Any ideas to earn extra cash to pay for Christmas

[dreamerz]

I recently found out that my dh has rather a lot on several credit cards.

I've been through it all and it seems there's been a few issues with his work (he's self employed) and had a few quiet months and used cards and overdrafts to prop him up. Then tax bill was due. Then our car broke. And because the cards are not zero percent the min repayments each month is insane. It's snowballing. There is a bit of silly spending too.

I was furious when I found out and that's another thread. He tends to bury head in sand.

I've made him transfer the largest one to a zero percent card.

But the other two still need 400quid minimum repayments per month also.

Ive stopped all spending
I've started selling all my stuff online (clothes, books etc) I've made hundreds.
He's selling his stuff too.
We've swapped Tesco for aldi
I've ended all subscriptions and exercise and eating out.I've stopped all fun! For everyone.
started paying more each month into joint account. We have separate accounts and each pay into joint account which is why I had no clue.

Obviously it's Xmas and we have three kids. I've started using cash back sites and used some of my vinted money to buy a few gifts. I also had a voucher for Amazon so used that.

Is there anything I'm forgetting?

He obviously feels terrible and whilst I'm furious at him for hiding it, splitting is not what I want.

I actually work full time and earn good money. I always paid my bit. But it's not enough to cover all the bills myself 🤦‍♀️

How else can I make money?

If anyone has any bright ideas re getting us out this situation please let me know? Our mortgage is relatively low so I thought about taking some money out of that? Borrowing a bit more.

Or getting a loan?!

Get the Lidl app
Theres free stuff and discounts when you spend a certain amount each month.
If you spend £250 in one month you get 10% off your next shop up to a max of £20 off.
We occasionally stock pile to get to the £250 then spend up to £200 in one shop to get the discount. Then all we need weekly for a while is fresh stuff.

Ps OP as a family of 5 currently spending £200 a week I’d say you can definitely reduce that.

Matched betting.

Have you got any credit on utilities bills - more than you need for the winter?

Could your dp take in ironing, do house cleaning, handy man jobs or garden winter tidy ups? I’ve been trying to find people to do these jobs for elderly mil but the people doing them either charge a fortune or have months long waiting lists.

Hmmm @PermanentTemporary I just checked. £500 in credit.

we are paying 200ish per month for gas and elec

do I leave the credit or take it out?

I can’t believe that I’ve just “woken up” and made saving my money my entire personality since this happened. It’s sort of addictive. Before we were both not really thinking about spending or budgeting.

im getting a buzz out of cash back sites and vinted sales. And excited about my spreadsheets of budgets. Food planning and excited to try a new supermarket. Looking for the best deals.

i only wish we had started this sooner.

I've been in a similar situation in the past. Before you buy anything ask yourself do I need it. Swap to supermarket brand food. Sell as much as you can on Facebook marketplace. Any of the kids toys you can sell? People will be looking this close to Christmas. Anything you don't use or need, sell it. Cut down on snacks, takeaways, coffee out etc

Oh and I've done Christmas presents for the children completely from primark and the works before.

Specifically what is your dh doing to fix this?
why are you the one working full time and running ragged saving/selling/worrying whilst he has ‘quiet time’ at work!

Get him chasing work. A few hard hours as a labourer/Uber driver etc might focus his mind on his actual job and chasing payments.

You've mentioned a lot about what you're doing, but not much about what he's doing to sort this. He needs to get himself a part time job to sort this out. Get rid of the staff and office. You need to be firm with him.

Why are you doing all of this while he's frittering the money you make on an office and someone to make him a cup of tea/fluff his ego?

Yep, that's a quick way to make £175. TopCashBack. I save mine until Xmas each year.

People on the neighbour app near tomme are asking for someone to put their Xmas lights. Lots of people are asked for for this. Another knee wanted a Xmas tree collected and set up in a bucket for her. Could your DH do this sort of thing at the weekend?

It must be infuriating that he is not on board to seriously tackle the issue. What does his member of staff do? The obvious short term solution is to give up the office and member of staff. The VAT/tax bill coming up in January is a worry - should some of the money he is owed come in by then?

Interesting your dh feels so terrible but is happy to do naff all to help fix it and wants to continue to pay out £1300 for his work whilst his family goes without
stellar dh you have there

Yeah the problem here is that your DH doesn't seem to be doing anything to help with a situation he has created.

You can claw back a bit of money here and there but if he gave up his office space and worked from home (maybe employee could do the same?) then you'd be in a better financial situation faster.

If DH is doing nothing to rectify the situation, the message you are giving him is that it is fine for him to be irresponsible. You might find you are back in this situation in another few months/ years time where you will again have to 'save the day'.

I'd second the evening delivery driver suggestion. You need to reduce spending, maximise income. He also needs to invoice for incomplete work!

Get him to deliver takeaways in the evening. My friends DH has done it for years on top of working full time. He earns a minimum of €150 a night, he works two night, starts at 6pm and finishes at 11.30pm. Always extra busy this time of year and more tips too.

You need a regular income coming in from DH. No amount of cutting back on groceries and selling items is going to work long term.

He's only keeping the office and employee for ego. He needs to get over it, and also get a real job like in a shop or doing deliveries to bring in some money. Not impressed that he's letting you run yourself ragged on vinted etc instead of stepping up.

He works in photography (mostly events/family but some weddings) so the other employee is an apprentice and does the same as him. They are learning the trade.

Some jobs he does need two people. He charges client for her.

He's really reluctant to get rid as he said she's cheap compared to hiring out more experienced freelancers for jobs which is what he had been doing. It also enables him to do kore he claims as he can be doing two jobs at once sometimes.

I honestly still think it's a waste but the other complicating factor is this apprentice is young and has skipped uni to spend time learning the trade. He said he feels bad getting rid.

The office... he says he needs to store equipment, lighting etc and have people visit his office for meetings. In my opinion this is quite rare.

My concern is deffo that he's not yet sufficiently worried. As I lay awake at 2am last night crying, he's snoring away and tells me that he has to remain positive or he will hate himself even more.

It's consuming my thoughts entirely. I'm constantly searching for things around the house I can sell.

That’s a sad update Op, he sounds like a total twit

he needs to get another job round his photography job asap

its lovely he’s thinking about his staff member but perhaps he could extend that decency to his family

Is he actually earning proper money? VAT and corporation tax would suggest his business has a decent turnover, but is he actually paying himself a proper salary? Like £30-40k minimum?

If not he needs to close his company, get a job and then perhaps do a bit of freelance work on the side, eg summer weddings.

I honestly don't know how much he earns and neither does he. He's very secretive.

He has an accountant he pays (another £100 a month)

It tends to come in every few days in teeny amounts (100 here, 200 a few days later)

Useless. As the bills go out at start of month

Surely that's not all profit though, when you take out petrol, wear and tears etc?

I think he does know how much he earns Op

something doesn’t quite add up about your thread to be honest. You don’t seem concerned you have a secretive waste of space husband who’s putting you and your home at risk by getting in debt and not caring how he’s going to pay it.

but each to their own 🤷‍♀️