Help me. Business ideas? Need 1k a month

[HonestFatball]

Longtime MNer, new name for this.

Short story: I need to make money. I lost my job and can’t find another one. Our family home is at stake. I’m terrified. People say those in this position should just work for themselves. But how, in what? I’m desperate for any advice.

Long story: I was made redundant last year. Hundreds of job applications, just one interview that went nowhere. Ive always found a job quickly before and I’ve no idea what to do. I’ve updated my CV for AI scanners, I’ve had it looked at by people in top jobs, I’ve applied to everything from dream roles to part time entry level stuff (yes with different CVs), I’ve looked at retraining. I’m panicking. DH has a job but can’t cover everything on his income. I had decent savings but they run out in a couple months. Then we can’t pay the mortgage (I’ve already had a reduced sum on mortgage for 6 months). I’m looking at losing my house and I’m terrified. I feel like I’ll never be employed again and no idea WTF to do. I’m still applying for jobs, but could I work for myself?

I’m not sure what information to give. Before I was in digital/marketing/product design, I can do any of those. I am not afraid of hard work and have common sense. I don’t really care what I do. I need it to be realistic though (can’t emotionally deal with ‘hope’ only to find it falls flat) and I need it to make money fairly quickly (2 or 3 months max). I need 1k a month to keep my home.

Constraints: no savings to speak of. Don’t drive. Have dyscalculia so terrible with maths, Excel, etc. Would be miserable working evenings/weekends to miss out on family time. Bad at sales. Think that’s it.

Except most people only make a few hundred a month if that (many make significantly less and there is a lot of competition). The headline high incomes are generally earned by women who have high public profiles already and/or who have spent years building up viewers.

It is very unlikely the OP could make a living income in time to save her house.

I think OF is a lot more realistic than many of the ideas here (bus driver?!?!). Most of the other options suggested require time to get started, build up a client base etc. and physically work your arse off to achieve it. While you aren’t wrong in your comments about the top and bottom earners, OP is after a middle ground 1k/mth which is quite achievable quickly if you put the time in.

Care work. I work with adults with learning disabilities as a support worker. It’s good fun pays well and is flexible with hours. As much overtime as I want as well. Worth looking at.

Another vote for setting yourself up as a self employed cleaner. If you are good you will never be short of work. Careful targeting of the right market and you will have clients queueing up in no time

The UK has a shortage for carers and there are many jobs available. Like PP a role in learning disabilities will pay you the £1k and more. It’s so rewarding, but there are also other adults care routes. If you don’t want to do weekends and evenings do it through an agency and you can pick the shifts that you like and say no to the times you don’t want to work.

Yes, it’s so hard to find a reliable cleaner. Are you on any local WhatsApp groups you could advertise on? I think the going rate is £15-20 an hour

If you're certain you've done everything 'right' for the tradional route - including dumbing down your CV if needed, mathing it to the role etc - then i'd try going old school.

Print off 50 CV's and walk into every independent pub, restaurant, shop or other business local to you with a smile on your face and a polite enquiry. It's worth a day of your time and if you walk into somewhere where the person in charge is of an 'old school mindset', you might be lucky.

Try warehouses if you live near any, as they are shifts they pay above minimum wage so even if you needed an Uber you'd make some money and they are pretty much an immediate start as its coming up to Xmas.

I sympathise on not driving, it really limits you. I have epilepsy and job hunting is always a nightmare as so much is ruled out. Best of luck.

Pet sitting and dog walking. Like gold dust around my parts finding availability.

Self employed cleaner/house keeper

My brother has several leaflet dropping rounds and makes around £1500 a month

Wow impressed with the leafleting - how many hours a week is that do you know?

In my area, self employed cleaners get £20 an hour and are much in demand. If you're honest and reliable and able to talk sensibly about how much you can do in a certain time, as well as cleaning to a reasonable standard, it could be quite lucrative. You could start off advertising very locally so you can walk or cycle to jobs.

Someone in our town offers small pet holiday care, hamsters, rabbits, gerbils, ect she also takes them into her home if people are happier with that, she's always busy. Xx

I’m not sure exactly but does go out 5 days a week for most of the day.

After school nannie’s are in demand in my area - decent pay for part time.

Have you tried places like Royal Mail etc as they are all taking extra staff for Christmas? It’s hit and miss with agencies - you just have to keep emailing / calling them.

I do doggie day care and boarding in my home. Just an ordinary house. I make at least £3k a month, more in summer. You need insurance with Cliverton at £160p/a and a licence from the Council, which is super easy to get (they tell you in a leaflet what to do) and that costs £160p/a. I've done this for 13 years. As soon as I started advertising I was bombarded with custom. People don't like kennels. I am busy every day. I love it!