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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:
CarGirl · 20/02/2011 21:28

Get an oldish micra - they run forever, cheap to insure and run. Petrol/diesel prices are soaring it will save you so much both in insurance and petrol costs.

Can the big car - you can't afford days out really anyway it would seem.

How far does he commute - if it's quite far then get a diesel. Zafira's are economical and a manual diesel should run forever - this is from my mechanic btw.

activate · 20/02/2011 21:28

have you got a fixed rate mortgage?

Figgyrolls · 20/02/2011 21:28

You may find that if you change your utilities you will have some cash sitting there from the dd's but it could also work the other way Sad

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:28

I did ask before what ESA is

OP posts:
The3Bears · 20/02/2011 21:28

I am sure I have seen that somewhere, I really dont want to get your hopes up. Would be best to go to citzens advice and check but I really think I have seen that because I was thinking we wouldnt get it possibly next year as we have one dc and if dp earned over £25,000.
Just check asap hopefully I am right

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:29

Cargirl strangely enough we have a diesel zafira.

OP posts:
Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:30

You do if you live in a flood area Darlene, not legally but because it would be stupid not to.

OP posts:
OfflineFor30Seconds · 20/02/2011 21:31

When you're getting car insurance quotes, you can save money by increasing your voluntary excess. Obviously this would cost you more if you did need to claim, but would reduce the ongoing insurance cost.

CaveMum · 20/02/2011 21:31

Turning the thermostat down by just 1 degree can save you a surpeising amount of money. Our thermostat is set to 17C but even in very cold weather is never turned up higher than 20C. DH used to walk around the house in a t-shirt in the winter and try to turn the heating up if he felt cold. I retrained convinced him that it was better to put an extra layer of clothing on first!

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:31

Thanks 3bears will have a look at that now

OP posts:
CarGirl · 20/02/2011 21:31

How far is the commute? You need to work out if a much smaller car is going to be cheaper.

I had an ancient espace that only did 19mpg so for a while I also had a micra for all the journies when we didn't need 5+ seats - it was fab, loved it. If we ever get brassic the alhambra will go.

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:32

Offline that is a fab idea!

OP posts:
The3Bears · 20/02/2011 21:32

You will still recieve them it says: The Treasury says, based on a £30,000 income, "if the family has more than one child, they would still receive credits". In other words, they will not lose out.

mamatomany · 20/02/2011 21:32

If the household income is reduced then the CSA will reduce the amount they have to pay, I would also consider letting the tax credits people know how often you have the DSS's as surely if it's shared care it's shared tax credits ?
However most of this is using a water pistol to fight a house fire, it will make little difference, if you need two incomes to live your life then that's what you need and some how some way the OP will have to work, because the state simply will not pick up the bills any longer. The sooner that sinks in the better you can plan accordingly.
I know of somebody who has banked on thousands in MA, sure start grants HIP grants and one by one they have all been pulled, it's going to be horrible for them over next few years.

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:33

It's about 30 miles each way cargirl

OP posts:
CarGirl · 20/02/2011 21:33

I've invested in a new bike to make the hills more managable for my commute - I reckon it will have paid for itself in 6 month even though it cost £300 - it currently resides in the lounge as don't have any outside storage for it!

Morloth · 20/02/2011 21:34

In your circumstances I would:

Rehome the pet.
Sell the car and buy a bike.
Sell the house and move closer to DH's work in a rental property.

It sucks, but if it means feeding the kids vs. not feeding the kids then I don't see how you can avoid it.

You have my sympathy but I just don't think there will be any more help coming from the Government, whether there should be or not isn't the question, it just isn't going to happen so you are going to need to sort this out yourself.

As expat says give the DLA thing a go, but if that doesn't happen and you don't want to get rid of car/pet/house then you are going to have to find work.

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:34

3bears, I love you Grin

OP posts:
Newgolddream · 20/02/2011 21:34

darlene comments such as "If any of your DCs are over 2 they dont need to be in nappies." - really are amazingly unhelpful......so childrens bladders and bowels have a time clock that automatically sycronise when they hit 2 to be dry?

I have 3 DS - and DS 3 is still in nappies and he turned 3 in December, nowhere near trained no matter how much me and DH try, Id better tell him to be dry eh??!!!

darleneconnor · 20/02/2011 21:35

phone 0800 055 6688

tomorrow to claim esa

you should get the money within a couple of weeks

ask to backdate the claim then go to your gp and get sicknotes

I suppose it's also too late to say 'dont buy a house on a flood plain'?

The3Bears · 20/02/2011 21:35

Glad I have helped :)

darleneconnor · 20/02/2011 21:36

new- when DCs all used to be in cloth nappies they tended to all be dry by 18 months.

CarGirl · 20/02/2011 21:38

The irony is if you were renting for £700 per month then you would probably get some housing benefit. Plus if the dsds stayed overnight you would have reduced maintenance and you wouldn't need buildings insurance.....

How much equity is in your home??

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:38

"don't buy a house on a flood plain" Grin you have no idea how much I hadnt!

Thanks for the number

OP posts:
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