16hours to 24

BigAunty

A_Flock_Of_Sheep wrote: »

...

Perhaps you could enlighten us as to what business plan is required to do an Avon round for eight hours a week?

Register with Avon
Obtain catalogues
Deliver catalogues
Take orders when you collect catalogues
Deliver orders
Pocket commission.

There business plan achieved.

I think you missed the bit where the new Avon seller has an outlay but also could have cut out the hassle of finding they can't make any sales and will run at a loss because so many households don't return the catalogue and their area is saturated with reps who have got the best rounds, quite basic research and risk analysis, really...There are plenty of posts from ex-Avon sellers that maybe assumed all the above and soon hit reality.

Or why don't they simply spend about 2 hours a week netting about a tenner by flogging toiletries to their family and mates and just say they work 8 hours a week...That way they can cling on to their WTC while catching up with their pals over coffee.

von

You will not be entitled to Income Support because you do not satisfy the conditions of entitlement but you may be entitled to claim Jobseekers Allowance, however you may be sanctioned for up to 26 weeks because you voluntarily left your last job. Think carefully....

Bogof_Babe

Charityworker wrote: »

I haven't read through all the posts but have you explored the self employed option? I work 16 hours a week and stood to lose all the wtc. Both me and husband have been looking for full time work for years but never been successful. So I have started a small business doing make up, nail art etc. I got a diploma in beauty therapy when I first left school so I decided to start using it. The start up costs are quite small. A make up kit, business cards and public liability insurance and your off. There must be plenty of things you could do from home with your kids such as pet sitting, making things and selling them, virtual secretary, dog walking. 8 hours isnt really a lot to fill. Or how about going round charity shops looking for vintage or costume jewellery and selling it on for a profit at craft fairs at tge weekend when your husband can look after the kids. Or doing temporary tattoos and hair wrapping. The list is endless. Remember to register as self employed as soon as you start.

Obviously .

Hmm71

BigAunty wrote: »

I think you missed the bit where the new Avon seller has an outlay but also could have cut out the hassle of finding they can't make any sales and will run at a loss because so many households don't return the catalogue and their area is saturated with reps who have got the best rounds, quite basic research and risk analysis, really...There are plenty of posts from ex-Avon sellers that maybe assumed all the above and soon hit reality.

Or why don't they simply spend about 2 hours a week netting about a tenner by flogging toiletries to their family and mates and just say they work 8 hours a week...That way they can cling on to their WTC while catching up with their pals over coffee.

Well said BigAunty. I tried doing an Avon round quite sometime ago now but I never managed to make a penny at it. My fault for being a bad saleswoman perhaps but I still failed miserably.

Sparklebabey

Sorry OP but these changes are not 'sudden' and have been known for a while - certainly more than 5 weeks.

I agree with others that if things are so bad, employment wise, in your area then you are mad to think about jacking a job in - particularly as you may be sanctioned.

Whilst it is commendable that your husband is bettering himself for the future, there are also the needs of your family that need to be addressed in the here and now.
Realistically he goes to college for 2 full days and 2 half days - plus 'school' holidays I am assuming? so he has plenty of time to be able to secure employment.

I'm sorry but I don't beleive there can't be any jobs that he can't get. Maybe some don't suit what he is hoping for i.e having to work nightshift for example and getting a couple of hours sleep before going to college....but if things are so bad you are thinking that a life on benefits is better then it's time to think out the box.

If you give up your job what are you planning on doing? Living off benefits until he gets a plumbing job? Will he defo get a job considering the dire picture you painted earlier of unemployment issues?

You have been given plenty of ideas for self employment...it's really easy to set yourself up as a s/e worker for the HMRC and so long as you keep records of anything you do plus any expenses then the self assessment for you submit every year will take you about 15 mins.

Also, ask yourself if you had a mortgaged home and therfore ineligible for housing benefit whether you would be so quick to resign from a job and live on benefits. If you thought you could lose your home then I am pretty sure you would think of something to keep your job and tax credits....maybe you should have this mindset instead of thinking that being on benefits is the only option you have - which is what comes accross in your posts.

Sixer

BigAunty wrote: »

My reservation about seeing this as a 'mini job' is the institutionalising nature of long-term benefit dependency and the way that SE WTC is, for some, primarily about doing the least they can get away with the lowest possible income, in order to maximise benefit entitlements, without the hassle of claiming JSA.

For some, there is no drive to increase profits, to become self-sufficient, it's merely a way to parachute into other benefits in a long term capacity.

Having a long term crutch in terms of being cushioned by benefits via a SE role that pays mere pin money, is totally anathema to running a real business.

Someone on long term JSA transitioning to self-employment is subject to mentoring and approval of a viable a business plan before being eligible for the new enterprise allowance scheme. Other people just sleepwalk into self employment via the WTC route.

But this isn't the point of this thread. The OP has an employed job for 16 hours and the entire point of the tax credit reforms is to try to make exactly this type of claimant find more work - whether more hours at an existing job, an entirely new employed job, or by more than one job, employed or self-employed.

The point isn't to turn the entire country into fully-fledged entrepreneurs. The point is to get people who are working 16 hours to work more, rather than sit on tax credits.

So mini-jobs such as Avon rounds in addition to current employed work, is highly desirable for this OP.

Nobody is saying that people who pretend an Avon round or similar takes 30 hours is a sane business.

Spendless

The bit I don't understand from the original poster is why they can't do 8 hours per week more (if they could find work) due to childcare issues but asked their employer if they had an extra 8 hours to give. If the OP's employer had then childcare would have been needed for this time.

AMILLIONDOLLARS

I think OP needs to keep her job and then cut back expenditure on her outgoings until her partner has qualified. I notice that she has not told us how much she will be losing in benefits so we cannot not give her clear advice on how to live within her means.

AMD

PurpleJay

Hi

I am in a very similar position to you and being aware of the changes coming in and after some deliberations I signed up to be an Avon Rep in February.

I work part time as a Legal Assistant for 18.5 hours per week. My husband is on a full time degree course and we have a 5 year old son.

I have just placed my order for my 3rd campaign and got 20 customers with orders totaling about £265. I do family and friends, work and a territory of 150 houses. I am determined to have a good go at it and it has been easier than I thought so far. Obviously I am not yet making much - you get 25% commission once you hit the target order value (you get 20% for the lower target order value) and start up fees are £15 split over your first 2 campaigns. After that you have to buy your brochures but what you spend on demo products, samples and stationary is up to you. You get cheaper products for yourself and get to keep your working tax credits. I am doing 6 - 10 hours per week. My orders and invoices are my proof and I am keeping a note of time spent.

I thought I would give it a shot and if it didn't work out I would give it 6 months and then try something else. I don't think you get penalised for giving it a try and it is a tried and tested business plan or nobody would do it and the company would fold! You can organise your books and sort your deliveries in front of the telly when the kids are in bed. You can deliver at the weekend or in the evening when hubby is home to mind the kids. We sometimes drop and collect books as a family too!

Good luck with finding something.

Charityworker

Having said that a friend of mine started Avon just before Xmas and has struggled to get orders. Be careful as it doesn't always work.