Struggling to make ends meet

[Giraffe14]

The cost of living is really stretching me too thin, I've been scraping by for the last year but now with savings depleted it's really getting me down. I've re-budgeted, checked I'm claiming all the benefits I am entitled to and cut back on every thing I possibly can. I work full time Monday to Friday but I am wondering if anyone has second jobs that they do in the evenings after 5pm that they would recommend. I need to increase my income by about £200 a month. I'm losing sleep worrying about not getting by and not having a rainy day fund for if something was to go wrong with my car , boiler or home and just generally feeling like a failure 😞

Are you getting any benefits?
If you are, make sure you are on a social tariff for broadband. You may also be entitled to lower water rate tariff.
What are your family circumstances?

Sensee is a work from home call centre job, haven’t worked for them myself but know people who have and it’s pretty flexible hours wise so may be good for you.

Sorry you are struggling, it's a rubbish position to be in.

What skills and experience do you have? Do you live in a town or more rurally? This will make a difference.

A second job is most likely to be the most lucrative option quickly- something in hospitality would bring this in per month. You could sign up through a temping agency, there always seem to be a lot of adverts for this type of work in my city.

Alternatively, a friend does babysitting a couple of weekend nights per month, which seems to work well for her.

Also, have you looked at the money saving expert website- you might find some helpful tips there?

Edit to add- OP, you are not a failure. Costs have gone up a lot and a lot of people are in the same position as you sadly.

Could you do website chat moderation? Or something else online so you don't have to go out again. Or bar work or cleaning. But of you get too exhausted you could end up off sick and earning nothing. Could you go for promotion?

So many people must be in this situation. Can you use a foodbank or is The Bread and Butter scheme in your area at all?

Is there any scope for promotion or getting a new job with a pay bump? If at all possible better that than having to work more hours and ending up burned out. Babysitting maybe good option if you can. If you get the right client it's mostly just watching tv!