Many New Zealanders are finding themselves between a rock and a hard place. This is because we face high interest rates on our debts and our taxation rates are also high per dollar earned. And if that isn’t enough there is a steady increase in the cost of food and petrol charges fluctuate with the market. So often our incomes just don’t seem to stretch far enough.

Another factor is that, given the current financial instability, job security is often threatened and if there is only one income earner in the household and dependent children this creates stress and uncertainty in the family.

Women have always been close to the household budget. They generally manage to put good food on the table and clothes on everyone’s backs. This is a values driven exercise that requires women to be very knowledgeable and resourceful, but sometimes even this is not sufficient to deliver the family’s needs, and earning more money becomes the real issue. In turn this raises another critical issue. Who will care for the children and will the cost of this outweigh the benefits of working anyway?   With this in mind we have been looking into opportunities which may suit stay at home mothers.

What is the Angel Fund?

This is a women’s loan fund which aims to create opportunities for women on low incomes for the purpose of creating small businesses, starting educational courses, or moving into work. Recent loans have been for jewellery materials, real estate training, fees and resources for women doing early childcare certificates and computer studies.

We discussed the plight of mortgage holders with a staff member at Cece; illustrating how a mortgage contract could mean that once people had paid for their mortgage and other debts their income becomes seriously compromised and how this could have a very adverse effect on the family economy. We were told that Angel Funds are allotted on a case by case basis and normally go to those in a lower income bracket. However, I got the feeling that consideration might be given to those whose income had changed due to the recession or to those whose disposable income is minimal because of mortgage commitments taken on when there was two wage earners.

To find out more go to www.angelfund.org.nz or email info@angelfund.org.nz             

What is PORSE?

When I first saw the word Porse on a building in Lincoln Road I wasn’t sure what it represented. It didn’t look like a cooking school or a European car dealership. Curious, I went in to see what Porse was all about. I was soon alerted to what Porse’s real business was about. Their mission statement “Expanding the Hearts, Minds and Wellbeing of a Nation through nurturing Childcare In-Home.” said it all.

I spoke with education officer, Barbara Murrell and found out that by providing a PORSE approved safe environment for young children and by gaining a First Aid Certificate, women could start working with PORSE in their family home.

As an In-Home Educator, woman could would work with PORSE as independent contractors. This means women would determine their own income and conditions of service while still receiving full Porse Payroll support with family payments and calculations for tax benefits.

So if this source of income looks like it could work for you, it could be worth applying to work part-time or full-time in a PORSE area team when vacancies become available?

Visit www.PORSE.co.nz and find out what opportunities are available.