what would you do?

[hollyatchristmas]

Hi

Here is my situation.

I have a DD who is 8 months. Before I had her, I was working (full time) in a zero hours role, although you never actually got zero hours, it was in home community care.

I split up with her dad when she was 2 months, I've had maternity pay just the basic from the government.

Now here's the problem, I need to go back to work. My mum died when I was 13, she left me her house. I don't live in it as I met my boyfriend when I was 17, but I had some money left from what my mum left me, I bought a flat. Me and DD live in the flat now, obviously will prob need somewhere bigger when she's older but luckily she's a quite good baby.

Anyway because I have this house that is rented out to people I am not entitled to any benefits apart from child benefit.

But going back to work is difficult. I have to do anti social hours. I just can't as even if my baby is in nursery they aren't open nights and weekends.

So I need to think of another job, but don't know what. And I'm really starting to panic. I'm just looking for advice on what I can do, to support me and my baby.

Sell both properties and buy something that is suitable and register as a childminder.

youd still have the house to leave to her op. im sure if you explain to her when shes older that you could only leave her one property so you could support you both and so you could go back to work to support her future shed understand.

its madness to cling on to an asset when it means youll be struggling, you ask wwyd? id do the no brainer obvious thing, sell one property, get qualifications while living very comfortably off the proceeds with maybe even some £ left over to put away, mortgage free, and secure mine and dds future

Hospital HCA work - you have experience already, there is always a shortage, they will give you training and development so you get qualifications which currently you don't have, which could hopefully set you on the road to nursing in the future.

Look either for fixed shifts which might be covered by a childminder or clinic work which is going to be day-time hours. There are lots of HCAs working in clinics so no weekends or nights.

In that case, OP, I think you need to adjust your lifestyle to be able to live off the rental income you're getting from your mum's house plus child benefit.

I would also look into trying to get your DD's dad to contribute some maintenance (many other countries are signed up to a system that means that even if the absent parent is abroad, they still need to fulfil their obligations for child support).

Then, you can do some odd jobs that suit you (cleaning etc, that you could bring your baby to, or some day hours care work you can get childcare for (you'll get some free hours when DD is 3) to top up your earnings even if it's only low hundreds a month.

And try and get your maths and English GCSE (it's free to do this, and it will make a big difference).

Then, once your DD is in nursery or school, you can then work more.

Yes I can try. I think you'd need GCSEs go be a childminder and the whole process would be expensive

Okay the house is a long way away and au pairs don't look after a baby

gcses are free and you could easily afford the cm quals it if you sell a property

im quite envious of you op. mortgage free, time and money to train and still able to enjoy a comfortable life, career as cm for next few years that could open up doors to other care work......what a fab opportunity! quit dithering and grab it by the bollocks woman, settle for a min wage job when you could do this pfffft!

I know several people who work set daytime shifts in care homes - no quals required but there is often the opportunity to do do an apprenticeship whilst working and gain maths and English quals too. Perhaps make a list of residential care homes in your area and just ring them up and ask f they have anything suitable?

Thank you. perhaps we should swap lives

Thanks that's a good idea

You are successfully renting out your mother's house and making a profit on it.

Could you see a financial advisor and consider taking out a mortgage on the house to buy another one and make rental properties your career / source of income.

As soon as you get more equity in the houses through paying the mortgage off or increases in value, you can expand your portfolio. You could learn about property markets, DIY, managing rentals, etc along the way.

I have a friend who did this, she did in between rental cleanings herself, repainted the properties herself so only had to pay for things like gas, electricity.

There are risks involved but as long as you protect your investment, take advice and don't extend yourself it could be quite lucrative.

If you have friends who also have small children you could look after each others children while the other parent does some work, even if this is cleaning, shopping etc.

Do you have any relative who could be a sounding board to help you make decisions?

Bloody hell this is hard work.

You have two properties, no accommodation costs. You are young. What about looking into funded courses or training? Get to your local college and get some GCSEs. Work out what you want to do long term, you have so much going for you but are just focussing on the negative.

First things first.

Detail income and outgoings. How much do you have to live on each month?

Look at local college, get some quals. You will struggle to get most jobs without at least GCSEs. Many colleges have childcare attached.

Long term sell both properties. Buy one suitable for the two of you long term, in a suitable area.

Do you have a mortgage on either of the properties? Could you remortgage to release equity to fund you while you get some training?

Otherwise it's just a case of getting a CV together and applying for jobs, or trawling local businesses.

Generally though you will really struggle without even GCSEs.

Have you asked at the job centre about office administration roles that require no qualifications? Ie office junior, filing clerk, receptionist. That would solve the weekdays only 9-5 issue. My workplace often takes on school leavers for this sort of thing. Sorry if someone already said it

sure, when? id give my left tit to be in your position! Id love to retrain as a cm but i dont have the time or a @£100k + property lying around i can sell, oh and i have a pesky mortgage to pay aswell

Why don't you work in a nursery? You have experience with care and they will train you up to level 2 then level 3 regardless of gcse. You will also have a discount on a nursery place for your baby.

Nursery work isn't the most stimulating and exciting job but you've just got to get your head down for a few years until school.

Gah do you not understand I grew up in care, I had quite alot of sad times and even now I'm very lonely alot of the time.

I'm sorry you feel it's hard work witsender it feels it to me tbh as I keep saying, I don't want to sell right now, I can't train as a childminder, I can't get a mortgage as I've no job lol. Nursery jobs round here see very competitive one of the girls I used to work with was a nursery nurse but worked in care as she couldn't find a post.

You don't have to be qualified in anything to be a childminder. Just take childminder basic courses in child safety etc, first aid. Some areas they are free, others £100-200 but nothing crazy. That's all you need minimum to start as a childminder. The rest of the courses are beneficial but can be done as you go along. If you become a childminder that also offers overnight childminding you will also be providing a service for others who work overnight

You could either childminder from the house and rent flat out still, or sell house and buy another in different area and childminder from whilst still renting flat out. Or sell both and buy one larger

A childminder in U.K. Just needs:

1)be registered on the Early Years Register and/or the Childcare Register.
2)hold an up to date paediatric first aid certificate
3)be DBS checked. Find out more information
4)complete an introductory childcare course
5)have appropriate insurance cover, including Public Liability Insurance.

All very easy and cheap to do

Yes I understand what your saying Art but I would have to

Evict tenants
Sell my mums house
But a new house
Train as a childminder
Get kids to mind

And my paid maternity leave runs out in 2 months. And tbh I don't want to do it. I just want to do what I've always done which is work and mind my own business but it's very difficult because of the nursery opening hours not suiting my current job. So I need a new job. That's what I'm after advice on, there's been some good suggestions I'll look into especially maybe working in a care home. Hopefully they might be able to have me not work at weekends.

Hi OP, it sounds like you have had a really tough time of it so far so well done for coming through it.

You also sound like you have quite a complex decision to make with a lot of factors to take into account.

I would recommend getting some advice from people and relevant organisations in real life. CAB and JobCentre may be a good place to start. If you have been in care do you have a leaving care support team?

You don't have to do all that though do you.
You could:

1. sign up for childminder course
2. given notice to tennants, put your flat up for rent
3. start childminding from the house within 3 months.

Not now. It was a while ago and they weren't all that helpful, there isn't much communication.

Okay Art but still not in 2 months and like I say I don't really want to, I just want a job like the one I had before.