To have no job and no idea what to do next?

[FleeBee]

Any ideas or suggestion?
I was made redundant when pregnant with DC1 (now just turned 4) and decided to take some time out and unexpectedly had DC2 (now nearly 3)

I've just completed about a year of a direct sales business which I didn't really enjoy, but thought it would fit round the DCs as it was based in the evenings. I'm just at the point where I'm not getting enough booking/sales to make it worthwhile so going to stop.

Anyone else have a job/career that works around DC, ideally evenings or school hours as DC1 will be starting school in September. I don't have any family support locally so would rely on private nursery and research show fees for 2 DC to be very expensive. (DC1 presently attends 15 hours at a local preschool which she absolutely loves.)

I'm needing some money to come in as redundancy money almost all used up and I'm relying on DH to support us and need to share the financial burden.

I'm scared having not been in the work place for 4 years, lost a lot of self-confidence being at home with small children and worried about lack of skills, and don't know where to start.

Thanks in advance

Hello - I have been racking my brains re the same thing. I was in sales for years and made redundant back in JUly and am 6m p with second. I need to bring in income, as soon as I reasonably can. I dont' qualify for any assistance as my husband earns to much (taken up by mortgage and fuel to work) - sounds like a whinge but it's not:) I have considered all sorts, but it's hard to know what to do - what will cover nursery fees? What will allow me to work mon-fri so I can see my husband at weekends (away in week) etc. I've been thinking about training to be a dog groomer as I live in a rural area with lots dogs. I also did look into a well known health and nutrition co - many folk, especially those in well populated areas do very well with it, and it is growing, but I'm so far out that subsidising the setting up with fuel/childcare would have cost me too much. I used their nutrition plan after 1st baby and lost all the weight etc - so that could be an idea if you are into that kind of thing?? Re loosing all your confidence, it wont' take long to get back I'm sure:) I can see why you are nervous, but hey, if you can deal with kids you can deal with anyone! What was your last job? Could you not pick that up where you left? I know the job centres offer training if you are receiving benefits- how about local college prospectus for inspiration? Any dreams you could act upon?

What about doing something like becoming a childminder? Or training as a teaching assistant or nursery nurse so that you could work in a school or preschool? My friend works at my DS's nursery; she works school hours and has one child at school and one that actually goes to the nursery but for a subsidised rate, which makes working there worthwhile financially for her.

What did you do pre-children? Have you got any skills that you could transfer into freelance working or working from home? Accountancy? Tutoring skills? Cooking?

I work pt on a yard in the mornings 5 days a week and I freelance with IT support for a local business. Everything fits around school hours, though it is a struggle sometimes and I usually work evenings and weekends too.

Think laterally. What can you do that could be translated into freelance work for a small business near you?

I too would love to work but its balancing all the factors to make it worth while financially.

I have 3 dcs 8yr old (with ASD), 5yr old and 1 yr old. For me when I've sat down and done the hard numbers the childcare particularly holiday periods means I'd have to work back in very full time employment to justify the costs. DC1 was rather too challenging for the one nursery I ever tried to put him in.

I'm back to ebaying everything (for me and at a 50% share for close friends/ family), car booting for stuff, cooking everything from scratch, playing the game with the power companies to keep on the best rates and shopping around for everything else. I can bring in around £2-3k a year in real money (no tax or NI on that) and probably save a fair bit by cooking from scratch and shopping around for everything. Luckily DH is happy that we live frugally for a few years more whilst the DC are young.

I have wondered about doing after school or breakfast activities for a few friends children to bring in a bit more money as there aren't any in our local school. The other job that came up was for a lunchtime assistant at the school - would be school days only and just above minimum wage.

Its all the little bits of extra money added together that I find make a difference between just covering bills and having the odd treat day out and night away.

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions. I will definitely look into the pre-school idea. I thought about childminding in the past, but found my two to be such hard work that the idea of adding extra children to the mix filled me with fear! I think the pre-school environment wouldn't be as daunting as being on my own with children all day.

Ebaying is another excellent suggestion, I'll have some extra stock from my sales business that I could sell and other things. It's interesting offering to ebay for others as I'm always popping to the post office.

I previously worked in marketing for a financial company, I was there 6 years before redundancy and I know that they've had another restructure and wave of redundancies after mine.

I do really like cooking and toyed with that idea in the past. I wonder what that could lead into, I don't know about the long hours of the professional kitchen though.

Thanks again for the suggestions, it has really given me something to think about

exam invigilating pays about 7 - 10 pounds an hour and is tempory part time and flexible if you want extra cash or to supplement another small income. now is a good time to contact schools and colleges as many are very desperate for more for the exam season.

If you like cooking you could try this country markets I've been thinking about this as for occasional cooking use you don't need to register your kitchen, all the stuff like insurance is included, you don't need to help out every market its on a rota.

Ant do you currently sell at these markets? I've just seen they do one in my local area and am very interested I think...

I haven't got as far as selling at one I'm at the tentative dipping my toes into the water stage. I visited one of my local ones and it was really small. One that is a little further away but still local I used to go to quite regularly was much bigger so I intend to revisit that one and see if its still as big and hence worth selling at.

I'm a zumba instructor. GOOD hourly rates. But it night not be your thing. You could do zumba gold which is for OAPs and the like allowing you o work during the day.