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Original poster

Anyone work nights and look after children in the day?

34 replies

IntergalEGGticWalrus · 29/03/2007 08:36

I know I have posted about this before, but I really have to go and get a job of some sort. We are slowly sinking into a financial mess, because we can't afford all our bills etc on DPs wage alone

I am thinking of doing 2 or 3 nightrs a week, just so I can take the pressure off DP, but he says no because it'll do me in.

I know it will be hard work, but I really can't see anyway around it. I have tried the work from home selling kiddies books thing, which I was crap at, and I have been teching the cello, but I can't magic pupils from thin air unfortunately.

I need to do something which doesn't involve childcare in any way shape or form, as nurseries/childminders round here are v expensive and I probably wouldn't earn enough to cover the fees.

So, the only thing I can think of is nights. Is it possible? Will it kill me?

In more morbid moments, I have even thought about doing myself in so that DP and the boys can cash in my life insurance (I know it doesn't work like that, but it illustrates my desperation)

OP posts:

SherlockLGJ · 29/03/2007 08:37

Oh darling.......

And i don't do this very often on here {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ HUGS }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

happybiggirl · 29/03/2007 08:37

Message withdrawn

happybiggirl · 29/03/2007 08:38

Message withdrawn

SherlockLGJ · 29/03/2007 08:38

Do you have a big Sainsbury's near you ?

Tortington · 29/03/2007 08:39

much sympathy i have been there so hugs and more hugs i know exactly what you mean re life insurance.

in fact i've thought of pushing mi mother down stairs

supermarkets do evenings.

start small don't go straight into 12 hour night shifts.

some do shelf stacking through the night.

other crappy night jobs include security guard.

pay is shite but with the right work mate and the right site - you m iht get to sleep some of your shift.

Original poster

IntergalEGGticWalrus · 29/03/2007 08:42

There;s a big Asda and a sainsbos locally.

I can't do weekends either, as that's when I generally do most of my teaching, and I don;t want to give that up, as it's good money (just need more of it!)

Boys are 2.3 and 7 months

OP posts:

Cloudhopper · 29/03/2007 08:42

I would say evenings would be better than nights per se. The people I know who actually work overnight have childcare during the day so they can sleep.

However, you could work evening shifts, say 6pm till 11/12?

I imagine it would be tiring though - going to work after a day looking after the children.

Where do you live? I used to play the cello but gave up years ago. I would love to learn again and have visions of sharing lessons with my daughters. Does that sound feasible? (oldest one is 3 1/2 - is that too young?

dejags · 29/03/2007 08:43

I know a friend who used to work evenings for a large insurance company (in their call centre). She worked 6-11, the pay wasn't marvellous, but was a great boost to the household income. She also had the option of working weekends (Sat am) if she felt she could.

Cloudhopper · 29/03/2007 08:44

True dejags. When I was a student I used to work evenings in a call centre for a bookmakers. It was quite interesting taking the different bets, and the pay was okay. Plus the advantage of a job where you aren't on your feet if you have been looking after children during the day.

Original poster

IntergalEGGticWalrus · 29/03/2007 08:46

I live in Bath, cloudhopper (hence the extortionate cost of living) I'd be happy to teach you if you are local

Evenings would work, but I wouldn't be able to do anything until 8pmish, because DP doesn't get back from work until 6.30-7pm

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anorak · 29/03/2007 08:46

When my girls were little I worked nights cleaning in a big city bank just for a few weeks when times were tough.

I had a friend living in my house who minded them overnight for me.

It was very hard work for minimum rate pay and extremely boring. I put up with it until the boss started nitpicking and then I told him that it wasn't worth £4 an hour to be treated like shit.

Doing it 5 nights a week I had to send the girls to their father for a night midweek to catch up my sleep. School run only left me about 5 1/2 hours to sleep.

It was slave labour but it got me through a tough patch.

chopchopbusybusy · 29/03/2007 08:46

Agree with Cloudhopper, if you can do evenings it would be a lot better than staying up all night and then trying to look after the boys in the day. Are there any call centres in the area eg banking, insurance, utilities etc. Or obviously as others have mentioned supermarket work. Good luck.

chopchopbusybusy · 29/03/2007 08:49

Cross posts - I'm just too slow at typing

Evening babysitting? I know it doesn't pay a lot but it's not exactly difficult and you choose which bookings to accept.

Cloudhopper · 29/03/2007 08:50

Doh - I live in London.

But lucky you living somewhere so nice, but that the cost of living must be really high.

Original poster

IntergalEGGticWalrus · 29/03/2007 08:52

God, DP wpuld go mental if I gor a night job. Or evenings for that matter.

I'm not stoked abiut it myself tbh.

Nevermind. Needs must and all that.....

So, where do I look for night jobs? The local paper only list masseuse and chat line workers for the hours I need.

I'm too minging to ne a masseuse and too harsh to be a chat libne worker (I'd call them all sad fuckers and get sacked within a week)

OP posts:

CadburyCremeSquonk · 29/03/2007 08:54

Can you see if there are any early morning cleaning jobs? I know it's not the height of sophistication, but a lot of offices like the cleaners to come it at 5ish in the morning and be gone by about 7.30 or 8. Would that give you time to get home before dh goes to work?

norkmaiden · 29/03/2007 08:54

is anything like childminding possible?? so you can work from home, in the day. the overnight job thing sounds v v hard - you have my respect!

tortoiseSHELL · 29/03/2007 08:55

Intergalacticwalrus - would your preference be to have more cello pupils? Are you in London? Could you try and link up with a primary school, health visitors (sounds mad, but my HV has my number to people asking about piano teachers), local music shops - I've had a few enquiries via the music shops, local music colleges, asking your existing pupils to spread the word etc.....

Lots of my pupils come from the same primary school, which seems to then produce more pupils. Are you on the council peripatetic scheme? Is there a local youth orchestra you could help with (beginner strings or something like that?), which gets you known to lots of parents who may have a younger child who wants to learn cello but they don't know a teacher...

I'm sure you've thought of all that, just some ideas I've used. xxx

lizziemun · 29/03/2007 08:57

My aunt did when her children were young (still does it now).

She works in tesco from 9pm to 4.30am, thursday night to tuesday.

She had to as my uncle was setting up his own business and they could not afford childcare.

Original poster

IntergalEGGticWalrus · 29/03/2007 08:58

I do quite a bit of advertising locally etc, but I need some extra money asap. You have given me some excellent ideas though, TS. Thank you.

OP posts:

saralou100 · 29/03/2007 09:00

i know someone who works nights, full time and doesn't have chilcare.

she sleeps at work on the desk which as you can imagine is peeing everyone off... she complains all the time she's tired and regularly phones in sick with little warning!

she's also constantly late 'cause she has a sleep when her dh gets in and always wakes last minute or late!

since she's been doing this she's fallen out with everyone and is a complete nightmare to work with!!

Bellie · 29/03/2007 09:00

What about taking ironing in for people? Something you could fit around the children and cash in hand probably?

Original poster

IntergalEGGticWalrus · 29/03/2007 09:04

that doesn't sound good sarahlou, I'm already a snappy bag of hormones as it is.

Anyone want to be the getaway if I do a bank job?

I think I'm going to have to look at shelf stacking, as it seems the hours fit in better than anythin else. (ear;y mornings are out a) because DP goes to work at 7 30, and I wouldn't get back in time, and b) because I am shite in the mornings)

OP posts:

saralou100 · 29/03/2007 09:17

oh no, she's horrible now and never used to be (i used to love her as a friend.. we don't even talk now)

and i don't think it would help your situation at all!!

i'll drive... whats the split

money problems suck (yesterday spent crying due to lack of money to pay bills, so i get what your going through)

Original poster

IntergalEGGticWalrus · 29/03/2007 09:22

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