Money Worries

[Absha]

I need some advice please!

I’m a married mum of two toddlers living in remote Devon.

My husband’s the main bread winner (on a decent salary) but he’s just been made redundant.
I’ve worked nights at a supermarket for the last 18 months but obviously don’t earn a great deal.

Our two children are preschoolers but we send them to nursery two days a week.

My husband has been trying to find another job for months now but hasn’t had any luck.
The area we live in is very remote with not much around.

Can anyone suggest a career/job for a struggling family?
Life is depressing and we’re struggling big time.

Can you do more hours running up to Christmas?

Amazon and online banks havw wfh customer service roles. Not sure how long it takes to get onboarded, but it's at least something?

what are your dh’s qualifications etc? What industry did he work in?
what’s your nearest big towns/cities and what are the commute times?

That's difficult. I have a friend who moved to the south west, and not even a remote part of it, for family reasons years ago and he's always struggled for work. He had to work away a lot.

Unfortunately I would seriously consider whether you can move. Or can DH work away in the week if there's opportunities he's qualified for in other areas of the country?

Otherwise you're struggling in rural poverty with high housing and utility costs and a lack of decent work opportunities.

Other things to consider is if one or both of you can get a fully or mostly WFH job or retrain.

Or can you work for yourselves? Childminding? Tourism - supplying or cleaning holiday accommodation? But that all obviously depends on your housing situation, if you have any money behind you and skills and attributes.

Hey OP, just giving a bump.

What did DH do before? Or yourself before the kids. Does that translate to anything online?

what's his background and experience in? Or are you looking for something for yourself as well?

Hi everyone sorry for delay in responding!

To answer all your questions.

DH is a construction procurement manager. The construction industry at the moment is dire and no one is hiring.

Our nearest big city is Exeter and that’s an hour and a half commute each way which is doable.
We’ve been looking for hybrid/remote roles but haven’t had any luck.

Like my husband I was a construction procurement manager before having kids. I struggled to get back into the industry which is another reason I’m stuck doing supermarket work.

I’ve obviously put my name down for all the over time going but there’s none available until December.

Try south west water or find out who their construction delivery partners are. That industry is definitely not dead!!

Try the Universities - lots of hybrid work and if you're able to start at entry level there are jobs kicking around in customer service type roles.

Bridgwater has tons of construction going on at the moment. Realise it’s a bit further but there is work

The construction industry is not dire….there are desperate shortages. The issue is you live in a very remote area so finding work is always going to be a challenge.

Could he work days in the supermarket?