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.

Lots of reply so sorry if repeating but have you considered agency work? Very lucrative so I'm told.

Electric bike? (Yes, I know they aren't cheap but I know several people who yuse them and they say they are excellent for hilly areas).

Ps £600 of the Ops salary and possibly more is going on taxis and subscriptions, there is something else going on here.

Its half that combined. I really need to make this clear. Travel expenses is, on an average month, £255. 3 weeks of 4 shifts 1 week of 5 average. sometimes ill do more weeks of 5, sometimes i wont pick up an extra and just do my 3 (like this week, i needed a saturday night at home sat in pyjamas doing nothing at all and drinking baileys i got last christmas - but i have 2 other weeks doing 5 this month). But on average its £255 on travel to and from work.

The subscriptions, not including prime as i see that more for household shopping delivery costs than entertainment in £41.

Thats a total of £296 a month on travel costs and entertainment for kids to allow them to have something to do at home when im not around. Ten pounds per week on them.

I really feel the need to clarify i am not blowing £600 a month on things then coming here to complain about how hard my life is.

I have rubbish mobility but I've got an electric bike off Ebay and it's amazing. It's effortless. I can do 15 miles to and from. Only suggesting just in case it helps, not trying to say it's essential.

Can you get the housing element of Universal Credit?

Also how is so much of your pay taken fron you? Can you talk to work about that?

Hi OP, can I echo the previous posters advice about career progression as the way out of this. Salary at NHS Band 5 is low, but you you will feel this more as you are a mature student with a family to support, when most will be young people just out of university mot likely still sharing a student house.

My daughter and daughter in law are both in the NHS, one as a nurse, the other as a physio. They have both progressed, one to Band 6 and the other to Band 7. That is when the wage becomes reasonable. As you progress up the bands it also makes a difference.

So apart from some of the good advice you have been given on here which you are considering, just hang on in there, it will get better. The associated benefits of the public sector are worth having too.

I was also a mature student. It’s hard but it pays off in the end as your life experience will start to pay off.

Can you get a ride from anyone on the same schedule? Will work cover any of the cost? Would they transfer you to a more accessible location?

Failing that have you considered doing a go fund me or similar to help with the cost of transit? Would the cab co do a discount for you since you’re such a regular customer? If you put it to them that the expense is so high you might have to quit your job, maybe they’ll work with you rather than losing a good customer.

The OP sees her kids every morning before school and every evening for dinner and is clearly an engaged and caring parent.

The younger two manage to regularly get up at 6am for a paper round. I think they're doing just fine regulating their own bedtime. And tbh I know no-one who was still micromanaging their kids bedtime in Year 11 and Year 12 anyway. If you're having to regularly mither an almost-16-year-old to stop gaming and go to bed then something's gone seriously wrong with your parenting tbh.

What, really, do you expect childrens' services to do about an almost 17yo and an almost 16yo being left with an adult sibling? I'd love to be a fly on the wall the day you reported that one...

Op, I don't have any advice that you haven't considered. Just want to say, you and your children sound incredible. Hard working, diligent, disciplined. I'm sorry things are so tough for you right now, but I have no doubt, with your attitude, things will continue to improve and you will continue to make you and your children's lives more comfortable. You all seem to have a lovely relationship, seem very close, I'm sure your children recognise how hard you work and understand that you can't always have the most expensive of things. They will thank, respect and love you all the more for what a hard working Mum you are x All the best OP x

Oh... and get the moped! Sounds like a great plan and fingers crossed your parents will be able to help with a loan

Is there a Company Shop in your area? If so apply for a card (your profession allows you one) food is much cheaper and household things) joint Olio, request items that are listed food plus other things for free. Have the family outgrown any clothes or no longer want other items? Advertise them and get some money for them. Anything you or kids can make and sell?

I'm so sorry to read this post. You are doing everything possible and still finding it hard to keep your head above water. Could it be worth speaking to someone at Citizens Advice to see if there are any benefits your are missing out on. Would a possibility be to move to a cheaper area? Is there any way you can push to be fast-tracked within the role you're doing for a more senior & better paid job? You are obviously a clever and hard working person, it's shocking that you are struggling like this.

OP have you tried negotiating them down? I worked as an executive assistant once and he told me he never pays fees, call and negotiate. If they’re charging you any kind of interest or fees on these debts call and ask if they can remove them as a one time courtesy.

Depending on the bank they will. There’s a bank that will remove all fees the first time you ask, half the second time etc. pretend you’re a rich entitled person and try to negotiate anything that might be remotely negotiable down. If the first person you talk to says no, ask to escalate to their next level of support.

is it ok if I send you a message?

Definitely PIP ASSESSOR

Really feel for you and impressed with how resilient and positive you are being in a tough situation. Your kids are so lucky to have such a great hardworking and inspirational mum! Moped sounds great- good luck with it and please get a really good lock!

Is there an option for you to work part time which may make you eligible for UC. Do you get DLA/PIP for your autistic child? You could possibly claim housing benefit if you only had to work part time. I think you need to think of your health and the amount of stress you are under can't be good for you. 😘😘

Op has already said she doesn't get UC. Her child with autism is an adult and working. In a couple of years time all her kids will be adults so no chance of Uc then. Universal credit don't generally like people with teenage kids working part time. Reducing hours to claim UC would just make her worse off as it doesn't make up for lost earnings.

Could you look at the nhs lease car scheme. No initial outlay, they deliver the car too. All costs are included (servicing, repairs, tyres). My husband has just got a brand new MG4 and it's worked out around £230 a month and then around £30-40 to charge it at work

Can you train to administer Botox/fillers as nurse who do this earn well.

Up to 50cc and riding one on her car licence, she doesn't need training.

It's a saturated market. This government are looking to come down hard on licensing and it's costly to train.

Never mind the fact that OP is already stretched to her limit working and caring for her family.

Any chance of getting lifts to work? Does the hostpital run a car share scheme. It must be a major centre of employment, so there must be loads of people locally going to work at the hostpital. You have done brilliantly to cope, hang in there, it will get easier.

OP has already answered this questions "I've only come across one collegue who lives in my direction, and she works mostly day shifts."

It would probably help OP if posters could at least read her posts so that suggestions are not repeated.

Can you apply to be an (online) exam marker in your field for studying students at exam time?

Our DD did it for a while nearly 3000 kms away from her uni. They were struggling to maintain regular markers and although it’s not additional weekly income, but 4 times a year, it gave her quite a bonus in funds.