In the interim between starting work and getting paid, how do I afford to live?

[lyingawakepanicking]

NOT ASKING FOR MONEY.

First full time job after uni. Various circumstances (very complex family and my own mental health) have meant I’ve not been able to work during studies. Student loan only just covers rent.

I have some saved back money I was given two years ago when a relative died. That’s enough to pay a deposit and one month’s rent.

However my job involves relocating 200 miles (to live much closer to family, which will be huge benefit to me). The flat I’ve looked at is unfurnished. My family have said they have some basic furniture I can have, including a washing machine, but no white goods etc.

I can’t afford a furnished flat unfortunately.

So I’ll have to somehow try and get bits of furniture from somewhere … plus I’ll have to pay transport to work, and buy food, and basics like cleaning stuff, and I’m assuming utility bills and broadband/mobile phone

Once the first month has passed it should be OK I think but I won’t get paid for 6 weeks after I move potentially and I don’t know what I do for that six weeks for money! Panicking a bit, I can live without a sofa etc but worried about where the hell I get a fridge from, and how I pay the bus fare to work.

Family have said to ask my employer about a relocation package (which was mentioned a while ago but hasn’t been brought up since) and ask uni about discretionary funding (which I’ve applied for). I don’t think I’m entitled to any benefits at all, because I have got a job, it’s just the waiting for my first salary.

Is it wrong to ask my employer about relocation packages again? They’re a huge company, it was mentioned at interview for the first role I tried with them but not the second one.

I’ve applied for a viewing, they’re saying they’ll want a guarantor which I’ve had before. I’m hoping that they’ll be OK given I have enough to hand over to cover rent for a deposit and at least one month in advance, and have proof I’m starting a (pretty good) job (starting salary £29.5k).

I’ve no idea how I can improve my credit score in the interim. I don’t even know if I get a grant from uni if I pay off the last of that credit card (it’s only £150) if that would solve it but I think the default remains on my name for a while.

I don’t even know if I try to explain that situation if it comes up. I’ve rented most of my adult life and I’ve never missed a payment yet, neither have I ever missed a major utility bill.

I don’t have parents I can rely on financially unfortunately, for various reasons. One is at the moment unemployed and the other is in care.

I’ll ask about the relocation bonus definitely. As you’re all saying the worst they can do is say no.

And I’ll have a look around the area for community help too. It’s NE England, DL1 postcode.

And yes I’m doing finals at the moment, last exam is first week of May (my uni race through things, we do a lot before Christmas…)

Hopefully the competition for rental properties isn’t so high in the NE because in the SE it is insane atm. Do you have a guarantor arranged as it doesn’t sound like your parents would satisfy the criteria?

Yes, it’ll be a relative. I’ve also got a reference from my current letting agency verifying I’ve never been a problem, lived here three years etc (although whether that’ll make any difference I don’t know!)

That’s good OP, that should be enough to satisfy the rental agents.

wont your get your deposit back so you can use that to live on?

Is it wrong to ask my employer about relocation packages again? They’re a huge company, it was mentioned at interview for the first role I tried with them but not the second one.

If it was mentioned at interview for any job, it's well worth emailing to ask about that. Write to them tomorrow - it'll be a load off your mind if there is something like that.

Is this job the same time of job as the first one - eg both full time, permanent, graduate entry?

Hopefully a combination of an advance on your wages - see if you can arrange to pay it back over 3-6 months rather than all out of your first pay packet and the relocation bonus if it arises will mean you can manage.

You say you don't think you're entitled to benefits, but you might be to fill the gap between you not being a student and starting paid work as you won't be earning straight away. It's also worth asking if you're entitled to any 'starting work' grants if you have no income.

If you agree to take this flat (obviously if it's a good one, due to the housing shortage it would be a shame not to take it because you can't afford it now but will be able to in a month or two) could you sign up to it, but not take it until the beginning of June if your job doesn't start until late May? If you have a gap of a a few days where you need to be at work but can't enter your new flat, can you sofa surf or book into a cheap hotel or even something like a glamping pod?

Do you have any unused loyalty points you could use to buy food or other essentials?

Do you have anything you can sell or even pawn?

Do you have to pay all of the £150 back on your credit card straight away, can you pay less for the next month or two?

You might be able to get a credit builder card, worth a shot. Have a look at:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/bad-credit-credit-cards/

A woman I know was in a similar situation, she had registered for JSA and it continued until she was paid.

It may make sense to contact your local Job Centre to see if you can still register or is there any other help available as there is funding to help you get you back into work or accept that offer.

Look on Olio, free cycle and FB. People are often desperate to get rid of stuff for free. Round here it costs £30 to dispose of large item so basically you save someone £30 by taking it.
I've personally given away beds, drawers, sofa bed all in reasonable condition this way. Olio also does free food so you can pick up stuff to eat that is just about yo expire or people no longer want. This can help you survive the month.
Employer may do salary advance so ask about that too.

Do bar work or something in the evening to get some extra cash for day to day expenses. Sell some bits on Vinted or eBay.

Definitely don’t have anything I could pawn, the only things I have of any value are my laptop, phone, and two wedding rings (one from each grandmother). Family would never forgive me if I pawned them, and I couldn’t work without my laptop.

I do have a lot of clothes I will try and shift on vinted though!

It sounds like you misunderstand what pawning is, which is to lodge the item with a pawnbroker in exchange for money and the items are returned to you when you repay the money you borrowed.

It can be a cost effective way of borrowing in the short term and it doesn't affect your credit rating like a payday loan would.

Your family would never need to know and unless you are entitled to grants, benefits, advances etc, it sounds like you might not have a lot of choice and it could be the least worst option. It doesn't sound like your family should really have a say, given that they're unable to help you themselves.

Hi OP,

Are you entitled to any hardship funding through your university, as you are still actively studying there? If not there should be a student support service that may have some useful advice

you may be able to claim universal credit

If you don't know where you can get a fridge from (either new or second hand) then I do worry about your coping and cognitive skills.

Is it wrong to ask my employer about relocation packages again? They’re a huge company, it was mentioned at interview for the first role I tried with them but not the second one.

They won’t keep mentioning it unless they think you need it, just contact them and say you’d like to find out more - of course it’s not wrong to ask about it but you need to be proactive here, they've no way of knowing you need this unless you tell them.

Obviously I know how to get a fridge (how to buy one and how to get one second hand), it’s just lying awake at 6am worrying about how I’m going to afford everything, and going round in circles. Surely that was obvious 🙄

Are you sure the flat doesn’t have white goods? In my experience, a lot of unfurnished properties do come with white goods.

When I was in this position 20+ years ago - I had to take out a bank loans for the month and half deposit and first month rent and for all other expenses. My family helped with relocation getting me and stuff down there.

In your shoes I'd ask about any relocate packages - getting wages partially advanced - and get bed/fridge with small freezer compartment and then everything else gradually.

I got partially furnished flats - so accumulated bit and bods as did DH over the years - when we bought our first house we were still missing big items - sofa storage for clothes etc and - and they had to be got as cheap as possible as soon as possible. You may be able to get monthly payment scheme's for fridge and sofa though amazon/argos or someone else.

We trying to keep some money - savings back for kids so they may be able to avoid the extra debt I had to take out. These days you may be able to use free cycle and FB or even some bigger charity shops - some deliver for a charge round here bigger furniture items.

This - it's possible there's some items or they may be nothing - sometimes there more in there furniture wise than listing suggest as well.

It can’t hurt to ask. The worst that can happen is they’ll say no.

As others have said, check Facebook.

Renting white goods was a thing when I was growing up. It could be worth looking into.

Good luck with your new venture.

Would you live with people? Rent a room in a share house for 6 months? Then you won't have to worry about furniture. Plus, it'll be much cheaper.

Definitely 2nd renting a room in a house share for a bit! Lots are on a rolling month's notice, so you need only stay for a month or two.

See how you get on selling clothes on Vinted
Hopefully there is a relocation package they can offer you and I'd also ask for a salary advance if you need it once you're there.
If this unfurnished flat you're viewing doesn't work out then I'd start looking at rooms in a house share instead. Then you can get back on your feet financially and try again to rent your own place when you're actually in the area.