To think there MUST be a way to top up my income

[SparklyOpalEagle]

I have a job , a career , that has progression. Absolutely love my job but I have a lot of debt. I only work term time so would love to find something, not too time consuming , that I could do on the side during holidays . But not an actual job.

I’ve done a few “ side hustles “ in the past , made a bit extra around Christmas making Christmas gifts. I’m quite handy with design, so I did used to have a small business making stationary but this was during uni when I had more time. I don’t have the space for that now either.

Every time I look online I see surveys or digital marketing and I’m not interested in that. Surveys I’ve made maybe £30 - that’s not enough.

Im not looking for MLM or any get rich quick scheme - does anyone have any advice ?

I've tried :

• Amazon Flex - I’m on the waiting list
• Pay per text message - it was just sex talk and it was misleading people so I’m not into it
• Tutoring - too much time , most people want you in the evening and I can’t commit

Not willing -

• actual jobs - bar work, care etc - I don’t have the time to commit to set shifts , I have children and I also want to enjoy my time off
• Mystery shopping / market research - it’s not reliable and I am signed up to loads already anyway and get nothing
• Cashback - I don’t need to spend anymore
• switching banks - I have a massive overdraft that I live in
• Dog walking - too many in my area
• Ironing - not a thing where I live and also I’m awful at it
• Matched betting

I’m looking for something I could do with my children around- a hobby I could turn into a venture , I would deliver leaflets etc but I can’t find anything like that .

You’ve literally ruled out every other job- unless you expect someone to pay you just to exist you’re out of options.

This - its really difficult to earn any meaningful amount of money "around your children" without giving up a lot of your time (such as evenings) which you don't seem willing to do.

Hobbies are hobbies because they are fun & don't bring money in. To get them to generate profit requires a lot of time & effort unless you have an exceptional skill level (so could perform on a musical instrument or teach a language for example).

You say not dog walking but how about other pet services - I paid £15 a day for someone to come in and feed my cat recently
I used to do bookkeeping and some admin from home when DC were younger for local sole traders

I did used to do this , but I found not having the break from work led to me being burnt out. My job is teaching SEN FE and I really need to be 100% in the game to give my all to them and provide them with what they deserve so I couldn’t risk that for a bit of extra cash. Not only that but the chance of progression in my career is what will eventually help me out of this situation , so that needs to remain priority

I’m happy to give up my time - at home. I would be more than willing to use my evenings , but not leaving the house or set shifts. I have children and I have a child with additional needs and no childcare ( not that I would want to give up my summer with them anyway )

Well dont judge me but....

I think there are actually quite a few complete fucking perverts out there who contact sellers on Vinted asking tjem to send items but only if they have been worn. They actually offer to pay way more than asking price if you wear them first.

Am I insane for actually considering this? 😅

You work term time therefore you do not work full time.

I work enough.

No you’re not I would 100% do it if I knew how!

You think teaching isn’t a full time job?

Have you thought about reselling on Vinted?

House-sitting, cat or dog-sitting. Child-minding. Babysitting. Leaflet dropping. Cleaning. Beauty treatments (requires training), tutoring, exam marking, invigilator for exams. Fostering.

Yeah just pointing out you only work term time because you then claimed that you worked full time. It may well feel enough to you but from a financial point of view it clearly isn't.

honestly just swapping accounts using the method I said can earn you 500 in like 2 months as a one off...

You mentioned cake toppers. There are various companies that print designs on to icing sheets or wafer paper. They often have designs and templates to choose from but their own designs are always all awful. If you're a good designer perhaps you could sell/license bespoke designs to those small companies or go into partnership and take a cut - then you wouldn't have to invest in a printer yourself. I have no sense of how much business they do or whether that could be profitable but a couple of phone calls to those companies would answer that.

Food delivery (Domino’s etc)…then that money is purely used to pay off the debt. I worked with someone who did similar.

Or…have you seen Breaking Bad?

Lol she's a sen teacher not a chemistry teacher 🤣

I’m salaried, I’m not without money in the holidays .

I don’t need the money to pay my debts , I don’t need a second job to survive . But , because of debts I don’t have as much as I would like left over so I would like to make a bit extra.

I work different term times to most schools and colleges - I have 4 weeks off at summer , half of the Easter holidays , Christmas and half of May and Feb half term . So I have 3 weeks more off than anyone in a ‘full time’ job.

There must be a YouTube video showing what to do 😂

you could also try panning for gold if you live near a river?

I will do shortly sweetie just having a cuppa then off to bed ill pop. Have a fantastic evening ❤️

Cat sitting is a good one -I’ve used my sitter for years because she is 100% reliable and has common sense plus will do all the ancillary jobs like cleaning out the litter tray. A week ends up around £130 for two visits a day and is well worth it.

How are you on design? I find it really hard to find clip on earrings and ear cuffs, that might be a market?

Could you write a book of activities for children with additional needs at that age and self publish?

Or design flash for tattoo artists?

International students? In our area you can get them for 3-5 nights. You just need a room, they don’t need their own bathroom. Income is tax free under rent a room scheme. Put two in a room for these short stay ones.

I think the best suggestion you’ve had so far is to run an arts and crafts club for children? Presumably you are already DBS checked as you work in a school. Could you hire a classroom / space at the school you work at? However, you would also need another adult DBS checked helper, so perhaps a colleague? So many summer camps are sport orientated and you might find a niche offering arts and crafts as alternative.