How am I ever going to get another car?

[KingKhazi]

I'm on very low income. Work 3 days a week in a low paid job. Topped up by UC. Live alone. No dependants. No pets. With UC I probably get 1200 a month maximum.
My car is on its last legs. I've spent more than its actually worth lately to fix it because it's still cheaper than getting a new car.
I have around £150 currently in my savings account.
At the end of each pay period.(paid 4 weekly) I'm lucky if I've got £50 left.
Increasing work hours/getting a better paid job is completely out of the question due to health issues.

I need a car as live in a rural town. I work in the next town over. No buses/trains.

How on earth am I going to afford another car?
Went to a massive second hand place yesterday (the one advertised on TV with that annoying silent advert). All the cars were at least £150 per month with a deposit of £1500 plus £299 admin fee.
No way could I afford a car up front. I'd be lucky if I got £500 for mine.

There is nothing I can cut down on bill wise. Don't have broadband, Netflix, any subscription to anything like that. My mobile phone is £25 a month for sim only.

What the fuck do I do?

With your health issues are you entitled to any assistance through the motability scheme?

www.motability.co.uk/

A friend in a similar situation bought an electric bike for a few hundred pounds which was a massive stretch for her. Before that she used an old cycle.

You only get the mobility part of PIP if you can't walk 20 metres. Then you could apply for a Motability car.

sounds like you need to move to somewhere where you will not be reliant on a car - there is a problem when people set up their living arrangements to rely on being able to drive, then can't drive, for example for financial or medical reasons.

If you’ve got ill health try applying for PIP you can still work it will mean you won’t lose your job and you can afford to run a car with the PIP allowance. Get help filling the form in though as there is a technique to it. Good luck.

What a great scheme.

I can’t help with the car either but came in to say my sim only deal is £7 per month. Shop around.

Depending on the details, Access to work might fund taxi fares.

www.gov.uk/access-to-work

Liftshare with a colleague?

Lots of good suggestions here. But also I would look for a job in your town, so that you don't have to travel so far. Or if possible - it may not be - look at moving closer to work perhaps.

If there's no public transport and you can't afford a car (or can't use a moped etc for example) then you're in a vulnerable position financially.

Well if you can get to London I can sell you a car for £600. It’s not going to comply with with ULEZ but it’s a fab car. Used to belong to my dad - he bumped it a few times but it’s pretty good. Low mileage and just had a service and MOT.
I bet there will be some bargains to be had once the ULEZ expansion comes in August.
Sorry to sound like a dodgy second hand salesman.

I think long term you might need to look at moving somewhere with easier access to facilities and public transport if your health and earning potential are unlikely to improve in future.

If you rent you may find applying to the council useful as although two bedroom+ places have long waiting lists one bedroom places much less so.

If you add up the Mot, servicing, repairs, fuel and tax you'll probably be better off getting a taxi to and from work.

Where is the op supposed to magic up this better paid job?

Where is the op supposed to magic up this better paid job?

The same way you find any job. I didn't say it would be easy, that goes without saying. Or alternatively working from home, as a pp suggested.

Hopefully OP will return and tell us what she thinks about our suggestions herself.

How about something like this www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307239969134?sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_cars&include-delivery-option=on&page=4&postcode=EN118AS&price-to=500&fromsra they say part ex is also welcome? I know it's very old but you wouldn't lose any money if you had to sell it on.....

No car and/or a different job/one with wfh as an option. If you aren't receiving additional benefits to assist with mobility issues, it's the only solution.