For those of you who are housebound due to pain or disabilities or can’t work outside of the home anymore, what is there to do as in where to from home?
I’m facing the reality now that I’m not going to be getting better in the next few years and won’t be leaving my house for work for at least a few years beyond that and my son goes to school at the end of this year so I need to find a good job that I can do from home.
Does anyone have any suggestions? What does everyone else do?
Thank you x
I also stay at home it is boring what you need to do is make sure you get up and get dressed I know that sounds small but it does help but I also have to say some times I don’t do that. But try to have some kind of a Schedule so that your moving It’s hard on the cold weather but when it gets warm I try to make lunch and have it out side on my porch sitting on my Rollator.
I wishing could find a job that I could do at home any ideas would be welcomed.
Good luck think positive.
Sitting outside sounds amazing lol I don't have a garden though lol I unfortunately don't have any choice but to be in bed or lying on the sofa as I can't even sit anymore , it's not that I'm bored or anything I just need money , I need a job once he goes to school to be able to afford things as I can't go out and work as planned lol
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Hi bexamy what is causing you not to being able to sit , as I am having that problem at the minute mine is caused by a pain at the top of my bum cheeks. I understand if you don't answer
It’s a problem in my hip and thigh and swelling in them both 
as I’ve got worse over the years I’m just not able to sit anymore I have to lie on my back or side.
Ouch that sounds painful have you had your coxis checked x
Hi. You are right about having a schedule.
Remember......There are hundreds of thousands of people online now doing work that way. They build online shops. Look at eBay or private amazon accounts. Many are in China! There are so many ‘brands’ that only appear online. All you need is to sell something people want and have a nice shop front. Website.
It’s amazing how many things we take for granted that we buy from the web and we never ask who is selling what or where they live. Think postive. Plan over a few weeks.....get together some ideas....Come up with something you enjoy and would like to sell 
It’s not about enjoying it for me I just want to make money for my child lol a job is a job
Yeah I’ve been selling bits on eBay for a long time so I have 100% feedback already. And I’m a really good bargain hunter so I don’t think making a few extra hundred a month should be to hard and for now that will leave to do x
Earning money from home is almost impossible unless you already have a skill you can use.
Open University can give you those skills but you won't earn anything for now.
Are you claiming ESA or PIP?
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I’m still on income support as he’s not old enough to go to school yet and on pip but they just aren’t enough to really get by and I want to earn my own money really lol.
He starts school in September and everything from then on is just to expensive and what I get from income support and pip just isn’t enough to live off plus I’m still so young I don’t want to rely on benefits for the rest of my life.
I do have skills and qualifications just not that I can use from home unfortunately lol x
None of us want a life on benefits but for some it is their only income.
Sadly there is no money tree and unless you can retrain to something that isn't affected by your illness I don't know what to advise.
I did manage to carry on with my floristry for some years but only as I had the skills from my early 20s
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I'm still young enough to learn another skill but then it's the experience. I was going to do bookkeeping and accounting but you need so much experience to do it from home it's not worth the thousands to study it lol.
Just very frustrating when you get stuck with an illness that wasn't your fault and you can't go and have a normal life like everyone else x
Yes you can. You follow your dreams and never say can't.
What is 'normal'? You just do what you can in your own way...just like everyone does.
Is it normal to be a surgeon? Airplane pilot?
If you hate blood then you aren't a surgeon.. Hate flying you wouldn't be a pilot. Yet that is normal to them.
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Not when your stuck in a house in this much pain you can’t lol but I see your point x
You don’t need to need to spend that much.
People give away info for free. There is tons of it!
Many people don’t even get formal qualifications and set things up. Try it!
With bookkeeping and accounting you need the proper qualifications, insurance, money laundering insurance etc as it’s peoples livelihood and money and taxes etc so it would have to be done properly and it’s to expensive for me plus I can’t get the experience x
It’s not like that anymore. There are many ways to book keep online now and in the future! Look at all the people who do Branding and strategy on big projects over the web. There are even programs that people use to do everything, then they need some eyes to check it over. I think you will find your skills are valuable.
Thank you but unfortunate wrong when it come to this. Bookkeeping, accounting etc is a very serious strict legal business and nothing gets around that especially not laws that r people so no everything has to be by the book and by people who have the correct qualifications x
Nobody has a normal life these days. People who have jobs are going to food banks for dinner.
Its really difficult I have an honours degree but its almost impossible to work from home although with the right training my degree (computer science/engineering) I should be able to work some hours part time remotely from my computer. With chronic illness I can't tie my self to specific times. I noticed that someone else had suggested Open University but be very aware I got into lots of debt as I had to do a lot of my degree at home it cost a lot more (depending on degree type). I could not attend all of my universities lectures so you miss a lot small details from the lecturers just reading books.
At the end of it all its impossible to find flexible work believe me I have looked into it for years. As far as working from home you will find its trusted/experienced employees that are allowed to do work remotely.
Businesses just will not give you the experience on a flexible basis to become a trusted/experienced employee.
Additionally I am a carpenter to trade and worked with chronic pain for years thought I was doing the right thing and re-trained (went to Uni) but I gambled on my health improving, however my health has deteriorated.
Sorry for putting a gloomy view on your situation but you should be fully aware of the reality.
Good luck but be prepared its not going to be easy. I
Lol thank you , no it’s fine you gave me an honest answer. To be honest I’m not expecting a quick fix or anything just something a bit extra to help with bills and things and what I get from my benefits doesn’t allow me to pay for all the help I need either lol.
I’ve seen a few telesales jobs you can do from home so will look into that a bit more. Just very frustrating all the time I spent in my teen and early 20s studying and getting qualifications and now due to chronic illness I can’t do anything with them lol
It’s ok. Many people doing things online are operating worldwide. You never ever see their CV! Lol. If you have a good shop front, people will come to you. They don’t care who you are most of the time. Look at eBay, private amazon accounts.....faceless web stores.
This is what I need to learn more about and how to set it up. I'm over 50 so it's a learning curve for me.
It's going to be a constant learning curve for everyone from now on. Things are moving so fast. We are also living so long, we all need new skills. Even dr's have to keep studying and have to keep having exams just to keep doing their jobs.
Is there any way you can set up your own business? It's what I want to do and my only option.
I wish lol but my only qualifications can’t be transferred to my own business or my own home and I can’t meet clients etc as I can’t move lol everything would have to be done remotely over the internet and phone etc but I’m looking into telesales I’ve seen quite a few jobs for that that are home based and looking into buying and selling on eBay etc see where that gets me
What business are you going to set up
If you can manage studying again, they getting a degree with the Open University or other university might be a good way to go. With the internet the OU is different now than it used to be. I am doing a post graduate degree part time with a bricks and mortar university but I do all my work from home, just occasionally going into the university, which is a good thing as it is a two hour drive away. The internet has really made distance learning possible.
There are also things called MOOCs where you can study online. mooc-list.com
I have chosen to study something that will result in me being able to do academic research and write which will be something I will be able to do from home.
Good luck in finding your niche!
Oh, and be careful about doing call centre work from home. I have a friend whose life was messed up by working from home for an electricity company. It was horrible to be at home alone and have customers shouting at her all the time.
Yeah I just can’t do anything like that that I can then do from home with no experience and I don’t have the money in the first place to do things like that unfortunately, what are you doing at uni?
Lol I’m used to my son shouting at me so wouldn’t be much different and I do have other people here with me during the day as I need help with things so I could just pass it on and shout at them lol I’m joking of course . I hope your friend is better now , I imagine that wasn’t very nice for them
the OU is now under the student load scheme so you wouldn't have to have the money upfront, and you only pay it back once you earn over a certain amount. And the MOOCs are free.
I am in my 50s now and what I did at university, and all my jobs in the years between do not translate to working from home. I can't be an investment banker from home, nor a project manager.
But I am now very interested in health and the NHS, so I am doing a distance learning PhD in computing. It will take 8 years in total, but once I am done I will be able to work part time from home, writing and researching either for specific organisations or freelance, and care for my disabled son at the same time.
Before that I home educated him, so it is just sort of switching around; I used to educate him, now I am educating me!
you mentioned book keeping, that is what my sister does. Even when machines take over so many of our accounting tasks, there will always be local small businesses that need bookkeepers! You can do qualifications, either with distance learning or self study, and register as a student member, and a full member when you have passed your courses, and that should be enough to get you started, even if you don't have a lot of experience. Everyone has to start somewhere!
That’s sounds amazing , well done for educating him yourself I bet that was very rewarding. Always studying and always progressing at any age is amazing , you can never have enough knowledge lol. I have the first qualification just the rest are expensive and I can’t work from home without 2 years experience as I won’t be aloud to practice it would be illegal, and getting in more debt for me would just be to silly at this stage especially as I will never know what will happen in the future
I think you can project manage from home. Set yourself up. Many people do things from home now as a freelance because people outsource so many projects and do it on a case by case basis. Reasech it online and stay positive.
All you need is a basic website. Even those can be free if you use blogger! Good luck.
Your plan sounds like a good one. I wish you all the best. Sounds like a huge amount of effort and I think it will pay off for you,
Meantime check you are receiving all entitled benefits
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Yeah I am receiving everything I’m entitled to, just the area I live in I have to put quite a bit into my rent myself as they are idiots and have to pay quite a bit of council tax now that I didn’t have to before Jude more out goings and only going to get worse in the next few months x
Big question...could you consider moving to somewhere more affordable?
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Lol ive been trying to move from here for 3 years, it’s a masionete which is so massively unsuitable for me it’s unreal however no where around here will rent to single mums with children on benefits anymore and if they did they want over 2000 for jusit a deposit which I really can’t do and the council won’t help me as I’m not homeless and don’t care this is unsuitable for me. My rent is only 600 which around here is the cheapest I will get, I just don’t get that much housing benefit I have thought of ways of trying to lower out goings just not possible x
I am persistent!!
If it is too big could you share with a friend? Sure there must be people in same position need a roof and bed.
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Oh no it’s nothing t to big it just has to many stairs and I would never let a friend live with me lol x
And to be honest I git rid of most of the people in my life other than family once I got ill as they are truely the only people I care about and who truely care about me lol. I have 3 sets of stairs in the house that’s why it’s not suitable because my god does it kill me getting up and down them lol. The other reason I can’t really move is the school is amazing he will be going to and to rent somewhere else around here would be an extra 150 a month so just for now we’ve got to stay here. That’s why I wanted to work just to get more money x
You may not have to pay that extra tax btw! They did that to me and I found out I should not of been paying it! Double check with an advice charity.
It’s not extra tax it’s a top up of my housing benefit and I’ve checked everything over a lot and I’m getting and paying everything I’m meant to be but thanks x
It is extra tax is you are being told to pay it and you shouldn’t. Just keep postive. I see you are very down on yourself.
I’m not really sure what you mean by that however I am not down on myself I’m actually a really happy person just the situation I’ve become stuck in sucks
I’m like you, at home every day but when I tried to do any kind of work it just completely exhausted me. I was a teacher and tried to do lesson planning and schemes of work but between the fact that my Pain (and therefore my painkillers) were totally draining me and the workload was unsustainable, I had to stop. I have now come to terms with the fact that I simply can’t do what I did previously but I can still live a structured life. What I can’t do though is earn any money. We have tightened our belts as much as we possibly can and have moved to a cheaper place. We switch energy suppliers frequently to get the cheapest deals and shop at Lidl’s or Aldi. And please check that you’re getting the correct benefits, even if you think you are it’s worth getting some advice to check; could you get a reduction in Council Tax for your disability for instance? I have a one band reduction from my council so it’s worth asking?
Anyway, I hope you work something out, let us know how you go Xx
Thank you for your suggestions, yes I fully checked everything I’m very thorough with things like this I just wanted to make a bit extra money and my own money , be able to treat my son and make sure he has everything else all the other schoolchildren have. I have to shop at Tesco’s and ASDA as I have to have deliveries but I do well with shopping and we eat well it’s not things like that that cost me a lot and that I can tighten unfortunately xx
Try using an iPad in bed. It can help with your exhaustion levels.
Do little bits at a time. Really try hard and be positive. Make it a task! I have to do this each day as my depression is so severe I will end up dead if I don’t.
I feel for you. This is how I do thing in my life. My severe pain has started to eat into what little life I have left after trying to manage my mental ilness at the same time.
But I know I need to create some structure just like you do.
I use wipe clean boards on my walls to plan tasks and set reminders. Things get done, but it just takes me much longer than the av person. I try to accept this and focus on the tasks getting done...not how long they take. It’s not easy.
I’m trying to do music with my iPad and how to create loops and sounds that maybe others will want to download and use in their own projects. I like the idea that I could help someone make music who has the desire but has no skill.
I wish you the very best.
I do have structure and a good little routtime be as I have a little boy and that’s what they need but thanks for the advice, I do what I can and no more otherwise I get worse and after being like it for a few years and I have a few other things wrong I know my limits and on days I physically can’t do anything I have a lot of help around me.
Glad you enjoy music you keep up with that good luck to you
Do you have a hobby that you enjoy? Sewing? Making jewelry? Crochet? Anything that you enjoy doing at home. Become an entrepreneur.
I have zero talent when it comes to things like this lol x
What do you enjoy?
Other than things to do with my child and children nothing lol I love my films and tv series but those are the only things that keep my sane lol . I don’t really understand the using an iPad in bed bit?
I have to fall asleep with my tv on or I can’t sleep I fall asleep to Big Bang every night lol
Buying and selling on ebay like you mentioned is worth looking into. A workmate of mine used to make a fair bit from buying things on offer from supermarkets in bulk and selling on, along with other things she had finished with. I think the profit margins are narrower since they changed the comission and postage cost structure/rules but im sure there's still money to be made. Another friend was clearing old stuff recently and even sold a few old Now albums on cassette for about 25 quid - seems people will buy anything!
You could start off by selling some of your son''s old toys and clothes as an experiment if you've not got rid already and see how it goes in terms of if you can manage the manual work (packing etc) that goes along with it...
Good luck
Yeah I think I’m going to give it a go, I’ve got about 200 pound worth of stuff to sell in the house once having a look so even if I don’t continue to make money off of that then I at least make some money lol
I did two degrees at home with the Open University, one an honours, but I live in Scotland and they were free at the time. I found I needed to be there more for my husband who has bi polar and other problems and my eldest son who has similar problems, I then knew I couldn’t work so had to call on benefits full time. I started a business making beauty Products that lasted three years but didn’t really sell anything I lasted three years but didn’t really sell anything and went into debt. Alongside this I was doing computer work at home like surveys and mystery shopping and have been building that up for 15 years. Have also been buying clothes from charity shops to sell on ebay, not for 99p, buy it nows for more than that. It just tskes a bit of ducking and diving to try to keep your fingers in as many pies as you are able to, especially if you are in pain a lot, but it can be done 👍
Thank you a few good suggestions there. A lot of people said to me about selling make up etc but I just hate all that plus I refuse to have Facebook lol.
Can you make a little bit of money from those surveys and mystery shopping? I thought it was just the odd £2 etc xx
I’ve built up the sites I am a member of for over 15 years and am a member of over 30 sites. I make roughly £100 or so a month, it is a part time job, that is supplemented with mystery shopping and ebaying. I used to fo Avon and it was a huge amount of work, earning £150+ a month but I did a lot of door to door work, 6 streets, that was nearly 20 years ago. If you want more earning you may need to start up a profitable business
Yeah unfortunately that’s just not a realistic option for me especially not at the moment maybe in a few years if I get better or if I get better at all but I would need to get skills and experience etc for things. Plus far to much stress , I just wanted to work for someone else and make some extra money or even my own but it’s looking like that’s not really going to be an option although the eBay buying and selling is something I’m going to try never hurts to try does it lol xx
Bexamy have you ever considered asking your G.P. or Health Worker aiding you to get a more suitable home. Several years ago I needed everything on one floor (due to accident) a letter was written to council and I received a ground floor flat within 8 weeks. I have moved to a smaller place, just 1 bedroom, that the doors are wide enough for my wheelchair and shower is now a wet room. Hope this helps.
Yeah my GP did and he wrote a really shit letter and didn’t actually say anything and the council just said because they are so full and because I’m not actually homeless then I don’t news their help. My council aren’t very good and if you are homeless most people are getting put in Kent and other places in the UK and I can’t leave here plus there isn’t anywhere cheaper to live around here that is actually big enough. For the moment I’m fine here we just deal with it xx
What was shit about the letter your GP wrote? Did you ask him why he wrote a shit letter for you? It’s best to already have points you would like in a letter before you ask them to write them. They are busy people and unless you remind them of what your needs are any letter is going to be average. No person is a mind reader. I’ve read a few of your posts and you remind me or me..lol. Try and become more focused on what you want and write it down. I find a routine impossible because of my two mental health impairments but I always grab the moment to write things down when I have moments of better mood.
I told him what to write and what I needed in it and he ignored me, he got a formal warning for what he wrote and said as I made a big complaint about it. I won’t get housed and for the mean time I’m happy where I am . I make lists of everything I’m really organised actually, I just wanted to see what people did for jobs at home there isn’t something I really want to do not anymore as not physically possible but as most people have said it’s just not that possible.
But buying and selling online is my plan now
It’s not nice that he wrote shit but it’s good news that he got a warning! Most of them get away with it. I wish you had said that, it just adds more positive vibe to the post. It’s something!
The reason I go on about the iPad is it’s posible to use in bed. It’s not a huge laptop and you only have to scroll and touch it to type. What do you use now to go on this site?
It wasn’t relivant to my post so I didn’t need to add it, this post i only asked about working and what people do.
I have iPad laptop and iphone I use my iPad or laptop for tv in bed, so I use all them depends what I’m on.
One thing you need to be aware of is if you do set up a ‘business’ such as buying and selling on eBay or anything online, it counts as declarable income. So a) you could be liable for tax on it and b) it can affect any benefits you are on.
Thank you yes of course I know and understand this , it won’t be a business I just want a bit of extra income each month . It’s not something I could rely on especially with eBay and PayPal fees etc and delivery costs as I would have to use a carrier that picks up from house.
I’ve been doing bits like that for a long time and trained as a bookkeeper so that’s thankfully given me a lot of knowledge when it comes to things like this
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lol. Just thought I would mention it as you know what HMRC are like if they think you have additional income. Pluck a figure out of the air and up to you to prove it’s wrong😏
Lol yeah they do like trying it on people but that’s the joy of PayPal it’s just the same as bank statements and shows all transactions which they can’t disput it lol plus I would have to earn over 11 thousand to pay tax I definitely won’t earn that from eBay lol I wish.
It’s all just thinking at the moment I would rather come off benefits completely and be self sufficient but until I can find a good home job this is my only option to get a little extra income . School uniforms are expensive lol x
Hi, I’ve had lower back pain since 1980, had a spinal fusion in 1982, so as I had a young child ,school age I decided to foster young children,have now fostered 23 over 25 years.. I’m 75 now, so I’m retired,still with back pain but feel I did a worthwhile job,and have 2 foster children who visit regularly,one has a child now so I’m Nanny to that one...all very rewarding
Have just seen a pain specialist who recommends a wobble cushion to strengthen my back ... hope this helps
Happy to hear your life was and Is full of great success. Nanny 😀
Aww..what a great thing you have done. I would have gone to a person like you when I was growing up. It maubne it for long! I had 15 placements lol. Wishing you well.
Hi JakeFukk,sorry to hear that you had to go through so many placements,I firmly believe that it’s NOT the child’s fault when they go into the care system, just situations sometimes lead to it. I do hope you’re on a good path for you’re future...😊
Thanks amazing well done to you!! My dad was fostered from his real family they were evil but thanks to his foster family he had the most amazing life and all because of them. Foster parents do so much good for children. Sorry to hear your in pain and have been for that long that much get frustrating for you , do you find anything helps
I wanted to foster as all my qualifications are in childcare and children’s mental health etc so fostering was going to be my goal but now unfortunately I just can’t do it, maybe when I’m older if I ever get better.
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This Pain is a real pain!! I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. ..... and in pain!!!
