If you were absolutely flat broke in this situation, how would you make money?

[stressedoutstudent]

Some context - single mum of 3 teenagers. Qualfied as a nurse a year ago, so on the lowest increment for band 5 pay. i work all night plus extra bank shifts to maximise my income with enhancements. Moving up pay scales/banding is impossible at the minute. The extra shifts means my UC entitlement is 0 most months. I get CB for 2/3 of the children. Eldest has autism and whilst he works, he doesnt earn enough to be contributing anything substantial to the household. Ex gave up working and claims benefits, i get the standard £29 a month deduction from his benefits via CMS, he hasnt seen the children in over a decade so doesnt contribute anything further. I dont drive and theres no public transport running at a time that i can get to work, so i have to pay for taxis which are expensive but i have no other options. Its a 2 hour walk before/after 13 hours shifts and i usually do 4 or 5 in a week, im so exhausted i cant do this walk on top of my very busy active shift. We live in a rented house, which is a reasonable rent for the area, but still expensive. 1 child in school who can walk, 1 child in college who cant walk as its too far so i have to ay transport costs for them. I have some "unnecessary" outgoings, gaming subscriptions and streaming services, however my children are home alone 4 or 5 nights a week so they need something to keep them occupied as i dislike them going out and about whilst im at work, as i work in a very busy A&E department, im not easily contactable and like to know they are safe. I have some small debts im paying off from when i was a student and really struggled to get by.

Every month i run i out of money, its just impossible. I cant work more, i cant see where i can reduce out goings. I cant get a third job (my substantial and bank are two different contracts). I cant afford christmas, which i know isnt the be all and end all. But, when i was a student i promised my children a better future when i was stressed writing assignments doing placements and missing important events. But its not gotten better. Infact im worse off each month now than i was when studying. The recent NHS payrise left me worse off, as it bumped me into the next pension bracket, so the little i got backdated last pay, i now owe in pension arrears from April when the pay rise was back dated to. This amount is more than i received in back pay last month.

Life is just impossible. I cant give my children any standard of living, despite working my arse off to improve my career and do as many shifts a week as i am physically able to do.

What would you do? Genuinely? My only potential plan at the minute is the WFH pip assessor roles, its the same money im on now, but no travel costs. Keep my bank job to pick up an extra weeked shift each week. But its a job role i struggle with morally, and i would lose the patient contact element of my job for the most part. And A&E was my dream job, i love it, and the experience is vital for my future career aspirations.

Could you do this until later?

How old are your dc?

How much is your working adult child contributing, I know you said they had autism and couldn't contribute a lot.

Have you looked at social housing, or are you already in social housing?

Would there be social housing nearer the hospital?

This would negate the need for taxis to and fro

can you lift share?

a combination of high rents and stifled wages have kept people in a cost of living crisis

MIA Since 2014. I chased him for CMS for years, he would swap jobs constantly. I would get the order for direct pay deductions, he would change jobs, it then takes approx 6 months to get direct deductions done again, and he would change jobs. The total owed from none payment when he was working is over £10k. Then he gave up working, and claimed benefits in around 2021. now i get £29 a month, but nothing against the owed amount. That just sits there untouched. I get the £29 a month, probably 7 times a year. From what i can gather, he gets his benefits restricted for none-compliance, when they are restricted, they dont deduct the CMS off it either. He walked out on all of us in 2014, hes never attempted contact. I dont know where he is. Neither do my kids.

Theres zero consequences on absent parents. But that is entirely different thread.

Be careful anything coming out of your wages can have an effect on pension. Just be aware.

This sounds so tough. I think that you're amazing. Funnily enough, I have three children and get the £29 inconsistent CMS too...with nothing paid against the debt. It's an absolute joke.
I just wanted to offer the suggestion that if your son does get PIP in the future, remember that you'd be entitled to carer's allowance (assuming you'd be his carer).
I do think that you should go for a car over a scooter, as I always think they're dangerous, but your choice.

@stressedoutstudent I would do a botox and filler course and start my own part time business.

Most nursers who don't drive use ebikes as they are cheap to run with no fuel costs, instance etc. They get them through bike to work scheme

Check out courses on aesthetics. You're a nurse so trustworthy. Check on courses of how to apply Botox for example, then offer the services. You can also work with companionship. In my area ppl look for nurses for example to sleep in the house with an elderly relative so they aren't alone. They charge £20/hr where I live. They prefer nurses because you can give more support and act in case of emergencies than an ordinary person.

Yes plenty of Dr's, Nurses and AHP cycle after long shifts
Most don't get car parking at work anymore
I'm ancient and I cycled for years

You could ask at work about the NHS ebike scheme. No point me linking one as trusts vary. No deposit needed.
Have you checked on the MSE site if you're due any student fees refunded? Don't forget as well if you wash your uniform it's tax deductible, but you're probably in scrubs.

Don't take any notice about changing jobs. You said you love it and not many people can remind themselves that they saved a life today. When you do bank, do you have to do Wards?

We have a Food Club here where you pay a small subscription They also have veg and fruit. It's not a food bank where you need a referral. Might be worth a search online.

Just a quick warning about the scooter/moped - make absolutely sure you have secure parking for it both at home and at the hospital. A relative has one and it got nicked after a few weeks. Absolutely soul destroying.

You’d get UC on such a low wage and rental costs.

I've only read the first couple of pages so apologies if this has already been suggested - bank account switching. You can make £200-300 a time for switching your current account. Plenty of details on Martin Lewis money saving expert website. I did it 4x in about a year. It's about 15 mins of effort per switch so money for nothing.

Hi OP, you are doing a great job and sorry you are having a hard time financially. To earn a little extra on the side I would suggest looking at private caring opportunities, I know of a lot of wealthy people who care for their husbands / wives but cannot find or are not eligible for carers and would pay well for relief caring (especially from a nurse). Someone who can come in and give them a night off or just a bit of extra help. They might not even mind if you bring a kid with you as often they are lonely and like the company. For your son, I would suggest dog walking, autistic people often are very good with animals. Good luck!

I wanted to say a huge congratulations that you’ve qualified into a profession with teenagers at home and a single mum and not a lot of financial backing behind you. That takes a huge amount of will power and determination and I really hope you find the solution you need in the short term to keep going!

I’d reach out to a local charity or food bank for help with food or transport to work. Ask around and see if there are any local schemes you could benefit from - you never know.

Well that's something that needs to change. Buses ought to run a skeleton service to and from hospitals 24 hours a day. Even if they don't go anywhere else. Hundreds of staff would benefit from this.

Are you there Louise Haigh?

He might be able to get some PIP, have you thought about talking to CAB. If you were not around who would support him? It”s non means tested. Worth a punt CAB filled my forms in for me.

Cycle to work scheme?

I was going to say Car Parking at hospitals for staff is ££ andparking.
doesn't mean you'll get a space . Parking in the streets isn't always easy , the residents don't appreciate the extra traffic and most are permit .

Moped/ e bike is asier to park.

GP Practise Nurse
Blood Donation Service - I bet you are good with needles !

Are you sure it's not worth trying? My 18 year old DS has dyspraxia and gets PIP.

Cutting the taxi fares seems the most obvious way to reduce your expenses if you can find another way to get to work.

Are you sure you should be getting £0 UC? I have you double and triple checked? Your earning feel quite low to not qualify considering you have three children xx

I only get UC for 2 of the children, not 3 as one is over 18 and not in eduation. Our LHA is much, much lower than private rents, so it is what it is

I have known a few people who have been PIP assessors and all seem to have been broken by the job so i wouldn't recommend that to be honest.

I don't really have any ideas on how you can save any more money. However have you applied for pupil premium? That would at least help with school meals & trips & visits.

I think a small car would be better - at least you could fit kids in & do food shop in it.

Your kids sound lovely & they're lucky to have such a hardworking Mum.

I might have missed this but could you not work day time shifts? You could then travel on public transport rather than needing taxis.

It's frustrating when you're borderline & probably not actually getting much more spends than someone not working. Long term you will be better off though.

It’s such a shame you don’t have that financial help. Nobody doing such a worthwhile job should struggle and find life difficult. 😞

I don't think people understand the adrenaline junkie nature of being an A&E Nurse. There's also a camaraderie of the staff in A&E, not found elsewhere.

Being on wards or out-patients, injecting faces must feel very flat in comparison. If money were the object, they wouldn't choose nursing.
They do though need paying commensurate with modern nursing, which is more on a par with a Junior Doctor, than the the old mopping brows and taking temperatures.