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Original poster

How to earn money to supplement my job as I just cant make ends meet

35 replies

youbethemummylion · 17/09/2014 17:58

I am trying desperately to keep our heads above water however the necessary outgoings (I have already cancelled Sky etc) are coming to more than what we are bringing in.

I work part time and due to the cost of childcare I cant increase my hours. I also cant work out of the home on an evening as my DH has a job with very unreliable finish times so I cant guarantee he will be back from work to look after the children.

I've always thought when you look on sites like 'Not on the High Street' etc that some of the things look like you could make them at home however when I have actually looked at it in more details I don't think it would work. Cost of materials etc and also I have to admit I'm not that skilled in the artistic department.

I have tried time and time again to get work from home data entry type roles and I either don't get accepted or I do then no work ever comes out of it.

I looked at dog walking/sitting but the market around here is saturated with people doing this plus I work so cant actually walk the dogs in the middle of the day (when post people want them walking) and I couldn't leave a dog I was dog sitting whilst I went to work.

What else can I do? I thought of getting a glass collecting job (which is what I did at Uni) but no one is advertising for these and the clubs I have emailed say they don't have glass collectors just bar staff and would want me to start early evening which I can't.

OP posts:
PinkAndBlueBedtimeBears · 17/09/2014 18:16

Not much help but can I suggest you report your op and ask MNHQ to move to money matters or credit crunch? The guys over there are so so good at this. Hope it works out for you soon Thanks

lightningstrikes · 17/09/2014 18:21

Childminder? You can do just before and after school, which leaves your days free for your job.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 17/09/2014 18:23

Do either you or dh work the weekend? Could one of you pick up a Sat/sun job?

Childminding may be a good call overall as you could then scrap need for childcare of you are able to do it more full time?

KnackeredMuchly · 17/09/2014 18:27

Dog home boarding - unfortunately you're just out of busy season but it will pick up at Christmas. Speak to any dog sitting businesses they might need extra homes.

Purplehonesty · 17/09/2014 18:30

We were like this too. My husband and I earned good money but then we had the kids and my wage was given up to be a SAHM. Same outgoings but half the money coming in!
I childmind during the day so I have no childcare costs then I make birthday/wedding cakes in the evenings.
It's not easy I'm often working from 7am - 10pm and juggling my two dc, but it pays the bills.
My reputation is gaining now with the cakes as I have been doing it nearly a year. Last night I got ten orders via facebook so the plan is to build it up over the next year and then stop childminding and concentrate on cakes.
Both dc will be at school /nursery then too so it means I will have time for a job during the day if needs be!

Gumnast2014 · 17/09/2014 18:43

Could you do bank work in hospital as support worker? Varied and lots of hours going.

DoAndroidsDream · 17/09/2014 18:47

How much are you short each month? Do you have debts that you're paying off?

Original poster
youbethemummylion · 17/09/2014 18:53

I'm paying off a credit card bill of £3000! I've transferred all my cards to one so its all in one place and 0% interest at the moment.

It varies on how much I'm short as my wages vary a lot on a bad month its around £200. This is how the credit card balance has built up but I cant keep living on credit!

OP posts:
Original poster
youbethemummylion · 17/09/2014 18:55

Dog sitting would be good but I couldnt leave a dog I was sitting home alone during the day whilst I'm at work.

OP posts:
Original poster
youbethemummylion · 17/09/2014 18:56

I work 1 in 3 Sundays he works every other Saturday so weekend work doesn't really fit either.

OP posts:
FrootLoopy · 17/09/2014 18:58

Could you take ironing in? You could collect it from local houses, and return it, or have them drop off and collect.

If you have single office workers you could even do a laundry style service where you wash and iron the shirts for them. It's useful for someone commuting to drop off in the evening, as all the local laundrettes are only open during business hours.

Original poster
youbethemummylion · 17/09/2014 19:06

Ironing and after school childminding are sounding like ideas that could work. Obviously childminding I would have to get registered etc. What about ironing do I need some sort of license to run a business from home, what about insurance etc? Might be tricky to build up a customer base as not many people near me would have disposable income for that sort of thing.

OP posts:
DoAndroidsDream · 17/09/2014 19:06

It varies on how much I'm short as my wages vary a lot on a bad month its around £200. This is how the credit card balance has built up but I cant keep living on credit!

Do an income and expenditure based on a bad month's wages.

Include everything.

Rent/Mortgage
Utilities
Landline/broadband/mobile
Travel costs. Petrol or public transport fares.
Grocery shopping.
TV licence.

If you own a car find out when you next have to pay insurance and tax. Divide the amount due by the number of months left to save. When's the next MOT. Allow something for repairs such as tyres.

An amount for clothes, holidays, birthdays, Christmas.

Something for emergencies and replacements. This would vary depending on whether you rent or own.

Once you're done this you can see what you need and make decisions from there. Maybe a job that has a more reliable income would be better?

EvilRingahBitch · 17/09/2014 19:11

Take in ironing?
Try the MSE forums, as well, they're totally exhaustive when it comes to this sort of thing, and they'll go well beyond "cancel Sky" into things that might not have occurred to you.

Viviennemary · 17/09/2014 19:12

I agree with considering ironing. I knew somebody who did this and made quite a bit. It was a few years ago though. Also childminding before/after school.

MNHQ
TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 17/09/2014 19:17

Hi there OP
We have moved this to credit crunch for you
HTH
Best

AnythingNotEverything · 17/09/2014 19:22

There's a lot of "I" in your posts OP. Is DH committed to reducing costs too? It sounds a bit like this is your responsibility and he's off eating lunch out everyday and buying new golf clubs etc. apologies if I'm completely wrong.

Do you warn a decent amount in your job? Could you get something similar with better hours to allow a second job or do something entirely different? I have half a plan to work evenings in a supermarket rather than pay out for childcare. I suspect the net pay would be the same with no childcare to pay for.

AnythingNotEverything · 17/09/2014 19:22

There's a lot of "I" in your posts OP. Is DH committed to reducing costs too? It sounds a bit like this is your responsibility and he's off eating lunch out everyday and buying new golf clubs etc. apologies if I'm completely wrong.

Do you warn a decent amount in your job? Could you get something similar with better hours to allow a second job or do something entirely different? I have half a plan to work evenings in a supermarket rather than pay out for childcare. I suspect the net pay would be the same with no childcare to pay for.

Original poster
youbethemummylion · 17/09/2014 19:24

Thanks. I'm making an income and expenditure form as we speak DoAndroidsDream and its certainly eye opening. However everything that can be done away with has been. Next month I'm going to make myself and DH account for every penny as I can see where all the money goes apart from the cash withdrawls!

OP posts:
EvilRingahBitch · 17/09/2014 19:26

Re finding customers for ironing, you could think about all the friends/relatives you know who works in an office environment (even if they themselves are broke or not doing a white collar job) and ask if they'd be prepared to recommend you or put an advert up in a communal space

Mintyy · 17/09/2014 19:27

I would try and find a different job, tbh. If your wages "vary a lot" and sometimes they can be as little as £200 then that sounds like a really rubbish job you are hanging on to.

You could earn more as a cleaner.

Original poster
youbethemummylion · 17/09/2014 19:29

DH works very long hours and actually doesn't eat lunch to save pennies so he is committed. I only work 9-2 to fit in with school pick up. DH does drop off.
I have tried to get evening supermarket work but been turned down and Tescos now wont let me apply again for another 12months which seems a bit unfair! Also as DH sometimes doesn't get in until 8:30 to 9 most evening jobs are tricky as they start more around 6/7 o'clock!

OP posts:
Original poster
youbethemummylion · 17/09/2014 19:32

Sort I meant the shortfall could be as much as £200. My wages vary due to overtime which isn't always available. I take it when it is and get paid time, time and a half or double depending on the work. So the difference between basic salary and what I can earn with double overtime is quite significant.

OP posts:
AnythingNotEverything · 17/09/2014 19:34

Fair enough OP. Hope you didn't mind me asking.

Could you let a room on AirBnB? Market research? Do you use Quidco? Have you switched energy supplier?

Original poster
youbethemummylion · 17/09/2014 19:38

That's ok Anything don't mind at all. No spare room, I've tried market research but most of the surveys etc pay out quite good to start with but then the money gets harder and harder to come by. You spend half an hour on a survey to be told sorry quota filled and you get nothing! Yes switched energy, insurance etc

OP posts: