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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think there MUST be a way to top up my income

136 replies

SparklyOpalEagle · 15/07/2025 19:28

I have a job , a career , that has progression. Absolutely love my job but I have a lot of debt. I only work term time so would love to find something, not too time consuming , that I could do on the side during holidays . But not an actual job.

I’ve done a few “ side hustles “ in the past , made a bit extra around Christmas making Christmas gifts. I’m quite handy with design, so I did used to have a small business making stationary but this was during uni when I had more time. I don’t have the space for that now either.

Every time I look online I see surveys or digital marketing and I’m not interested in that. Surveys I’ve made maybe £30 - that’s not enough.

Im not looking for MLM or any get rich quick scheme - does anyone have any advice ?

I've tried :

  • Amazon Flex - I’m on the waiting list
  • Pay per text message - it was just sex talk and it was misleading people so I’m not into it
  • Tutoring - too much time , most people want you in the evening and I can’t commit

Not willing -

  • actual jobs - bar work, care etc - I don’t have the time to commit to set shifts , I have children and I also want to enjoy my time off
  • Mystery shopping / market research - it’s not reliable and I am signed up to loads already anyway and get nothing
  • Cashback - I don’t need to spend anymore
  • switching banks - I have a massive overdraft that I live in
  • Dog walking - too many in my area
  • Ironing - not a thing where I live and also I’m awful at it
  • Matched betting
I’m looking for something I could do with my children around- a hobby I could turn into a venture , I would deliver leaflets etc but I can’t find anything like that .
OP posts:
ChloefromSundy · 15/07/2025 22:33

ChloefromSundy · 15/07/2025 22:16

Copy and paste trade signals Op, I cba to explain it cos I'm rubbish at explaining but there's loads on Tik Tok and Chat GPT can help you with it. Please actually give it a go without dismissing it, it's life changing

Soz quoting myself - I wanted to add, there's a lot of people on tik tok who will guide you on this however honestly chat gpt is as helpful. Ask chat gpt about copy and paste trade signals, get set up on Zulu Trade and have a bot do it for you. I discovered this through a woman on tik tok called Laura Olivia Severn, it seemed to good to be true but it's not! Dm me if you need a hand.

Original poster
SparklyOpalEagle · 15/07/2025 22:33

Bbq1 · 15/07/2025 22:17

We have a, cat sitting company that we use. They come in twice a day for 20 mins at a time and although there is a morning and evening visit, it isn't a time of their choosing. Plus, Op doesn't actually want to work

Show quote history

OP does already work and asked for advice on a way to earn a little extra that isn’t an extra job with set shifts etc. PP you quoted was giving helpful advice .

OP posts:
orangewasp · 15/07/2025 22:31

"Fostering"
This is a ridiculous suggestion. I imagine there's a lengthy process to become approved and you can't just casually dip in and out when you fancy making a few bob.

Original poster
SparklyOpalEagle · 15/07/2025 22:31

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 15/07/2025 22:08

You do work full time, teaching students with SEN. Thank you for your service!

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❤️❤️❤️

OP posts:
Bbq1 · 15/07/2025 22:17

Agapornis · 15/07/2025 20:55

Is the catsitting market as saturated as the dog walking one? You normally visit once a day at a time of your choosing for about 35 minutes, play with cat, feed, scoop poo. Earns about £10-11 a visit if you're new to the market. Very popular around bank holidays.

Print on demand/pdf selling via Etsy, Red Bubble etc. Requires churning out designs at the start, but could give you a regular passive income eventually.

We have a, cat sitting company that we use. They come in twice a day for 20 mins at a time and although there is a morning and evening visit, it isn't a time of their choosing. Plus, Op doesn't actually want to work

ChloefromSundy · 15/07/2025 22:16

Copy and paste trade signals Op, I cba to explain it cos I'm rubbish at explaining but there's loads on Tik Tok and Chat GPT can help you with it. Please actually give it a go without dismissing it, it's life changing

SleepyLemur · 15/07/2025 22:14

This may be a really stupid idea, but you said you couldn't tutor, as would be in evening when you need to be with your kids. Could you therefore tutor in a different time zone? For example, East Coast of US once your kids were in bed, but still a decent time for you. May he a silly idea. Other thoughts exam marking if you are a teacher. Hosting forgein exchange students. I thought the idea of holiday child care or clubs others mentioned excellent if you could get if sorted. Could you set up a Saturday class or tutor on a Saturday? Selling craft kits. Kids party entertaining. Sure you have thought through all these options. Good luck!

coffeeandmycats · 15/07/2025 22:11

Have you considered starting a youtube channel? if you got popular you could monetize it

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 15/07/2025 22:08

NotrialNodeal · 15/07/2025 21:33

You work term time therefore you do not work full time.

Show quote history

You do work full time, teaching students with SEN. Thank you for your service!

monkeysox · 15/07/2025 22:06

SparklyOpalEagle · 15/07/2025 21:37

No you’re not I would 100% do it if I knew how!

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Key word on eBay "trashed" teacher shoes. Smellier the better. Pervs love em.

pushthebuttonnn · 15/07/2025 21:56

ScrewedByFunding · 15/07/2025 20:05

Have you any idea what becoming a childminder actually involves?

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In fairness the poster probably means babysitting for cash not starting up a whole self - employed business.

lavendarwillow · 15/07/2025 21:54

I think the best suggestion you’ve had so far is to run an arts and crafts club for children? Presumably you are already DBS checked as you work in a school. Could you hire a classroom / space at the school you work at? However, you would also need another adult DBS checked helper, so perhaps a colleague? So many summer camps are sport orientated and you might find a niche offering arts and crafts as alternative.

Jarstastic · 15/07/2025 21:50

International students? In our area you can get them for 3-5 nights. You just need a room, they don’t need their own bathroom. Income is tax free under rent a room scheme. Put two in a room for these short stay ones.

AlertCat · 15/07/2025 21:49

fivetriangulartrees · 15/07/2025 21:39

You mentioned cake toppers. There are various companies that print designs on to icing sheets or wafer paper. They often have designs and templates to choose from but their own designs are always all awful. If you're a good designer perhaps you could sell/license bespoke designs to those small companies or go into partnership and take a cut - then you wouldn't have to invest in a printer yourself. I have no sense of how much business they do or whether that could be profitable but a couple of phone calls to those companies would answer that.

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Or design flash for tattoo artists?

PermanentTemporary · 15/07/2025 21:48

Cat sitting is a good one -I’ve used my sitter for years because she is 100% reliable and has common sense plus will do all the ancillary jobs like cleaning out the litter tray. A week ends up around £130 for two visits a day and is well worth it.

How are you on design? I find it really hard to find clip on earrings and ear cuffs, that might be a market?

Could you write a book of activities for children with additional needs at that age and self publish?

NotrialNodeal · 15/07/2025 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I will do shortly sweetie just having a cuppa then off to bed ill pop. Have a fantastic evening ❤️

coffeeandmycats · 15/07/2025 21:45

you could also try panning for gold if you live near a river?

brunettemic · 15/07/2025 21:44

NotrialNodeal · 15/07/2025 21:40

Lol she's a sen teacher not a chemistry teacher 🤣

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There must be a YouTube video showing what to do 😂

DorothyStorm · 15/07/2025 21:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
SparklyOpalEagle · 15/07/2025 21:43

NotrialNodeal · 15/07/2025 21:38

Yeah just pointing out you only work term time because you then claimed that you worked full time. It may well feel enough to you but from a financial point of view it clearly isn't.

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I’m salaried, I’m not without money in the holidays .

I don’t need the money to pay my debts , I don’t need a second job to survive . But , because of debts I don’t have as much as I would like left over so I would like to make a bit extra.

I work different term times to most schools and colleges - I have 4 weeks off at summer , half of the Easter holidays , Christmas and half of May and Feb half term . So I have 3 weeks more off than anyone in a ‘full time’ job.

OP posts:
NotrialNodeal · 15/07/2025 21:40

brunettemic · 15/07/2025 21:39

Food delivery (Domino’s etc)…then that money is purely used to pay off the debt. I worked with someone who did similar.

Or…have you seen Breaking Bad?

Lol she's a sen teacher not a chemistry teacher 🤣

brunettemic · 15/07/2025 21:39

Food delivery (Domino’s etc)…then that money is purely used to pay off the debt. I worked with someone who did similar.

Or…have you seen Breaking Bad?

fivetriangulartrees · 15/07/2025 21:39

SparklyOpalEagle · 15/07/2025 21:25

Never thought of cat sitting ! Would be happy to do that .

I did a kind of print on demand service before - wall prints mainly , but it seemed to really drop off once Christmas was over .

i was thinking about printing cake toppers , logos etc . But I’m hesitant to spend money on a printer and then it not work out .

Show quote history

You mentioned cake toppers. There are various companies that print designs on to icing sheets or wafer paper. They often have designs and templates to choose from but their own designs are always all awful. If you're a good designer perhaps you could sell/license bespoke designs to those small companies or go into partnership and take a cut - then you wouldn't have to invest in a printer yourself. I have no sense of how much business they do or whether that could be profitable but a couple of phone calls to those companies would answer that.

coffeeandmycats · 15/07/2025 21:39

honestly just swapping accounts using the method I said can earn you 500 in like 2 months as a one off...

NotrialNodeal · 15/07/2025 21:38

SparklyOpalEagle · 15/07/2025 21:36

I work enough.

Show quote history

Yeah just pointing out you only work term time because you then claimed that you worked full time. It may well feel enough to you but from a financial point of view it clearly isn't.