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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

I can't afford to get to work

193 replies

FiscallyChallenged · 16/09/2015 21:46

I was laid off my last job in July, and received my last set of wages (3 weeks worth) at the end of that month. I live in London, and I didn't get a travelcard last month because I didn't see the point if I wasn't going to be travelling every day, and I needed to make my money last as long as possible.
I started my new job last week, and have to pay pay-as-you-go fares to get there and back, which costs £7.60 per day. It would be cheaper to get the bus, but there's never any telling how long it would take- I took one home on my first day and it took almost three hours! I now have £15 left, I'm not paid til the end of next week and I have no idea what to do. It's way too far to walk, I have a bike but it's a bit of a wreck and doesn't have any lights. I'm already surviving on an apple and cup-a-soup for breakfast and lunch. I can't get a season ticket loan as you have to buy the ticket first before you're reimbursed. There's nobody I can borrow money from.

Help! Any ideas?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 17/09/2015 16:47

I would do a payday loan. It's the kind of situation they are actually useful for. You'll borrow £30 and pay back £50 but it's not too bad. It's when you're using them to cover bills, or unable to pay them back that it's a problem. The marketing is irresponsible, but they aren't actually a terrible idea, used right.

NuffSaidSam · 17/09/2015 16:50

Most people don't lorelei. It is easily doable.

Seriouslyffs · 17/09/2015 16:56

What sort of bank account do you have? If you have contactless you could call the bank and ask for an overdraft and use contactless as an oyster.

Stormtreader · 17/09/2015 17:00

Just had a look at the Wonga rates out of interest - they charge 80p interest per day on £100, so you could borrow £100 and repay £105.60 as long as you pay it back in a weeks time - not as bad as I thought actually!

Atenco · 17/09/2015 17:00

Many, many years ago, I went to Saint Vincent de Paul in a crisis and they were very good.

DontDrinkandFacebook · 17/09/2015 17:11

I got really confused then Attenco. I thought you were talking about a place where I went on holiday once, but then I realised that was called Saint Paul De Vence.

I was wondering how going to the south of France could possibly help in this sort of crisis. Grin

MrsDeVere · 17/09/2015 18:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BMW6 · 17/09/2015 18:45

Overdraft or payday loan. Good luck with the job!

Coconutty · 17/09/2015 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 17/09/2015 19:24

When is your p's travel card due to renew, if soon enough could he buy a weekly one instead and spare the difference to fund one for you short term?

hopelesslydevotedtoGu · 17/09/2015 19:48

Travelling to zone 2 on the tube will be cheaper than zone 1, would it be cheaper to get off in zone 2 and walk, Boris bike or bus to your office from there?

You mentioned Walthamstow station- does it have barriers? Finsbury Park doesn't, at least didn't last year, you could travel there for free then take a bus? Chances of being inspected are minimal, and the fine wouldn't be payable till after payday. In years of living in London I have never been ticket inspected on a tube, and only a handful of times on a bus. I wouldn't fare dodge myself anymore, but desperate times desperate measures etc.

If you will have the money and discipline to repay it asap after pay day, a payday loan could be appropriate. Will you have enough for travel and other essentials next month after repaying the payday loan?

I'm assuming you have already thought about borrowing from friends or asking your bank for a temporary overdraft (mine happily did this once without question).

I would rather spend 3 hours on a bus than cycle on a rickety bus on a dangerous road as an inexperienced cyclist.

Decant frozen food into a lunchbox and heat up at work.

Have you scoured your house for money in the sofa cushions, bags, pockets, old birthday cards etc? Do you have any Tesco points you can use for other essentials to free up more money?

dolcelatteLover · 17/09/2015 21:04

I would approach your HT/payroll department and ask fopr an advance of pay.i have workedin payroll before and this happens all the time especially with new starters).you are not then borrowing money (it is money you have already earned!) and you are not paying charges and interest.

Original poster
FiscallyChallenged · 17/09/2015 21:31

Hi all

Not at all offended by the concern about potentially being new. But I assure you I'm not. My name was on the list!
I could absolutely never ever ever sell my bike. My Dad bought it for me, it was the first new bike I ever had (I was 27 at the time) and he died in December. I could never sell it.
I did speak to HR today and whilst advances aren't unheard of in the company, they also confirmed what I suspected which was that it would take too long. And DP and I already emptied the change pot unfortch!
There aren't barriers at my train station, but there are at Liverpool Street where I would get the train to. I wouldn't want to risk it.
I'll try the payday loan idea... if I'm rejected which is a possibility then I'll try and think of a planB!
And just again, to the people who have offered their help, I really am touched by the generosity but it was absolutely never my intention to take money from (very benevolent and lovely) strangers. But it is incredibly kind to offer.

OP posts:
Chocolatespread22 · 17/09/2015 21:36

Have an emergency fund.

antimatter · 17/09/2015 21:46

I agree I would rather spend time on a bus than a bike where I don't feel save and secure.
If you have smartphone and a library card - you can download an app called Oneclickdigital eAudio Player. You can borrow audiobooks for free and listen on your bus journey to them. I think most libraries have their books available there. You can also read books on your phone for free as ebooks from your library.

TiredButFineODFOJ · 17/09/2015 21:47

Try bunking walthamstow to finsbury park, and stick your tummy out (they can't fine pregnant women apparently. At least that's what I was told when I got stopped. They literally ripped up the fine. That was two years ago

Bogeyface · 17/09/2015 21:51

You said you dont want to sell your bike but could you pawn it? Cash converters et al will often give you money for items and then you buy them back at the end of the month. Could be worth asking if the payday loan doesnt work out.

Callaird · 17/09/2015 22:02

I don't understand some people. Don't offer money to people on the Internet to help out some poor soul? Ok, they could be making it up but where is your compassion? I'm pretty sure people aren't offering a fortune and I could cope with losing a fiver, two coffees that I can live without.

OP - I don't have any advice but please don't get a payday loan, that's the quickest way to get into more debt. Take up the offers of the kinder MNers (myself included) borrow £2 off a few, that won't break most people's bank and pay them back or pay it forward! Give the equivalent amount to someone else struggling, even if you do it over a couple of years. PM me and we can arrange to get you some money.

Good luck.

dolcelatteLover · 17/09/2015 23:52

Caillard
I know you mean well , but even if the op is genuine,- donating money to strangers on the internet is just likely to attract chancers and charlatans to the site

o

Skullyton · 18/09/2015 00:57

i think when you have the option of a payday loan or pawning something for a week til you get paid, then putting yourself at risk with the bike is dumb.

there must be something you can pawn in cash converters or somewhere like that for the week?

Coconutty · 18/09/2015 07:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tobysmum77 · 18/09/2015 08:07

OP have you told your line manager about this? I would help you out with such a small amount of money.

DontDrinkandFacebook · 18/09/2015 08:08

So they can't even sub you 20 quid out of petty cash for a few days? that sounds ridiculous to be honest.

MrsDeVere · 18/09/2015 08:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chewbecca · 18/09/2015 08:29

Petty cash is a relatively small company concept, there's absolutely no petty cash to be borrowed in the huge London HO where I work.

Good luck OP, I'd go with the pay day loan option if it were me, and be totally disciplined about paying every penny back as soon as paid.