How would you get out of poverty if you were me?

[Fedupandpoor]

I am 36, two children under 6 and a single parent. Ex DP is useless. I have no family, no proper qualifications and no savings of any kind.

I am so fucking sick of being poor and struggling by on UC and minimum wage jobs. I want a good life for my kids, not rich but comfortable and not having to choose between heat and food.

What is the quickest and best way to dig myself out of this hole? My passion is fitness, yoga, meditation, sewing and alternative health. I have started teaching a kids fitness group that I absolutely love but it brings in pennies. I have another training booked in April to teach the same thing but to children with additional needs, however as I have no reliable childcare it is difficult to run many classes.

What would you do if you were me? Is there anyone who has been in my situation that managed to break out? Before anyone jumps on to lecture me about why I had kids and got into this situation, I know it was fucking stupid. I can only put it down to a horribly abusive childhood and then abusive ex partner as well as my own stupidity. But I've dealt with that shit now and it's time to move on

wrpn.womenreturners.com

Follow Ramit Sethi who wrote 'I will teach you to be rich'. He has a blog with loads of helpful free content. Doesn't focus on exactly your situation but will have helpful things to say.

I am not sure about childminding if you are in a small council flat. BUT if you and a friend can swap regular childcare that might be very helpful. So you could get a long day at work once a week.

@mumwon

Don't you need a degree for a PE teacher? I just had a quick Google and it says you can enter via initial teacher training but does that require a degree? I have 10 GCSEs A to C grade (a million years ago!)

Hi @fedup I work in HE although not on that subject area. I would say combined with your fitness qual and a strong personal statement outlining your fitness experience, yoga etc you would be eligible. Try to include as much fitness experience as possible. In your personal statement I'd also talk about what you've been doing for the last decade (being a mum) and link the skills you've used in managing single parenthood to what's required for the degree.

But the in the short term a good idea is to get online and research courses available locally and online / OU. See what takes your fancy. Check their application criteria but don't be put off if you don't meet it all. Eg if they say you must have 3 A Levels. HE providers are much more likely to accept 'mature' students who don't tick all the application criteria because their life experience is often seen as filling that gap. If you find courses you're interested in I'd strongly advise trying to attend an open day and speaking to the course leader directly about your passion and experience. The very best of luck 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Swimming teacher for children with additional needs is definitely a thing. I’m saying this as a user. DD has additional needs and swimming is probably the only activity all children with additional needs do, whatever their diagnosis: ASD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, etc. They learn to swim longer and keep swimming as activity for longer as it’s appropriate for any age. And parents are always prepared to travel to get good and understanding teacher.

Can you work at a gym? They may pay towards your yoga qualification eventually and income for now.

You could do open university if you want better qualifications.

Encourage your children to do well at school. Education is usually the best way to escape poverty.

Most PE teachers will be graduates with a teacher certificate, however the government relaxed qualifications requirements for school teachers in academies, and private schools have never been required to employ qualified teachers (although most do), it is possible to work as an unqualified teacher, the money is quite a bit lower than for qualified teachers. I'd say contacting schools and offering to come in to teach a yoga either as a visiting teacher covering PE lessons or as after school sessions. My kids primary have after school clubs run buy outside companies.

Have you thought about Aldi or Lidl. They pay well and often have chances for supervisors or manager promotions.
Equally entry level jobs at university's can be a good foot in the door to career progression as many as for a degree or evidence of personal development. They will also often pay for training or give you good discounts on courses they run.

There are far too many PE teachers around. Literally 35+applications per job. Training too many.

I agree with other posters: find a job with career progression potential at a large employer. Supermarkets, banks, council and the NHS. A dental hygienist, for example, offers good rates of pay and regular hours (yes, you need the qualification, but now is a good time to sort out training). That will enable you to cover childcare and build up a savings cushion.

It is possible to make a living from yoga: it's just bloody hard work and risky as the income is so variable.

I think you need to get a regular stable job at somewhere like a supermarket. It might be boring and not your passion but you then know what you are earning.
Or in sweatty Betty? If there is one near you. Our one runs classes so that could be a good way in.

You need to be realistic about the area in which you live. Are enough parents likely to want to spend money on kids yoga classes for you to maake a living out of it.

Isn't one of the problems with universal credit that it works really badly for people on a fluctuating wage?

As someone else said regular earnings are a priority.

As a lone parent you are entitled to 30 hours childcare from 2yo.

There is no shortage of PE teachers, I agree schools are unlikely to need unqualified staff.

I agree with the suggestion of working in a call centre, especially something finance or insurance related. I have a friend with minimal qualifications who did this and the company helped him get various professional exams so now he works in a well paid finance job and owns his own house. Not sure where you are in the sw but LV has a centre near Exeter and there are some other options near Plymouth too I believe.

I know moving might be impossible but Plymouth is quite a cheap city to live (in places) but does have some good employers, university, NHS, dockyards etc.

I think anything self employed us going to be really tough right now, whereas with an employer you'd get sick pay, holiday pay etc and you'd know your regular wage so be able to budget. It might also help with getting reliable top up benefits if you have a regular monthly wage.

Could I still use it to get on a new degree course? Would it open the door to a degree in personal training/fitness/ nutrition?

Yes you can use your access course to get onto a new degree course. No idea if a PE course would accept you or not. Why not talk to your local uni?

Have you looked at your local universities and seen what they offer? The entry requirements are often lower for mature students btw.

I studied as a mature student and my DC went to the university nursery. I loved doing my degree!

Do the kids classes on YouTube. You need to really market yourself. Get your kids to be the students!

It is hard work and she is super organised but she charges £5.50 per hour per child

^

This sounds like a good money maker

What about becoming a zumba instructor? You only have to pass a one day course to be certified and are then given access to music rights and ready made dances. Can be done in church halls etc. They even have courses for zumba kids training, Aqua zumba, zumba gold (for older folk). Combined with your yoga training and possibly adding in swimming instruction you could be onto a fitness for all business!

As a lone parent you are entitled to 30 hours childcare from 2yo.

I don't think this is correct. It's 15 hours from 2 years and 30 hours from 3 years old.

Can you make curtains and loose covers, Roman blinds, cute child’s clothe? My friend made a child’s chef set of apron and hat. You could sell it as a set with a child’s bowl and spoon. Another friend had worked for a firm then took it up again later. She made loose covers and curtains in an affluent area and. Often bought fabric at a warehouse. She made appointments to measure up when it suited her self. She did very well.
I had a friend who had a little note book and she wrote in it her expenditure for every day. This kept her on top of her spending.

You are never going to be able to get to where you want to be with that set of passions. You need to get a salaried job and follow your passions as an (modest) additional source of income.

I think you need to use transferable skills in doing something more lucrative. Most people I know who did PE are extremely competitive, often good players and if they put their ego to the side, good team players. Those teaching PE are getting peanuts unless they have proper full time positions in schools, those working in offices are climbing up in their offices hierarchy.

In your situation I'd look into ways to start your own side hustle type business working from home;

Ironing can be very lucrative and can easily be done from home.

Do you like dogs? My friend has a side hustle business looking after friends and acquaintances dogs in her home whilst their owners are on holiday. Or you could do dog walking?

Buy items cheaply from charity shops, boot sales etc and sell on Ebay

Another side hustle idea is to use your sewing skills to make something niche and market your items through Instagram and Facebook. A mum at my DCs school has a very successful business selling slogan sweatshirts that she designs and prints herself. She also makes custom order fancy dress and party dresses for children and charges loads for them.

For a salaried job, I work in a contact centre, small team. My colleague is PT, works 20hrs a week and earns the same as she did in her FT job working in retail. She does 2.5 days a week
It's uncapped commission and no real selling, no cold calling etc, inbound calls are probably 70% of it

IME, working from home is not a great option if you are the only person bringing income in the family: no regular income, no holiday pay, no sick leave, no dependants leave, no rest either as you are always struggling to get more business in, doing the job and, unless you are very ambitious and determined, it is not easy not to let home pressures and lack of childcare take over.

When you are a single parent, you really need a job that allows you to close the door of the office and TOTALLY forget about it so you can concentrate in parenting your kids.