Breaking rules to pay the bills...

[wheresmymojo]

We've stuck to the rules all the way through however we're going to have to break the rules in this lockdown because the alternative is that we can't pay our mortgage/bills/for food.

Just wondering if anyone else is in the same position?

As a short time fix I think he’s be better looking for a short term job (online shopping delivery/supermarket they are run off their feet & recruiting in a lot of areas) I know it won’t earn millions but it’s a lot less risky

It’s not as easy as “just apply for supermarket jobs.” Hundreds of people are applying for one vacancy.

I’m guessing the type of training requires equipment & wouldn’t necessarily be that easy in a park?

Can’t offer any advice I’m afraid but NO judgement from me either. You have obviously looked at all possible avenues and as others have said you have to eat and pay the bills. I wish you loads of luck.... ❤️

@Funkypolar

It’s not as easy as “just apply for supermarket jobs.” Hundreds of people are applying for one vacancy.

I didn’t say it was easy, but is is a better option than risking a £10k fine or having an injured customer & void insurance

@nancy75 I'm not disagreeing as they definitely need to generate income but omg delivery driving pays badly
Hopefully he could do that as well as his furlough though. Because that by itself wouldn't even cover their mortgage.
Horrible times for so many just now.

@MaxNormal
Employers can let employees on furlough work elsewhere if they so choose. If you employ yourself and need the money you'd hardly stop yourself from working elsewhere would you.

Not super helpful long-term, I know, and perhaps not practical depending on OP's personal circumstances, but I know that Royal Mail are taking on lots of temporary workers for the Christmas period.

And delivery driving pays a lot more than the £700 a month that he claims to earn for tax purposes in his usual job. I imagine people will be a bit slower to avoid tax in such a way in future after this.

@StatisticalSense only you are saying that someone "claims to earn" 700. You're implying tax evasion. Wind your neck in.
Delivery driving pays around 1100.

[quote MaxNormal]@nancy75 I'm not disagreeing as they definitely need to generate income but omg delivery driving pays badly
Hopefully he could do that as well as his furlough though. Because that by itself wouldn't even cover their mortgage.
Horrible times for so many just now.[/quote]
It's highlighting how bad things have been for a long time.

Is it too much to hope that people might demand a benefits system that allows people to survive, and living wages/affordable housing?

People who got sick or lost their jobs before the pandemic deserve help too.

Could he go over to his clients gardens to do it? I take it you don't have a garden.

I wouldn't judge. What a tricky situation

My DH is also limited. Its not to evade tax, the companies he does work for require that all freelancers be limited.
I don’t appreciate the implications of tax evasion.

I'm so sorry you are going through this OP. I completely empathise with you and your hubbie. Do what you have to do.. if anyone reports you, they have to live with that! Sending love x

@nancy75

Op I’m not judging but one thing you need to think about is your husbands insurance - if a client gets an injury at a time when he’s not supposed to be working there’s a chance the insurance wouldn’t pay out - that could leave you being sued & completely screwed.

Again though this is a 'risk' of being screwed vs. a 100% chance of being screwed.

Tesco are hiring. Royal Mail are taking on additional staff. Seems there is still work out there to be found.

Wrt the pet insurance. Is there any way of getting a payment holiday?

@Thermo

I appreciate you saying he can’t do Zoom, but these are times where if his career can’t pay he’s going to have to look at other work if you’re that desperately short.

Of course but there are many, many PTs out there already offering zoom classes.

It's incredibly competitive so it's unlikely he'd be able to get clients at this point as most people will have already had someone doing that with them.

He does offer some online coaching and after pushing it for months has four online clients. He's pushed it in every way possible so this is unlikely to rise much in this lockdown.

I run a small limited company and pay myself a proper wage and not the small amount plus dividends. Not all of us have used the tax loophole. Seems the OP did. they didn't have to pay minimum wages to themselves but they chose to and now it's coming back to bite them. Like many others.

I read an article earlier saying that you will be able to apply for 6 more months worth of mortgage holidays?