To ask for your help figuring out how I can get some income in fast

Moneyproblemz · 2026-09-11T18:03:59+00:00

Legal options only please 🫠 I'm really panicking. I've been a freelancer for two decades now but my industry is being destroyed 😭 I'm a translator, and before you suggest interpreting - don't bother. My languages don't have heavy interpreting demand in the UK. Like many translators, I've been watching my profession slowly die for a while now. But this week my biggest client said they were shutting down. I'm absolutely screwed. I only have two months of outgoings I can cover. I live in a city which is helpful, but I just don't know what the hell to do. I know I need to think of a proper long term career pivot, but right now all I can feel is panic. I need to find something quickly, and I've applied for some jobs already, but I just feel like who the hell is going to hire me as a 40-something with zero experience of anything other than my own industry. I'm assuming anything to do with hospitality and retail they are just going to prefer someone 20 years younger than me. I'm just asking on here in case anyone has a few off-piste ideas I might not have thought of other than "desperately trawl through Indeed". Like I said, I do have some ideas for a bigger picture plan, but right now I need an immediate solution. Thanks all

dreamingofgoodhair · 13/09/2026 13:27

Grumpyoldcat · 11/09/2026 19:19

Get a job. Any job.

Really helpful.

ChangeFutureButterfly · 13/09/2026 08:30

Police office based staff taking 999 calls are always keen to recruit people with language skills

Schools

Hospitals

Border force

MI5

maxandru · 13/09/2026 08:11

TheVeryAngryBanana · 12/09/2026 08:10

If you're personable, how about nannying? I'm stuck up enough that I'd love to hire a nanny to play with my kids in French who wasn't just 20!

Yeah this is a great idea.

Re teaching, absolutely do not do this without experience. However , if it is something you’re interested in, look into the SCITT programme, which takes mostly candidates with a prior career and you get paid a salary (albeit not a huge one) whilst training.

I will say you need to really WANT to be a teacher though, otherwise you’ll be totally miserable going into work every day! It’s very much a vocation.

maxandru · 13/09/2026 08:07

sashh · 13/09/2026 08:02

Sign up with teaching agencies. You can work as an 'unqualified teacher' and if you like it you could do a PGCE. If you are prepared to do general supply rather than your languages you will be in work until about June.

Tutoring, they are common GCSE subjects. This can be face to face or online.

You might have to pay for a DBS, but once you have it and you go on the update service you will have it for as long as you want.

Language assistant in a school.

Agencies I have used:

Jambo
Aspire
Teacher Active
Smile
Teacher Active

Chalet girl? Can you ski?

Tour guide? Where do you live?

Lidl employ German speakers https://careers.lidl.co.uk/head-office/german-speakers

Customer services, often they want someone who speaks another language.

Omg please don’t do supply if you don’t have teaching experience! That would really be an awful experience for you!

sashh · 13/09/2026 08:02

Sign up with teaching agencies. You can work as an 'unqualified teacher' and if you like it you could do a PGCE. If you are prepared to do general supply rather than your languages you will be in work until about June.

Tutoring, they are common GCSE subjects. This can be face to face or online.

You might have to pay for a DBS, but once you have it and you go on the update service you will have it for as long as you want.

Language assistant in a school.

Agencies I have used:

Jambo
Aspire
Teacher Active
Smile
Teacher Active

Chalet girl? Can you ski?

Tour guide? Where do you live?

Lidl employ German speakers https://careers.lidl.co.uk/head-office/german-speakers

Customer services, often they want someone who speaks another language.

German speakers

https://careers.lidl.co.uk/head-office/german-speakers

Weekmindedfool · 13/09/2026 07:40

isitfridayyetttt · 13/09/2026 07:37

Not everyone wants to resort to sex work

Show quote history

What a redundant statement.
Equally not everyone wants to resort to teaching, caring, translating, shop work or any of the other options suggested. Each to their own.

DontSingSusan · 13/09/2026 07:39

How about tutoring or informal language clubs for kids?
TEFL is also an idea as you can do one in about a month and there are always opportunities with that.

I'm also a translator with the same language combination, so I'll PM you.

isitfridayyetttt · 13/09/2026 07:37

Weekmindedfool · 13/09/2026 07:30

OnlyFans. Make talking in sexy French
or German your niche.

Not everyone wants to resort to sex work

WantALieDown · 13/09/2026 07:32

There are paid routes into teaching, search SCITT. The deadline for starting this year is actually in two days’ time!! You’d have to contact one of the hubs to see if they could accommodate you though. But of a wildcard, I realise!! My kid adores languages in school. I hate AI and I’m so sorry this has happened to you.

Weekmindedfool · 13/09/2026 07:30

OnlyFans. Make talking in sexy French
or German your niche.

Cel77 · 13/09/2026 07:23

Chickenhorse · 11/09/2026 19:12

Teacher of languages in a school

You need a proper qualification to teach. They won't employ someone without a teaching degree.

disgracefullyyours · 13/09/2026 07:15

Getting a lodger seems the most obvious and easiest way to get some income.

isitfridayyetttt · 13/09/2026 06:58

OtterMummy2024 · 12/09/2026 20:18

University administration. Lots of churn.

Lots of universities are on hiring freezes and making redundancies. Especially admin and support staff. Higher education is really struggling right now.

WaryHiker · 13/09/2026 00:54

If you have experience translating books, are you on Reedsy? That's where i go to look for my book translators. Currently only German but moving into French soon too. What do you charge per word from scratch? How about per word for post AI translation clean-up? I really feel for you and would like to offer you at least some short term work if you're desperate and I can afford you!

sunflowerwater · 12/09/2026 23:37

Moneyproblemz · 11/09/2026 21:04

Unfortunately I've just bought a house 🤦‍♀️ Which makes the whole situation even worse, because just as I'm shelling out for all these outgoings, thats when my client pulls the plug. At any other time I'd be willing to move for work, I've moved country loads in my life.

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Sorry I haven't read all posts so I'm unsure if this has been suggested. But what about becoming a nanny? Seems to be quite a lot of demand, especially for after school hours / etc as a more part time. You might be able to look at that for local family / families and then perhaps see if you can hold on to something in your industry for the other hours? Or tutoring?

cityliving99 · 12/09/2026 23:02

Meteorite87 · 12/09/2026 09:40

Academic tutoring in the 2 languages you speak?

Good idea. Op could also start some beginner language groups for adults.

OtterMummy2024 · 12/09/2026 20:18

University administration. Lots of churn.

stillhiding1990 · 12/09/2026 17:36

Chionic · 11/09/2026 19:06

Care work?

Waiting for background checks and training and 4 weeks until next wage, that would be 8 weeks maybe

Greenismyfavouritecolournow · 12/09/2026 17:33

Do you have a spare room? Get a lodger ?

Yennefer17 · 12/09/2026 17:11

Aboiledfrogturnedzombie · 11/09/2026 21:32

Traffic surveys - you sit in a car with another person and count cars on and off. Easy work and when you are ‘off’ you could proof read for University Students.

What??! That’s a cool job. I never knew it existed.

AFigureWalks · 12/09/2026 10:14

Police custody translator. There’s a certain standard you have to be, which I am sure you are.
It’s lucrative, but you have to be ready to go to custody at short notice.

Silvernutmeg70 · 12/09/2026 10:01

Moneyproblemz · 12/09/2026 09:44

I am not saying this to be patronising or to lecture you, I just don't want you to find yourself in my situation later down the line.
We all know the writing is on the wall, and I knew this could very well end up happening about two years ago. But when you're in the moment, getting solid projects from recurring clients, it's easy to think you'll somehow find a way through.
I have translator/copywriter/design friends who started crashing and burning as a result of AI about three or four years ago, but somehow you feel slightly untouchable. But as you know, it can happen so fast. All it takes is your two biggest clients to pull the plug and you're screwed.
I actually translate literature as well as my commercial work, but the payment time lags and unpredictability of book contracts mean commercial work was always my bread and butter. Many literary translators would disagree with me, but my own instinct is that there will come a time, possibly in four or five years, where they will simply translate novels by machine.
As for MTPE or AIPE as we are increasingly seeing: you're right that that work does exist, and I do some myself, but again I 100% believe that this pipeline will dry up too. Personally I give it two years max.

I am not trying to scare you or be condescending, I'm just saying maybe "get your ducks in a row" while times are good.
It's very depressing, you're right. It's depressing that the art/craft you trained to excel in is now seen as utterly valueless. I wish you the best of luck with everything 💐

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I know you're right, as I say, I'm actively applying for jobs but still slogging on in medical translating while I'm looking. It's a difficult job market though so I've been looking for a while sadly.

Original poster

Moneyproblemz · 12/09/2026 09:44

Silvernutmeg70 · 11/09/2026 23:19

I'm a translator (German and Dutch) and am still getting work as I specialise in medical reports. Ok, some of it is post-editing AI but I still get enough work to make a living. Could you try that? Having said that, I'm quite worried it'll end suddenly at some point so I'm actively applying for jobs. I'm 55 so worried about ageism but all we can do is keep trying. Hope you manage to find something OP. Good luck, it's so depressing.

I am not saying this to be patronising or to lecture you, I just don't want you to find yourself in my situation later down the line.
We all know the writing is on the wall, and I knew this could very well end up happening about two years ago. But when you're in the moment, getting solid projects from recurring clients, it's easy to think you'll somehow find a way through.
I have translator/copywriter/design friends who started crashing and burning as a result of AI about three or four years ago, but somehow you feel slightly untouchable. But as you know, it can happen so fast. All it takes is your two biggest clients to pull the plug and you're screwed.
I actually translate literature as well as my commercial work, but the payment time lags and unpredictability of book contracts mean commercial work was always my bread and butter. Many literary translators would disagree with me, but my own instinct is that there will come a time, possibly in four or five years, where they will simply translate novels by machine.
As for MTPE or AIPE as we are increasingly seeing: you're right that that work does exist, and I do some myself, but again I 100% believe that this pipeline will dry up too. Personally I give it two years max.

I am not trying to scare you or be condescending, I'm just saying maybe "get your ducks in a row" while times are good.
It's very depressing, you're right. It's depressing that the art/craft you trained to excel in is now seen as utterly valueless. I wish you the best of luck with everything 💐

OP posts:

HarderBetterFasterMother · 12/09/2026 09:41

Tourism or hotel trade? Language skills will really make your CV stand out.

Good luck. I really feel for you.

Meteorite87 · 12/09/2026 09:40

Academic tutoring in the 2 languages you speak?