What WFH job Can I do in these circumstances?

[NotAllTimsWearCapes]

First of all I will say I know this is a big ask and I’m not holding out much hope but I figured it’s worth asking incase there is something I can do.

Situation is lone parent of two, Dad not involved at all. No family for providing childcare. youngest in primary school has SEN and long term medical issues meaning I can be called to school to collect at any time of the day. (His issues aren’t enough for him to qualify for DLA or me for carers allowance.) He also has lots of appointments, some weekly at the same time each week and some are monthly/six monthly or as and when he needs them. I left my last job as I just wasn’t a reliable employee. I regularly had to leave mid shift to go to the school and somedays I didn’t even get into work. It wasn’t fair on my employers so I left. I have been working part time as a self employed cleaner during school hours since then however I’m still letting people down when I have to rush off to deal with DS or cancel work because of an appointment. I feel terrible and like I’m totally useless.

So based on that are there any jobs I can do from home where it doesn’t matter if I stop working suddenly and rush off for an hour or two and can work around appointments. I can’t do childminding or take in a lodger. I have no computer skills or extra languages. I have no degree and can’t attend university for the same reasons I can’t take an employed job. Previous jobs were all retail /customer services jobs. I have a car and clean license, clear criminal record, can work with DC here but it would be unpredictable due to his needs. Can work day, evenings, late nights and weekends- just not out of the house in the evenings and weekends as will have Dc when not in school. I live in a town about an hour from nearest city. Two hours in rush hour.

It feels pretty hopeless tbh but I really want to be able to work properly. I hate letting people down all the time. If anyone has any suggestions I’m listening! TIA.

MY DS has just got a job delivering Yellow Pages.

They pay a fixed rate for a set route. You need a car but can complete the deliveries at a time that suits you, within a set period.

I know some people have had success with bulk buying from China and then selling on eBay. You have to find your niche though, and have storage space.

Thanks both!

extinct that’s sounds like it could work!

scared I had looked at drop shopping but it all seemed a bit scary and too easy to lose money or be scammed.

How feasible is it for you to work when your DC are at home, particularly the one with SEN - would you be able to concentrate, or would you be constantly interrupted / needing to keep an eye on them for safety?

I wouldnt be able to conduct a phonecall or Skype call but could work in the same room as him as long as it didn’t matter to the work if I needed to pause to deal with him.

You say no computer skills, but what does that mean - can you use email, do research (using internet)? How's your English (written, grammar, etc)? Do you need regular set money or are you happy/ okay with more ad hoc (freelance) type income?

Yes I can write emails and use the internet but have no experience of using MSoffice for example. I couldn’t do a spreadsheet. I think my written English is good. Income wise I’d be happy with anything at all right now.

Could you retrain into something like bookkeeping?

I have had a few WFH jobs - advertising sales, online research, PA work etc.

Would I have to work in an accountants in order to get qualified/experience as a bookkeeper?

I was thinking of bookkeeping but you’d need excel knowledge or knowledge of bookkeeping software like sage or xero etc. There’s nothing stopping you from going to library and gettting a guide on how to use any software.

Bookkeeping is simple, but experience matters really so whilst you could easily do it from home in the circumstances you describe I don’t think you could just set yourself up tomorrow.

Locally there are courses run by Local Authority where you can learn Sage accounting programme which might be a starting point for book keeping. You might find a small book keeper/accountant who could use you from home at busy times?
You might be able to get support to learn MS Office which would give you more options.
Carrying on the delivery theme, round here there are a couple of magazines which are delivered door to door and delivery is paid for. They seem to cover the rural villages rather than the towns.

I can write emails and use the internet but have no experience of using MSoffice for example. I couldn’t do a spreadsheet.

But if you had to learn new software, presumably you are capable of it, if you try?

Indexing? Kind of a random idea , but I thought of it because I have occasionally wondered about learning to index. I’m already an editorial freelancer though, so I use software of various types a lot and have publishing contacts ... so it is a more obvious step for me than it would be for you. But that’s not to say it wouldn’t be worth looking into for you, if you’re really motivated to find flexible work. I think in some ways it’s more specific and specialised than copy-editing or proofreading. It certainly wouldn’t make you rich, but fwiw here is a link:

www.indexers.org.uk/about-indexing/a-career-in-indexing/

You can study at home at times that suit you through the OU.
You could also try teaching yourself Excel etc.

How about transcription? I have a friend who does that from home, seems nice and flexible.

How does one do a pm on the mobile version?

But if you had to learn new software, presumably you are capable of it, if you try?

Yes I would just need some pointers in the right direction for what is worth learning to do and also not very pricey to do. Thank you for the indexing pointer! I’ve never heard of it. Will have a good look.

In terms of teaching myself excel is it pretty simple or will I need a course?

Fostering or respite care ? Could that be option?

Sorry to beclear, could that be something you could do?

Matched betting? There's a whole thread all about it somewhere. You might need some very basic excel stuff to track effectively but pretty sure that wouldn't take too long to pick up.

Excel - lots of (free) tutorials online.

Unfortunately fostering or respite care wouldn’t be an option. DS’s issues mean he would find that very hard and would mean I couldnt give him or a foster child the attention they needed fully.

I’m a bit wary of matched betting. It’s one of those “sounds too good to be true” things. Also, how much money would I need to lock away to make anything?

Could you take in laundry / ironing?

Excel is simple to get to grips with initially, but a short course would help you get the most from it

Would it be worth looking at cleaning again? Good cleaners are not easy to find, and some people/families might not mind at all when you clean, especially if they work all week, if you are upfront about the reasons and that you may not be able to do the same day every week etc. Or housekeeping/non-office PA; doing all the organising and support that a person or household needs. You may need to offer lower rates for the flexibility, but it may be worth it; I work for a flexible employer and have taken a fair salary cut to do so.

Thanks olenna I have no Tumble drier so couldn’t take in laundry but ironing I could do.

I am still cleaning and have my regular clients. Ideally I would love to take on more and increase my hours as I do enjoy it but I know I will inevitably be messing people around and I hate it. I regularly have to cancel work or rearrange and I hate having to make that call or text as I’m sure people are rolling their eyes and I keep expecting to be let go. It has happened already with a couple of previous clients. I can’t blame them.