Avon Hints and Tips (Part 3)

Aesop

Really starting to regret starting avon now... at the time it seemed like such a good idea, and now I am just in a worse mess.

MissyTheCat

Mine has a few different groups every day if you wanted to go (including Dads groups and carers groups) so I guess we're really lucky. I didn't like the mother and baby group though, felt every one was really cliquey and didn't feel welcome but persevered with the others and love them. They are all at different locations though so maybe it is worth asking if they run other things at different places. I do hope they don't have anyone already doing Avon though, but even if they do I'm sure the Mums I am now friends with will buy from me xxx

Elliebee_2

Awww! Aureol! Chin up! :grouphug:

I went through a similar sort of time when my Daughter was small - like you, lots of reasons and complications - so I know where you're coming from. Hopefully you'll be able to find something part time to help you out. Had you thought of doing a witty flyer to take round to potential employers (something to make them curious about you and show that you have a sense of humour, which I know you do); that was how I got into employment again. People are so impressed that you are making the effort that they tend to be more sympathetic. It means a bit of tramping the streets, but I'm sure your DS will enjoy the outing and at least you can eliminate anywhere unsuitable if you take the initiative into your own hands.

I'm sure I've said it before, but when you get to the end of your tether, tie a knot in it and hang on for dear life

Aesop

MissyTheCat wrote: »

Mine has a few different groups every day if you wanted to go (including Dads groups and carers groups) so I guess we're really lucky. I didn't like the mother and baby group though, felt every one was really cliquey and didn't feel welcome but persevered with the others and love them. They are all at different locations though so maybe it is worth asking if they run other things at different places. I do hope they don't have anyone already doing Avon though, but even if they do I'm sure the Mums I am now friends with will buy from me xxx

I am sure the mums you have become friends with will have a look at a book and buy from you , I think my problem is too many reps in my area! LOL.

I like this one as I can walk to it, and not have to pay bus fare. Might have a look to see where the other ones are though. Thank you.:T

Aesop

Thank you EllieBee, I was going to check on you on FB, as thought about you yesterday and realised you hadn't posted for a while. Hope you are well and things ok with you.

My dear friend said the same thing as you, she works in IT and when one of the Managers got made redundant last year, he walked the whole of his high street looking for a job and finally got a receptionist job in an Estate Agents.

When my DS was about 7 months old, I did the same thing, everywhere I went where I lived, I asked if they were looking for someone to work even part time to help with anything. The answer was no, everywhere. Even just tried Sainsbury's again on line, can go to a few stores local to me, but no one has any vacancies.

The other thing where I live, it is very cosmpolitan and there are a lot of people who own their own businesses, so are not recruiting anyone.

One of my customers runs her own business from home and I asked her last year if she wanted any help, even with packing, I don't mind hard work of any type. She said her daughter was helping her at the moment but she would let me know.

She offered the other day to give me items to list on ebay but we didn't discuss how much I would get paid for it, and I had to say no, as until I clear the current clutter, my DH won't appreciate me taking anything else in, even for hard cash, but there's no guarantee it would sell.

I have asked all my friends, if they hear anything local to let me know, and I check the local papers for anything, and I mean anything I can get to.

There were some jobs last year local, the money wasn't fab and I didn't care, it was a guaranteed salary, so I applied and didn't get them. I think because I have a lot of business experience they didn't think it was for me, or I would want to be promoted or get more money, none of those applied! I just wanted a job with a guaranteed salary.

Saying that, just had an email from a colleague that I used to work with, she was in my team, I was her supervisor, we all got made redundant at same time. She was working, not anymore, and wanted to know if it was worth her time doing avon, but I was dead honest with her, and said it's hard work and not guaranteed income. I had to be, she has 2 children, a sick mom and a mortgage.

Elliebee_2

Aureol - have IM'd you!

johanne

Aureol could you contact the CAB or jobcentre again and ask them for ANY benefit you may be entitled to... income support or something? Contact the council and apply for council tax benefit on the basis of low income. Have you got ANY avon stock (or stuff youve bought for yourself in last 90 days) you could return for credit?? Try and free up some cash there? I really dont know what else to suggest.

Re your LO... i feel really guilty as my LO is 22 months and has never been to playgroup or anything played with kids her own age :o:o:o I was always too nervous when she was little and then i became a single mum when she was 1 and started working 2 jobs and never had time with her to go because she was either with her dad on the playgroup day or i hadnt seen because or work or being at her dads so i wanted time with her to myself.. so selfish i know! But i know what you mean about feeling they missing out...

yummymummy85

Aureol re the playgroups it really is worth just keep trying different ones. I've been to loads of different ones since my first son was born in 2008 and like you say a lot of the are very cliquey especially our local sure start but from sheer determination to get out of the house and find some friends for my son (who is now nearly 2) I've managed to find a couple of really nice friendly playgroups that we go to most weeks. We don't go every week as sometimes we're busy, have to wait in for a delivery or my sons just been far too naughty lol! And I know where you're coming from with the sitting down for snack etc. My son was a nightmare for it when we first started going to playgroup because at home he's strapped into his booster seat whenever he's eating so has no choice but to sit there and at first at playgroup he'd be the one running around with food, taking food from other people's plates but it's all a learning curve for them and he's now relatively good at sitting there nicely, eating his own food etc. It does take time and I still get very embarrassed sometimes as he's not very good at sharing but I have to keep telling myself that he's not going to learn to share unless we go to groups and has time to interact with other children! Now I have another son it's a welcome break going to playgroup because DS1 will go off and play and as DS2 is still only little everyone wants cuddles so I actually get a chance to have a full hot cup of coffee (a novelty these days!).

I don't have any advice re the income as my DH is in the army so we are very lucky in that his income is more or less guaranteed although I have to say that even though he has a good wage we still struggle to get to the end of each month! I would definately agree with going to the CAB or back to the job centre to see if there is ANYTHING you can claim, even if it's an extra £20 a week it's £20 a week you weren't getting before.

I do hope things get better for you soon x

Aesop

johanne wrote: »

Aureol could you contact the CAB or jobcentre again and ask them for ANY benefit you may be entitled to... income support or something? Contact the council and apply for council tax benefit on the basis of low income. Have you got ANY avon stock (or stuff youve bought for yourself in last 90 days) you could return for credit?? Try and free up some cash there? I really dont know what else to suggest.

.

Thanks Johanne.

Avon are sick of me returning Avon stock, and now unless I make payments or clear the balance on my account, they won't show any credits.

I did ask the Jobcentre if I could claim for anything and they said no. And the CAB could only suggest I sign on. I am going to have tell the council again we cant afford to pay council tax from next month, we have been giving them bank statements showing DH not getting paid.

I am selling stuff on ebay but you know what it's like, people want it at 99p, which after fees, leaves me nothing.

Thank you though Johanne.

Poor DS is sitting here and keeps hinting at me to take him out, but I thought I had a share certificate, wanted to check if I could cash it in, I saw it the other day and now I can't find it! Have tipped house up side down looking for it and it is an even worse mess now than before!

Aesop

Thanks Yummymummy, no one can help me now, except to get a job that pays a salary and for DH's rotten boss to pay him every penny he owes!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know what you mean about hot cups of coffee, I think I had one 3 weeks ago and it was such a novelty! LOL.

Only came back on to see if ex colleague wants to do avon, but she hasn't replied, so I take that as no.