Work Dilemma

jo1972

TAG wrote: »

I used to work in a pub 3 evenings a week when they were small. But then after 2 years I got bored with it and started delivering catalogue parcels. Did that for another 2 years and then got bored with that. It might be a thought for you though. Very flexible. I often used to deliver in the evenings in the summer months just for an hour or so's peace and quite and time to myself.

Thanks Tag, your post has been very useful. What company did you do deliveries for? This is the sort of thing that I think I'd be interested in doing. I always see the same Debenhams and Amazon delivery lady when I order stuff. Any ideas how you get these sorts of jobs, do you have to go to the main company or the delivery company works for them?

Don't know if I could do pub work, my local area is very busy and you get loads of kids and groups filling up the pubs. It'd be okay if it was a countryside pub with loads of friendly locals, but it's not quite like that round my way :eek:

Thanks again

hilstep2000

Jo,
It's amazing how you manage! I was really worried when I got divorced (Me and two kids) but I've never been so well off! Not sure how, but after making sure I'd claimed everything I could (Council tax benefit, WTC, and every grant I could get) I'm in no debt, and live pretty well. Only fly in the ointment is I've got MS now, but even that had a silver lining. I took out a critical illness policy and it paid out, so I could pay off my mortgage.

No one knows what life will bring, only you can decide what's best for you and yours. Go for it I say!

jo1972

Thanks hilstep, everyone has been so helpful with advice, it's definately made me determined to be a stay-at-home-mum as soon as I can.

I was so fed up after coming home from work last night, had a dreadful day with the boss mithering me, nightmare journey on the tube, rushed round Tesco's not knowing what to get for dinner so just shoved anything in my basket, came home and knocked on the childminder's door with her shopping that she asked me to get if I was going and she was in a miserable mood. She's a good friend and neighbour but my god does she moan! She's also always ill with something. She'd had an argument with her mum and sister and was practically in tears when I got there. I was stood on the doorstep loaded down with my own shopping just wanting to get in my own house cos it was 7.30pm and I hadn't seen the kids since 7.30am and they were about to go to bed, I needed to make mine and DH's dinner but had to listen to her sympathetically first. Then got in, DH had just turned up and was trying to do his work (he's a bus inspector but has paperwork to do when he gets in), and the kids were driving him mad and he couldn't concentrate....not the kids fault I might add, they obviously wanted to see one of their parents during the day at least! My eldest DD (15) was in trouble (again) and so everyone was shouting at each other because once again she had her mobile phone confiscated and grounded for another day.

I just wanted to either burst into tears or leave the house! Instead I shut myself in the kitchen and made the dinner to the end of corrie street and opened a bottle of wine

This has made me so determined to find a way round this. I woke up this morning still feeling exhausted, snoozed the alarm about 10 times before I got up very late for work already (again!), kids didn't want to be woken up they just wanted a cuddle in bed. I could do that if I didn't have to get up for work. We could have a leisurely breakfast, do some puzzles, gardening and stuff, plan lunch and dinner, get the kids helping round the house, have the kids bathed and ready for bed at a reasonable time.

Everyone would be so less stressed, I have no time to do ANYTHING!!

Sorry for the rant post but I needed to affirm why I'm need to do this.

TAG

jo1972 wrote: »

Thanks Tag, your post has been very useful. What company did you do deliveries for? This is the sort of thing that I think I'd be interested in doing. I always see the same Debenhams and Amazon delivery lady when I order stuff. Any ideas how you get these sorts of jobs, do you have to go to the main company or the delivery company works for them?

Don't know if I could do pub work, my local area is very busy and you get loads of kids and groups filling up the pubs. It'd be okay if it was a countryside pub with loads of friendly locals, but it's not quite like that round my way :eek:

Thanks again

It's the hardest thing in the world working (even only part time) and juggling childcare.

Any how I used to work for JD Williams when I did the catalogue parcels. It was sometime ago now. But back then I had my own area - which got bigger and bigger. I used to get 45p a parcel, 30p a return and £1 for anything that was a 24hr delivery. Plus a territory allowance of £4 something a day.

Doesn't sound alot but bearing in mind the delivery area is reasonably compact you can get in done quickly plus you still get the 45p/£1/30p each parcel even if you had 6 for one address. It may have all changed now though.

I know other catalogue companies use 'personal couriers'. I've certainly seen them in my area. Grattan, Next and I have a feeling one of the other high street stores deliver this way or at least used to. I vaguely remember a flyer in a Littlewoods delivery as well, but I think that all runs out of Bristol.

I answered an ad in the local paper for JD Williams. Sometimes the Job Center will have ads. I don't see why you can't contact the companies direct and ask. the only thing you'll need to take into account is business use on your car insurance. But that should only be an extra £20/£30 a year if that much.

The parcels I do now are a completley different thing. Where abouts do you live as I might be able to help you. It's so much more flexible and much better pay.

I'll have a look around and see if I can find you any numbers.

jo1972

Hi Tag,

I live in Ilford, Essex - just outside London. Thanks, any info would be great. Now I've found ways round packing in work and wanna do it today!! Feel so unmotivated here and busting to go home and get on with things that need to be done. Also feeling extremely envious of my childminder at the moment, I bet they're all out in the garden right now playing in the paddling pool GRRRRR!!

Thanks again

TAG

I've PM'd you.

Will get back to you about the parcels I do now. Your not in my immediate area so I can't give you a yes or no about any vacancies. Will make some enquiries for you and let you know. Will probably take a couple of weeks though.

Merlot

In my opinion you should go for it, I did the same some years ago, gave up full time work and decided to stay at home, and I'm loving it, I have no intention ever of returning to paid work. I was concerned at first that we would struggle, but we sold one of the cars, switch utility providers and claimed compensation on our Endowment (thanks Martin), remortgage to a better deal (again I followed Martins advice and telephoned L & C brokers, they were fantastic, no fees, no messing and a great 2 year fixed deal) and I am constantly looking out for bargains, we lost over £900 a month, and to be perfectly honest we don't miss it, I cook from scratch mostly, enjoy a few bottles of wine a week, but we don't take foreign holidays anymore, and my children are loving having their mum at home. I don't miss the "office life" at all, I'm glad I am out of it.

Only you can make the decision, and if it turns out not to be right for you, and then you can go and reapply for another full time position. Wishing you the best.

jo1972

Morning all,

I'm dragging my old thread back up again as I've just returned to work today after being off for 2 weeks and I'm so down, my kids were so upset that I had to leave them at the childminders this morning plus my DS said that he had wished on his lucky stone last night that I would be able to always stay at home and look after him, he said he put it under his pillow which meant that all your dreams come true apparently

Still looking for home/part time opportunities to enable me to give up work. I've been accepted for AQA and just finished my first review so I'm hoping that will be a way of getting some pocket money, it's not a big money winner though. Was going to look into the DHL@home thing this week, although I'm a bit short of space indoors and worried about where to put the parcels if they are on the large side, plus worried about the wear and tear on the car. I've got an Usbourne book organiser ringing me daily trying to get me to start selling the books but until I'm at home fulltime I won't be able to get the time to sell anything! Plus just started doing some work for BzzAgent UK as one of the people that reply to the Bzz reports, although I don't think this will bring much money in.

Anybody got any fresh ideas, I'd be grateful for any help :A

teacup_2

Hi jo1972,
Just found this thread and read through, go for it yes........Please if you get chance go and read my thread on the moneysaving marriage board titled re fed up, I hope you enjoy it. I dont work my kids are 8 & 10, and I am going back to college. Things that are important to me are are having the time for them and I know I would not be a good multi tasker !, having healthy meals and eating together everynight . Time for homework and fun things !. As well as all the housework and being (trying) to be organised. It takes a lot of effort to run a house smoothly and I imagine with your clan too it generates alot of work too.
Firstly will your outgoings exceed your incomings?. we manage just about ok,(learning to be better) look into tax credits etc . I dont spend much to counteract the fact I dont work. I am definately a not keep up with the Jones sort of person and find I dont normally want to get to know people who are that way inclined.
If you can see if you can have some time off before you have to work , I reckon you really deserve it. I hope your little ones dream comes true for them and you !.
If you really budgeted and really cut down on everything would it be ok for you?:o Have a great big sort out at home , do some ebay get organised and see how you feel
x teacup