What Can I Do?

Mrs_Money

LizD - can you start by selling on Ebay - anything from around the house? It gets you into the swing of things and gives you valuable Ebay experience. If you have a hobby, which it sounds as if you do, possibly think about selling the materials for that - plus some of your creations if you can. Do what you know - as they say.
Selling craft work is a hugely competitive market - just take a look at Folksy and Etsy - but those people who are designing sewing, knitting and crochet patterns, seem to be selling them quite well - that's just an example. My point is, there's not a lot of money to be made by lovingly creating something yourself - sad but true. You can never get paid for the time it took you!

Sixer

spadoosh wrote: »

Lol, love how people are using the line 'its not cost effective for me to get a job'. Thats really quite upsetting as someone who work 50 hrs a week on little over minimum wage, trying to save to buy a house and start a family, while covering your maternity/tax credits and dare i say it 'job seekers'!?

Both my parents worked full time whilst raising me and my sister always living on the bread line but never once asking anybody for anything and always being there for us. yet many say thats not possible, obviously different people

The OP is stating an economic fact. Why do you have a problem with it? Her husband works and covers the bills but she wants to earn some EXTRA money for luxuries. Why shouldn't she say it would be pointless if she went and got a job, then paid the whole amount out in childcare? She's trying to find ways around that.

I find your post offensive.

supa-girl

Sixer wrote: »

The OP is stating an economic fact. Why do you have a problem with it? Her husband works and covers the bills but she wants to earn some EXTRA money for luxuries. Why shouldn't she say it would be pointless if she went and got a job, then paid the whole amount out in childcare? She's trying to find ways around that.

I find your post offensive.

Agreed! I was one poster who stated it wasn't cost effective for me to get a job and that is a fact. We have 5 children all aged 11 and under. The childcare costs mean I would be hugely out of pocket if I worked. My DH works long hours to provide for us. He has had to take a massive paycut before anyone starts on about not having kids if you can't afford them - when we chose to have them we were in a different position than the one we find ourselves in now.

We get by and I would like to make a bit of money to make our lives easier. Working a conventional job is not an option as we would be worse off so I am doing what I can. I am also looking into gaining extra qualifications so that when my children start nursery/school then a regular job is a more viable option.

If that upsets anyone then tell it to the government who don't provide enough affordable, good quality childcare!

SG

pcpostie

think the op is stating that if she went back to work she would be no better of as childcare is so expensive and it would be helpful if there was government funded childcare that was affordable for people that wanted to work!!! i agree, im lucky that my mum looks after my child whilst me and my partner are at work otherwise one of us would have to stay at home. spadoosh seems to me like you may not have children, the real leeches are the ones who dont want to work and live on benefits for years and guess what they get 80% of their childcare paid its so wrong.

LizD_2

Wow, just logged on to see the replies. Sadly it's turned into the usual rage against those who stay at home to raise children. For the record, I have worked most of my life and claimed MA due to the fact I was a temp in my last job and not eligible for SMP. I won't be claiming anything now that's finished.

As I said in my original post, I was looking for ideas to raise money for extras. Thank you to the posters who have put forward constructive suggestions.

I will have a look into the Butler Hill and Lionbridge websites and the edigital research, I didn't know about those.

I did research Avon a little while ago, but it wasn't for me. Will have a bash at competitions, though.

I do sell on eBay, which usually goes back into buying things there!

As for what I make - well, all sorts really! I can turn my hand to most things textile-based, but as Mrs Money says you don't get much back for the things you make. I do like the idea of designing patterns or selling materials, will definitely research that further.

redned_2

spadoosh wrote: »

Lol, love how people are using the line 'its not cost effective for me to get a job'. Thats really quite upsetting as someone who work 50 hrs a week on little over minimum wage, trying to save to buy a house and start a family, while covering your maternity/tax credits and dare i say it 'job seekers'!?



Both my parents worked full time whilst raising me and my sister always living on the bread line but never once asking anybody for anything and always being there for us. yet many say thats not possible, obviously different people

Why on earth would a mother go to work to pay out more than they are actually earning for a stranger to bring up their child(ren)?

It is difficult to find a job in the current economic climate, let alone one that fits around family life/ pays well enough to cover the cost of childcare (which you need to go to work unless you are lucky enough to have people who do it free which many are not) and actually leaves anything to pay all the other bills.

Perhaps you should wait until you are in that situtation yourself before you judge.

footballmanagerwidow

spadoosh wrote: »

Lol, love how people are using the line 'its not cost effective for me to get a job'. Thats really quite upsetting as someone who work 50 hrs a week on little over minimum wage, trying to save to buy a house and start a family, while covering your maternity/tax credits and dare i say it 'job seekers'!?

Both my parents worked full time whilst raising me and my sister always living on the bread line but never once asking anybody for anything and always being there for us. yet many say thats not possible, obviously different people

I am a married mother with 4 children under 8. My 2 eldest are now in full time school so I decided to go out and see what part time office work I could get, under the illusion we would get some help from HMRC with child care costs for our 2 youngest (2&1). After a few weeks I was offered a 16 hour a week role at 19.5K, which is fantastic money for our area, but I didn't take it as after I made enquiries into available childcare and tax credits it worked out i'd be working 3 (nearly full, after drop offs and pick ups) days for £10 a week - and that was only term time when the older ones were at school...during holidays i'd actually be paying out £90 a week to work! I'm now working on finding an evening/weekend job, but those are few and far between.

You make a statement about working for little over minimum wage, but my £10 a week would equate to 62.5p an hour....would you work for that? No? Didn't think so!

lalli_pickle

If you like children have you considered childminding?

You do have to take a few courses and have your home inspected but you can choose your hours to a degree and then its money for things you would probably be doing with your children anyway.

redned_2

as lalli_pickle says childminding - probably the best bet for making reasonable money and still look after your kids. Other (seasonal) ideas would be things like Jamie at home, Usborne Books, Pheonix Cards or hand make your own things which you can sell at fetes/school fairs/farmers markets/online - mostly weekend work.

Mr.Mulla

To the OP, I agree with you. There is really no point in working 9-5 when all the money you'll earn will just go to childcare fees. Besides there is nothing better than mommy care. No childcare will compare to that.

As for generating an extra income while taking care of your child, you can always opt for trading stuffs in e-bay or doing remote freelance work which pays by the hour. You'll find a lot of this job opportunities on sites such as freelance dot com, odesk dot com and e-lance dot come. Most of the good and credible sites have already been mentioned on many of the posts above so these are just additional.

Best of luck to you.