Making an income from home

whatsername

Ok, I know this is a variation on a regular theme, but I'm pretty desperate now and would appreciate any advice.

Brief run through of my situation...I am a single parent, and I home educate my 2 kids. I was on benefit but last year started working part time as a care assistant whilst leaving the kids with my parents. I absolutely adore my job, at which I'm now working 19 hours, including a weekly sleep over, to minimise the amount of 'hands-on' time for my parents with the kids.

The problem is that things are not working out with my parents caring for my kids. We have such different philosophies and it is becoming detrimental. I am almost 28 and only now beginning to recover from the absolute flattening of my confidence and self-esteem caused by my childhood. I still suffer with depression and my self-esteem is rock bottom. Anyway, I digress. I'm not sure why I ever thought my parents looking after my kids would work...it has so far but I have had to bite my tongue one too many times. They are just not prepared to bend or even listen to my perspective and my kids are getting caught up in the middle and suffering for it. I don't want the same damage done to them as was done to me.

So now, what do I do? Because of the hours and the ages of my kids, it would be next to impossible to find childcare, aside from which, I couldn't afford it. I thought about trying to find someone else in a similar position and trying to make some kind of reciprocal childcare arrangement, but this would also be really tough, too many variables! I have no friends who would be in a position to help me out because of their own circumstances.

I really enjoy my job and don't want to give it up, but at this stage I see very little option. I really think that at this age, and having been controlled all my life, it is time to step away and say enough is enough - I don't want to be dependent on my parents any more.

So, my question is, what real jobs could I train for to do at home? I do a lot of the daily clicks, cashback, etc, but I'm thinking of a real, livable income? I started on the chatlines, and that is probably something I can increase, but it's not going to be enough to earn sufficient to live on.

I have thought of childminding, which might be an option, although my living circumstances are a little shaky right now (long story involving insecure accommodation, a relationship going through difficulties, and a desire to leave the country...) so I'm not sure how practical it would be. What other jobs could I do? Is there anyone who actually manages to support themselves on money made working from home? Are there any jobs I could do with kids in tow?

Thank you so much in advance for any help or advice offered. Just one more thing, please, please, please do not just tell me to put the kids in school, that is not an option and not what I am looking for. I really appreciate your help, thanks for reading.

hunnybeanz

oh hun, i'm sorry but theres not really much i can suggest other than the usual (ie cashbacks, clicks, surveys and competitions).
i really feel for you as i'm stuck in a similar situation, i dont really trust my parents near my kids for much the same reasons as you, (had a crappy childhood and have turned out a mess as a result lol!).
what area are you in if you dont mind my asking?
if your children are fairly young-ish still, you could perhaps chat to the health visitor if you still have one, or perhaps speak to someone at a surestart regarding sponsored daycare.... what this is basically, is childcare funded by social services on a recommendation of a H.V or social worker or anyone like that... they will grant x amount of hours per week depends on circumstances more than anything but i've been granted this 2 years running because of post natal depression.
try explaining the situation with your parents and just explain that it's not fair on the children to be stuck in the middle of so many emotions.
i hope you have some luck with that?

also, i have noticed a thread on these boards about tele-tech (sorry i cant post the link as i dont know how :rolleyes: ), from what i can tell its basically customer services from home, so that may be worth looking into as they can do night time shifts or early morning for when the little ones are in bed.

if you ever need a chat, feel free to pm me, i'm always online as my eldest is 3 and hasnt figured out the art of sleep yet!! :eek:

ooooh, just thought, how about using the mysearchfunds homepage as a tiny bit extra? it's just a matter of using a different search/home page, and still has great results, you get paid for all the daily searches you do though, not huge amounts but would easily pay for a treat at xmas for you

and i use slicethepie quiote a bit too when i'm on the net anyway, its just reviewing new artists/bands for money rewards.... works on a star system ie the more stars you gain, the higher you'll be paid... at the minute its 1*=3p, 2*= 5p, 3*=7p and so on and so forth....its not much, but i've withdrawn a tenner into paypal so far since joining last wednesday....

like the adverts say, every little helps lol!

wishing you really good luck, and like i say feel free to pm.... and the best advice i ever recieved when it comes to "different" parents, is to succeed and really p*ss them off because they dont expect it!

xxx

Julie

Maz

Hello,

My daughter also home educates her two boys so, I can understand some of the problems you're facing at the moment.

I also work from home and these are a couple of the things I do to earn money that you may be able to work around the children? (You don't say how old they are)

Home boarding for dogs. Basically, caring for dogs in your home when their owners go on holiday etc. No outlay required, the owners provide all food etc. My daughter does this fairly regularly and the boys love it!

Ironing service. What it says! There's already a big thread on this subject on this board.

Don't know if this is of any use to you. If you want more info on the stuff I do, please feel free to pm me.

whatsername

Hi Hunnybeanz. Thanks for your message. My kids are 7 and 9, so too old for most kinds of childcare schemes. We are in the south east.

I have spoken to my parents, who take the attitude that they will do things their way and if I don't like it I can find someone else to look after the kids. I am working up my courage to call again now, as I am due to work this week, and even if I quit I need to give a month's notice, so I am still going to need my parents to care for the kids at least for another month.

I did read the teletech board last night, and there seem to be very mixed reviews amd they seemed quite long shifts. I will take another look today though, as that might be a possibility.

Slice the pie seems to be one of those things you either love or hate, and I don't get along with it at all! I will keep on though, maybe once I hit the higher levels, it will be a little more rewarding!

Mysearch funds I am already using, and I am finally approaching my first payout, which will be nice.

Sympathies with a non-sleeping 3 year old, my daughter didn't sleep through until she was 18 months and even that was awful!

Maz, strangely there was an ad in the paper over the weekend for dog boarders, which I have just applied to.

Ironing...I will check out the thread...I could possibly do that, although there are several big companies around that do it. I'll find the thread though, thank you for the suggestions.

Maz

I'd be interested to know about the dog boarding ad you applied for. Was it a franchisee? The reason I ask is that generally, this won't pay you as much doing it for yourself as the franchise owner takes the bigger cut. My daughter looked into this and decided it was worth much more to her, to do it off her own bat. If you want an idea of how much we charge, let me know, then you can do your own comparison.

whatsername

Ok, well I have just spoken to my Mum, and let's just say it did not go well. Our ideas about parenting are just so different that it's kind of scary. I am going to have to hand in my notice at my job, which I am absolutely devastated about. I really love my job and don't want to quit. Unfortunately, because of the hours, care work is probably not going to be an option at all.

As far as the dog boarding goes, no, it is not a franchise, it's just a company who employs people to do it in their own homes, as well as to dog walk, pet sit or visit pets in their own home. I don't think I'm allowed to post the link, am I?

Does your daughter run her own business then? Does she get a lot of work? I would definately like to know more about how she does it, please. I'm sure working for yourself is always going to be a better option, only I would be concerned about things like advertising and insurance. Any info would be great. Thank you.

notenoughcash

Hi whatsername, just to let you know you aren't alone! I had very similar with my kids and parents. I'm 27, boys are 5 & 9, but difference is I don't home-educate them so now they both full time I relieved some of my childcare problems. However, 2 years ago I ended up leaving my job after relationship breakdown which led to childcare problems, parents not an option due to previous differences in opinion on raising children (although we do now manage a day out together once a month without too much clashing!) Things spiralled out of control debt wise and I finished up losing the house, end of world and all that. But the point i'm trying to get to is that things generally aren't quite as bad as they may seem when you look at the long-term. We now settled in a lovely place and I managed to re-train in a job completely different to before that I absolutely love and fits around my life perfectly. And if I can make it through there's hope for us all!!!

whatsername

Hi notenoughcash, thank you for the support, I was expecting lots of abuse but everyone's being so nice.

I am becoming ever more desperate as it seems my options are virtually non existent. I am heartbroken about having to give up my job, and I don't know how I am going to support myself now - I don't want to go back on benefits.

geordie_joe

whatsername wrote: »

Hi notenoughcash, thank you for the support, I was expecting lots of abuse but everyone's being so nice.

Most people on here are nice and very supportive.

whatsername wrote: »

I am becoming ever more desperate as it seems my options are virtually non existent. I am heartbroken about having to give up my job, and I don't know how I am going to support myself now - I don't want to go back on benefits.

I hope you don't have to give up work and go onto benefits, but if you do please don't be heartbroken. It's not the end of the world and you must think of it as just another chapter in your life.

If it does happen obviously you have to keep trying to find a suitable job, but you must also keep one eye on the future.

While you are looking for a suitable job try to earn some money from some of the things mentioned in here. Any money you do earn will be good at the time, but it will help you more in the future.

One day your children will not need you to be home so much, so the hours you can work will increase and the chances of you finding work will increase.

But one day you will be at an interview and be asked "What have you been doing for the last X years you have been unemployed"

If all you can say is "Looking after my children" or "Looking for work" you won't get far. But if you can say "I did whatever I could, I joined Slice the Pie and reviewed music" or "i wrote reviews and got paid by dooyoo for them" or "I made birthday cards and sold them on ebay" they will love you for it.

What they will really be asking is "When you were down, what did you do" and you will be replying "I was fighting back, and this is how I was doing it......"

In the mean time every penny you can earn will help, but even if you only do it for a week, in the interview you can say you did it until you found something better.

If the worst does come to the worst and you have to give up work, think about your next job interview and what you are going to say when they ask what you have been doing. You need to be able to hold your head up high and tell them.................

I wish you the best of luck and I'm sure your problems are only temporary.

pennyfrog

I really hope you find something to suit you, whatsername.
I can fully sympathise with trying to find a way to fit in making some money around home edding. I home educate my daughter (my son is in school) and, although hubby works full time, he doesn't earn much and things can be a real struggle at times. Sometimes I feel guilty for not being out there working- but then even if both of my kids were in school, I'd still have to find a job that would fit in around the school hours, holidays and so on. Not easy, is it, hon? If I found the ideal job, I'd let you know what it was, I really would. Not alot of help, am I???? I just wanted to add my encouragement to you, really- and say well done for sticking to what you know is right for your family. It's tough enough educating at home even without all the other worries. Be proud that you're a strong person. Your kids will learn that from you. Good luck,hon.

whatsername

Geordie Joe, thank you for the advice, it is much appreciated. I am going to work really hard to try and avoid going on benefits. I have just submitted some designs to a greetings card company, and I have various ideas for making at least 'pocket money' if not a livable wage.

It seems like everyone right now is out to see me fail, so I'm going to prove them all wrong.

Pennyfrog, thank you for the encouragement, it's good to know I'm not alone.