OK, Just to answer a few of your questions (sorry, long). I am sorry I couldn't reply earlier. Yes, I am a lone parent. I have one DS. His father contributes £0, lives abroad, out of reach and out of mind.
I don't earn much. I claim the maximum allowance of tax credits, including the childcare element, which since the reduction in the percentage to 70% means I still have to pay around £50 a month out of my income. DS goes to an afterschool club, which is the cheapest childcare on offer in my area.
I work as a TA in a school, the maximum hours one can work as a TA; 30 p/w during term time. There is no flexibility in this, except cutting hours which won't help as then I will earn less. The good thing is I work only term-time, so I do not need to worry about childcare then.
I have looked into getting another job, but there are no jobs around for my skills and qualifications which would pay the same or more than what I get. Most pay significantly less for more hours and having to work the holidays, thus more childcare costs.
I tried doing AVON for a couple of years, but found that my patch was on a council estate where people struggle with money, and for most of the year I was working at a loss, and this became worse when they started charging extra for orders under £10. You have to place an order at least every 2 campaigns (6 weeks) or you will have to pay the registration fee again (£15).
I live in a rural area, some distance from work. Too far and too dangerous for a bike, and public transport is a joke. Therefore my little 20 year old suzuki swift is the only way I can realistically get to work. It is relatively economic to run, and DF helps me out with some of the running costs (MOT/maintainance), while I take care of the rest (tax, insurance, petrol). I car share with a colleague, but this isn't always reliable.
The local comprehensive is now an Academy and the principal doesn't support SEN. He recently got rid of 14 TAs, and would get rid of the rest if he could legally. He is only interested in chasing the highest results and getting outstanding at ofsted, and many SEN kids there are neglected and relegated to vocational qualifications so as not to effect the results. There are no jobs there. The Primary school, where my son goes, doesn't take full-time TAs. All other primaries would involve a drive and are smaller so no full-time TAs either.
As XH has no involvement, I cannot work evenings or weekends, so cannot take on extra work, say in a pub.
I don't have anything to sell on Ebay. All my clothes are worn until they are scruffy, all my electronic equipment is second hand and in use. Most stuff gets used to death!
Can't cut mobile or internet as on contract, and don't have landline telephone. Need internet to finish degree with OU, as now all course materials, resources, even the tutorials and end of course exam is live on internet. Library is not an option with DS and work. Plus, this is not a significant amount to help the problem, which is much bigger.
I live in a small 2 bed HA flat. I can't get anywhere cheaper and cannot sublet DS's room.
I have some debts, which in the grand scheme of things probably isn't much. However, it is still something I have to pay monthly and it is a struggle. I consolidated my credit cards and old overdraft into a bank loan, then cut up credit cards, now I am paying it off on the longest time scale possible. Yet month on month, I find myself slipping further and further into my overdraft again just to pay for every day living.
I am frightened that this winter we will have to choose between heating and eating. My income has stayed the same for the last 2 years, yet my rent (HA) has gone up 10%, food at least 30%, fuel probably the same in that time scale.
I am frightened that if this continues, some time in the not so far future, I will be unable to pay my rent. We have been homeless in the past and I don't want to go back there.
This is not a choice between a nice little holiday in tenerife, or a new car, or childcare. This is a choice between a roof over our heads and childcare.