I was a single mum on benefits living in a flat with 5 people – thanks to my hobby I now own a giant home & earn £100k
A mum who spent a year on benefits says she now makes ‘six figures’ a year – after building two businesses.
Gemma Spalding-Tunnicliffe, 31, was at her lowest ebb after splitting from the father of her children in early 2017.
Single and on benefits, she says the last straw was when she was shown a mould-infested rental flat.
Gemma, from Norwich, decided there and then to turn her life around.
She launched a tutoring business, for which she now charges up to £45 for an hour lesson.
And she also taught herself to do macramé, tying knots to produce fabric – and now sells her wares online.
Gemma claims the combined earnings from her business are over six figures – and she owns the big home she has always dreamed of.
She said: “There’s no bigger stereotype than a young single mum on benefits.
“People made me feel awful about my situation. But one person was really encouraging, which was lovely – and made a real difference.
“Remember there’s a way out, and you’re not alone.
“If you have the fire in your belly to go and do something just do it – don’t give up.
“It wasn’t luck, it was hard hard work and being prepared to put the time in. I’m so glad I did it.”
Gemma separated from dad of her children, Elijah Spalding-Dale, now seven, and Chester, now six, early in 2017.
She didn’t return to her work as an activities coordinator after maternity leave – and had to sign on.
She struggled along with her child tax credit, housing benefit and income support, which totaled around £1,100 a month.
Finding it difficult to keep up with the rent payments on her three-bed terraced home, she went on the housing list.
But she was horror-struck when she viewed a housing association bungalow that was filthy and full of mould.
And it was then she decided she needed to turn her life around.
Gemma said: “There was mould everywhere and one of my sons has asthma. I cried and cried, it was so depressing.
“I just thought, ‘This is not going to be my life’.
“It really gave me the push to do everything I could to stay in our private rented home.”
Gemma then took in a lodger with a child – meaning there were two mums and three kids in her home.
And, on top of the natural sciences degree she was studying for, she signed up in February 2018 for a business course.
Gemma then took out a small startup loan and began the Spalding’s School of Sciences in August 2018 – tutoring in maths, physics and chemistry.
It wasn’t luck, it was hard hard work and being prepared to put the time in. I’m so glad I did it
Gemma Spalding-Tunnicliffe
At first she charged £10 an hour, but now bills £45 – and often works seven days a week, she said.
She said: “I’d always done well at school and I’m inquisitive and had aspirations.
“I’d never taught before but I just went for it. I thought, ‘If I can get them they results they need people will keep coming.’ “I had paid back my loan and was turning a profit within three months. That sense of independence is very empowering.”
Gem met her now husband Josh Tunnicliffe, now 33, a geophysicist, in June 2018.
They were engaged in December 2020 and married in June 2022.
And they bought a four-bed detached family home in November 2022 – like Gemma had always dreamed of owning.
She also learned how to macramé by watching YouTube videos when son Chester said he wanted a dreamcatcher.
She became hooked and began selling on Etsy.
Her items quickly became bestsellers so her second business, Piglet & Chestnut, started in summer 2021.
Gemma said: “It was just something I was doing as a hobby because I was feeling low and it took off.”
She now employs four staff and is opening her own shop in Norwich this month.
And Gemma added: “I’m extremely proud, but I’m not stopping here – this has spurred me on to more.
“I hope to have multiple shops.”