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Original poster

£10 left how to make it stretch or ideas on how to make money fast .

54 replies

whatislove · 09/12/2017 09:43

as above really , I have £10 in my bank account and no cash. my gas went off yesterday so we are without heating or hot water . minimum I need to put in to get it back on is £7.68 if i do that i will have £2 to survive on until Tuesday. electricity I haven't dared check but I would guess it's close to empty .
food I have 5 eggs , 12 fish fingers and some chicken dippers .
I have no idea what to do , I have struggles financially since my partner walked out on me and our 3 kids 6 months ago but this week has got to be the worst . I am receiving benefits but thanks to benefit cap less than a 3rd of the rent is paid via housing benefit so I need to make up £400 a month on the little I receive.

I have listed everything I can think of to sell but to be honest anything of any value was sold months ago. I sold stuff on eBay but because I'm a new seller paypal held the funds for 21 days which obviously is no good.
I have no friends or family to turn too the only person I could ask was ex which I have and he promised to top up gas but he hasn t. He mover to America 4 months ago and hasn't seen or bothered with the kids since .

Christmas is just over 2 weeks I have 2 presents bought that I have now had to try and sell no tree no decorations and honestly just despair at how my life has turned out . my daughter's nursery is going to get some gifts , they do some Christmas collection in coordination with local church so that's as relief atleast .

is there any thing obvious I'm missing ? I have tried finding survey sites to make some money but not getting anywhere fast.
foodbanks i know need referal for or is there any you can self refer ?

is there anywhere else i could sell thing other than gumtree/eBay?

OP posts:
Wait4nothing · 09/12/2017 09:47

Some food banks you can self refer, otherwise a children’s centre, maybe your dds nursery or a local church could help.
I think with the cold weather you will need to tip up your gas. Or speak to gas company about your situation and see if there is anything in place to help.

RJnomore1 · 09/12/2017 09:50

What ages are your kids? Toddlers easier to feed that teensgers.

Is your partner paying maintenance?

What benefits are you claiming? Have you seen an advisor to check you are getting all you should?

The church doing the Christmas collection will most likely be able to do a foodbank referral.

Poisongirl81 · 09/12/2017 09:52

Ring your gas company

Rainbowqueeen · 09/12/2017 09:52

Some food banks you can self refer to. If you post your general area someone might be able to give you some guidance.

Flowers it sounds incredibly tough.

Is your ex paying any child support? If not, can you check with CSA whether they can chase him in the USA?

I would contact your local food bank and find out whether you can self refer. I would also try to get an appoint,net with CAB just to look at your financial situation generally and see if they can suggest anything.

Good luck

Original poster
whatislove · 09/12/2017 09:52

its freezing but I'm scared to top up the gas incase electricity cuts out it's really one or the other I can do . good idea about gas company though , will give them a try now . thanks

OP posts:
Ragusa · 09/12/2017 09:55

Also ring your electricity company.

It sounds like you have tried most of the things usually suggested on very similar threads.

And yes agree about church/mosque/ temple/ synagogue. They will help you if you are destitute with referrals or other practical stuff.

Fishfingersandwichnocheese · 09/12/2017 09:57

Have a look at the “entitled to” call as well online

Fishfingersandwichnocheese · 09/12/2017 09:57

Calc*

Original poster
whatislove · 09/12/2017 10:01

my ex isn't paying maintenance he is living in new York so I didn't think that was an option . is it ?
I had meeting at job centre last week to discuss returning to work which as much as I would love to it's not practical with the kids right now but as far as I'm aware getting everything I am entitled too .
I'm getting income support , child tax credit child benefit and housing benfit . my main issue is benefit cap the flat we live in is about average price for a 3 bedroom property but as it's private rental it's obviously higher that social housing . moving is something I will have to do but I don't think I'l find anywhere cheaper anyway which is the council's answer to my issue. find cheaper accommodation .

they are 9 (she has asd but not had formal diagnosis yet but got letter finally and have appointment mid January, shes a fussy eater) 4 and youngest is 18 months . this might be identifiable but I'm not bothered.
I'm in Glasgow .

OP posts:
QuiteLikely5 · 09/12/2017 10:05

Contact your duty SW team and tell them you have no food and are close to running out of gas and electric. They can help

Contact your housing officer on Monday and ask if you can be referred to their fund which will pay extra hb for you given your circumstances

Google food banks in your area too

dancemom · 09/12/2017 10:08

There is a food bank with no referral required in Dennistoun, Everlasting Arms.

Contact them. Also contact Scottish Welfare Fund.

I'm in Glasgow, pm me

fourpawswhite · 09/12/2017 10:16

Another one suggesting duty SW. They will be able to help. They can also refer in to mission Christmas via cash for kids which will help with the kids for Christmas time.

RapunzelsRealMom · 09/12/2017 10:21

Whatislove I run a charitable initiative in Paisley and I think I can help you. I can do an urgent appeal and have amazing support from the community. Please pm me now!

Original poster
whatislove · 09/12/2017 10:21

poster QuiteLikely5 thank you I will , and will phone housing odfice on Monday hopefully something can help .it just seems like rock and hard place situation just now .

thanks dancemom just had a check and from what I could tell they only open 1st and 3rd Saturday each month but it's defiently somewhere worth remembering thank you .
I applied for a criss grant but have always been rejected in the past because I'm recovering everything I should but what they don't get is most goes straight out to pay rent . will check pms now .

OP posts:
sashh · 09/12/2017 10:22

Not one to helpo right now but check "Warm homes discount" it's money towards your gas/electric bills and is £140, different companies have different schemes as well as the government one but you will probably qualify.

You pay more on prepayment meters so think about switching, you can pay by dd or standing order so you can spread out your payents and with such young children the 'Big' companies will not cut you off if you do get behind.

Do you know who your ex works for?

A relative had a devious ex, he paid minimum maintenance (Oz so different rules) one day later each month until he missed one payment.

She sent a fax to his business saying, "You are 1 month late with $x for your two children" he was furious but paid up.

weechops · 09/12/2017 10:27

whatislove I’m in Glasgow too. I have similar aged kids. I also have a Christmas tree going spare if you’d have it? Please pm me x

YCAWS · 09/12/2017 10:29

Have you looked at discretionary top ups for housing benefit? I don't know how it works in Scotland but in the south you can apply for 12 weeks discretionary top ups to HB?

Blackteadrinker77 · 09/12/2017 10:30

Can you post up an SOA?

That way we can help you budget your money?

Original poster
whatislove · 09/12/2017 10:32

rang up British gas and I'm a total idiot I never changed it over so it's still in ex's name I top up via the app and don't get bills but can't believe I overlooked it . I need to send them copy of tenancy agreement and they will switch name over but not sure how long that will take . they did tell me about warm home discount though and by sounds of it I will be entitled to that. going to dig out tenancy agreement now Nd email them. copy will try calling again in few hours see if they have changed it over . And I will ask them about switching though i think the landlord want it to remain prepayment due to issues with the previous tenants .

As for the Ex i no idea who he's working for or even if he's working he was having an affair with a woman from new York which is why we split ,when she went back he went with her .

OP posts:
Original poster
whatislove · 09/12/2017 10:33

sorry Blackteadrinker77 what is a SOA ?

OP posts:
ScaryMary81 · 09/12/2017 10:36

Top the electric up and put extra sheets, on beds, if no sheets can use towels, coats or any material or get get kids to co sleep for extra warmth.

Wear dressing gowns and layers during day and evening, with the 2 quid buy £1 bag of spuds, to make chips/jacket spuds/mash, 50p value bread for breakfasts, 42p cordial for kids to drink.

Will last till monday when you can get to the jobcentre and council for food bank referral and apply to council emergency for gas and electric.

ScaryMary81 · 09/12/2017 10:40

Can also apply on line for a social fund loan for xmas presents etc,can apply for £812 but will take ten days so would need to do it today

Original poster
whatislove · 09/12/2017 10:45

poster ScaryMary81 thank you I think that's best approach if I'm topping up electricity I could probably get away with topping up £6 I think that would do till Tuesday that would give me more for food . we have survived on this amount before . we went weeks waiting on benefits starting after he left .it just seems worse now because. it's so cold.
cooker is erotic thankfully but hob is gas so that limits me a lot pasta is usually my go too but obviously can't boil it 🙈same with mash

OP posts:
Blackteadrinker77 · 09/12/2017 10:46

www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

It is a statement of affairs. A list of money going in and out. It can help you manage log term.

Other posters are giving great short term advice for your current situation. (I have no knowledge of the benefits etc) My head just thinks how do you get out of this ever happening again.