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

[MogadoredMemoo]

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.

Darlene, I couldn't afford the pay for my first house because my violent abuser of a husband buggered off and left me.

Well in that case your fcuked frankly, there probably isn't much you can do except stop paying maintenance for the DSS's and battern down the hatches, pay off every debt you can or sell the house whilst you still can before prices plummet.

Ah I see Expat, she's like that!

Electricity savings:

Leaving things on standby costs as much nearly as having them on.

Those halogen spotlight thingies cost a fortunte.

many suppliers will give you a monitor that you use which monitors how much stuff is costing you to use.

Don't use a tumble drier year around. Consider washable nappies.

crikey darlene - you sound like my mother!

www.dialuk.info/faqs/index.asp#q4

They help people with disabilities - my local one said they'd sit down with me and help me fill out DLA forms etc and give me an initial assessment of eligibility.

With regards to ESA - have you got GP's sicknotes for the time you have been ill? If not get them and called jobcentre plus and ask to speak to their disability advisor. They can help you to claim ESA.

mag-same here- I havent worked since having DD and my DP earns less than you but we have plenty money to spare every month because I dont spend money on the things you do.

ps: try 'parents with disabilities' in the special needs section here (it's under AIBU on the talk main page) - you might be able to get more advice on claiming ESA and managing parenting with a disability or health condition.

at Tethers.

Memoo - you simply aren't going to make the sums add up are you with the tax credits gone?

You can only cut your costs back so far - you need to look into DLA and your DH needs to earn more money. Not sure how easy that will be though - good luck.

I can't really help you on the budgeting front I'm afraid, APART from saying re: car insurance, depending on where you live it may just be what you have to pay. It's not that far off mine and I only have a Focus.

But, I just wanted to give some support from those saying "didn't you think this through, move to a smaller house etc". Like you said, you didn't choose to be ill. I woudn't be surprised if you weren't entiltled to DLA, but I'm sure you should be getting something. Regarding housing, 700 a month is peanuts were I live. I live in a flat that we could rent out for far more than that. Depending on where you live, housing can be very expensive and there is nothing you can do about it (I'm sorry but the relocating arguement is crap, where you live is about so much more than the price of houses).

And you've got a large family through a set of circumstances. What is wrong with that? (though I do agree your ex needs to be chsed up through the CSA).

It's shitty. Price comparison sites are your friend. Good luck

We don't often go out all together in the car so down sizing to a smaller one is a good idea.

Not paying maintenance isn't really an option.

Thethers, I may sell the baby, she is by far the cutest so will probably raise more money

Threads like these don't make me think families like yours shouldn't have help from the government. They make me think that fathers should have child maintenance taken out of their pay/benefits before they're given it.

But your gas, electric and house insurance seem high, if you're looking at areas to cut. And if it's a choice between losing your house and losing pets I'd choose the pets.

your house insurance is very high. I'd almost go so far as to say you were being rippd off, but it can vary vastly from area to area and your claim history.

car insurance = very dear. But that depends on your driving record etc. Could you pay it as a yearly lump sum, monthly insurance can be much more expensive?

Tax credits per child are going to £2555 though the taper is steepening, so you'd have to go and look at the site to have a clue what next year will bring...

if your youngest is 18mo or older - potty training time - if you are well enough to be up to it. or - reusables - you may be able to get them free from the council. i find them much cheaper.

Unfortunately you can expect fuel costs to rise.

your morgtgage seems expensive but it depends on your individual circs too.

Although i do agree that just having a job doesn't make you necessarily better off, its stil worth managing as in the long term it works out better. I say this having worked out that if Dh gets a job in London for 20k we'll actually be worse off than current (given travel cost etc) to begin with.....

still worth doing.

icoulddoitbetter, thankyou x

Why not scrap things like your sky/television licence, mobile phones etc.

If you cut back to the absolute necessary surely you could manage?

Do you claim disability if you're too ill to work?

What Darlene, you mean you don't feed your kids???

I honestly think you need to consider DLA/ESA, too. ESA can be contribution-based as well, and you will likely have the requisite NI contributions.

I think £700 isn't much for a mortgage, either.

We don't have sky and we only have payg mobiles which we barely use.

I am definitely going to look into dla

What is ESA expat?

ex-pat I could list all the shitty things you've said on other threads (they've been plenty) but it's against the rules dont you know?

I'm trying to help the op. I've been in a vv similar situation. She wanted help with budgeting. I gave it. Sometimes the truth hurts.

When I was working I made sure I had enough to tide me over if I ever ended up out of work. That is not an unreasonable thing to do.

OP- sorry about you violent ex. quite often there are ways to help people stay in their homes in situations like this, if given the right advice. That doesnt help you now, though.

Tyler I couldn't agree more. If my ex faced his responsibilities we'd be fine but don't even know where he is atm.

Darlen - memoo's ex has not paid maintenance what on earth makes you think he would have paid the mortgage on the old house! You can try and make their finances 'their fault' as much as you like, but nobody can help getting ill.

Memoo - best advice is to ring around for gas and electric again, I'm in a terrace too and pay less than half that in a really crappily insulated house so that can't possibly be the best deal.
A small car could be a good idea short term? Might be worth seeing how much your car is worth second hand.

When did I say I didnt feed my kids?

We spend c. £600 pcm on supermarket shops and eating out (2 adults, 2 kids).

Darlene, you haven't tried to help? you've pointed out where I have gone wrong in the past. You actually haven't given me any practical advice at all.

Oh FFS, will the "rehome the pets" brigade give it a rest please? Pets are for LIFE, like children, unless there is absolute poverty and therefore inability to feed and care for them or serious illness or the like.