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Original poster

Side hustle help!

50 replies

Skint2022 · 02/03/2022 22:22

So I’ve named changed (I hope) because I’m a bit embarrassed. Currently on maternity leave and my savings are pretty much depleted. I’m really worried how we are going to manage over the next few months to survive. Bills just keep continuously increasing and I’ve naively not saved enough to last me. Going back to work early isn’t an option as we won’t have childcare until September. So looking for some side hustle inspiration to keep our heads above water until then. Even just making a few hundred extra a month would maybe do it. I really really don’t want to have to get into debt before I’m back earning again. Any ideas? The usual pyramid schemes are a no go as our local area is saturated already!

OP posts:
cuno · 02/03/2022 22:31

Firstly, have you checked if you're entitled to any benefits or extra support? www.entitledto.co.uk/

I sold on Vinted during mat leave, mostly baby clothes as my daughter outgrew them. It doesn't make a lot of money but it's an extra little boost. You should definitely look into this, the app is very ease to use.

Another thing I tried was matched betting and I made quite a bit from that (over a grand) in a short space of time. You need money to get set up with that though, but it's risk-free, it's not actually gambling. You need to read the tutorials though and really get your head around it though, but once you've done it a couple times you quickly get the swing of things. I'm not sure what offers there are on at the moment, so hopefully they haven't dried up, but I did it a year ago.

I use the website Topcashback for all online purchases. I've made hundreds on this, all the pennies and pounds here and there add up over time

There's also a £10 a day thread over on the Money Matters board. I dabbled in a bit of this to put away some extra money before going on maternity leave, but it was really slow going. Mostly surveys and things like prolific.

Are you artsy or creative at all? You could consider creating handmade items on Etsy

Also, when I was on the unpaid portion of my maternity leave I picked up work through an agency working in a warehouse. Even just 1 or 2 days a week adds extra to the family budget.

Have you got any KIT days you can make use of at work as well?

cuno · 02/03/2022 22:34

Also if you don't mind me asking how long have you been on maternity leave now?

LambChopsMcGee · 02/03/2022 22:47

What's your work background, op?

I'm an editor and I do freelance work. Is there any niche you have that you could work with to do something like that for companies?

Original poster
Skint2022 · 02/03/2022 22:50

@cuno thank you. That’s all really helpful. I was hoping for something perhaps online based that I could do during nap times etc. I’ve heard about prolific so I’ll check that out. The matched betting sounds good too but also very confusing Confused. £1000 would totally be enough to make it to the end of mat leave. I’ve been on Mat leave for 6 months so far. Unfortunately we aren’t entitled to claim anything other than child benefit. We are those middle of the road people who earn reasonably well but certainly don’t have a lot of savings or disposable income. We have a mortgage and car etc and don’t do badly but maternity pay is terrible and I just didn’t save enough.

OP posts:
curlii103 · 02/03/2022 22:54

Id have thought kit days and selling stuff would be your easiest options

Original poster
Skint2022 · 02/03/2022 22:58

I’ve unfortunately done all my KIT days now and I don’t seem to have a lot to sell. One day we’d like to have another baby so going to try and reuse everything we already have.

OP posts:
cuno · 02/03/2022 23:04

[quote Skint2022]@cuno thank you. That’s all really helpful. I was hoping for something perhaps online based that I could do during nap times etc. I’ve heard about prolific so I’ll check that out. The matched betting sounds good too but also very confusing Confused. £1000 would totally be enough to make it to the end of mat leave. I’ve been on Mat leave for 6 months so far. Unfortunately we aren’t entitled to claim anything other than child benefit. We are those middle of the road people who earn reasonably well but certainly don’t have a lot of savings or disposable income. We have a mortgage and car etc and don’t do badly but maternity pay is terrible and I just didn’t save enough.[/quote]
Yes, totally understandable. SMP is awful and you have fixed outgoings like mortgage and car based on you and your partner's joint income, and you can't exactly get rid of those for the sake of a few months! Matched betting is a great way to make money, depending if the offers are still good enough.

Is your partner able to pick up any more overtime? Unless they're already stretched enough as it is?

I made a few quid on prolific but not a lot. You need to keep it open in a window as well to keep an eye out for any new surveys as they quickly disappear, so might not be ideal with your little one. There are some other survey sites as well but they don't pay nearly as much.

I've seen people doing mystery shopping and tasks in shops via apps, I am not sure how well paid they are. I looked into that myself but I don't drive and it wasn't local enough for it to be worth it for me.

Do you have any skills you could put to use on websites like fiverr? You complete freelance work on there, usually on small projects, in whatever is your niche.

I knew someone who took on some nail appointments from her home during mat leave as she was really into nails and had all the stuff already. I think mainly for friends and acquaintances and the rates were cheaper than an actual salon. I know it's a long shot, but is there something like that you could do from home?

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/03/2022 23:04

Could you just go back to work early? That’s going to be the most reliable thing.

Otherwise something like virtual PA work? I think things like selling crafts on Etsy have to be approached with caution.

Original poster
Skint2022 · 02/03/2022 23:13

So I am actually quite creative and have made and sold things in the past but it’s very time consuming and that’s what I don’t really have in abundance either because of a clingy baby. I’ll have a wee look on fiverr too as haven’t heard of that. Thank you. Currently looking around my house to see what I can sell. Honestly, I know I shouldn’t moan considering what some people are going through right now but it is so tough. I want to really enjoy these last few months with my baby and the money worries are just hanging over us.

OP posts:
cuno · 02/03/2022 23:16

Of course you can have a moan! We all have our struggles, yours aren't any less valid if there's others out there going through worse. It's not like you're exactly hobnobbing it draped in gold either!

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 02/03/2022 23:20

Will your employer pay you for the holiday you are accruing & bank Holidays instead of you using it at the end of your maternity leave?? Mine did this for my first maternity leave and it worked brilliantly for having a bit of extra cash coming in. 4 day Easter break so 2 Bank hols = 2 days pay potentially??

parietal · 02/03/2022 23:21

there are a variety of ways to earn about £10-£15 per hour completing questionnaires online for research companies or transcribing voice records into text. There used to be a £10per day thread that listed all the opportunities & which works best. the one I know is Prolific www.prolific.co/participants

but there are many options. you work from home and you do have to put the hours in, but it is not a scam.

Original poster
Skint2022 · 02/03/2022 23:24

@cuno thank you Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Skint2022 · 02/03/2022 23:25

@Drywhitefruitycidergin so I’m using all of my accrued leave as holidays at the end of maternity leave. I need the time due to a childcare space not being available until then. It’s not ideal but the only way we can work it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Skint2022 · 02/03/2022 23:27

@parietal thank you. So I’ve just checked and it seems I already have a prolific account (I must have done this years ago) but it’s not verified and says I need to verify it but I’ve no idea how to. It’s not taking on new participants at the moment either so can’t set up a new account with a different email address.

OP posts:
ToooOldForThis · 02/03/2022 23:27

I took a mortgage holiday for the last couple of months of mat leave would that be an option?

StScholastica · 02/03/2022 23:28

Babysitting or dog walking pay very well and its quite easy money if you have a partner at home to watch your own DC. Do ironing whilst you are there and charge more!

VivX · 02/03/2022 23:28

What are you good at? What is/was your "day job"?

If you're crafty, then Etsy/Ebay might be an option.

Can you tutor in a subject? English, maths, sciences and foreign languages are the most in demand and "exam revision season" is just getting underway.
Also teaching English as a foreign language

Virtual assistant work might be a possibility (particularly social media posting, email handling, newsletter writing)

Proof-reading and copy editing - if your written English is very good.

Ironing

Photography (ie selling photographs that you have taken on an online market place)

Online surveys (although you have to be in the right demographic and also, the hourly rate is not that great.

Stay away from MLM, it will just involve alienating all your friends and family and probably you losing money rather than making it.

Also check your contract (for your normal job) to make sure it doesn't prohibit self-employment or taking a second employment.

RantyAunty · 02/03/2022 23:29

Part time Customer service work from home.
Pays around £10 - £11 per hour. 9 hours per week.
Look on indeed

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 02/03/2022 23:32

Shame about the holiday. I know most people tack it on.
Once you are into last 3 months (no maternity pay at all not even stat) could you get a temporary contract change to say 1 day per week and your husband/partner use annual leave for the childcare.
Have you explored whether OH's employer offers paid shared parental leave??

ComtesseDeSpair · 02/03/2022 23:34

I doubt customer service or PA work would be a goer if OP has a clingy baby - you’re still expected to do a professional job and answer calls and emails promptly even if it is remote.

Does your OH work regular office hours? If so, what about evening bar, cleaning or retail as he can look after the baby while you do it?

Merryoldgoat · 02/03/2022 23:36

I made £2k matched betting at the end of may leave - started with £50. It was very easy. Try that OP - I think the website that sorts you is called profit accumulator.

AdaShelby · 02/03/2022 23:45

You need to come to the £10 a day threads.

I've been able to leave my job and now work full time at home making more than I did before, working the hours I choose. Life changing.

Prolific isn't much good though. You'll be lucky to make £20-30 a month really and it's pot luck if you get them as they go quick.

cuno · 02/03/2022 23:49

@ComtesseDeSpair

I doubt customer service or PA work would be a goer if OP has a clingy baby - you’re still expected to do a professional job and answer calls and emails promptly even if it is remote.

Does your OH work regular office hours? If so, what about evening bar, cleaning or retail as he can look after the baby while you do it?

If OP picked up an actual job (as in, earnings reported to HMRC), her maternity pay would come to an end. I was only able to do this during the unpaid portion of mat leave.
ClaryFairchild · 03/03/2022 00:03

If you have 6 months left of maternity leave a lot of things just won't work as it takes time to get approved, find customers, etc. it took me 6 months of hard slog to start getting anywhere.

I was a mystery shopper and it wasn't great money. Sometimes they have phone call ones that are a bit easier, but again, not great money.

I did audio typing through upworks. To get a decent speed though you need foot pedals and to actually type very well. The first 3-6 months of jobs were very poorly paid until my rating improved and then I started getting invited to higher paying work. I also did audio typing through a small agency, but they need reliability and consistency so just doing it while your little one is asleep is not great. There are a few other online ones but the approval process for them took a few months, doing the tests etc. but they have to 10 minute snippets of the work which you can do. I don't like that because I find it easier to get my ear for a voice when typing the whole thing.

Matched betting gives the most money for beginners because of the introductory offers at gambling sites, and isn't that hard, the tutorials walk you through it, but it's up front money to join the sites that help you/give access to the calculators.

I took in ironing, but again that took up a few months to build up. There is an online agency for that but it's not brilliant because you have to pay an ongoing fee with no guarantee of work. If you have a community newsletter you can usually advertise for free for a first ad for whatever it is you want to do, then pay a small ongoing fee if you want to continue advertising.