To ask how you make extra money?

[Moneytreeyesplease]

Name changed for this.

So I'm coming out of a very bad time in my life. Literally horrendous. I want to do something more than my current job, which is customer service based, to contribute to the house. I can't give up the job because we need the money and it fits around my husbands weird 4 on 4 off 12 hour shifts.

Ideally a creative outlet that will also generate an income since I've halved my hours after maternity leave.

I'm not asking what you sell per se but more how you got into it and made it successful. I'd like to bring in an extra £2-300 per month. I'm definitely not going down the mlm route so none of that please.

I'm open to ideas though, I've looked at YouTube, I've looked at crafting, I'm quite handy at felt decorations. Or providing a service if it can be flexible around children.

I don't know if it's even possible to be honest but if anyone has any success stories or advice for starting something then please share!

I feel like matched betting will be suggested and I've dabbled in that over christmas and the start of the new year but just couldn't stick it, i really didn't enjoy the gambling aspect, I know it's not actually gambling, it might be something I'll pick back up though if I can't find something I can be passionate about.

My experience is that it’s very difficult to make money from handmade items unless you find a unicorn product that’s cheap and quick to make with a good mark up.

Everyone I know who makes a good amount from a craft related business sells either kits, templates or patterns for others to make things rather than the finished product. If you have any design abilities then I would explore this.

Amazon flex...delivering parcels in my car.
Self employed..it's 14 pounds an hour and you can get 2, 3 or 4 hour shifts. All parcels are usually tight in the one area so not too much travel.

Thank you @SinkGirl and @Credenhill22 both excellent suggestions

You should have a look on the money matters board, especially the make £10 a day thread. There are LOTS of ways to make money on there, I’ve found it really useful.

@LeSquigh thank you, will have a browse

@Credenhill22

Amazon flex...delivering parcels in my car. Self employed..it's 14 pounds an hour and you can get 2, 3 or 4 hour shifts. All parcels are usually tight in the one area so not too much travel.

I did this briefly. My area only had 3, 3.5 and 4 hour blocks. What they don't tell you is traveling time is not included. I would often to be sent to towns an hour+ away from the depot... So a 3 hour route turns into a 5+ hour trip. If you live near a depot and only get routes local to you then it's an okay job (low stress, not overly taxing), but you get no say on your routes and can easily find yourself covering a large rural area or places quite a distance from the depot. I guess it just depends where you live.

Ironing/cleaning/care work?

If you're creative, could you make clothes/accessories? That has a pretty good mark up rate.

Alternatively, a second job. Cleaning is a great little money maker, or bar work at the weekend? A friend is currently doing data processing in the evening as a side hussle and making a bit of spare money for Christmas.

You could join the NHS staff bank ...you pick the shifts you want.

Do you have a certain skill you could build on?
I am a reasonably accomplished rider and have built up a real client base of riding tricky/young horses for their owners.
In the past I’ve also had lodgers and done some bar work but you may struggle with that at the moment

@oo0Tinkerbell0oo

You could join the NHS staff bank ...you pick the shifts you want.

What sort of work do they offer, if you're not trained as a nurse/dr/hcw ? Would it be admin type stuff?

You mention felt, do you think you could do those needle felt animals? People pay good money for a figurine of their dog etc. You could advertise on different dog breed fan groups on Facebook.

[quote Honeyandapple]@oo0Tinkerbell0oo

You could join the NHS staff bank ...you pick the shifts you want.

What sort of work do they offer, if you're not trained as a nurse/dr/hcw ? Would it be admin type stuff? [/quote]
Trusts do offer admin on the bank...acute trusts tend to have more on the admin side. We took on a lot of people over the summer to do door management during covid and also PPE management - running it around the hospital etc. Try looking at NHS Professionals website and see if your local trust uses them, if not some trusts use their own in house banks. Agencies are still used but trusts do try and avoid them due to costs so may be more last minute.

To apply to be a HCSW you dont need training or qualifications. Some experience in care might be beneficial but not necessary....honesty, compassion, understanding confidentiality, willingness to do any training required are some of the things they are looking for in a person. HCSW would previously have been known as an Auxilliary, so working on a ward or in a clinic eg.

Can you sew / use a sewing machine? Homemade masks (in my area at least) are making a killing!