Make Money with Gift Hampers This Christmas

Make money with gift hampers this Christmas – but start now, so you have time to prepare!

Big stores like Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and M&S do a roaring trade in hampers for men and hampers for women, and when you add up the cost of the items in them, you can see they’re making a good profit. Have a look at their hamper gifts to give yourself an idea of what to put in yours.

Even if you don’t want to make money with gift hampers, keep reading – you could find some inspiration for making unique gift hampers this Christmas for your loved ones!

Making hampers can cost very little and the goodies inside can be bought in bulk or made at home to bring down costs. However, the selling price can be as high as you like, so this is an amazing potential earner if you get it right.

• Research hampers
• Buy in bulk to fill the hampers
• Present the hampers beautifully
• Costings
• Advertising your hampers
• Lovely items to make for your hamper
• Tell us about your hampers and how you have made money out of them

If you have creative juices flowing through you, this could be something you do to occupy yourself in the evening – or make to order.

Read through our step by step guide to making hampers (and selling them) to find out more.

 

Step one: research

Think about who you’re going to sell your hampers to.

• It’s likely that you will be selling locally to start off with, maybe even to family and friends, so you need to think about what the people in your area might like to see in a hamper.
• Locally sourced products like jams and cakes are likely to sell better than a hamper packed with novelty Christmas gifts.
•  Ask your friends and family what kind of items they’d like to receive in a hamper, and take a look at any delicatessens in your area that might sell them to see what they have on offer. Also look online and in stores to see what they put in their hampers.
• Maybe you could have specific themed hampers (all chocolate, or hampers for gardeners or “tea for two” hampers, for example), or create hampers only from (nicely wrapped) homemade foods you’ve made yourself.

 

If you plan to sell homemade foods that you’ve cooked in your own home then you have to get your kitchen registered.

Before you bake and package goods to sell, speak to your local authority to check regulations in your area.

You can search for contact details of your local council alphabetically by clicking here. Our article on making and selling cakes and jams has more information on food hygiene regulations.

Before you rush off to buy as many items in bulk as you can, stop to think about what you really want to put into your hampers.

Make a list of about ten items you definitely want to put in them. You might not necessarily put all those items into one hamper but this way you can mix and match to create a variety of designs.

Some great ideas include:

• Jams
• Cakes
• Biscuits
• Gluten-free or vegan items
• Stationery sets
• Travel-sized games
• Toiletries like fancy shampoo or bath bombs
• Personalised gifts

 

Step two: buy in bulk

Once you have a reasonable idea of what hamper gifts you want to put into the mix, it’s time to find the cheapest versions of the products and the containers and decorations to maximise your profits.

By buying items in bulk you save a lot of money, so register with your local cash and carry to benefit from their cheaper prices.

• If you decide to do hampers seriously then look online for wholesalers of the items you are interested in (perhaps you’re going for bath products or tins and jars of food).
• Lots of wholesalers ask for proof that you are self-employed, so to benefit from most wholesale deals you’ll need to get yourself registered as a small business/self-employed person with HMRC.

Here are a few sites we recommend when you’re making hampers to buy your ingredients in bulk.

• eBay – obviously there’s a lot you can get here for cheap but be careful as not everything is cheaper than you could get in a pound shop, for example.
• Candi Gifts – this site sells baskets from 25p, and has great deals on cellophane and coloured shredding which you’ll be using to pack up and wrap your hamper.
• Amazon – boxes and baskets for under a tenner.
• Scribbler – perfect for personalised gift hampers. Scribbler offer great designs, edgy humour and even personalisation, all of which can be bought and put into a quirky little hamper.
• Elements – for a toiletry hamper you should pay a visit to the Elements website to find some great deals on bath products. They have low minimum orders too which is handy if you’re only making a few hampers.
• Wilco– If you’re looking to add a personalised touch, why not create your own gift to add to your hamper pack. Wilkos offer a hamper accessory pack for £2 as well as a load of other things all catered around creating your own hamper. You could add a personalised touch to each hamper for just a few quid.

If we haven’t listed what you want then simply type into Google: wholesale [name of product] and it should come up with a list of wholesale websites that have what you need. Be sure to shop around as the first deal you come across might look tempting but it’s likely you’ll be able to find it cheaper elsewhere.

 

Step three: presentation – making hampers saleable

When you’re coming up with hamper gifts ideas it’s really important to remember that people will be buying these hampers for their family and friends, so they will want them to look presentable. If a customer is wowed by the first hamper you supply, they are far more likely to buy from you again.

As you can see, many of them are not in baskets or even in wicker trays. They are in boxes, bags and all sorts of things. There’s a lot that you can use as the basis of a hamper. Take a look around your home for empty plant pots, old ‘distressed’ (i.e. a bit rusty) watering cans and other receptacles that could be turned into cool hampers.

Don’t go over the top with decoration. Some shredding to fill up the empty spaces, cellophane wrapping and a bow is perfect. By the way, if you have a shredder at home, use that to make the packing – just shred old wrapping paper, tissue paper or magazines to make it.

If you want to add a little more luxury you could tie a ribbon right around the hamper (this is also a good trick to hide the bunching of the cellophane) or you could drop a few foiled chocolates to cover empty space. Simplicity is the key for decoration of hampers.

If it’s a Christmas hamper, add a bauble to the insides and maybe one on the ribbon. Use tinsel, plastic Father Christmas’s and other Christmas decorations you might have around the house to give it a festive look.

Be sure to practise your designs a few times before you pack up your hampers and ship them off. Making hampers perfect is an art, and it’ll take you a little time to get it right so don’t panic if when the first time you try it, it looks like a big mess! Just keep rearranging items until they fit.

You can get all kinds of small decorations and bows from pound shops and markets. You could also get friendly with your local florist and get them to sell you a whole roll of cellophane at a little more than wholesale price.

 

Step four: costings

To work out how to price your hamper, there are a few things you need to take into consideration.

• The first and most obvious is how much it costs to make – this includes the items inside the hamper, the basket itself, the decorations and all the costs for the delivery (if you are offering this service rather than just selling at a local market).

• The second cost is your time: how long does it take to make a hamper? Consider how much you would like to pay yourself an hour and incorporate this into the costs. The next cost is delivery. Are you going to deliver them yourself or are you going to hire a courier? Even if you deliver them yourself you have to consider the petrol costs.
• Then how much is the competition selling their hampers for? – Take a look at similar hampers in the shops and, if there are any, at local markets. How much are they selling for? Can you undercut them? It could be worth taking a picture of a similar hamper with the price and displaying that next to your better-priced version! Remember that if the price is too high then customers will use one of your rivals so make a note of their prices and try to stay under those if possible.
• How will you ship it? Find and compare shipping prices to make sure you save as much as you can on sending your hampers to customers – without risking damaging the items inside.

 

Step five: advertising

Where you advertise your hampers will depend on who your market is. It’s best to start small and sell locally rather than expecting your business to boom in a short space of time.

Just setting up a stall at your local market, farmers’ market or car boot sale could be enough to start off with – you will just pick up passing trade. But you could also advertise locally in shops or nationally on the web if you want to do more regular trade.

• Put an ad in the local paper close to Christmas or Easter, or post one on Gumtree or on Facebook.
• Think about the kind of people that will be buying your hampers and then think about where they’re most likely to go.
• If you’re specialising in golf hampers, for example, then stick an advert up on your local golf club’s notice board.
• Hampers for gardeners could be advertised in your local garden centre.  It’s all about using your common sense to work out which advertising medium best fits your market.

Step six: lovely items to make for your hamper

If you’re handy in the kitchen or a crafty type, you could make some lovely items to put in your hamper. Make sure you follow all required licensing rules and regulations, and hygiene legislation, too.

Here are a few ideas:

Food

Flavoured Oils

If you have some nice empty jars (with lids) or, better still, some empty oil and vinegar bottles, you can use these to make flavoured oils.

Get some olive oil (ideally buy in bulk to get it cheaper – maybe at the market) and 1-2 cup of whatever you want to infuse it with such as chilli, garlic cloves, rosemary or thyme. 

Heat the oil in a pan and then add the infusion so that the warm oil absorbs the flavour. Once cooled, pour into your glass bottles (if you’re using rosemary, garlic or chilli, leave them in so that the oil can continue to season).

Decorate the bottles in a Christmassy way.

Roasted Cinnamon Almonds

Beat an egg white and water together before adding whole, blanched almonds. Stir them until they are well coated.

Mix up icing sugar, salt and cinnamon and sprinkle over the nuts. Spread evenly on a baking tray and bake for an hour until golden. See the recipe here.

Allow to cool then package them up in pretty bags with bows.

Gingerbread Fudge

The only ingredients you need for this are condensed milk, white chocolate chips, butter and vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt.

There’s a great recipe here that you can follow. It’s pretty easy to do.

Cut your fudge with Christmas cookie cutters or just cut them into squares, then wrap them in a clear bag with red and green ribbon. 

SEA SALT WATER BISCUITS

A bit of butter, some baking soda, plain flour and sea salt are all you need for this one.

Heat the oven, place the flour, baking soda and butter into a food processor and let it whizz. Get it out, and make it into a dough. Roll out the dough onto a kitchen surface.

You can prick the dough with a fork to create shapes which you can do in whatever you like. See the recipe here.

SALTED PEANUT AND CARAMEL PRETZEL

This is pretty easy to make, all you need is: 20g of peanuts, 50g of plain pretzels, 150g of caster sugar, 150g of golden syrup and 100g of butter.

Make sure before you start that the oven is heated. Firstly, you need to place the nuts in the oven for around 10 to 15 minutes. After, add the pretzels on a baking sheet of paper. There’s a good recipe you can follow here.

If you want to go eco-friendly, you could make your own small Christmassy paper bag to place the pretzels in. Get the right wrapping paper, then follow this guide.

WHITE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Start by heating half a cup of cream over a medium saucepan. Add the chocolate chips and whisk until smooth. Put the contents in a bowl and leave for 2 hours or overnight. Roll into balls – and in ingredients like chopped nuts or cocoa powder for the finish.

There’s a simple guide here, but be warned, this probably isn’t as easy as the others. But, the end product will be just as nice, or maybe even better!

This will be a nice touch to any Christmas hamper, so well worth the time and effort if you want to make something nice.

Toiletries

Fragranced body butter

To make body butter, heat coconut oil, cocoa butter and shea butter together until they melt, then take off the heat and mix with fragrances like sweet almond, vitamin E and peppermint essential oil.

Chill in the fridge for an hour, take it out and mix until the consistency is whipped. There are various recipes for making body butter here so take a look at these instructions.

Place in a clean, decorated jar for a perfect festive present.  

Bath Bombs

These are really fun to make and you can get the kids involved too. See here for a full recipe for great bath bombs.

You need citric acid, baking soda, shea butter, essential oils and shaped muffin tins. 

Melt the shea butter and then mix in with the other ingredients before adding the essential oils.

Add bit of water to make them hold together, before moulding them into the muffin tins.

Leave to set for around six hours and there you are.

The post Make Money with Gift Hampers This Christmas appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Make Money by Selling Homemade Perfume

Boutique perfumes are all the rage – look at the success of social media brands like Ffern and The Saltworks Company.

But you don’t need to be on the front of OK! Magazine or a huge company to start selling homemade perfume. You could make and sell your own perfume and perfume-based products for surprisingly little cost. It’s not that hard either and you can almost always find what you need at a health food store.

• How to make your own perfume
• How much can you make by selling homemade perfume?
• Start selling homemade perfume

How to make your own perfume

Before you can begin selling homemade perfume, you need to understand how to make a viable product. The best way to do this is to invest a little time and money (but not much!) – Wowcher has some great perfume making workshops which will teach you the basics for under £30.

First, decide how strong you want your fragrance. Perfumes are the strongest, containing 15-30 per cent essential oils diluted in a base of alcohol, with a small percentage of distilled water. Less potent waters contain 5-10 per cent essential oils while colognes and body splashes may have 1-2 per cent.

What you’ll need:

• Your favourite pure essential oils (such as rose, lavender or sandalwood)
• Alcohol for cleaning
• Fixatives
• Eye-droppers
• Small vials
• Sterilised small bottles or jars

The best alcohols are the highest-proof ones, as they contain the greatest concentration of ethyl alcohol: use 95 per cent grain alcohol (190 proof) or vodka (the highest proof available).

Fixatives prolong a fragrance. They are ingredients added to a composition to lend their overall rate of evaporation. Commonly used fixatives are sandalwood, benzoin, myrrh, vanilla and balsam of Peru. Other fixatives, particularly useful for oil and bath blends, creams and lotions, are tincture of benzoin, grape seed oil, castor oil, and liquid from vitamin E gel capsules.

You should use glass containers (rather than plastic) for preparing and storing perfumes. Make sure you record, date and name each blend and be prepared to wait for days or weeks once you have made your perfume as ageing is necessary to smooth out and mellow the raw-ingredient smell – allow your blend to age in a cool, dry, dark area.

After adding each new essential oil, be sure to smell the result to get an idea of how each added ingredient changes the formula and how you might like to modify it in the future. Clean the eye-dropper in alcohol or vodka between each addition of a new essential oil.

‘You can do what you want, of course, but when I’m working with new oils or new combinations, I usually start with equal amounts – for example, two drops of ginger, two drops of jasmine, and two drops of sandalwood,’ says American Sherill Pociecha, who mixes her own perfume.

If you have a background in chemistry and like technical books, The Chemistry of Fragrances by D. H. Pybus and C. S. Sell is a useful sourcebook for would-be perfume-makers.

But the actual fragrance is just a very small part of the total perfume package, as all the big perfume-makers know. You will need good packaging – attractive bottles, pretty printed labels and extras such as ribbons, dried flowers or well-designed wrapping and boxes. If you are artistic, or you know someone that is who will help you, this can be the really fun part about it.

It’s important to work out your marketing concept before you make your final selection of a fragrance. You want the concept – the image of the fragrance – to work in tandem with the scent. Don’t go overboard on frills. Try to find a theme and express it in a simple yet creative way – it’s easier and usually much cheaper, but is still likely to sell as well as more fussy things.

If you learn to make soap, candles and creams (none of them too difficult), you can supply a range of products in one particular scent. You can then market these as gift boxes.

 

How much can you make by selling homemade perfume?

The mark-up on perfumes is very high, so if you are successful you could earn thousands a month, but it will take a while to build the business up to this kind of level. Some tips to help you start are:

• Begin with a modest range.
• Keep your overheads low – make the stuff in your kitchen or your garden shed if you have one.
• Remember The Body Shop Anita Roddick used sample bottles to sell her creams and potions originally. Look for cheap but effective bottles and containers.
• Presentation is everything. Again, you don’t have to spend big money but you do need to be creative. Use ribbons, even collage using torn-out pictures from magazines, pressed flowers and buttons. All kinds of things can make the packages look attractive.
• Remember to factor in the cost of advertising, travel and marketing as well as the cost of web design and hosting, if you sell that way, plus the cost of exhibiting at fairs or markets.
• Remember that it could take months before you sell anything. Keep your own outgoings low for as long as possible.

 

Start selling homemade perfume

 

Thankfully, selling homemade perfume comes with a variety of methods. You will need to market your product to gift shops – in the high street and online – and independent chemist’s shops and toiletry stores. You could also sell at craft fairs, local markets and gift fairs such as Top Drawer, which takes place annually at Olympia London. Setting up your own website and selling your products direct to the public is also a good idea. Or, even easier, set up your own perfume-selling marketplace on eBay.

The post Make Money by Selling Homemade Perfume appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

14 ways you can make money at university

There’s lots of creative ways you can make money at university. All it takes is a little organisation, some good ideas and a willingness to put in a bit of extra work. In return, you get tax-free cash as a student! (Up to the annual allowance of £12,500, of course).

Here are 14 ways you can make money at university:

• Sell second-hand stuff online
• Use your knowledge
• Complete online surveys
• Get paid for clicks
• Be a website tester
• Rent spare space 
• Get vlogging
• Write for cash
• Be a rent-a-friend
• Start a side business
• Sell craft items
• Complete odd jobs
• Sell ad space
• Take part in trials
• Become a summer school mentor
• Play Games

 

1. Sell used goods online

You can earn extra cash raiding car boot sales or selling things you don’t want anymore. Simply take pics of the stuff you want to get rid of and advertise it on Gumtree or eBay. Make sure you check any potential fees, but otherwise, use anything lying around unused at home. Instead of throwing it out, make back some cash online.

Find out all the different ways you can sell your stuff here.

 

2. Sell your knowledge

Don’t forget that you can sell more than just household items – you can also sell your services. As a student, you’ll have some really valuable knowledge to share. Why not put that degree to use? Earn back a bit of extra cash with tutoring. Alternatively, offer your skills to teach online for sites like Coursera or Udemy.

Find out how you can make £80 an hour as a private tutor.

 

3. Do Online Surveys

It’s very simple: you take surveys, earn points and – eventually – redeem these for money or gift cards.

It’s a great way to pass some spare time. It’s also easy to fit in between classes or procrastinating online.

Which sites bring in most cash? Find out in our article on making money with online surveys.

If you like sharing your opinion, you can also make money at university by attending focus groups.

 

4. Cash in on your clicks

If you spend a lot of time browsing sites, you can get paid to click on adverts, read emails or visit websites. Sign up for Qmee, an app that sits on your internet browser and quantifies clicks. Just search whatever you normally would and get paid for performing routine clicks.

 

5. Test websites

Sites like What Users Do can earn you great money for just trying out a website. This means performing a certain site function and giving feedback – like a review of your experience using the site. Easy!

Find out more about making easy money testing apps and websites.

 

6. Rent your spare space

Even if you just have the simplest of spaces left in your flat, you can still make some cash by putting people up.

You can use AirBnB to market almost any kind of space – just think up a witty way to sell it. If you’re heading off on a holiday, take advantage of the opportunity. Make sure you’re allowed to do this if you’re currently renting before going ahead, though. If you’re lucky enough to have a parking space at your student house, you can rent that, too!

Find out more ways you can make and save money from renting out parts of your home.

 

7. Create great videos

If you have a video that could go viral or you fancy yourself in front of the camera, why not give it a try? Viral videos can draw huge clicks and ad revenue. If you have a topic you love to talk about or a penchant for silliness you think others might like, it’s easy to get started for free on YouTube.

Find out more about making money with social media.

 

8. Get writing for others

If you like to write, sites like Textbroker will employ you to do research, data entry or reviews. These usually pay according to the nature of the piece and its length. It’s a good way to squeeze in a few extra pounds from the comfort of your living room.

If you’re keen on a topic, why not consider producing an eBook instead? Or if you fancy writing fiction, you could make money writing saucy books too!

 

9. Rent out your friendship

Did you know you could be someone’s friend for a price? Sign up to Rent A Friend. It’s totally platonic and you can earn extra cash just doing things you might already be doing anyway.

While it might sound odd, it’s just another way you can cash in on everyday activities.

Find out more about making money being a friend.

 

10. Start your own business

You can start a business very easily these days and it could be a great way to make money at university. As a self-employed student, you also get the flexibility to earn for something you find interesting.

For a bunch of great business ideas that you can kick off as a student, take a look at Student Money Saver’s handy list to get started.

 

11. Sell handmade items

Whether you’re selling pet rocks, embroidery, knitted scarves or birthday cards, there’s a way to sell almost anything you can think of online.

If you’re keen on getting creative at home, Etsy was made for you. It’s a great way to earn a bit of extra cash alongside your day-to-day efforts.

We also share a lot of practical tips on making your own beauty products, selling DIY perfume and earning cash by putting together hampers. Make sure you always check the required licensing and hygiene regulations.

 

12. Do odd jobs

Fill in spare time with extra odd jobs using online tools like Fiverr or TaskRabbit. There’s a never-ending supply of things you can do to make money at university – from helping with essays to mowing someone’s lawn, taking photographs or babysitting.

We always try to help you with unusual ideas to make extra cash.

 

13. Sell ad space on your bike

If you’re a keen cyclist, sign yourself up to a service like Ads on Bikes. Create a free account to register for potential ad placements. It’s easy to do online and once you’re accepted, you will be sent ads to stick onto your bike. You then make money cycling as you normally would.

Find out more about making money advertising on your bike.

 

14. Participate in trials

You might think signing up as a participant in clinical trials can seem risky – but some are much less scary than you might think. For instance, those in psychological trials simply want to know about your day-to-day experiences. Just make sure you investigate terms carefully before you commit.

Find out how you could get paid to take part in clinical trials.

 

15. Become a Summer School Mentor

There are several reasons why a university student might want to take a mentoring job:

1. Professional development: Gain valuable experience in a teaching or mentoring role, particularly useful for students interested in education or other fields involving young people.
2. Personal growth: Challenging but rewarding experience that helps students develop communication and leadership skills, build confidence, and gain a sense of accomplishment.
3. Cultural exchange: Learn about other cultures and make new friends from around the world.
4. Financial reasons: Summer school jobs can be well-paid, so working as a mentor in Cambridge can be a good way for a university student to earn extra money over the summer.

16. Play Games

If you’re a gamer, you can also get paid to play games.

These are just a few ways to get you started earning extra cash alongside your studies. Do you have any other ideas to make money at university? Share in the comments box.

The post 14 ways you can make money at university appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

How to make money from your house….room by room

There are so many ways to make money from your house, either to help with running costs, energy bills or even to make a profit. You might be prepared to use your whole house to make some extra money by renting it out as a location for tv or film. Or you might prefer to just use a single space, such as your garage, driveway or spare room.

Whatever your preference, we’ve got lots of ideas here on MoneyMagpie on how to make your house pay for itself, room by room!

• Spare Room
• Garage
• Living Room
• Attic
• Kitchen
• Bedroom
• Bathroom 
• Garden
• Shed
• Outbuilding or Annex
• Driveway
• Whole House

SPARE ROOM

Renting out a spare bedroom can make you up to £7,500 a year tax-free. According to the government’s Rent a Room Scheme you can let out as much of your home as you want, as long as you also still live there. Depending on your space and preferences, you’ll need to decide what kind of housemate you’re after. Could you manage a permanent co-resident who freely uses common areas like the living room and kitchen? Or would you prefer short-term visitors who simply need a pillow to lay their heads on at the end of the day? 

Either way, you’ll be earning a passive income and can make money sitting on your butt doing nothing at the end of a long day. You can rest easy knowing you have money coming in without doing anything.

ADVERTISING YOUR ROOM 

Sites like:

• Gumtree 
• SpareRoom 

cover the whole of the UK. They’re the perfect platforms for advertising your room for a lodger. 

Airbnb currently dominates the global market for vacation rentals. It’s a good place to list your spare room for occasional holidaymakers. 

GARAGE

How much do you use your garage?  If you can clear some space you could rent it out on sites like  Stashbee. You can charge a competitive rate for your space and they will add a small fee onto to cover their expenses. They also offer insurance to protect whatever you choose to give a home to. It’s a great and easy way to make a bit of cash, if you’ve got the space.

LIVING ROOM

Make money sitting down and watching TV! We know what you’re thinking – can you REALLY make money watching television?

Well yes, you can!

OK, you might have to do a bit more than just watch, but there are plenty of ways to turn your relaxing pastime into a money-making opportunity.

Find out how you can make money watching TV.

ATTIC

Do you have items lying around that you think might be worth something? You’re probably right, and they may be worth a lot more than you think.

Children’s toys like Nintendo consoles or Star Wars figures could be worth hundreds of pounds, and costume jewellery is always popular, especially designs from the 1930s, which can also be worth hundreds. Objects and furniture from the 1980s are also set to rise in popularity and value as we get further away from that iconic decade. Get that ladder down and find out if there might be cash in the attic…

KITCHEN

In the kitchen you could make money hosting dinner parties, pop-ups, special event, cooking classes and much more with www.eatwith.com.  Hosts need to be able to cook as you will be charging for what you produce but you can charge anything from £20-£80 pp. You will need to budget for the cost of buying and preparing the food, so you couldn’t make a living from this, but if you love to cook and have the space, it’s great way to meet new people and to earn a bit of money while you do.

BEDROOM

You can make money in so many different ways these days, and yes, you heard us right – that includes empty boxes. With the rise in popularity of influencers and bloggers, we’re also seeing an increasing demand to sell old boxes for tech and designer goods online. This is our simple guide on how you can sell the empty boxes you have lying around at home and earn some cash!

BATHROOM

You can make money selling old toilet rolls. Nope, we’re not even joking about this! In fact, there are truly loads of people out there just dying to get their hands on your old toilet rolls.

We did a little investigation into this rising money-making trend and gathered some important information to help you make an extra buck or two.

GARDEN

No matter how small your garden may be, you can earn a sweet mint with some of our clever outdoor money-making ideas. From using the soil for growing saleable produce to renting your garden for private functions, there are loads of ways to earn pretty pounds from those lovely petals. Click here are a few tops tips on how to make money from your garden.

SHED

You may not have set foot in it for years, it may be full of tools and garden equipment. But did you know that wooden shack at the bottom of your garden could make you some extra money?

We delved into the intriguing world of shed-working and the results surprised us. There are many possibilities for transforming your dilapidated shed into a lucrative source of income. Click here to find out more…

OUTBUILDING or ANNEX

Homeowners are seeking ways to combat the currently all-too-notorious rises in energy bills and the cost of living crisis that’s all over the news right now. One such possibility is for homeowners who have an unused annex or outbuilding that could provide ‘passive income’ by renting it out as as an Airbnb… find out how here.

DRIVEWAY

Do you live in a particularly prime transport location? Do you have a garage or driveway sitting unoccupied and begging to be used? Why not turn it into a money-spinner by renting it out?

Thousands of people in the UK rent out parking spaces and if you live in a big city or near an airport you could make as much as £17,000 a year! Who wouldn’t want that? We here to help you figure out if it’s the way to go for you

WHOLE HOUSE

It may not be the first thought that comes to mind, but you can make money by renting your home as a film set.

Location scouts are looking for all kinds of properties and pay up to £2,500 a day to use your home.

Click here for a quick guide to renting out your home as a film set.

The post How to make money from your house….room by room appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

All the things you can get financial help with (Updated)

The increased pressure on our budgets from the ongoing cost-of-living crisis means many of us are finding we have more month than money, leaving us short before the next payday.

There are places you can find financial help.

Financial Help

Claimants of Universal Credit could be due thousands worth of extra financial of extra help, but may not be aware of it.

Low income Brits are struggling with their household budgets in the face of rising costs – from household bills like gas and electricity to food and general cost of living – but they could get up to thirty different kinds of assistance.

Shockingly, around 23 billion pounds of benefit money is lost every year by not being claimed, with pensioners missing out the most. More than a quarter of million older people also don’t claim Housing Benefit which could save them £4,000 per year.

A complete list of help available…

Experts say one of the main problems remains that there is a stigma attached to asking for help, although people may genuinely not be aware that this help is available. So here’s a list of benefits you could be claiming to help you through hard times. Click on the title of each one for more information:

Reduced council tax bills

You could be eligible if you’re on a low income or claim benefits. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100%.

You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working. What you get depends on where you live, your individual circumstances, such as your income, the number of children you have, the benefits you receive, etc, your entire household income, whether your children live with you and whether other adults live with you.

Capped water bills

If you live in England or Wales, are on certain benefits, have a water meter and use a lot of water because you either have a medical condition or three or more children, you could claim financial aid. This is called the Water Sure scheme.

People who meet the criteria for help may have their water bill capped at the amount of the average household water bill for their water company, or in some cases, even less.

Half price bus

You may get free or reduced price travel with the Statutory English National Concessionary Travel Scheme pass. The scheme provides travel for free on local bus services anywhere in England, between 9:30am and 11pm during weekdays and anytime on weekends and bank holidays. Speak to your Job Coach to find out more.

Discounted Rail Fares

There are a range of railcards available that offer discounts on rail travel. These include the 16-25 railcard, the family and friends railcard, the senior railcard and more. Find out which railcard suits you here.

Discounted Travel in London

You may be eligible for free or discounted travel on all TfL transport – Tube, Rail, Bus, and Tram – if you claim Jobseeker’s Allowance or other benefits.

Free or discounted gym membership

You may be eligible for free or concessionary memberships at your local gym or leisure centre if you claim:

• Housing benefit
• Income Support
• Job Seekers’ Allowance
• Working Families Tax Credit
• Carers Allowance
• Universal Credit

If you have a long-term chronic condition or struggle with obesity, your GP may also be able to refer you to a free gym membership programme designed to help your condition.

Help with new job costs

Going back to work does not mean giving up all your benefits. Some benefits may carry on, and others may become available once you’re working.

Help getting back to work may come with a range of costs that can be covered, such as:

• Payment for new clothes if a uniform or specific clothes are required
• Payment in full or part for a training course required for you to qualify for a job
• Money for travel costs in your first month before you get paid
• Money for specific equipment, such as a set of knives for a chef, or a laptop to work remotely

What you can get depends on what is the main barrier to you returning to work, and what is considered a reasonable cost to do so.

You should contact your Job Coach at the Job Centre if you’ve found a job and you or your partner have been getting Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment Allowance, Income Support or Universal Credit.

Your coach will help you to manage your move into work, and sort out changes to your other benefits, including tax credits. What you can get will depend on how long you were claiming these benefits without a break.

Warm Home Discount

You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. This is a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October and March. There are 2 ways you could qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

The first, is if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, the second is if you’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme.

Cold Weather Payments

If you are eligible for Cold Weather Payments, you will get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You will receive £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

Free or cheap broadband from TalkTalk, Virgin Media and BT

Do you know about Social Tariffs? Ofcom has discovered that millions of families struggling with the rising cost of living could save £144 each on their annual broadband costs.

If you claim certain benefits, you could be eligible to apply for a social tariff for cheap broadband at home. This is likely to be a slower speed than other tariffs, but it will be enough for most household use.

Free prescriptions for people on low incomes

Some groups are automatically entitled to free NHS prescriptions such as those of state pension age, children under the age of 16 (or 18 if in full-time education), and people eligible for a medical exemption certificate.

Others can apply for certificates that entitle them to free NHS prescriptions due to their low income. Some prescribed items are always free, including contraceptives and medication given to hospital inpatients.

Free dental treatment

You may be eligible for free dental treatment if you receive Universal Credit and either had no earnings or had net earnings of £435 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period, or if you or your partner had limited capability for work, and you either had no earnings or net earnings of £935 or less in your last Universal Credit assessment period.

Pregnant people or people who have had a baby in the last 12 months (or have had a stillbirth in the last 12 months), those currently in hospital, and children under 18 (19 if in full-time education) get free NHS dental treatment.

Eye tests and discounted glasses

You’re entitled to a free NHS sight test if you are under 16, between 16 and 18 years old or are in full time education. You are also eligible if you are over the age of 60. If you are registered as partially sighted, blind, have diabetes or glaucoma, you are also entitled to a free sight test.

Similarly, if you are over the age of 40 and a close family member has been diagnosed with glaucoma or have been advised by an eye doctor you are at risk of glaucoma, you are eligible.

You are also entitled if you or your partner  receive, or are the dependant of someone receiving:

• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Universal Credit and meet the criteria

As well as free eye tests, you may be eligible for discount vouchers towards glasses. If your glasses are provided by an ophthalmologist in a hospital setting you may be eligible for free glasses or further discounts.

Free school transport

You may be able to get help with home to school transport for your child. You can search for your postcode here, to see the help available in your area.

Free school meals

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are all automatically eligible for free school meals.

If your child is eligible for free school meals, they will also be eligible for holiday schemes such as breakfast clubs, so make sure you check with your school or local authority for details.

Discounted childcare costs

You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit and either you or your partner have a job. The most you can get back each month from childcare costs is £1031.88 for one child and £1768.94 for 2 or more children.

£1,200 free cash as part of the Government’s Help to Save scheme

Saving when you’re on a low income seems impossible – but with the Government’s Help to Save account, it’s not only possible but lands you with a whopping 50% bonus.

If you earn even £1 of Universal Credit in one month, you’re eligible to open an account. If you have a joint claim, you can both have your own account. Save up to £50 a month and receive a bonus in the second and fourth year which is the equivalent of 50% of the highest balance held in those two years. If you have previously had a Help to Save account you cannot have another one.

Food vouchers for kids as part of the Healthy Start scheme

You may qualify for the Healthy Start scheme if you’re at least 10 weeks pregnant or you have at least one child that’s under 4. In addition, you must be receiving at least of the following benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit

Your monthly earned income must be less than £408. The vouchers can be used to buy fresh cow’s milk, fresh or tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried or tinned pulses, and infant formula made from cow’s milk. For children with milk allergies, they will be able to receive prescription formula from the GP instead.

Maternity grant up to £500

You could get a one-off payment of £500 to help towards the costs of having a child. This is known as a Sure Start Maternity Grant. You usually qualify for the grant if you are expecting your first child, or you’re expecting a multiple birth and have children already. You or your partner must also be in receipt of certain benefits.

In Scotland, it is the Pregnancy and Baby Payment.

You need to claim within 11 weeks of the baby’s due date or within six months of their birth. It is a grant, which means you don’t need to pay it back and it also won’t affect your other benefits.

Disabled Facilities Grant (up to £36,000) to make changes to a home

You could be eligible for a grant from your council if you’re disabled and need to make changes to your home, such as widening doors and installing ramps, improving access to certain rooms and facilities, providing an essential heating system or adapting lighting and heating controls.

In England, the maximum is £30,000; in Wales it is £36,000; in Northern Ireland it is £25,000. There are no DFG’s in Scotland, but there may be similar support available.

Homeowners can apply for up to £10,000 to pay for a boiler

You may be eligible for a boiler grant if your current boiler is over 5 years old and you claim one of the 16 benefits listed here.

help to pay for double glazing as part of the Green Homes Scheme

On 8th July 2020, the Chancellor announced a Green Homes Grant available in England, Wales, and Scotland. This scheme enables landlords and homeowners to fund, or partially fund, costs of upgrading their homes’ energy performance.

Up to £300 in Winter Fuel Payments

If you were born on or before 26 September 1955 you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills.

Free wigs or fabric support provided by the NHS

You can get free wigs and fabric supports if you are:

• under 16
• 16-18 and in full-time education
• a hospital inpatient
• a war pensioner and the wig or fabric support is for your accepted disablement and you have a valid war pension exemption certificate

You may also be eligible if you receive certain benefits.

Free health travel costs

f you’re referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

Help with housing costs

You may be eligible for housing benefit. This helps with the cost of your rent. Housing Benefit will not cover heating, hot water, energy or food. If you need help, use a benefits calculator to check what else you might be entitled to.

Help with funeral costs

You can get a Funeral Expenses Payment if you get certain benefits or tax credits, you meet the rules on your relationship with the deceased and you’re arranging a funeral in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

Bereavement support payments

You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died in the last 21 months. This must be claimed within 3 months of your partner’s death to get the full amount. You can claim up to 21 months after their death but you’ll get fewer monthly payments.

The post All the things you can get financial help with (Updated) appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

How to Write an Attention-Grabbing CV

An attention-grabbing CV is vital any time – but now, it’s even more essential as the job market gets more competitive as businesses close in the ongoing economic squeeze.

Recent research revealed employers take just seven SECONDS to decide whether to continue reading a CV. With such a short amount of time to make an impression you need to make sure every aspect of it tells them why they should hire you.

Here is our advice on how to write an attention-grabbing CV!

• The Purpose of Your CV
• Essentials: What to Include
• Battling AI Hiring Processes
• Things to Avoid
• Make Everything Relevant

The Purpose of Your CV

Your CV is a marketing device and you are the product you’re selling to an employer. You want to grab their attention and interest them enough to keep reading meet you for an interview.

Your CV should be a concise, informative document (no longer than two pages) that showcases your most valued skills and attributes, communicating to an employer why they should hire you.

Marketing Yourself

Think about your favourite brand – their marketing campaigns haven’t always been the same. This is because things lose their impact over time and as a consumer you stop paying attention to things after a while unless they change to catch your eye again. The same goes for employers looking at CVs. If they’re trawling through a mass of CVs that are all pretty much the same they quickly lose interest. You need to make an attention-grabbing CV that’s unique, to stand out and make them interested in you.

Remember that an employer is looking at hiring with a business perspective – they’re not interested in you but in what you can offer them that will benefit their business. Instead of saying “I am looking to further my skills in” reword it to “my skills in _ make me an ideal candidate because” and go from there.

Essentials: What to Include

Dividing your CV up into clearly defined sections is the easiest way to keep it organised and for an employer to quickly find the relevant information they’re looking for.

Personal Details

This is a brief section that comes at the top of your CV. You want to include all your basic contact information (name, phone number, and email address) but also consider including any other relevant information. It will vary depending on which industry you are working within. If you have a blog, website, or portfolio that helps showcase your work and who you are in more depth than a CV can. If you do, this is where you should link it. If you have a professional social media presence, include your handle. If it’s a personal one, leave it off the CV!

Things you don’t need to include:

• Date of birth or age
• National Insurance Number (NEVER put this on your CV!)
• Marital status
• Whether you have children
• Your current location or address
• A photograph

This is because CVs are frequently stored on unsecured databases, or if you choose to upload it to a job site then nefarious users posing as employers can steal all the information they need to commit identity fraud. More than that, it’s illegal for employers to discriminate on applications and candidates based on age, marital status, child status, ethnicity or how they look, and other protected characteristics like disability.

Personal Statement

This is a very short summary that immediately tells an employer what you are about. It only needs to be a couple of sentences; you want to be as concise as possible making every word count.

Think about:

• What are you best at? What are your best attributes?
• How will these benefit an employer?
• What makes you unique? Think about your own unique selling point.

• Work Experience

   

• Put your work experience above your education on your CV. This is what employers are most interested in, even if you haven’t got much experience yet.
• Simply listing off duties and tasks you carried out is going to bore whoever’s reading your CV. Realistically, if you lose their attention then you lose the job. Don’t just state that you have particular skills or traits but give examples to prove it. Did you successfully drive a project to completion ahead of the deadline? Did you beat your sales targets for last year?
• You should list from the most recent to the oldest employment experience. If you haven’t got much work experience yet, remember to also list things like voluntary positions and internships.

Education and Qualifications

How much detail you go into here generally depends on how recently you qualified. If you’ve just finished studying or only have a few years experience then you can afford to include more relevant detail here. If, however, you have a couple of decades of experience and a long career then this section just needs to be a brief description of your education history.

This section is also where you want to include any qualifications or professional training you’ve had. If they’re not directly related to the role then think about what transferable skills you learnt. Include relevant soft skills and training courses, too.

Battling AI Hiring Processes

The advance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recent years has made the hiring and recruitment process both much faster AND more competitive. That’s because some people rely on ‘improving’ their application with AI, while recruiters are using AI tools to screen applications.

This means an excellent candidate can be overlooked, if they don’t include relevant details. When you used to be able to get away with mass-applying with your CV and a generic cover letter, that doesn’t fly anymore. You need to spend time to tailor your job application to include the same words and terms in the job description, to make sure you’re passing AI screening tools.

Even if you don’t have a particular skill, try to find a way to include it in your CV or cover letter. For example, “While I don’t yet have management experience, I am confident it is time to take the next step in my career”. This will help include as many keywords as possible for AI screeners, and also show your potential employer that you pay attention to detail, and are willing to learn new skills.

Things to Avoid

These things crop up on CVs all the time but it looks unprofessional and careless to an employer if you didn’t take the time to make sure your CV was perfect. Make your attention-grabbing CV stand out for all the right reasons – avoid these things:

1. Spelling and grammar mistakes – avoid these by using spell check software and getting someone else to read through it for you.
2. CVs longer than two pages – any longer and you’ll be including unnecessary information and looks off-putting to an employer. You should be very careful with a CV length.
3. Jargon and buzzwords – it’s repetitive and mundane to be reading the same words over and over.
4. Unusual font, format, or style – be careful that your stylistic choices don’t detract from the content of your CV.
5. Casual tone and language – this is a formal document and you want to present yourself as professional to prospective employers.

Use your friends and family – a fresh pair of eyes always helps with proofreading and checking work. Have them read it over and check for spelling and grammar, ask whether they think the layout works, and if the right information stands out. If you know someone who is a hiring manager, even better. If you’re looking for a job because your current one is ending on good terms, such as the end of a fixed-term contract or because you’re moving away for family or university, ask your current employer if they will look over it.

Make Everything Relevant

Some situations can be difficult to explain to a prospective employer, like gaps in employment, temporary positions, or getting fired. Please never mention getting fired in your CV but be prepared to answer any queries if it comes up at a later date. Either include a sentence in your CV or cover letter that explains a gap in your career timeline. Talk about what you did during that time – why did you have a career break, did you complete any training courses or develop new skills that show you were still proactive.

It’s not necessary but some people like to include a hobbies or additional interests section. That’s fine – but make sure you’re not writing something irrelevant on your CV: explain why you do something. Do you regularly run marathons, for example? Say what drives you to do it – does it demonstrate your commitment and determination?

Finally, be prepared to tailor your CV for every job. Once you have an excellent base CV then just small alterations will need to be made depending on the job description or the specific role you are applying for.

The post How to Write an Attention-Grabbing CV appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Live for Free: Jobs That Include Accommodation in 2025

Finding live-in jobs can be a good way to keep your monthly expenses down, as they often include free accommodation or reduced rents. If you are able to move location without commitments such as children and pets, live-in jobs can be a great way to build up your savings fast. So, where can you find a job that includes accommodation?

Cruise Ships 

Private Yachting

Pub Manager

Au Pair or Nanny

Live-in Carer

Accommodation Warden

Cruise Ships

Cruise ship jobs include pay, food, accommodation – and international travel!

Many cruise ships jobs don’t require much previous experience, and offer living quarters as part of the contract. The hours are very long for many positions, and you’ll often need to share your living space with other people – especially when you’re starting out. However, the living expenses of being on a cruise ship are incredibly low, as you don’t pay for board, get free food, and only spend on internet costs (which can be costly around £5 a day – but it’s up to you if you want it) and shore trips that you want to take.

The range of cruise ship jobs is huge. Thousands of people find work every year working in catering and hospitality, whether as servers, chefs, kitchen staff or bar staff, while the on-board shops and casinos also need retail and customer assistant staff. Entertainment officers help to organise and run cruise activities, while others will be responsible for on-shore excursions. Then, of course, you have crew to operate the ship, such as engineers, as well as maintenance staff. Cleaning crews can be responsible for guest or crew areas, or both. Performers are a huge part of cruise entertainment, from actors and singers to musicians, too.

How much can I earn?

The pay you get, the length of your contract, and even the type of room you will live in all depend on your job type and experience. For example, junior kitchen staff are likely to share rooms, while lead performers for the evening shows could have their own rooms.

You can find cruise ship jobs directly on the cruise operator websites, such as TUI and Carnival, or on job sites like Indeed. You may need some employment requirements, such as speaking a second language, first aid training, or prior marine experience, so make sure you check eligibility before applying.

Private Yachts

If you don’t want to go to sea with thousands of people every day, the private yachting industry might be for you. There’s been a huge boost in interest in recent years thanks to TV shows like Below Deck, which show the ins and outs of working on yachts.

You will need marine experience if you want to be a deckhand or operational crew, or hospitality and/or housekeeping experience if you want to be on the interior staff. There are also jobs for talented chefs and kitchen staff. You will need to have a current STCW Basic Safety Training Certificate and also an ENG 1 (Seafarers Medical Certificate, as well as a valid passport and relevant visas.

The pressures of the private yachting industry are different to cruise ship work. You will work either on charter yachts, which have different people hiring the yacht and crew for short trips, or as a private crew member for a yacht owner. It is usually seasonal work, although some people may find year-round work, such as chefs, or sailing crew who can move boats between locations during off-season.

How much can I earn?

You’ll get your accommodation and food included, and depending on your experience the pay can be relatively good when you take into account the low living expenses. A junior stew can earn around $3,500 a month, while a senior or chief could earn upwards of $5,000. Crews may also receive tips, which can top up earnings significantly, but this isn’t guaranteed income. You will most likely be paid in dollars, so will need an international bank account such as Revolut or Stripe, or be prepared to take a hit on currency conversion fees.

You can find private yachting jobs on specialist websites like Blue Water Yachting and The Crew Network.

Pub Manager

Running a pub is hard work, especially in today’s squeeze on hospitality making profit margins small. However, it can be a great job, sociable, and come with big job satisfaction when done well. Many pubs include live-in accommodation for the manager; this might also be the people who own the franchise of a chain, or who are hired by the pub owner to run it on a day-to-day basis. Pub accommodation is more permanent in that it is a full living space, such as a flat above the pub itself, and means it can suit couples and those with pets, compared to some other jobs on this list. It’s also not seasonal work, so you are able to have year-round accommodation security while you’re in the job.

To become a live-in pub manager, you’ll need to have extensive hospitality experience. You also need a good head for business, from the financials to the legalities of being an employer or responsible for a team of people, the licensing and entertainment rules, and how to market your pub to get loads of customers! It’s an ‘everything job’ where you’ll wear a lot of different hats, but it can be incredibly rewarding and put you right at the heart of a community.

How to find live in pub work

There are sometimes live-in opportunities for more junior bar staff, too. So, if you don’t have loads of experience yet, it’s still worth looking for live-in bar jobs. You can look on websites like Caterer.com for vacancies, while brewery websites  like Greene King and Samuel Smith will also have vacancies and franchise opportunities.

Au Pair or Nanny

An au pair and nanny are similar jobs. An au pair tends to be a younger person on a shorter term working visa, in a foreign country to their own, while a nanny is a more formal childcare provider, often a citizen of the country which allows longer term childcare.

Au pairs and nannies tend to be live-in roles, with accommodation included. It may or may not include food, but your utilities bills will be covered. While you are live-in, you’re not supposed to be ‘on call’ 24/7, unless you have a high salary that reflects this. However, you may find ‘job creep’ happening because you live in the same house.

You will be responsible for managing childcare in the family you’re hired by. This might be taking them to and from school, helping with homework, taking them to activities, encouraging them with playtime, and much more. Some families like their nanny to be very hands-on and involved in all aspects of their child’s life, while others will have set roles and set times of day you’re needed (such as the school run). You may also be required to help with tasks like cleaning the home and helping with the children’s laundry, and cooking some meals for the children. Boundaries can sometimes become blurred, so it’s helpful to think: “does this task benefit the children or just the parents?”. Your tasks should be for the benefit of the children; anything that is solely for the parents (such as fetching their dry cleaning) is not your job.

How much will you earn?

You must still be paid National Minimum Wage as a live-in nanny in the UK; your accommodation cannot be used instead of payment (which is classed as slavery). It is important to keep track of your working hours. Depending on the hours you’re contracted to do, you could earn between £300-£900 a week as a junior nanny, and £800 a week or more once you have a few years’ experience. If you work with children with additional needs, your pay should be higher than average. Having certificates such as child first aid, early learning, or qualifications in handling children with additional needs can be beneficial to finding work. Find live in nanny jobs on specialist sites like Little Ones London or Eden Private Staff, or on broader sites like Indeed.

Au pairs in the UK must earn National Minimum Wage, but this can vary in other countries. Instead, your host family is expected to cover all of your expenses and give you ‘pocket money’, which can be anything from £100 – £400 a week depending on which country you work in, the family size and needs, and any au pair agency minimum requirements. Sign up with an au pair agency to find work, because they will also be able to help you manage the required working visas.

Live-In Carer

Caring is a vital industry, providing support to people who need help to live on their own or in care homes. If you’re a sociable person and enjoy working closely with people, it could be an ideal job. You will need to be comfortable with providing people with personal care such as helping with bathing and getting dressed.

If you have caring experience and want a more one-to-one job, a live-in carer could be the role for you. These jobs include accommodation and utilities, and often some food as well. You will be expected to provide full-time care to the person you live with, and the tasks this includes will vary depending on their needs but often includes personal hygiene, dressing,  cooking and/or feeding, taking them to appointments and activities, medication management, and also companionship such as watching TV or reading a book together.

Live-in caring roles can be quite intensive, especially as you are always ‘on the clock’ if your client has high needs or is at risk of medical emergency. You are legally entitled to time off, however, so make sure there are some arrangements in place such as visiting carers to allow you the required downtime. Some clients will have two live-in carers who rotate a day and night shift for 24/7 care. There are also some roles for live-in carers within care home settings, as an on-call carer – you will usually need several years’ care experience to be considered for these positions.

How much can I earn?

You will need some care training, but if you are hired via an agency this training is often included before you are placed at a job. Your role may involve specialist care for people with additional needs or limited mental capacity, so extra training in these areas is very helpful. You may be placed in a long-term role for supportive care, or shorter term as palliative end-of-life care, so will need to be prepared for the high emotional toll this type of job can take.

Weekly rates are between £700 – £1400, depending on experience and job requirements.

Accommodation Warden

Some places will have a live-in person who is on-call for residents to help manage maintenance requests, organise community activities, and aid with visitors including assisting with coordinating healthcare or being the person who calls for an ambulance in an emergency.

Most accommodation wardens are employed in retirement communities. They are there to provide peace of mind to residents, who either own or rent their homes in the complex, helping with day-to-day maintenance, organising activities and social events, and even helping with things like technology advice (such as helping them set up Zoom to talk to their families). You’re not expected to provide one-to-one personal care like a live-in carer, and will live in your own flat or house rather than with residents. You will have to pay your own expenses like food and utilities, unlike some other jobs on this list.

You may also be an accommodation warden for a property like student halls. These roles tend to be given to mature students in their final years of study, in exchange for reduced or free rent, rather than as full-time jobs.

Wardens may also be employed at independent living facilities for people with additional needs, or at shelter accommodation such as domestic abuse refuges or community rehabilitation homes (‘halfway houses’). These roles need additional training and relevant experience, but can be incredibly rewarding jobs.

How much can I earn?

Accommodation warden roles vary. As with any other live-in role, you must be paid National Minimum Wage for the hours you work, and employment rules like regular breaks also apply. An average annual salary for a junior warden is £24,000 – £28,000 per year – but remember, your rent is included so your living expenses are significantly lower than live-out jobs.

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