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.

why would i understand that you grew up in care?

anyway im out before i bite any further and continue to offer advice on how to get by to someone with no mortgage and a spare house when theres others genuinely struggling, its all a bit....odd...

i think the £136-odd smp runs out at 9 months btw, not 10.

Well you wouldn't. But I had explained that my mum died when I was 13 and that was why I had the house. And I had said my partner left when our daughter was 2 months. And you said you'd give your left tie for my life.

It's not that I'm struggling. It's that I need a job. I'm only asking advice on jobs that are more normal hours.

Ok but surely you don't need to be working desperately within 2 months?

You have no rent or mortgage to pay which is usually most people's largest bill

And you have a house that provides an income every month in rent.

Surely the rent income from a house is enough to pay just some electric/ gas/ heating on a one bed flat and food for one adult and a baby?

Well yes I need some money coming in. We need to eat! Bills need laying and so on lol.

If you'd like to work as a healthcare assistant, they are advertised on the NHS jobs website. You can search by location. If you click on "Advanced Search", then click on "Additional Filters", select "Band 2" under AfC pay band, and HCA jobs (and other jobs) will come up.

Thank you :)

You're welcome.

What about something like this. You work your own hours.
www.expd8.co.uk/

No I agree Aye but if there's 2 of you it's easier to work round each other

Many of us here have been or are single parents. Many of us that work.

Sometimes that means just getting good any job.

Daytime work isn't any harder to find than other work. What about call cebtre type work? Usually above minimum wage and often can be flexible, ime.

I did that. I worked my way up as dd got older and am in senior management. We recruit all the time and don't require gcses. I have worked in a few sites and all are the same.

If you live off the income the rent bring in, can't you find part time shop work.

Have you actually asked for daytime shifts when you go back from maternity leave? What has the company said?

I have Toastie they said I need to do at least one evening and either Saturday or Sunday. Else everyone will ask for the same.

Do you have any kind of aftercare service or advisor? Sorry, you haven't said how old you are now, but they generally support young people for a number of years. If you've no quals at all, then they'll certainly know where you can start GCSE En & ma, often with childcare sorted too. If you've been in care since 13, you'd definitely be entitled to aftercare services.
I would think about selling the house in the near future, when the tenancy agreement ends. Buy somewhere larger for you and DD in a convenient location and rent out the flat, which will still give you some income and an asset for DD's future.
Sorry, I don't know about healthcare jobs, but offices, schools, etc will all require GCSE En&ma, even though the hours are right.
Are there any specialist shops nearby you, that would perhaps don't open weekends? Might be something to look into.

Sorry, meant to say good luck!

You need to find better childcare. Many childminders round here will do Saturdays.

I said it was hard work because you don't see what a privileged position you are in. Your title was "what would you do?" Which people are answering.

What you meant, was "I'm fed up that I can't find better nursery hours". That isn't an unreasonable peeve at all.

You might find that some nursery staff would be happy to babysit an evening and weekend for you. I've known of nursery staff to take on extra hours like this with families. So regular nursery for regular work hours then an arrangement with a nursery nurse could work?

OP youve had loads of great advice here and you're knocking them back because it doesn't fit with your fixed ideas of what you want. You need to be more flexible. You have far more assets than many single parents and you have options but you choose not to use them (selling house for example). I know this might sound harsh but you're going to have to do something and chances are you won't like it. Loads of single parents manage to work between the hours of 8and 6 (usual nursery opening times) and you're no different.

There are lots good ideas there about 9-5 jobs. Do one of those and get your GCSEs home studying in the evenings or get a babysitter while you go to night classes. Build a future.

Why wouldn't you be able to get qualifications? You can string a sentence together here, I expect you could pass GCSE English with a bit of work. You need maths for life, especially if you are managing a rental property, so that's worth putting serious effort into learning.

Don't sell yourself short. Get by for now while bettering yourself ready for DD going to school.

I have a friend who left school with zero qualifications due to chaotic home life, then as an adult got herself educated and is now a primary school teacher. I've got another friend who did similar and and he ended up as a highly qualified electrician. It's more common than you might think.

I agree there has been good advice.

I haven't knocked all of it back I've explained there's some stuff I can't or really don't want to do.

In some ways my position is privileged but I also have absolutely no family to help or partner. I'm not saying I've got it really bad I'm not saying no ones ever had it worse but it does mean I'm a bit limited sometimes. As I don't have any flexibility. I'm not having a go at anyone I do think it's nice people replied but sometimes some of the advice isn't what I need at this point.

Op, it reads as though no matter what advice people will give you, you'll always have a reason as to why you 'can't'.

You aren't the only person in the world who grew up in care and is a single parent with no other help.

You do need to realise that you are indeed in a much better position than quite a few single parents due to the fact you own two properties outright.

Go on indeed.com and search for part time jobs.

All the best.

Hello knickers.

You must have missed the posts where I said that something sounded like a good idea and thank you. Maybe you should read through again.

All the best.

And I know I'm not the only one.

I never said I was.

But alot of people do have either a partner or there own mum to help. I don't.

That's all I'm saying.

A lot of people don't either.

Stop feeling so self entitled. The world doesn't owe you a favour.