Some advice needed please.

[Sans Culture, Old School]

I have been a hairdresser for 25 years, working in both salons and on a mobile basis.
I am also a qualified holistic therapist and have been qualified for8 years.
I am also qualified in beauty therapy.

Anyway cutting a Very long story short, i am working in a hairdressing salon at the momet , and hate it with a passion.
My hubby has been made redundant, after months of being on short time. Hence the reason why I am working in a salon. I took this job to get a regular guaranteed income.
6 months later I am still working in the salon, but I am so so so unhappy its untrue.
My heart and passion is with holistic therapy, but in reality it s not a guaranteed income.

I am earning a pittance, and astylist has left, so that just leaves me and the owner of the salon. I am working twice as hard (and it is a very busy little shop) for just a few pennies over the mininum wage. I have all this experience under my belt, and qualifications, and I am working there. I can't believe it.
If I leave , even though I am earning rubbish money, we probably wont be able to afford to eat.
The ids have just broke up for the 6 wks hols and hubby has landed a job on nights. He starts on Tuesday.
He thinks he can work all night , come home , look after thekids till I finish work at 3 oclock, then go to bed, get up, and go to work.
It just wont work in my opinion,. I cant afford to pack the job in, and have no childcare.

What do you think? Should I pack in the dead end job, and look after my kids, or risk my hubby looking after them and going to sleep????
I have no parents, or anyone who could look after them.

WEhat I really want to do is mobile hair and mobile treatments, but it will take too long to build up. I need the money now.

I am so sorry if I have wittled on and on, but I treally need some advice.

Thanks for listening. x

 

[Kirby]

Wow! You could start your own beauty salon with your experience! Its horrible to be stuck in a money-trap, where all the options seem bad!

Maybe look around for another job- just see what there is out there. As you'll know, there are very few actual jobs for holistic therapists - but occasionally you'll find a therapist employed by the NHS, or private hospitals. Also, possibly you could start doing therapies on a mobile basis gradually. Do some advertising and see the odd client, whilst still doing some hours at the salon. Then phase out the salon job gradually.

Could you work from your own home? That would eliminate the problem of finding childcare (although, as my partner is saying as he's reading this, it depends on your kids!)

Best of luck anyway!

Melissa x

 

[mitchell38]

Thanks Melissa Rose for your reply.

I wish I could work from home. Unfortunately there is no spare room to convert into a salon.
I am going to think positive and put my qualificatins to good use.

I don't want to work in the salon anymore I definately know that!
My boss said she would give me extra money when she knew the other stylist was leaving.
She has been left 3 weeks and havent had a penny extra, and I have had to do all the oher stylists clients as well.
I am not going to say anything to her, she must know what she is doing.

I am normally a positive, happy go lucky type of person, but I just feel so used and trapped in a dead end job.
My kids have alwas been my priority of course, but I am now finding myself in an impossible no win situation.

 

[Tristen D]

[sm=hippy.gif]Hello Elaine99,

Why dont you put a poster up in the shop window or a library or post office anywhere a lot of people gather, to advertise what you do, you could get yourself known that way. you could wait until the kids are back in school before you did mobile hairdressing,
what ever you decide good luck anyway.

take care

 

[ksbcrocks]

although you are unhappy with the job in the salon you should speak to the owner and remind her that she said she would pay you more because the other stylist was leaving. If you dont value yourself, then she wont. She would be stuck if you were to walk as well - you dont have to be confrontational about it.

depending on what time hubby starts in the evening you could try setting up in the evening - it would be hard to start with but we all have to start somewhere - is there any room at the salon?

 

[Katkin]

I would suggest you talk to the owner and offer to rent the space for x-amount per day, that way you are working for yourself and only pay a set fee, it is up to you to charge a reasonable fee for your services and raise the rent and something to live on

 

[queenrobinanne]

Hi, i know jow hard it can be, i have been qulified for 5 years, and could not get a job as i am only qulified in reflexology and indian head massage.
so i am a mobile therapist with my own business.
I am married with three kids ages 5,8 and 10.
it is hard work but i can fit it in around the kids, but money is crap so i find it hard getting clients.
at least if you are in a salon you have regula money comming in.

 

[Obliterator]

Hi

Its so frustrating when such a passion is with held with needs, family and money, a factor in most of our lives.

I can never understand why hairdressers get paid such a low wage, all the training we do and the service we give, its a pittance.

Could you have a word with your boss and rent the chair, rather than her pay you, would that bring in more money. Or rent somewhere else. Then maybe as you build up your clientel you can offer therapy too.

I knew someone who rented a chair, he worked three days and made more money in those three days than if he had worked the week as an hairdresser in a salon.

Its difficult when you have other factors to work around too, the kids and night shifts.

but i do know its horrible to go to work each day and be hating it.

Good luck with it all.

Ask for some guidance.

Sheangel

 

[Lola S]

Thanks for the replies and for the good advice.

I have decided to quit my job. Its a long story, but I am no longer working in that horrible place.
I have now got to find a way to market myself.
It is like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

Hubby has started his night job, and just wants bed when he gets home.
I have done a lot of soul searching , and am going to start to promote my business.
Thanks again. xxxxxxxxx
Elaine x

 

[iyxvdgkn]

well done. go for it!

 

[MitchellHill]

Well done, It is a hard decision to make, ask for some guidance, think positive thoughts.
You just need a plan of action, perhaps some leaflet drops around near where you live, maybe offering some special offers to start, or with recommendation, word of mouth is a most powerful thing. Local paper shop or supermarket where you can put an advert in for a few weeks.
This maybe a way to start without spending lots of money. You can take the kids with you on the leaflet drops, give them a good walk and fresh air.
Perhaps do a few freebies for friends and get the to recommend you to work collegues etc.
But on the whole even if its a slow start, dont give up.......i know it can get very frustrating (ive done it myself) but you have to give it time, (which i never did, with circumstances) but i believe that if circumstances had been different and i had persevered and built on it, it would have worked.
Good luck

 

[Kipifartieria]

Congratulations on your decision. Good luck with everything - it is very difficult but as said before - don't give up. I was in a job I didn't want to do anymore (several years ago) money is tighter, I can't go out on a whim to buy anything anymore as every penny goes into my business, but I wouldn't have it any other way. My hubby has recently given up his job (he too hated it with a passion) to work as a hypnotherapist so we have to hold on even tighter to the purse strings but the look of relief and contentment on his face now is worth it's weight in gold.

 

[zellumbep]

Hi good luck im in a simlar position right know is can be very daunting but keep your courage you can get free business cards on vista print ,com i think its the or just search vista print

 

[Mvita]

Good on you Elaine! I read a phrase in a book the other day that sprang to mind when I read your post, something like 'sometimes we have to take a leap of faith and build our wings on the way'. Do let us know how you get on, won't you?

 

[casinobar]

Thankyou thankyou for the kind words and replies. You have all given me some good advice, and I appreciate it.
I am starting uni in Sept to do the Complementary Therapy Degree , and I will also be working mobile inbetween the studying, (if I get the chance!).

I am ready for new beginnings, and a challenge!!
The dark nights are looming, and the kids will be going to bed earlier(hopefully), hubby will be at work at night and I will be able to have some peace to study.

I will let you know how its going!!
xxxxxxxxxxxxx