u/Dalesadventure

Advice on how to make a dream come true please? I am a solo parent who, 6 years ago, was left to do it all alone. I was left with a mortgage during COVID and a little girl to raise. Prior to that, I was forced by an overbearing mother into a career I actually hate. However, it has allowed me to earn enough money to run the house and provide for my daughter. I work full time and do everything alone with no help at all.

I have been in this career I hate for many years and my health is not great, but still I carry on working full time and often cry with exhaustion. Again, I am thankful I have a job that has kept me above water.

I have always been very crafty and creative and have written a few books which I have been told are really good. I scrimped and scraped and was able to put one together and make my own website. I also have some craft items I have made which, not to sound big headed, but in comparison to other people I have seen making a business, are of good quality. I also have a unique idea I have not seen yet that would tie into this.

I believe I have a fantastic potential business and it’s the only logical way I will ever stand a chance of pulling myself out of the cycle I am in, where I earn enough, but not enough to do well.

I need to get some capital to start the business, as I need to get more copies of the book, get the other books printed, and also I actually need a computer/printer and setup for my business stuff. However, as I have said before, I earn just enough to cover bills, so I am wanting any advice on any grants that may be available, or signposting to any free services that can give advice etc.

I am not looking for sympathy, so will not go into details of my past, as I consider myself a proactive person who will keep working hard and one day it may pay off for me.

I do not have it in me to go on benefits and live off other people’s hard work (I do understand for some it is needed and that is completely fine), but I see it every day people who are just plain lazy and entitled and I will be damned if I become that. However, every day working to exhaustion in a job I loathe is slowly destroying my soul, so I want to know options that are minimal risk for somebody in my situation.

I will add that I am quite shy, so do not have dreams of posting myself all over social media (I was stalked, so this is not viable anyway) and cannot handle unsolicited messages off Pervy men in my inboxes. I have overcome this by using a pen name and I understand social media, in today’s day and age, is a necessary evil, so will use voiceovers and creative ways to promote whilst maintaining my privacy.

This is my first ever post on Reddit, so I’m not sure if I have even done this correctly. Anyway, thank you in advance for any advice. I am also in the UK.

Advice on how to make a dream come true please? I am a solo parent who, 6 years ago, was left to do it all alone. I was left with a mortgage during COVID and a little girl to raise. Prior to that, I was forced by an overbearing mother into a career I actually hate. However, it has allowed me to earn enough money to run the house and provide for my daughter. I work full time and do everything alone with no help at all.

I have been in this career I hate for many years and my health is not great, but still I carry on working full time and often cry with exhaustion. Again, I am thankful I have a job that has kept me above water.

I have always been very crafty and creative and have written a few books which I have been told are really good. I scrimped and scraped and was able to put one together and make my own website. I also have some craft items I have made which, not to sound big headed, but in comparison to other people I have seen making a business, are of good quality. I also have a unique idea I have not seen yet that would tie into this.

I believe I have a fantastic potential business and it’s the only logical way I will ever stand a chance of pulling myself out of the cycle I am in, where I earn enough, but not enough to do well.

I need to get some capital to start the business, as I need to get more copies of the book, get the other books printed, and also I actually need a computer/printer and setup for my business stuff. However, as I have said before, I earn just enough to cover bills, so I am wanting any advice on any grants that may be available, or signposting to any free services that can give advice etc.

I am not looking for sympathy, so will not go into details of my past, as I consider myself a proactive person who will keep working hard and one day it may pay off for me.

I do not have it in me to go on benefits and live off other people’s hard work (I do understand for some it is needed and that is completely fine), but I see it every day people who are just plain lazy and entitled and I will be damned if I become that. However, every day working to exhaustion in a job I loathe is slowly destroying my soul, so I want to know options that are minimal risk for somebody in my situation.

I will add that I am quite shy, so do not have dreams of posting myself all over social media (I was stalked, so this is not viable anyway) and cannot handle unsolicited messages off Pervy men in my inboxes. I have overcome this by using a pen name and I understand social media, in today’s day and age, is a necessary evil, so will use voiceovers and creative ways to promote whilst maintaining my privacy.

This is my first ever post on Reddit, so I’m not sure if I have even done this correctly. Anyway, thank you in advance for any advice. I am also in the UK.