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 .

My friend has OF and makes money from sexting / phone chat and content
it’s taken a while but she can easily make a few hundred a week from it

If you're going into OF territory, check out "pay pigs". These are literally men who get a sexual thrill out of women who demand money from them. Its insane. The woman demands a specific amount of money and trash talks them, the men then make a bank transfer and presumably get their rocks off. That's it.
Men are absolutely mind-blowing 😅

I have no idea how you find these pay pigs though

What part of the country do you live in?

if you asked on my 'Nextdoor' you'd be inundated with applicants!

If you are handy at design then you could sell digital products you have designed. No need to invest in a printer etc as it’s all digital.

I sell digital products on Etsy but there are other websites depending on what you are going to sell. It makes a decent second income for me.

Once you’ve spent the initial time setting it up (over the holidays) it pretty much runs itself.

You only work term time, 39 weeks of the year. The simplest option would be to work the other 13 weeks of the year. You could register as a childminder and provide holiday care.

Buying clothes from car boot sales and selling on Vinted can make £2-£3 per item. More if you have a good eye for a bargain.

@SparklyOpalEagleyou need to rethink working full time - at the moment if you only work term time then you are off around 13 weeks per year. Most people working full time only get around 4/5 weeks annual leave so you need to get a job for the holidays. How about a nice restaurant - tips would be all yours too no declaring could do when kids are in bed if you have a partner?

what ages are children can they be left alone?

This may be an obvious one OP but just incase you haven't done it - have you reviewed your bank account and all your outgoings? Rather than earning more, can you spend less?

Changing you energy suppliers to cheaper ones, cancelling any extra direct debit (ie gym/tv subscriptions/charity donation).

We spend a fortune on food so the first thing I would do is cut that back with strict meal planning, not eating out etc

I do it myself and have excellent results, I'd rather suggest this to her and actually help her than soke of the time consuming, pittance earning suggestions people are insulting her with on here. Have a look at Tik Tok and other people's results before dismissing it. I don't do my own trades, i copy and paste them- very different.

Erm excuse me I do this myself and do amazingly well from it. Why is it whenever something that can actually help is suggested for someone people like you want to nip it in the bud? I'm sure the op can do her own research if she wants to? I'd rather suggest something I know works ( because I do it ) than insult her with some of the tome consuming, pittance earning crap on here.

And selling your used knickers 😬

Okay then but Chat GPT says your money is at risk if you do it. It’s basically making the same trades as someone else so if they fuck it up you do too. You told people to look on Chat GPT and Chat GPT said it’s risky and listed more cons than pros. I presume you need some capital to start it too and the OP lives on her overdraft.

Sorry why are you hell bent on proving that this is not going to work? It does. Reminds me of a friend I had when I started doing it who was seething with jealousy and said her boyfriend didn't like the idea. And yes I was in my overdraft when I started, we all have to start somewhere. People always want to make wild assumptions when an actual solution is offered to stay poor.

You don't use your main account, you set up a secondary account specifically for switching.

This is gambling which is a daft way of trying to get out of debt. Please don't try this.

Bath water too! 😂😂 Men are strange creatures.

You rock up say you have a great idea but can’t even be arsed to explain what it is and tells her to look it up. I look it up and it clearly says that there is risk involved (as there always is with trading). For instance chat GPT says you can lose lots if you type in the wrong number by mistake. You now get pissed off that said risk is pointed out.

I mean I could tell the OP to go and bet on the horses to make extra cash. Like with trading, there is a risk there and it’s not a good idea for someone who is already in debt with several children to care for.

I would recommend getting your SIA licence. Its a 6 day course which you have time to do during holidays. This month I have earned around 300 extra after tax from 5 shifts of 7 hours.
I work at sports events, concerts and festivals. Does SIA mean you are going to get assaulted by a drunk? Absolutely not. I only work day events. I mostly do bag searches and shout 'keep you the left'. Hell would freeze over before you found me on a pub or club door. There is zero commitment to work. You pick shifts from a list.
By day I'm a full time public sector worker.

Keep to* the left

Just applied for a position at the local council. Requirements are not anything in particular, just an enjoyment of public speaking

What do you… actually do, if you don’t mind me asking.

I was going to suggest this too.
If you can reduce or cut out a few direct debits that would free up some funds each month.

For days out, especially if your kids are younger & don't mind revisiting the same places, a couple of annual passes can work out a lot cheaper than going to different places.

You’ve worked 35 extra hours and netted £300? That doesn’t sound very lucrative to me.

Have you tried having your cake and eating it too?

Talk about patronising.

She's an adult woman, I'm sure quite able to risk assess for herself. She's not vulnerable simply because she's a single mum.