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,

I checked - DS1 not entitled, because we get WTC. We did have a point where DS1 received them in year 6 - so how does that work now?

I phoned your CC Education department and spoke to some very knowledgeable people.

It is NOT FSM that is automatically transferrable for 5 years, but the Pupil Premium is. However, on change of school, you have to ask the Primary school to forward details and the Secondary school must re-apply. Your County Council said it was applicable for 6 years.

You are correct that FSM will not be awarded to DC1 as you now have WTC. DC2 gets FSM under the 'Universal' Gov. scheme.

The other thing I found out (following from fuckingfuming's advice) is that if there is a school place within your catchment area which you have not taken up but have CHOSEN to send DC1 to a school further away, you are not eligible for transport costs under the 3-mile as the crow flies rule.

However, there is a Vacancy Payment scheme where your DC1 could have a reduced rate on a school bus going to his school - as long as that place is not needed by another child who qualifies directly.

There is also a Young Person's Travel Pass which is for 4 years (6am - 7pm) and costs £250 per year:

www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/school-transport/young-persons-travel-pass

Apparently it is payable in 2 halves. If that cuts down travel costs for DC1, perhaps a bit more of Facebook selling?

HTH

Please note:

In previous post, "for 4 years (6am - 7pm)"

Should read "for full year (6am - 7pm)"

It is £250 for a year.

Sorry for anyone who has been waiting for the market research things,
You apply to go on a research, and if you are chosen you go- just a tip tell them you've not been on a research panel for six months. They don't like to send new people on them more than six months, until they know you and if they like you, they send you to many of them!

I haven't had half as many as my husband, he's had 3 this week alone.

So firstly, you've got trend market research,
Podengo
Bunnyfield research ....you'll get emails often from these people you just reply as quickly as you can and you might get chosen.
Most you'll get paid on the day you do your research, cash in hand.
I would recommend telling the tax man at the end of the year....don't want to get it in the neck for recommending without recommending tax be paid!!

Then on Facebook, join top tips 4 mums- there are a few who advertise market research opportunities

Then look for a group called research

Ripple research,

Fiona Dobbs research

That's pretty much all I know, and could well give you all the opportunity to earn a few quid extra a week.

Good luck to you all

Just had two more thoughts,
Have a look at top cashback, and before you buy anything, check what you can get back.

It works with electric providers, onlinr grocery shops, halfords, sky, virgin
You need to wait a few months to getit tthrough but its been good at times. We've in the past 2 years gained around £500 back.

Have you spoken to utility warehouse. One of our friends signed up to save money off of his electric and got a nifty card to use against most things he would buy- he gets about 5% off.

I'd just like to correct some info given on this thread.

Pupil Premium does not guarantee a child free trips. Some schools may offer this (provided all other parents pay their voluntary contribution) and residential trips may be offered at a discount but as school trips are not mandatory (especially residential trips) Pupil Premium doesn't cover them. It's more for educational opportunities, such as extra literacy/numeracy sessions, etc.

I've lived in two counties, over a hundred miles apart, and the above is how it worked in both. DS1 had a residential trip in July. As a fsm child we got 50% off the full cost. DD is at secondary school. She had residential trip in July too. No discount was offered to those on fsm. I also work in a primary school. We have a residential trip next week. There is a discount offered to fsm children. No trips are free.

Sorry to be a downer.

LilacSpunkMonkey is correct. How Pupil Premium funding is spent is down to the Headteacher (within certain guidance from Government).

It is acceptable (and usual) for a Headteacher to hold back an amount for 'discretionary awards' to pupils who generate this additional award to the school.

However, all Pupil Premium spending MUST benefit the pupils/students who generated that amount as a group. It may not benefit each and every one of them at the same time e.g. additional reading material, ATs, football coaches for physical skills etc but it MUST be spent to enhance the school experience/opportunities of the children who have qualified for this funding.

It is a balancing act - some on ATs, some on after school activities, some on specialist materials for the classroom.

I will never forget the "SEN Fence" I found during my first years as an Oftsed Inspector. It was bought out of SEN money which should have been buying additional support for the children. The Head tried to justify it as 'keeping all the children with SN safe". That was a learning curve for the Headteacher [Ofsted checks spending via financial lines and virement] and a great support for the parents of children with SN because the inspection system unearthed spending mis-management/mis-understanding.

This is an interesting article about Pupil Premium Funding (2014): www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2014/jul/22/how-schools-spend-pupil-premium

I typed a long post earlier, and it seems to have not appeared on here

I will redo it tomorrow - I just want to check if anyone is getting my PM's? I sent them a few days ago.

sadwidow I replied to your PM earlier today too

I have got today's PM asking if I got previous PMs. The answer is "No".

I haven't read the whole thread but what about taking on extra work? That is often a key way to get out of a financial hole. Are there any part time or weekend or evening jobs you could take? Lots of mumsnetters can help with advice on that just as much as on how to cook or find cheaper food (or even free food).

Keep on keeping on, Margaritte

Pleased this thread is still going. :)

Hi Margaritte I had no idea this thread was still running but have been offline since Hackergate so that may be why! I'm glad to hear you sounding positive albeit things are still tight. Sorry to hear you've had to have surgery too, that must have been a strain. Will PM you.

SofiaAmes Thanks for the recipe ideas - the chicken sounds lovely, although I will have to serve it for a dinner, as it's a bit pricey for lunches. What do you normally serve it with?

Wallywobbles Loads of great advice there - I dont know anyone from the allotment yet, although I'm hoping to get to know them. They may be nice enough to pass excess on to me

fuckingfuming Does that apply to DS1 if it's not our closest secondary? He had problems at the local one, so we moved him.

sadwidow I will also try the yorkshires with cut up sausages. Sounds like it will stretch far, and perhaps maybe can save some of the pack for enough meal. What would be good to serve with them? Regarding the Young persons Travel Card, it is a great idea and would save us a lot in the long run. It's one of those things though where we aren't in the position to pay it all in one go - just wouldnt have that amount of money at all.

Unreasonablybetty WIll search FB for the groups. I have joined the cashback sites already, they were mentioned upthread. Haven't worked out the online food shop bit yet though - would it be cheaper to do it via the sites, than what lidl is? Will also check out utilty warehouse.

LilacSpunkMonkeyI dont think we are entitled to Pupil Premium anyway - although am in the process of checking

Grazia1984 We are looking into extra work - You're right -I had some fab advice on that upthread. Have been looking on Gumtree to for 'help wanted etc' as suggested by SophiaAmes

fuzzpig & RuralRetreating Thank you

So I'm busy with all the above! Plus I'm still Konmaring (sp?) as suggested - anything I clear out is being sold (the items that are good anyway) It's also helping me to feel a little less stressed with trying to keep on top of everything (housework wise)

I'm still trying out all the recipes on here, and have a few favourites now. Easy and cheap. I dont feel as weighed down by the cooking now. I still struggle a bit - I'm trying desperately to get into a routine, although I'm sure that's for a different thread.

Have been reading the thread about FSM possibly being cut, is this actually going to happen? We struggle with DS1's lunches (as seen a few posts up) and now DS2 may have his cut? It's frustating that we can't get help for them on our low income, because we have WTC.

Still trying to get the HB thing sorted. They stopped it for a while altogether, whilst they look into things It's frustrating, especially with the cuts they are making at the moment with Tax Credits too - we look to lose a lot, although that is according to the calculator posted on the TC thread.

I've been looking forward to getting the allotment up and sorted, I'm sure it will be hard work to start with - worth it though. Excited! Any tips on that would be lovely

Have been thinking today and really am leaning towards the choice to go Bankrupt. I know it wont help our payday to payday situation, I just cant cop with the letters. We now have 2 summons, and an attachment of earnings. In the last few months. It just seems to be getting worse, despite us putting every little penny toward paying off our debts.

Am going to speak to Dh tonight, for us to make a final decision. I will triple read the advice upthread on this, just wondered if anyone has any more experience with Bankruptcy?

Ah Margaritte I can see why you are reaching that decision, it can't be easy :(

Don't let it 'distract' you from all the other fantastic money-saving/earning things you're doing, anyway. Keep going and it will all help, whatever your final decision.

I won't fuzzpig We have to, we werent making it by at all without all the advice on here.

I just don't know if it's the right thing - I am looking through MN for any threads on this, and am reading them to bring myself up a bit more on it.

Sorry to intrude but I wondered if you had looked at reclaiming mis sold PPI if you had any cards or loans with it on. We have reclaimed ours and if you use the letter templates on the Money Saving Expert website it's pretty simple and definitely better than paying some of these companies that charge a fortune to fill the forms in for you. It's only cost us the price of a stamp and recorded delivery.
Another thing to look at is looking at whether you have had a packaged bank account (ones with perks but you pay a monthly fee for the privilege) If you do and you didn't use the perks and weren't made aware that you could have had a free bank account then make a claim again using template letters on Money Saving Expert. We sent one to our old bank only a fortnight ago and yesterday got a cheque for £1500 as you get the fees refunded plus interest. Check as well to see if you have had unfair bank charges and make a claim for those too.

Margaritte, are the summons and AOE for council tax?
That's my job so if I can be of any assistance, please pm me.

I hope you find a way out of this mess. If you do decide on bankruptcy, then make sure your husband also takes appropriate advice. Any debts for which you are jointly and severally liable will only be put aside if both of you become bankrupt.

NSD

insanityscathing I have been looking into that - it was mentioned upthread. We don't have a package bank account. I will make that a plan to be finalised.

gallicgirl Yes, one of them is Council Tax. We can't manage to keep up with the payments. I'll PM you.

Adorabell 'NSD' ?

You didn't phone me.

I am now trying to phone you and you are not picking up.

I think Adora may have got the wrong thread... on the Frugaleer threads, NSD means No Spend Day :)

sadwidow I called you earlier, around 12pm (ish) I was having a bath when you called this evening.

fuzzpig Ahh - I see now

Yep, I got the wrong thread sorry.

What size napies do you need? I have some size 6 I could send you?