Hmmm....
STAND ALONE NARRATIVE
HARD LIFE IN THE UK
Hi Stella, please post for me. God bless you for all you do.
I will like suggestions from BVS...
I live in the UK with my husband and 2 kids I been here for like getting to 3 years. My husband has been here for a while before I joined him. We are both working and I only work 2 or 3x a week because of childcare. Too much bills to pay so we Don't have savings plus expenses from people back home.
We both help our families. I also intend to do a nursing degree by September next year's. So our finance is really low and getting low.
Please I need suggestions on what I can do to earn extra money to support the family. My husband is hardworking. I need suggestions on what business I can do in the UK to earn money. If its something I can learn online am willing.
My kids are 2+ and 6 months old. Thanks
*If you can make hair, I would suggest you start making hair and have the people come to you or you go to them... This would really get you extra money... Or you can do laundry and iron or house keeping.....
I hope you get good suggestions to make your life in the UK easier.
Making hair and food door delivery service is fine
ReplyDeleteYou can try Udemy and Coursera to find courses that you can do to enable you to find online jobs on freelance job sites like fiverr and Upwork and the like. Take a look at Google Digital Garage to see if there is something that you feel you can learn.
DeleteGoogle also has some coureses that can get you Professional Certifications on Cousera.
You can do copywriting, be a virtual assistant, Digital marketing etc. These can be done from the comfort of your home.
God bless you Zukky.
DeleteHmmmmm ... Like Stella said, making hair is a very good suggestion.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, people will very good suggestions will advice you here. All the best
I don't have any suggestion for you cos I live in Nigeria, let those in UK, US suggest to her please.
ReplyDeleteTalo gbe enue si?!
Delete16.14 be nice..
DeleteI have a neighbor from Congo who is making hair. She registers in some African saloon and they call her when they are overwhelmed to help out and make some money.
ReplyDeleteI like to see hardworking people earning legitimate money. Most Nigerians think that the streets of anywhere abroad is paved with money.
Good wishes dear one.
the truth is you are struggling financially because you have children, very young and so close to one another. It seems you want to have more kids as well which means, a longer time struggling with your finances.
ReplyDeletegoing back to school also means, even more struggles for probably the next 4 years because there is very little you can do as a student nurse and even as a graduate nurse, your first 3 years will be the basic grad rate until you garner experiences.
i would have suggested baby sitting but you want to further your career. I am not very sure what other things you can do to boost your income as a mother with young children and studying full time for a degree programme.
Perhaps cooking foods, MC' at childrens parties
I don't think it is so bad. With the shortage and UK resorting to poaching healthcare professionals from overseas, she is going in the right direction by pursuing healthcare. They may have incentives and express pathways available to shorten the study period. I think she should look at an express program to shorten the study time. It takes a lot of support to do that and she would need someone to watch the children. But ppl have done it.
DeleteStella gave her the best advice, doing braids pay serious money. A good braider can take in 1000-2000 in a week and you set your own hours.
How did you deduce from her narrative that she wants to have more kids? To the poster, anything you do try to avoid jobs that require licensing like childcare... One has to be careful abroad with thses kinds of jobs in my opinion. You can try Stella's suggestion. There is also Amazon pick up point where Amazon will deliver stuff to you and people will come pick it up in your house however I'm not sure if that business model exists in the UK but it is common in other parts of Europe.
Delete1000-2000 a week is quite high. Braids is about £60 my side, for her to reach 1000-2000 a week would be 15-33 people per week. There will also be some quiet periods.
DeleteBraiding is a good idea if she it covers her nanny bills effectively. As she has with kids, she can offer babysitting services on certain days of the week to friends and neighbours. people prefer personal friends or neighbours watching their kids than official creche. Poster, look into this.
DeleteIt's that cheap in the UK? In US and Canada braids is pricey on average $200 a head. Extensions typically run around $140, and bringing your own hair for a cheaper do and up to $500 depending on technique and if you are getting the hair from the hairdresser. Those hair specialists are making bank and you can do it completely tax free. Some of them do it while in college and university and pay their way through school.
DeleteMicroblading and lash extensions are a thing too that many are doing in their house. The microblading take some skill and longer training, plus investment in equipment. The lash extension take less time for training and materials would be less expensive. You need a steady hand for those crafts though.
Sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, poster.
Wow, I didn't realise braids were that expensive in the US / Canada. It's much cheaper here in the UK then, the £60 typically is without the extensions.
DeleteShe can also explore the other options you mentioned.
Cheers
@Anon 17.17, which province are you based in Canada that they charge $200- $500 for braids? Come on, fear God.
DeleteI completely agree with anon 17:17. I live in US and I mostly just watch YouTube and do my own hair. House Rent alone here in Boston is well over $2000 a month, minus child care and other expenses. Thank God for a good job but I just don’t see myself wasting money every six weeks to get my hair done. I fit send that money home and help my people.
Delete@ anon 20:15, my bestie was original slay queen nah YouTube she park now taking tutorials making her own wigs and doing her own hair. She stopped going to the hairdresser ages ago and start saving her money. And she used to spend the $200 every two months regularly to do her hair because she loves when her hair is layed. Now even those so-called cheap ppl you used to see on Craigslist get expensive and Craigslist is not even safe anymore since that crazy was going around killing ppl, doesn't feel the same again.
DeleteWhen microblading just came on the scene it used to be $700-1k to get it done, some elite places still charge that. Those who entered that industry in the early days made a killing. Now you can find cheaper technicians now that so many ppl are doing it, and many out of their homes.
Didn't know rent was so high in Boston, those used to be NY figures, but rent is high every damn where nowadays. Must be only Alaska and Yukon you can get cheap rent nowadays. Sometimes I long for the innocent village days where everything seemed so simple. Stay blessed, sister.
You can mind your friends kids, people in church, work etc.
ReplyDeletePlease make sure it’s Dudu o and you need to be careful too.
Each kid per day is minimum £20.
Good luck
£20 ke. I charge minimum £50 a day per child. Naija can use people. And they can born without checking their finances first.
DeleteIt's their finances, we don't have to "count their children" for them.
Delete£50 per day means you’re registered. No unregistered childminder takes £50 per day not even £20. I know a woman that takes £5 per day and she has plenty kids she dey cash out.
DeleteWhattt 5 pounds per child?? Anon 15:29 is right, naija can useee you and can be so cheap when it comes to helping your own people! So annoying.
DeleteNa real wa o! I pray that God makes a way for you and at this cusp,you could put your skill to good use since them bills be gulping your savings
ReplyDeleteI think the reasons for the hard life is because your kids are still very tender and not yet in school, which has really limit you for serious hustle, and day care there does not come cheap, it's well with you dear, like Stella suggest house keeping and laundry will go along way for you since your kids are still little.
ReplyDeleteYou see that expenses from home, cut it a little. They will drain you. An extended family tried it, like per week billing, omo, I cut them to size, now its once a year billing.
ReplyDeletePlease don’t cut it if you can keep it. Naija is really hard people are struggling the pounds exchange rate is scary. I live in the UK and do it monthly and been doing it for years and I intend to continue because I can’t let my family suffer naija is hard.
DeleteI’m very blessed too so money is not a problem for me at all. But it didn’t use to be like this I also struggle even in this UK but not anymore; my giving really helped me.
Childminding/school run is a really good way of making quick cash.
Nigeria is hard, Nigeria is hard. Keep sending money home till they drain you and render you homeless in the UK in freezing winter and social services start disturbing your life and kids. I am not saying don’t help but you see people with family abroad here in Naija have this expectation of roads paved with gold. When they ask, sometimes, explain the amount of hustle you have to do to send them the little they got last time and say No. truth is, a lot of people in Nigeria are LAZY. You and your husband are hardworking because you have no choice but hustle else you’d starve.
Delete15.26 See your mouth like "Please don’t cut it if you can keep it. Naija is really hard people are struggling...yenyenyen".
DeleteDidn't you read her tell how much she is struggling? Has hard word ever killed anyone including the people in Naija? Poster, shelve extended family till you are stable. It will be a terrible thing that your immediate family struggle while you channel extremely limited resources to able bodied individuals in Naija.
Exactly. You're struggling in the UK and sending home. In my opinion, the only person you should be sending money are your elderly parents and siblings who are still in school or learning a trade. Any other adult should go and take care of themselves. If you die today, will their life stop? They'll simply find someone else to place their burden on.
DeleteNaija is hard, Naija is sad, yet people who don't have anyone abroad are surviving. Even people with no help from family are surviving.
16.23 please you can pass your point across without insulting people. The anon you quoted only gave her opinion, she didn't insult anyone. Pls let's try and be calming down biko.
DeleteI’m anon 15:26 and I didn’t insult anyone in my comments so why the insults?
DeleteLike I said money is no longer a problem for me so I can afford to send millions monthly to give to the poor because naija is hard people are hungry.
To me it is only those that are broke in the abroad that complain about sending money home. I’m not part of them God has blessed me after a small time of struggle.
Besides I also send to my family and they are far from entitled they take what I give them and are always thankful. I can’t forget them they stood by me through my broke days and hard times!
Your second to last paragraph smh for you
DeleteAnon, relax, when God blesses him or her, he or she will send too. They should not send to their detriment.
Delete17:33 spot the long and short of your epistles is that the school runs and child minding has now allowed you to send millions home abi? Issokay.
DeleteAnon 18:27 FYI I work in the corporate world in the energy industry.
DeleteI only made a suggestion for her as she has very very young children, I have also struggled so I know how it is and I know the streets ok. It’s like you don’t know how much childcare is in the UK? If she takes her 2 kids to a nursery that is nothing less than over £2k a month if she worked full time.
I suggested childminder/ school run for quick cash in hand.
18.27 but nowhere in her comment did she state that it's school runs and child minding that made her the millions. She could have a good career enabling her earn well. Why is the anon being attacked?
Delete17:33 You are not broke but the poster clearly is. It makes sense to cut down on how much she sends to Nigeria till she starts making "millions"like you. I used to live in the UK and I know how tight things can be.
DeletePoster, please seriously consider hair making. It used to save some souls back then.
Attacked because I said don’t stop sending to your family in naija. They are the same in-laws that will say since our brother married you he stop sending to our parents smh
Delete20.36 that is your viewpoint, same way she shared hers. We can't all agree. Let's live and let live.
DeleteIt is well. No where is easy. May you receive help Amen. D people at nija why don't you tell them to back down on their give me give me stories.
ReplyDeleteThey don't know everywhere in this world is tight. Covid has spoilt much
Ogbodo oyinbo people how far???she needs suggestions
ReplyDeleteWhere in the UK are you? The exact location/city/town will help us give you informed advice.
ReplyDeleteIf you live in a place where the black population is on the lower side, then there might not be demand for afro hair services like relaxing, braids etc. The ones that will need those services will most likely want to get it done from a certified hairstylist. If I am not mistaken, you might need a beautician's license to do hair. Please don't go and add legal issues to your struggles.
The laundry services may not work, if you live in an area where it is common to have an in-built washing machine/dryer in one's home. If there are launderettes at every corner, then people may not see the need to pay you to wash their clothes, when they can pop in a couple of coins and get it done themselves. Maybe the ironing can work!
Childcare requires a lot of legal work. If you live in England, specifically, then you will need to be registered with Ofsted. You will be required to register your business; take out relevant insurance; get food and hygiene certification; as well as meet other health and safety requirements. You will need to baby-proof your home and get first-aid training. Do you have the patience and money to go through all that?
No matter what you end up doing, if it is providing a service, then please do your due diligence and get all the necessary licenses and certification. Don’t go and find yourself in a legal entanglement because you wanted to start a side hustle! Lastly, and most importantly, cut back on the family help. You and your family are struggling, there’s no need for you to be handling the bills of other able-bodied people!
That legal / insurance aspect is a key point, thanks for raising it. I'm about letting a property and one of the things I will be getting is property owners liability and legal expense cover cos one day one person somewhere can sue for a ridiculous reason, na their way lol.
DeleteYou knocked out all the suggestions given so far and didn't provide 1. Na una
Delete16:56, na dem o. Sabinus
Delete16.56 pls read her comment well. She mentioned the ironing can work, she also provided supplementary information that is vital for some of the suggestions others have made, which is equally important as OP needs both sides to make a well informed decision.
DeleteAnon 16.56 you didn't provide any suggestion either.. unless you are one of the anons above that gave suggestions.
DeleteThose saying make hair do you know how long hair takes? Who will watch the kids even if she backs the baby. Madam get a driving licence and a car on loan, pay monthly, the. Do Amazon and uber eats delivery.
ReplyDeleteMany people do uber eats and amazon delivery by the side, the wahala is who will watch her kids while she does it..
DeleteSchool run for parents, baking Meatpie’s and making small chops for parties,party mc, children’s birthday party mc.
ReplyDeleteHousecleaning does pay if you know how to use your time wisely, even pest control business which only requires a small startup and a vehicle. Baking is a good side hustle, brings in big money and ppl are always celebrating something. I see ppl also making exotic punches and selling online. I only recently found out that some are actually cooking out of their homes and selling food. Many have a solid client base. Folks show up and buy food at their house and leave. If you can cook and make old time dishes that are hard to find and highly nostalgic you may find a market. Good presentation and hygiene is needed to pursue that and also get your food handler's permit if you're going to pursue food, but that should only take a couple days.
ReplyDeleteIt is well with you poster. Try and reduce what you send home for the main time pending on when you guys are doing well for yourselves first. Let them understand you are not working and the whole load in on your hubby. Extended family matter, na shoulder good to take carry am even if you like kill yourself for them it will still not be enough for them
ReplyDeleteAs you stated you work part time, maybe you can consider working full time. Not sure the type of hours your husband work but I have known couples who work different hours so each person can work full time. One works days and the other nights.
ReplyDeleteBut to be honest, you will continue to struggle if you don't make some tough decisions. i.e cut your expenses and this will include the amount you send to Nigeria. This will be until you and your husband are in a better financial state.
Please do they not pay you child benefits in the UK? we are enjoying in Germany o. I am on maternity leave for 1 year. poster please, try to start cooking Naija food and delivering. it is very tiring, but with God on your side, these times will pass.
ReplyDeleteIt is £21 a week which is peanuts
DeleteHi Poster, I have been here in the UK for about 4years and my husband joined 2years ago. What helped us was my mum lives here, so she helped greatly with childcare whilst settling in by helping with school runs and staying with my daughter till i got back from work.
ReplyDeleteIf finances are so tight, why do you still want to go back to school, you can think of a Project Management or Business Analyst type of role which will greatly help you secure a good role and ease your finances. There are lots of options...just know that knowledge/information is key and working with the right people who would motivate you to reach for the impossible.
Life's good! Pls reach out if you need help
I’m interested in the business analyst one but have no corporate world knowledge
DeleteWhat are the lots of options?
DeleteOP, please check if your household is entitled for any government support.
ReplyDeleteShe won’t be because she is married and her husband works full time
DeleteOh okay, I thought if the combined household income was below a threshold they could get supoort, I don't know that much about it besides what I read online.
DeleteIf you make less than 16k a year then you qualify but her husband works full time and full time hours is more than 16k a year.
DeleteOkay, I get it. Thanks.
DeleteI heard weekend jobs and night jobs pay double or so.you and husband can share it, you can add weekend jobs to yours while he watches the kids .also he work night jobs and you watch your kids . I pray it works out for you.
ReplyDeleteTonia
You can learn some short IT skills and get a remote job work, working from home.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you can do some certifications instead of going back to school. That helps.
ReplyDeleteIn what?
DeleteMy suggestion may be unpopular, but you need to reduce what you send to your extended families. You now have a nuclear family and that should be paramount. If you need to go to school, please go to school, channel the funds you give them to build yourself. If not, life will be totally frustrating for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I don’t understand some people sometimes all in the name of helping to the detriment of their own. Poster your immediate family comes first! Cut down on money you send home for Gods sake! I don’t know how often you guys send money home but you can reduce it twice a year or every quarter if you guys send money home monthly. Just let them know y’all are not financially stable right now. Your 2+ child should start that social interaction and learning by now. Use that money you send home and enroll your child in a part time daycare. That way, you’ll have more time to even get a work from home job like data entry, admin work, project coordinator work! Make una get selfish ooo hmmm. This is your future and your children’s future.
DeleteI am in the UK too.
ReplyDeleteYou can bake naija pastries, cook food, sell aliexpress jewellery on ebay, baby sit/childmind for other people's kids you know from local church etc.
Poster have you considered Care jobs?
ReplyDeleteAll I can say to you poster is"e go better for you with time.
ReplyDeleteFor now, cut down your expenses as more money isn't coming in eg.
*Internet broadband - less,
*phone /data bills - less,
*usage of lights /electricity /gas - less,
*walk instead of taxi and buses for short distances
*if an aged parents can come with visit visa to enable you both work, that will help, if not, that's ok.
*do your clothes, shoes shopping etc on Facebook Market, gumtree, eBay. Go for bundle of clothes for example instead of buying 1, 2 each time.
*be honest with yourself and others that rely on you or expect cash from "OBODO OYIBO" that you are struggling
* consider changing your phone number so folks that think you're CBN can't reach you "etc etc.
You see these little things eeehh, they will help you save over half what you're looking to spend worth ££££.
Consider it seriously. Goodluck to you.
UK is really not easy. No wonder my friends ran away from there to Canada.
ReplyDeletePlease will sewing/sewing Nigerian styles too work?
ReplyDeletePoster pls get a care job.
ReplyDeleteYou work nights and your husband day. It saved my sanity. It might not be the best job for some people but it was for me.
Go to care homes but if you start as a healthcare assistants with NHS, good side is that they would sponsor your nursing education free of charge.
If you start your nursing degree in September, Govt pays for you but remember if you finish school and start working, you pay back. They deduct it from your salary.
If your husband does a day job, pls find a night job. If he works night, then find a day job. You can work as a Bank staff with NHS. I only worked weekends at NHS and make monthly income of £1600 after tax. Care home monthly income is lesser.
Have you thought about universal credit or working tax credit? Ask if you are entitled to any fund. Good luck.
I see the UK government is advertising for telephone advisors to assist with the vax passport rollout. It is working from home, eight pounds something an hour if you’re interested. Check the different job sites to find it or google it
ReplyDeleteNdi Naijiria, una dey see how abroad people dey work their asses off? Some of una go dey lazy about dey entitled to their money. See rent wey dem dey pay a month? Na wa. Husband wey dey work morning, wife work night, how una dey take enjoy una life? Una dey suffer oo. If person get better work for Naija here, e better oo. Make una no dey send money home joor, na the same hand and leg wey una get them get. If we hustle half una hustle, we go dey alright. Some of una just dey shame make we no give una bad mouth, una go dey stree unasef to send money. People are making it and balling in this naija oo.
ReplyDeleteSome of us are also cashing out in this UK with better job and mad pay
Delete13.17 but anon didn't say it's all, right?
DeleteYou can go for a safety course
ReplyDelete