I was a single mum stuck on UC until I started my side hustle for some extra cash – now I've made £52k & quit benefits
For Shannon, a mum of two, her Universal Credit payments were an essential lifeline.
But after starting a side hustle, she's now made an incredible £52,000 and no longer needs them.
Taking to her TikTok account, '@ shannonsdigital,' she shared her journey from relying on benefits to achieving financial independence.
In her video, Shannon revealed she was a stay-at-home mum who "relied on my Universal Credit payments every single month because I wasn't going out to work, I didn't have an income coming in."
For Shannon, these payments were her "saviour," as she explained, "It's how I paid my bills, it's how I fed my kids."
Shannon wants to remove the stigma surrounding benefits, telling her 16.9k followers there is "no shame" in being on Universal Credit.
She wants people to know that whether you're unemployed or a mum, there's "no shame" and you shouldn't "be embarrassed."
Everything changed when she decided to try something new.
As a "complete beginner with no experience," she started a side hustle selling digital products.
Her initial goal was modest: "just hoping to try and make £500 a month."
But her efforts quickly led to massive success.
The side hustle she runs from her phone has now generated over £52,000, allowing her to achieve her ultimate goal of financial freedom.
"I was able to say bye to Universal Credit and become financially independent by myself," she proudly announced.
Now a full-time entrepreneur, she manages her successful business while still being a stay-at-home mum.
Shannon believes her path is one anyone can follow, ending her viral video - which has received 90.7k views - by encouraging others to reach out for more information.
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Her success has resonated deeply with others, with comments like: "I want more for life and have more time around my kids," and "I'm a stay at home mum and would love something."
It's clear that for many, her story isn't just about her triumph, but a beacon of hope for their own financial freedom.
Universal Credit
Families on Universal Credit could be eligible for up to £300 in cash this summer through the government's Household Support Fund.
The fund, which has been extended to run until March 2026, provides local councils with a share of £742 million to distribute to residents in need.
While eligibility varies, the support is typically aimed at those on a low income or claiming benefits.
For example, households in Doncaster with dependent children can apply for the cost of living cash.
Money saving challenges
Here's some of our favourite money saving challenges.
Weather saving challenge - Save the amount equal to whatever the highest temperature was that week. £1 = 1C.
1p challenge - save 1p a day for everyday of the year, but it increase the amount by 1p each day. So day one you save 1p, 2p on day two and 3p on day three. When you reach 100 days you start adding a £1 coin each day too, while this increases to a £2 coin each day plus pennies at 200 days, and £3 each day on top of pennies at day 300.
20p a day challenge - Start by putting 20p in savings, then increase the amount by 20p every day. For example, the first week will look like this: 20p, 40p, 60p, 80p, £1, £1.20, £1.40.
£5 a week challenge - Like the 20p challenge, put aside £5 a week and increase it by a fiver each week. Eg £5, £10, £15, £20
Round-up challenge - Every time you buy something, round up the purchase to the nearest £1 and put the difference in a savings account. Eg. You pay £2.60, so you put 40p in savings. You can use an app such as Monzo or Starling to do this.
Bingo challenge - Here you have a bingo card with different numbers on it and you tick them off when you've put that amount in your savings account. It can be ad hoc but you have to tick them all off by the end of the month.
Monday to Sunday challenge - With this challenge, you simply save £1 on Monday, £2 on Tuesday and so on until the weekend where you don't save on Saturday or Sunday.
365 day challenge - Every Sunday you put aside £1, followed by £2 on Monday, £3 on Wednesday and so on. On Saturday you'll put away £7, and then the process repeats and you'll put aside £1 on Sunday as the new week begins
If you have one dependent child (for whom you receive Child Benefit), you could receive £100.
This amount increases to £200 for a household with two dependent children.
If you have three or more kids the amount you receive is £300.
To be eligible for the support you must be claiming Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, means tested free school meals or council tax reductions.
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