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.

Some food banks do nappies and basic to stuff for house

Op so sorry that you are facing this..some wonderful advice given...just wondered if your company could advance part of your wages? .also if you are in receipt of certain benefits it may be possible to get child benefit changed to weekly payments... Do you have any direct debits due out before payday that you could change the dates until after payday? I wish you the best and hope that you can get a referral on Monday to a food bank... If I found out a friend of mine was without food I would be very upset if they didn't ask for my help...please consider asking a friend for their help...

Op how is it going? So many of us have been like this. What help do you need now? The support on here is great. I am in Midlands so too far for immediate help. Let us know

Hi op, I've got a ton of boots points. If you pm me your address I'd be more than happy to send you a delivery of some nappies. It'd cost me nothing at all so please do take up the offer.

Also I think the advice to exchange the m&s voucher for cash is great. I'd also recommend buying types of beans and lentils to use instead of meat. They are cheaper and full of protein. Great for things like spaghetti bolagnaise, chilli, shepherds pie works well with lentils not sure about beans on that one.

Threads like these are so heartwarming when you see all the people willing to help out in whatever way they can :)
Op, I'll send you a pm :)

Have pm'd you

Margritte - I know where you are. We have been there and it is not nice. Take people up on their offers, invite yourself for dinner, do a food bank. You will get through this - the bastard part of a DMP is the first month when you don't know what to expect. This will not be forever.

I'm in Canterbury and have half a pack of size 5 nappies going free let me know if you're nearby and want them!

OP have you got any gold or silver jewellry? You can pawn it or sell it. If you have any 'scrap' gold (broken jewellry) then sell it, you may be pleasantly surprised by how much you get for it. This is how I used to get through emergencies .

Should have added, if you are pawning jewellry I advise a liscenced pawnbroker (usually located inside a jewellers shop) rather than cash converters or similar. The interest works out a lot cheaper.

Reusable nappies. No help now but for the future. disposables are so expensive. Cannot understand why people use them.

Foodbank for food.
Friends and family?
Sorry - it is very hard.

Hi. Plenty of people are suggesting the local Food bank. Great idea. I work at a FB and we often have young families in your situation. Please be aware though, you can't just turn up. You have to be referred. Visit your GP and request a referral.
Also if you go, it is good idea to make a point that you have a baby and then you are more likely to be given nappies etc. on top of the standard essentials.
All the best x

Hello MNetters. I have just logged back on... what an amazing response, thank you all so much.

DH is counting up pennies now, as we have gathered every last one up from every nook. I will let you know what we have! I'm on here for a few hours now, as I really need to get this sorted. I have a notepad and pen, and am writing everything down.

Am wanting to answer everyone that asked a question, so will do that, then reply to all that pmed me.

PMed you earlier xx

500Decibals & Shortandsweet20* I really don't have anyone I could ask. I couldn't pay them back for a while, and I really wouldn't want to put them, or I in that situation.

LavenderRain* I probably do have a few bits of clothes in the house that I could sell, not sure it would weigh enough to get anything from Clothes bank though

a2011 & CSIJanner I have some bits for selling I think. I will post up on here what I can sell, as Fourarmsv2 suggested, so maybe I could get price suggestions?

No holiday currency, FourarmSV2, however did find a cheque (long forgotten ) for £17 thanks to your reply

fatlazymummy The only gold I have is my white gold wedding ring, and engagement ring. Plus dh's gold one. They aren't worth more than £500 new, added together though, so unsure if they would bring in much?

Whichwaytoturntoday We haven't used the voucher yet, we are planning on going in tomorrow (free Sunday parking) a few hours before close. We don't have lentils in, frustrating, as they were in our shop earlier, when card declined.

Melonfood As blush as it is, we are having to do your suggestion of dc piggy banks. Older DS wouldn't have any money, as he exchanges it all for book vouchers. Younger 2 have just pennies.

makeawish2 DH wont be able to get an advance on his wage. He's only been there a few months (ironically, was supposed to help us financially) I'm a sahm. Payday is Friday.

ItsTricky That's so lovely Thank you.

littleJohnnydory DS1 is 12yrs. He wouldn't be able to cycle to school, its down country lanes, with no paths through most of the way. Pay day is end of next week.

Lolimax* I will google Christians Against Poverty. Hopefully we will have one in our area, would be great if so.

futuredad No, I checked dh's email, and they changed the date for direct debit to the 1st. We had no idea (junk mail )

StarlingMuurmutation Lovely offer, thank you. We are in the South East though, so no where near you.

ditherydora Thank you for the link. I had no idea that was in our area. I am filling the online form out tonight for that.

Doobydoo Yes, all's going ok, thank you. Support on here has been amazing, and the advice is so, so helpful to us.

Topseyt What a wonderful post. Thank you so much for that

If I haven't replied to you, its because I can see you have pmed me, and will pm you back tonight

Flog the M&S voucher and use the cash in Lidl or Aldi. Cash Converters/pawn shop. Cash for clothes. Don't be afraid to ask a friend for a tenner even if you cannot pay it back for a couple of months, ditto lifts for your son. If you feel bad, why not offer a swap? Lifts for a night of babysitting, or cooking or any other skill you might have or favour to offer.

See about foodbank on Monday.

Have PM'd you....

Glad you found the cheque!

Have you got anything that you've bought and not used that you could take back for a refund?

Don't undersell your M&S voucher by too much - try doing a shop at the end of the day first - you may get some bargains. They will give you change or vouchers and change if you don't spend it all.

Have you got any bargain shops near you? There is one near us that sells v.cheap food that is near sell by date.

I was also going to suggest swapping the gift card for cash with a friend.

And really, really, do ask a friend if they could lend you some cash. I absolutely would lend a friend a tenner even if they couldn't pay it back for a few months. Just be upfront that it'll take a while to repay.

Are you really sure your family won't help? :(

Sorry, I've only skimmed the thread, and have no useful advice to add, but I see that you've had a direct debit come out unexpectedly early.

Have you spoken to your bank at all? Only, DDs come with a guarantee and if they come out early/etc, then you can get a full refund from your bank.

see here

Threads like this make me speechless with rage at what is happening in our beautiful country. It makes me feel so sad too. There is not a war on after all.

I also know that this is not the time for me to go off on a rant either.

I'm heartily sorry OP you are in this situation and it's heartwarming at all the support and advice you've had from all of these lovely mumsnetters.

Maybe when you are through this crisis you could look at getting some cloth nappies. ( yes, I'm from that era.) I know my daughter used them and bought a cheap fleece blanket ( possibly from primark)that we cut up to use as liners. Maybe that's something you could get off eBay secondhand or even have a go at making your own. You don't have to have a sewing machine. Tiny little back stitches will do just as well. Washable nappies must save a fortune in the long run.

The jewellery making class I go to shows us how to make some lovely saleable pieces. That could be something to think about in the future. These classes are free if you are on certain benefits. There's also a sewing class. Apparently a lady needed a waterproof coat to fit her disabled son when he was in his wheelchair and between her and the teacher she made a lovely one for a fraction of the cost of a high st one which might not have been a good fit.

Just a few ideas to think about when your crisis is over.

Maybe when you are back on an even keel you could save £2 coins. Handy to have some cash for an emergency or stick a £20 note out of sight but not out of mind for that rainy day.

Good luck OP and anyone else who is struggling right now.

margaritte yes you could pawn them in an emergency. Pawnbrokers go by weight, so can't say what you would get. You do get actual cash, on the spot so worth bearing in mind in a real emergency.
Pawnbrokers are registered as well, they are fair and will tell you exactly what you need to pay. Just don't lose the paperwork!

Porridge oats are cheap and are filling. You can also make them up using water if desperate or watered down milk. Not the most exciting food but very filling for very little money.

I have PM'd you. I am in West Kent and will help out today if you are anywhere nearby.