivers who get to drive us docs around all work evenings/weekends as most have oyung children ....

[mummydoc]

what about a job you could take your ds with you on ...cleaning ? round were i live they earn £10/hr , i owuldn't mind a cleaner who brought a child along

[oopsagain]

If I was working full time, i'd need somebody to sit in my house today as the gas man is coming.
I'd pay 5-10 an hour for that.

In the recession, people don't want to look flakey and want to work as much as they can vs skiving off for the morning if the boiler nneds servicing, washing machin needs a new part etc etc.

maybe???

And i agree re cat siting vs dog walking. Much easier.

and if i was going on holiday I'd need my gardcen full of lovely veg watering daily too

[PieceNharmoknee]

I'm intrested in the dog walking, how would I find out more about insurance needed etc?

[BlingDreaming]

Why don't you look at promotions work? It's not selling, tends to be flexible and is okay paid. It can range from pretty basic like handing out leaflets to staffing events as a check in person to tastings at supermarkets etc.

There are lots of agencies that do this - you have to sign up with quite a few and then you get work, normally on a freelance and spontaneous basis?

[hereidrawtheline]

thanks for the good ideas - I am going to pick DS up from school & then get back to work during his nap.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

You can do admin over the internet, ie, typing, inputting data.

[ForeverOptimistic]

Lol at "thinking". I'm good at that too. Perhaps we could start our own business together.

[BelleWatling]

What about merchandising if you can drive? You work for an agency whose clients are big brands eg food, toiletries etc and work the retailers in your local area putting up posters, point of sale material, getting to know the staff, making sure the products are all on display / not gathering dust in the warehouse. It's not selling and is a lot about relationships with the shopfloor staff. And is easily fitted around kids / part-time. All my merchandisers are mums or 'resting' actors!

Google 'field-marketing agencies'.

[Madmentalbint]

I like the idea of dog walking. I got my quote from here

www.cliverton.co.uk/pages/animal_trades.php?gclid=CL_Vkqffu5oCFUKK3godF1xhcA

The policy they offer is quite good because they cover things like lost house keys. My quote was for £136.50 which you can pay over 6 monthly installments if you prefer.

I decided to wait until I got my first customer before taking the policy out but unfortunately I haven't had even one enquiry yet. I'm CRB checked and I've priced myself competitively but not even a nibble. I thought that with so many people being forced back into work that I'd have plenty of potential customers. No such luck! Things might be different where you are though.

[hereidrawtheline]

ForeverOptimistic I love the idea of thinking for a living. I really am good at it!! I excel, dare I say.

What about being a solution generator? We could go into business together as a 2 person think tank for ANY of life's problems!! Business, personal, etiquette, emotional you name it!

[WWleader]

I am a Weight Watchers Leader (I am a regular, this is my name change)

I run 4 evening meetings a week, I am out of the house from 5.30 until 8pm. I earn around £130 a week- on a very bad week.

There is no initial outlay, but it is a lot more hassle than people think and there is a training period etc. Plus you need to attend WW classes first and be within your healthy weight range.

I've been doing it 7 years now and it does fit in well with family life.

Just a thought..........

[KatherineMS]

Have you tried hubpages.com/_mdsignup/user/new/

My sister in law writes articles on HubPages from the comfort of her own sofa, and earns money through internet advertising. Not mega bucks - it is certainly not some internet get-rich-quick-scheme. It took her a while to build up her income, but she said it was fun just publishing what you want to write about. The better the articles are the more money you stand to make.

Might be fun - I'm going to have a go...