Ideas on how to make 1k/mth

AMW14

Hi,

Anyone have any ideas on how to make an income of approx. 1k/month? This would make it possible for me to give up my day job as this amount is all I'm left with after the cost of going to work and paying for childcare. I'm sick of being on the treadmill. I have a young family and would prefer to be at home with them. I'm missing out on so much of their lives. I don't want to put any financial strain on myself. Would love to hear from others who managed to come up with a plan on how to earn enough to stay at home. Is it difficult to come up with an internet business? What about blogging? Part time online work?

hairyslug

Was kind of in the same position as yourself.

Setting up online is simple, I am using shopify but there are others, shopify is easy to use and google (and shopify)has enough tools to help you market whatever you want to do. There are also countless YouTube videos.

As for what exactly to do, again from my own experience, go with something you have a passion in. I sell, I wouldn't know where to start when blogging, my blog posts on my site are painful and it's something that I need to work on.

Setting up is easy as well, have a look at cro.ie for that.

I'm only in this about 2 years, with it being full time only 6 months but if I wasn't selling something I genuinely had an interest in, I don't know if I would be in the position I am in now.
Also, get in touch with your local intreo office, they can put you in touch with others how can advise on a business plan etc.

Childminding part time during the day and restaurant work two evenings a week.

seamus

Your best bet is something that allows remote work - doing some basic business admin stuff, or whatever. Apple for example, have work-from-home jobs. Think about what you do right now, and how you could convert that into part-time remote work. Not necessarily for your current employer, but for any employer.

You can blog if you like, but unless you're into networking with people (physically and online), you won't get very far. It's a surprisingly large amount of work for a relatively small amount of cash.

"An internet business" is a bit vague. If you want to trade online, you need to have something to sell. And you need to be able to sell it online. Some services can't be sold online.

The main thing you need for any remote work is a room that you can sequester yourself to while working and keep the kids out. You can't work from a desk in the corner of the living room, or from the kitchen table. It just doesn't work. If your house isn't big enough for this, then have a look at other opportunities that might be available - morning hours in a local coffee shop or supermarket, for example.

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christy02

seamus wrote:

Your best bet is something that allows remote work - doing some basic business admin stuff, or whatever. Apple for example, have work-from-home jobs. Think about what you do right now, and how you could convert that into part-time remote work. Not necessarily for your current employer, but for any employer.

This would still require childcare though. AFAIK Apple offer remote working to create space in their building. You still have to do hours that they want you to do and I am fairly sure that it's full on so can't be minding kids at same time.

Last thing I want when talking to a cs agent is for kids to be shouting in the background.

Best bet is to sell online, then it's your own hours. However I would say it might take a while before you are up to 1k a month. Remember also you have to have an initial outlay on the goods that you are selling.

Could you come up with a business plan, set up etc and then see how it goes, all while keeping your current job. If it goes well you could quit then?

seamus

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I guess it depends on the age of the kids. If you have any under 5, then you're pretty much just going to have to suck it up. You can work or mind kids, you can't do both unless you turn your house into a creche. If the kids are in school, then childcare is sorted, do your work while they're out.

If the work is not time-sensitive, then you can do it after they've gone to bed, but I would still contend that you need the specific space for it; having to set-up and tear-down your workspace every evening will drive you insane. And you'll still feel like you're on a treadmill.

AMW14

hairyslug wrote: »

Was kind of in the same position as yourself.

Setting up online is simple, I am using shopify but there are others, shopify is easy to use and google (and shopify)has enough tools to help you market whatever you want to do. There are also countless YouTube videos.

As for what exactly to do, again from my own experience, go with something you have a passion in. I sell, I wouldn't know where to start when blogging, my blog posts on my site are painful and it's something that I need to work on.

Setting up is easy as well, have a look at cro.ie for that.

I'm only in this about 2 years, with it being full time only 6 months but if I wasn't selling something I genuinely had an interest in, I don't know if I would be in the position I am in now.
Also, get in touch with your local intreo office, they can put you in touch with others how can advise on a business plan etc.

Thanks for the advice Hairyslug. Do you find that you generate a good income from your business after 2 years? I'd say it takes time to come up with a good idea and a Business plan. People seem to be very interested in gifts that are personalised... so that could perhaps be a start for my thinking process...

I did think about selling unused gifts/clothes on ebay or something like that but there might not be much return for the effort involved? Then there's postage costs...

AMW14

Thanks Christy02. I do think the selling online would be a good option. I wouldn't want to be on the phone during the day too much. I'd like to be spending that time with my children.

AMW14

seamus wrote: »

I guess it depends on the age of the kids. If you have any under 5, then you're pretty much just going to have to suck it up. You can work or mind kids, you can't do both unless you turn your house into a creche. If the kids are in school, then childcare is sorted, do your work while they're out.

If the work is not time-sensitive, then you can do it after they've gone to bed, but I would still contend that you need the specific space for it; having to set-up and tear-down your workspace every evening will drive you insane. And you'll still feel like you're on a treadmill.

They are under 5 years. They are angels and love their sleep. I would be prepared to do 2 hours each evening and a half day on a Saturday. Online work where I'd be working for myself would be ideal.

tayto lover

If you have a clean record and a nice way with children you could consider fostering a child for the HSE. I hear the money is good and they are always looking for good homes.
Just an idea.

hairyslug

AMW14 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice Hairyslug. Do you find that you generate a good income from your business after 2 years? I'd say it takes time to come up with a good idea and a Business plan. People seem to be very interested in gifts that are personalised... so that could perhaps be a start for my thinking process...

I did think about selling unused gifts/clothes on ebay or something like that but there might not be much return for the effort involved? Then there's postage costs...

The 1st 18 months was a massive learning curve. I would have not been able to support my family on that alone, it's only in the last few months that I am able to draw a wage.
Don't rush is, decide what you want to do, go to a few trade shows/fairs, meet some people and share whatever idea you come up with. For me this was the hardest part, getting people on side, the site, promotion etc are the easy parts.

In relation to working from home with kids, it can be a struggle, I have a desk set up in our hall under the stairs and a baby gate seperating me from the kids but it's doable.

Loveinapril

tayto lover wrote: »

If you have a clean record and a nice way with children you could consider fostering a child for the HSE. I hear the money is good and they are always looking for good homes.
Just an idea.

This is absolutely not a way to make money. Fostering is incredibly difficult. There are constant appointments, reviews, access visits and meetings with professionals. The children will almost always have challenges and the money may sound good, but it is the child's money- it is for their upkeep, their clothes, activities, etc. Anyone who is in it for the money would hopefully fail at the assessment stage.

tayto lover

Loveinapril wrote: »

This is absolutely not a way to make money. Fostering is incredibly difficult. There are constant appointments, reviews, access visits and meetings with professionals. The children will almost always have challenges and the money may sound good, but it is the child's money- it is for their upkeep, their clothes, activities, etc. Anyone who is in it for the money would hopefully fail at the assessment stage.

OK so are you saying that the foster parents get nothing because I was told that they do?

alroley

tayto lover wrote: »

If you have a clean record and a nice way with children you could consider fostering a child for the HSE. I hear the money is good and they are always looking for good homes.
Just an idea.

Please do not do this as a way to make money.

Loveinapril

tayto lover wrote: »

OK so are you saying that the foster parents get nothing because I was told that they do?

I never said that. The money foster carers recieve is an allowance for the children. It should be used to pay for all of the costs a child brings; food, clothes, toys, savings, activities etc. It isn't a wage as it isn't seen as a job. To someone with no idea of the challenges a child in care brings, the money may seem good but it is an incredibly tough thing to do.

seamus

tayto lover wrote: »

OK so are you saying that the foster parents get nothing because I was told that they do?

Fostering children is not a cash cow. It's not a case of sticking another spud in the pot and setting another place at the table.
These kids often have special needs and medical conditions and will involve a myriad of appointments and special visits. The actual effort involved in caring for a foster child is many times more than the government grant you're provided.

The OP would actually be better off working, both in terms of family life and income, than fostering a child. You are for all intents and purposes, being paid a small amount to provide 24/7/365 care for a child in difficult circumstances.

tayto lover

Loveinapril wrote: »

I never said that. The money foster carers recieve is an allowance for the children. It should be used to pay for all of the costs a child brings; food, clothes, toys, savings, activities etc. It isn't a wage as it isn't seen as a job. To someone with no idea of the challenges a child in care brings, the money may seem good but it is an incredibly tough thing to do.

Yes but apart from the allowance for the child do they get nothing?

Loveinapril

tayto lover wrote: »

Yes but apart from the allowance for the child do they get nothing?

They get one payment each week called a Foster Care Allowance.

AMW14

alroley wrote: »

Please do not do this as a way to make money.

I think Tayto Lovers suggestion is a great one. If you love kids and pass garda vetting, how could it not be ok. It is definitely something I would like to do in the future. Possibly not for another few years as I have a friend who does it and it would be too much work for me at the moment. They were recently campaigning in the UK for it to be recognised as an actual job, which it should be. Of course you should be paid a decent wage for all the hard work that is required and have paid holidays. I have great admiration for Foster Parents and all the hard work that they do.

Loveinapril

AMW14 wrote: »

Of course you should be paid a decent wage for all the hard work that is required and have paid holidays.

The whole idea of fostering is about the child assimilating into a family because their own family cannot care for them. It is seen to be better for the outcome of the child than residential care. It is not about providing someone with an income. The money you would get from fostering is for the kid's costs, not to cover the mortgage because you want to spend time with your own children. A foster carer is expected to care for a child as one of their own, you don't get wages or paid holidays from them! If you know a foster carer, then you know about all of the additional supports that go with caring for a child with challenges. If it is something you may be interested in in the future, then by all means, look into it, but please put the idea of it being an earner out of your head. It's not.

AndrewJRenko

If you have a spare bedroom, you could look into taking in one or more Spanish students

AMW14

Loveinapril wrote: »

but please put the idea of it being an earner out of your head. It's not.

It's not considered a job at the moment but it should be and no doubt it will be in the future. As I said, possibly in a few years I might.

I'm interested in any other ideas people may have in relation to earning at home.

Would be great to hear some of your own experiences and success stories.

AMW14

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

If you have a spare bedroom, you could look into taking in one or more Spanish students

That could be a great idea - Tks!

Hi,

From the sounds of things you are slightly inflexible in work, you will have children with you during the day and as you said you wish to spend time with them which means you will not devote your time to work. you can spend maybe 2 hours in the evening and a half day on a saturday.
If this is the case, 10 hours per week and maybe 5 on a saturday will get you around 150 per week from a petrol station. You could add to this by doing secret shopper work. I did it a few years back while I had a broken leg, I was surprised to find that some weeks I was making 200-300 a week as I might do 10 calls.

Other than that, you can apply with SOlAS or your local employment agency. if you are computer literate a lot of places would have transcribing work to be done which is paper work into files on computer. Not glamorous but can be done on your own time.

Also, as others have said, dont Foster a child unless you are really ready for it, believe me it brings problems 24/7

demello

Out of interest Hairyslug, what do you sell online, can you give me a link to your site?

daheff

did you ever think about childminding in your own home? Potentially you could get what you are looking for if you looked after 2 other children (and it could give your kids somebody else to play with too)?

ncmc

To be honest, I think if you're talking about selling stuff online then you're going into it with the wrong attitude. Your attitude at the moment is 'how can I make the most money from the least amount of work' to make a success of an online business, you have to have a passion for what you do and put in the really hard graft in the early days. I don't mean that as an insult, it's understandable that you want to spend as much time as possible with your kids, but when setting up a new business, it has to be your main priority.

Have you considered staying in your own job but going part time or doing job share? You might not lose as much as you'd think by going PT when you take tax and travel costs into consideration. Other than that, I think minding a child or two in your own home is possibly your best bet. You could make €1k a month, even with one child. Though I know this isn't for everyone as it does limit what you can do with your own children. Alternatively, does your partner work regular office hours? Working evenings and weekends in a shop/bar/restaurant could be an option. Although it does severely limit your time together as a family.