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.

Your work will have probably have a bike scheme that give out free reflective gear for cycling , locks etc so you could use some for the moped ? Also for the kids bikes too they don't mind who uses them . Our scheme is called 'dr bike '

She's not paying 300 a month i don't know where people have got that

https://www.gov.uk/pip

Open a new bank and then use that one to switch to get a reward. Keep a look out and when another offer comes up you can use that for switching again, could be a little bit of money towards Christmas

As someone who works In safeguarding children this would be a concern.
It would be reported to children's services. It's not all about physical needs being met but emotional.
There will be no boundaries. Do you think the 18 Yr old will tell the youngest when to go to bed or when to stop gaming etc. Emotionally aswell if they have had a touch day and want to speak to their parent who's there to support them.
I see it all the time. Yes you need to make money I get that but let's not be naive and think it does not effect children in a negative manner

Are you a qualified social worker? Cause I am and I know our duty team would shut down a referral about a 16 and 17 year old be left with their 19 year old brother down without looking in to it at all. There’s actual children being abused out there

Im there. Im there with them for 3 hours every night after school, 2 hours after college on the nights i work. The other 3 nights a week im there all the time. Im there all day Saturday, i get up at 1 on a Sunday and spend time with them, do thier laundry, help with home work, college applications, ucas applications. Monday i clean the house and do some batch cooking or meal prep. My youngest turns 16 in a month. They are not little children. They go to sleep at reasonable times as they prioritise their morning paper rounds. They are good honest responsible well adjusted kids. We talk alot, i see them alot. I have an hour with my daughter when she gets in from school just us, we have a coffee and toast and chat, every single day when she gets in from school. I hear about the drama, whos fallen out, whos had a new hair cut, who said something ridiculous. My sister is very local if they do have an emergency, my parents are 20 minutes away. They can call or text me, though if im with a patient i dont see it immediately which is why i said im not easily contacted, they have to wait for replies. But they have the numbers for every area within A&E and when i get allocated in handover i message to tell them which area im in and they can call the direct number in an emergency. The paper shop is 2 minutes from my house, and i have the owners number and vice versa, he lives above the shops, if something catastophic happened, i know 100% they would go there and he would call immediately. They are basically family now we see them that much.

Just becuase im not there to tuck them into bed at night, every night, doesnt mean my children are neglected physically or emotionally in any way shape or form. My job is important to me. But not as important as my childrens well being.

Hey don’t be afraid to access food banks, that may take a little of the stress off you. Is it a year till you move up to the next band?

Can the younger two pick up a weekend shift somewhere else? Maybe get them to pick up the subscription cost. My niece has been working since she was 14, waitressing in a restaurant. Not great money at that age but it would definitely cover a subscription each,

Also did you say you have credit card debt? If so, have you done a balance transfer?

Don’t forget you would need to do your Compulsory Basic Training to ride a moped. It is about 150 pounds, a few hours sworn with an instructor in a group serting

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

What is your role 'in safeguarding'?

What do you anticipate would happen if a referral were made to children's services about two teens being left with an adult (with autism)?

Agree-£300 was mentioned up thread??

Netflix is £14, Now tv is £10, £17 psn and xbox, Prime is £9 but i dont really include that as for the kids since i would have that regardless for prime household subscriptions on amazon as its massively helpful that i dont have to remember to buy basics they just turn up once a month - probably a "luxuary" i should knock on the head, but i set those up when i was a student and the mental load of placements, assignments, and working to supplement my income. running a household, and the kids just hitting puberty, and ferrying them to and from my parents as they stayed with them often then, it was necessary. Though they still help with the mental load now. But its £50 a month maximum on subscriptions minus a few pence.

I have no idea where the fabricated £300 came from.

I believe someone calculated that you are spending around £300 on taxis for work per month. That may be where the confusion has arisen.

Im surprised an A&E nurse would consider a moped. As I mentioned above have you asked family for any help? Would anyone be able to lend you the money for a cheap reliable car? The running costs and repayment would be less than £300 a month and you’d get the benefit of a car for the family.

Why? I see more patients with injuries from push bikes than i do RTC's. In fact i see more people come in with injuries from riding a horse than i do RTC's. And we are a major trauma centre with air ambulance support.

If your sister lives near you.

Does she have a car ?

Can you borrow her car when she is not using it or get her to give you lifts to & from work & pay her instead of taxi ?

Ok fair enough. I worked as a nurse and the motorbike injuries I saw put me off for life. I also don’t know a single person who has had a motorcycle that hasn’t had an accident of some sort so I’m naturally a bit adverse.

Good luck.

No, she also works full time and has 3 children under 6 so i cant ask her to do that.

Speak to these people they may have some suggestions

https://nhscreditunion.com/

In a few years time al your kids will be adults and probably working unless going to Uni. If working then the rent and bills can be split four ways and you'll be much better off. Just hang in there as others have said.

The bad ones i have seen have been high speed out in the coutryside then air ambulanced to us. A few local 30mph local roads isnt really a cause for me to be concerned. Ive seen the odd person fall off one and have minor injuries, but ive also seen people step off a kerb and break their hip or slip on wet grass and end up in with an open fracture, trip over their dog and have a dislocation etc etc. If i went off what i saw in work i wouldnt do anything, ever, people have the most freakish accidents.

Good that they are early risers! I remember my son doing it briefly and it was heartbreaking how tired he was.

They sounds like remarkable children/ young people.

Nowhere has op said she's paying £300 for subs!

You'd literally be laughed at. Worked as a social worker for 10 years and there's no issue whatsoever with the setup she has described.