If you were absolutely flat broke in this situation, how would you make money?

Is there no bus to work?

Hospitals are usually pretty well serviced by public transport.
Then you'd just need to walk to the bus stop - could save you £50 a week.

Not a registered nurse, however hca in nhs. I've reduced my permanent hours to enable me to work more hours at a bank rate and currently with the premium pay this has worked out in my favour. Being ED trained goes massively in your favour. Join agencies such as Thornbury whom pay massively.
If able, an I appreciate comes at a huge financial cost get your driving licence... this will open your options significantly.
It's tough, solo parenting is exhausting and I truly wish I did not love my job as I would be so much better off financially working in another job.

Well, she can get credit, often the cycle shops do this, or put it on an interest free credit card. She could ask the nurses charity for help, they are very good and have assisted my clients before with things like this.

I presume Op has money she can spare from what she'll save on taxis.

It's easy to say things are not doable, but actually they are if you retain a positive frame of mind.

Batch cooking
Vinted for clothing
Reducing gas and electricity by using thermal blankets, showers. Insualting.
Food banks
Dog walking cat sitting
Online surveys
Private caring roles
Sewing and mending services if you can sew.

Electric bike
whizz up those hills

OP apologies if this has already been mentioned I've only read your comments but do you have DLA for your child with ASD. I receive £400 a month for DD, this could go towards subscriptions etc for the children.

It sounds like you are doing an amazing job and are an amazing role model for your children. I wish you the best of luck and I hope things work out for you.

Can you look for something different nearer home that is on your bus route? A care home looking for a nurse, gp practice?

Alternatively can you look to move nearer work?

Agency isn't guaranteed work. The NHS frequently goes through periods where there are blanket bans on using agency. not really suitable if you have financial commitments and children.
Salary sacrifice for a small cheap to run car could also bring you back under the pension increase and make contributions smaller. Would that work?
I worked 12 hour nights, the last thing you want to do after 12 hours is get on a bike in the pissing down ran and its freezing and dark so i wouldn't even consider that an option

Look at wheels to work as others have said.
Would a regular taxi driver give you a bit of a discount for the regular use? Even a £1 or £2 a day would add up. Is there anyone else you work with who travels the same way as you to car share with by contributing to the journey costs?

Are there any community fridges or shops near you where you can get surplus food for free? Your eldest may have to go along and collect as it might not be convenient time for you but I know people who buy virtually no food.

Don't struggle morally with PIP assessor. You're just going to record the answers to questions. You don't have to make any judgement on their legitimacy or anything. It's just interviewing someone. In a hopefully very kind, patient and sympathetic way. You need the money.
If you don't work you'll be taking money off the DWP. If you are working as a PIP assessor you will also be getting money from them. But in exchange for work. So what's so bad about it? X

Would quitting and going agency make you more money? It does in other areas of the NHS.

It sounds like your ex is a lost cause for financial support, but what about the paternal grandparents and wider family?
RCN charitable arm.
Order Directory of Social Change guide to grants for individual from the library (it costs £110) and get writing, e.g. perhaps an organisation would pay off your loan for the MSc.
Ask DC’s college for a travel grant.

-Could you be eligible for a discretionary housing payment?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments

-have you approached the DC's colleges and schools to see if they have funds available to help with transport costs etc? In my area the schools and colleges have bursary funds available at the head's discretion/hardship funds.

-is eldest working full time? 21 or over rate? Should be enough to contribute something to household expenses, and rates go up in April -

From April 2025, the NLW for workers aged 21 and over will rise to £12.21 per hour, a 6.7% increase. For younger workers, the NMW will see substantial raises, with the 18-20 age group rate increasing by 16.3% to £10.00 per hour, and the 16-17 age group and apprentice rates both going up by 18% to £7.55 per hour.

• there are some nursing specific hardship funds - could you apply to one or more of these?

www.rcn.org.uk/Get-Help/Member-support-services/Financial-wellbeing/Charitable-funding-and-other-help

I do this.

I worked out that I was paying a ridiculous amount on subscriptions and so now I cycle it.
A couple of months of Netflix, then a couple months of Disney plus.

OP - you are great, you really are. And so are your kids, seems like they're doing their best too, so don't feel guilty (so hard not to) just let them know you're so proud of them. It's very hard being an LP and trying to do well by all too and it has always been thus, no matter how the 'packaging' changes.

As you love your job and can also fit in some bank work I don't think you should change that as you could end up unhappy in your 'work' for little financial gain.

And nor do I think you should cut the subs for the kids to 'play'; as I completely agree with you that you know where they are and know what they're doing - which is pretty good.

Things that you've mentioned - your pension contributions, if you read too much MN and the 'pension' threads then you think you'll be in eternal pecuniary if you don't pay, pay, pay now, now, now. If you can opt out for the now, I would. You need the money now, now, now. It won't affect your already £0 UC entitlement much and you can opt back in to paying when things are less tight.

The moped/scooter idea - you seem up to considering this idea which will massively decrease your costs, and it might be possible that your DPs could help with a loan. Now on a wintry early morning or a rainy day it can be horrendous but usually the idea of it is worse than the journey as long as you've got the right 'kit' - Helmet, full gloves, waterproofs and hardy boots that go to at least mid-shin - your uniform folded in a plastic bag in your rucksack.

Any local grants/bursaries that you could apply for towards the travel costs (or?) for your ASD dc? Or anything that locally applies. And, if you aren't already on your local social housing register, you never know unless your're on it.

Best of luck, stay strong, you will make it.

You say it bumped you into the next pension bracket. Can you reduce your pension payments at least in the short term? Not ideal but your income will increase and you could make it up.

I do low risk casino and matched betting. Low risk casino you need a bank roll of maybe 200 to start. It’s not risk free short term but long term you will make money. I make around 400 on average per month around a busy job. Have a look at teamcasino.com

I completely feel your pain OP. I spent years studying too thinking I would be giving my DC a better life and I’m not much better off but I know I will be in a few years time and I can be in a better position to lend them a bit of money if they need it etc.

You sound amazing!

I don’t know much about nursing but how far away are you from going up a pay band? And would this help your situation?

The taxis are the biggest unnecessary expensive (I know you need them).
Is this just when you’re doing unsociable hours or for every shift?

If you’re quite far away from getting the next pay band then I would look into other jobs that you won’t need to get a taxi for.
Some schools hire nurses etc.

It sounds as though your parents are generous and I would ask to borrow some money for Xmas, just so that’s one less stress.

I think the moped is a great idea too!

Oh and the other things you can do are go on https://www.reddit.com/r/beermoneyuk/ and do all the offers each month. Might bring £100 a month extra?

Ref Netflix, Prime etc - I would go on a cycle - each month you stop one or two on a rota, on the proviso they will be reinstated next month or in a couple of months. That might save you a bit. There's no way kids can use that much media and they will appreciate it more if they don't have everything on tap all the time.

Could you work as a 111 nurse, while keeping an NHSP contract for your current Trust? I'm sorry, I don't know what's available to band 5s.

If not that, I would be battering my bosses phone asking for what I needed to do to move up to band 6.

Hi OP,

Might it be worth applying to be on the Bupa nurse 24hr helpline staff? We use that and the nurses are always great. The fact that you have three kids and one with autism would be brilliant experience for really understanding what the patients need. It might mean you could have one day a week WFH, which might help.

The tranport costs seem a lot, but I can't think of anything. Sorry things are so tight. You sound amazing.

Ah, I hadn't spotted that. I also suggested cycling. I take your point. Although when does the poor op manage to get any fresh air or exercise? That is brutal

At best it seems like something to try in Summer when it is light and road conditions and weather are good.

This

I do think you should have a chat with your manager at work OP. Explain the situation. She / he might have some suggestions or ideas to help you! You never know. If a vacancy becomes available, or a better paid shift, they are better positioned to think of you first if they know your situation in advance.

Another random suggestion - get a Ukranian refugee house guest. I think you can get rent money. Might mean your kids get to share a room but might bring in a few pennies?

@Serencwtch honestly I don't think it's even safe for a person to be cycling home after a 13 hour shift. Op is working almost a double week, and in patient facing, not extra hours at a desk. It doesn't seem like a great idea to me.