Earn some money!!

I have a baby daughter and am trying to find ways of combining work with caring for her. I don’ t need to earn a lot – about £100 per week would do, but I must be able to fit it around her to avoid childcare costs.

I have reduced bills, mortgage etc as much as possible. I get a small amount of child tax credit, but my partner earns too much to get anything more (though not enough for me not to work at all!).

Has anyone any suggestions???

[Fran]

Mary -

I would suggest you visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau with yours and partner's income details. They will be able to check whether you are getting all the benefits that you may be entitled to. Is your partner receiving Working Tax Credit for example? Also have you received all possible benefit to do with your baby? C.A.B. will also be able to do a Tax Credit calculation to make sure that the amount you are receiving is correct. If you get work you could apply for the childcare element of Child Tax Credit (the only problem with this is that there may be a time delay between applying and receiving it).

Thanks for reply Fran. I may try CAB, but I am pretty sure we get what little we are entitiled to. Partner earns too much for Working Tax Credit, and until (and unless!) I have 3 children we won't be entitled to the child care element.
However, you're right I should check this out with someone who understands the system properly.

Basically I don't want to go back to work full-time in order to pay extortionate rates for childcare when I'd rather look after the littlun myself!!

[Fran]

Mary -

I would be surprised if you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit as the upper limit is quite high (a few thousand per year) - I would check it -

Have a look at this website for Tax Credit info:-
Citizens Advice Website (http://www.adviceguide.org.uk)

Also - Tax Credits Online (https://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/HomeIR.aspx)

[kaznelson]

Hi, Have you ever thought of delivery catalogues (IKEA) or publications (Yellow Pages) ?

Ive seen a few of these adverts recently in my local press and seems a nice little side line.

And you and the little one could enjoy the fresh air!! (if you delivery locally)

[aliasojo]

Small word of warning, I too was looking for a way to make extra cash a couple of years ago and I signed up to deliver the Yellow Pages.

The directories are so heavy, you can only carry a few at a time which means you have to keep getting back in your car to drive fairly short distances. I took my young daughter along with me too but I quickly realised that was a bad idea. She either had to stay strapped in her car seat for ages or she had to be constantly strapped in and out every 10 minutes. Quite a few houses I had to go to had long driveways/steep steps/mad dogs and it wasn't much fun with her in tow. She quickly became tired and scared of the dogs so I ended up taking her home, getting a babysitter and going back out.

Although the extra cash was welcome, it was very long, tiring, hard work and maybe more suitable for someone without a child to consider?

[Plumpud]

Having delivered the Yellow Pages 2 years ago, I can vouch for what the person above said. By the time I took out my petrol expenses, I earned less than £2.00 an hour!!! I did enjoy the work, I was fortunate that the weather was quite good. Yellow Pages come out once a year - in our area at the end of March. You only have a short time to deliver them in. The distribution is actually handled by the same company that dishes out the Phone Book and Thompson Directory. Once they have your phone number they never stop phoning you, offering more work.

I don't think Ikea deliver catalogues anymore, as it is now on-line. We did have a Christmas booklet from them, but I think that came with the free paper.

You could try appyling to be a co-ordinator for Yellow Pages. When I did my delivering, I had quite a chat to my co-ordinator. They have a lot to do over the 3 weeks that the books are actually going out, but the get paid so much a week through the year to oversee an area. I think he told me £50+. During the rest of the year, they just go out and deliver the odd Yellow Pages if someone contacts Yellow Pages to say they haven't got a copy.

The website that covers it is http://www.ddc.co.uk/

Of course there are cleaning jobs, but they pay poorly, usually the national minimum wage. Evening jobs such as pub work or restaurants, so your partner could look after your child. This doesn't work if your partner works shifts, long or irregular hours, or has to go on business trips. Again these usually only pay the national minimum wage and you usually only get the minimum amount of leave.

My best friend actually got a job with Asda, working evenings. Supermarkets are generally quite good employers. Asda is particularly flexible. If she can't work one of her shifts, she just has to find someone to swap with, and she's never had a problem finding someone to swap. She enjoys working for them so much, that when she moved 35 miles, she swapped stores. With supermarkets you also get the staff discount after a short period too. I've known people who have worked for Sainsburys and Waitrose who have really enjoyed it. My Sister-in-law worked for Tesco and hated it, but that might just be the local store (or her!).

You could onsider working in a childrens nursery, as you would be able to take your child with you (most nurseries let you as they are desperate for staff). My Sister-in-law is the manager of a local nursery. They will take you without qualifications, but again the pay and leave is poor.

Have you considered the most obvious - becoming a Childminder? Ask your Health Visitor for more details. Most areas are desperately short of Childminders because alot of them gave up when they came under Ofsted (instead of the local Social Services), about 3 years ago. It can be quite flexible as you are self-employed, but the pay can be variable. A good tip is to get a list of Childminders in your area, phone them up as a prospective client and find out how much they charge and what facilities they offer. It is quite good if you like other peoples' kids, not so good if you don't ;D

I hope you find something, but don't end up stuffing envelopes or packing screws. Very soul destroying.

Of course you could set up a business selling items on eBay. Might be worth considering. :) :)

I would love to have the details how to do this. I paid £40 for an information pack to do this and then a further £33 to access the web site addresses but they were all american companies any help would be appreciated Thanks Amanda

[Travelqueen]

I was going to suggest the same as the person above - childminding. You can do this in your own home also if you get registered by the council. Think you have to do a GNVQ but you can study for this at home. You can also continue once your child is old enough to go to school, and even become an 'after school minder' for you local primary for eg. covering the time-period between the end of school and the end of work. I know that, as above, most locations are desperately short of registered child minders, and some parents have to travel miles to find one. However, it makes more financial sense to set up as an independent than work for someone else as they pay peanuts since generally the people in these positions have the qualifications but little experience, once they do they set up on their own and employ other people and so on.

Hope you find something anyway, and if I think of anything else I'll pass it on!

TQ

[cyberpig]

Saw Waitrose mentioned earlier and thought I would add my twopeneth.

Yes they are a good employer and part of the Johnlewis partnership.

Staff discount in Waitrose 12% and Johnlewis 12% then 25% at JL after 3 yrs service (but not electrical and some others)

Annual bonus related to profit, over the last 10 years has ranged between 8%and 24% of total earnings

Quite a few people sign up for a few hours per week and top up with extra hours as and when it fits in with their lifestyle.

Of course this is no help if no Waitrose nearby !

[KK]

Have you thought of Phoenix Cards - they are beautiful cards that people sell from home (a bit like Avon or Virgin Vie products where you have a party and sell your products). I know several people who sell them and run rather nice little businesses. They take their cards along to playgroups and fetes and fayres and then hand out catalogues to everyone they know. They are excellent prices and quality. There is actually a homeworking forum for ideas if you are interested. They also sell wrapping paper, invites and thank you cards. And it would be as flexible as you would like it to be. Good luck

[Saint_Chris]

Ever thought about selling Avon. I do it now for a bit of fun. You get a territory which is yours to deliver and collect brochures, you could even take the baby in the pram. You will make a lot of friends along the way. I have been doing it for over 18 years.

[angelofabundance]

Please consider the childminding option. Things have moved on a lot in the last few years and childminders are working hard at being recognised as the professionals they are.
I am aware of childminders who use the time when their own children are small to gain childcare qualifications (via the childminding) and then when their own children are at school have the flexibility of either continuing working at home as a childminder or can go to work in a nursery, pre-school or after school club.
Once you are registered you can become an accredited childminder and qualify for government funds (so the parents don't have to pay you) this is what used to be called the 'voucher' money in pre-schools.
If you want a little reading about child development ring 01787 884444 and ask for Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage (covers age 3 - 5) and also ask them for "Birth to 3 matters" (covers just that) . I'm not sure if they do Birth to 3 matters but if it's not them they will be able to tell you where to get them from. Both are written for Childcare Practitioners but I think are a great resource for parents. I think they are free for people working in the childcare field.
To find out about childminding contact your local childcare information service.
Although it's unusual I have recently met someone earning more than £1500 per month childminding.
All these options fit very well with bringing up your own children.
It's great for your children too, they learn how to socialise, share and make friends easily. All lifelong useful skills.

[NigeWick]

You may get some ideas at http://www.homeworking.com/

I do a bit of mystery shopping and there are other people who do it at http://mysteryshoppersuk.com/
and referral marketing.

Nigel.

[stardoman]

I also mystery shop. However, I think it would be very difficult to regularly earn £100 per week. I've been doing it for 6 months now and my best month so far was February and I earnt only £160 the whole month. For April, I've only got 7 jobs lined up and this will earn me less than £50. Mystery shopping is great as a sideline and the perks can be good, but if you need to regularly earn £400 per month I don't think mystery shopping is the answer.

I combine mystery shopping with the other suggestion on this thread - I'm a registered childminder. It took nearly 7 months for my registration to come through. As with any business, it can take a while to become established, so don't expect lots overnight. Business link may be able to give you £50 a week for the first 6 months you operate your business, so its a good place to contact once you've started the registration process.

HTH. Mandy.

[Pooky]

The childminding route is a good one - mind you - does take a while to get registered.

I started the process in September of last year and have only just completed everything. You have to attend a course - normally over 3 days, at the end of the course you have to submit a written assignment, you need to complete a pediatric first aid course and have criminal records checks for anyone over 16 in your house. OFSTED will then come out and do a home check, not as daunting as it sounds, but they will check the ins and outs of everything and have a poke about in your cupboards, but if you've got a young one already, chances are that you'll have cupboard locks, stair gates etc. Once they've been they register you for a certain amount of children, depending on the space you have available. You can then apply for a start up grant - depending on the area its between £300 and £600. The NCMA (National childmining assoc.) take out a years membership, your liability insurance and a few other bits from this amount and you have to submit receipts for stuff you've had to spend out on to get the rest of the money....this does mean you can get some new toys, high chair, travel cots, pushchairs etc.

You'll have to register as self employed and keep your books up to date and OFSTED can come and check all your child records at any time.

I wanted something to do from home and after seeing my friend do this and see the enjoyment and money she gets from it, I realised it was worth a go.

I aim to be working part time and should earn around £10k, lots of tax advantages for working from home too.

If you phone the NCMA they will let you know about an induction course in your area where you can go along for a couple of hours and get some info.

Feel free to pm me if you want any more info. :)

[katglasgow]

Thanks for this Nigel. I have been wanting to enquire about mystery shopping for a while now, but somehow keep forgetting.

[swampytiggaa]

i was in the same sort of position as you and i registered as a childminder :D i currently look after one little boy and also supplement my money by working part time at my local tesco [who by the way have been fab to work for - very accomodating when i had to change my hours recently]

between the two jobs [and child benefit for 3 children] i can contribute £400 a month to the joint account - as well as saving each month to cover car tax/insurance/mot etc and i pay for the phone/tv/internet package out of *my* money too :D

has worked for us...... and is worth thinking about

[Sarahsaver]

If your husband earns an amount where you cannot get any more tax credit, are you SURE you need to work? Have you cut down spending in all areas? What about ebay selling? I know someone who does Body Shop parties and they pay her well.
I have recently become self-employed and the tax credits are very favourable to people setting up this way. You would get 70% of childcare costs paid if you needed to use childcare.

[Glad]

I just want to point out that the original query and answers were posted last July,
for some reason the thread was then posted on again after 7 months !!
and people are still posting answers even though the OP was a guest and has not posted on the thread since the 12th July.
Although peoples advice may be helpful to others, I wanted to say that giving specific advice to the OP may not be http://img.moneysavingexpert.com/icons/icon7.gif