AIBU to feel like it's impossible for me to work?

[Pinkwithwhite]

I have 2 under two. My husband earns enough to pay the bills but there isn't enough for anything else! So any extras are now going on the credit card.

How can I financially contribute? We can't afford childcare. Grandparents can help one day a week, maybe two at a push.

I was a nanny before children but don't want to go back to 12 hour days 5 days a week.

Any advice?
What do you do?
I've had a look on a few job sites and there's nothing unless I want to be a carer working 12 hour shifts.

What about childminding in your home? Something like that. Would it be doable?

Childminder? A parent and baby class like Jo Jingles or similar? Maybe an assistant in a preschool so the hours are less?

Could you work when your husband isn't, an evening or weekend job?

Childminding is the logical choice

Two night shifts in a care home would make you considerably better off.

Be careful with those baby classes, they’re often expensive franchise buy ins where it’s hard to make a living.

Work evenings when DH is home from work? I have a friend who works weekend nights shelf stacking in Asda 12am until 6am, and sleeps in the day whilst DH looks after the children, and a couple of twighlight shifts in the week 10pm -2am I don’t know how she does it but needs must.

A neighbour (pre Covid) works behind the bar in the local 3/4 evenings a week whilst her DH is home from work.

Waitressing in pubs, taxi switch? Places like B&M & Aldi often look for weekend & evening workers.

I had evening job when mine were little 6-9 pm term time only though, dh took over when he came in so no childcare
Used to earn about £400 a month I think so was a great help

Also have you checked if you are entitled to uc ?

Try searching "jobs anyone can do from home" .. ? Lots of possibilities

do you have any qualifications / expertise?

sign up on Prolific and do surveys etc from home. you do have to concentrate on them but if you can do a couple of hours per night from home at £8 per hour, that is better than nothing.

there are other work-from-home evening jobs now, e.g. callcentre type work

Childminding, obviously!

My mum growing up worked in a golf club in the evenings 5-10 when I was growing up and my dad looked after us. She used to do a longer shift on a Saturday when my dad was off.

Also bank call centres/general call centres, a lot of them are 24 hours, I used to work 6-9pm Mon-Thurs and Sunday 9-1pm. I was a student so worked around my classes but there were definite some parents there too.

Although care jobs are advertised with long shifts and "available 24/7" shit, most places are actually desperate for staff. Try contacting anywhere recruiting near you and asking if they have weekend shifts only.
One 12- 14 hour shift would get you £100.
It's hard work, and you have to have a cast iron stomach, but it's also about the only job left that will employ someeone with no experience.

I worked evenings and weekends around my then husband when the dc were young, so we didn’t have to pay childcare. I worked behind a bar for a while, then in my local cinema. Usually 10-20 hours per week. My mum did the same in the corner shop when I was young.

I’m another one who worked evenings and weekends when my children were small so no childcare costs.
It was very hard for a few years as we didn’t have loads of family time, only when we were on annual leave, but it eased the money situation.

Not RTFT but look for part time nanny work where you can take your children, you'll need to lower your rates to reflect the offer. You might find something for 3 days per week, or for after school nanny.

I understand its not for everyone but 12 hour shifts work perfectly for me for childcare. I only do 2 x 12 hour shifts a week which is a 3 day week for most people. I also tend to only work one mid week shift so get unsociable hours which takes my wage up. Also I only ever need childcare for one day a week. I also have the constant opportunity to pick up shifts when I do have some time, love doing a twilight 7-12

I swapped childcare with other part-time working friends, and at other times I worked evenings. Most of my friends did the same. A few became childminders. Some did 2 night shifts per week. Lots of options.

As you were a nanny I’d look into childminding personally. Lots of families are struggling for before and after school care at the moment due to school clubs not being at full capacity and family help not being as forthcoming.

You could also offer evening babsysitting when your DH is home. Although there might not be much demand for that at the moment

Otherwise yes an evening or weekend job when DH is home to watch the kids!

I work 6pm-8pm as a cleaner in a nursery 3 nights a week and in a local shop 6pm-10pm 2 nights a week. Have done the cleaning for almost 12 years and have always been able to take my children with me.

I worked evenings in a supermarket when I had my first. 6-10pm for a couple of nights a week, then either Saturday or Sunday.

With the second, I was more established in my career so went freelance and worked evenings from home. There are remote evening jobs such as customer service and live chat that you could do too. Even a few hours a week will at least give you some breathing room and means you won’t have a big CV gap.

I do evenings and weekend mornings at a supermarket. Iv gone around training up on all departments so Over time is often available for me to pick any hours I want. During the school holidays I just stick to my basic hours. Suits us perfectly

Childminding isn’t as easy as you would think - there is a lot of initial set up and you need to be ofsted registered and things like that. I also think a lot of parents would be reluctant to leave their young baby with a childminder who already has two of her own children under two. It isn’t just opening your door and asking people for money to watch their kids, unless you’re thinking of a casual baby sitting arrangement.

I would recommend signing up to a childcare agency if grandparents can watch your kids. If you were a nanny I presume you’re qualified, and you can often find a couple of days a week at nurseries with an agency.

Evening babysitting would be great and you might get a chance to have a bit of peace in front of the TV if you are lucky too.

How about putting some flyers into the houses in your local roads. See if anyone is interested.