What drives you to want to earn extra money?

[sigabooks]

For me I am currently living on the least money I possibly can (In London!). I am trying to set up more and more small projects that make a little bit of money so that I've always got something trickling in. Rather than a couple of years ago when I was earning more, but the money was always trickling out!

I want flexibility. I don't want to work 40 hours a week 9-5. In fact I find it hard to believe that we're all expected to do this, and everyone just goes along with it? The other thing about 9-5 working is that you never get anything else done. Forget personal projects and creative ventures if you're stuck in an office all day everyday - you're not gonna have the time or energy or clear mind to do it. Well for me that's how it was anyway.

Quitting the 9-5 really opened things up for me. But most people are extremely frightened which I can understand but then I guess it depends what you're outgoings are etc.

 

[The Funky Blue Dog]

For me I am currently living on the least money I possibly can (In London!). I am trying to set up more and more small projects that make a little bit of money so that I've always got something trickling in. Rather than a couple of years ago when I was earning more, but the money was always trickling out!

I want flexibility. I don't want to work 40 hours a week 9-5. In fact I find it hard to believe that we're all expected to do this, and everyone just goes along with it? The other thing about 9-5 working is that you never get anything else done. Forget personal projects and creative ventures if you're stuck in an office all day everyday - you're not gonna have the time or energy or clear mind to do it. Well for me that's how it was anyway.

Quitting the 9-5 really opened things up for me. But most people are extremely frightened which I can understand but then I guess it depends what you're outgoings are etc.

I agree that having a portfolio of smaller projects on the go is a much more rewarding way to spend your days. I did this years ago and loved it. Then went back to the 9-5 working-for-somebody-else routine for some stupid reason - big mistake!! Now I'm back to broke-but-happy mode, but The Money Shed is such a wealth of information that we can try out ideas we'd never even thought of, and hopefully end up with a nice balanced portfolio of time investments 8)

 

[FreeSwagSites]

For me working online is not about earning "extra" money as what I earn online is my only income, but it is a very small percentage of the overall household income.

I am Mum to three primary school age children and started working for myself online when my middle child was a baby. I need the flexibility being my own boss entails as my husband has a very demanding job which means he is often away overnight and sometimes overseas at weekends. He earns a six figure salary so the motivation isn't purely financial, but what I earn goes in the holiday pot.

With three children I want to be able to be there for school assemblies, sports days and to take them to Brownies, swimming and dancing after school. If I had a traditional office based job working 9-5, even if I were part time, I would not have that flexibility. My kids like it that I can always take them to school and pick them up, and that I always pitch up for school events. Also with three of them, if I had to factor in after school care costs with a "proper" job, I wouldn't earn as much as I can from the sofa.

I fully understand this.

We have 3 kids (2 and primary school and 1 at nursery part-time). My wife is currently working part-time (3 days per week), but it is impossible to manage everything and out household is in chaos most of the time. The school don't make it any easier with their trips every other week, constant demands for us to make costumes and attend daytime learning events at short notice! I'm sure that this never happened back in the 70s/80s? It also costs us a fortune in school trip fees each time and they haven't come up with any venues that we haven't already taken the kids at least once before anyway.

This week we were told that there is going to be a performance in a couple or weeks time and we can either make 2 elaborate fruit / vegetable costumes or buy them from Amazon at £12 each. My wife would love to be able to sit around all day sewing tomato suits, but it's impossible when you are working.

 

[Flitterbug]

The problem is the schools don't have the time or the money either, Teachers spend so long marking/report writing and progress checking that they don't have the time to be as creative as I'm sure they all want to be. I worked as a TA in a school and the teachers I worked with (foundation stage)wished that they could afford to be TA's as the extra work and stress isn't worth the pay.
We were always asking for more resources but even the basics like glue, paper and sand for pits was restricted. Not the parents fault though and I know that some schools seem to put a lot of pressure on parents to do things such as trips and costumes. It all looks fun and good on paper but practical time and money wise? Not really.

 

[caledonia1972]

Going a wee bit off tangent but I completely agree!

When I was at school classes did not take time to lead the assemblies with parents invited, and didn't have "learning festivals". Since Christmas I have been expected to provide an Egyptian costume and a Roman costume - luckily I am OK with a sewing machine and can work wonders with an Asda smartprice pillow case. Teachers who are parents themselves are usually very understanding and make reasonable requests. One year my son had a straight out of college teacher with no kids of her own, who asked us to supply bright yellow trousers and long sleeve t-shirt for an 8 year old boy. As if.

It must be a nightmare for parents working in a "proper" job. Last week sports day was scheduled for Wednesday, rained off and rearranged for the Friday. No hassle for me as I got a morning to work on Wednesday that I hadn't expected and could still hit my Friday deadlines. Not so great for parents who had two use two days of annual leave. Plus with their Dad often being away overnight or at the head office in Southern England (we are in Glasgow) it's up to me to go to all these sorts of things.

 

[Jon]

I can feel your pain on this subject

When I was at school music lessons were free, not now, now they cost every term and worse still, they are done in groups, you don't even learn on your own!!

Plus hire of the music instrument which again was free in my day (the 90s)


Every school trip seems to cost a fortune, after after school club also seem to cost a fair amount as well

no wonder so many stay at home parents are looking to earn money online from home

 

[xmturtle]

I'm a student so cash is always tight. Unfortunately I love eating out, good wine, cooking for friends, festivals and the list goes on! So the more cash I can make basically the happier I am. I buy a lottery ticket too so one day I might not have to work quite so hard! x

 

[JennaA]

Hello newbie here!

Thought that this May be a good place to start with my first post.

My partner and I bought our first home together in March this year. Mortgage, bills and food shopping. Huge reality check!!!

I've been doing some survey sites since October and as a result of trial and error have found those that I think aren't a waste of time for little return.

That said, that's not making loads and I'm hoping that this wonderful and very informative forum can help me out a little.

So yes, I need the extra income to help with some of the bills, furnish my new apartment (everything is so expensive) and in the long run I want to start thinking about kids so will need a steady foundation before then.

 

[Chammy]

Hey there Jenna.

Welcome to our humble little place..thing ;D

Any idea how much you are looking to earn so we can point you in the right direction?

Have you given anything else a go besides surveys?

 

[JennaA]

Hi. Thanks for the welcome

Only surveys really. Odd bit of Ebaying and selling my unused CDs but now that I have nothing more to sell that's dried up. I've recently joined Roamler as well. I'm really enjoying that.

I work 9am-5pm most days but 9am-8pm on Thursday. Plus the odd Saturdays. I'm always on the go but keen to find a few things that are time effective and will make me some spare cash.

Thanks for your help. Any suggestions that you have will be great.

 

[Chammy]

Hi. Thanks for the welcome

Only surveys really. Odd bit of Ebaying and selling my unused CDs but now that I have nothing more to sell that's dried up. I've recently joined Roamler as well. I'm really enjoying that.

I work 9am-5pm most days but 9am-8pm on Thursday. Plus the odd Saturdays. I'm always on the go but keen to find a few things that are time effective and will make me some spare cash.

Thanks for your help. Any suggestions that you have will be great.

Sorry I welcomed you and then the husband decided we were having a rare early night

Clic and Walk is similar to Roamler, then if you are in the London area Streetspotr is currently testing themselves there (they are huge in Europe) which is kind of exclusive to their social media followers and us ;D

If you enjoy blogging then Milk the Blog pays you for your content or there is loads of info on here about setting up and monetising a blog (or two).

 

[x_kirsty_xx]

I am on minimum wage so it supplements my income while I'm looking (unsuccessfully) for another job

 

[Scratch]

I have a part time job, I enjoy it but the money's poor so if I could earn a bit extra it'd be nice. After all, "money makes the world go round" ???

 

[CubaCat]

I work part time but I'm a single parent and don't get maintenance, so money is often tight. My only debt is a car loan that I'd like to pay off early and/or overpay on, but I also want to start seriously saving for a house deposit (I currently rent privately). In the shorter term I'd love to be able to take my son on holiday every year - we're having one this year but it's the first in three years and I'd love to go away annually. I love holidays! In summary, I just want to make my life easier financially.