To be angry I very nearly can't afford to start a new job

[scaryclown]

I'm just having a slight fear period S I'm starting a new job on Monday, I have to use a bus to get there, won't be paid until the end of October, and have £130 spare on top of my mortgage payments.

So.. I need £90 for all the bus journeys,
Have enough lentils,/ tinned tomatoes /rice / pasta to get by.. Just..

But won't be able to do anything else at all. I've not had income since 15th August..

It's stupid isn't it..

Congratulations on the job!

I know folk are saying not to, but do try to find out if your employer can offer a season ticket loan or advance - some do for just this kind of situation. Not all employers will but it's worth checking.

Also, if you've been claiming benefits you might be entitled to keep getting them to help with costs (this is dependent on working hours).

Another thing - if you're on a low salary you might be entitled to working tax credits.

I've just split one omlette between my family and served it with toast. Wish I'd saved a 3 month buffer for emergencies. Spent it all on diamond shoes and gold leaf wallpaper.

Stupid poor people.

Everyone I know has at least a 3 month buffer- its your fault you don't.

Wow.

Lol @ 3 month buffer.

Yes it's sensible but when life throws financial curve balls at you (unemployment followed by temp/low paying jobs while you look for something else, rental contracts ending, ill health and entitlement to ssp only, white goods going kaput, cars needing servicing, insuring, taxing, maintenance etc.) combine two or three of those and suddenly any reserves are depleted and you can't build it back up without a decent income and period of quiet finances.

How long since the recession and austerity? 2008? Maybe this is a scenario that for many people has been replayed a couple of times and it's just bloody difficult.

Op, you will manage because people do. I think you should ask for an advance. It's really not uncommon in people's first month of employment.

I know the job centre paid for my daughter to buy black blouses, black trousers and shoes as she had been on Jsa and had proof she needed them as a uniform for the job. Don't knowing they pay for bus tickets but maybe worth asking.

I think that your suggestion of weekly pay is unreasonable as most employers don't do weekly payroll but you could ask if you could be included in September payroll for part month?

OP, I think you are being unreasonable to blame this on your new employer. If they run a monthly payroll, I can see how it would be difficult for them to pay you weekly for the first month and even if they did, you're still going to have to go a month when you are switched to monthly.

Do you have anything you could sell or pawn to bide you over or ask your bank for an overdraft?

Some folk really do live in a bubble if they think credit cards, overdrafts and a 3 month savings buffer are easy to acquire. Someone on a low salary/benefits/min wage will struggle to access all of these things.

Agree with pp, check the pay schedule. I'm also starting a new job on Monday but I get paid half a month at the end of September, then a full month at the end of October.

Ask HR for an advance. Do things like that not get done any more? It was standard practice when I were young!

Most people I know, even those on a middling salary basically live hand to mouth.

OP - ask your employer if they can advance once weeks wages after one or 2 weeks employment.

All the places I have ever worked (usually 3rd sector mind) have been ok with this. Also all have paid 2 weeks in advance 2 weeks retrospectively. Thus the advance is no problem for them. Ask, it cannot hurt.

Yes it is crazy. I remember having to take out a high interest loan when I started a new job, before I was with DP. Had been unemployed before, and would have been homeless if I hadn't taken out the loan. There was no help available.
Things will get better though OP.

Three month buffer, my arse. Ours went down the swanny when OH had a bad accident at work.

The majority of skint people are skint because of shitty circumstances, not because they blew the lot on tattoos and Sky.

It is not the employers fault you have no money to get to work.

I wouldn't ask your new employer for an advance either

I would get a credit card and just use it for the bus pass - pay it off as soon as it comes in and there will be no interest payment.

Its would be shitter if the employer had decided to not employ you.

These things happen. We find ourseleves in bad positions. This isnt the fault of people who have given you a job.

Exactly, just get a credit card.

I used to work in a sort of bank....... non-profit. They gave loans to people with the loan amount based on their social welfare payments but the purpose of the loan noted as new job expenses

I've skipped here from the first page so forgive me if it's been mentioned but would cycling one way each day help? ie first day cycle in and bus home, second day bus in and cycle home. A ten mile cycle could be doable if it is a reasonably flat route and if you're in reasonable health, the first website I found on google estimates it should take around an hour.

Dear God don't ask new employer for an advance.

Haven't been on here in a while and some of the comments are showing me I haven't missed much

OP I don't know your backstory but it is a tough situation. In between the general sanctimony you've had some good advice re credit cards / having a clear out and ebay sale / walking a bit to cut the fare by a quid or two. It will be a hard month but if it's a job you want and are glad to have it will be worth it.

Don't be too proud to ask for help, even if it's a fiver here or a tenner there from friends and family. In six weeks things will hopefully be easier. Anyone can hit a lean patch, even with the fabled three months salary in the bank. You can start building that up once you've been in work for a bit.

'Everyone I know has at least a 3 month buffer- its your fault you don't.'

I'm always amazed at the level of detail people have on the finances of 'everyone they know.'

I don't have a 3 month buffer.
Must be all those scratch cards, cigarettes and lager I buy every day.

Definately look at the bus fares if you walk a little way first, around 15 minutes walk might well put you in a different fare zone to dramatically reduce the costs. (and it's a good way to sneak extra exercise into your normal day!)

I read somewhere that most people are only 2 pay packets away from homelessness - and I think that's pretty much right. If I went 2 months without pay I'd be very close to being on the street, as would most of the people I know

I think you might be suprised at the lack of buffers people have - it really doesn't take much to screw finances.

Personally I would say you are not THAT short - sell a few things, do a bit of babysitting etc

Also I don't see anything wrong in asking for a small upfront advance to cover travel costs, even £50 would help here and it won't have an enormous impact on the following month to be down that amount in the next paypacket especially as there are still at least 2 weeks of this month that will be included in the the next payroll.