To be worried?

[RollonBed]

New to mumsnet, just joined purely because its all i can think about. Love reading other threads though.

Ok, so the cap comes into place tomorrow 384 pound a week. Im a single psrent 2ith 4 children. How on earth an i expected to pay rent out of this and live? I will have to pay £104 pound rent a week! Thats 280 to buy food, petrol, gas, electric, water... yes i pay monthly for these but each week i make sure i set aside 50 pound... its said some 300,000 children will be pushed into poverty and people may loose there home over it. Im so worried i cant eat or sleep!! Should i be worried. aibu to think this is such an unecessary thing gor goverment to do?

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

(I know it's hard BTW, I was recently made redundant and have 9 month old DS to look after with no maintenance either. We get about £1000 per month in total which doesn't leave much after bills because I also pay back about £100 per month of credit card debt but it is doable you just have to really plan ahead. I spend a lot of time researching cheap, healthy meals online)

[Seekingadvice123]

You have 280 quid a week for food and bills. Are you saying that is not enough OP? Oh god indeed

[baconandeggies]

Are you having to repay that debt or was it cancelled?

[RollonBed]

50 is for gas elec and water. Theres also car insurance and car tax tv lisence we dont have expensive tv but i do have a fone which is 35 a month. Dont have landline. dont have wifi. Obviously im alone in thinking this is worrying ... but thank you for the replys.. i do appreciate the tips :)

[Isitlunchtimeyet]

£384 a week is very good money
That's nearly £10 an hour for a 39hour week
I only earn £7.20 and I work

[neonrainbow]

Are we all supposed to feel sorry for you?

[formerbabe]

If your 2 youngest are babies, then they're either just on milk still or eating very small amounts I'd imagine...you can easily feed your family on that amount. Many people including me do on less.

[needsahalo]

I have friends who earn exactly what I earn (same job) who are single with children, and they manage

because those friends work, they will not be subject to the benefit cap. Therefore their situation is not comparable with the OPs.

I dare say working with a need for full time childcare for two children and before and after school club for two others will mean that she is worse off in work.

[Seekingadvice123]

but i do have a fone which is 35 a month
You can get a SIM only deal for a fraction of that.... I pay 12 a month for my SIM only contract with Vodafone

[Madbengalmum]

£35 a month for a phone, thats alot for a phone.

[RollonBed]

Seekingadvice. As ur name states thats whatnim doing here. No need for the sarcastic faces pls. And bare in mind i have four children and one adult. Food isnt 40 pound a week.

[Redglitter]

So after taking off rent and bills you have £200 A WEEK left

Why on earth is that giving you sleepless nights? Your food shopping can't be anywhere near that

[StealthPolarBear]

That does seem a lot. What do you currently get ad what is it spent on?

[Floggingmolly]

You have four kids under 5 with an abusive partner? No, I don't think capping your benefits at the equivalent of £20k per year is "an unnecessary thing for the government to do" at all

[EdmundCleverClogs]

I would cut off my right hand for near enough £400 a week. We currently live on about £1000 a month (maybe a bit more). We budget, go without new things for ourselves (obviously our child is provided for), shop online to know exactly how much food costs for the week, very careful with electric and such etc. We also pay more rent, but don't drive. You need to work out where you can budget and make cuts.

[RollonBed]

And also your friends who work and get paid less probably dont mention that they claim working tax. If working was an option believe me i would as with just a 16 hour week job i would get full hosuing benefit. Working tax credit which is 280 a week, child benefit plus my wage. If it was an option i would take it.

[formerbabe]

So your 4 children are all aged 5 and under? They can't eat huge amounts. I can do a weekly shop at lidl for 4 for about £60.

[Emmageddon]

You are better off than an awful lot of people, including me.

[Seekingadvice123]

aibu to think this is such an unecessary thing gor goverment to do?

This was your AIBU.
So yes you are..... massively.
You have 280 a week. More than enough of you budget and are sensible.

[bumblefeline]

You have loads OP, you just need to sit down and look at your budget.

You have more disposable income than me and we earn a good salary.

[formerbabe]

If working was an option believe me i would as with just a 16 hour week job i would get full hosuing benefit. Working tax credit which is 280 a week, child benefit plus my wage. If it was an option i would take it.

Well doesn't that say it all. You'd work if you could because the government would give you even more! No mention of working because it's the right thing to do to support yourself...

[Costacoffeeplease]

What do you spend the other £200 a week on at the moment?

[Isitlunchtimeyet]

You need to write down all your income and outgoings
See if there is anywhere you can make cuts
Meal plan and stick to a weekly food budget
I think you have plenty of money there to not worry as long as you spend it wisely

[beautifulbizarre]

YANBU.

Your children are in poverty.

Have you tried a food bank?

[Conniedescending]

Easily affordable but probably better if you get it all to monthly so you can work budget for the month. Weekly benefits and monthly bills is difficult to budget.

£200 ish for food/ sundries and entertainment is a good sum to play with

Do you have debts?