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AIBU?

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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:
LaWeasel · 20/02/2011 21:39

Darlen my DD is 2 and in cloth nappies. They aren't magic.

What IS ESA? Genuinely, never heard of it.

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:40

We had about £10k equity but then prices dropped so that has been virtually wiped out.

OP posts:
beanlet · 20/02/2011 21:40

Seriously Darlene, the unsympathetic tone of your posts is NOT HELPING. You may have useful things to say , though harping on about historical paths not taken is not. I think it's time you bowed out gracefully, don't you?

Vallhala · 20/02/2011 21:44

Rehome the pet? Great idea Morloth. Rescue has loads of spaces just waiting for people like the OP to drop their dogs into. Hmm

Let's not concern ourselves with the slight problem that the vast majority of rescues are chockablock, or that even IF they can offer a place to the OP's dog it will be at the expense of a dog in the pound to whom they would otherwise have offered the space and who will now die in the pound for want of that space.

And of course we in rescue have all the money in the world to cover the bills which the public can't or won't pay when the going gets tough. Yep, these unpaid, unsubsidised rescue owners and the volunteers who work their arses off and donate what we can to rescue are rolling in it. Hmm

Rehome the dog, brillinat idea! Hmm

CarGirl · 20/02/2011 21:44

Seriously I would consider renting Confused

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:45

Thanks for all the really helpful advice I've had from everyone but Darlene Grin

It's been hugely helpful and I'm going to take it all in board.

OP posts:
mamatomany · 20/02/2011 21:45

Vallhala - in the last recession thousands of pets were destroyed I'm afraid the truth is the children come before the animals.

Newgolddream · 20/02/2011 21:46

darlene Im sure your DCs did - but all children are different - my eldest 2 sons - who are now 18 and 8 were trained by 2 and a half - and DS 3 at 3 and a bit isnt - I havent done anything different - as I said all children are different.

OfflineFor30Seconds · 20/02/2011 21:46

I don't want to delve into your specific health issues, but did you have any kind of critical illness or mortgage payment protection insurance on your mortgage? If so, have you investigated whether you can claim from them to help you cover your payments?

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:47

Vallhala, there is no way we will rehome the dog. We got her from a dogs home in the first place and I'm definitely taking her back. She is part of our family.

OP posts:
CarGirl · 20/02/2011 21:47

I've had 3 in cloth nappies - they were all over 2 before they had any clue about needing a wee before it happened!

One of them wasn't dry at night until 7!

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:48

Offline. No we didn't unfortunately.

OP posts:
lollystix · 20/02/2011 21:48

Your home insurance costs are phenomenal! You're paying about £800 a year! Did u shop about? Average home insurance premiums are around £300-400. Also I think your gas and electric costs are high at £140. Other than that I don't know how u manage. Also £700 for a mortgage is fairly normal in my view- you would probably pay more in rent

darleneconnor · 20/02/2011 21:48

cargirl-yes it's not fair that hb would pay towars her rent but not towads the interest on her mortgage.

You would be better off, in the short term, if you sold and rented.

beanlet- quite often other people read these threads, looking for advice, but are too scared to post themselves. Giving retrospective advice is good for them.

Good advice is good advice. The tone of my posts has no bearing on the op's financial situation. Sometimes some people need to be told it straight.

If your house wasn't properly surveyed then could you take some legal action against the previous owner/surveyor?

OADCB · 20/02/2011 21:49

Darlene you have been a complete Cow with your "should have thought about that crap"

Lets hope you never have to face illness that alters your ability to walk eh?

There for the grace of god goes I etc.

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:50

Cargirl, we wouldn't save much by renting. Rents are nearly as much as our mortgage

OP posts:
Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:51

I think our insurance costs are higher because we live in an area at risk from flood and because it's already happened before the insurance rocketed

OP posts:
CarGirl · 20/02/2011 21:53

Yes but if you were renting you would have no buildings insurance and I think would get some housing benefit towards the rent.

Out of interest look at entitledto and put the figures in.........

I have a feeling they would take your maintenance payments into account as an outgoing.

OADCB · 20/02/2011 21:54

Chase Csa for maintenance

Apply for dla and ESA.

Can DP car share?

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:55

Oh yes that's a good point!

OP posts:
gaelicsheep · 20/02/2011 21:55

I think it is frankly incredible that a family with an earner on the average wage is having to make these choices. On the average wage and people question if they can afford to keep a pet, or have a landline phone. Something has gone very wrong. And surely the wider point is that if her DH was earning less they would get tons more help and not have to make these choices.

I am not an Ed Miliband fan, but he has hit the nail on the head about the "squeezed middle".

It may have been mentioned, but if your income goes down if you lose CTC, wouldn't the maintenance your DH has to pay go down too?

Original poster
MogadoredMemoo · 20/02/2011 21:55

CSA been chasing ex for 10 years

OP posts:
mamatomany · 20/02/2011 21:56

And what savings do you have if the car breaks down or the boiler blows ? Or the roof leaks ?
I'd get out now before you end up in negative equity if you think DH's job is secure, if it isn't you'll have to stay where you are as you'd be better off in your own home if there's any chance of redundancy.

OADCB · 20/02/2011 21:57

Housing benefit wouldn't take maintenance into account when looking at your income unfortunately

If you sold house and had a lump sum that would be a problem if over 16k

mamatomany · 20/02/2011 21:57

So sorry but why have the CSA not pinned him down yet ?