Frustrated at being poor!

[BubblesPip]

I'm a single mum of a year old, no support from the Dad. I'm a nurse and currently work 3 nights a fortnight as that's all I can do due to childcare (rely heavily on my mum). I cant afford nursery and it's pointless anyway as most work for nurses is 8 til 8, not 9-5.
I'm just here to rant really as I'm fed up of being poor, yet not being able to work.
I've even considered dog sitting, for a little extra pocket money. I have about £50 for the month to feed us both. It's so tough being a single parent.

What about walking a child to school and picking them up? This is the kind of thing that a neighbour might want. As a nurse you'd be trusted. Maybe even picking up a child that has a medical condition?

Mosaic - I really like that idea, I'd be more than happy to do school runs etc. But where on earth would I advertise those services?

1. send a CV to your local Primary School explaining what you can offer.

2. Contact local childminders ( I think local councils have lists of registered childminders?).

3. Small poster on the noticeboard of your local supermarket noticeboard.

Potential clients of yours need to be able to check that you are a real nurse. Is there some kind of registration number?*explsin how to check in your poster/CV/Letter.

It would depend on the dog. My daughters child minder had loads of dogs, hubby was a police dog handler, I didn’t have an issue with it, they were completely safe round kids, but it depends on the dog and the parent.

As for space, you don’t need it.

Childcare.co.uk lets you create a profile to offer /look for childcare positions. .
For free for the basic account. .

The problem with walking children to school is that none of the parents will be able to claim any help ( tax credits etc) towards what they have to pay you as you are not a registered childminder.

Nothing to stop you registering as a childminder of course although I think there is quite a bit of bureaucracy to deal with.

When DD was five and I was commuting to London, I paid a parent at DD's school to look after her from 7am and take her to school. I think I paid £10 a day, 15 years ago and it was well worth it for me. I approached the school and asked if they knew of anyone who could help (I was newly back in the UK and didn't know any parents). Definitely try it.

My friend rents a room for three nights only as he commutes so far for work. There is a tax incentive as well in renting out a room, I can't remember the actual amount you can earn tax free. If you live in an area that has a University quite a few academics do this. I knew at least two in my dept alone did this, they will literally want a room for two or three nights only. They will also tend to work ridiculously long hours while lodging. The friend currently doing this pays £25 a night, it includes a help himself to tea and coffee whenever and toast in morning.

A better hourly rate is nursing. What about a part time school nurse or community nurse position? Or taking bloods while your child is having free 15 hours better to use your skill.

if your youngest can have 15 free hours, then look into nurse home visits.

Absolutely no idea if this is legal but could you do private, in home nursing?

long term look at working in a department like the OR or hemodialysis unit where there are more day shifts (child friendly hours).
if not at the bachelors degree level go online and upgrade (or masters if you have your degree) again to help with future child friendly times.
i'm not in the uk but I told the float pool when I was available (ex ONLY Saturday evenings). Insurance companies sometimes hire nurses as does the red cross.