to wonder what the fuck to do now? (Immediate financial problem)

[Margaritte]

We are on a very tight budget for the next couple of months. We know this, and have got advice from StepChange & I posted a thread on here for recipe /shopping advice.

However, today our card declined trying to pay for £22 or so worth of shopping. We were not expecting that, and now I am very worried and starting to panic

We have some food in for dinners. No packed lunch food though, for ds1 & 2 and dh. We have no milk (well, enough for a bottle tonight for dd) and are down to 3 nappies.

Payday isn't until end of next week, so have to do something until then.

Crossed posts with you, gobbynorthernbird. Will grate it then

This article about Fifteen Foods You Didn't Know you Could Freeze might help?

Thank you OvertiredandConfused I didn't know half of those!

I am starting to feel as though I'm really getting somewhere now. It's going to take a while, though I feel I now know what I need to do to help us get there

I'm wondering whether if I sign up to YNAB's free trial, if it would help me to finally get my budget sorted, and help us 'level out'? I wont be able to pay, when trial ends, though I thought I could write down what I find out, and keep it? Does anyone know if it would work like that? Anyone use YNAB?

Margaritte, I use YNAB and it's fantastic. It is actually fun to use. It could get you into the habit of recording your expenditures (however trivial) and then you could transition to a spreadsheet after the trial period expires.

Margaritte, you sound a bit more positive today, which is great. When you are a bit more in control and have an idea of your future budget, do come back, I (and I am sure lots of others) have plenty of tips on how to make the pennies stretch. Keep on keeping on and all the best. Been in your shoes and it sucks.

GoodbyeToAllOfThat I will sign for the free trial then, and see how that helps.

Grumpyoldblonde I do feel more positive today - although I'm not going anywhere yet Tips on penny stretching would be great, as soon as I've done all that needs to be done first

Good, I sent you another pm which I hope made sense if you have had a chance to look. If not just shout for Grumpy!

Margaritte I cant recall if you have looked at this or not, I know somebody else mentioned it in a post. It is a budget planner, that you can enter on all income and expenditure , including annual expenses, one off expenses, birthdays, haircuts etc and it budgets it all over 12 months.

I found it quite useful and recommend it to clients. It's not an app, but can be a spreadsheet.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/Budget-planning

skyeskyeskye That's great thank you

Today I am feeling much more positive that I can do this! I've 3 weeks until the next Payday, and I really am determined to have our budget sorted, so that we can have living money first (food / nappies / transport etc) then actually have leftover for paying off what needs to be paid off, in priority order.

We had nothing left this payday just gone, not for even the basics, am determined that is not going to happen again --although I really need to search through everything, to figure a final budget out. Does anyone have advice please on what we should be spending on these things?

Hi Margaritte, really the only way to budget is to have a very,very clear idea of what money is coming in and going out. Your absolutes are rent/mortgage and council tax, these come first.
As for food, have a careful think about how much milk you really get through, 4 pints a day maybe? how many nappies do you really need? how many loaves of bread a week and so on, this will give you a clearer idea of how much money you need for the basics.
Lists are your friend, you need to have a roof over your heads and food in your stomachs before you think about anything else (debt payments) otherwise you are in a never ending spiral. You have I believe approached the debt management organisations. so that is a good start but be realistic, I was a debt counceller about a hundred years ago (!) and found time and again people underestimated their spending, they forgot they spent 8.00 a day on tobacco for example or 50 a week on petrol or 5.00 on brownies - whatever and these amounts add up.

Do you have a mobile or any sort of tablet/iPod touch etc? I am just asking because there are tons of really helpful free apps for recording budget items on the fly.

Admittedly, I am not familiar with Android, but I know that on iPhones, you can turn off data usage on any apps you want so you don't have to worry about consuming data when you don't plan to.

You really are handling this phenomenally, I have a lot of respect for you. How is your DH doing? Has he had any luck finding a bit of extra work? Is he physically capable of doing work like mowing lawns, weeding gardens, basic maintenance? It won't be long before people start tiring of caring for their own property and a reasonably priced and reliable hand will be much appreciated.

Let me just post this slow-cooker link here before I go through the whole thread to gather together all the food recipes:

theheartysoul.com/slow-cooker-recipes/?t=HHL

(Sent to me by a German Friend who didn't know about slow cookers until she and the family stayed with me in 2009.)

Revised List of jobs (Thursday 18th)

1. Call Payplan (open until 3pm Saturday, closed Sunday) DONE
2. Call priority arrears companies and pay DONE
3. Take DCs out for a walk/play DONE
4. Plan meals (with MN help) DONE
5. Cook evening meal for 5 of you DONE
6. Whilst in kitchen, cook and freeze 2 meals with the mince (see cottage pie ^^ for one) DONE
7. Finish listing on Facebook (catch the weekend browsers) DONE
8. Blitz the housework DONE
9. Go in loft and shed to seek more items to sell on FB, Gumtree, eBay. DONE

10. Photograph and list the additional items for sale DONE 11. Google your local foodbank: www.trusselltrust.org/map and check your referral system (SureStart, GP etc) DONE 12. Go in loft and shed to seek even more items to sell on Facebook. DONE 13. Look for other selling groups on Facebook to increase listing capacity: e.g. baby, general & specialist selling groups. DONE 14. Check if Christians Against Poverty can offer additional help: capuk.org/ DONE 15. Sign up to You Need A Budget (YNAB) free trial www.youneedabudget.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw2ImsBRCnjq70n_amv14SJAChXijN_WAE3WrUjZXMRPxRyRoKdTykTg7Kp4U6kvvDbjau4xoCLcbw_wcB DONE ----------- 16. respond to your PM box daily - people are offering support 17. Phone a debt charity to explore a DEBT PLAN using this link for ideas, information: images2.moneysavingexpert.com/attachment/ivaGuide.pdf ThisIsNachoCheese will advise on IVA if that is the option. 18. Finish listing DVDs on musicmagpie - but explore other sites for greater remuneration e.g confusedofengland suggests - webuybooks, Ziffit, Music Magpie, Fatbrain 19. Join Swagsbucks as suggested by Beth2511. www.swagbucks.com/p/register?cmp=357&cxid=10017655-56061193237&aff_sid=swagbucks%20paid%20surveys&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhuqrBRCFuPz4ipOx5JIBEiQAZJ7F-j5w347A8au5Gw7Q9ubkILKXd3FRjLjOegCs9MfdWD8aAj-Q8P8HAQ 20. List larger items on Gumtree (van services are registered on Gumtree anyway so buyers will know how to link) 21. Complete the PPI claim using FREE site: www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/ppi-loan-insurance (ask GoringBit for help/advice - s/he was PPI adjudicator) 22. Look into possibility of refund on bank charges using template letter here: www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges 23. Make arrangements to get a referral for local Surestart Food Bank (phone or email the HV) 24. Check out www.turn2us.org.uk/ for any additional benefit support you may be entitled to 25. Ring local council to ask about food bank vouchers and any emergency grant/loan you may be entitled to. 26. respond to the letter about the offer of an allotment 27. Look up The Minor Ailment Scheme to locate your nearest pharmacy in the scheme. (The pharmacy will dispense Calpol for example without you having to buy over the counter/attend the GP) www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Pharmacy/Pages/Yourpharmacy.aspx 28. Join Local Freecycle and place a wanted ad for size 5 nappies etc (You may have to OFFER to give away one item yourself before you are allowed to receive ) 29. Run a FREE credit check via this site: www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/check-free-credit-report 30. If you are in debt to gas/electricy, check out the British Gas Energy Trust www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/ - usually supports elderly, but focused on not having debt for energy. 31. Browse DebtFreeWanabbee for more ideas and support forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=76 started but ongoing 32. Migrate all spreadsheet information from the YNAB free trial (Cancellation of membership necessary?) or use www.youneedabudget.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw2ImsBRCnjq70n_amv14SJAChXijN_WAE3WrUjZXMRPxRyRoKdTykTg7Kp4U6kvvDbjau4xoCLcbw_wcB as recommended by skyeskyeskye 33. Place a 'shout-out' on a local page for someone to fix your oven. (I haven't found one in Kent yet...) Add message | Report | Message poster

Suggestions for additional income v3

With thanks to confusedofEngland, codandchipstwice, emms1981, LotusLight, r2fedup, somewheresomehow, ZombiePiglet, Goringbit and Girlwhowearsglasses

• Apply online for a Nectar card if you are anywhere near a Sainsbury's. You may get points just for joining up (not sure) & you can do surveys online through Nectar Canvass & amass up to 250-500 points on a good week (worth £1.25-£2.50 at Sainsbury's, although you have to spend them in increments of £2.50). These appear pretty much straight away & can also be used on fuel, so are very useful.

• Other survey sites such as Valued Opinions are good & pay in vouchers: www.valuedopinions.co.uk/ Also Nectar Canvass: www.nectarcanvass.ssi-partner.com/ and One Poll: www.onepoll.com/ and Tesco Orchard: orchard.tesco.com/ Another site is: www.i-say.com/Home/tabid/36/language/en-GB/Default.aspx?returnurl=%2fnosurveysSurveys%2ftabid%2f167%2flanguage%2fen-GB%2fDefault.aspx

• Sign up for product testing. Mumsnet product testers: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_product_tests If you email this address they will tell you how to sign up [email protected]

• BOTH of you sign up to do market research e.g. DC can be researcher (£15) and parent goes as chaperone (£25) - and gives quality 1-1 with a DC. www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=market%20research%20london links to lots of agencies - you are supposed to sign to only one but DH and you don't have to sign up to the same site.

• This is a good site for freebies: www.latestfreestuff.co.uk/todays-freebies/

• Avon Representative: www.avon.uk.com

• Sell your skills (leaflets through doors) - ironing, lawn mowing, garden weeding, hedge trimming, dog walking, cat feeding, leaflet delivery, house cleaning (DO NOT OFFER CHILD-MINDING IN YOUR OWN HOME - YOU MUST BE OFSTED REGISTERED FOR THAT.)

• Bar work, shop work, waiting on tables, shelf stacking, supermarket check-out (one parent available Saturday for additional work/other parent works on Sunday)

• carboot sales (usually require £5 to pay for the space and you need tables or tarpaulins to set items out). Have a money belt around your waist for taking money and giving change (not a tin left unattended - someone may try to distract you with questions whilst a partner lifts all your cash!). Try to price items beforehand - people will always try to haggle you down anyway.

• Sign up to Qmee which puts a link thing on your computer and if you click on the Qmee link to the web page your searching for it gives you a few pence a time (around 5/6p) which can be sent to your paypal account: www.qmee.com/

• check if you have outstanding Tesco vouchers: m.tesco.com/mt/www.tesco.com/clubcard/unspent-vouchers/?sc_cmp=tp4_aff_1503186

Thanks to skyeskyeskye who has now offered FREE practical support regarding registering with HMRC, raising invoices and keeping records from day one of raising additional income.

Quick Update; Have decided to go for a DMP. Stepchange say its easy to set up, and they have helped us a little bit with what we should be spending on what. They think its odd that our income is not enough to meet basics, and did a few calculations with us and agreed it wasn't right. Told me that once that's sorted they can help, if its still not enough, they may have another option (Debt relief order?)

So I went on the Turn2Us website, and yes, we weren't getting what we were could have. Seems we could be getting a little bit more housing benefit. I rang them, ( as they have recently sent me a letter saying we owe them, due to overpayments )They seem to have no idea our DD exists, which is odd, as we handed her birth certificate in when we got her registered a couple of years ago (same building). Though it may help with our rent (we are private, so anything helps!)

However, now they want us to bring it in again, and they will reassess. Not sure how long that will take. Anything extra will make a huge difference, and will hopefully be the help that will get our budget right each month, IYSWIM?

Hopefully it will all get sorted out Glad you've been able to find a good organisation to help you and give out advice.

Would be interesting to see if at some point your dd was on your claim and has accidently got removed at some point?

Grumpyoldblonde I will use your advice when doing our budget.

CallMeExhausted Yes, I have an Android tablet. Its an old Samsung though, so not sure how good it will be with those apps etc. DH is doing ok, - he's taking any overtime possible.

sadwidow Thank you for my list, and putting all the extra income tips on one post- makes such a difference to have that to glance at, instead of trying to find the original posts

Crossed posts with RandomMess Yes, I hadn't thought of that - How would I find this out, any idea?

Hmm not sure? Go through their complaints procedure. Although presumably after you handed it you should have got an amended details notification and the onus was probably on you to check you received it...

Awful that you weren't getting what you were entitled too. I hope that is soon rectified.

If you can prove underpayment due to their negligence (rather than you not jumping through their hoops when you have enough on your plate) then is it possible to get it backdated? Especially since you've acquired debt as a result. Can StepChange help with that?

I'll update your list later this evening and re-order some tasks as the DMP and getting additional benefits appear to be the priority now. Let me know if you have completed anything else.

You are doing really well Margaritte. I know it is a long, slow process but you really are tackling it head-on now.

It's interesting that Stepchange drew attention to the fact that it couldn't possibly be correct that you weren't managing to pay for the basics. You have been blaming yourselves for not managing your budget and whittling down your food budget to an almost unmanageable amount. Heavens, its far easier to manage if you are getting the correct benefits.

I just thank and admire the wonderful people on this thread who have sent practical support to your family, offered advice and tips - and who turn up regularly to read through your progress reports and encourage you to keep going.

I don't know if I can prove anything.. I will have to go through all paperwork for the last couple of years (dd is a toddler). Find a receipt perhaps, or an old letter from them. I have to say that I didn't really keep track of what paperwork I had, as I'd just had DD, and then the slippery slope of declining with PND. I didn't even realise it was that until almost a year ago

I'm recovering now, and feel fine mostly (and more organised with my papers) Will have a search through and see.
I hope I can sort this out, though I'd doubt they backdate that long.

It could be possible to request the information through a Freedom of information request - ask them to provide you with all the documents and notes they have on file for you since the date you first notified them of your daughter, they have to include everything