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.

Margaritte, see it as a 2-step process:

(a) get all benefits up-to-date to include DD (toddler)
(b) find evidence to argue for back-dating once the additional benefit is agreed

In other words, get your benefit claims ON TRACK from NOW.

Whatdoesaduckdo I didnt know about the Freedom of Information, will look into it, after doing as sadwidow advises

Don't worry about Freedom of Information (FOI) requests - you have an expert on this thread

points at self and waves pom-poms

I'll put a link here in case anyone else is following your thread and needs to understand FOI: ico.org.uk/for-the-public/official-information/

Thanks for the link

I've finally managed to sort a budget out

I used YNAB on the trial, and had a few different budgets going, to see. It worked much better that way, and less frustrating as I didn't have to start all over again, if I missed a point. It just took the amount out of one , and put it back in another to the pence.

I don't have a lot for food (although it will feed us) as the bus fare takes a lot of that. It'll be value nappies again, until I get the hang of the reusable ones someone sent me. Nothing for clothes either, although am hoping that changes once/ if my housing benefit is sorted.

It just covers food, school bus fare (although still working on reducing this somehow) and our priority bills. I'm just so pleased that when Payday rolls around, we will have the money for these things. Obviously, something needs to change, because of the debt Although if we still don't have enough to leave over when housing benefit has sorted (Stepchange say something really has to be aside for clothes and a few other bits) Then I will try the DRO

Meant to say, with the different pages on YNAB going, it helped me work out what was coming in monthly, and 4 weekly. Instead of just working out the monthly amounts of the 4 weekly money. If that makes sense. Stepchange were also just grouping it monthly, and it wasn't working out because of that too, possibly..

Margaritte I am very late to this thread, and can't add much, apart from my admiration for you and those who are helping you. I hit rock bottom twenty years ago, when I was single, and found that terrifying enough - goodness knows how it must feel when you have kids.

One thing I would say - you are building skills for the rest of your life. I am lucky to have a decent income now, but know people on a similar income who are still getting themselves in a muddle. I know where I am with my money (not down to the last penny like I used to have to know), my kids have lovely things but some of it is second hand and they are fine with that. Lots of frugal things are habit now, but I have ditched some. Lots of people sleep walk their way to a situation where, however much money they have coming in, they are in debt and in the control of the bank. Your family will be so much stronger in the long term. You are a step ahead of so many.

Hi Margaritte, just checking in to say well done on pulling all this together. Fingers crossed you can get some more income coming in soon

lbnblbnb It really helps to hear other people's stories of being in a similar situation - they always end up with how they managed to get out of it, and turn thing around... Make me realise that it will actually get better.

Thank you ditherydora

This week is the week I fully intend to up my game, and get all this sorted. I want to know that come next payday, we actually have some money to spend on the essentials, as well as covering bills. Hopefully once Housing Benefit is sorted, I will be able to start to pay off anyone else..

Today, I am starting another clear out of the home, using the Marie Kondo method (suggested on another thread of mine) Everything that is sorted to leave the house, will be put for sale. I have shifted through most of our clothes this morning, in order to start this

I'll update your job list later this evening Margaritte. Don't overdo things though whilst you and DC3 are still feeling unwell. You may be running out of steam and need to have a plan of 'working' only so many hours a day in order to complete this marathon.

Just popping on to see how things are going. You are doing brilliantly OP; do give yourself a bit of a break too though like sadwidow says. Glad to see that everything's becoming a bit more manageable now.

magaritte this may not be relevant to you, as you might get CT benefit, or your council might not do it, but I now pay my Council Tax over 12 months not 10. It does mean that I don't get a 2 month payment break, but it is more important to me to be able to budget it over 12 months. Not all councils do it, but worth asking if relevant to you.

Councils don't widely advertise that they do this, so worth anyone asking if you would like to do it. It does really help with monthly finances.

Certainlt a food bank situation.Friends wouldn't mind giving some food, surely? Even if they are not comfortable with lending money. Eggs are superb at thrifty times.

Hey Margaritte,
I'm so glad thing are getting better for you. I'm sorry to message you here but tried to PM and not sure it was working and have changed my registration so that may be the problem. I just wanted to check if you ad received the 2 large boxes nappies I sent in the end (we did exchange messages a couple of weeks ago). There should have been over 280 nappies so I wanted to make sure you got them okay. Thanks

Meant to say, with the different pages on YNAB going, it helped me work out what was coming in monthly, and 4 weekly. Instead of just working out the monthly amounts of the 4 weekly money.

I used to do a little dance around the lounge when I hit a 4-week month! I'll never forget it....

Revised List of jobs (Wednesday 25th)

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 DONE www.youneedabudget.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw2ImsBRCnjq70n_amv14SJAChXijN_WAE3WrUjZXMRPxRyRoKdTykTg7Kp4U6kvvDbjau4xoCLcbw_wcB DONE 16. 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. DONE 17. Choose a good spreadsheet that helps you manage income/expenditure - YNAB on the trial option (see No 15) and keep it updated for 1 month DONE 18. Check out www.turn2us.org.uk/ for any additional benefit support you may be entitled to DONE ----------- 19. Finalise the Debt Management Plan through Step Change 20. Sort out Application for benefits relating to DC3 - linked to debt letter saying that you owe a refund for overpayments. 21. Find any paperwork relating to applying for benefits for DC3 2 years ago 22. Apply for back-dating of benefits for DC3 based on that documentation 23. Respond to your PM box daily - people are offering support/looking for confirmation of support having arrived. 24. Consider FOI to get a copy of the family file from the LA 25. Find ways of reducing travel costs - bike for DH, other parents taking DC1 to school (Phone LEA to ask for an emergency free bus pass for DC1) 26. Clear the home using the Marie Kondo method - but remember that if you don't photograph, list and sell, the stuff is still in your house! 27. List more DVDs/CDs/books on musicmagpie,, webuybooks, Ziffit, Music Magpie, Fatbrain 28. List larger items on Gumtree (van services are registered on Gumtree anyway so buyers will know how to link) 29. Complete the PPI claim using FREE site: www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/ppi-loan-insurance (ask GoringBit for help/advice - s/he was PPI adjudicator) 30. Look into possibility of refund on bank charges using template letter here: www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges 31. Make arrangements to get a referral for local Surestart Food Bank (phone or email the HV) 32. Ring local council to ask about food bank vouchers and any emergency grant/loan you may be entitled to. 33. respond to the letter about the offer of an allotment 34. 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 35. 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 ) 36. Run a FREE credit check via this site: www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/check-free-credit-report 37. 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. 38. Phone Council and ask if they will allow Council Tax payment over 12 months rather than 10. (You lose the 2 month payment break, but may be worth doing for budget balancing) 39. Browse DebtFreeWanabbee for more ideas and support forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=76 started but ongoing 40. Migrate all spreadsheet information from the YNAB free trial (Cancellation of membership necessary?) - ask skyeskyeskye for help with this. 41. Place a 'shout-out' on a local page for someone to fix your oven. (I haven't found one in Kent yet...)

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I think this is an added income idea - I will move it to that post

42. 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

Thank you ChampagneTastes

skyeskyeskye I will look into that, very useful to know.

MrsCookieMonster - I have PMed you.

Oops - posted before I'd finished.

Thank you for my list again sadwidow - Its so helpful.

Hey, nothing came through, my registration has changed so I think you need to PM my new one, user name here. I think this is why I have been having problems with PMing you aswell. Either way it is fine once you have received them that's all the matters.

Just posting a recipe for mini omelette muffins:

www.kidsguide.org.uk/mini-omelettes-cooked-muffin-tin/

It came up on another thread and I thought of Margaritte needing quick, cheap, tasty meals. (Can be eaten cold, so good for lunch boxes and picnics in the park)

Apparently the handiest tip is to put paper cake liners in the muffin tin (lightly spray with oil) and then they can even be microwaved to re-heat if they are made earlier in the day.

I have not heard from Margaritte for some days. This thread may have out-lived its usefulness in terms of being a daily solace.

I'll leave it now to see if Margaritte returns.

Hello - I'm sorry I haven't been posting / PMing. I haven't been able to get on here for a while. Is sorted now, and I will reply to everyone today.

Today I have been busy trying to tie up any loose ends, ready for tomorrow (payday)
I need to make a meal plan as well, to last the 4 weeks if possible, whilst sticking to the budget I have. Its still very tight, though am hoping it's doable.

Am going back over this thread for recipe ideas that were posted, and using my other thread too (recipes / lidl)

Can feel things may be ok this month, and the awful panicked feeling I have been having is ebbing away. Thank you so much MNetters, this thread has helped in so many ways, and I hope it continues to do so, until I get the hang of this properly. Its lovely that its helped others too. The support & advice has been amazing.