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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask you what you do if you work at/from home?

26 replies

tinkertailorsoildersailor · 27/11/2017 20:18

On paper I have a high earning, prestigious job with opportunities for progression.

However, at heart, I'm a homebody. I really just want to be at home with/for my 2 young children (2 and 6).

I am a sole parent and so need to be able to earn enough to cover bills, mortgage, food etc., all by myself. I my mortgage is around £560 at the moment (5 year fixed rate).

Do any jobs exist where you can make enough money to make ends meet from home? What do you do?

Childminder is the only thing I can think of!

Any suggestions appreciated.....

OP posts:
ZigZagandDustin · 27/11/2017 20:20

I work in web development and online project mgmt. I have a full time nanny.

Most jobs you can't do without childcare.

confusedandemployed · 27/11/2017 20:21

I'm an HR Advisor. DD is now in school full time, I couldn't do it if she was home.

Heckneck · 27/11/2017 20:26

I do freelance admin but I also have another job as that doesn't earn me enough as not enough hours. I couldn't do that with the kids about really unless they were old ebough to go without much supervision

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 27/11/2017 20:29

I wish. I would love a job from home. My current job makes me really ill (I have a chronic pain illness). My dream is to work from home!

Closetlibrarian · 27/11/2017 20:29

I work from home a lot (I'm FT) and DH works entirely from home (PT). We still have childcare though! (1DC in school and 3 day's nursery for the littler one). I can't think of any job you can do at home without childcare (apart from, well, childcare...)

Snap8TheCat · 27/11/2017 20:29

I am a childminder.

Seniorcitizen1 · 27/11/2017 20:30

I an economic consultant and earn £175k - but son flown nest some time ago

Nicnak2223 · 27/11/2017 20:30

Bit popular on Mumsnet but I sell Usborne books at home.

Yes it's MLM
Yes I am in a team and I have my own team
Yes I (and lots of others I know) make enough money to significantly improve the quality of our finances
I also get to work with schools and nurseries to provide them with free books.

There are hundreds of way to earn money mostly from home, normally though if it doesn't involve work it is a con.

Original poster
tinkertailorsoildersailor · 27/11/2017 20:32

solidarity PeppaPig, one day our dreams might come true?x

Can I be cheeky snap8 - does it earn enough to pay a mortgage and bills?

OP posts:
willyougotobed · 27/11/2017 20:32

I worked at home for about 8 years doing medical PA/audio typing. It sort of worked well in that I could adjust my hours, cope with sickness/holidays (to some extent). But after a while you end up a bit isolated and slightly mad. I wouldn't recommend it on the whole. It's incredibly lonely. I still had to pay for childcare. No employer is going to allow you to tend for an under ten whilst you work.

Original poster
tinkertailorsoildersailor · 27/11/2017 20:38

That's a fabulous wage seniorcitizen - do you travel a lot in this role? You must have very specialist skills and knowledge.

I have qualifications in personal and business coaching, university teaching, I love animals and kids.... I'm wondering if any of those would 'pay'?

OP posts:
Greebz · 27/11/2017 20:40

Senior - that is a good wage!! Please could you explain a bit about what you do?

Snap8TheCat · 27/11/2017 20:44

I earn well now (approx £3000/month gross) but a few things to note.

  1. I’ve been doing it 9 years, in the beginning it took time to build up my reputation and I took on a lot of crap contracts. Now I’m busy enough to be picky.

  2. my expenses, tax and ni comes from that income

  3. it’s a big invasion on your house and family

  4. I don’t have nearly enough time for my own dc as I imagined.

  5. there’s a lot more to coming than it looks!

TattyCatty · 27/11/2017 20:46

Project Manager for an outsourcing company - my entire working day is managed via Skype! I travel overseas around 4 times a year, but never for longer than a week. Very flexible, but you have to learn to switch off the laptop /mobile phone to keep a work / life balance.

Norugratsatall · 27/11/2017 20:47

Another freelance administrator here. I earn £15 an hour and I’m part time atm to fit around studying for an MA and caring for elderly relatives. It suits me but I don’t think I’d like to wfh full time. Children have flown nest and I’d find it too lonely.

gwenneh · 27/11/2017 20:48

Marketing manager -- but it requires full-time childcare anyway so I might as well be in the office.

GaucheCaviar · 27/11/2017 20:49

Freelance translation. PT at the moment but was on about sixty grand when I was FT.

ZigZagandDustin · 27/11/2017 20:49

Tinkertailor, I think you could be a careers counsellor. Self employed. Helping school leavers mostly but also consulting for career changers. That's what I'd do.

Huskylover1 · 27/11/2017 20:55

I look after dogs in my home, for people who dislike using kennels. There are no cages, they are treated the same as a family dog would be. They are never left alone. I often have furries sleeping on my bed! High season I can earn £150 a day. Low season is around £50 a day. It's a very easy life. After they have been walked, they will play (if young) or sleep, and I can do chores ogle mumsnet It isn't for the faint hearted though when you first begin. It took me about 4 years to weedle out the naughty dogs, and I now have a core of 50 very well behaved dogs, who stay with me throughout the year. In my borough you cannot have kids under 5 to be licensed. But that varies county to county.

Original poster
tinkertailorsoildersailor · 27/11/2017 20:56

ZigZag, can you do careers counselling from home? And do you need any specialist careers counselling qualifications?

OP posts:
Original poster
tinkertailorsoildersailor · 27/11/2017 20:58

Huskylover - sounds like Bliss, I have 2 dogs of my own (and 6 hens)....perhaps something for when my kids go to school!

OP posts:
blueshoes · 27/11/2017 20:58

Tinker when you say work from home, do you mean not leaving the house? My dh is a self-employed professional working from home but he still needs to leave the house (frequently in fact) for meetings and lectures.

I am full time employed but my job allows me to work from home occasionally. I could od it more frequently if I wanted but find it more efficient in the office.

You have many more options and earning power if you are prepared to leave the home at least occasionally.

Original poster
tinkertailorsoildersailor · 27/11/2017 21:03

blueshoes - don't get me wrong, I'm not a hermit (much) but I could happily be at home for days and not get bored!

I love the idea of dog boarding, but couldn't relax having other peoples dogs in the house with my small kids (e.g. at night). Shame as our very rural house would be perfect :)

OP posts:
Taffeta · 27/11/2017 21:11

I work for a start up doing all the background work (eg marketing, invoicing, operations management). Part time.

Did the same thing for another business for 5 years. The flexibility has been awesome, especially when the DC were in primary school.

Seniorcitizen1 · 27/11/2017 21:26

I travel a bit in uk but can do most stuff by phone or skype. I have a PhD in economics and have built up extensive network of clients and partners over 30 years.

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