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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I have the kind of family that many people think shouldn't need extra help from the Government

294 replies

MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 20:12

I would like somebody to tell me how we can reduce our outgoings. We are the kind of family who people seem to think shouldn't need any financial help from the government. there seems to be an attitude that we just need to tighten our belts a bit. So I am really interested in how people think we will manage if out tax credits are cut.

Dh earns just under 25K. I really seriously cannot at the moment due to health problems.

We currently get £80 a week in TC and this helps us keep our head above water. But under the new system it looks like we wont get it any more.

So with DH salary and CB we have a monthly income £1772.00

Mortgage £700
Council tax £83
Car Insurance £58
Gas £60
Elec £80
Maintenance for DSD's £250
Petrol £200
Contents and Buildings ins 67.00
other bits ie TV licence, broad band phone, pet insurance £100
Nappies £20

That would then leave us just £154 each month to clothe and feed 3DC and to feed 2 dsd's.

How are we suppose to manage on that? I'm not saying that we should just be given hand outs but why can't the government do other things to help like keeping petrol cost lower. we just about managing at the moment but we are going to be in shit if these cuts go ahead. We will end up losing our home.

Even worse I suspect there are thousands of families like us out there. The ones trapped in the middle, not earning enough to survive but earning too much to get any help.

OP posts:
freshmint · 20/02/2011 23:26

Your DH earns £25k pa and he has five kids. I'm afraid that is why you have no spare cash. What more can I say? If you want taxpayers to subsidise your kids then fine - but that can't happen in the economic climate we are in I'm afraid.

chickchickchicken · 20/02/2011 23:27

i am not saying you should work if you feel too ill to work atm but i can second private cleaning work. it pays well and hours are usually flexible

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 23:33

Freshmint have you read the thread?

OP posts:
freshmint · 20/02/2011 23:36

yes
she needs to save money
but there are 5 kids, an ill wife and a husband on a relatively low income
she needs to tighten her belt but it will always be difficult until the kids grow up and earn their own cash

christmaswishes · 20/02/2011 23:39

So what are your thoughts on the private cleaning. This would also fit in well around your childrens schooling etc.

LaWeasel · 20/02/2011 23:40

She wasn't ill before she'd had their one shared child.

AFAIK the government frowns on 'trading in' children.

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 23:45

Christmas, I think I'd really consider doing something like that when I start to feel better. It's a really good idea. I could do a little website. Like the idea of working my hours to fit round child care.

I will have to look into prices etc

OP posts:
christmaswishes · 20/02/2011 23:49

Circumstances are crap sometimes. Noone knows when they might become ill or other bad events in life might occur. Yes some might say save for a rainy day but hindsight Is a b . And it is difficult for the op. Lots of suggestions have been said tonight and hopefully things will begin to look better soon.

mamatomany · 20/02/2011 23:49

I imagine there will be plenty of call for cleaning especially if you've an aged population locally, where I live I could charge £10 an hour if I was so inclined because there's so many old folk that can't lift a hoover.
You mentioned bio polar well if Kerry Catona can ice skate with it i'm sure you can do a bit of dusting Wink

lesley33 · 20/02/2011 23:51

You can't get DLA simply because you are too ill to work, as some posters seem to think. DLA is for people who need help with everyday tasks such as dressing, cooking, shopping, etc - either because of physical or mental illness.

If she doesn't need help with everyday tasks, she won't be entitled to DLA.

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 21/02/2011 00:00

I do want to work once I am stable enough. Bring at home all day doesn't suit me.

Just been looking online and the cleaners around here charge 9.50 an hour! I could get my own little business going, I'd live that.

OP posts:
christmaswishes · 21/02/2011 00:01

When I used to do it memoo. You wouldn't even need to spend much to begin. I would put a note up in shop windows locally, post offices, spars sometimes have a board for adverts. To put it in the windows only like a pound or 2 so not a lot. Then I distributed some homemade leaflets around the areas I wanted to clean. I went more for the bigger houses or houses on estates. You can do a lot with not much. You will get lots of calls I did. Are you any good at cleaning? You can take on as many or as little jobs as you feel you can manage. Even if you just did 2-3 hours a week for one client that would be something and you would be paid well.

If you wanted to take it further you could do your own website but tbh you wouldn't need one unless you was making it a business, but then if its a free website its all good to promote you. If you had to pay to build one then don't bother unless you want it to be a business. For me it was more just for some extra money/part time work. You'd easily get a few clients a week just to fit in with your kids .

chickchickchicken · 21/02/2011 00:03

if you do look into private the average wage where i live is £8 - £10ph with most people looking for 2-3hrs cleaning in their own homes per week.

ads are placed on supermarket boards and local shops. word of mouth very good too.

i know people who want cleaners but cant find them so it seems to be a job that is in demand

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 21/02/2011 00:04

Dh works in a printers do I could easily get him to print me off some leaflets. Can easily go leaflet dropping with dd in her buggy. I don't mind cleaning either. And I'm already crb checked from my last job so that might be helpful. Oh I'm really getting in to this now, it's a fab idea!!

OP posts:
Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 21/02/2011 00:06

Off to bed now but huge thanks for all the advice. Feel so much more positive xx

OP posts:
christmaswishes · 21/02/2011 00:07

Also yes I cleaned for elderly people. A lot of the time they just wanted a chat but they didn't want to pay as well or maybe just wanted you for an hour. I got a lot from single people working full time or people with kids and both parents worked that sort of thing and in your area there will be a lot of professional people who Don't have time to clean. Yours is a good area so you will do okay. I know its not most glamorous of jobs but it will suit your needs.

chickchickchicken · 21/02/2011 00:07

glad you are feeling more positive. good luck

christmaswishes · 21/02/2011 00:09

Really pleased for you. That is fantastic if your husbands a printer too. That's brilliant.

Hope you get some rest x

chickchickchicken · 21/02/2011 00:09

christmas - if you dont mind me asking what area are you in? are you still doing cleaning?

christmaswishes · 21/02/2011 00:11

Yes good luck and i second chickchick glad your feeling more positive. Keep us posted memoo x

LaWeasel · 21/02/2011 00:12

I may steal that idea also - moving to commuter town and struggling to find walkable/busable jobs there.

Could definately do with the money though. (similar income, with less kids but a bit of debt to pay off)

LaWeasel · 21/02/2011 00:12

Good luck memoo!

christmaswishes · 21/02/2011 00:16

Hi chickchick I would like to say but I don't want to give my area out as it is only small and wary of privacy issues but what I will say is it is in the north and it is a good area that commands similar prices £9-1O but if you are a company with a van,staff etc you can ask for more per hour. Where abouts are you?

frazzled74 · 21/02/2011 00:23

you should be able to get your home and contents insurance down to around £20 per month, check utilities and car insurance too, loads of tips on MSE website,interest only mortgage is a short term option, shop very carefully, menu plan etc.Use cashback sites for all online purchases(it mounts up, i have earned £220 in 12 months),and look into ways of bringing extra money in to the house,dogwalking? babysitting, carwashing, taking in ironing, secret shopper, avon. Good luck

chickchickchicken · 21/02/2011 00:38

christmas - i'm in south west. its very hard to find a good cleaner here

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