To ask how people afford plumbers or new fridges?

But UC won’t pay the OPs mortgage, so your post also doesn’t really help in these circumstances…

Don't stop your counselling!! Wild that so many people have suggested it!

People get things second hand or on credit, that's how they manage. It does suck to be constantly worrying about money though x

Both DH and I have used NHS psychotherapy services, on significantly higher incomes than OP, because we couldn’t justify spending £250ph on a private counsellor. I suggested she “look at” cancelling - if she is running short of cash and has credit card debt, now may not be the best time to do it.

Completely agree. I'm self employed. My income protection insurance gives me great peace of mind. You just never know what's around the corner. I have savings, so wouldn't be entitled to UC or anything either.

More to the point OP is that you are whatever age you are now with no savings (but debts.)

This is something that has built up over many years which says you've never been great with budgeting.

The way most people buy things or services is either by having more income or savings.

Your dog will be an expensive outgoing (food, vet fees etc.)

You could live on the £400 a month you have left quite easily ( £60 ish for food for one person) and you don't need clothes every month.

Looking at your outgoings I'd say you could easily shave £200 off them, by dropping the amount of counselling, searching for cheaper insurances, ditching luxuries like dental insurance, maybe changing your car if it's guzzling fuel.

Is the parking for work? Are there any options there like parking further away in a different car park?

For a fridge- you don't need that amount of cash!
Look around on Facebook for a 2nd hand one or other sites like Freecycle, where people give things away.

The OP hasn’t got Netflix etc - perhaps she just wants to watch TV? It’s a completely reasonable thing to want to do.

I’m a single Mum with two at home, not a high income and zero maintenance, from your figures I would: check you can’t reduce payments on any of your present outgoings, including talking to debt advisor at your council/jobcentre, buy a much cheaper fridge, buy the drain snake people are mentioning as good to have for future even if it doesn’t solve this problem, and seriously think about extras like counselling for a while.

I live very rurally so no cheap supermarkets but I feed us frugally with lots of porridge/lentils/soups/beans/vegetarian meals…is there some wiggle room there that you could then start putting into savings? Can you bulk buy more? I only buy clothes secondhand, and don’t let clothes buying become habit. Toiletries are essentials only, that saves a lot. I don’t use makeup.

It can all feel very relentless, but sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees and I think you’ve been really sensible coming here and talking about it. I hope some answers can help.

There’s a thread on here called old fashioned vegetarian food that is very good.

It's necessary if you watch any BBC at all or any live TV on other channels. Having said that, I have a TV licence and spend far less than my friends who have subscriptions to various things. There's loads to watch without paying more than the basic licence.

Find a cheaper fridge! I have found fridge freezers for less than that, and fridges for half that in a 30 second Google, and those were all new! If paying that much for a fridge is a worry for you, then it's worth the time to shop around!

Yes in the initial 6 months of a UC claim there is no help for mortgages- after that only interest will be paid not capital, if a claimant qualifies.

Getting into debt will cause more stress. I would cut the counselling for a while and get the debt down. OP can't afford private counselling.

Get rid of a TV licence. It's not necessary. I stopped that nonsense years ago.

Get a snake for the clog, they do really work well. I'd look at cheaper fridges too. I find the cheapest make Beko work well, they're not beautiful looking but perfectly functional.

When ive been in this position I stripped back to essentials only. It wasnt easy but was worth it for the period of time that I set it for. From your lists my rent, council tax and utilities were similar. I didnt have car insurance, dentist, counselling, petrol, parking, income protection, tv licence or broadband. My home insirance was half of yours. Paying minimum fee to cc is a short term solution - when your zero % interest period ends you can transfer to a new provider - there's a balance to be struck as there is a fee with that.

I dont know if bus/walking is an option for a month or two (or however long you decide to cut costs for) to avoid petrol and parking costs.
Zero percent interest purchases from e.g currys are good.
2nd hand can be a good option.
Some good drain unblocker products out there. I was on verge of tears last year as couldn't afford a plumber. I was determined and managed to unblock both eventually. That turned to tears of joy. Good luck. You've got this.
Other thoughts, 2nd job for a spell? (plenty Christmas temp cover roles coming up across the country)

The people saying drop the counselling, I think this could be an essential item.

It’s rubbish that anyone working full time is struggling but unfortunately, it’s the way it is in this country.
You either have to have more income or less expense.
is there any way you can increase your income?
more hours? New role? Get qualifications? Sometimes companies can offer or sponsor them depending on your line of work.
take on extra work temporarily?
Some people do some online work from home like surveys which pays very little but can add up.
You should always try to have some savings.
set up a direct debit into savings that you never touch unless it’s something urgent like this.
£25 a month will save you £300 a year and will be £1500 in 5 years.
Good luck op.

First 6 months direct debit for a TV license is high, then it drops.

Do you have a 0% interest credit card? https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/best-0-credit-cards/

Look on the same site to see if you can cut insurance, utility and phone bills.

I just bought a new under the counter fridge from curry’s for less than £200. Try AO, Curry’s and Argos, they’ve always got something in the sale. Do not spend £530 on a fridge you can’t afford.

I am not sure where you got £500 plus for a fridge from. A quick google shows there are plenty of lower cost brands available for £200 or less. As others have said, if it is just you perhaps even a small counter top fridge would do for now whole yoi save for something bigger?

On the bathroom blockage, most bathroom drain iasues are hair and soap. Jabe you tried a "drain weasel", basically a long flexible wire with a stiff brush at the end, it is great for pulling out huge lumps of trapped hair. Yoi can alsp get biological drain cleaners from Ironmongers that eat away at organic matter like hair and soap.

Finally a proper old school a plunger often does the job if used vigorously a few times. (Nb do not plunge a drain that has drain cleaner in it)

You could try to get cheaper insurances.

If you're using Denplan that is a luxury. We never had it. If you have a private dentists and need just one check up a year and a couple of hygienist appts, it will probably work out cheaper.

I'd suggest you shop around for a cheaper mobile payment.

You're using a heck of a lot of fuel for you car.
How many miles are you doing and is your car a fuel guzzler?
I get close to 50mpg to mine and it's a 2L engine.

Counselling is around £50 a session and most people go monthly.
What are your issues? Do you really need 2 sessions a month?

Universal credit won’t pay the OPs mortgage though, so I’m not sure that cancelling income protection is a great plan. Her income on UC would be a lot lower as a single person with no rent to pay. And without knowing more info, which she absolutely doesn’t have to share, you can’t say that cancelling counselling is a good thing either; it might be what enables her to still work!

Mortgage £620.48
Council tax £125
Income protection insurance £17.40 IS THIS CRITICAL ILLNESS COVER?
Car tax £16.62
Gas £20
Electricity £40
Broadband £23.99
Mobile phone £10.50
TV licence £29.08
Counselling £100 THIS IS OPTIONAL SO YOU ARE CHOOSING THIS. You must be having 2 sessions a month, Is that necessary?

Petrol £150 THIS SOUNDS HIGH- WORK MILEAGE OR LEISURE?

Parking £80 IS THIS ESSENTIAL?

Dentist £20 SOUNDS LIKE DENPLAN - A LUXURY. PAY AS YOU GO?

House management fee £20 WHAT'S THIS? LEASEHOLD FLAT?

Car insurance £45
Home insurance £43.25 HIGH

Credit card £200 PAY OFF YOUR DEBTS

You presumably have shopped around for cheaper insurances?
Your home insurance sounds high. I pay that for a top-end insurance all things covered for a 4-bed house.

Benefits adviser here. You can claim UC if injury or illness prevents you from working. Even if you are still employed in that job and receiving SSP which is then deducted from the UC amount. So with all due respect, your comment about not giving advice when not knowing what they're talking about was unfortunate.

Credit Hundred percent interest free ideally

To answer your question of how do people afford these things, they earn more, live with others so costs are shared, or don’t have credit card debt to pay off.