Any self-employed/work at home single mums?

[webwahm]

With all the talk today about reforming the welfare system, and the ensuing rants I've read from people slating single parents who don't bother going out to work etc etc I wonder if there's anyone here who is self-employed and/or works from home? I've done it for past few years because it was the most flexible option.

What do you do webwahm? I don't work, but don't claim benefits either.
I'd love to work from home

I'm self-employed and a single mum

I usually go to work in the mornings while the kids are at school (and usually do a bit more from home when the kids are in bed) and I pay someone to work for me in the afternoons. I mainly do it for flexibility reasons.

I'm in Ireland though so different welfare conditions etc. For example, if I were an employee I'd be entitled to a sizeable amount of benefit on top of my salary, plus various extras like school clothing allowance, but as I'm self employed I cannot apply.

Yes. Though my DS is in reception now, but before then he used to go to nursery a couple of days a week.
I do various things: Avon, freelance writing, bits of market trading, market research (Market research is a great job for a single mum as the hours are so flexible and if you work for one of the big companies you get holiday pay too). I also do wedding ceremonies (though not very often) and some ahem communications work which I can do at night when DS is asleep.

I get tax credits and some HB though that is about to drop or I might even be able to come off it as my income is about to go up.

I have just started working from home, self employed, to allow me the flexibility be with the DC

I am a childminder and a single mum. I get housing benefit and tax credits to supplement my income.
I was childminder before i became a single mum but it works so well as am always here in school holidays for my kids.

I work from home. I'm a sales manager for the largest UK telecoms company

Lots of big corporates encourage home working... My DD (2.8) is at nursery full time although I do take advantage of our "flexible working" policy if I want to pick her up early.

I work from home, I'm also a student. I am writing childrens books, I do admin aswell as clothing repairs. The bursary I recieve for my course is tax free, I get tax credits on top of whatever I earn aswell as maintenance. I don't claim housing benefit as I earn too much , I don't pay council tax as I'm a student. I do work stupid hours though, when I'm not in Uni during the week I work, I work when ds is in bed (admin means I get to switch web pages so can come on here ) and I do bits and bobs at the weekend/holidays. I have 60 hour weeks to catch up sometimes, other weeks are less.

I work from home and am a single mum.

I work for an IT company and just connect via VPN to the NHS account I'm looking after at the moment. Nothing I can't do from home.

I do miss the office though and my friends, so I do go into the office every 2 weeks or so.

I love the fact that I can work at my own pace, don't have to wear office clothes, can put a wash on, be there for deliveries, mow the lawn in my lunch hour, that sort of thing!

It does have it's down sides, being lonely, not having someone to bounce ideas off (in IT that's a real disadvantage sometimes).

But it suits me.

Some brilliant posts, doesn't it make you proud?

As OP sorry I didn't reply earlier - SilveryMoon in answer to your quesion I have a few websites that I run (card making/kids/working online). I'm not rich but it pays the bills

Yes, me I work from home selling on eBay as a business seller, I've just started in the last few months but it's going well. I get WTC and HB, otherwise I couldn't do it - I could probably pay all the bills with self employment if I was alone without DS, but it's harder to aggressively grow the business while I've got half an eye on him all the time
He's a toddler and at home all day, so I mix my work around him, do a bit when he is playing but mostly when he is napping or in bed for the night.
His Dad is currently doing stuff all for his son and has just left his well paid job meaning I get no maintenance (funny, that ), so no help from that quarter either...

Hi all,
I saw really inspiring posts here.
My friend wants to be self employed too.
But she doesn't know how to do it.
She is on state benefits now- she has a child- and wants to come off it if she can.
She doesn't know how to start.
She thinks when she starts as self employed with very little income at first, she can't manage to live on that and later on her earnings will be quite irregular.
She doesn't know what and how much help she can get if she applies to be self employed.
What can she do?
Thank you.

cheerfulvicky - what are you selling? Glad it's going well.

Noraa ... I guess it depends what she thinks of doing/how fast income will come in/what level etc. Can she work a few hours 'self employed' while on benefits, before they stop? Are you allowed to work 16 hours or something?

I'd give the benefits people and tax credits people a ring - the emphasis is on getting us slacker single mums back to work so they should be more than happy to offer help and advice!

These posts are very inspiring

I work from home 3 days a week and do about 2 in the office. It is great as I have flexibilty and the benefits of getting out into the work environment to keep me sane. I am a management consultant

where do u start with wanting to become self employed or working from home?

Could someone point me in the right direction.

uandme - personally, I'd say the first steps are to think about 'you' and research what you could feasibly do from home.

• What do you like doing?
• How much time would you have?
• What past experience/learning/qualifications could you put to good use?
• Do you have money for a small layout if needed (often needed for 'starter packs' and such)
• Are you looking for a quick money, or prepared to look long-term etc.