Earn some money!!

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 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

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