Most people don't want to talk about money. But when you're a single mum with two kids and bills that don't stop, money isn't just numbers. It's oxygen.
I started this work two years ago after my separation. Not because I wanted adventure or excitement, but because the part-time admin job wasn't covering childcare, rent, and everything else. My ex pays maintenance, but it's barely enough for school lunches.
The first time I met a client, I was terrified. Shaking hands, sweating through my good blouse. But I was also determined. This wasn't about some glamorous fantasy. This was about keeping my flat, feeding my kids, having a buffer that meant we could do more than just survive.
I'm careful. Always. I have systems, boundaries. The kids never know what I do, and they won't. This is my work, my private thing. I'm not ashamed, but I'm also not naive. I protect my ordinary life fiercely.
The financial freedom is incredible. Not luxury cars or designer bags. I mean real security. A savings account. Ability to say yes to school trips. Take the car to the mechanic without panic. That's what this work gives me.
Some might judge. But they're not walking in my shoes. Single parenthood is expensive. And I'm doing what I need to do.