Great ‘Bit On The Side’ Hunt

noorani

Thats the bit I'm stuck with, the benefits. I've sold all my junk, and I want to continue with ebay but selling stuff in order to make a profit, etc. I can't put alot of time in as if it was a proper job or even a part time job because I'm a single mum and also care for a relative too. But I would like to try selling a few things a week that if I am good at, I can sell more over time. There must be someone on here that is earning money in some way, or doing ebay hoping to sell more, whilst on benefits and slowly making that change to be self supporting which is what I would like to be. So its that process, of who do you tell, when do you tell them, and how is the money side of it declared on a weekly, monthly basis or what? I've read a few threads on here now about other ways of earning some cash, and they all say to declare it, etc, but everyone appears to be working already or they often say they are. But for the ones like me who aren't, does anyone know the procedure of how it all would work coming from this point of view.
I'm fed up of being broke all the time and would like to improve my lot just a wee bit although I can't change my actual home situation right now, so I'm sort of stuck.
As you've pointed out girliepink, I wouldn't know how much I would earn, and some weeks I might not earn anything.

wilf55

noorani wrote: »

Thats the bit I'm stuck with, the benefits. I've sold all my junk, and I want to continue with ebay but selling stuff in order to make a profit, etc. I can't put alot of time in as if it was a proper job or even a part time job because I'm a single mum and also care for a relative too. But I would like to try selling a few things a week that if I am good at, I can sell more over time. There must be someone on here that is earning money in some way, or doing ebay hoping to sell more, whilst on benefits and slowly making that change to be self supporting which is what I would like to be. So its that process, of who do you tell, when do you tell them, and how is the money side of it declared on a weekly, monthly basis or what? I've read a few threads on here now about other ways of earning some cash, and they all say to declare it, etc, but everyone appears to be working already or they often say they are. But for the ones like me who aren't, does anyone know the procedure of how it all would work coming from this point of view.
I'm fed up of being broke all the time and would like to improve my lot just a wee bit although I can't change my actual home situation right now, so I'm sort of stuck.
As you've pointed out girliepink, I wouldn't know how much I would earn, and some weeks I might not earn anything.

have you looked on here at the ebay and amazon sellers board have read the implications on there somewhere but taking a quick look cant find it it is or at least was there somewhere

noorani

I've just spent a bit of time having a look at that thread, so thankyou wilf55. I think I went there before and got bogged down with all the many pages. I can't believe I sat and went through every single page of this thread, lol, although it took me a few days.

I did a search too, and found it mentioned that someone else like I had, had been searching across the net looking for this particular type of info and not finding much, and also someone else actually asked their jobcentre and was given no info or help. I think I will have to search on here a bit more.

I myself asked at the jobcentre too some time ago and was given no help at all apart from a photocopied page of a place called Brave, which at the time didn't look as if it was that relevent for my situation. My idea of selling online was virtually laughed away as not being a real job and a waste of time. I feel very put off about explaining to them again what it is I'd like to do, even if I earnt hardly anything to start with.

I can't get the time to commit myself to any course or even part time work because of me being a carer, the only spare time I have is my evenings, and then only part of that because I share the computer with my child and its all a bit random due to homework, child's mates etc.

I did find a thread eventually, that was entitled 'benefits and self employment', with only one posting on it, so that was no use. Also, on the dropshipping forum of another site, I've mentioned it there and not got a lot of input.

With so little information to be found about doing this on a step by step basis, it must put a lot of people off, not just me. There seems to be better info and sites recommended by the CAB than anywhere else I've found just yet, so perhaps I'll get to peruse all that tomorrow.

Maybe there is a website waiting to happen here, with accounts of peoples experiences of starting up in business, and what they did, etc, especially geared to help those who are unemployed right now, thats not just a list of forms to fill in or telling you you have to fit a certain criteria. And, that has some basic information all in one place.

I want to be able to arm myself with information beforehand so I can be well prepared and not have to go on some course that I wont be able to attend, etc as I've seen mentioned.

I think the benefits office are either fools to themselves, or just very clever. They don't want benefit fraud, yet they dont seem to make this information easily accessable and understandable or make this transfer from being unemployed to self employed a bit more comprehensible and easier to do. Not all of us are working already or can commit huge amounts of time, not all of us have money to start up a business. But the wanting to do it is still there, we're just in different circumstances.

I had a great idea for an ebook that I would like to write and sell on. I know I could do a good job on it. But whats the point if I am unable to sell it as at this rate, I'll never be self employed, lol. But it would be a free way for me to make some cash to begin without needing huge startup costs, etc. But I can just see the woman's face at the job centre if I tell her I would like to do that. It's not gonna happen.

sondheimsoc

mimi1234 wrote: »

Does anyone if they do Focus Groups in Leeds? I have registered with a few companies, but so far no response. If anyone knows of any companies or anything, do let me know.Thanks in advance.

Just to let you know that I am putting together a web site which will inform and educate (I hope!) members of the public about what market research is and how they could get involved by attending groups. It will also allow people to submit their name and area online and then be referred to a market research group recruiter near to where they live (assuming there is one in their area). I hope people think that this is a good idea; the idea came partly out of the interest I have had from people on this board.
Lynne
Considered Response

Hillsy_2

Hi usa 1
In order to join shop and scan you need a referral number, has anyone got one??

Fran

noorani wrote: »

I was just wondering about this working on ebay thing. If you want to buy stuff in to sell on, or even lets say it was your own ebooks you sold, how does this work if you are on benefits? How do you go about from being on benefits to being in an ebay business, even if it might be a relatively small venture that makes pocket money as opposed to huge amounts and that you are not doing for a set amount of hours each day. Any input or experience of this would be appreciated.
Apologies up front if I've got this on the wrong thread.

Hi noorani,

Re benefits and work on ebay, it would be more useful for you to post on the Benefits & Tax Credits board.

If you are on Income Support (i'm guessing as you are a carer and also have a child), it is a weekly benefit so you would need to declare income every week. You would not need to declare something you haven't sold and actually made money from (I'm thinking of the ebook you are talking about). Selling your own stuff (ie. physical things) is ok if you are on benefits but if you start buying & selling that would be the point at which you would need to report the income. I agree with you it's difficult to move forwards without any clear lines. You should be able (if on IS as a single parent) to earn £20 without it affecting your benefits in any case. If your caring and looking after your child make it difficult to eg. go to the Jobcentre every week (assuming you start getting regular income from ebay), you could ask if you could declare it every month - I'm not saying they will allow this, just that it's worth asking! If at any point your income becomes more than the IS amount (lets hope so!) you would lose that benefit, however you might still be entitled to some Housing/Council Tax Benefit if you claim them. Another important thing to consider is the amount of hours you work, if it's over 16 hours you would lose the IS but you could claim Working Tax Credit which is usually more beneficial and also means you wouldn't have to declare a weekly income but make an estimate (which you could always change if you didn't get as much income as you hoped).

So my suggested way forwards is to aim for over 16 hours and WTC. The Small biz/charity board should be helpful too.

jan.moss

noorani wrote: »

I've just spent a bit of time having a look at that thread, so thankyou wilf55. I think I went there before and got bogged down with all the many pages. I can't believe I sat and went through every single page of this thread, lol, although it took me a few days.

I did a search too, and found it mentioned that someone else like I had, had been searching across the net looking for this particular type of info and not finding much, and also someone else actually asked their jobcentre and was given no info or help. I think I will have to search on here a bit more.

I myself asked at the jobcentre too some time ago and was given no help at all apart from a photocopied page of a place called Brave, which at the time didn't look as if it was that relevent for my situation. My idea of selling online was virtually laughed away as not being a real job and a waste of time. I feel very put off about explaining to them again what it is I'd like to do, even if I earnt hardly anything to start with.

I can't get the time to commit myself to any course or even part time work because of me being a carer, the only spare time I have is my evenings, and then only part of that because I share the computer with my child and its all a bit random due to homework, child's mates etc.

I did find a thread eventually, that was entitled 'benefits and self employment', with only one posting on it, so that was no use. Also, on the dropshipping forum of another site, I've mentioned it there and not got a lot of input.

With so little information to be found about doing this on a step by step basis, it must put a lot of people off, not just me. There seems to be better info and sites recommended by the CAB than anywhere else I've found just yet, so perhaps I'll get to peruse all that tomorrow.

Maybe there is a website waiting to happen here, with accounts of peoples experiences of starting up in business, and what they did, etc, especially geared to help those who are unemployed right now, thats not just a list of forms to fill in or telling you you have to fit a certain criteria. And, that has some basic information all in one place.

I want to be able to arm myself with information beforehand so I can be well prepared and not have to go on some course that I wont be able to attend, etc as I've seen mentioned.

I think the benefits office are either fools to themselves, or just very clever. They don't want benefit fraud, yet they dont seem to make this information easily accessable and understandable or make this transfer from being unemployed to self employed a bit more comprehensible and easier to do. Not all of us are working already or can commit huge amounts of time, not all of us have money to start up a business. But the wanting to do it is still there, we're just in different circumstances.

I had a great idea for an ebook that I would like to write and sell on. I know I could do a good job on it. But whats the point if I am unable to sell it as at this rate, I'll never be self employed, lol. But it would be a free way for me to make some cash to begin without needing huge startup costs, etc. But I can just see the woman's face at the job centre if I tell her I would like to do that. It's not gonna happen.

I'm sure if you ring your local tax office they will be happy to help you - if you're self-employed you just need to pay National Insurance as a self-employed person and declare any earnings.

If you're on benefit i presume you just have to tell them how much you're taking on a weekly or monthly basis - surely they will tell you if you ask them?

Jan

noorani

Thanks for your replies and advice guys. I think I've been a bit stumped in my own search for information because I was looking for information on how to start a business from my position by doing the most minimal hours as and when I could fit it in, which doesn't seem to fit any obvious 'box', so to speak. Having not much advice from the jobcentre hasn't helped either. So I think I'm going to have to make myself fit the box, and to aim for working the 16 hours a week and get tax credits, etc, and if I can't do any work one day, then try and make up the time on another day to get my quota in. After a lot of thought I think this might work out easier and be less muddling to me in the end, and then I can just get on with it. Sorry about putting this on the wrong area of the forum Fran.

red_devil

i used to do cinecheck going to the cinema on sat mornings and watching the trailers and making a note of them and sometimes watching the film.

sondheimsoc

red_devil wrote: »

i used to do cinecheck going to the cinema on sat mornings and watching the trailers and making a note of them and sometimes watching the film.

They don't seem to exist any more, the website is unavailable.
Lynne
Considered response Market Research
Nottingham