Anyone do unskilled PT work? (supermarket/catering/clerical work etc)

[lechatnoir]

I'm facing redundancy & am trying to work out whether I could afford to forget my 'career' for a few years and find a local PT job that I could work around DH/school/family childcare - so maybe 2 or 3 days plus the odd evening/weekend? The obvious is a supermarket job but I've no idea whether it would pay enough or how flexible they are with regard hours, overtime etc and whether switching jobs like this is really worth the sacrifice (ie less money but more time at home)
Has anyone else done this sort of move?
LCN

I sort of did this. Not a 'professional' career or anything but i managed a hair salon. I got a job with a large DIY chain, worked 25 hrs, evenings and alternate weekends for over 3 years. It was hard but worked for us.
Money is rubbish in retail, though i have worked up a few pay scales now. I think i brought home around 650 - 800 after tax when i started, that was 25 hours p/w. The only childcare i paid out was babysitter for an hour or so a couple days per week in between me starting work and husband finishing.

My dd started school in september i have gone up to 30 hours. The most i pay out in childcare is £10 a week, the odd breakfast club or hour with a babysitter. I bring in around £1000 month and have a family life back. Wouldnt change a thing :o) I know i'm not having any more children and wanted to spend as much time as i could with dd. It worked brilliantly for us.

A friend recently applied for part time supermarket job, they would not budge from doing every weekend which she refused, (never see husband!) in my experience most supermarket jobs want you in at weekends. She was prepared to do alternate or sat or sun, but they wanted every sat and sun.

Unfortunately the main times they will want you to work in retail or supermarkets will be their busiest times eg when most people aren't working, same with things like bar/restaurant work. Banks are a good option as they are usually flexible on days and don't expect as much overtime (and usually only open Saturday's not Sunday's as well). Most jobs like this will pay between £6-7 an hour. If you don't mind evenings, restaurant work means you will earn tips on top of this?