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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I cant afford my rent anymore!!

232 replies

Purplecrocsrock · 10/08/2018 21:00

Me and DH, and DD whos 14 months signed contract 4 months ago £875 a month, DH earns around £1600 a month, but we have been constantly living in the credit card since we moved in, paying energy/council tax/water and car insurance has just increased by 40 per month.
What will happen if we find somewhere cheaper, with the contract we have signed for 12 months here?

OP posts:
BeenThereDone · 10/08/2018 21:51

Smaller car, gym just has to go, pay as u go mobiles, shop around for utilities, money advice and budgeting service is they way to go...and make sure you are getting all benefits you are entitled to. Little part time couple of hours a week even will help... Childminding or waitress etc... Good luck 🤞

anothernameagain000 · 10/08/2018 21:52

Does your tenancy have a break clause?

Isleepinahedgefund · 10/08/2018 21:52

At the moment, based on the figures you’ve given, it just doesn’t add up does it. Does your OH understand what a bind you’re both in? Is he just burying his head in the proverbial sand? Not going to give up his gym? If you stop relying on credit you won’t be afford to eat and he wants his gym still....

Re the rent and CT, that would be typical for where I live.

NeverTwerkNaked · 10/08/2018 21:53

Your car insurance is ridiculous. That has to be sorted as a priority. Even if you just take the car off the road and he uses a bus/ bike.

Can’t you go back to work and use childcare? You may well get tax credits or other help with childcare. Studying will have to wait until you can afford to do it and keep a roof over your heads.

Original poster
Purplecrocsrock · 10/08/2018 21:54

No- not banned and with 2 years no claims, that was the cheapest quote when we got it, thank you everyone feeling a bit more positive about it all now

OP posts:
actualpuffins · 10/08/2018 21:54

I imagine the car insurance is so expensive because they are young.

Fabricwitch · 10/08/2018 21:55

Could your DH cycle to work? That would cut out the car insurance and gym membership

Original poster
Purplecrocsrock · 10/08/2018 21:55

North west big city, crappy area but somehow everyone wants to live here!

OP posts:
speakout · 10/08/2018 21:56

Car insurance £245 a month!!

Why didn't he check that before he bought that car?

My Car insurance is £10 a month.

Also your OH works 6-6 so gets home at 7, sleeps till 1/2 so not any time for me to go to work

So he works 12 hour shifts- presumably not every day. I would guess he works a maximum of 4 shifts a week- 48 hours.

Why can't you work some of the other 3 days?

sprinklesandsauce · 10/08/2018 21:56

Link to HMRC to register as self employed.

www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-self-employed

You can earn up to £6204 without paying any Class 2 NIC and £8423 before you pay Class 4 and £11850 without paying tax, so if you earn up to £6204 you wouldn't lose any of it.

Ironing is a really popular service around here, along with cleaning.

Just make sure that you inform tax credits if you become self employed and give them an estimate of your earnings.

Benefit calculator to check if you are getting what you are entitled to:

www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=8a6b8049-b657-4c82-8513-d85d4338ac11

AcrossthePond55 · 10/08/2018 21:57

You say DH works 6pm-6am? That's 12 hr/day, so only 3 days/week? Or does that 12 hr include his commute time? Because if he works 3-4 days per week, and is on a regular schedule, couldn't you see if you could find part time work on the days he's off?

Allthewaves · 10/08/2018 21:57

Does he work weekends? You could try weekend job? Realistically I'd go into an iva

www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/individual-voluntary-arrangement.aspx

PatheticNurse · 10/08/2018 21:57

Are you absolutely sure that is what your car insurance is per month?

That really needs looking into.

How far away is his work?

KingIrving · 10/08/2018 21:58

Move your DD in your room and find a lodger for the second room?
Can you ask some friends to look after your DD and take some cleaning jobs?

Where was the stuff your mother bought delivered? If not your address , it would prove it wasn't you.

Biggreygoose · 10/08/2018 21:58

Your priorities are:

  1. cancel gym membership - DH can road run for a month or two. It won't kill him

  2. shop around for cheaper car insurance - although be aware of any penalties. Alternatively, ring the insurance company and ask to take off 'extras' like roadside assistance, legal cover, windscreen cover. There is a risk here. Up to you whether to take it.

  3. talk to energy supplier about taking a direct debit hiatus. If you currently pay start of the month, ask to skip one and change payment date to end of the month. That can buy you nearly 8 weeks, but only a month behind.

All that can be done before 12am tomorrow.

  1. sell the car and replace with cheaper to run model.

  2. take a good look at the food budget

ginswinger · 10/08/2018 21:59

Move the baby into your room and rent out or airbnb the other room. I know it's not ideal but when the roof over your head is in jepordy, you dod everything you can to keep it. That definitely includes the gym and mobile phone contracts.

Chalady · 10/08/2018 22:00

I only ever do 'go compare' , 'confused.com' & 'compare the market' for my car insurance quotes, & even then the prices vary dramatically from the same provider.

Lloyds was £60 cheaper a year for the same cover on one of the three Lloyds quotes.

DerelictWreck · 10/08/2018 22:00

I'm a young driver and my car insurance is £350 a year on a 1.4ltr... something there is wrong - suggest you check it on a comparison website OP!

LeftRightCentre · 10/08/2018 22:00

Move the baby into your room and rent out or airbnb the other room.

That's subletting. I have yet to come across a tenancy agreement that allows tenants to sublet without the landlord's consent or downright prohibit it.

Jaxhog · 10/08/2018 22:00

Your DH would rather have a gym membership than pay rent? Is he mad?

Original poster
Purplecrocsrock · 10/08/2018 22:00

His shift patterns vary every week, so its never the same days off or on, I have got an interview in 2 weeks time which if i get would be really helpful, its a carers job where you can choose your own hours 24 hrs in advance- so once he got his rota i would be able to input hours i could work cross fingers for me all!

OP posts:
Glumglowworm · 10/08/2018 22:02

You can’t seriously be prioritising a gym membership over rent?!

DH needs to get a grip and cancel it ASAP. I know it feels like a drop in the ocean compared to your other expenses, but it’s the one drop that is totally optional so get rid of it!

Speak to a debt management company about reducing the monthly cost for the debts.

CocoaGin70 · 10/08/2018 22:02

Seriously I'd look at not using the car and declaring it off road until you're back on your feet. Adding on fuel, that's an insane amount of money. That could feed you for a month! Can he get a bike cheaply off a selling site? And the gym membership has to go, as could your broadband, and go onto PAYG phones. Those are all luxuries, not necessity when money is tight.

kaytee87 · 10/08/2018 22:03

Can you not look for a nursery or childminder so you can go to work? You'd likely get help with the childcare costs.

Original poster
Purplecrocsrock · 10/08/2018 22:03

Subletting isn't allowed although it would be easy enough to do!!
And it allows you on this catalogue to set up another address say 'work' or in this case she put 'mums house'

OP posts:
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