to ask what you do if you are self employed/work at home

[PocketFluff]

In a few threads recently people have talked about being self employed, some only doing a few hours a week, or being able to have a work at home job that fits around the children.

Can I be nosey and ask what it is you do and get a bit of the action myself?

I run a little PR agency. Couldn't work for someone now. I'm unemployable

I'm a media makeup artist and do other beauty bits too.

Started doing more bridal and less editorial when I had DS so its mainly evening and weekends for the practical stuff so it works quite well

Nettle.... You are living my dream!

Writing, editing, PR ...

I sell stuff on eBay and Facebook.

I'm a self-employed fashion graphic designer, primarily kidswear for volume retail.

Nettle that all sounds RIGHT up my street. Could you divulge your campyglampsite? Or if not pm me the deets? Always looking for new ones to visit....

OMactualG... Nettle has a DEWAARD... I die.

I teach drama and deliver schools workshops for various organisations. In terms of childcare, the hours are all over the place and it's a PITA. dd is in preschool every morning, and I have two childminders who I've registered her with and can phone up to see if they have space whenever I need it. They often don't, so it's favours from friends or if out of school hours, I have teenage babysitters to call on.

I work in IT. Mostly from home.

Writer for an advice service. Not the most exciting job I've ever had but it's so much better than having to spend three hours a day commuting to work.

Financial modelling and business plans.

Book-keeping and audio typing.

Gardener/garden designer.

Accountant

I'm abroad. I teach English to students of all ages (3-80!), make crafty thingamybobs, proofread. In the summer I also do unofficial tours of my town (so, not all is at home). I've also walked neighbours' dogs for a spot of cash.

DH works from home as a translator.

mumteedum Mon 11-Nov-13 11:43:26
Can I jump on bandwagon here and ask those freelance designers how they manage sporadic childcare? I was a freelancer in a related discipline (again bit niche so not going to out self) but haven't figured out how I could manage to go back now I have DS. I do teaching PT which I love and hope to develop but it's not enough money and I miss being hands on. No family nearby and DH not helpful with childcare so I haven't figured it all out as most childcare has to be set hours, not 3 months full time and then nothing for a bit!

I don't! It's a fucking nightmare! You'd probably do ok if you have family to help out as and when, but I don't have any. I haven't been working much the last fews years because of dcs being pre school age, but wanted to. When I was actually offered work I had to turn it down as I couldn't sort out the childcare. Now that they are at school it is still tricky because if I am offered say 2 days work, do I try and find a place with a childminder or the after school club and get them all settled for just 2 days? Most childminders won't take them for such a short time anyway.

My area is niche too [wonders]

Writer & academic.

Love working from home. No boss getting all up in my grill, no commute, can work in a dressing gown or the bath if I want to, frequently do my best work half-cut on rioja with Chopin in the background at 10pm.

On the downside apparently some people think freelancers can go for months without being paid by their clients and still pay the rent etc.

Architect.

Architect.

Nice to see another architect on here.

sillytilly you should put yourself on the books ASAP. If you pay yourself anything less than £149pw you'll have no tax/NI to pay, you'll build up your contributions for state pension, be able to claim SMP/SSP etc and of course your salary will come off your DHs taxable and NIable profit. Just in tax at 20% you'll be saving around £1,500.

fifi669. Do you mean that sillytilly should get low earnings exception so she doesn't have to pay NI? I looked into that as self employed and it said that if I did that I wouldn't be entitled to any benefits, including maternity allowance etc.

She wouldn't be self-employed, she'd be employed by her DH who she currently does the books for unpaid. To earn credit when employed without actually paying NI you have to earn between £109-149pw.

if sillytilly becomes an employee of her husband, she can be paid right up to the NI limit this year and it will save him tax

next year (2014/15) there is a £2000 bonus for all employers so it will DEFINITELY be worth her being on his books .....

DH and I each have companies : we'll be using both of the £2000 offsets .... have to check how it interacts with CT though

Freelarnce copy editer.