to think I may have been conned?

[ariane5]

We are a bit short of money so when I saw an. Ad on the local noticeboard of another parenting site about delivering some leaflets in the area I live I jumped at the chance.

I text the lady who seemed very pleasant and said it would be £40 for 1000 leaflets (I thought great £40=1 months dinner money for dd1). I have a double buggy and thought I could put 2 little ones in it and go for a walk and get them delivered.

The lady said she would drop half off, that I could contact when done and she would pay half then when I'd done the rest she would pay the other half.she seemed really nice, friendly and chatty. Dropped leaflets off and I delivered them some that day the rest the day after (and it was HARD work, did it over 2 days as dd2 wasn't well first aft). I let her know what roads as she had said she would be checking and said she would give me money and other half to deliver on sat.

She then said she wasn't well on sat and would be in touch in couple of days but I've heard nothing. I don't want to think I've been tricked as she was so nice, perhaps she is genuinely unwell and I'm just paranoid.

We really need the money and I will feel so stupid if I've been tricked.

Should I phone her? Or will I just look pushy and desperate, I was hoping they might let me deliver again as I'm so short of money and it would have helped us out but I'm really starting to think I will never hear from her again.if I have been tricked I'm obviously a bad judge of character as she seemed really genuine and nice.

AIBU to think I've been conned

[Floggingmolly]

Are you the poster with a child at private school?

[Fillyjonk75]

I don't think leaflet delivering works out as minimum wage even.

[2margarinesonthego]

You sound lovely, glad it all worked out for you.
I do think there's easier/quicker ways for you to make money though!
Good luck :)

[ariane5]

Dd1 starts in sep, she has a bursary though for virtually all the fees luckily.

[DiscoDonkey]

So what if she does have a child in private school

[Floggingmolly]

She's desperate enough for money to do two days work for £40.

[Emsmaman]

ariane I've seen several of your posts now and it does seem you're having a tough time of it but I can't help but think there must be an easier way for you to earn some lunch money without a physical slog around your local area. IIRC you and your DCs have disabilities so I imagine this is even harder for you than some posters realise. Please do some other research or browse the boards here for some ideas for a supplementary income, I'm sure you can do better than leaflet dropping. Good luck

[ariane5]

It was hard but it seemed the ideal option as was the roads where I live and I often take dcs in buggy for walks at nap times anyway so I thought itd be easy.

Def not easy at all though.

Can't think of anything else I could do really, leaflets sort of fit in with me walking around anyway.I just needed some extra money.

[ariane5]

We are just above the limit fo free school meals, hb etc too but have debts and pay full rent so I have to do something.

In a way it was nice, I was exhausted but I feel like I did something to help us out.

[EatenByZombies]

Well done for managing to do it - I could never be bothered and I don't even have buggy-bound kids!

[deste]

If it solves a problem for you keep doing it till something else comes up. I have done some crappy jobs in my time because I needed the money.

[SpanishFly]

As someone said earlier, what about Avon or something similar. I did it yrs ago and the commission is good

[seesensepeople]

If you can find another leaflet drop on the same route you could double your money for the same effort.

Been there OP, well done for keeping going.

Have you thought about all the other costs when DD1 starts school in September? What plans do you have in mind to cover school trips, specialist equipment, extra music lessons, etc, etc, etc. Not being nosey but I did have a horrendous year where I had holes in my shoes as every penny went on school extras as all 5 kids were in school at the same time. Thankfully it was only one year!!!

[DiscoDonkey]

If you are happy to trek around a bit, what about looking out for things at Carboot sales to sell on eBay for profit. People sell things at silly prices at car boots and if you're canny enough you can pick up things to make a bit of money on eBay.

[ariane5]

all non residential trips are included in fees, dd wont belearning any instruments and we are saving now for theextras like lunches, uniform etc, booksincluded in fees too so I am hoping we will manage.

Avon would be too much work as involves a bit of paperwork i expect. Leaflets are just delivering and thats it!

[SpanishFly]

You drop off the catalogues, collect thema week later and fill out the order form, which u might be able to do online now?. Then deliver the goods when they arrive. It would take less time and earn you more than the leaflet drop

[maddening]

still don't get your point flogging

well done op. Am sure you will find bits and pieces to do - it all adds up! What about evenings? Is your dh home then ? you could get leaflets done in half the time in the light evenings or call centre work?

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

OP's DD will not be the only child whose parent's can't afford the latest tat. I know this from experience. Good luck OP.

[YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar]

Sounds good to me. Its not minimum wage but I used to deliver leaflets, free papers, catalogues, phone books etc etc. I once had a two month run of delivering 4 separate items to the same streets. I lost loads of weight and was making about £150 for nearly two days work a week. I had a pull along trolley with me which meant hardly ever having to go home for more leaflets. It also helped I was doing mostly terraced houses. Where I live now there isn't the demand for all night beer deliveries, take aways and drop off DVD rentals. :o

[lougle]

ariane, well done, but remember that all income is counted for benefits purposes and housing benefit/tax credits can easily be alerted to undeclared income.

[IAmNotAMindReader]

Great assumption lougle. The OP is short of money so has to be on benefits and fiddling.
She has already stated her family are over the threshold for help.

[reelingintheyears]

£40 is fuck all,i could spend that and not know where it went.

Pick on the Phillip Greens (Topshop) of the world whose wives hide their fortunes in Switzerland so they don't have to pay taxes

[lougle]

Wasn't an assumption, it was a tired misreading of a comma, meaning that I thought the OP had said she was just over the threshold for FSM, but had housing benefit.

Ariane, have you double checked your benefit position? With 5 dc with SN your income would have to be very high not to qualify for at least some tax credits.

( which means my earlier post would stand, by the way)

[ShadeofViolet]

I dont think Lougle was accusing the OP, just a reminder.

You would be surprised the amount of people on MSE or CAG forums who have forgotten to declare small amounts of income and get in trouble.