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Q & A

Have a parenting or adult related question but are struggling to find an answer?

Simply email your question to letstalk@frombumptogrump.co.uk and we will do our very best to find an answer.

The best question each month will win one of the latest book releases from Avon Books.

This month's title is Confessions of a Lapdancer

RRP £6.99

City girl by day, city stripper by night…
Geri Carson is fed up with life in the City. Forced to act as one the boys in order to climb the ladder of one of London's biggest investment banks, it seems however hard she tries, she's constantly sidelined - her male colleagues all get bigger bonuses and the most prestigious accounts.

Struggling to keep up with an increasingly lavish lifestyle, Geri gets deeper into debt. She needs cash - and fast.

A company night out leads her to a lap-dancing club. She's awestruck by how much power the girls command - and completely turned on. Soon, Geri is presented with an offer she can't refuse. A chance to earn £500 per night lap-dancing in one of the hottest clubs in town.

Once the lights go up, Gerry has never felt more alive. She's a natural and soon becomes intoxicated by her new job.

Until then she discovers a seedier and scarier side to life as a lap dancer. A world where anything goes and only the strongest survive…

The author is living proof that variety is the spice of life! After a childhood in which her parents took scant interest in her love of dance and persuaded her, against her instincts, into a career in the city, she found an outlet for her natural performing flair in karaoke bars and night clubs. She is fascinated by the stripping industry and has befriended a number of women who work in it. Knowing that her career as a merchant banker is unlikely to reach the glass table top, let alone the glass ceiling, she decided to tell the story of maintaining two very different lifestyles. She firmly believes in keeping all options open…

Q: I want to consider working from home after our baby is born. I am currently completing a course in counselling and would like to stay within this field, what are the tax implications for us if I do not know if I will have clients or whether this will take off?

A: Be sure to register as self employed as soon as possible, you can be fined if you don't. Your local tax office will give you plenty of advice and information and they also run short courses which might be of help to you. In your first year you won't be asked to pay any tax in advance, so just wait for your tax return and fill that out. If you haven't had any clients, then you won't owe any tax. If you do have a lot of clients though, remember to put aside some money to pay your tax bill. You may also be asked to pay an amount 'on account' for the next year, so don't be caught out by that.
Also be sure to keep good accounts of your income and expenses, this will make things much easier when it comes to filling out your tax forms.

Q: My Son is due to start school and I am keen to get back to work. What jobs are there that would fit in with school hours?

A: The obvious one is to find a job in the school sector, from dinner lady to secretary. however, these jobs can be like gold dust!

Many employers will offer flexible working hours, although you will have to be prepared to make arrangements for school holidays. Visiting the job centre is a good place to start for advice and guidance.

They may also be able to give advice on working from home or even starting your own small business, giving you all the flexibility you need!

Q: What is the average amount of pocket money given to children?

A: The most up to date information we can find is £6.30 for 7-12 year olds and £9.76 for 12-16 year olds. However, that doesn't mean you have to give that much! It is all dependent on what you expect them to buy with their money, how responsible they prove to be and how keen they are to earn it!

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