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.

Cat sitting?
uk.catinaflat.com/register

Avoid the temptation to do a tip run - if you're caught carrying or tipping waste for payment without a licence you can be fined several hundred quid. The EA and councils are really hot on it at the moment.

Does your current account do 'save the change' it rounds up every transaction you make to the nearest pound and it goes into a separate account. It feels like free money!

Can’t you get the tickets on Klarna or clear pay? Then I’d do some baking/cooking whatever it is your good at - if you start earning decent money from that then do an online h&s course.

Sell pictures of your feet...I know I know, but its feet! £10 a pic, 20 weirdos later job done.

@Gwrach

Sell pictures of your feet...I know I know, but its feet! £10 a pic, 20 weirdos later job done.

Can you tell me more about this please - asking for a friend

Some good ideas thank you!

I have had a bit of a rethink and decided to ask the other person if they want to do this where we pay half each as our Xmas present to each other. I think that they will as I am a pita to buy for at the best of times and it will mean that we both get what we want without it costing a fortune. Also that way I only need the ticket money straight away which I can afford and I accept the point that if I havent got a safety net I shouldnt be treating someone to the tune of that much money and I dont think that they would want me to in all honesty.

I think I just got carried away with the idea last night! I am looking into renting the dress though, it means I still own it as requested but hopefully I might get some money out of it!

Excellent on the agreement to go halves and call it a Christmas present to each other.

Far better idea than spending money you don't really have on things that no-one really wants. Plus treating someone when you can't really afford it.

Second/third etc the bank account shifting. I have a spare account with 2 direct debits going out of it for this purpose. A few weeks ago I shifted from HSBC to Lloyds and got the free £100 straight away. It also comes with free cinema tickets which obviously are a free evening out or can be sold if you don't go to the cinema.

Who wore the dress you must store because someone insists they want to see you wear it (only they never have)?

@lljkk

Who wore the dress you must store because someone insists they want to see you wear it (only they never have)?

Yeah, that's weird/presumptious/a 'nice' thing dressed up as an imposition and surely requires a MN 'that doesn't work for me' response.

I think after a couple of outings of the dress I would be quietly selling it and if/when called on it being all 'sorry, someone spilt red wine on it and the dry cleaners couldn't get it out, such a shame' about it.

I don’t understand why you can’t dip into your family pot now to do this, then find extra to repay that pot over say 4 months so you can then do your days out with the kids

Halloween may be an opportunity? Sell some craft work?

@8dpwoah

Surprised nobody has mentioned the Amazon/Morrisons grocery delivery option, we use it and looked at how it works from the driver's point of view out of curiosity. Looks really flexible, you'd never make a fortune on it but if you've got time to do overtime at the day job around existing commitments you've probably got time to fit that in?

We don't see the same driver very often so either thereat loads of people doing little bits, or it's a bit crap and people don't stick at it, but for the sake of earning that sort of money in the sort of time frame it might be tolerable, could be worth a look?

The only thing is I can't remember what it's called- Amazon Flex, maybe?

It depends if Amazon are looking for drivers in your area and then they do a security check which takes a while to come through. I did it for a while and it took about two months from registering my interest to starting working. I also noticed that the majority of the shifts I was offered were in the afternoon, generally 1pm to 3pm starts. Fine for me as my main job is shift work with variable start times, but I'd imagine inconvenient for some others.

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

The switching bank accounts idea is a good one from PP. see above link. £100 switch bribe on the site.

@BiscuitLover09876

This might sound odd but do you go compare and change your gas/electric bill? You can literally save £500 that way sometimes

Not at the moment though surely?!

There's hardly deals to be had & for once it's better staying on the standard rate.

That's a good decision OP, I admire your honesty and sensible approach, I really hope it works out for you and that you and your friend enjoy the event

Ah ok @returnoftheowl that's a good insight into how it works. I know it's Amazon so has that stigma but we have found it to be a good service, we like the early evening slot though 😂

You say you’re a good cook and baker. You could raffle yourself off at work to be a “Chef at home” for somebody. £5 raffle ticket, they buy the ingredients and you do the cooking.

I’d buy a ticket…

You're wrong there. Banks are doing cash incentives again. Check out Martin Lewis Money Savers and he'll tell you which ones and how much.

Further boring update in case anyone cares. We spoke tonight (last night technically but I have only just got home from work so its still Tuesday in my world!) and they agree that going halves as "our" Xmas present to ourselves/each other is a good idea.

And thanks to the fact that there are a couple of other people who will probably come with childcare allowing, it cuts costs even further so all is good.

Thanks for all the advice, I have registered for some of the "on the side" jobs recommended that I hadnt heard about anyway though, every little helps!

Aww thats fab. Hope you make it happen.

Brilliant! Love it when a plan comes together