Making money as a parent

[user1466239460]

Hello all!

How is everyone getting on with the summer hols

So I currently work in Education (admin) I work 25 hours, do the morning drop off and afternoon pick up and I only work term time. It is a fantastic job, money is ok but not enough to live off. My husband is the primary earner.

I want to start earning/making extra money so that we can save up for a deposit and get a mortgage. At the moment all our money goes on rent, bills, kids. At the end of the month there is nothing to put aside for savings

So what I would love to talk about, hear about is any ideas on how to make some extra income?

Obviously, first idea is to get a full-time job/proper career but this is just not feasible as child care is just too expensive and we have no family support for longterm reliable childcare. At the moment my job is just right in terms of hours and school holidays.

What else can I do? Love to hear from any parents who have any money earning/making ideas

Hi! Im in the same situation. I return to work next week from being on maternity and im bar staff so im on minimum wage which doesnt help. I struggle with paying the food bills as it is. We managed to get a mortgage by moving to essex (from London) as it was cheaper and used the help to by scheme which went it our favour for being accepted for buying. I have no mo ney left to spare at all at the end of the month however i have been looking into doing my own stall selling kids things at a car boot along with other stuff as a starting point. I have also looked for basic jobs such as dog sitting/walking and some people will pay up to £300 for one night! Or even babysitting as a one off - there are always these kinda jobs around but it obvs has to fit in with your times that suit you but worth a look i suppose, i hope you get back on your feet soon!

You have said that childcare is too expensive , but certainly where I live before School clubs at schools are very reasonable ( about £2 per day), and after school clubs not much worse, so depending on what time your partner starts work that offers a way to get to full time hours ?

I work full time hours starting early but this means I manage to do school pickups then in summer holidays etc we just very carefully split annual leave and accept that for a few weeks of the holidays we have to pay for holiday clubs etc which make those weeks less financially sensible, but they are the exception.

Obviously you may not want to use that kind of childcare but I'm approaching as a financial question , not a how you want to parent question.

Hi, yes I have also looked at dog walking ect. There is definitely some money to be made. I will look into this a bit more but also finding the extra time to do this can be difficult as I am already stretched as it is :( Hope all goes well with you too x

School clubs in my area are £10 per child for the morning sessions and the £40 per child for after school. I am a mum of two and this is too expensive. Most of my salary would go towards childcare. And then £250 per week per child over the summer hols :O totally outrageous!

What about ironing? You could do it in the evenings. Erm... paid surveys, mystery shopper, bar work 2 nights a week, slimming world consultant, do a course to do acrylic nails or lashes, babysitting, cleaning?

Also do a budget and see if there's anything you can do to reduce your outgoings e.g. Utilities all on the cheapest deal, do you make lunches or buy them etc. Money saving expert website is really good for this stuff

I work in a supermarket, 6pm to 10pm, 4 nights a week. It means I'm still able to take DS to school and back and have half terms (day time) free as childcare is too expensive and we have no family nearby.

I think it's great that you work in a school-good hours and convenient! It is definitely a job worth holding in to. However, I do understand the low pay and is it pro-rata?

I am a home carer, so minimum wage, but very rewarding. I work during the day term time only, and always at evenings and weekends.

I am unable to work during the day at school holidays, as like you, cannot afford childcare and have no parents to help with childcare.

Could you become a home carer, maybe just an evening or 2 a week, as you do quite a lot of hours already? Perhaps do more evening/weekend calls in the holidays?

Other sources of income-perhaps sell on E-Bay or do surveys online, as you can do this with the children around?

Well done you though-it's not easy!