Tips for surviving financially

[GaaaaarlicBread]

Hi ,
So I’ve been told until further notice that I have to stay off work (I work in a hospital and currently pregnant). Unfortunately due to my sickness history (it isn’t bad but I had a long period off last year) I am on half pay as far as I am aware for now, I will get statutory sick pay automatically but will still be losing a few hundred . We have a mortgage , husband is still working and he pays the mortgage I pay the bills. I just wondered if anyone has any tips on how to not be completely screwed each month whilst also saving for when baby arrives in the summer ?
Not sure how long this will be going on for you see.
I appreciate any tips you have whether it’s saving on food etc

Can you get the mortgage relief? www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-51927471/coronavirus-mortgage-relief-for-homeowners

And actually, in general, it would be worth talking to your bank about your current financial situation. Lots of them have set up various schemes to help at the moment.

See about mortgage relief, but also pool your income so joint essentials are paid out of joint income and any leftover money is split 50/50 so you don't have a situation where one of you has spare money for personal spending and the other doesn't.

Also completely go through all your incomings and outgoings to see what you can cut down.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/money-help/

I'd check your statement and see if there's anything that can be cut. Cancel gym memberships or subscriptions to magazines/beauty boxes.

Can you call your mobile phones and internet/tv provider and see if you can change your plan to a lower cost?

Maybe try selling things on ebay that you don't need.

Everyone needs to realise these mortgage relief isn't free payments, you'll still have to make the shortfall up at some point.

Thanks everyone , good start I’ll try looking if I can cancel anything . We will manage but it’ll be a shock to the system but equally will get me ready for Mat leave I guess 🤣

What about the 80% wage help from the government? Is that an option?

First of all change your family finances so that all money coming in goes into one account and all bills, mortgage, food shopping etc come out of the same one. Then whatever’s left after all bills are paid gets split equally between you and DHs personal accounts.

In similar boat but actually on mat leave. Husband's job precarious now and we will really struggle. @Ylvamoon do you know the details of the government 80% wage help? Is it taxed? How do people qualify?

Struggling myself, I'm off now to look after my kids and work refusing to let me wfh if i have kids.

Terrified on how we are supposed to survive on 1 wage, really don't know what to do

I don't really know... my place will be doing this from 1st April - we are on staggered reduced hours until then.
I think, the company has to apply for this...

I am sorry to hear that op. If you fancy getting a bit of cash in then you could try these sites. I have been doing online surveys for years and here are my recommendations:

I joined Swagbucks 8 months ago and have made £1085 so far. I'm a bit evangelical about them tbh! As well as survey income, you get loads of tops up at the end of the month for all the days you hit your daily goal and then they give you extra points when you hit points levels called Swag Ups.Now is a great time to join as when you earn 300 points in the first 30 days, they give you a 300 bonus.
www.swagbucks.com/p/register?rb=59151827

Second favourite: You Gov as you never screen out:

yougov.co.uk/refer/5n4orle6y-iGn-xFyNEk-w/

Third favourite:Yuno as they are always giving challenges and bonuses.

ttps://yunosurveys.com/welcome?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=o%3D828996d0-d3f7-0137-f4df-0a43d8d2847a

As soon as you join Yuno - you get 100 points and they run Bounty Hunters where if you go a certain number of surveys in 7 days you get up to 600 points and every time you complete 4 surveys in a 24 hour period you get 100 bonus points.

Let me know how you get on - you have a lot on your plate at the moment - congratulations on your pregnancy

Doh! I buggered up the Yuno link:

yunosurveys.com/welcome?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=o%3D828996d0-d3f7-0137-f4df-0a43d8d2847a

Thanks everyone , sadly the 80% scheme won’t work for me as I’ll basically get 80% of my half pay so I’ll be worse off and nhs doesn’t count as we are private sector apparently !
So sorry everyone else is in the same boat :( @PiggyPokkyFool thanks so much I’ll try those out !

details of the government 80% wage help? Is it taxed? How do people qualify?
You don’t qualify individually. Your employer gets 80% of the cost of employing you if they keep you on but you cannot work because the virus has shut down the business. Tax and NI will be due exactly as normal. Employers don’t have to apply for it - it is up to them.

You are welcome @GaaaaarlicBread
I was a SAHM for years and they generated a £400/£500p.m. which made a real difference to us.

How far along are you in your pregnacy?could you go on maternity leave ? I vaguely remember wen I was pregnant I was told ilness during pregnancy was treated differently regarding pay?This was ten years ago though, also I would check if being pregnant puts you in a high risk group ,my dh had just been diagnosed with Diabetes and as he is now classed as high risk he's gone off work for 12_weeks full Pay ,he's had a fair bit of sickness recently which as it turns out is diabetes related .Dh doesn't work for the NHS ,I did though

List your outgoings and work out what can be cut immediately. Then work on reducing the rest as much as possible. Food bills are a huge one for most people and with staying in/avoiding crowds a chunk of other money can be saved over the next while. Good luck!

Only just over 17 weeks so definitely can’t go on mat leave unfortunately:( @x2boys . Pregnancy related sickness is documented differently to normal sickness yes but not pay wise , so I can’t be disciplined or dismissed for it but can have my pay cut sadly . Hopefully work will get more details about the guidelines soon and I can be paid full but for now it’ll be half pay.
@RuggerHug I do think food will be our biggest one so with me being home I can make the most of the food and do proper meals and lunch for DH without us getting lazy and buying food at work rather than making packed lunches lol

How did you get on @GaaaaarlicBread?
Have you managed to earn much yet? I sent off for another £25 from Swagbucks and £10 from Yuno yesterday. It really makes a difference. Keeps us posted.

Cancel absolutely everything that’s not a necessity. Write down incoming and outgoings.
Buy in bulk and cook from scratch . Cancel white goods insurances . Sworn your car ? Cancel tax and insurance on it ?

Don’t apply for the mortgage relief unless you really have no other choice . It will cost you more in the long term because if added interest.

All ok now thank you, Work have asked me to be back until I get a definite ‘you shouldn’t be working’ from occupational health. We did apply for mortgage relief in panic but haven’t heard anything anyway so will retract it when we get the letter .

That is great news @GaaaaarlicBread and at least you have lots of techniques for earning/saving money when are are on maternity. Wishing you the very best of luck.

Hi @GaaaaarlicBread - if you didn't get around to joining Swagbucks yet, they have put the bonus up to 500 points when you earn 500 in the first 30 days.

www.swagbucks.com/refer/MooWinner

Good luck.