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Cheaper Work from Home Options

7 replies

Abigail333 · 24/02/2020 13:25

I need some advice.

I currently work nights as my husband is FT, we can’t afford childcare for both of us to work and we have no family of friends go can help us, so it is just us and our 18mo

I had to give up my FT work as childcare was far too expensive for us both to work FT, so since I made slightly less than my husband, I gave up my job and now work at nights.

Whilst I’m lucky to have a job as I know many dont, I am working all night for minimum wage + a few pence extra after 11pm for unsociable hours and can work up till midnight - by the time I get home, it’s nearly 1am then husband is up before 5 and out to work By 530 so I get no sleep at all.

I’m struggling, getting next to no sleep and is slowly beginning to eat away at me. I’m not depressed but just very tired and worn these days.
we would end up with little or no money if we had a carer/nursery for LO so I could go back to work and we aren’t eligible for help until LO is 3 :(.

However, I have 20+ years of marketing/secretarial/some website skills and been looking into becoming a virtual assistant, however, despite starting slowly, the start up costs are still around 1k and that’s just the basics like insurance/gpdr etc. If I did this, I would be doing it during any down time I have but also working in my night job until I feel stable to do it fully.

However, are there any alternative jobs to look into which have lower start up costs? I have 20+ years secretarial, marketing experience, website building, art/design, silversmith etc.

Just so I have some alternative ideas for home businesses around admin/art/design/marketing etc which may have lower start up costs.
I have ran a small jewellery business which was profitable as I didn’t have additional property fees to worry about because we didn’t have LO and could work from home but due risk and LO in the house while I work, I don’t want to risk it and would require a property to work from which would eat into profits.

I’m tired and just want to give LO a great life but also not struggle for money - the wish of every parent 😩

OP posts:
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Mariagatzs12 · 25/02/2020 11:09

Google pays for QAing from home. It's about 9.25 pH and you have to do 10 hours per week minimum

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Octopus37 · 25/02/2020 20:35

Have you looked on any websites like peopleperhour or fiver, they are freelance websites, I'm sure there will be loads if you have website experience. Maria, interested to find out what QAing involves, will look into it.

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Mariagatzs12 · 25/02/2020 20:40
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Elieza · 25/02/2020 21:24

I know it’s not what you wanted to consider but shelf stacking in a shop like Sainsbury’s or Asda on a back or night shift is good money where I am.

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FrontRowSeat · 25/02/2020 21:29

Do you have a degree? If so I know of some people who teach English online and there is a lot of flexibility. Also, does your husband work weekends? If not could you also get a weekend job eg retail or hospitality?

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Black77Bird · 28/02/2020 03:04

If you are able to and this is of interest, perhaps consider studying towards an early childhood qualification, along with getting a first aid certificate, and advertise yourself as a childcare minding service.

Depending on where you live you might also need to get Council permission to run your home as a business in this sense, so do your homework first in this regard.

Your charges could cover costs for meals (which you'd prepare), activities (you could take them on one outing a week or something).

I appreciate this wouldn't be tapping into your skills and experience, but it would be a good way to make money and I think a lot of parents would be interested in your services. If you limited it to five children, it would be more than manageable on your own.

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Deedee248 · 28/02/2020 10:51

@Mariagatzs12 Do you have a link for this please?

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