To be at the end of my tether with finances

[namechangeforthistime]

I've had enough. I've just had to pay £729 for a debt that wasn't mine to avoid getting a ccj (long story, rather not go into it, I know, I'll get murdered for that)
I'm currently a SAHM and DP works all the hours god sends. Childcare in our area is few and far between and expensive so if I went to work my wages would be eaten up by childcare (small DCs) so we decided it would be best for me to stay home, financially and for the children. I'd love to get a part time job for when DP isn't at work but he gets random days off and works til he's finished so it can range from 2pm to 10pm finish times. What the hell can I do to help our situation? We never seem to have any spare cash, we don't claim any benefits and don't spend money unnecessarily. We literally pay the bills and that's all we have, now thanks to the debt we had to pay we'll struggle to do that too. I'm at a loss, we seem to be stuck in a rut and I don't know what to do to fix it.

[BackforGood]

I think 'literally paying the bills and that's all we have' is a pretty normal financial position fr people with small dc. I know it was when mine were little, and I worked full time (at first).

I guess you need to look at both sides - can you increase you income ? Sounds difficult with your partners hours, unless you were able to do something you could do at home, such as ironing ?? Or, longer term, would it be a possibility / sensible suggestion for you to see if you could pick up work as a Childminder, if childcare is scare and expensive where you are?? Alternatively, are you 100% sure you aren't entitled to any benefits / tax credits / etc ?

Then, look if there is any way to lower your outgoings?
Do you regularly check utility providers, phone contracts, go through your bank statements to see where money is going?
If you want help, there are some really helpful posters who can help go through your outgoings and see if they can make any suggestions.
Also checking you've got any debts on high interest that could be moved elsewhere, etc.

I always suggest writing down everything you spend for about a fortnight, to see if there are "a couple of ££ here and there" every day that you/ dp could not spend and see that mount up.

[CSIblonde]

Ironing at home & flex hours/days are often avail re house cleaning. Are your DCs the age for 20hrs free nursery care scheme yet? Go on money-savingexpert.com & change gas/elec/WiFi providers (cut my bills in half doing that). Do you qualify for child tax credit or working tax credit (sorry if names changed re those benefits). benefits calculator.Co.UK will tell you re help/benefits available. Council tax can now be paid over 12months not 10 as well.

[RabbitsAreTasty]

Can you take the real owner of the £729 debt to the small claims court to get it back?

[AndreasFault]

When you 'don't claim benefits' - do you mean that you're not entitled to them? Or that you choose not to take child benefit/tax credit etc? Maybe re-think your morals if it's the latter.

[HelpmeobiMN]

If you are entitled to benefits and simply not claiming them, rethink that immediately - they are for people like you!

Could you make savings on your food shop? I cut mine by a third by switching to online shopping (less temptation and easier to see offers).

Agree with PP that you could take in ironing and that would be a flexible job if your arrangement was to return it a week later.

Definitely check whether your bills could be cheaper, definitely spread your council tax.

Do you have expensive phone contracts which you could reduce?

[randomchap]

As this debt was a one off expense, is there anything you can sell to help offset this? I'm not suggesting selling stuff to pay for ongoing expenses, just for one off unavoidable things?

[BarbaraofSevillle]

If you are on a low income, would you be entitled to help with the cost of childcare? Worth checking? Was this £729 a one off or is there more?

Do you know why you are struggling so badly? Is it low income, high expenses for your income or is one or both of you spending too much, eg expensive car, buying food and drink out of the house when you could take it from home, or £20+ mobile phone contracts?

Sounds like you need to systematically review your finances. You may find you are entitled to benefits, or you may be able to shave a few pounds here and there off a few bills, which could add up to enough to make a noticeable difference.

Have a look at the link below and work through all the suggestions. One advantage of being a SAHP is that you may have time to do things that save money or make a bit of extra money from home so even if you aren't earning you can still do things that help the family finances.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/money-help/

Good luck.

[butterfly990]

have at look at redwigwam (good reviews) and also google conversational English to Chinese students.

[ionising]

Go to the Debt free wannabe section on money saving expert and post an SOA. Some of the advice on there us brilliant.

[namechangedforthistime]

Thank you everyone.
Unfortunately I can't go to small claims court, I wouldn't get it back.
Dp had a lot of debt when we got together so he's paying that off, I try to be as frugal as I can with outgoings. Tried to shop cheaper and check I'm with the cheapest suppliers for bills etc.
Unfortunately my youngest isn't old enough for 20hrs at nursery yet.
I'm going to look into all the ideas everyone has provided! Thank you again

[namechangedforthistime]

Oh I meant to say, we're not entitled to any benefits. Just over the threshold which seems to be the worst place to be