to think that there MUST be a way I can do this?!

[PyongyangKipperbang]

I need £200 for something special. Its a treat partly for me and partly for someone else, I guess you could call it an extra Xmas present. Its special because it is the last chance to do this particular thing.

I have money for everything else, food bills Xmas etc thats not a problem but I really want to arrange this thing. So I need to earn £200 in a month.

However........the usual suggestions wont work.

Overtime....not happening at the moment.

Taking in ironing/going out cleaning....locally the market is flooded with people looking for that kind of work to the point where undercutting prices will mean, at the current rate, they will be paying people to do their ironing.

Baby sitting.....it would take longer than I have to get my DBS (or whatever its called these days) in place for Sitters and I wouldnt feel happy doing it on an ad hoc basis without the DBS anyway.

Dog walking....severely allergic

Ebaying.... thanks to a financial crisis last year, anything that could have been sold, has been.

I have a very nice designer dress that was given to me that would easily cover the cost if I sold it, worn once and very desirable, never worn by me. But it was given on the understanding that I would wear it in the company of the giver as she really wants to see me in it, so I cant see a way of selling it that would a) sit ok with me morally and b) go unnoticed by the giver.

I know I am missing something.... help me!!! What am I missing?
Bear in mind I am a single parent who already struggles with the unsociable hours I am working but I am happy to work as hard as it takes as long as it doesnt impact even more on the kids.

Second job? My nearest soft play is crying out and I don't think you'd need a DBS as you wouldn't be alone with the children.

If you are struggling for cash why are you trying to treat the other person? Can they afford their half?

And how will you afford Christmas? Is there an option to afterpay the ticket?

@gaggleofgeese

If you are struggling for cash why are you trying to treat the other person? Can they afford their half?

And how will you afford Christmas? Is there an option to afterpay the ticket?

I'm not struggling for cash, I am struggling for extra unplanned for cash. If I had known about this a year ago it would not have been an issue. I would like to treat someone very special to me to something very special to both of us that they dont know about. Xmas has been budgeted for and is sorted. This is an extra.

If I cant then I cant, but I would like to try to.

Part time hospitality? Tons of jobs available

Evening Job in a bar or restaurant. Places are crying out for staff.

I know you said you had ebayed but do you have any old books/dvds etc that you could get rid of on ziffit?

Seeing the update surely it's only the £92 ticket money you need now? It may still seem a big "only" but it's halved what you were trying for already.
Spending money, Uber fare, parking can all be saved before the event can't they, no need to scramble for it this minute?

Ach, if i had the money id send you it, sounds like you want to do something thoughtful. BTW i know you aren't asking for money I'm just saying.
I'd second switching bank accounts, they pay a hundred quid a switch just now. Is there no one you could borrow off, could you ask your employer for cash upfront theyd take out your wages?

Have you thought of conversational English lessons online for foreign students. You wouldn't earn lots if you're not a teacher, but being a native speaker is what a lot of people are looking for because they can't afford qualified rates. You could earn £10/15 per session just chatting and helping your students with idioms and situational English. Worth a shot?

Bank switching deals? Some will pay you £100 to switch current accounts, although you’ll have to check how quickly the bonus is paid

Live on cheap veggie food (if you don't already).cut booze, coffee etc for a month.

You really don't need a DBS to babysit! I pay a teenager to babysit. Can you ask in local pubs if they have any staff shortages and want a few shifts and hoc?

Ach, if i had the money id send you it, sounds like you want to do something thoughtful

No, no, no. A reminder to everyone - NEVER SEND MONEY TO PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW ON THE INTERNET.

Nationwide, Santander and HSBC are offering incentives for switching accounts. When I switched to Nationwide the money was in my account within a week

www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-best-bank-accounts/

You can’t afford to do whatever this thing is.
Accept that and move on

Look at deliveroo again.

Yeah they're are loads doing it and you can't earn the £££ you once could, but you can still earn £200 in about a week or so.

OP has been on Mumsnet for FOREVER. No ideas, sorry. But wishing you luck - I really hope you manage to get the tickets.

Honestly OP I really don't think you should be trying to do this. If you have zero way of making the money, have sold everything, and have no savings to draw from, I'd prioritise building a safety net not buying a present.

@BloodyTinaNextdoorAgain

Seeing the update surely it's only the £92 ticket money you need now? It may still seem a big "only" but it's halved what you were trying for already. Spending money, Uber fare, parking can all be saved before the event can't they, no need to scramble for it this minute?

I agree with this! £92 now (did you add on ticket booking surcharge - grrr!)?

Switch your bank account - if your credit rating will allow.

Do you have any referral sign-up codes (energy companies, insurance, anywhere you’ve shopped recently) that give you cashback as well as the person signing up? Any friends and family who might switch to something? There’s also a thread in the Christmas section where you can post referral links.

Good luck!

Do you own your house and, if yes, do you have any telephony equipment (telegraph pole, stay, etc) installed on any of the land within your boundary? If yes, you should be able to claim some money back from the telephony provider via a wayleave agreement. We have a pole and stay and we were owed over £200.

Check your electricity and other metered supply readings are up to date in case you have overpaid.

I don’t know how much the set up costs on this would be (insurance and so forth) but there is a shortage of home stays for dogs in our area at the moment, so if you have a fully enclosed garden and space for a(n extra) dog, that might be an option. We pay our usual home stay £20/night and they take up to 4 small dogs at a time.

Good luck!

Check your direct debits. You’d be amazed. More than once I’ve had refunds for a full year after having two policies running at the same time.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-best-bank-accounts/

Up to £130 available for switching bank accounts? That would cover the £92 you need now.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/promotional_codesbargains/4343896-Octopus-Free-Energy-50-Free-Referral-Switch

Just seen this @PyongyangKipperbang

Could you rent your dress out?

I agree with a PP, don't want to sound unkind but if you haven't got £200 'safety net' I really wouldn't spend that much on a 'treat'. What happens if your boiler/car breaks down? Or you need emergency dental treatment or something? I had agonising tooth ache earlier this year, Covid meant I couldn't see my usual NHS dentist and I was so grateful I had the funds to pay for private treatment.

And if someone treated me to such a generous gift when I knew they had really struggled to pay for it I would be very, very uncomfortable about accepting.

Medical research? Frightening but potentially lucrative.