I can’t afford the lesson

This

Do you not have an overdraft?

Ah sorry I misread that. I feel it would be better to be a reliable customer and stick to the schedule (if teacher permits it under these circumstances) than offering double pay for one lesson and still coming across as flaky. I also think PP who said OP should look for reliable work on the side until her business has a buffer sound quite sensible.

Your title nails it.
You can’t afford the lesson or, unless your finances take a big upward swing, can you afford lessons going forward.

Do you not have an overdraft?

It sounds like your finances are in a mess, in the longer term you need a savings cushion if you are going to remain unemployed

She’s not really “paying double” she’s offering to pay for the lessons her daughter has had. I would be proper miffed if a parent said “I’m not paying you but here are some flowers”

Well time to get over that. It’s more embarrassing to limit her income and disrupt it then it is to say that you’ve had an issue with your bank can you please pay double next week.

What do the T&Cs say? I ask because I’m a music teacher and require 48 hrs notice of cancellations, but my own teacher doesn’t allow any cancellations at all once the lessons are booked in. I personally would rather teach and receive double pay next week.

I have been in the same situation due to clients owing money. If I were you I‘d chase who owes you and implore them to pay by time x. You can alternatively ring the teacher and explain your problem. Don’t offer to pay double - bring a bunch of flowers or chocolates etc as a thank you and then make absolutely sure it doesn’t happen again.

It's very frustrating having customers who "can't afford to pay" - whether that's true or not (and she has no way of knowing). It will devalue you as a customer. If it's likely to happen on an occasional basis, then you can't afford the lessons and should cancel them so that she can replace you with someone who can afford the lessons.

Well, you can’t say you’ll pay it next week, because how do you know you’ll have the money by then? Pay it this week, cancel next week’s lesson.

It’s not the music class that’s unsustainable, it’s the business. If a missed payment against one invoice (no matter how small/large) results in a music class versus being able to feed yourselves, then the business is not really sustainable. Get a job with a payroll where you get paid weekly/firtnightky/monthly whether their invoices are paid on time or not if you can’t create a business with necessary buffer and diversity where there is no effect if payments are late.

Absolutely not. I would never give money to someone random online they could be anyone saying anything. For all we know this is a teenager writing this with no kids after money.

Has anyone offered @Thoseflatbreadslookyummy money yet?

If your budget is so tight that you don't have enough spare money for ONE hobby lesson and cant put the cost on a credit card, and you are living so hand to mouth that ONE late payment means you have to choose between doing the hobby or buying food then sounds like you cant afford to do that hobby!

As someone who used to be a fully self-employed music teacher - please just tell her and she can let you know what she'd rather do. But I don't know where people think teachers are finding students at this short notice to fill cancellation slots - that's why a lot of us have cancellation policies.

OP it seems crazy to be having piano lessons that can take your last penny, these kind of things are luxuries that not many can afford. Surely that is unbelievably stressful?

How long has she been giving your child lessons? in the contract I give to my learner's parents It does say that a late cancellation incurs the normal fee - in practise I haven't actually done this because I felt the goodwill was better placed and it was a one off for long term customer. However if it was someone who had only been a client for a few weeks I would still charge.
I would appreciate honesty over any story because it's usually blatantly obvious when someone is lying

Piano lessons or food?

If you are in the position (even as a one off) of needing to make this choice then surely piano lessons needs to be cancelled / paused?

Take the £20 or whatever it is out of your overdraft.
It sounds like you can’t afford the lessons. Music is expensive. Unfortunately. Can a relative help!?

Not an immediate solution but do look into any grants your council offers towards hobbies like this. Often they manage money left in trust. Because people don’t know about it it’s often unclaimed.

I don’t think self employment is right for you @Thoseflatbreadslookyummy as it’s clearly leaving you on the bones of your arse if one customer delays payment by a few days and it’s a choice between piano lesson or food

What about savings? Or an overdraft or credit card?